the word Advent means<\/p>\n
coming and it marks the time the season<\/p>\n
when the Christian church all over the<\/p>\n
world celebrates that Jesus has<\/p>\n
come and we look forward to the time<\/p>\n
that he will come<\/p>\n
again we began celebrating Advent last<\/p>\n
week and we look ahead to Christmas day<\/p>\n
later this<\/p>\n
month Christmas Day the day we remember<\/p>\n
that God took on flesh that God God<\/p>\n
stepped into this<\/p>\n
world the Bible calls Jesus imanuel<\/p>\n
which<\/p>\n
translates God With<\/p>\n
Us God stepping into to this world that<\/p>\n
he<\/p>\n
created during these Sundays of Advent<\/p>\n
we're looking at songs of<\/p>\n
[Music]<\/p>\n
Christmas last Sunday we read about the<\/p>\n
song of Mary you know a song of Praise<\/p>\n
that she sang to God when it was<\/p>\n
revealed to her that she would conceive<\/p>\n
a child through the Holy Spirit and<\/p>\n
would give birth to the Savior the<\/p>\n
Messiah<\/p>\n
Jesus and today we read the praise of<\/p>\n
the Angels a message that that broke<\/p>\n
into a dark and Dre world with good<\/p>\n
news news of the newborn savior that<\/p>\n
would change the world<\/p>\n
forever<\/p>\n
the text we're going to read actually is<\/p>\n
is more of what we read as as the call<\/p>\n
to worship today giving us more<\/p>\n
background I'll read the text to us in<\/p>\n
English the Tha is also on the slides<\/p>\n
this is Luke Chapter 2 veres<\/p>\n
8-1<\/p>\n
this is the word of<\/p>\n
God and in the same region there were<\/p>\n
shepherds out in the field keeping watch<\/p>\n
over their flock by night and an angel<\/p>\n
of the Lord appeared to them and the<\/p>\n
glory of the Lord Shone around them and<\/p>\n
they were filled with great<\/p>\n
fear and the angel said to them fear not<\/p>\n
be for behold behold I bring you good<\/p>\n
news of great joy that will be for all<\/p>\n
the<\/p>\n
people for unto you is Born This Day in<\/p>\n
the city of<\/p>\n
David a<\/p>\n
savior who is Christ the<\/p>\n
lord and this will be a sign for you you<\/p>\n
will find a baby wrapped in swaddling<\/p>\n
clothes and lying in a<\/p>\n
manger and suddenly there was with the<\/p>\n
angel a multitude of heavenly hosts<\/p>\n
praising God and saying glory to God in<\/p>\n
the highest and on Earth peace among<\/p>\n
those with whom he is<\/p>\n
pleased when the angels went away from<\/p>\n
them into<\/p>\n
heaven the Shepherds said to one another<\/p>\n
let us go let us go to Bethlehem and see<\/p>\n
this thing that has happened which the<\/p>\n
Lord has made known to<\/p>\n
us and they went with haste<\/p>\n
and found Mary and Joseph and the baby<\/p>\n
lying in a<\/p>\n
manger and when they saw it they made<\/p>\n
known the saying that had been told them<\/p>\n
concerning this<\/p>\n
child and all who heard it wondered at<\/p>\n
what the Shepherds told them but Mary<\/p>\n
treasured up all these things pondering<\/p>\n
them in her heart and the Shepherds<\/p>\n
returned glorifying and praising God for<\/p>\n
all they had heard and seen as it had<\/p>\n
been told them this is the word of<\/p>\n
God<\/p>\n
news<\/p>\n
how every day we hear news of what's<\/p>\n
happening in our own communities and<\/p>\n
around the<\/p>\n
world on the internet radio television<\/p>\n
news newspapers other media<\/p>\n
channels unfortunately what makes for<\/p>\n
popular news tends to be negative<\/p>\n
news we hear of natural disasters<\/p>\n
economic downturns or pandemics or<\/p>\n
mutations of virus<\/p>\n
and sometimes news can have a very<\/p>\n
personal<\/p>\n
impact we may hear of the S serious<\/p>\n
illness or death of a loved<\/p>\n
one we may hear that that we've lost our<\/p>\n
job or that dear friends are getting a<\/p>\n
divorce news good or bad is information<\/p>\n
that comes to us and it changes our<\/p>\n
lives one way or<\/p>\n
another the change may be minuscule<\/p>\n
small or it may redefine Life as We Know<\/p>\n
It the initial setting for this passage<\/p>\n
isn't the middle of some bustling City<\/p>\n
in urban Metropolis but rather a quiet<\/p>\n
rural field where Shepherds were quietly<\/p>\n
caring for their<\/p>\n
sheep if you can can make it shorter it<\/p>\n
will be more okay but I can try<\/p>\n
so this passage we just read it it<\/p>\n
doesn't take place in a big<\/p>\n
city but it's a small little quiet field<\/p>\n
a little country<\/p>\n
field and these Shepherds you know they<\/p>\n
had done this night after night after<\/p>\n
night<\/p>\n
but this night was going to be<\/p>\n
different they were about to receive<\/p>\n
news that would change their lives and<\/p>\n
change the world<\/p>\n
forever the Bible says that an angel of<\/p>\n
the Lord appeared to these<\/p>\n
Shepherds try to imagine just try to<\/p>\n
imagine<\/p>\n
what that would be<\/p>\n
like light Illuminating the<\/p>\n
darkness the text says the glory of the<\/p>\n
Lord shown around<\/p>\n
them and they were<\/p>\n
terrified darkness and<\/p>\n
fear they were afraid of what was<\/p>\n
happening and of what may happen<\/p>\n
next that could be an app<\/p>\n
description of our own lives and of this<\/p>\n
world right now couldn't<\/p>\n
it and throughout history we see times<\/p>\n
of of darkness and fear people living<\/p>\n
living in<\/p>\n
fear and this was certainly the case for<\/p>\n
the people of Israel as<\/p>\n
well you know ancient scriptures had<\/p>\n
detailed God's<\/p>\n
promise to deliver his people to save<\/p>\n
his people through a savior a<\/p>\n
messiah<\/p>\n
but they were waiting they were waiting<\/p>\n
for that Messiah to<\/p>\n
come they were waiting for God to save<\/p>\n
them and their lives just like our lives<\/p>\n
were<\/p>\n
punctuated by darkness and fear God<\/p>\n
but the angel of God the angel of the<\/p>\n
Lord speaks into this fear with words of<\/p>\n
Hope fear<\/p>\n
not do not be<\/p>\n
afraid<\/p>\n
the message I have for you is a message<\/p>\n
of good<\/p>\n
news a message of great joy a message<\/p>\n
for all<\/p>\n
people and the angel announces the news<\/p>\n
the Messiah has<\/p>\n
come<\/p>\n
the Messiah is here in the city of David<\/p>\n
the Savior the Lord Has<\/p>\n
Come and<\/p>\n
suddenly the sky was filled right filled<\/p>\n
with a multitude of angels praising God<\/p>\n
together<\/p>\n
and they were<\/p>\n
announcing peace they were announcing<\/p>\n
the peace that the Messiah would<\/p>\n
bring this is the message of<\/p>\n
Christmas the Messiah has come the<\/p>\n
Savior has come come to save<\/p>\n
us Jesus was born into this broken world<\/p>\n
to lead us in reconciliation to<\/p>\n
God yes Christians celebrate the birth<\/p>\n
of Jesus remembering that the Savior was<\/p>\n
born but we also look ahead in his life<\/p>\n
to the work he did to save<\/p>\n
us you see the reason Jesus came to save<\/p>\n
us or the the reason Jesus came was to<\/p>\n
save us by giving his<\/p>\n
life for God so loved the world World<\/p>\n
John 3:16 writes or<\/p>\n
says that he gave his only<\/p>\n
son that whoever believes in him should<\/p>\n
not perish but have eternal life God did<\/p>\n
not send his son into the world to<\/p>\n
condemn the world but in order that the<\/p>\n
world might be saved through<\/p>\n
him<\/p>\n
the peace that the Angels announced that<\/p>\n
night it only comes when we find peace<\/p>\n
with God through Jesus<\/p>\n
Christ<\/p>\n
the good news that the Angels proclaimed<\/p>\n
it's only good news because of what<\/p>\n
Jesus<\/p>\n
did you know the central message of the<\/p>\n
Christian faith is that we are we're<\/p>\n
sinful<\/p>\n
beings and we must be reconciled to God<\/p>\n
to reconcile is to return to a state of<\/p>\n
of wholeness a place of<\/p>\n
restoration you know the perfect<\/p>\n
relationship that we had with God it was<\/p>\n
severed because of our<\/p>\n
sin God is Holy and our sinful actions<\/p>\n
drives us away from<\/p>\n
God and it drives us away from his good<\/p>\n
will for<\/p>\n
us this is the predicament of humanity<\/p>\n
this is the problem that we<\/p>\n
face<\/p>\n
this is the darkness that induces<\/p>\n
fear our sin separates us from<\/p>\n
God but the message that the Angels<\/p>\n
proclaimed into the darkness that night<\/p>\n
was good news<\/p>\n
indeed Jesus had<\/p>\n
and he would grow up he would grow up<\/p>\n
into a<\/p>\n
man and he would teach and he would heal<\/p>\n
and he would love those around<\/p>\n
him and then he would give himself as a<\/p>\n
sacrifice for our<\/p>\n
sin for our sin<\/p>\n
that is good<\/p>\n
news the gospel is good news because<\/p>\n
Jesus gave himself for<\/p>\n
us Jesus Took on our sin and he died for<\/p>\n
us and he gives us peace true peace to<\/p>\n
be found in God<\/p>\n
alone<\/p>\n
in Romans chapter 5 we read this<\/p>\n
therefore since we have been justified<\/p>\n
by faith we have peace with God through<\/p>\n
our Lord Jesus Christ through him we<\/p>\n
have also obtained access by faith into<\/p>\n
this grace in which we stand and we<\/p>\n
rejoice in the hope of the glory of<\/p>\n
for when we turn to Jesus in faith as we<\/p>\n
call upon him as our savior as our<\/p>\n
we find the peace that our souls long<\/p>\n
for peace for now in the midst of all<\/p>\n
this life may hold and peace<\/p>\n
forever Jesus is the prince<\/p>\n
of<\/p>\n
Peace he brings peace and he gives peace<\/p>\n
in the midst of darkness and<\/p>\n
fear the church forefather St<\/p>\n
Augustine said this thou Hast made us<\/p>\n
for thyself oh Lord and our heart is<\/p>\n
restless until it finds rest in<\/p>\n
thee yes we are restless we are without<\/p>\n
peace until we come to know the Peace of<\/p>\n
so we must go to Jesus we must go and<\/p>\n
receive the peace that he is the peace<\/p>\n
that he<\/p>\n
gives the text says that after the truth<\/p>\n
of Jesus had been made known to the<\/p>\n
Shepherds by the Angels they went to see<\/p>\n
for<\/p>\n
themselves<\/p>\n
for they went to see it says that which<\/p>\n
the Lord has made known to<\/p>\n
us the Angels announced the truth of who<\/p>\n
Jesus is and the Shepherds went to<\/p>\n
see<\/p>\n
there was<\/p>\n
news good news of great<\/p>\n
joy and the Shepherds responded to this<\/p>\n
news they sought out<\/p>\n
Jesus and their knowledge of him it<\/p>\n
turned to<\/p>\n
worship<\/p>\n
the end of the passage says they they<\/p>\n
returned to their homes glorifying and<\/p>\n
praising God for all they had heard and<\/p>\n
seen as it had been told<\/p>\n
them this is the message of<\/p>\n
Christmas this is the message of Easter<\/p>\n
this is what the Christian faith is all<\/p>\n
about God has come to<\/p>\n
save Jesus has come and is coming<\/p>\n
again Jesus has brought us<\/p>\n
peace true<\/p>\n
peace for our lives now and<\/p>\n
forever how do we respond to this good<\/p>\n
today I understand some of you would<\/p>\n
honestly say you know I'm I'm not a<\/p>\n
Christian I'm not a follower of of<\/p>\n
and to you first of all I would say<\/p>\n
we're so thankful that you're<\/p>\n
here and we welcome you and your<\/p>\n
questions and your your exploration of<\/p>\n
who Jesus<\/p>\n
is and then I would invite you to<\/p>\n
consider the message of the Angels<\/p>\n
today<\/p>\n
to go to Jesus as these Shepherds did to<\/p>\n
go and see<\/p>\n
him to go and look and learn and<\/p>\n
discover who is<\/p>\n
Jesus because if Jesus is the savior if<\/p>\n
he is The Giver of true<\/p>\n
peace<\/p>\n
then it changes<\/p>\n
everything in the book of First Timothy<\/p>\n
the Apostle Paul gives a picture of what<\/p>\n
life New Life In Jesus looks<\/p>\n
like first of all then I urge that<\/p>\n
supplications prayers intercessions and<\/p>\n
thanksgivings be made for all people for<\/p>\n
kings and all who are in high positions<\/p>\n
that we may lead a peaceful and quiet<\/p>\n
life Godly and dignified in every way<\/p>\n
this is good and it's pleasing in the<\/p>\n
sight of God our savior who desires all<\/p>\n
people to be saved and to come to the<\/p>\n
knowledge of the truth for there is one<\/p>\n
and there is one mediator between God<\/p>\n
and Men the man Christ Jesus who gave<\/p>\n
himself as a ransom for all which is the<\/p>\n
testimony given at the proper<\/p>\n
time<\/p>\n
and for the<\/p>\n
Christian<\/p>\n
be reminded again of this season of<\/p>\n
Advent and Christmas that yes the<\/p>\n
Messiah has<\/p>\n
come bringing a peace for here and<\/p>\n
now be encouraged in the Gospel of Jesus<\/p>\n
and be one that extends the the Peace of<\/p>\n
Christ to those around<\/p>\n
you the darkness in this world still<\/p>\n
produces<\/p>\n
fear people need to hear good news of<\/p>\n
great<\/p>\n
joy may we like the Shepherds be a<\/p>\n
people that share what we have been<\/p>\n
shown let's<\/p>\n
pray Lord God May the story of Christmas<\/p>\n
and Easter ReSound in our hearts and<\/p>\n
Minds<\/p>\n
may we be a people that speak your truth<\/p>\n
into the dark voids of the<\/p>\n
world you have come to save and you will<\/p>\n
come again one<\/p>\n
day and we await that day oh<\/p>\n
God come Lord Jesus<\/p>\n
come we pray this in your holy<\/p>\n
name amen<\/p>\n
amen<\/p>","english_search_text":"","":"","original_publish_date":"20231123","video_url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=CD_NFzuKniw","video_id":"CD_NFzuKniw","video_duration":"28:44","channel_name":"Grace City Bangkok"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/511","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=511"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/511\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":512,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/511\/revisions\/512"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/510"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=511"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=511"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=511"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}