Good News At Christmas

A Time of Good News and Great Joy

Luke 2:8-20

Can you imagine when queen Elizabeth of England gave birth to her first son?

Can you remember When President barrack Obama became the president?

The news bulletin around the world was big and fast and yet when our Lord was born, it was in obscurity..

The first people to hear we're shepherds

There was No CNN, No BBC or House of Praise Radio. But there were shepherds in the fields, and to them the wonderful news was given. It was indicative how God works even today and that is why I have this belief that your Good news will come. You may look small, insecured and insignificant right now.

1. God gave these shepherds an unexpected surprise. V 8

Luke 2:8

8 And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.

To be a shepherd in those days could be frustrating and not too profitable e.g

Jacob as a shepherd

Genesis 31:38-40

38 These twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she- goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flocks have I not eaten. 39 That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night. 40 Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep fled from mine eyes.

The conditions could be harsh from wilderness to Desert e.g Moses

Exodus 3:1-2

1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro his father- in- law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the back of the wilderness, and came to the mountain of God, unto Horeb. 2 And the angel of Jehovah appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

It could be dangerous to be a shepherd. E.g David

1 Samuel 17:34-35

34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant was keeping his father's sheep; and when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth; and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

These shepherds were minding their own business just like any ordinary day.

May be tired and weary

Maybe they even had issues of life. Divorce. Troubled lifestyle , disappointed about one thing or the other. The economy going down.

But suddenly an angel appeared

Bright lights

The glory of the Lord filled the sky

Throughout human history, God brings light to human darkness

Gen 1

Maybe like those shepherds, you are getting weary, your good news will come

You will see the light

God will surprise you

1 Corinthians 1:27-29

27 but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong; 28 and the base things of the world, and the things that are despised, did God choose, yea and the things that are not, that he might bring to nought the things that are: 29 that no flesh should glory before God.

No matter who you are, God wants to break into your life to give you a better life and a purpose

May be this is your first Christmas , I pray the Lord will grant you the knowledge of the Prince of Peace

2. God gave them an unusual sign. V12

Luke 2:12

12 And this is the sign unto you: Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.

Out of many babies that will be born that day, this one will be in a manger

What is the significance of a manger?

Animal feeding trough ......his first bed? It indicates the depths to which the son of God is willing to stoop in love

2 Corinthians 8:9

9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich.

It marks the kind of lifestyle he would adopt in his earthly ministry

Luke 9:58

58 And Jesus said unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

Prophesy fulfilled

Psalms 78:70-72

70 He chose David also his servant, And took him from the sheepfolds:

71 From following the ewes that have their young he brought him, To be the shepherd of Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.

72 So he was their shepherd according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

He was born a saviour in a manger and died a saviour on a cross

The manger also meant the shepherd could visit him freely without fear

And lastly

3. God gave them an unbelievable story.

Luke 2:17-18

17 And when they saw it, they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child. 18 And all that heard it wondered at the things which were spoken unto them by the shepherds.

God can qualified the unqualified. These shepherds were the first Christian missionaries.

They had seen Christ. And they told everyone what happened to them.

Can God give you an unbelievable story in your health?

Wealth?

Home?

With your children?

When you have good news, you want to quickly share it and I prophesy to you in this season, you will have good news

Shall we pray?

Location:House of Praise