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Good News, Anyone?
Luke
2:10-14
This year there’s been more bad news than
ever it seems. Many are too
discouraged to even watch the news anymore and I can't blame them.
Except for the fact that we really should be aware of what's going on
because the signs of the end times are everywhere.
But would the end be bad news or actually good?!
“I woke up Monday morning, walked out on the
lawn
my eyes were barely open, and my mouth began
to yawn
Picked up the daily paper, every single
headline said,
That this ole world is full of trouble, and I
wished I’d stayed in bed.
Sometimes the bad that’s goin’ on’s enough to
bring you down.
“Turned on my television and began to flip on
thru
all 100 channels, On Demand, and Pay per view
Not one message had a meaning that was good
in any way
Just before I wrote the whole world off, I
heard the Father say,
‘Don’t forget what I have promised, you can
overcome it all!’
“Well my knees began to shake, and my heart
began to beat,
and a funny new sensation worked its way into
my feet
The Spirit of glad tidings came from
somewhere deep inside,
And holdin’ back the flood was just like
holdin’ back the tide.
I couldn’t help but circulate to everyone I
know…
“I’ll spread this talk all over town about
the peace and joy I’ve found in You…good news!
This story is about to break and blessed are
the feet that take the Truth…good news!
I’m slippin’ on my gospel shoes…’Cause I’ve
got good, good news!”
Words:
Suzanne Jennings, performed by Gaither Vocal Band, 1999
And the world news has only worsened since
that was written in 1999, and very much so…but the good news is as good as
ever, and shines brighter the darker this world gets.
This is the news the angel brought to the world as a “herald” on that
night in our text.
The burden of bearing bad news:
we all hate to have to deliver it.
I don’t know how some doctors get thru doing it every day.
The blessing of bearing good news:
we all love to be “the one” who others hear it from first!
The angel had the privilege of sharing the
best news the world has ever known…
SEVEN
REASONS WHY THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WAS GOOD NEWS:
1.
BECAUSE IT BANISHED FEAR.
(v 10) "fear not"
Prov. says the fear of the
Lord is the beginning of wisdom…it’s a good thing to fear God, for you can’t
be saved until you at least have that healthy fear!
[a holy respect!]
“No Fear”
is the motto of our lost world around us.
Even today’s religious world has no reverence, no awe, for Almighty
God!
His name is spoken in vain
because they don’t fear God.
Our older folks remember a
time when lost people had more respect for the name of God than many
so-called Christians have today!
Immorality runs rampant
because people don’t fear God.
Hebrews 13:4
Marriage is
honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers
God will judge.
People don’t believe that. They say, everyone’s doing it and that somehow makes it ok. They think of God like some old man w/ a long, white beard, in a rocking chair, winking at our indiscretions!
Hebrews 10:31
It is a fearful
thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
“but I thought He was a God of love?”
Yes!
That’s why He sent His Son to die on the cross!
But if you reject His offer of love, you’ll soon see another side of
God…the Judge. His wrath and
anger against sin deserve respect and reverence!
Matthew 10:28
And fear not them
which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him
which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matthew 28:4
And for fear of him
the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
[but to believers, the
angel said, “fear not”…we can be exempted.
Our fear can become a friendship!]
Psalm
God is angry with
the wicked every day.
Proverbs 2:22
But the wicked
shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out
of it.
You can stand against God,
but not for long!
But the
believer need not fear:
Hebrews 2:15
And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime
subject to bondage.
2 Tim. 1:7
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of
love, and of a sound mind.
Romans 8:15
For ye have not
received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the
Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because
fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Hebrews 13:6
So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear
what man shall do unto me.
The
angel brought good news because it banished fear…
2.
BECAUSE IT BROUGHT GREAT JOY.
(v 10) "tidings of great joy"
Jesus’ coming would bring so much joy it
affected even a baby born before Him!
It was John the Baptist.
His mother, Elizabeth, was told in
Luke 1:14
And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his
birth.
So, it was prophesied that Jesus would bring
joy, and look…
Luke 1:44
For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears,
the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
And the
wise men…
Matthew 2:10
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
The
good news is the gospel…not just that Jesus was born, but that He was born
to die, that we might have joy…
Hebrews 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the
joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is
set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
1 Peter 4:13
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings;
that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding
joy.
There was even joy found in the tomb where He
was laid…
Matthew 28:8
And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy;
and did run to bring his disciples word.
“Go,
tell it on the mountain!”
1 Peter 1:8
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not,
yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith,
Even in
persecution…
Luke 6:23
Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is
great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
John 16:20
Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but
the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be
turned into joy.
John 16:22
And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your
heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
And
when souls are saved…
Luke 15:10
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels
of God over one sinner that repenteth.
And
when Christians live the life…
3 John 1:4
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
John 15:11
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you,
and that your joy might be full.
The
angel brought good news that traded in people’s fears for joy!...
3.
BECAUSE IT IS FOR ALL PEOPLE. (
v 10) "shall be to all people"
Red, yellow, black and white.
[Because
whosoever will may come/God is not willing that any should perish…] There
are the “whosoever wills” and the “whosoever won’ts”
Who are the chosen?
All who choose Him!
Who are the elect?
All who elect to be saved!
Moody: God save the
elect, then elect some more!
This
was good news for the whole world, but also for “the individual”…
4.
BECAUSE IT EMPHASISES THE VALUE OF ONE INDIVIDUAL.
(v 11)
"this shall be a sign unto you"
This is your sign from God…this message was
for the world, but today it is for you!
5.
BECAUSE IT SAVES THE SINNER. (
v 11) "a Saviour which is
Christ"
You can be saved from sin, saved from fear,
saved from this world, saved from the tribulation and saved from hell to
follow!
6.
BECAUSE IT GLORIFIES GOD. (v
13,14) "praising God & saying
Glory"
This absence of fear and presence of love,
for all the world and for “me”, this good news of salvation should lead us
to thanksgiving and praise, and giving God glory…suddenly, as the angels
did!
This is a wonderful time of the year we now
enter, and it’s a great time to come out of our shell and get excited about
the good news we so desperately need!
This
good news was brought on that night 2,000 years ago, and it affects us
today, and finally…it lasts forever!...
7.
BECAUSE IT GIVES REAL & LASTING PEACE.
(V 14) "peace, good will"
That peace may not be in
our world, but it can be in our hearts.
The Nobel Peace Prize may have lost all its significance, but not the
peace of God! The Mid-East won't
have peace until the Prince of Peace comes and makes peace, but you can have
God's peace today!
Let’s not live our life,
day to day, in the doldrums of “the nasty now and now”, let’s think about
what really matters eternally in “the sweet bye and bye!”
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