SERMON DATE AND TITLE: 2009-12-20 "The Angel's Message"
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THE ANGEL’S MESSAGE
“We are afraid of rulers, authorities, powers that are above us, but our greatest fear is the fear of change. We are terrified of the unfamiliar. The angel’s message was up front and personal.” We are living in an unsettled time of re-adjustment as our country moves from nationalistic independence to dependence on an increasingly global world and economy. Change is in the air. We cannot compare ourselves with the Great Depression in which one in four persons in the United States was unemployed and many had no homes or visible means of support.
Here’s some facts about the decade of the 1930’s when the Great Depression occurred:
America’s Population: 123,188,000 in 48 states
Average Life Expectancy: Male, 58.1; Female, 61.6
Average annual salary: $1,368
Unemployment rises to 25%
Huey Long proposes a guaranteed annual income of $2,500
Total Car Sales: 2,787,400
(Imagine! Without Govt. Intervention or ownership!)
Food Prices: Milk, 14 cents a qt.; Bread, 9 cents a loaf; Round Steak, 42 cents a pound
Total Lynchings: 21
Here’s some of the ways people survived and overcame:
How to “Make Do” with what you have
Use what you have and make it last
Never throw anything away, you might need it someday
A penny saved is a penny earned
If someone is in need of food, share yours
HANDEL’S VISION
Legend has it that wrote the three-hour oratorio in just three weeks. When Handel was composing the amazing “HALELUJAH CHORUS,” his servant came in on him. He had been locking himself in his study. He found Handel weeping. He said to his servant, “I do believe I’ve seen the gates of heaven.”
Many thanks to my life-long friend Pat Street for this sermon outline.
December 20, 2009, Sheepfold Ministries
Pastor Phil Roland
THE ANGEL’S MESSAGE
Luke 2:8-14
“We are afraid of rulers, authorities, powers that are above us, but our greatest fear is the fear of change. We are terrified of the unfamiliar. The angel’s message was up front and personal.” Pastor Phil
“Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ‘For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’” Luke 2:10,11
I. THE ANGEL’S MESSAGE WAS “PERSONAL” - Luke 2:10
A. Not to Paranoid Herod the Great, Ruled from 37 BC to 4 BC
1. Murdered his own family
2. Murdered a number of Rabbi’s
3. Ambitious, greedy for power
4. Insecure and fearful
B. Not to ruling religious elite of Jerusalem
1. Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, Educated
2. Heaven paid no respect to hierarchy
C. Angel’s message to common people doing common tasks
1. Note: “I bring YOU Good Tidings. . .”
2. Message given to the Shepherds personally
3. Note: “A Savior is born to YOU. . .”
4. Note: “This will be a sign to YOU. . .”
5. Note: “YOU will find the babe wrapped in swaddling cloths”
D. He is Your Savior, Your King, Your Christ, Your Gift from God
1. Question: Have you personalized Jesus in your heart?
2. Have you made Him your personal Savior?
3. Have your really personally received His Good News?
4. Does He play an active role in all you think and do?
II. THE ANGEL’S MESSAGE WAS “PRAISE” – Luke 2:13,14
“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host
praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace,
goodwill toward men!"
A. ULTIMATE song of praise to God - “MESSIAH”
1. Written by George Frederic Handel – Born, Feb. 12, 1685
2. Three hour Biblical, musical narrative of redemption
3. Composed when composer was a broken man
a. Broken financially, physically and emotionally
b. God uses broken things: (Inspirational Piece)
THE ANGEL’S MESSAGE, cont.
B. Praise to Almighty God is the ultimate purpose
“I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And I will glorify Your name forevermore.” Psalm 86:12
1. Angel’s do it reflexively and continually
2. We do it sometimes sacrificially
3. “Praise the Lord, anyway!”
C. The Psalmist admonishes us all to Praise the Lord! – Ps. 103:20-21
“Bless the LORD, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His
word, Heeding the voice of His word. Bless the LORD, all you His hosts,
You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.”
III. THE ANGEL’S MESSAGE WAS “PEACE” – Verse 14
“"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"
A. Universal longing of mankind is “Peace”
1. Search for peace in all the wrong places
2. Politics
3. Culture
4. Geographic location
5. Religion
B. There has never been Peace on the earth sin’s Adam’s Fall
1. Total number of wars in recorded history is incalculable
2. Never been a time when there wasn’t a war somewhere
C. Peace is only found in a PERSON: Jesus Christ – Isaiah 9:6,7
“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the
government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and
establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even
forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”
1. The only peace we will find is through Jesus – Eph. 2:13,14a
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been
brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace,”
2. No Jesus, No Peace
Know Jesus, Know Peace
IV. THREE ASPECTS OF THE ANGEL’S MESSAGE
A. SIMPLE in its Declaration
B. POWERFUL in its Demonstration
C. PERSONAL in its Invitation
“And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take
the water of life freely.” Rev. 22:17