Ministering: Pastor Olusegun Joseph
Text: Luke 2:8-15.
” 8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 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. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” 15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” KJV
The Christmas season is a season of good news. Good news is that which is pleasant to hear. It has the capacity to produce happiness. Every situation is changeable. Prov. 25:25 – As cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a far country. Good News brings relief from trouble and pain. It brings satisfaction and gives calmness. It takes away anxiety and brings wonders. The world is filled with bad news, God alone is the source of genuine goof news.
1 Sam. 4:10-18 is an account of bad news to the family of Eli due to their disobedience to God. There is also “Breaking News!” – this is a real-time or on-the-spot information like the one Job experienced in Job 1:14-19. In 2 Kings 20:1-6, Hezekiah was sick onto death, and God sent the prophet to him to prepare himself for death, this is undoubtedly a bad news, but he turned to God for mercy and God reversed the bad news to a good news as his health was restored and years were added to his life. God can reverse any bad news to good news when we call upon Him. He is rich unto all that call upon Him. Rom.10
What is the good news from our above text (Luke 2:8-15)? The good news is that the birth of Jesus Christ is the way of having relationship with God. Divinity manifested in humanity. Rom. 5:1-2, therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The greatest news to man is Jesus Christ; He is man’s only hope of salvation from the fall of Adam. Another good news from our text is that – the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ is the manifestation of a prophecy. Isaiah 9:6 – 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.
We needed a Savior but not just anybody could be our Savior. Our Savior had to be divine, else he cannot carry the sin of the whole world. Christmas is a season of giving. From John 3:16 – God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son… Also Romans 8:31.
The good news of Jesus Christ is that the Son of God became the Son of man (through Mary & Joseph) so that He may win sons of men to become Sons of God. This is the Gospel!
Without sacrifice there can be no manifestation of miracle. The shepherds having heard the good news made up their minds to leave their sheep and visit the child. Yes, many of us want good news but are we ready to live a life of sacrifice; sacrificing our time and resources in God’s Kingdom. Abraham and other fathers in the faith were always offering sacrifices to God and they never lacked good news from Heaven.
In closing, Luke 1:78 – Through the tender Mercy of Our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us. Anyone who has not received The Lord Jesus Christ is the most miserable person on the Earth?
God bless you!
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