During the month of December I am preaching a series of messages titled, "Messages of Christmas." I am gleaning several messages from Luke chapter two. On Sunday, December 2nd I preached a message titled "The Angel's Message of Peace," below is my outline.
I. THE ANGELS PREACHED A SOOTHING MESSAGE
Luke 2:10a (NKJV) Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid…”
All through the Scripture we are told to “not be afraid!”
Luke 1:13 (NKJV) But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
Luke 1:30 (NKJV) Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Matthew 28:5 (NKJV) But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 "He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Matthew 28:10 (NKJV) Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me."
Fear is a fascinating subject because it has two sides:
1. Negative side:
• It can paralyze you and gain power/control over your life!
• It can keep us from being all that God wants us to be!
2. Positive side:
• It can stimulate and motivate us to greatness!
• It can drive us to do things we know God wants us to do with the life He has given us!
In America today, none can deny that the culture is growing darker and darker all around us!
Let’s think just for a moment of what is happening in our world:
• We just remembered our 6 year anniversary of 9-11.
• We are actively involved in a war against terrorism.
• There is extreme uneasiness in the entire Middle East along with Israel, China, North Korea, and now Iran.
• We all have seen the scenes of the total devastation in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama; along with the 1000’s of lives that have been lost as a result of Hurricane Katrina.
• We see our economic structure declining with the value of the dollar decreasing.
• We see our country moving farther and farther away from our moral and spiritual foundations.
• America is experiencing a wave of fear!
Fear flows not just from TV pictures but from real life experiences. The late Ann Landers got 1000’s of letters a day. She was once asked "What is the most common problem that you find in your letters?" She said, "Without a doubt, fear."
If we were to project your hidden fears on our giant screens, what would be on the screens?
* Loose your job, your marriage, or your children, by them going in the wrong direction?
* Some of you are fearful about your health.
* You're waiting test results and you fear that "C" word -- cancer.
* With Christmas upon us, some of you are afraid you're never going to get through another week financially!
One recent study did a study of 500 different people and they discovered 7000 different fears –that’s an average of 14 different fears per person.
This is not some minor issue when God’s Word says, "Do not be afraid!"
What do we know about fear?
• We know it's contagious; you can get it from other people!
• We know that it's limiting.
• We know that it's draining. Have you ever been worn out by your worries?
But, the most important thing we know is that God doesn't want you to be afraid.
Ephesians 3:12 (NLT) Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come fearlessly into God's presence, assured of his glad welcome.
2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
The message is—Jesus removes fear!
II. THE ANGEL'S PREACHED A SALVATION MESSAGE
Luke 2:10b-11 (NKJV) 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.
Good tidings (News), great joy, to all people (Universal), to you (Personal).
Threefold titles given to Jesus:
a. Savior - Deliverer; Pictures Him as the sacrifice. (Ill. The cross)
b. Christ - The Anointed One, the Son of God. Pictures Him as the fulfilment of all the promises and prophecies beginning at Eden, Gen. 3:15. (Ill. The ribbon of blood!)
c. Lord - Sovereign God! The One to be served, worshiped and adored!
Jesus is called Savior! Not an example or a teacher, but a Savior!
• If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent an educator.
• If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent a scientist.
• If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent an economist.
• If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent an entertainer.
• If our greatest need had been military, God would have sent a soldier.
• If our greatest need had been for justice, God would have sent a judge.
• But, our greatest need was forgiveness and redemption, and, therefore, God sent a Savior!
III. THE ANGEL'S PREACHED A SHOWING MESSAGE
Luke 2:12 (NKJV) "And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."
In verse 12 the angels pointed the way to Jesus.
• That needs to be our life mission—pointing the way to Jesus!
• God's Word points the way!
• Every now and then we encounter someone who needs the way pointed out to them. When we do, we are doing the work of angels!
Bethlehem = House of Bread - it was an appropriate place for the Bread of Life to be born! John 6:36 (NKJV) And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
Therefore, we are to be spending our days here on this earth showing people the way to Jesus!
Matthew 28:19 (NKJV) "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…”
IV. THE ANGEL'S PREACHED A SHOUTING MESSAGE
Luke 2:13-14 (NKJV) 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!"
The angels praised their Creator! Praise to God and Peace to man!
Rome had given the world peace from war, Jesus came to give man peace with God and peace within!
John 14:27 (NKJV) Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
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