A SAVIOR IS BORN
OR
A MESSAGE OF MUCH MEANING
SUNDAY APRIL 22, 2018
Scripture To Consider:
“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.”
“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. And this will be the sign to you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.’”
“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!’”
Luke 2.8-14
Something To Consider:
Luke tells us there were shepherds living out in the fields as David who was called by God to replace Saul as king of Israel. Like David, these shepherds were not ordinary men simply watching over their flocks. These were shepherds that God had personally hand chosen and could count on if called upon. Therefore God, entrusted into their care a message of matchless meaning for all mankind. That message was the foretold fact that finally a Savior had been born of humble roots in Bethlehem, the home of King David.
God, even in this 21st century continues to scan the face of the earth and the hearts of humankind for good tidings and good news message bearing shepherds in every generation. Has God personally chosen you? Has God personally chosen me? Only time, prayer, and God’s endless preparation process of teaching us the lessons of His lifetime will tell.
Therefore, let us study to show ourselves approved unto God, workers that need not to be ashamed, workers who are able to rightly divide, rightly teach, and rightly communicate to others and ourselves God’s Word by way of a faithful every day living example.
And yet, we must be aware of the spiritual consequences of our studying the Word of God as we are divinely directed by God’s Holy Spirit. What do I mean by that? I mean that the Word of God should be studied diligently, not as most on Sunday morning for 20 or 30 minutes, but earnestly as if searching for buried treasure of eternal value! And if so, the Word of God will convince a person of the biblical requirements for holiness. For without holiness no man, no woman, and no young person, will see God, and that is according to the Word of God!
If earnestly studied, the Word of God will lead an individual or group to a true understanding of the importance to endure to the end of one’s life or to the end of man’s rule upon planet earth. If earnestly studied, the Word of God will instruct us to continue in the Word of God and to abide in the words of Jesus Christ which will direct us to become and to remain overcomers in and through the blood of the Lamb and the word of our uncompromising true Christian testimony and everyday witness.
Something Else To Consider:
God was about to guide these shepherd messengers of good news to the discovery of a long awaited historical and prophetical eternal event. As true believers in Christ and as leaders in training, God is guiding us. Where is God guiding you? Where is God guiding me? Where is God guiding His true end time church of the Lord Jesus Christ? As leaders and leaders in training we should always be ready, willing, and able to hear His guiding voice found in His living Word, His life empowering love letter, and our bright beacon of hope and help.
And yet, this Word of God, this message of much meaning continues to be under spiritual attack. There are those who continue their evil efforts to silence or to distort the Word of God especially in these end times. Therefore, is the message that we are sending forth from our lives, through our actions, our deeds, and our thoughts, speaking of the glory of God or is that message being silenced or distorted?
Does the message we carry bring with it good tidings of great joy, peace, and good will toward all men, women, and young people of all ages, race, nations, and cultures? If what our lives are declaring is His message then it must be a message of much meaning!
Can we as true believing leaders and leaders in training also be counted on to faithfully carry this message of the good news to our generation? Will we be chosen by God and entrusted with this message of much meaning, to be delivered in the love of Jesus to the ends of the earth?
Will we be faithful with this message of much meaning, that a Savior is born, who is Christ the Lord, Jesus of Nazareth. Will we allow ourselves to properly be prepared by God to herald a message of holiness and a message that Jesus is coming again to establish an everlasting kingdom? I certainly hope so!
Something More To Consider:
And yet, the Word of God, this message of much meaning, that a Savior has been born is being compromised, is being altered, and neglected, and therefore society on every level is suffering to say the least. And in its place, in place of the Word of God, this message of much meaning, another message has been and is being delivered on a global scale.
That extremely deceptive message is not about our need for holiness or our need to endure to the end, or our need to study to show ourselves approved unto God. Even the Christmas story of Christ’s birth is being humanly erased from the halls of education, politics, and worldwide commerce. But the true record of His birth speaks from both the Old and New Testaments as a clear witness to both the prophetic prediction and the bringing about of that future prediction.
In Isaiah chapter 9.6-7 we are informed of a future event. “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.”
A Few Final Words:
The enemy of our souls along with world leaders do not want us to study the Word of God in its entirety, but to remain in darkness, deceived, and ignorant of the glad tidings and good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. If the Word of God is exposed and experienced as living and powerful, one will find it to be filled with many messages of much meaning such as in 2 Timothy 3.12. “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus [that is to live a life of holiness according to God’s Word] will suffer persecution.”
Why will we as true believers in Christ suffer persecution? The answer lies in the very next verse of 2 Timothy 3.13; “But evil men and imposters [false so-called Christian leaders] will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” That is exactly where we are today in this evil and corrupt 21st century.
Paul continues his message of much meaning in verses 14-15, by instructing true believers, “But you [even end time believers] must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
That is the reason the Word of God has been assaulted down through the centuries and why we will experience further attacks against the Word of God in these last days. And yet, Paul finishes his lesson of a lifetime to young Timothy by stating, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man [woman or young person] may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
And if we are not being taught these things by our so-called religious leaders, it may be possible we are being deceived! Therefore, the wisest of leaders as well as leaders in training, contemplate long and hard on the meaning of the messages they herald and hear, and the long-lasting affect it may have on the many hearers of those messages. “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, may the good news of Jesus Christ be born in our hearts and in the hearts of many in this possible last generation. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 