Being the world’s hope and peace allows us to be filled with joy.
We are a rare breed of humanity. We have been selected to be God’s own possession. We are called to be God’s royal priesthood. The Lord, by way of His Holy Spirit lives in us making us new creations.
We are not the normal men and women on the street. We are not like the Jews or even Gentiles. We are not slaves of free men because we don’t actually belong to this world.
Jesus came as Messiah, Savior, Lord and King. His Kingdom is not of this world. Once we grasp that we can fully understand the Joy we bring to a world that is perishing.
If you were told by an alien visitor that your world was going to be destroyed and that he could save you from the destruction if you would allow him to indwell your body, would you give him permission?
To what extent would you go to save yourself from the coming wrath against this world’s sin?
I know this sounds a bit extreme but this is why we have become the world’s joy. We know how to be saved and we now should be desiring that others come to know it also.
Luke 2:8-20
The Shepherds and Angels
8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.
20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
Alien beings have invaded earth to tell a group of shepherds that the earth was now going to be the home of their Lord. He was going to be the Messiah of this world. After telling the shepherds they returned to heaven and the shepherds decide they had best check out this thing that was happening.
Once they returned to Bethlehem they found everything just as the alien beings told them it would be.
They began to tell everyone about this child. After a while they went back to the fields all the while praising and glorifying God for all He had done.
These shepherds were filled with joy. They knew the world had a new King. This new King was the Savior and Deliverer. He was the Messiah that had come from heaven that they had been told about all their lives.
Now the fulfillment of the legend had come to pass. The Messiah was born. Everything was now going to be different.
Yes, the world looked the same. Yes, the shepherds were still shepherds and they had a job to do. Yet, they now had an inner joy that was inexpressible because they knew that God’s King had arrived.
Philippians 4:4-5
4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
When you know the truth you have been set free from that which holds you captive.
The shepherds, although still lowly sheep herders, are now aware of something far greater. They know the King has come. They can have joy within because they are free from the oppression of their environment.
I know this sounds strange but true joy comes from knowing the truth about what surrounds you. You can have hope, peace and joy all because of the knowledge you now have.
Once you know the truth, your desire for others to know it should be escalated to a point of action.
Isaiah 61:10
I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels.
A bride that is dressed for the wedding awaits her entrance. She knows everything is in place yet she must wait for the precise moment to enter her new marriage relationship.
We have been dressed in our salvation. We have been draped with our deliverance. Now we must wait for the King. In the meantime our joy should overflow to those around us.
Psalm 97:12
May all who are godly rejoice in the LORD and praise his holy name!
Zechariah 10:7
The people of Israel will become like mighty warriors, and their hearts will be made happy as if by wine. Their children, too, will see it and be glad; their hearts will rejoice in the LORD.
We have something that the whole world needs to know. We have been introduced to the King. We know the Messiah has come. We realize that He is coming again.
Habakkuk 3:17-19
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! 19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength!
We can hold to Habakkuk’s promise because we know the Messiah will come once again.
Psalm 32:11
So rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!
Psalm 64:10
The godly will rejoice in the LORD and find shelter in him. And those who do what is right will praise him.
Psalm 104:33-35
I will sing to the LORD as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath! 34 May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD. 35 Let all sinners vanish from the face of the earth; let the wicked disappear forever. Let all that I am praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!
Psalm 35:9-10
Then I will rejoice in the LORD. I will be glad because he rescues me. 10 With every bone in my body I will praise him: “LORD, who can compare with you? Who else rescues the helpless from the strong? Who else protects the helpless and poor from those who rob them?”
Philippians 3:1
Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.
Let’s go back and read the shepherds story once again.
Luke 2:8-20
The Shepherds and Angels
8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep.
Everything was normal.
9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified,
Everything was starting to change. When the unknown makes itself known to you your first reaction is to be fearful.
10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.
Here’s where the joy enters. Guess who is going to spread the joy to the world? Those who now know what’s going on.
11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!
The long awaited King has now come. There is no one still living that knows anything other than the stories of the coming King. Could it now be true?
12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
For the shepherds to recognize the new King they must go out and find Him.
13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
A host of alien beings have now appeared to the shepherds to announce this other world visitation.
15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
We are not told how long the angels were there. We are not told how much information the shepherds were given but they knew enough to know what and who they were looking for.
16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.
Some aliens visited us in the fields and told us about this child. He is the Messiah. He is our King. He has been sent to save us from God’s wrath against this world’s sin.
Mary knew Jesus was the Messiah. She knew He was the Son of the Most High. She knew He was special and now there are others who have been told also.
Before we finish I want to look back at…
Luke 1:1-4
Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. 2 They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. 3 Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write a careful account for you, most honorable Theophilus, 4 so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.
Luke has given us a careful account that has been validated by the witnesses and people close to the events. The story of the shepherds is a true and valid account according to Luke.
Now let’s finish this up.
Luke 2:20
20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
Everything had now changed. Everything was new and different. Salvation and deliverance had come. The King of the true Kingdom was now amongst His people drawing them to a far greater reality.
Let us pray.
