More Privileged Than Angels: A Review of ‘The Wonder of Angels’

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[00:02:42] and Eucharist.
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Hey, welcome home!

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Good to see you again.
[00:06:20] Is it Christmas?
[00:06:20] They come in 26.
[00:06:21] That's exciting.

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So while we go to business, we need to get an iPad.

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We need to get an iPad.

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and I can see the Lord out from the heart.

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[00:10:04] of Christ.
[00:10:42] Let's pray.

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Let us pray.

[00:11:50] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Emmanuel, welcome to Back Creek Church.
[00:12:08] It's good to see everybody this morning.
[00:12:10] We're going to stand and prepare our hearts through song.

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In Jesus name we pray.
[00:12:29] Amen.

[00:12:51] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Glory to the newborn King Peace on earth and mercy mild God and sinners reconciled Joyful all you nations rise Join the triumph of the skies Wings and cherubic hosts proclaim

[00:13:23] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
All the angels sing, Glory to the Lord King Christ by highest heaven adored,
[00:13:54] Offspring of a virgin's womb Hail, being flesh the Godhead see Hail, being Godhead deity Pleaseless man we've named to dwell Jesus our Emmanuel Hark!
[00:14:18] the herald angels sing

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All things of peace Hail the Son of Righteousness Glide and life to all He brings Praise when with healing in His wings Mighty lays His glory by Born that man no more may die Born to raise the sons of earth

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The Lord's angels sing

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Amen.
[00:15:42] You may be seated.

[00:15:43] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Mild he lays his glory by, born that man no more may die, born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth.
[00:15:59] This is the God that we are gathered before with one another to worship and to adore.
[00:16:06] And we're so glad that you are with us.
[00:16:08] Whether you are a long-time member, a first-time guest, or somewhere in between, thank you for being with us for our worship today.
[00:16:15] If you would, if you use Church Center,
[00:16:19] We'd love to have you check in there to have a record of your attendance with us.
[00:16:22] And if you're not using Church Center yet, you can look to the inside of your row.
[00:16:26] And particularly if you're a guest, if you find a white folder there, we'd love to have your name and whatever contact information you feel comfortable giving to us, whether that is an email address, a phone number, a physical address.
[00:16:37] We want to be able to connect further with you and find out if there are ways that we can be of service to you.
[00:16:43] Also want to make sure to invite you.
[00:16:47] On Wednesday evening, 5 p.m., December the 24th, Christmas Eve, we'll be here to worship the Lord, to celebrate the good news of great joy that is for all people, that Christ has come.
[00:17:04] We'll do that with Christmas carols, with the reading of Scripture, with the Gospel message, with the lighting of candles.
[00:17:13] And it's a special time for us as a faith family, and so I want to encourage you to be here as well as to invite others to join us on Christmas Eve.
[00:17:22] I also want to note that that evening we do take up an offering, but in contrast to the offerings that we take up every week in public worship, which go to the operations and ministries of Bat Creek Church, the special offering on Christmas Eve, 100% of it, unless noted otherwise, goes to our Deacons Mercy Ministry Fund.
[00:17:43] The goal there is for our deacons, who are our lead servants in the church,
[00:17:49] To meet the physical and material needs of people within our church and also people in our community who are in need.
[00:17:56] And so as you come, come prepared to give to that effort as well.
[00:18:01] There are lots of ways in this season and every season to connect with the Lord and with each other through Back Creek Church.
[00:18:08] I would refer you to the back of your bulletin for more information on that as well as to the church center app or to our church website.
[00:18:16] It is the fourth week of Advent, and you believe we're already here.
[00:18:22] And so it's today that we light the angel's candle.

[00:18:50] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Today we light the angel's candle, which reminds us of the angels who announce the good news of Jesus' birth.
[00:18:59] Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
[00:19:06] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
[00:19:15] The good news of Jesus is explained in John.
[00:19:17] For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
[00:19:27] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

[00:19:51] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Thank you, Tarasovich family.
[00:19:55] It's our joy to worship the Lord today, and it's the Lord who calls us to His worship.
[00:20:01] Psalm 103, 20-22.
[00:20:04] Bless the Lord, O you His angels, you mighty ones who do His word, obeying the voice of His word.
[00:20:12] Bless the Lord, all His hosts, His ministers who do His will.
[00:20:16] Bless the Lord, all His works, in all places of His dominion.
[00:20:21] Bless the Lord, O my soul.
[00:20:24] Let's go to the Lord together in prayer.
[00:20:29] O Lord, we are in awe when we consider
[00:20:36] that when we seek to bless you as we do each Sunday as we gather on this day set aside by you for the purpose of blessing your people of giving us grace through the means that you have appointed and of receiving our worship that when we seek to bless you
[00:20:54] that Lord we are joining with all creation all your works and all places of dominion that we are joining with the mighty angels in your presence who never stop saying holy holy holy is the Lord God Almighty the earth is filled with his glory Lord even the the mighty and beautiful and awe-inspiring angels are in awe of you
[00:21:20] and declare your glory even as the angels who announced Christ's birth said glory to God in the highest and announced peace to those on earth with whom his favor rests oh Lord it is our aim today to bless you to bless you from the core of who we are to bless you from our souls to exalt your name and to worship you as we ought as those who were once your enemies who have been made your children
[00:21:50] As those who deserve your justice and yet have received your mercy, as those who are loved by you beyond comprehension, those who you have invited to join you in your mission of making all things new.
[00:22:06] Lord, the way that we primarily do that is by articulating, announcing in echo of the angels the good news of great joy, the good news of Jesus Christ.
[00:22:20] and to do that effectively oh Lord we need to be renewed in it every day and especially every week and so renew us now in the hope of the gospel Lord remind us of who we were apart from Christ who we are in Christ in the hope that we have through him and Lord help us to respond to that by loving you with all of our hearts and all of our souls and all of our minds and all of your all of our strength
[00:22:48] We love you Lord and we thank you for this opportunity to love you, to serve you, to praise you.
[00:23:02] And we pray these things in the mighty name of Jesus.
[00:23:05] Amen.
[00:23:06] Let's stand together and worship the Lord in song.

[00:23:18] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Let us pray.

[00:23:44] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
It came upon the midnight clear That glorious song of old From angels bending near the earth To touch their harps of gold
[00:24:11] Goodwill to men from heaven's all gracious King The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing
[00:24:40] Yet with the woes of sin and strife the world has suffered long Beneath the angels' strain have roared two thousand years of war
[00:25:05] For with men is not the love song which they play Oh hush the noisy men of strife and hear the angels sing
[00:25:37] Life's crushing load whose forms are bending low Who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow
[00:26:00] For glad and golden hours come swiftly on the way O rest beside the weary road and hear the angels sing
[00:26:30] For lo, the days are hastening on By prophet bards foretold When with the ever-circling years Comes round the age of gold
[00:26:53] When peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendor spring And the whole world gives back the song which now the angels sing

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God rest you merry gentlemen.
[00:27:23] The words should be in your bulletin.
[00:27:25] Also on the screen, hopefully.

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[00:28:00] Let us pray.

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God rest ye merry gentlemen Let nothing you dismay Remember Christ our Savior Was born on Christmas day To save us all from Satan's power When we were gone astray O tidings of comfort and joy Comfort and joy O tidings
[00:29:06] From God our heavenly Father A blessed angel came And unto certain shepherds Brought tidings of the same How that in Bethlehem was born The Son of God by name O tidings of comfort and joy Comfort and joy O tidings
[00:29:50] Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy
[00:30:25] The shepherds at those tidings rejoiced much in mind and left their flocks of feeding in tempest, storm, and wind and went to Bethlehem straightway, the Son of God, to find old tidings of comfort

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And all of God's people said, Amen.
[00:31:19] You may be seated.

[00:31:31] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
We confess our faith today using the Magnificat, the song of Mary.
[00:31:39] Not her immediate response to the angel, which in and of itself is beautiful and honorable.
[00:31:46] Let it be to me as you have said, I'm the Lord's servant.
[00:31:50] But having reflected
[00:31:53] And prayed, the Holy Spirit inspired a song from Mary that declares the glory of God in the Incarnation.
[00:32:03] So let's confess our faith together, Luke 1, 45-55.
[00:32:09] My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
[00:32:15] For he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
[00:32:19] For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.
[00:32:25] For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
[00:32:31] And His mercy is for those who fear Him from generation to generation.
[00:32:36] He has shown strength with His arm.
[00:32:39] He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
[00:32:43] He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate.
[00:32:49] He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty.
[00:32:55] He has helped His servant Israel in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.
[00:33:05] Amen.
[00:33:05] I want to invite one of our elders, Chip Wampler, to come and lead us in a prayer of intercession.

[00:33:25] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Let us go to the Lord in prayer.
[00:33:28] Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, what a privilege we have to come before your mighty throne this morning to offer up our prayers and thanksgivings to you.
[00:33:40] You have created all things, and as Isaiah 6.3 states, the whole earth is full of your glory, and we are all in awe of your splendor.
[00:33:52] As we lit the angel candle, we are reminded that the heavenly host and the angels announced and rang out the birth of our Savior, saying, Glory to God in the highest.
[00:34:03] Yet, in your awesome and mighty way, you sent your Son, Jesus Christ, to be born in a barnstall and be laid in a manger.
[00:34:14] Your angels announced the birth, first to the shepherds, letting us all know that Jesus, who lived a perfect life,
[00:34:22] The Lord, Father, as we hear the story, sing the praises and the carols in celebration of Jesus' birth, I pray that we don't get caught up in the rushing around to find that gift.
[00:34:48] Letting the traffic stress us out.
[00:34:50] We are trying to schedule and prepare for all of the family events and activities that we forget the real reason of this season when we leave this your house.
[00:35:01] I pray that we carry the gift of Jesus and his saving grace each and every day.
[00:35:08] Lord God, you are the wonderful counselor and you continue to provide your flock here at Back Creek with your word.
[00:35:15] Lord, I lift up Matt and thank you for his steadfast preaching of that word.
[00:35:20] I lift up Kelly, Dawn, and Adam who work to ensure that our youth are taught your word as it should be.
[00:35:26] And Lord, I thank you for all our youth and their parents who entrust them to our leaders and the volunteers who serve them.
[00:35:35] I do lift up our staff, elders, deacons, the Romans, Gary, and the many volunteers who come together to ensure your house, your church, your flock are taken care of.
[00:35:50] Lord, as we sit down and open gifts and gather around the table, I pray that we don't forget those who are without this season.
[00:35:59] I thank you for the many drivers and assistants who help provide transportation for the room in the inn.
[00:36:05] I thank you for the men who work at the local food kitchens and serve homeless.
[00:36:11] I thank you for the scouts who will cook breakfast Christmas morning for the homeless.
[00:36:17] Father, especially at this time of year when we celebrate the peace, joy, hope, and love, and mercy.
[00:36:24] Lord, I pray for peace, compassion, and unity, not only here in our nation, but around the world.
[00:36:31] Lord, we need you so much.
[00:36:34] As the great physician, Lord, our prayer list is long with those struggling with cancer and the harsh treatments that come with it.
[00:36:43] Lord, we ask for healing, healing that only you can provide.
[00:36:47] We pray for guidance for medical personnel as they seek to provide treatments.
[00:36:53] As those fight the battle, we pray for strength and comfort.
[00:36:57] But most of all, Lord, we pray for saving relationship with you for each and every one of them.
[00:37:04] I lift up our homebound and those in special facilities.
[00:37:08] Give them peace.
[00:37:09] Let them know that they are loved here at Back Creek.
[00:37:13] I pray for our local campus ministries, RUF and CRU.
[00:37:18] I pray for our global ministries and all of the missionaries who work to spread the hope of the gospel.
[00:37:23] I pray for our preschool and thank you for the 35 years of serving our little people.
[00:37:30] Thank you for Ruthie and Jane and the many others.
[00:37:33] Thank you for our Scout troop and its 57 years of providing traditional values to young men.
[00:37:39] Lord, I lift up our men and women in uniform here and especially around the world who are away from home and their families at this season.
[00:37:49] Keep them out of harm's way.
[00:37:50] Be with their families as they celebrate without a parent.
[00:37:55] Father, as we celebrate with giving and receiving of gifts, may we now give back a portion of the provisions that you have provided to each and every one of us as our tithes to you.
[00:38:06] May our gifts be used in a manner that brings glory to you and the message of saving grace.
[00:38:12] In the mighty name of Jesus, our Savior.
[00:38:15] Amen.

[00:38:36] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
God Bless!
[00:39:58] Thank you for watching!
[00:42:11] Thank you.

[00:42:26] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
The dictionary defines wonder as a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration caused by something beautiful, unexpected, or unexplainable.
[00:42:37] There has never been anything in all of history more surprising, more admirable, more unexpected, or more unexplainable than the God who created everything coming into our world as a little baby.
[00:42:50] That is the wonder of Christmas, and the story of how it all happened uniquely prepares our hearts to wonder and to receive the love that came to save us.

[00:43:16] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
If you're a child second grade and younger, you're welcome to stay with us for the message.
[00:43:21] But if you and your parents agree, then you can be dismissed right over here through this door for kids worship.
[00:43:26] And you'll return as we are responding to God's word in song.
[00:43:46] I just want to say thank you to Bill and the Bells for their assistance in worship this morning, as well as y'all.
[00:43:55] We're so blessed.
[00:43:56] Frank and with our worship team and how they faithfully lead us in musically worshiping the Lord each week.
[00:44:04] We're going to be in three different New Testament passages this morning.
[00:44:09] We're going to be in 1 Timothy 3, verse 16, Luke 2, 8-14, a portion of which was read a little while ago, and then 1 Peter 1, 3-12.
[00:44:19] So that's 1 Timothy 3, verse 16.
[00:44:22] Luke 2 8 through 14 and 1st Peter 1 3 through 12 and those passages will be up on the wall behind me if you want to refer to a physical Bible there should be one close to you in the pew and if you don't have a Bible at home we'd love for you to take that Bible home as our gift to you before we get into God's Word let's let's pray together Lord Jesus
[00:44:48] How blessed were those who saw you in your first coming.
[00:44:54] Your precious mother, your noble adopted father, the lowly shepherds, the glorious angels.
[00:45:04] And yet your word tells us, blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.
[00:45:12] So Lord, we ask you now to help us to believe in bigger and brighter and more beautiful ways the good news of great joy that is for us.
[00:45:22] And help us, Lord, to, in light of your first coming, live ready for your second coming.
[00:45:31] And we pray these things in your name.
[00:45:33] Amen.
[00:45:36] How often do you think of angels, really?
[00:45:41] We think about them at Christmas because they're important to the story and we have so many songs and carols and hymns that mention them.
[00:45:50] If you grew up in church, you might have had to play an angel in the children's musical.
[00:45:55] That goes double if you're a pastor's kid.
[00:45:58] I was Harp the Herald Angel one year and Arch the Angel What a Guy the next.
[00:46:05] We also think about them at Easter.
[00:46:07] Because they were the first ones to announce that Jesus had conquered the grave.
[00:46:13] We have that one angel, this anonymous angel, with this awesome line, Why do you look for the living among the dead?
[00:46:19] He is not here.
[00:46:20] He is risen.
[00:46:23] It's Christmas.
[00:46:23] Y'all weren't ready.
[00:46:25] He is risen!
[00:46:26] That's not just true on Easter Sunday.
[00:46:31] It's true all the time.
[00:46:33] It's true at Christmas.
[00:46:34] It's true on New Year's.
[00:46:37] It's true on Easter.
[00:46:39] It's true in summertime.
[00:46:40] It's true at VBS.
[00:46:40] It's true everywhere and at all times that the baby who was born and placed in a manger became a man on a bloody cross who walked out of the tomb in victory.
[00:46:50] Amen?
[00:46:51] He is risen.
[00:46:54] Thank you.
[00:47:01] But outside of Christmas and Easter, we don't tend to think about angels very much.
[00:47:07] The truth is, though, they're everywhere in the Bible.
[00:47:11] The word angel appears three times more in Scripture than the word apostle.
[00:47:17] And the angels play an important role in the story of redemption.
[00:47:23] When Adam and Eve sinned, when they rebelled against God and they were banished from the paradise of the Garden of Eden, it was angels who were set outside of the Garden to guard the way to the Tree of Life.
[00:47:36] When Abraham's nephew Lot is rescued from God's just destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, it was angels who helped him escape.
[00:47:46] When the patriarch Jacob heard the word of the Lord speaking to him in a dream, he saw a vision of angels ascending and descending a stairway to heaven.
[00:47:59] When the prophet Daniel
[00:48:00] The Holy Spirit had powerful visions but needed insight and understanding so that he could communicate what it was he was seeing.
[00:48:09] It was the angel Gabriel who provided them.
[00:48:13] It was that same angel who met Zechariah in the temple and told him in his old age he would have a son who would prepare the way for the Messiah.
[00:48:23] An angel told Mary that she would conceive by the Holy Spirit and that she would give birth to the Messiah.
[00:48:29] An angel told Joseph not to be afraid to take Mary home as his wife because what was conceived in her was, in fact, God's only son, the Messiah.
[00:48:40] Angels announced to the shepherds that Jesus was born.
[00:48:44] Angels ministered to Jesus in the wilderness after his 40 days of fasting and preparation and temptation.
[00:48:53] Angels announce that Jesus was risen.
[00:48:56] Angels will gather God's people together when Jesus returns.
[00:49:01] Apparently, angels hang around.
[00:49:05] And sometimes when we show hospitality to strangers, we might be entertaining angels unaware.
[00:49:11] That's Hebrews 13.2 if you want to check it.
[00:49:14] All that to say that angels matter.
[00:49:17] And it's good for us to think about them and to consider their role in what God is doing in the world and in history.
[00:49:26] And as we look at Scripture together, I want to call us again through the angels to wonder and to receive God's love.
[00:49:37] So first, let's wonder at the angel's perspective.
[00:49:42] Let's wonder at the angel's perspective.
[00:49:46] What is your favorite Christmas carol?
[00:49:50] We get to sing some amazing lyrics at Christmas time.
[00:49:54] Honestly, I wish we sang Christmas songs more throughout the year because of how amazing some of the lyrics are.
[00:50:00] We sang a little while ago, Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail the incarnate deity, Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel.
[00:50:15] From what child is this?
[00:50:17] Nails spear shall pierce him through the cross be born for me for you hail hail the word made flesh the babe the son of mary long lay the world in sin and error pining till he appeared and the soul felt its worth
[00:50:40] a thrill of hope the weary world rejoices for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn fall on your knees oh hear the angel voices night divine oh night when Christ was born
[00:51:00] We could go on and on and on.
[00:51:04] But did you know that when we sing these hymns about Jesus, we're actually participating in a tradition that goes all the way back to the apostles?
[00:51:13] Biblical scholars identify several passages in the New Testament that appear to be early church hymns about Jesus.
[00:51:23] Philippians 2, 6-11, Colossians 1, 15-20, John 1, 1-18.
[00:51:30] One of these so-called Christ hymns is 1 Timothy 3.16 and it mentions the angel's perspective.
[00:51:39] The angel's perspective.
[00:51:40] So look with me at Timothy 3.16.
[00:51:45] Great indeed we confess is the mystery of godliness.
[00:51:51] He, that's Christ, was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by...
[00:52:00] angels proclaimed among the nations believed on in the world taken up in glory seen by angels angels have a unique and wondrous perspective because they have seen god's mighty acts of redemption all throughout history they have known god the son since he created them
[00:52:23] The Bible doesn't specifically say when God created angels, but it was sometime between in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth in Genesis chapter 3.
[00:52:36] We know this because in the third chapter of the Bible, the serpent who tempted Eve and Adam to rebel against God was in fact a fallen angel that we know as Satan, the devil.
[00:52:48] So since creation, early creation, angels have witnessed what God has been doing in heaven and on earth.
[00:52:56] They have seen God the Son in glory, and they have spent ages worshiping Him and ministering unseen in His name.
[00:53:06] While they likely have had some idea of God's plan of salvation,
[00:53:12] The angels' minds must have been absolutely blown to see the glorious object of their eternal worship wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.
[00:53:24] He was manifested in the flesh.
[00:53:28] They were moved to fill up the sky outside of Bethlehem and give expression to worship in the words, Glory to God in the highest.
[00:53:42] While they could see God in the lowest place.
[00:53:46] And that perspective would continue throughout Jesus' earthly ministry.
[00:53:51] The angels saw him vindicated by the Spirit in his baptism.
[00:53:55] When the Spirit descended on him and the Father spoke from heaven, This is my Son in whom I am well pleased.
[00:54:02] In the wilderness at his human weakest.
[00:54:05] When he fought the devil and won.
[00:54:09] They witnessed His miracles and His messages.
[00:54:12] They saw Him in His crucifixion as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world and His resurrection as the victor over sin and Satan and death which had plagued the world for so long.
[00:54:24] They saw Him in His ascension and exaltation at the Father's right hand.
[00:54:28] The angels have seen and assisted the church.
[00:54:33] As we proclaim Christ among the nations and as he is believed on in the world, it is right for us to wonder at the angel's perspective.
[00:54:42] They have a perspective that is so different from our own.
[00:54:45] It's one of witnesses and participants in the whole story of redemption.
[00:54:52] We should wonder at their perspective, especially as those whose praises we echo when we sing Gloria in excelsis Deo.
[00:55:00] Glory to God in the highest.
[00:55:04] We wonder at the angel's perspective.
[00:55:05] Second, let's wonder at the angel's proclamation.
[00:55:11] Let's wonder at the angel's proclamation.
[00:55:13] What do you think is the most important proclamation that has ever been given?
[00:55:22] Philippides sprinting the 26 miles to Athens to announce victory and then falling over dead?
[00:55:29] Was it George Washington's Thanksgiving proclamation?
[00:55:32] Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation proclamation?
[00:55:35] Was it the proclamation of VE Day in World War II?
[00:55:39] There are so many important proclamations throughout history, but all of them combined pale in comparison to the proclamation of the angels over Bethlehem.
[00:55:51] Luke chapter 2 verses 8 through 14 and in the same region there were shepherds out in the field keeping watch over their flock by night and an angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were filled with great fear the angel said to them fear not for behold I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people
[00:56:16] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord.
[00:56:23] And this will be a sign for you.
[00:56:25] You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.
[00:56:30] 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 among those with whom he is pleased.
[00:56:44] There's a lot to wonder at in this proclamation.
[00:56:48] Fear not.
[00:56:51] A message from the one true and holy God to humanity that has in every possible way rejected Him is not going to be a fearful, scary message.
[00:57:04] A message of condemnation and justice for all that we have done wrong?
[00:57:08] No.
[00:57:08] It's instead a proclamation of good news of great joy.
[00:57:13] Quite the opposite of bad news of judgment that we deserve, which would bring despair.
[00:57:18] It's good news intended to bring us great joy.
[00:57:25] We know it is for us.
[00:57:27] Because the angel says that this good news of great joy is for all the people.
[00:57:33] And we're included in that.
[00:57:35] But as if to double down on making sure we understand it is for us, the angel says, for unto y'all.
[00:57:48] He was, of course, directly talking to the shepherds on the ground before him.
[00:57:53] But this proclamation is equally for everyone who hears it or reads it.
[00:57:58] It is the most important message of all time.
[00:58:02] And yes, it is for you.
[00:58:06] What is that message?
[00:58:09] This is the best part of the proclamation.
[00:58:12] Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord.
[00:58:21] very simply this proclamation of God through his messenger the angel is that he has met our greatest need we need a savior we need someone who can do for us what we failed to do for ourselves we need someone who can keep the law of God perfectly we need someone who could
[00:58:45] Receive the condemnation of God that we deserve in our place.
[00:58:49] We need someone to crush the head of our enemy, the devil.
[00:58:53] We need someone to make right all that has gone wrong.
[00:58:57] We need someone to reconcile us to God and to restore to us the life with Him that sin robbed us of.
[00:59:04] We have needed a Savior since Genesis chapter 3.
[00:59:07] And God has promised a Savior since Genesis chapter 3.
[00:59:16] And that Savior that He has promised would be the Messiah, the Anointed One, the only One qualified to do, to complete God's redeeming work.
[00:59:26] He would be the Christ.
[00:59:29] A Savior who is the long-promised Messiah, the Christ.
[00:59:35] And this Savior, this Christ is actually God Himself come to be with us.
[00:59:41] He is Emmanuel, God with us.
[00:59:43] He is the Lord.
[00:59:46] A Savior who is Christ the Lord.
[00:59:49] And how has He come?
[00:59:53] In the glory and honor that are rightfully His, you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.
[01:00:08] And at this proclamation, the entire host of heaven cannot contain themselves any longer and they burst forth in wonder and awe as they declare glory to God in the highest peace among those with whom he is pleased.
[01:00:26] We wonder at the angel's perspective.
[01:00:28] We wonder at the angel's proclamation.
[01:00:30] And lastly, let's wonder with the angels at our privilege.
[01:00:37] Let's wonder with the angels at our privilege.
[01:00:42] In 1 Peter 1, the Apostle Peter describes how the proclamation of the angels over Bethlehem played out in history for our salvation.
[01:00:53] 1 Peter 1, 3-12
[01:00:58] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[01:01:02] According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
[01:01:24] In this you rejoice.
[01:01:26] Though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
[01:01:44] Though you have not seen Him, you love Him.
[01:01:49] Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
[01:02:03] Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ was indicating when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and subsequent glories.
[01:02:20] It was revealed to them,
[01:02:23] that they were serving not themselves but you and the things that have now been announced to you through those who preach the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven listen things into which angels long to look the good news of Jesus is something that angels are intimately familiar with
[01:02:50] They knew of and have participated in God's plan as it unfolded in history.
[01:02:56] They proclaimed it on the night that Jesus was born.
[01:02:59] They announced Jesus' resurrection to the first witnesses at the empty tomb.
[01:03:05] The angels know the good news of great joy and it brings them great joy.
[01:03:11] They love the good news.
[01:03:15] But they cannot experience the good news.
[01:03:19] They wonder at our privilege that we get to know Jesus, not only as God and King, the one who is eternally worthy of our worship, but also that we get to know Him as our Savior, and as our brother, as our shepherd, and as our friend.
[01:03:41] These are things into which angels can only long to look.
[01:03:47] Martin Luther said this,
[01:03:50] It is not for the angels to be proud of Christ's incarnation.
[01:03:55] For Christ did not assume an angelic but a human nature.
[01:04:01] Therefore it would not be a surprise if angels looked at us with envy in their eyes because we human beings, creatures far inferior to them and sinners besides, are placed above them into an honor so high and great
[01:04:19] They worship Christ who has become our brother, our flesh and blood.
[01:04:29] If an angel of God were to appear in this room right now before us, we would feel at least two very powerful emotions.
[01:04:40] The first emotion that we would feel would be great fear of such an awesome and beautiful and powerful creature.
[01:04:50] The second emotion that we would feel would be a strong desire to bow down and to worship something so wondrous.
[01:05:01] Yet, as amazing as an angel is, that angel here in our midst would not know the privilege of God's passionate and particular love for those He made in His image.
[01:05:18] The angel would not understand the joy and freedom of sins forgiven.
[01:05:24] He could not understand the peace of salvation that can never be taken away, the hope of an inheritance of all that is God's eternally because we are his adopted children and co-heirs with Christ.
[01:05:39] The angel could not comprehend the family of the church, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the knowledge of future resurrection and the present participation in God's work in this world, not merely as messengers, but as witnesses.
[01:05:57] And the privilege of receiving these words for unto you.
[01:06:04] Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord.
[01:06:14] What a wonder that these privileges given to us are things into which angels as great and as glorious and as powerful and as beautiful and amazing as they are can only long to look.
[01:06:37] Let's pray.
[01:06:41] Lord our God, we thank you and praise you for the angels, for those who have been your messengers and your ministers, those who have worshipped you around your throne throughout all of history.
[01:06:54] We thank you for their wisdom and their insight, their beauty and their power.
[01:06:58] We thank you for the faithful angels and their ministry to us.
[01:07:03] Lord, thank you for the proclamation over Bethlehem.
[01:07:07] Thank you for the way in which angels continue to minister to us unseen by us.
[01:07:17] But Lord, we also thank you that as we wonder at the angels' perspective and at their proclamation, that we are more privileged than they.
[01:07:28] That we get to know you intimately.
[01:07:33] Not only as our God and our King, but as the one whom our soul loves.
[01:07:41] As our Father, as our Friend, as our Savior, as our Shepherd.
[01:07:48] Lord, overwhelm us with the wonder that we could know our Creator God in this way, because He took on flesh and dwelt among us, because we have seen His glory, glory of the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth, because from His fullness we have received grace upon grace.
[01:08:11] Lord, help us wonder at the angels, but Lord, help us wonder with them,
[01:08:15] that we should be so blessed we thank you for these things and we pray in your name amen let's stand and respond to god's word in song
[01:12:31] Thank you so much for gathering with us for worship today.
[01:12:33] I hope that you will be able to join us 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve, whether you do or you don't.
[01:12:39] Let me be able to say now, Merry Christmas.
[01:12:42] If you belong to Christ, then you go out into the world with his blessings.
[01:12:47] So lift up your heads and your hands and your hearts and receive now the benediction of the Lord our God.
[01:12:53] For unto us a child is born unto us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulders and he shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.