Video : The Angel That Visited The Shepherds Luke 2:9

This video is an excerpt from the sermon giving by Pastor David Ray Jr at Grace Bible Church, Sangerville Maine on Christmas Day, December 25th, 2016. This was part of his advent series on the visitations of the angels to various people during the amazing incarnation and birth of the Son of God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The sermon title: "The Angel that Visited the Shepherds" from Luke 2:8-21

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock 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 unto you; You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.'
And suddenly there with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill
toward men!"
Luke 2:9-14

(Transcript of the video)

(Angels) They were aware that He’d laid those things aside for a little while, to come to earth to become one of us. To become a sacrifice really for us. You see, they also knew of the fall of man. They had been informed also that God was going to provide a way for the salvation for man. They knew about that. They knew the prophesy had been made that a Savior would come and that a sacrifice would be made. And they understood all of this and they were praising God because they were seeing God’s grace on display. They were thanking God for His indescribable gift. They were looking into the things… our salvation.

Peter talks about that, when he says that angels long to look into our salvation to try to understand. You see they never experienced the kind of salvation we can experience. They haven’t experienced the grace and mercy and forgiveness that we can experience.

You see, angels have never been forgiven. They’ve never been redeemed . And so they long to look into that. They’re interested in how God is working to save us and make salvation available to us.

You know, if the angels glorify God for this wonderful work, how much more should we raise up our voices and praise God for this wonderful work, and honor our Lord and Savior. It’s the greatest thing we can do with our life, is to live for the glory of God. 

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Video by Susan L. Estes

Re-Posting: They Missed Christmas: originally posted 12/14/13

(2015), I expanded this into an hour long Christmas program performed by my home church on Christmas Eve.

They Missed Christmas

The innkeeper missed Christmas. He turned away a woman heavy with child because she and her husband could not pay enough for him to bother to oust another paying guest.

The guests of the inn missed Christmas. Not one of them took pity on the woman to give up their room for her comfort.

The town of Bethlehem missed Christmas. When the shepherds came into the city seeking the wondrous thing proclaimed by the angels, no one ventured to search out why they were excited.

Months later, the Priests and Scribes missed Christmas.An entourage of men, Astrologers from another country, came because of a new star that had appeared. They knew the prophecy that this new star announced the birth of the King of the Jews. When questioned by Herod about what these travelers were talking about, the Priests and Scribes answered correctly that the King would be born in Bethlehem. Nevertheless, they never went to see for themselves.

Herod missed Christmas. He believed the Travelers about the new King and out of jealousy, he tried to kill the baby to get rid of the threat to his reign.

Many people on December 25 will miss Christmas. Millions will have parties; laugh and exchange gifts but they will miss the real gift of Christmas.

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulders. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son and whoever believes on Him will not die but have eternal life.

John 3:16

Let us not miss Christmas.

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Preach the Word, In Season & Out of Season

My Husband is in Hospice care, but thankfully he's still at home with me. His in-home care workers come 6 days a week to help me take care of him.

I had prayed some months ago that God would use our house as a place for the gospel to be told to people who come to visit. Specifically that my kitchen would be used for His glory and to somehow save the souls of some people who God would have me talk to.

God is SOOOOOO good! It is amazing how He answers prayers. While the need of my husband is sad, it seems to be the way God is using this time as the answer to my prayer. People are coming into our house where we can present Jesus' free salvation to them.

I had been still praying for that to happen, today God showed me He was willing to grant me the ability. Today, during the time my Husband and I share the Bible and prayer in the morning, I prayed for the salvation of the worker, and that God would help us/me be some way used today to introduce the woman to Jesus.

All of Husband's helpers know we are Christians, as they have all seen us pray together and read our Bibles.

I didn't want to speak during the woman's working time, as that means she would have to listen even if she didn't want to. But after I signed her voucher sheet at the end of her time, she began speaking about seeing angels and an experience she had while visiting a relatives' grave. She thought a dead relative had reached out to her from the grave when something unusual happened while at the grave side.

That was my opening! And she didn't have any more clients today so she stayed another 20 minutes.

After talking a bit about angels, I ended up at the passage of Luke 16 and Jesus' explaining about Lazarus and the Rich Man and how in the Afterlife, there's a gulf between the two eternal places, paradise and hell.
Jesus shows Lazarus is comforted and at peace, without worry, having trusted in God, while the rich man who trusted in his riches was in torment.
And the finality of Jesus' words that 'even if a man comes back from the dead, those who hear him will not believe.' But they have Moses and the prophets to learn from.

I explained as I understood it, that the dead do not have access to the living, nor does Paradise have access to Hell. The opposite is true that Hell has no access to Heaven.

And, although she refused to take an offered Bible tract, she said I had given her much to think about. And I know the Holy Spirit will use the Word to speak to her.

God says, "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and shall proper in the thing for which I sent it" Isaiah 55:10,11.

The Word of God is how people hear the gospel. Jesus says so.

"For faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" Romans 10:17.

(Jesus prayed to the Father) "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. John 17:17.

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edge sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" Hebrews 5:12.

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" 2 Timothy 3:16,17.

GOD IS SO GOOD!

AMAZING GRACE!

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Don't Shoot The Messenger--(Flash Fiction Tale)

This is a fictional story, Please enjoy.

Don’t Shoot the Messenger 

“You can’t shoot those things.”

Behind me, an unfamiliar voice made that statement as I lined up a shot at a large Canada goose.

Hunting alone, surrounded by only my decoys, I hadn’t expected any other voice within miles. My gun jerked, my shot was lost and the flock of geese I had artfully called took flight. I lowered the gun and craned around to see who had spoken. In my defense, I was cross about the interruption. “I happen to have a valid license.”

The man looked old enough to have lived two lifetimes. His face was long, with heavy lines, eyes thick-lidded, drooping, and moist. The clothes may have fit him in a younger era but now were too large. To add to my annoyance, he wasn’t even looking at me but at some point beyond. Managing not to swear, I stood up, my efforts lost for the day.

Before I could complain, he smiled and pointed, “See, there. It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

All I saw was a muddy, harvested cornfield and my decoys. "Huh?"

“There,” he stabbed a gnarled finger forward. “You were aiming right at it.”

I squinted at the distant mountains. “The view? Yeah, beautiful scenery but why interrupt my hunt just to tell me that? You some sort of nature nut?”

He looked at me. “Well, Son, maybe that. I'm more inclined toward God creating everything and all nature speaks of Him."

I began to consider him a fruitcake. “My license for hunting geese says I can shoot them. You gonna give me trouble on that?"

He laughed, a hard, grunting, deep throaty noise. “Of course, you can hunt the geese. I meant you can’t shoot angels.”

My mind was working, thinking he'd escaped some nearby facility. “You see angels, Pop?”

The laugh came again. “Occasionally. Lately a bit more. I think it’s like maybe God is letting me know.”

“Know what?”

He pointed up. “Time to go home.”

Thinking he was talking about the actual hour of the day, I asked, “Your family worried about you wandering off?”

“Son, I’ve stayed on the straight and narrow path since I was fourteen.” He shook his head. “I strayed a little in my twenties and again in my late forties, but I’ve always returned to my Savior Jesus Christ.” When he rubbed his veined hands together against the chill, they sounded like old paper. “Yes, I have family waiting for me there. I'm wanting to see them, though, it'll be hard on the great grandkids. Ah, but their parents will raise them up in the Lord.”

He had me baffled. It was like we were having two different conversations. Breaking open the shotgun, I popped out the shells. Sliding the gun into the case, I closed it safely inside, securing the latches.

I asked, “You gonna be here tomorrow, Pop?” I only had this one week off from work and considered moving my spread to another field if he was going to interrupt my hunting.

“I don’t know. I suppose it depends on God. I keep waiting for that angel to step toward me and beckon me to come.” He sounded wistful and his eyes teared up, looking somewhere only he could see. “I'd like to be home to be with Jesus.”

“What are you talking about?

“Don’t you know Jesus, Son?”

“Sure, my mother took me to church.”

He laid his hand on my shoulder. “Son, do you know Jesus took your punishment because the wages of sin are death. He took the Father’s wrath so you wouldn’t have to. And if you don’t ask Jesus to save you, you're headed for eternity in the Lake of Fire?”

The hairs on my neck stood up. “I haven’t heard that in years. Not since Sunday School.”

"Son, will you ask Jesus to save you today? I wouldn't want to know that you were suffering forever in that tormenting fire.”

That old man's words burned like a hot brand on something other than my flesh. I thought sure the ground was opening to swallow me. I looked down expecting to see that flaming lake and was thankful just to see mud.

"Do want Jesus to save you?"

“Y...yes." And I did, kneeling with him right there in the mud.

The next morning, I parked the truck at the edge of the cornfield, having spent a sleepless night while my brain repeated every word he said, like a continual recorded loop. For some reason I didn't get out right away, just sat there listening to the radio. When suddenly, I reached out and cranked up the volume.

In that tone all newscasters have, he said "Last night, Mr. Hendrickson, our well-loved local minister died peacefully at home, in his sleep. We will miss him deeply. Heaven has gained a great saint."

The broadcast went on but I didn’t hear it. I stared out the windshield, thinking about God.

The End

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Thank you.

Re-Post: They Missed Christmas. originally posted 12/14/13

They Missed Christmas

   The innkeeper missed Christmas. He turned away a woman heavy with child because she and her husband could not pay enough for him to bother to oust another paying guest.

   The guests of the inn missed Christmas. Not one of them took pity on the woman to give up their room for her comfort.

   The town of Bethlehem missed Christmas. When the shepherds came into the city seeking the wondrous thing proclaimed by the angels, no one ventured to search out why they were excited.

   Months later, the Priests and Scribes missed Christmas.

An entourage of men, Astrologers from another country, came because of a new star that had appeared. They knew the prophecy that this new star announced the birth of the King of the Jews. When questioned by Herod about what these travelers were talking about, the Priests and Scribes answered correctly that the King would be born in Bethlehem. Nevertheless, they never went to see for themselves.

   Herod missed Christmas. He believed the Travelers about the new King and out of jealousy, he tried to kill the baby to get rid of the threat to his reign.

   Many people on December 25 will miss Christmas. Millions will have parties; laugh and exchange gifts but they will miss the real gift of Christmas.

  

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulders. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son and whoever believes on Him will not die but have eternal life.

John 3:16

Let us not miss Christmas.

The Best Man for the Job

"I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting" 1 Timothy 2:8.

Ever consider how much God knew and trusted Joseph to be the step-father of His Son on earth?

In the account of how Joseph became aware of his betroth's pregnancy, it says he thought about these things. At one point he even contemplated a private divorce. This man was hurting.

While their marriage was likely arranged, at some point, he must have loved this girl, even now pregnant with someone else's child. We can assume the situation estranged them from their families. It is possible they didn't have a big wedding party or feast among family and friends. Even though they hadn't been sexually intimate, with the exception of her cousin Elizabeth, it would be normal that no one else believed them.

God knew something about Joseph that no one else knew and He chose the man who would provide the early home for the baby Jesus. As Jesus grew into a young man, Mary and Joseph loved Him as their son. So much so, there came a day when Jesus had to remind them both of who He was and why He came. (Luke 2:41-49)

As little as we're told about him, though with a major roll to play, Joseph is easily overlooked in the Christmas story. There was no way around it, Mary needed a Husband. And with the most important infant to be born into the world on the way, she needed a strong Spiritual leader, and he had to be a man who would trust in God through the tough times. And here we see God's knowledge of men's hearts as He Mary Joseph. God knew Joesph's heart as well as He knew Mary's heart.

Matthew 1:20 says Joseph was thinking about the problem of the pregnancy and certainly his meditation included prayers for help, asking God what he's to do about Mary. His answer came through the dream appearance of the angel sent to tell him not to fear marriage to Mary.

The Scriptures says Joseph when he found out about the baby, he thought about quietly separating from Mary but the angel confirmed Mary's words of how she is pregnant. Joseph's response is a beautiful picture of a godly man trusting his God. He must have been looking for the Messiah and now he learns he's to be part of the fulfillment of prophecy.

And as Mary was obedient, Joseph also believed God and did all he was told.

God knew Joesph was the Best Man for the job

What an example of trust and obedience in times when a stand against the norm is needed.

Curious Beings--Angels

God created mankind of the dust of the earth. (Gen 2:7) but there is lack of explanation of what substance God used to form angels. 

How's that for making something of nothing!

I believe God made the angels long before He created earth. They serve in God's eternity not our earthly time-line though they pass between the two. Hebrews 1 says angels as spirits of fire. Now I don't know what that means, but it's certain angels live in the spiritual realm beyond us.

Photo courtesy of morgueFile

They can become the form of a man, (Gen 19:1) or appear very strange creatures described in Isaiah, with six wings as coverings. There are angels that look like metal and bright stones. They have terrible power and yet can be very comforting and humble as when Gabriel spoke to Mary. (Luke 1:30) They are all around us, doing God's will. If they are not doing God's will then they're demons and doing Satan's will. They move both in our time and God's place, and it seems there are a lot of them. They are more powerful than we are and can do extraordinary things.

God makes angels His servants, (Heb 1:7) yet He calls us His children (1 John 3:1). God made a way for us to be born again (John 3:16), --we who are made of dirt-- yet the angels have only their obedience to save them. If they are following Satan, they are condemned forever (Heb 2:16).

But we have no explanation of their substance. They are not made of the dust of the earth. They cannot die, nor is God going to destroy their form. Satan and his followers will suffer forever in the Lake of Fire. (Rev 20:10)

Even with that prophecy coming, I believe whatever God creates by His word, He can speak out of existence if He chooses.

They cannot procreate. Jesus said they neither marry or are given in marriage, (Matt 22:30) so, no angel babies in heaven. I cannot believe God would tolerate fornication in His heaven if it is such an abominable sin on earth. In my opinion, all the angels God created for His service are all that will be.

At the hour of His arrest, Jesus told His disciples that He was capable of calling 12 legions of angels to His aid. (Matt 26:53) Wow! How many angels waited expectantly on the edge of Heaven for the call that never came? If one angel could destroy 185,000 Assyrians in one night, (2 Kings 19:35) would not 12 legions of angels destroy everyone on earth at the command of God!? 

If angels feel any emotions, 

how they must have suffered to watch Christ die! 

They want to know more about us too.  (1 Peter 1:12) They are as curious about us as we are of them. They must certainly find us as interesting we them.

The study of angels is very interesting and it leaves some very interesting questions. Scriptures tell us that someday we will judge angels.(1 Cor 6:3) 

What must they think of that idea?

What are you're thoughts about angels. Leave a comment, please (click 1 comment to open box)

An Artist's Theory of Genesis 1

"In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth."

"And the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon face of the waters."

"And God said let there be light; and there was light” Genesis 1: 1, 2, 3.

I’m an artist. I paint similes of realities or the imaginations of my mind. It’s satisfying to have an idea and realize the vision on canvas so viewers can appreciate my creativity.

My ‘studio’ consists of a small, cheap drafting table in my bedroom, facing a north-light window to which I assemble all the stored pieces of my craft paraphernalia. The process involves uncovering the table of clutter, opening the curtains, retrieving my chair from another part of the room, getting my paint box from where I keep it and seeing my collection of brushes gets put on the table. The paint box I open and lay on the bed (which I generally have to make first). It is a convenient extra surface next to my left elbow. To the kitchen for a jug of water and the roll of paper towels for rinsing my brushes. For extra ease, a few rags from the bathroom closet. Now, my work area is ready and I can create my art.

Before I go through all of the assembly, I have a picture in mind. Over a few days, I draw several loose sketches of my idea, using my extensive swipe file that contains reference pictures that help me get the correct light, form, and angles of certain animals, objects or whatever I might need. From this file, I have designed either a complex, or simple, composition thinking about the tone, the palette, and the finer details.

When I am as ready as I think is necessary, I sit down and begin my painting. All this time consuming arrangement ensued because I wanted to paint.

My art may be nice to view, but God's Creation was perfect.

“In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth” Genesis 1:1. 

It was beautiful and completely designed in His ‘mind’ before He began. 

“And the heaven and earth were without form and void” Gen. 1:2a.

We know Jesus holds everything together, (Col 1:16). It is a scientifically proven fact all things consist of molecules, cells and atoms we cannot see with the naked eye. In His ‘studio’, God created all those particles that make up heaven and earth.

While He created it all in verse 1, verse 2 says it was void and without form. Described in my analogy, as I assemble everything before I paint, I have no trouble with that.

God knew what He was going to make, He simply hadn’t put it together yet.

Verse 1 says God the Father created all of it but Jesus, the Word of God had yet speak to assemble everything. God the Holy Spirit joyfully hovered over the ‘drafting table’, waiting for Jesus to proclaim his first ‘daub of paint’ to His ‘canvas'. Everything was ready, and perfect. Even the darkness is perfect, because no sin has entered yet.

I picture the throne room of God tense in happy anticipation. The angels who minster to God are poised and waiting to see what the Holy One is doing. Up until now, they are the only created things in existence. What could God possibly create now?

God nods His head and Jesus, a big smile on His face yells out, “Let there be light!”

The Holy Spirit immediately collects God’s pre-planned particles and light springs from the elements floating in the dark void. Light always existed  in God’s design, only now it has form.

With each exclamation, Jesus brings about the beauty of what The Trinity had in mind all along. The Holy Spirit, the power of God, places the beautiful parts together making a magnificent painting, a whole of all the pieces, until all are used in their proper places and on the ‘sixth’ day, God finishes the painting with His signature—Man, made in His image!

When I finish a painting, I like to sit back and admire it for days afterwards. 

On the seventh day, God the Father, Jesus God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit ‘rest’, admiring Their perfect work while the angels rejoice fly around examining God's magnificent Creation. 
 

“When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” Job 38: 7.

That is my artist’s theory of God's Creation in Genesis 1. I will know the truth when I see my Jesus face to face. 

Possibly, knowledge of the first two verses of Genesis won’t be anywhere as serious as the theorists of today and through history want to make it.

They Missed Christmas

They Missed Christmas

   The innkeeper missed Christmas. He turned away a woman heavy with child because she and her husband could not pay enough for him to bother to oust another paying guest.

   The guests of the inn missed Christmas. Not one of them took pity on the woman to give up their room for her comfort.

   The town of Bethlehem missed Christmas. When the shepherds came into the city seeking the wondrous thing proclaimed by the angels, no one ventured to search out why they were excited.

   Months later, the Priests and Scribes missed Christmas.

An entourage of men, Astrologers from another country, came because of a new star that had appeared. They knew the prophecy that this new star announced the birth of the King of the Jews. When questioned by Herod about what these travelers were talking about, the Priests and Scribes answered correctly that the King would be born in Bethlehem. Nevertheless, they never went to see for themselves.

   Herod missed Christmas. He believed the Travelers about the new King and out of jealousy, he tried to kill the baby to get rid of the threat to his reign.

   Many people on December 25 will miss Christmas. Millions will have parties; laugh and exchange gifts but they will miss the real gift of Christmas.

  

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulders. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son and whoever believes on Him will not die but have eternal life.

John 3:16

Let us not miss Christmas.