Mary Christmas dear friends and partners.
This is part of our ongoing series of teachings about the intricate events surrounding God’s entrance to the earth in the person of a human baby named Jesus.
We hope that you enjoy this message and share it with others.
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AN AMAZING STORY, ANGELS AND SHEPHERDS
“Now there were in the same country, shepherds living out in the fields, Keeping their flocks by night.”
(Luke 2:8-20)
This is one of the ways we know that Christmas actually happened in late March or April . Sheep were far too valuable to be left outside in the cold. So it must have been warm enough for the flocks to be pastured at night.
Because of this situation Joseph was able to find a place to stay and for Mary to give birth to Jesus. Shepherds kept their flocks in rooms in the back of their homes in the cold months. The most profitable sheep were those without spots or blemishes. These were used as ritual sacrifices and were required to be spotless and without blemish. To accomplish this, they were wrapped in linen wrappings known as swaddling. This prevented scratches or injury.
Jesus was the Spotless Lamb Of God. He had no blemishes. He was the only acceptable sacrifice for the sins of all people because He Himself knew no sin.
“He who never sinned bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed and put in right standing with God. Because you were staying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls”.
(1 Peter 2:24)
Here is the deal about no room in the inn. People had rooms in the front of their houses for sleeping and gathering. Since Jesus was born during the time when everyone was in town for the census, there was no room in the front of the house which acted as an inn.
So Joseph and Mary were only able to secure lodging in the back of the house where the animals were kept.
Since the animals were out in the fields, they were able to camp in one of these “stables”.
It makes perfect sense that Jesus was wrapped in swaddling as it would have been kept in the stable. Think on this Jesus was swaddled and became the spotless lamb of God. Which was the only acceptable sacrifice.
The shepherds were hired based on their strength and courage. It was a capitol offense to leave the sheep without guard for one second. Thieves and wolves roamed around wherever the sheep were. A herd of sheep was like a bank vault to a thief and a four pound lobster to a wolf.
Diligence was absolutely necessary. Wolves could smell the sheep from miles away. The shepherds had to be so physically fit and athletic that they could kill a wolf or a thief.
The shepherds wore their mantle (title) with great pride and would never ever, for any reason, put their reputations at stake.
Get this part settled in your mind. These shepherds would be called rednecks today. They were not educated and knew nothing of the world outside of theirs. They had never heard a radio, seen a picture, seen television or a hologram or a movie or a DVD or heard a CD. They had never used a cell phone. Remember that as you read on.
And pay attention! “An angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone all around them. And they were sorely afraid.”
Really? Isn’t that surprising. They all probably died and were resuscitated by Gabriel. Go back for a moment and re-read how Daniel described Gabriel in Daniel Chapter ten verses four through nine.
“And the angel said to them do not be afraid.” (No prob Gabe, just give me some dry clothes and I’ll be right with ya.)
Pay Attention! Here is the Gospel of God!!!
“FOR I BRING YOU GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY WHICH WILL BE TO ALL PEOPLE.”
Few know or ever think about these most profound words. If what you are hearing does not bring you “GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY.” IT IS NOT THE GOSPEL OF GOD IN THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
It is in all likelihood stinking hooey made up by men.
“For there is born to you this day in the city of David (Bethlehem) A SAVIOR WHO IS JESUS THE KING!”
“And this shall be a sign unto you : you will find A BABE wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.”
See this in the theatre of your mind! If they didn’t soil their britches and fall down dead when Gabriel showed up, this scene would surely have that effect on them.
“AND SUDDENLY, there was with Gabriel a multitude (think sold out football arena) of the Heavenly Host, (one of which could destroy the U.S. Military with a swipe of his hand. And for the record, there are no female angels. If you want to put an angel on the top of your tree, it should be Gabriel in all of his glory.) praising God and saying “GLORY TO GOD IN HEAVEN, AND ON EARTH PEACE. GOOD WILL TO MEN IN WHOM HE IS WELL PLEASED!”
PAY ATTENTION TO THIS: At the very instant that God put on an earth suit and became a living human, HE DECLARED PEACE WITH ALL PEOPLE BECAUSE HE IS WELL PLEASED WITH US! God is not at war with us! He is not out to get us! He is not making a list and checking it twice. He doesn’t even have a list. For those who surrender their lives to him and make Jesus their King, he has no recollection of their sins. He has forgiven all of our sins: past, present, and future; “once and for all!”(Psalm 103:1-3 and 12, Hebrews 8:12, Hebrews 10:10-18)
“In that day(today) it shall be said to Jerusalem(Jesus believers and followers) fear not O Zion, Let not your hands sink down or be slow and listless. The Lord your God is in the midst of you a MIGHTY ONE A SAVIOR!
He will rejoice over you with joy, He will rest in silent satisfaction and in His Love He will be silent and make no mention of past sins or even remember them; He will exult over you with singing!”
(Zephaniah 3:16-17)
BACK TO OUR SHEPHERDS…
“When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.
The shocking appearance and voice of Gabriel and the army of the heavenly host, must have stunned the Shepherds, because they were willing to risk their careers, their reputations, their flocks, and possibly their lives by leaving the flocks to obey the Angel.
“And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby Lying in a manger.”
Think about that for a moment. Bethlehem was within walking distance of Jerusalem which is only six miles away. The village was so crowded that there were no available rooms to rent in the Inns and Hotels. Yet the Shepherds managed to go right to the place where Mary had given birth to Jesus. This is another one of the many times the Holy Spirit interceded in the affairs of this the greatest event of all time by leading the Shepherds to Jesus.
“And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told to them, But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned glorifying God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told to them.”
Wouldn’t you love to have been there to hear the discussions about the new born child that was the Savior that Israel had been promised and had been seeking diligently for over four hundred years.
What must the conversations have been like? Remember the lyrics of the wonderful carol, “Oh Holy Night”? “Long lay the world in sin and error pining (feeling hopelessly condemned for sin) till He appeared and the soul felt it’s worth. The Joy the Hope a weary world rejoices for yonder breaks a new and glorious day!
There you have it folks. God chose to deliver His message of love for us as individuals through some shepherds with hard bark on them and not a worldly King.
What you just read is the essence of God. It is the entirety of His will. He chose us before the world was framed and ransomed us because He cherishes each of us so much that He sacrificed all that He had; so that we would be with Him forever in eternal love. That is what Christmas is all about. The Love of God for (Your name here).
We pray that this message blessed you and helped you see the Christmas message through Spiritual eyes. Please pass it along to others who will be blessed as well.
Thank You and a very Mary Christmas to you and yours!
END OF TEACHING
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