<p>Free sharing permitted under the Creative Commons <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/">BY-NC-ND 3.0 (US)</a> license.</p>

Living Hope SDA Church

Christian Martin

The Incomparable Birth

Let's bow our heads together as we acknowledge our Lord.

Thank you for revealing the reason why you came.

And Lord, thank you that it was for us, for me, for each 1 of us here.

And Father, as we open the Word of God, which is your voice, speaking to hearts today, we ask Lord that you would do that this morning, that we would tune our ears to hear your voice.

May the Holy Spirit do that for us and may we discover the incomparable Jesus who wants to make the greatest difference in our life.

Ever since the fall of man, God's presence has made humanity tremble.

Consider this, Adam hid from God's voice.

Moses, when he turned to God, he feared what he looked upon.

Sinai thundered, and when it did, Israel shook to its core.

And there's many other instances recorded in Scripture where humanity trembles in the presence of a living God.

And the greatest story ever told is recorded in the Gospel of Luke, is no different.

The glory of the Lord shines with the splendor coming from multitude of angels.

As their glory appears, the Bible tells us that again, fear rises.

But this time, the good tidings drive fear away.

Open your Bibles with me to the Gospel of Luke.

We're going to be taking a look at the greatest story ever told and the greatest news ever given to mankind.

Luke, beginning with verse 8, Luke chapter 2 and verse 8.

Now there was in the same country shepherds living out in the fields keeping watch over their flock by night.

Verse 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.

Verse 10, then the angel said to them, say those next 4 words together with me.

For behold, I bring good tidings of great joy, which will be to all people.

We've heard it during this time of the year again and again and again.

But make no mistake about it, this is The first gospel sermon in the New Testament, preached by a heavenly messenger, an angel of glory, announcing good news of great joy that God has come near in peace.

And ever since this message is given, if you look at the life of Jesus and every time that he spoke both to multitudes and to individuals, throughout his life these words echo.

And so it was, the angelic evangelist, if we could name him that, the first gospel preacher of the New Testament proclaimed, I bring good tidings.

The text says bring good tidings of what kind of joy?

Not a fragile, earthly happiness that's based on circumstances.

When things are not so well, we're not so happy.

We're not talking about that kind of happiness.

A joy that is lasting, that is pure, that is holy and eternal.

And why now at this time in earth's history?

Why is it that this very moment is ushering great joy?

Why would the birth of Jesus usher in great joy?

Number 1, because the separation between God and man is bridged.

Because of sin, and you understand that too well.

Because we all have sin and come short of the glory of God.

But the birth of Christ, an incomparable birth, well after countless thousands, if not millions of births, and every birth ever since has not been such as this 1, an incomparable birth, a birth which included the incarnation.

God takes on flesh, drawing near to us, not to destroy, but to save.

When enters our world, Not in unapproachable fire, which is his natural presence, but this time he comes in swaddling clothes.

Because ancient promises are fulfilled at that very moment in comparable birth.

Throughout history, early history, prophets of old had time and time again prophesied it is coming.

Because these promises and these prophecies are being fulfilled on time.

Malachi said a forerunner would make the way.

Back to Menu

The Incomparable Birth

Transcript

Sponsor

Recorded

Related

I’ve Got a Secret

41m

Incarnation

Incarnation: The Reality

36m

Unlock Revelation

18. The Scarlet Woman

1h 37m

Nutrition, the Brain, and the Glory of God

56m

Morning Devotional

Surveying the Cross: The Offense

46m

Plenary

Radical Practice

1h

Scary Mary, Cheater Peter

38m

Science of Worship

14 - Beautiful Believing Rest

1h 9m

Hindsight is Perfect

32m

The Afterlife

The Afterlife- Part 2

28m

The First Kings of Israel

38m

A God Worth Knowing

03 The Faith of Jesus

1h 1m

Sound Doctrine