would stand with me we'll sing hymn number 84 number 84

Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free. From our fears and sins release us, let us find a rest in thee. Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth, thou art. Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart. Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a king. Born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring. By thine own eternal spirit, rule in all our hearts alone. By thine all-sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.

Be seated. We'll sing hymn number 209. M number 209.

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, grace that exceeds Our sin and our guilt, yonder on Calvary's mount aboard, there where the blood of the Lamb was shed. Grace, grace, God's grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within. Grace, grace, God's grace, grace that is greater than all.

Mercy Sin and despair like the sea waves cold Threaten the soul with infinite love Grace that is greater, yes, grace I'm told, points to the refuge, the mighty cross. Grace, grace, God's grace. Grace that grew, pardoned, and cleansed within. Grace, grace. God's grace, grace that is greater than all our sin.

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide. What can avail to ? Wash it away ? ? Look, there is flowing a crimson tide ? ? Whiter than snow you may be today ? ? Grace, grace God's grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within. Grace, grace, God's grace, grace that is greater than all. ? Mercy ? ? Marvelous infinite matchless grace ? ? Freely bestowed on all who believe ? ? You that are longing ? to see His face. Will you this moment His grace believe? Grace, grace, God's grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within. Grace, grace. God's grace, grace that is great.

Luke chapter 2. Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. You know, we're going through the book of Luke. And one thing that's good about going through a whole book at a time, is that you deal with subjects as you come to them. And this is the most glorious subject to deal with today that any preacher is allowed to deal with, and that's the birth, the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But I was reading this morning that yesterday, or today, starts what they call Advent. A lot of religion and a lot of churches start what they call an advent. And that means the coming of, you know, when Christ first come. And they go through all these, you know, they light a candle every Sunday. They sing special songs. And they have a lot of rituals in that. And then they come up till the day that Christ is born, December 25th. And that's the end of it. That's the end of it. We don't do that. We're not going to do that. We may have to light a candle for light to go out, but that'll be the only way we light a candle around here. We're not going to do that. Or hold a birthday cake, but we're not going to. No, no.

But let me read these first 18 verses. And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was the governor of Syria. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth unto Judea unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David. to be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the end. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them. And they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you, you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

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, goodwill toward men. And it came to pass as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, The shepherds said one to another, Let us go now even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the thing which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

Our great blessed God of heaven and earth. Lord, we know that the heaven of heavens can't contain you. And we understand, Lord, that You're above all gods that's in this world. There's lots of gods, lots of gods, lots of statues, lots of silver and gold, lots of images made. But we're worshiping the invisible God. And then when you made yourself visible, you did it through your son, the Lord Jesus Christ, the invisible God. came down where we could see him, where we could hear him, where we could handle him, where we could believe him, where we could be saved. And, oh, Lord, we bless you that you sent your son. And, Lord, we're so grateful that you sent him to our hearts, that you sent him and made yourself known to us.

Lord, we would have never known you had you not made yourself known to us. We'd have never known that we were sinners if you had not made yourself known to us. We'd have never had a need had you not created that need. We'd have never had eyes to see if you hadn't give us eyes. We would have a tongue to praise you if you hadn't give us that song to sing in our hearts. And Lord Jesus, we ask for your presence today in this service. Ask for the power of God. Ask for the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. ask for the Holy Ghost to come down, and may you make these scriptures come alive and make them real to us today.

Lord, their precious word, your word's precious, no matter what it is and words about. We love your word, and we believe your word, and we bow to your word. And, oh, Lord, we pray again for our brothers and sisters who are in a great trial and who are carrying burdens in this world. We pray for them. Pray for those among us, Lord Jesus, that have never yet believed you and trusted you. Oh, Lord, open hearts. Lord, you opened our hearts. Open their hearts. You opened Lydia's heart one day when she was standing by a river. And so, Lord, we're not in it by a river, but oh, God, please open hearts, open minds, open understandings. Bring light where those are sitting in darkness. We ask these things in our precious Savior's name. Amen.

Okay. And in our course books, we'll sing number 33. Number 33 in our course book. Last time I sang this, it got blocked on our streams, so I've got to tell you that it's copyrighted. Sager Powell and the Oak Ridge Boys recorded this.

Number 33.

Once a man whom we know as the Son of God,
hung upon a cruel tree.
He suffered pain as no mortal man.
He took my place.

He did it all for me. He did it all for me.

Each drop of blood He shed for even me.

When the Savior cried, ? Bowed his head and died ? ? Oh, praise the Lord, he did it all for me ? ? When I step just inside of those gates of Pearl ?
And the Master's face I see, I'll gladly kneel
At his nail-scarred feet,
O praise the Lord, He did it all for me. He did it all for me. Each drop of blood he shed for even me. When the Savior cried, bowed his head and died, O praise the Lord, He did it all for me.

Let's all stand together and sing the hymn of the day in the bulletin.

"'Tis not that I did choose thee, for, Lord, that could not be.
This heart would still refuse thee, but thou hast chosen me.
Thou from the sin that pushed me and set me free.
And to this end ordain me that I should live for Thee.
? What sovereign mercy called me ? ? And taught my opening mind ? ? The world had else enthralled me ? ? To heavenly glories blind ? ? My heart owns none above thee ?
For thy rich grace I thirst, this knowing if I love thee,
thou must have loved me first.

Be seated.

I read these first 18 verses. Let me say at the outset that God purposed every single thing that happened here. He picked the time. He picked the place. He picked the means. You know, it seems like that a king just decided, you know, he wanted everybody taxed. But God decreed that he, that man say everybody needs to be taxed. God did that. God did that.

And oh my, here we have the birth of a child. The birth of a child. The birth of any child's wonderful. I mean, it's wonderful. Any child is born. It's a blessing to have children. God says it is. They're heritage of the Lord. They're a blessing from the Lord. They're wonderful. They're precious. And for God to give you a child and let you raise it is a wonderful, wonderful thing.

But when a child is born, a soul is brought into existence. But the birth of this child that we just read about is the most blessed birth of any child that's ever been born on this earth. that's ever been born. This is the most blessed birth of any child since the world began. It's the birth of the son of God. It was the birth of the king of kings. It was the birth of one who was called a king from his birth. And it was a miracle. It was a miracle. Supernatural birth is a miracle.

God, no wonder the Apostle said, great is the mystery of godliness. God, God was manifest in the flesh. Scene of angels, the angels saw him that day. Priest unto the world, priest unto Gentiles believed on in this world and received back up into glory. This is one of the most astonishing things that could ever, ever happen in this world. And what it was is God coming down to make himself known to the human race in a way that they could never, ever be known. He could never be known.

And I want to show you how that God ordained everything that took place here this time. And let's first Jesus is born of a woman. But look here in verse 1 through 3. Look at the time. God picked the time. It came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was the governor of Syria. And all men wished to be taxed, every one unto his own city. You had to go where you was born so they could enroll you and see how many people there was.

But the time, you know when this time was? Augustus Caesar was the first Caesar. He was the first Caesar. He is the first Roman emperor. And he had sent out the decree that everybody had to be taxed all over the world.

But oh, the wisdom of God, purposing. all events to come to pass according to his will. It says there in verse 1, a decree went out. But before this decree went out, God had a decree. God decreed this was the day, this was the time, this was the hour, this was everything that I had purpose from all eternity to come to pass. I picked the time for that king to make that decree. I picked the time that they should all go to the TB tax. I picked that time. And all known unto God are all his works from the beginning of creation. Everything happens at God's time, and I'm grateful for that. I'm grateful for that.

You know, Davis says, my times are in your hands. My times, how many times do we have? I've had a lot of times on this earth. I've had a lot of good times, I've had a lot of bad times, I've had a lot of joyful times, I've had a lot of weeping times, I've had a lot of sad times, I've had a lot of preaching times, I've had a lot of fellowshipping times, but oh, ain't you glad that God's time is in your hands, that we're in His hands, and our times are in His hands. Ain't you grateful that that's the way it is? I am. I am.

You know, I am so grateful for God's time that He has already set the day and hour and moment that I'm going to leave this world. He set the time, the day, and the hour when I should come into this world. So if He took that care for me, and He said, the hairs of your head are numbered, what do you think He's going to do to get His Son into this world? Said, oh, Augustus said, I'm going to make a decree. God said, I decreed. I decreed. I decreed. Oh, my.

And look at the place. Look down at verse 4. Oh, he was born of a woman. In the fullness of time, he was made of a woman. Made of a woman. And oh, my. And look what he said in verse 4. And Joseph went up from Galilee out of Sidious Nazareth unto Judea. Judea, the Judah, was where all the kings came from. Under Judea, which is the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was with the house and lineage of David.

Now, I want you to notice it wasn't Nazareth. They called him Jesus of Nazareth. I ran across a fellow the other day who pastors a Nazarene church here in town. But he must be born at Bethlehem. You know why he must be born at Bethlehem? Because prophecy said he'd be born at Bethlehem.

If you can find Micah, you keep this, and find the book of Micah, if you will. Just keep going back till you find Micah, and look in Micah chapter 5, and look what it says over here. They called him the Nazarite, the Nazarene, but he come to the city of David. He was of the house of David, the lineage of David. He was made after the flesh, the seed of David. And you remember, David was a man after God's own heart.

But look what it said here in verse 2 of Micah chapter 5. But thou, O Bethlehem, Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of thee shall be come forth unto me, that is to be ruler in Israel, whose going forth hath been from old and from everlasting. Therefore will he give them up until the time that he which travaileth hath brought forth, that the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.

So Christ was told to be born in Bethlehem. Bethlehem. And you know, Bethlehem's called the house of bread. And God ordered everything, to bring Mary, to bring Joseph to Bethlehem for his son to be born. This haughty king's heart was in the hand of the Lord. You know that? Only an instrument in his hands that, that The heart of the king is in the hands of the Lord as the rivers of water, and he turneth it with the so ever he will. Turneth it with so ever he will.

And what was happening was the king of kings was coming into this world. He was going to have a kingdom without any end. And you know Bethlehem, you know how far it was from Nazareth? Seventy miles. 70 miles. 70 miles ain't nothing to us. But you imagine 70 miles in those days, and this woman is heavy with child, and they got to go 70 miles. They got to walk or ride a donkey. They got to take food with them. I mean, this was a hard, difficult journey. 70 miles on foot, 70 miles over stones and rocks, 70 miles up and down hills, 70 miles all over Israel to get to one place. And why did he have to be at that one place? God said, this is the place.

Oh, my. He was the son of David. He must be born in the city of David. Oh, my. I'm so grateful God orders all things. You know, we had a covenant where God ordered. We had a covenant that's ordered in all things. Sure. Sure. Look at the circumstances now. And it and that in verse five, it says to be tacked with Mary, his espoused wife. And look what it says in verse 5, to be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife, being great. They hadn't even married yet. And it was so that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for him in his inn.

Now, she was great with child, great with child. You know, and look what it says, and the days were accomplished. Did you ever doubt that those days wouldn't be accomplished? Did you ever doubt that God's will won't be accomplished, that things won't be accomplished? She was with child, and while there, the days were accomplished. Keep looking. Look over in chapter 9. Look over in Luke chapter 9, talking about accomplished. God's will is always accomplished. And look what it said over here in Luke chapter 9. I'll get there myself. Look what it says down here in verse 30 and 31. And behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elijah. who appeared in glory and spake of his deceit." Now watch this, which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.

What is death going to accomplish? Look in John chapter 19 verse 28. You know, it said here that all things should be accomplished. It come to time for her to, her birth, for her to be accomplished, for Christ to be born to be accomplished. the days were accomplished. And look what it says down here in verse 28, where our Lord said this, now he was on the cross, and he was fixing to say it's finished. And after this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scriptures might be fulfilled, say, I thirst. And that's the thing about it. What God wills is accomplished.

His birth, let me tell you something. It wasn't at home. He wasn't born at home. Oh, there's so many people been born at home. He wasn't born at home. It was at a strange place, a very strange place. There was an end there. People were coming, people were going, people were going in and trying to find a room. It was night. It was dark. It was at the nighttime. People were lining up trying to get in that inn. I need a place to spend the night. I need some place to have a bed to lay down in tonight, a pillow to put my head on.

Well, that Lord, you know, Mary and Joseph got there, and he wasn't laid. And I'll tell you, there was that inn there, and he wasn't laid in a carefully prepared cradle. I remember when Doogie was born, we went and got a cradle to lay him beside the bed, put him in the bed, you know, had a cradle just made, just made for him. And we'd get him out of, you know, laid him in the side of the bed, in that cradle by the bed. But our Lord Jesus Christ didn't have a cradle. He didn't have a cradle. He was not laid in a beautifully prepared cradle. They took him and laid him in a manger.

Now, if you don't know what a manger is, it's a place where you, it's a thing that's built off of a wall and they put hay in it. And so cattle or horses can eat out that hay, high enough to eat out of the hay. So this little thing is full of hay. The Lord Jesus Christ is born, and they're in a place where that inn kept its cattle and kept its horses or its donkeys or whatever they had. That's where they was at. They was in the shed. They was in the barn. They was in the place where nobody else wanted to stay. You know, dogs, especially, they love to go in a barn and get in a manger. Dogs did. Dogs did.

And look what happens here now. And she brought forth her firstborn son. And oh, my. And I tell you what. And what did she do with him? She wrapped him up. She wrapped him up in swaddling clothes. She wrapped him up. She took a bunch of clothes and wrapped that baby up. They do that at the hospital when they do that. But most parents, when their baby's born, they've got new clothes to put on that baby. They find clothes that they can put their initials on or put their name on. And I remember when my grandchildren were born, I never had been in a baby's department ever, but I wanted those grandkids to be dressed so nice. I'd go say, boy, they look good in that, and they look good in this. And when they're born, everybody wants special clothes for their baby. And there's not a thing in the world wrong with that. I'm not saying there is. I mean, listen, I've done it, and I did it for my own, and I did it for my grandchildren, and I delighted in doing that. I enjoyed doing it.

But our Lord Jesus Christ, His mother had no special clothes for Him. She didn't have no onesies. She didn't have nothing with His initials on it. There wasn't somebody that went out and shopped for Him to buy some clothes to put on Him. They were poor people. And they had some clothes there, and clothes to swaddle means to wash off with. And they wrapped that baby, after what they did, they wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him down in that hay. Laid him down in that hay.

And people go on and on about there's no room in the inn. God purposed that that inn would be full. God purposed where his son would be born.

Listen, this time of year, me and a fellow talking the other day, this is not the time that Christ was born. He was not born in December. He was either born in April or October. Because you remember, when Peter was there that day, when they was gonna crucify Christ, when they come and got him, and they brought him into the temple to judge him, Peter was standing at a fire warming his hands because it's cold and the Passover was always in April so I believe that he is personally born in April and crucified in April because Listen, the Passover was always in the middle of April in the Jewish calendar. Christ was not born.

So why don't, don't, don't, don't get no manger scenes. Don't put Jesus in a manger. Don't put him in a cradle. Don't do that. And why people do that is because they ain't got sense enough. Oh God, thank you for saving me from such stuff. Thank you for saving me from such foolishness, ignorance, and darkness.

Oh, listen. Christmas is a wonderful time to be generous, to be kind, but I'll tell you what, we shouldn't have to wait for a holiday to be kind, to be generous, to be loving, to give thanks to people. To show some love to some people, show some gentleness to some people, show some kindness to people. We don't have to wait for a special day to give gifts. We ought to be giving gifts all the time. Just a gift of saying, boy, I think of you, and I love you, and I appreciate you. That's a whole lot right there, ain't it? I appreciate your love, I appreciate your faithful, I appreciate your gentry. Oh, there's so many things that we ought, you know.

Ah, look at his birth, though. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes. Wrapped him in swaddling clothes. And listen, you do everything you can for your baby. Dress him nice. Love him and care for him. I'm not saying anything about that. I'm telling you about the way our Lord was born. This is how Christ was born. Our children weren't born this way. Our children weren't born this way.

And look how God reveals himself now. Look down here in verse 8 through 12. Look at this here. And there was in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, Came upon who? The shepherds. And the glory of the Lord shone round about them. And I tell you what, that scared them. That scared them. That's not what it does to most people now. Oh no, they get to jumping and hollering and shouting, you know, but oh my. And the angel said unto them, don't you fellas be afraid. Don't you all fellas be afraid, for behold, I'm bringing you good tidings. Not only good tidings of great joy, this what I'm telling you is going to produce great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you this day is born in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you, you shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Now, I tell you what, the good shepherd is being born. And yet, you know who the first people God made Christ known to, other than Mary? Shepherds. He didn't go to the priest. He didn't go to the synagogues. He didn't go to the seminaries. He didn't go to a bunch of preachers. He didn't go to the high priest of Israel. He met a bunch of shepherds tending sheep. And you know what? This is exactly where David tended his sheep, right here outside of Bethlehem on these same hills. And you know, he was a king. And I tell you what, David was just a shepherd boy out there tending sheep. Well, Samuel come to anoint a king. Said, we got to have a king. People want a king. Said, we got to have a king. So they went through. The first one to come up was Eli. This great old big boy, great old big handsome fellow. Said, this is him. This is him. He brought seven sons across to him. He said, is there any left? He said, yeah, we got a little old boy out here tending sheep. Call him. And he said, this is him. This is him. And that's what God says about his son. This is him. This is him.

And I want people to know, I'm going to go to just a bunch of shepherds. people that's working people. And it's night, they're on the night watch. And I'm gonna go to people that don't amount to nothing as far as kings and them understand. These people are nobody. They're shepherds. Shepherds. And oh my. Oh, it was at night. You know, it says that the shepherds keep and watch over their flock by night. There's a darkness of ignorance. the darkness of religion, the darkness of sin, the darkness of death, religious darkness. God had been silent for 400 years, and here he finally has the final voice when he sent his son, and the light shined out of darkness into this marvelous light.

And why did God do these shepherds? God chooses the foolish to confound the wise. That's what he does. Not priests, not scribes, not Pharisees. It's where David tended his sheep, where he was a shepherd. And this is to whom the angel came, just a bunch of shepherds, a bunch of nobodies. And you know, when they saw the glory of the Lord, they got scared. They got scared. And oh my, you know the first thing that God does is make Christ known this way, this way. You look at yourself, just look at yourself. Why would God choose you? Why would God reveal himself to you? Why would God make himself known to you? Why would he do that? Why would he do that?

And then look what it says in verse 9. The angel of the Lord came upon them, just on them. Didn't come no place else, just on them. The angel of the Lord came upon them, upon these shepherds. And listen to this now. Just came upon them. Didn't come upon everybody. Didn't come upon everybody. And the glory of the Lord shone round about them. This glory of the Lord is the Shekinah glory he's talking about. When the Shekinah glory came down on the Kemp of Israel, all those people stood there and bowed their heads and got down on the ground in front of him because that glory was so, it was so shining and so powerful that they said, oh my, we got to get down on our face before the Lord. Well, that's what happens with these people. When they saw the glory of the Lord, they were so afraid. They were so afraid. And that's like Isaiah. When he saw the glory of the Lord, he said, woe is me.

And that's one thing about when God, when God makes his glory known and where he makes his glory known is in the Lord Jesus Christ. God, this is, this is God's glory. It's in Christ. God's glory is in His blessed Son. And that's where we see the glory of God. We cannot see it no place else but in Christ. And I'll tell you something else that happened to David when he was a shepherd boy out there. When he laid down one night and he looked up into the heavens and he said, and he's just, he wasn't even king. He was just a shepherd boy. He looked up And he looked at the stars, the sun, and moon. He said, Oh Lord, when I consider the stars and moon that thou hast ordained, I say, what is man that you're mindful of him? What is man that you would visit him? Look at it. What is man? What is man? And oh my, they were so afraid. How many ages has passed since anyone saw the glory of God? 400 years had gone by and ain't nobody seen the glory of God. And oh my, and I'll tell you, they were afraid.

And then look what a message was given to them. Verse 10, and the angel said unto them, fear not. Don't you all fellas be afraid. He seen that the angel was talking to nobody but shepherds. Fear not. He said, I'm bringing you some of the best news you'll ever hear in your life. I'm bringing you some really, really, really good news. I'm bringing you the best news you'll ever hear. And this good tidings is going to bring you great joy. Going to bring you great joy. Oh, my.

The first thing he says, fear not. Fear everything but God. And I mean, fear sin, fear everything, and worship God. And look what he says, I bring you good tidings. Oh, my. Good. Yes, that means good news. Good news. And then look, I said, it bring great joy. And look what it says, which shall be to all people. Now, when he says to all people, you reckon he means everybody in the human race here? You reckon that's what he means? Huh? Well, when he says all people, it's the same thing as John 3, 16. All classes of people, all types of people, all types of characters, Jew or Gentile, bond or free, male or female, all kinds of people, all types of people, all kinds of people.

And then look what he says here. For unto you is born this day, today, today, in the city of David, and everybody knew where that was, in the city of David, I love this, is born a Savior, a Savior. That's what we needed more than anything else is a Savior. We needed a Savior more than anything, a Savior. A Savior is born Savior. I need saving. I need a Savior. I really, really need a Savior. Savior. That's the first thing they said about Him, the Savior.

You know what Gabriel told Mary? Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save. That's the most wonderful Wonderful news for sinners is a Savior. A Savior. A Savior. A Savior. Who needs a Savior? I do. Who needs a savior? Sinners does. Who needs a savior? People that are lost. Who needs a savior? People that can't save themselves. They need a savior.

And you know, God in his sovereign mercy, I don't know when he saved me, I really don't. And it don't make any difference. I don't have a time and I don't have a place. But I do have a savior. I do have a savior. And he saved me. He's saving me. And bless his holy name, one of these days I'm gonna be, as the old preacher said, plumb saved. Plumb saved. Plum saved. Whenever you come to view me at the funeral home, you say, boy, he's plum saved now. He's saved now. He's found what he's been looking for all these years.

Oh, but I tell you, I said, all I have to you is, boy, in this day, in the city of David, a savior. Oh, if you had lost as I was, sinful as I am, oh, how you need a Savior. Oh, a Savior. I can't get it. I just can't. I remember. walking along one time and I, it just dawned on me, I'm saved. I'm saved. I'm saved. A savior.

And you know, will he eternally save? Look down here with me in verse Chapter 2 here, and look down with me now. In verse 27. You know, this is Simeon. He came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parish brought in the child Jesus to do for him after the custom of the law, then took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, Lord, now Let us now serve and depart in peace according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation. I'm ready to go. What happened? I saw salvation. What do you see salvation in? Same one we see salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. Eight-day-old baby. I see him. I see your salvation. I see your salvation. Oh, he actually saves.

And then look what it says here now. In verse 12. And this shall be a sign unto you. This is this is how you'll know who you're looking for. This is how you'll know that this is a savior. This is how you'll know this is this one born at the savior today. And he's the Lord of glory. It shall be a sign unto you. So when you see this and you find this, you'll know what's happening. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And oh my, you'll find him not in a palace, but you'll find him in a stable. Not in a cradle, but in a manger. Not in some fine, beautiful baby clothes, but in swaddling clothes. Oh grace, oh how gracious our Lord was to condescend.

And look what happens now. And suddenly, verse 13, and suddenly, suddenly, there was with the angel, that one angel, a multitude of the heavenly host, some people in God's army, praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest, And on earth, peace and goodwill toward man. Oh my, the first thing they done, suddenly they said, glory to God. Glory be to God. And God's to be glorified. God's to be honored. God's to be magnified. Glory to God. And on earth, peace. There's peace coming to this world. There's peace coming to hearts. There's peace coming to mind. There's peace coming between God and man. There's peace coming. And then he says, oh my. And glory to God on earth, the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. Christ is the highest. Oh, how's the goodwill of God to send his son in such a manner? It says he's goodwill toward men. God's goodwill is toward men. Sinful men, lost men. Goodwill because it's God's will. Goodwill because it's eternal and everlasting. And it's goodwill because it's His will's always done. And it's a goodwill because of what He gave, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord, His Son.

And oh, look what happens now. I'm going to stay till I get done. Look what he says now in verse 15. And it came to pass, and it always does, as the angels were going away from them into heaven, everybody went back to glory. They're left alone now. They've seen all the sight they've seen, all the news they heard. And they came to pass, as the angels were going away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another. They had a conversation among themselves. Let us go now. Let's get going. Let's get down to Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass. And listen to this right here, which the Lord made known unto us. We're just out there tending sheep, and all of a sudden, here's God! All of a sudden, here's a revelation! All of a sudden, here's this wonderful news! All of a sudden, there's the glory of God! All of a sudden, I hear about a Savior! And they said, let's go down there and see what this is happening here. And oh my, see this thing, see this thing which has come to pass. And the Lord has to make it known.

And oh, what else happens now? Oh, they believed the message. They talked among themselves. The Lord made known to them, and they came with haste. Oh, I'd like to see somebody make haste and come to Christ. And they came with haste. I mean, they got in a hurry. And when they got there, look what they said. They found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger, just like God said that's where they'd find them. And oh my. And I tell you, they found the babe just like God had told them they would. They were interested. They were interested. They wanted to go see this. And oh my.

And look what it says in verse 17. And they all that heard it, and when they had seen it, verse 17, excuse me, and when they had seen it, seen this Christ, seeing this Savior, seeing Mary, seeing Joseph, seeing that baby, which known abroad, they went and made known abroad the thing, the saying which was told them concerning this child. They went, started telling people, you wouldn't believe what was told us. You wouldn't believe what we've seen. And they started telling everybody about it. Started telling everybody about it.

And then look what happened. All men wondered, I tell you what, They wondered at these things. And oh my, the angels, they know nothing about redemption. They know nothing about salvation. But yet they were faithful ministers, faithful messengers. And look what happens now. Mary kept all these things in ponderment in her heart. And look what happens. And the shepherds returned, going back to work, going back to their job, glorifying and praising God. And listen to this. for all the things that they had heard, oh my. Are you glad of the things that you've heard? They returned and said, oh my. Remember what we heard? Oh, that they'd heard, and not only what they'd heard, but what they'd seen. As it's told unto them, they believed what the Lord said. They believed the Word of God concerning Christ. And oh my, I tell you what, praising God, praising God, I tried to do that this morning. Didn't do a very well job of it, but I tried to praise Him this morning.

Because that was a day thousands of years ago On a night, there was a Savior that was born, a Savior. And if you need saving, if you need saving, and I do, I've got a Savior. Our Father, thank you for your great mercy Thank you for your gospel. Thank you for the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for making us to know these things. Lord, as you made the shepherds know, you've made him known unto us. And, Lord, we praise you for it, what we've heard, all the gospel we've heard, what good news it is to be, what good news it is to your people. the gospel we've heard, the Christ we've seen, the Lord of glory himself. Oh, Lord, thank you for letting us see, letting us hear, letting us believe your word. And Lord, God bless this gospel today. Bless this message. Bless it to the hearts and minds of those gathered here. And forgive us of everything that's so unlike you. And, Lord, forgive me for not having a heart so in love with you, not taken up with you as it should be. But, Lord, save your people in this place. I believe you have some sheep here. And, Lord, you said your sheep would hear your voice. Save your people for Christ's sake. Amen. Amen. Oh, how merciful. How merciful.

See you Wednesday night, God willing.