Jesus is “God in the Flesh” TEXT: Luke 2:8-20 THESIS: Jesus is God incarnate. The great “I AM” in the flesh. THEME: God visits the least of them. I. God sends his angels to the “least of them”. A. These shepherds possibly cared for the temple lambs. 1. It is ironic that those who were caring for the temple lambs were invited by God to visit the “Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world. B. A Shepherd was not aloud to enter the temple because his profession rendered him unclean ~ the animal was allowed in the temple. C. Those man deemed unclean God visited. 1. They received the birth announcement. 2. They were serenaded by a “great company of heavenly host”. 3. They personally visited Jesus in the birthing room called the “stable”. II. God calls us to visit “the least of them”. Jesus said: ‘For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' "They also will answer, `Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' these, you did not do for me.’ Matthew 25: 42-44 A. Christmas is about COMPASSION. 1. In the battle against evil and up holding the truth let us not become hardened to the “least of them” around us. Jesus said: Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. Matthew 24: 12-13 B. A brief list of those who might qualify as the “least of them” are as follows: Ø The mentally and physically challenged. Ø The financially pressed. Ø The single parent families. Ø Those in the nursing homes. Ø The widows and orphans. Ø The unborn babies. Ø Children in third-world countries. C. God clarifies the definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13. 1. Christmas is a time to check your spiritual heart pulse. 2. The compassion and generosity of Christmas is to be a year-round lifestyle of the Christian. III. The shepherds of God “returned, glorifying and praising God for all the thingsthey had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told”. (vs 20) A. God’s people are a grateful people. 1. To be different than the world we must not be complainers and gossips. 2. Our boast should be in the great things God has done. B. God’s people are a people of praise. When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. Deuteronomy 8: 10 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Praise be to the LORD, who has upheld my cause against Nabal for treating me with contempt. He has kept his servant from doing wrong and has brought Nabal's wrongdoing down on his own head.” I Samuel 25: 39 I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you.
Psalm 22:22 Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy.
Psalm 28: 6 My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long.
Psalm 78: 8 It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High,
Psalm 92: 1 Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Psalm 150: 1-6 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:19-20 C. God’s people are a people of testimony. (vss. 17-18) | 