12/24               Luke 2:17 

After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 

WITNESSED

The shepherds witnessed the Christ child and told about their experience to everyone.  They were early witnesses to Jesus.  Do not be afraid.  Listen to the Lord.  Meet Jesus if you haven’t. 

12/23               Luke 2:16 

They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 

RECOGNIZE

The shepherds recognize Jesus and celebrate His arrival.  They believed the angels, came to see Jesus and worshipped Him.  Do you recognize Jesus?  Let Him into your life.  Jesus is Lord. 

12/22               Luke 2:15 

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 

ACTED

The shepherds acted upon the directions of the angels.  They knew this word was from God and therefore they went to Bethlehem to see the Messiah. 

12/21               Luke 2:12 

And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” 13Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” 

LISTENED

The Shepherds listened to the angels.  They heard them praising the Lord.  They were overwhelmed with joy and fear.  The key was that they listened to them. 

12/20               Luke 2:10-11 

but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 

AGES

The prophecy of the ages was coming true.  The eyewitnesses: shepherds!  The Lord uses broken people.  Are you broken?  This Christmas is specially for your.  Are you on your last leg?  Nothing has worked out?  Overwhelmed?  At the end of your rope?  Jesus came for you.  He knows how you felt.  He lived it.  He knows what you need!  Salvation.  Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.  You will be forgiven of your sins.  You will become an eternal member of the family of God.  Jesus came for you.

12/19               Luke 2:8-9 

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 

AFRAID

Before you say you wouldn’t be afraid put yourself in the Shepherds’ shoes-this was an astonishing event that certainly in their mind end in their destruction.  But it wasn’t.  This was a visitation from the Lord.  Have you ever had a visitation?  Didn’t it shock you? 

12/18               Luke 2:6-7 

And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. 

REAL

This is a real event.  God sent His son who would live like the most of us, the poor of us, and still live a life without sin.  Remember the poor.  We are called to help the Lord take care of them.  Praise the Lord. 

12/17               Luke 2:4-5

And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant. 

TAXES

Who would have thought taxes would be part of the Jesus birth narrative, but it is.  The Lord can use anything to accomplish His purposes including you and me.  Bless the Holy Name of the Lord.  Praise His for all His wonderful greatness. 

12/16               Luke 2:1-3 

At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 

BEGINNING

The prophesy begins the process of fulfillment.  We will study it this Christmas.  Jesus coming was foretold over several hundred years by multiple authors in the Old Testament.  He is Lord and is Lord over all things including time and circumstance. 

12/15               Matthew 8:28-34 

When Jesus arrived on the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gadarenes, two men who were possessed by demons met him. They lived in a cemetery and were so violent that no one could go through that area. 29 They began screaming at him, “Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before God’s appointed time?” 30 There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding in the distance. 31 So the demons begged, “If you cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs.” 32 “All right, go!” Jesus commanded them. So the demons came out of the men and entered the pigs, and the whole herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water. 33 The herdsmen fled to the nearby town, telling everyone what happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the entire town came out to meet Jesus, but they begged him to go away and leave them alone.

OVER

Jesus is over all things.  He commands and the demons shake and obey.  He is able to deal with your situation.  Talk with Him.  Ask Him for His help.  The Lord values you.