Heaven-Sent Messenger

According to a legend, Satan and his demons were having a Christmas party. As the demonic guests were departing one grinned and said to Satan, “Merry Christmas your majesty.” At that, Satan replied with a growl, “Yes, keep it merry. If they ever get serious about it, we’ll all be in trouble.” Well, get serious about it. It is the birth of the Baby. It is the coming of Immanuel, “God with us”. It is God’s intervention of God’s presence among men.

This week our studies took us to the well-known passage of Luke 1:26-38. The Christmas story has always touched the hearts of God’s people as we enjoy lingering over the characters and their significance to the story. At the very center is Mary and Joseph with baby Jesus lying in the manger, then come the animals as they gather around to see what is taking place. Then, after their amazing encounter with the angels, come the humble shepherds, and although we know they came later, how could we forget about the wise men that came bearing their gifts. But what about the angels? Where do they fit into the picture? We almost place them at a distance. In truth, the angels cannot be forgotten – as the Scriptures point out, they play a significant role in the Christmas story. In the Gospel of Luke, we read about an angel who was busy carrying out the urgent work of God. Allow me to draw your attention to Luke 1:26-27 to where we meet Gabriel the Heaven sent angel.

1) Luke 1: 26-27 – The Heaven Sent Messenger:
If you read these verses too quickly, you miss those five significant words, “Gabriel was sent by God.” At God’s appointed time, He sent His messenger to Mary. The reason was God knew that Mary would need the support that Joseph would be unable to give her.

2) Luke 1:28-33 – The Heaven Sent Message:
Gabriel came announcing the news that would change the course of History. For four hundred years God had chosen to remain silent, but now at last, the time had come for God to become flesh and live among the men that He created.
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” God was sending His Son into a world that He knew would reject Him.

3) Luke 1:34-35 The Heaven Sent Miracle:
When Mary first received the news that she would be giving birth to Son of God, her reaction (recorded in verse 34) was, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” Then, without missing a beat, Gabriel says “For, with God nothing will be impossible.” It was the Holy Spirit who would “come upon” her and it was through God’s infinite power that He would place the eternal Son of God inside the womb of the virgin Mary.

Like Gabriel, God is still in the business of looking for people who are willing to be His messengers. He has already given us the message, Joy to the World the Lord has come. Our job is to be busy announcing the miracle of Christmas…Immanuel “God With Us.”

“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 Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye 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, good will 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 now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.” Luke 2:8-14

“Do you hear what I hear” that is a song title from a well known Christmas classic. For the longest time I have been thinking; when is too soon to begin our Christmas series. Then I went to the mall and was greeted by Santa Claus, as I walked through the mall the songs about a fat man and red suit haunted me, and then as I sat down to relax I was greeted by, (that’s right you guessed it) jolly old Saint Nichols. You then understand why at the top of my Christmas list I will be asking for a blind fold and a pair of ear muffs to escape such foolishness. If you had the blessing of growing up in a church or have attended church for some time then the Christmas story might have lost its zip. I think in many lives that might be the case, so when we hear about those who are standing opposed to celebrating Christmas, those who are telling us not to say “Merry Christmas” but “Happy Holidays”, and those who are telling us that having a manger scene in the public eye is an offence, we kind of shrug our shoulders and go out of our way to be careful not to offend them. “Enough is Enough”---Suck It Up Butter Cup! With Christmas quickly approaching are you making time to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Christians, lift your voice, “Go tell it on the Mountain”, sing “Joy to the world the Lord has come”, or “Away in the manger”; this is what the reason for the season is all about, isn’t it? If you do not take the time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ then who will?

This week at the church promises to be a very fun and exciting week!

Tuesday at 7 is the Ladies Bible Study
Wednesday at 6:30 is our AWANA club-don’t forget to dress up for Christmas
Thursday at 2:00 is when we will be decorating the church for Christmas
Saturday at 7 is Youth
Sunday at 10:00 is Sunday School
Sunday at 11:00 we will meet for our morning worship service

We can be contacted at (780) 657-2284 or (587)280-0789

We have been given the privilege and opportunity to worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in a free country. As the Psalmist said, “Let us worship His name together”. I invite you to come and worship the Lamb of God. This Sunday morning we will be meeting for Sunday School at 10:00, followed by the morning service beginning at 11:00. Come worship our Savior with us! Like never before, the words of the book of Hebrews should be on the minds and hearts of all of those who belong to Jesus Christ: “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together; as in the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see that Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24, 25.

Pastor Paul

May God richly bless your life as you continue to serve and remain faithful to Him!