Christmas series
A Thrill of Hope: Jesus Has Come part 4
“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.””
Luke 2:8-14 NLT
God is the God of suddenlies
From the announcement of the angels to the announcement today, it is still good news. He is a good God brining good news.
1.) Jesus came to rescue you
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,”
Ephesians 2:8 NKJV
When you wander, God comes after you to rescue you.
“So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.”
Romans 5:11 NLT
“He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.”
2 Corinthians 5:15 NLT
It’s not just that God rescues you from something, He rescues you for something.
2.) Jesus came to recover you
You may feel you have destroyed your life but God wants to recover your life.
God’s grace to redeem, restore, and recover is stronger than any sin.
““Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.””
Matthew 11:28-30 MSG
God, your God, will restore everything you lost; he’ll have compassion on you; he’ll come back and pick up the pieces from all the places where you were scattered. No matter how far away you end up, God, your God, will get you out of there and bring you back to the land your ancestors once possessed. It will be yours again. He will give you a good life and make you more numerous than your ancestors.”
Deuteronomy 30:3-5 MSG
If God can rescue you, then God can recover you.
3.) Jesus came to reconnect you
“He brought me to the banqueting house, And his banner over me was love.”
Song of Solomon 2:4 NKJV
““I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5 NKJV
Connected to God you do everything he’s called you to do, and become everything He has called you to become.
“If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.”
Mark 8:35 NLT
“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”
Mark 8:36 NKJV
It’s not about the gifts under the tree, but the gift that hung on a tree.
