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good morning everyone welcome to free grace baptist church a welcome to visitors that are with us this morning one announcement actually two announcements before we begin worship first off a pastor Butler is not here he's in Arizona in Tucson he's preaching at a new church plant down there a church plant that is moving from an old building to a newer one it's their first service there and he's the invited guest preacher there so we can pray for our pastor jim Butler down there as he brings the word down in tucson arizona secondly we have will have a hymn sing next Lord's Day evening at the lynnwood a retirement home we do that every year we've been doing that every year I think for three years now Linwood is just around the corner Linwood retirement home so after the evening service will have not tonight this is next lord's day after the evening service will have some soup and sandwiches upstairs and then we can head over there for seven o'clock and sing some hymns together with with the folks there well let's begin by turning in our Bibles to psalm 97 our call to worship will be a reading of the 97th song Psalm 97 the word of the living and true God the Lord reigns let the earth rejoice let the multitude of Isles be glad clouds and darkness surround him righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne a fire goes before him and burns up his enemies round about his lightnings light the world the earth sees and trembles the mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord at the presence of the lord of the whole earth the heavens declare his righteousness and all the peoples see his glory let all be put to shame who serve carved images who boast of idols worship him all you gods zion hears and is glad and the daughters of judah rejoice because of your judgment Oh Lord for you Lord are most high above all the earth you are exalted far above all gods you who love the Lord hate evil he preserves the souls of his Saints he delivers them out of the hand of the wicked light is sown for the righteous and gladness for the upright in heart rejoice in the Lord you righteous and give thanks at the remembrance of his holy name amen well let's all stand together and turn in our larger Trinity hymnals to 147 147 will stand and sing as a church you you seated let us go to our great God in prayer let us pray our righteous and our heavenly God we come to you rejoicing that we can gather together as the Saints of Christ in this place and we would yet again pray on another Lord's Day that your name would be hallowed here and in all the earth we pray that you would give unto your saints that presence of mind and spirit to rightly give you honor and praise this morning that our souls would be stirred by the presence of our God that we might adequately worship you and praise you and give you all honor we rejoice in the gospel of Jesus Christ our saving Lord we know that we are not saved and we cannot come before you because of deeds which we have done in holiness of heart but rather there is one who has done that perfect work even the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior in redeeming King we know that you did send him in the fullness of the times born of a woman and born under the law that he might redeem those who are under the law that we might receive the adoption as sons we thank you that we can be called the sons of God by virtue of the finished and the perfect work of our Lord Jesus Christ that perfect life of obedience unto your law in the stead of all those who believe that perfect substitution ery sacrificial death upon Calvary's cross where he bore in his own body the sins of all of his people he bore your wrath Lord God in our stead bearing the penalty for our transgressions and he did so perfectly and we rejoice that it is an atonement of perfection that saves a multitude of sinners that no man can number and we rejoice in that victorious resurrection we thank you that he rose again the third day in power and in great victory and that he is now at your right hand where he does ever live as king to intercede for his people to rule and terrain to subdue enemies and to bring his people to himself we do pray that you would cause us this day to rejoice in Christ Jesus the Lord to sing his praises and that he might be exalted upon the praises of his gathered assemblies we do pray God that you would be with those in our midst to suffer physical issues disease injury malady the list is long and we do pray that you would be with each and every one is we prayed for them this morning in the prayer meeting that you would lift up each and every one strengthen them in body help them to know physical healing we do pray that you would just grant to them relief from pains discomforts and all of those things that attend sickness we just pray that you would bless them and that you would heal them we do pray in the midst of physical affliction Lord that you would tend to their spirit that you would cause them to be lifted up in Seoul to bless it and happy thoughts of their Savior and their God we do pray that you would strengthen them in the inner man and it caused them to be holy resign done to your will in your good favor in all things we do pray that you would be with those who are unable to join us those travelling those just unable to gather together with us this morning we pray that you would be with them and watch over them we think of pastor Butler down in tucson arizona we rejoice that he's able to preach to another church them calling him to be a guest preacher we do pray that you give him power from on high to proclaim a richly the things of God down in that church we do pray that you would watch over him as he preaches giving him what he needs and Lord that you would be with that congregation that you would strengthen them in spirit and by your word and cause them to rejoice in our Christ we do think of many other churches in chilliwack and around Canada the United States that we often pray for from prayer letters we do pray that you be with each and every one of them we think of the Lindblad across the line we think of Pastor Martin's congregation we think of a pastor barcelo TSA's and many others Lord we do pray that you'd watch over the men in the pulpit proclaiming your word that you would be with those gathered assemblies that they would hear the word of God and that the Saints would be instructed and edified and that sinners would be saved to the praise of your glorious grace we do pray God that you would be with the persecuted Church strengthening our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world they receive a much hatred and anger and even physical assaults and sometimes even unto death and we do pray that you would watch over them that in the midst of suffering and persecution and the anger of opposers we do pray that you would lift them up and cause them to have much confidence and comfort in our risen Christ and in the power of God we do pray that you would deal with their persecutors that you would even save some and those who would remain in opposition to you that you would remove them out of the way and cause them no longer to bring harm upon the people of Christ we pray God for those who rule over us as we're admonished by the Apostle Paul to pray for kings and those who are in authority and that we might live peaceable lives in this lower world we do pray that you would tend to those who rule over us that you would cause them to rule in righteousness truth and equity we do pray that you would remove any from power who would seek to pervert the nation's who would seek to propagate wickedness and abominations in the land and that you would raise up rulers who seek to rule after proper justice we do pray that your people around the world would rejoice in the truth and seek to defend it we pray that you would conquer hearts bringing more into the kingdom by amazing brace we pray that today your word would be proclaimed and that a newly redeemed tongues a multitude of them would sing the praises of our Christ do cause many around the world Lord God for your glory to bend a knee to the king of kings and the Lord of lords and find all things in our Blessed Christ so we pray that you would be with us now God that you would help us as we worship we pray that you would be with the preacher as he proclaims your word giving him strength from on high to do so and God we do pray that you would be honored and glorified in this place by the instruction the edification and the strengthening of your gathered people and by the salvation of sinners we do pray again God that you would come upon the wings of sovereign and victorious grace and conquer hearts this morning you would cause them to leave this place singing the praises of our blessed Savior and it is in his name Christ's name that we do now pray amen well let's stand and sing again if you'll stand with me and turn in your hymn books to 152 sing that him together 152 you you you please be seated you turn in your Bibles to Revelation 13 so we continue to read through the New Testament each and every Lord's Day this is where we're now at Revelation chapter 13 once again as Psalm 97 was this is the word of the living and true God then I stood on the sand of the sea and I saw a beast rising up out of the sea having seven heads and ten horns and on his horns ten crowns and on his heads a blasphemous name now the Beast which I saw was like a leopard his feet were like the feet of a bear in his mouth like the mouth of a lion the dragon gave him his power his throne and great Authority and I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded and his deadly wound was healed in all the world marveled and followed the Beast so they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the Beast and they worshiped the Beast saying who is like the Beast who is able to make war with him and he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies and he was given authority to continue for 42 months then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God to blaspheme his name his tabernacle and those who dwell in heaven it was granted to him to make war with the Saints and to overcome them and authority was given him over every tribe tongue and nation all who dwell on the earth will worship Him whose names have not been written in the book of life of the lamb slain from the foundation of the world if anyone has an ear let him hear he who leads into captivity shall go into captivity he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword here is the patience and the faith of the saints then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon and he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast whose deadly wound was healed he performs great signs so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth and the sight of men and he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the Beast who was wounded by the sword and live he was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast and the image of the Beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the Beast to be killed he causes all both small and great rich and poor free and slave to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast or the number of his name here is wisdom let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast for it is the number of a man his number is 666 amen well just very briefly because we don't want to spend a whole lot of time in the symbology and in the interpretation of Revelation 13 but I think what we're supposed to see in the very least is a contrast between those who serve a beast a wicked one one who is a human ruler giving allegiance to him and not allegiance to Christ giving allegiance to an earthly ruler while rejecting allegiance to the true king of kings and Lord of lords the risen and an exalted Savior the Lord Jesus Christ we see the contrast introduced in chapter 14 then I looked and behold a lamb standing on Mount Zion and with him 144,000 having his father's name written on their foreheads you see those with the mark on their hand or on the forehead are those who worship and serve the Beast this earthly ruler but those are marked by the lamb who serve Him you see we're not I don't believe to see a literal and real mark upon the head or the hand but rather these things are symbolic and emblematic of thought and service unto one who is not to be followed after one who as blasphemous names by contrast Christians true Christians have the mark of the lamb written on their foreheads they think after Christ and they serve him we come to this passage as we come to the book of Revelation and one thing we do know for certain that though earthly rulers animated even by the devil himself to bring terror to the Saints though they may rage though they may rail against the church Christ Jesus the Lord this Lamb of God standing upon Mount Zion has been and will be victorious and those who follow after him will have blessing upon blessing will let us pray Heavenly Father we thank you for this word from on high this word in the book of Revelation we thank you that we have been called by your grace to serve the living and true God to serve our Christ that we are not such who follow after anyone save for the risen and exalted Savior and save for our triune God we pray that you would cause us to continue steadfast in our faith that we would lay hold with a solid grip upon the hope that is set before us in Christ Jesus that we would not follow after worldly things that we would not follow after those things which perish but rather we would follow after the Lord Jesus Christ and the treasures the riches and the excellencies of his perfect person and work we do pray that you'd be with us now as we continue in worship that you might help us to do so a right that we would do so biblically and that we would do so with great joy and it's in Christ's name that we pray amen well our final him then before the preaching of the word will be 168 again in the larger Trinity hymnals let's stand and sing 168 you Oh be seated you can turn in your Bibles to Luke chapter 2 Luke 2 will read from verse 12 verse 14 Luke 2 beginning in verse 1 once again the Word of God and it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered this census first took place while karenni asst was governing Syria so all went to be registered every one to his own city Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea to the City of David which is called Bethlehem because he was of the house and lineage of David to be registered with Mary his betrothed wife who was with child so it was but so it was that while they were there the days were completed for her to be delivered and she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the end now there were in the same country Shepherds living out in the fields keeping watch over their flock by night and behold an angel of the Lord stood before them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were greatly afraid then the angel said to them do not be afraid for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people for there is born to you this day in the City of David a savior who is Christ the Lord and this will be the sign to you you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths 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 amen let's go again to our Lord God in prayer to ask his blessing upon the word preached Heavenly Father we ask now that you would help us in this act of worship the preaching of your word we do pray that you would help both preacher and here we might be engaged that we might be attentive unto your word and spirit that we might rejoice in the Christ of this passage and that we might avail the salvation that is hiren offered that Saints would be strengthened in theirs and that sinners would come to theirs that you would by your grace cause them to be saved unto the praise of your glory that they would again that they would leave this place God singing the praises of this Christ just as the Angels did so many years ago be with us now and might this exercise the end to the praise of your Most High name and it's in the name of the Savior Jesus Christ we pray amen well whether people like it or not and whether or not people attempt each and every year to jettison the name of Christ from contemplations every winter every December our thoughts are at this time of year drawn to that babe wrapped in swaddling bands lying in a fee trough we come to this passage and we find one that is very often quoted and repeated at this time of year weather and entertainment media songs these sorts of things as you walk through a Walmart to buy your eggs and parsnips you might hear a song containing the theology and the language of this passage being played over the over the speakers all of that to say our thoughts are drawn usually this time of year to thoughts of the of the baby Christ the Nativity and the narrative concerning the birth of the King of Kings and the Lord of lords so with our Protestant freedom unbound by any holy day of observation or any such season let's examine this wonderful passage and look at a number of things we're going to look at three things in fact if the Lord will allow and if time will allow those three things are simply this the natal exposition the angelic Proclamation and the docs illogical exclamation a lot of tion words in there but we'll talk about what that means as we move along we find in verses 1 to 14 the account the baby Christ as Luke two moves along and as we arrived at Luke 3 we find the account moving from the baby Christ to the child Christ to the boy Christ and then finally time fast forwards if you will we get to a biblical narrative concerning the adulthood of Christ and his earthly ministry but we're concerned in verses 1 to 14 with the birth of the Savior the Lord Jesus Christ and so first off from verses 1 to 7 we want to note the natal exposition what does that mean well nadel simply pertains to birth and so we want to look at the opening up of the exposition the disclosure of the facts of the birth narrative and notice first we find the noting of the period in verses 1 to 3 the period of Christ's birth notice in verses 1 to 3 what we find and it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered this census first took place while Corinna's governing Syria so all went to be registered everyone to his own City we talked about noting the period we're not talking about arguing for December 25th as the date of Christ's birth that's not what we need to argue and I would I would submit that no preacher should ever argue for that whether in short or at length we take the advice of jenks or we observe his comment learn it and pious men have trifled egregiously on this subject the exact month and date of the birth of Christ making that of importance which the Holy Spirit buy his silence has plainly informed them is of none in other words we as one old Roman historian have noted there were about a hundred and thirty-six opinions as to when the exact date of Christ was born in some coming from each and every month of the year we do know this though that Christ was born that Christ was born 2,000 years ago to Joseph and to marry and that this Christ was no earthly child but that he was the son of the most high who took to himself man's nature with all the essential properties and common infirmities thereof yet without in and saves men to the uttermost all those who come nigh by his blood but noting the period we do want to note first off historical veracity that simply means guys that simply means adults and children the certain historical truthfulness of the account notice and we've said this before notice that the writers of Holy Scripture don't deliver the narratives to us they don't deliver the biblical record in the history to us in the flavor of once upon a time the incipit of Luke that is the beginning of his letter doesn't come to us in the manner of a dark and stormy night or on a dark and stormy night turn to Luke one and see the historical veracity that is the certain truthfulness that these things took place what Luke discloses to us Luke 1 verse 1 in as much as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us it seemed good to me also having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first to write to you an orderly account most excellent Theophilus that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed you see it is a good habit of Luke a good pattern in Luke's writing to bring forth the time in which things took place in this case when a Caesar Augustus sent the decree for these to be engaged in a census notices well in Luke 3 at verse 1 the same pattern of Luke introducing and always arguing for the historical veracity placing things in their proper time period now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar Pontius Pilate being governor governor of Judea Herod being Tetrarch of Galilee his brother Philip Tetrarch of IDA Rhea the region of track and itís etc etc you get the point Luke is a Luke is a tactician he is a detailed historian and he's arguing for the historical varsity that these things most certainly did take place but you see there's more than that in this text brothers and sisters ladies and gentlemen there's more to this text and simply historical veracity glorious historical truth and certainty but there is as well prophetic fulfillment I believe what Luke as well wants us to see and what many commentators have noted is the fulfillment of among other passages Genesis 49 and specifically Genesis 49 and verse 10 what we find in that text you can turn there if you'd like if you're quick on the fingers and you want to find yourselves in Genesis 49 10 we have a prophecy there concerning the Messiah Jesus Christ in the passage here called Shiloh who would come notice in Genesis 49 10 the scepter shall not depart from judah nor a lawgiver from between his feet until shiloh comes and to him shall be the obedience of the people luke is announcing here that the scepter has departed and a lawgiver from the loins of of judah is no longer in power shiloh has come in fulfillment of 49 10 and this announces the fulfillment of that particular prophecy now the scepter is in the hand of the Roman Imperial Conqueror now the lawgiver is Rome and its imperial majesty and so we have now a fulfillment of prophecy but you see it's even more than that as well not that their seat needs to be something more than that and by more i don't mean higher and more perfect at all but there's more than just prophetic fulfillment as well here Luke is coming up against royal Imperial cult worship he's saying yes a decree went out from Caesar Augustus but you see it isn't Caesar Augustus who is the one sent by Providence he's not the Savior as the worshipers of him would say and he is not the Son of God as he himself would claim but rather this Christ born in Bethlehem this Christ born in Bethlehem wrapped in swaddling bands and laying in a feed trough is the Savior he is the son of God an old calendar inscription in nine bc that is 9 years prior to the Lord Jesus Christ coming we find this with regards to Caesar Augustus the the author who inscribed on this calendar writing that Providence sent Caesar Augustus filled him with virtue as a savior the inscription goes on to say since the birthday of the god Augustus was the beginning of the good news for the world it's nine years before the coming of Christ in this Roman Imperial cult of Emperor worship is claiming that Caesar Augustus was sent by Providence filled with virtue and as a savior and would even say since the birthday of god the god Augustus was the beginning of the good news for the world we ought not to doubt why not in and not in whole but in part why mark opens up his gospel by saying the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ the Son of God you see the true son of God over and against the counterfeit the Roman Imperial leader was Jesus Christ you see and it wasn't just some religious response in the first century to Roman imperial rule but this one was promised even before Rome came to be Micah 52 Isaiah 714 Isaiah 96 Jesus Christ is the true son over and against the counterfeit the Roman Emperor this is why we have the angels singing not any good news pertaining to the Roman Empire but rather we bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people why because there is born to you this day in the City of David a savior who is Christ the Lord Caesar Augustus is not your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is king of kings and Lord of lords notices well the lineage in Luke chapter 2 with regards to the natal exposition that is the opening up of the that count the birth account noticed the lineage in verse 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea to the City of David which is called Bethlehem because he was of the house and lineage of David you see we have the Bible not just setting forth to us brethren bare facts we have the author Luke inspired from on high by the superintending power of the divine magistrate penning things and not just giving to us bare facts but rather bringing out rich prophetic fulfillment hopefully when you read that hopefully when you read Joseph and to the City of David and then even more the house and lineage of David your minds are drawn back to second Samuel 7 the promise of a one who would commis the seed of David from the lineage of David who would be a king who would set up a kingdom that would not perish that would not fade away but would endure forever we know that that is a promise concerning the Lord Jesus Christ because what do we find in Acts chapter 2 in Acts chapter 2 on this connection Peter preaching to the gathered assembly says therefore being a prophet speaking of David and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body according to the flesh he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne he for seeing this spoke concerning the resurrection of Christ that Peter is bringing together second Samuel 7 as well as Psalm 16 and and he is preaching christ as the one who is from the lineage of David so when we read in the birth narrative the Joseph of the house and lineage of David comes to Bethlehem with Mary to be registered we are to see the fulfillment of prophecy we are to see the connection to the lineage of David the connection to 2nd Samuel 7 and the promise that a greater than David would arise from out of the loins of David from his lineage his kingdom would have no end notices well of a place as well in verse 4 Bethlehem Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea to the City of David which is called Bethlehem again brethren hopefully hopefully as you read these things and as your mind is working as the gears and the wheels are spinning and turning you can draw connections to 22 other places in Scripture it's absolutely vital Luke is not just again setting forth to us bear facts he knows Micah 52 he knows the prophecy and Micah 52 turn there with me we have wonderful prophecy there that is being fulfilled as Luke is narrating the greatest story ever told Micah 5 and verse 2 but you Bethlehem Ephrathah though you are little among the thousands of Judah yet out of you shall come forth to me the one to be ruler in Israel whose goings forth are from old from everlasting what a wonderful thing David is knitting together this masterpiece of a tapestry of a narrative in order to disclose to his audience that this truly was the promised Christ this isn't just one born in Bethlehem this isn't just one born in the City of David this is the one promised to be born in Bethlehem hundreds of years ago this is the one promised who would come forth to be a ruler in Israel whose goings forth are not from the time of his birth but whose goings forth are from everlasting a blessed fulfillment of prophecy and brethren it's it's no haphazard or lucky thing that Bethlehem is called house of bread it's its meaning in the Hebrew House of bread rich meaning there why what would Christ say on that day when he would feed feed a multitude after he feeds the multitude he feeds them with fish and bread he says that I am the bread that came down from heaven Jesus Christ the bread from heaven that gives life to the whole world believe on me and you will not hunger he says because I am the bread of life we have the Promised One born in Bethlehem the house of bread the one who would come and give not physical bread though he would in his earthly ministry but to illustrate and to draw out spiritual and glorious truths that he is the bread of life who comes down from heaven all those who believe in me shall not hunger those who eat the bread and drank the blood that is believe on the Lord Jesus Christ all of those will have everlasting life this promised one comes in fulfillment of Micah to and he's born in the house of bread brethren when we come to the scriptures I hopefully you understand what we have before us in the Holy Bible remember we don't have a we don't have a book that is slapped together 66 books that men just thought would be good to you know knit together and bind and and you know there you go no real connectivity you know yeah that talks about God but you know there's alt stuff all over the place and no inspired inerrant infallible our confession of faith says at the point of the Holy Scriptures the heavenly pneus of the matter the efficacy of the doctrine the majesty of the style the consent of all the parts the scope of the whole which is to give all glory to God the discovery it makes of the only way of salvation and many other incomparable excellencies and entire perfections thereof are all arguments whereby the bible does testify to its own divine authority it is inspired and it is the holy spirit coming with power and great efficacy to make these things real in our hearts you're here this morning to you your eyes land upon the pages of loop 2 and and you you think it's just data you think it's just an author so many years ago that penned some things remember it doesn't come to us in the manner of once upon a time but by the inspiration and the authority of God with rich prophetic fulfillment and meaning above all meaning God giving sending his son into this world that sinners might be saved lastly under the natal exposition notice the noting of the Nativity verses five to seven the noting of the Nativity to be registered with Mary his betrothed wife who was with child betrothed is probably a better way to pronounce that betrothed wife who was with child so it was that while they were there the days were completed for her to be delivered and she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the end now it might not seem so just from the bear reading of the language but let it be known that when we read his betrothed wife we are to understand their a reference to the weight that this is a divine child betrothed wife remember that with betrothal is that they're not yet married they're not yet married and not yet falling under the proper divine sanctions for marital and conjugal relations and yet this one who is betrothed only to Joseph in their their betrothal back in that time was was more weighty and more strong than our engagement in the 21st century but all of that to come back to this this stresses the divine origin because they were not yet married they had not yet known one another and yet this virgin was with child this woman was with child this speaks to what Luke wrote earlier in Luke chapter one the power of the most high overshadowed Mary and knit together in the womb of that one was this one who is from everlasting this one who is God Most High this one who would be the savior of men we come to Mary his betrothed wife we find that one who was with God in the beginning that one who is God that one who is the second of the Blessed triune who now has come into time in history to save guilty sinners from their sins it's sting language that we have here as well in verse 7 and she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger in a feed trough on the point of the swaddling cloths though it was practice in the Jewish world to wash a baby to cut the umbilical cord to wash the baby to rub it in salt and to wrap it in swaddling bands when we read swaddling cloths or perhaps a translation out there has swaddling clothes that's probably not the best meaning it the best meaning would be swaddling bands they were pieces of cloth that babies would be wrapped in in order to keep their limbs close to their bodies for better development and those sorts of things I want you to turn to a passage in Ezekiel 16 for a moment Ezekiel 16 because there may very well be more meaning than simply facts again concerning how the baby was wrapped nazih kial chapter 16 notice what we find there in verse 1 again the word of the Lord came to me saying son of man caused Jerusalem to know her abominations and say thus says the Lord God to Jerusalem your birth and your nativity are from the land of Canaan your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite as for your nativity on the day you were born your navel cord was not cut nor were you washed in water to cleanse you you were not rubbed with salt nor wrapped in swaddling cloths no I pitied you to do any of these things for you to have compassion on you but you were throwing out into the open field when you yourself were loathed on the day you were born we come to the nativity the birth of Christ and the opposite is true this one is honored you see this one is the true son of God not an adopted son like Old Covenant Israel who had to be who had to be taken from its low condition and brought to a position of glory the one laying in the manger in the feed trough has glory essential to himself there is an indication there though there is of course humility brethren though there is the reality that the king of kings and Lord of lords well we should say that's more pertaining to as the victory of his messianic work the second of the Blessed triune God is wrapped in swaddling cloths in a manger in a feed trough reserved for animals yet there is dignity because unlike Old Covenant Israel he does have his umbilical cord cut he's washed he's rubbed in salt and he's wrapped in swaddling bands believe there may be some weight to the language in Luke 22 highlight this that there's something of a reversal at the end of this baby's life though is he for the sins of his people and he to bear the wrath of God and divine vengeance for the violation of the Decalogue he is at the end of days naked at the end of his days naked outside of the city just like that Israel he bears the curse he is the one who takes upon himself the curse of God in the stead of all those who believe but I commend you to commentators and to your own reading to further develop that and find if there's any weight there but this is what we find we find a woman with child hopefully again our minds are drawn to the mounting of old testament prophecy concerning the savior when we see a woman with child when we read in Galatians 4 for born of a woman what are we to understand but the glorious weight of time and history leading to this time of Christ being born of a woman from the first gospel promise it was a promise concerning a woman who would be with child Genesis 3 15 remember the hero born of woman who would crush the serpent with his heel victorious champion born of woman we come to Isaiah 714 and what do we find that prophecy the woman will be with child the Virgin will be with child his name shall be called Emmanuel God with us Isaiah 96 unto us a child is given unto us a son is born the government will be upon his shoulders and he's not just human but his name shall be called wonderful counselor mighty God everlasting father Prince of Peace the noting of the Nativity when we are or if we are to note anything and we should we are to land our contemplations upon the king of kings and Lord of lords wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger this one who is God and yet for our sakes came down from heaven to redeem guilty sinners glorious Nativity notice secondly and more largely as we move through feet through three things the angelic Proclamation the angelic Proclamation and verses 8 to 12 verses 8 to 12 notice first off the recipients of the proclamation in verse 8 now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields keeping watch over their flock by night the recipients of the angelic Proclamation are Shepherds now once again we come and we need to rehearse this it's not just a fact oh yeah the angels came to shepherds hopefully the first thing that we would want to note here is the fact that the Angels bring a message in such a way that only God would ever plan or purpose you see if we were the Bible brings out this truth God speaking my ways are not your ways and my thoughts are not your thoughts you see if we were to pen if men were trying to launch a false religion in the first century would they say that angels came to Shepherds to announce the shepherds were not looked upon as the most favorable folks in the land for the tenders of the sheep outside the city in the fields tending to the tending to the lands and yet the record by divine inspiration comes and it tells us in truth that the angels came and they proclaimed the word to shepherds you see God's ways are not our ways we would have this Christ come to the royal courts in you know not as a babe we would have him come in robes of splendor and in great Majesty with light shining around him with divine power and proclaiming a booming message to the religious leaders of the day and yet God's ways are not our ways and his thoughts are not our thoughts he brings the lowly things to convey high things he brings to bear the base realities in order to communicate hi truths and we see here that the angels come to shepherds a beautiful thing I think it illustrates the humility of angels and it's instructive for us you see because we we find ourselves in our pride and find it sometimes below us to condescend to things that are beneath us you know we you know I'm not going to eat at that place because you know they don't serve x y&z I I'm worth a rib eye and a more expensive wine not going to come back it you know oh you want to take me to that place you know what no I don't want to go there or you're paying for the meal can you take me somewhere else you see you could multiply the examples but there are things that we can do in our lives and that we can demonstrate that illustrate that we need to kill our pride and to put on humility the Angels eternally not eternally the Angels upon their creation and ever and always after sing praises in the courts of heaven before the throne to God most high and yet here they are in a field in you know outside Jerusalem in the fields outside Jerusalem proclaiming to those who tend sheep brethren learned be instructed by the Angels put on humility and cast off pride they bring their message to angels as Gil notes to the Shepherd's the first notice of Christ's birth was given not to the princes and chief priests and learn in bed learned men at Jerusalem what two-week mean and illiterate men whom God is pleased to choose and call and reveal his secrets to when he hides them from the wise and prudent to their confusion and the glory of His grace and this a pre sage of what the kingdom of Christ would be and by and to whom the gospel would be preached isn't it interesting the greater than David Davidic son the great Shepherd of the Sheep who is also the Lamb of God who in due time as a sheep before its shearers a silent would open not his mouth is born in the place where David a shepherd tended his father sheep and has announced to shepherds who became some of the first sheep of that great Shepherd's flock if he didn't really track with that I'll email it to you later but the richness of shepherd and sheep in our Bibles the great Shepherd the the great Shepherd his birth is being proclaimed by angels to shepherds who would become the first sheep of that great Shepherd's flock that great Shepherd who is also the Lamb of God who has a sheep before its shearers a silent would open not his mouth is he walked diligently and bore the cross for the salvation of all of his people brethren the Bible is rich Bible is glorious and it's packed with blessed truths concerning the King of Kings and the Lord of lords and it's delivered to us in such a majesty of style notice as well the herald of the proclamation and behold an angel of the Lord stood before them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were greatly afraid the Bible tells us the angels were the messengers of the law in Hebrews chapter 1 and 2 and other places the Angels brought the ministration of the law to men you see there is a reality here that most certainly is true they were greatly afraid but you see this angel comes and it delivers not the thunderings and the quaking zuv a Mount Sinai he says do not be afraid for behold I bring you tidings of great joy this angel who was in the service of God who would sing to God before his throne who would cast his eyes if you will upon the splendor God's unapproachable light singing holy holy holy it comes to these angel comes to these Shepherds to bring the message of Jesus Christ the Lord it was not beneath his station to come to earth and to preach two tenders of sheep notice the nature of the proclamation hopefully we can spend much of our time here while we've spent a number of minutes already but the nature of the proclamation as we find it here in these verses notice beginning at verse 10 then the angel said to them do not be afraid for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people for there is born to you this day in the City of David a savior who is Christ the Lord the first thing we should note here in the nature of the proclamation is that it is a message of the highest importance it is a message of the highest importance this is seen among other things in the word behold remember a number of Sundays ago we spent much time on on 1st John 31 where John writes behold what manner of love the father has bestowed on us that we should be called the children of God we come here and the Angels say behold you see it is to bring pause to the occasion it is to gather hearts so that they might soberly be paying attention to what follows the behold it isn't just a simple look a this is what I want to say it is a majestic and an authoritative but a joyful behold because the message that follows that word is glorious and of the utmost importance the message is of the highest importance and it is a message of joy secondly it's a message of the highest importance and it's a message of door of joy do not be afraid the Angels say for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy Jenks and I would say maybe even rightly knowing our understanding of the word translates that I evangelize to you great joy the language translated good tidings there I actually the those four words bring you good tidings is the word you and Ellie on which we translate Evangelion where we get the words evangel evangelical those sorts of things the angel is saying I evangelize to you great joy in other words I bring you the gospel I bring you the gospel of the highest joy I evangelize to you hi things of great happiness concerning Jesus Christ the Savior I evangelize to you great joy you see again the angels do not come with the stuff of Mount Sinai but the stuff of the city of our God the New Jerusalem the stuff of light and joy and happiness the stuff of gospel they come and they bring good tidings of great joy which will be to all people does this come to you this morning and there is no joy I know I know I've said before that you know big smiles from everyone in the pulpit is not an indication that you're rejoicing in your Lord because of straight a straight mouth can hide and can Veil the the joy of the scenes but are you here in that straight mouth is hiding or veiling emptiness avoid barrenness of joy and happiness do you come to this passage and kind of you know rolls around a little bit your mind but you're going to leave and you're going to go home and eat your ravioli non a carrot and not give any consideration to the things of great joy the things of our Savior and our God in His Christ this is a message of great joy understand understand that things may make you happy in this world things may be it may make you you know may bring pleasure to you they could be lawful things or they could be unlawful things but understand that you do not have true joy unless you have Christ Jesus the Lord the angels come with the evangel to these shepherds and it is a message it is a gospel the highest joy why because though they are sinners and though they should buy right incur the just and heavy wrath of god and his wholesome severity for violating his majestic law nevertheless christ as the savior of man and he's being announced the savior the king of kings i hope this comes to your heart and your found with the highest joy whether your mouth presence or whether behind a straight set of lips is veiled the joy of your heart I pray that you would rejoice in such a blessed message that Christ Jesus came into this world sinners to save that is a faithful saying worthy of all acceptation he came into this world sinners to save that is the message of the Bible that is the message of Christianity if you want to and we should never boil the Bible down to things but when the dust of Revelation settles when the glorious proclamation of these words are brought to their own biblical summation we can find them in places like 1st Timothy 115 that is a faithful saying and worthy of acceptation that says Christ Jesus came into this world sinners to save have joy have happiness have the utmost pleasure in the riches and the excellencies of a babe wrapped in swaddling bands lying in a feed trough savior of men the one who would go to the cross to give his life for guilty sinners notice as well that it is a message for all men it is a message for all men do not be afraid for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people this is not a this is not a gospel and evangel confined to the shepherds it's not an evangel folk only but around the world it's not an Evangeline find to Bethlehem or Jerusalem it is a gospel it is good tidings of great joy to all people it is a message of universal proclamation that goes to every tribe and tongue and people and nation we prayed this morning we pray for people we get letters from RBF for example with regards to things to pray for me pray for Saints in New Mexico Honduras Cuba of the Middle East to France all over the world two thousand years ago yes the gospel was confined in its first shining of light placing in a feed trough in Bethlehem on in these fields where the angels came to shepherds but you see the light has spread out the light has gone out to the uttermost parts of the earth and we can pray for Saints in Sri Lanka we can pray for fellow brothers and sisters in the in the cold of Siberia we can pray for Christians all around the world because this message that first came to Shepherds tending their flock by night this message of great joy is to all people and it has gone out after the power of Almighty God by the spirit for the salvation of men and notice lastly under the nature of proclamation it is a message of salvation by a divine Savior it is a message of salvation by a divine Savior verse 11 for there is born to you this day in the City of David a savior who is Christ the Lord this is a message of salvation that's why it is of the utmost importance and that's why it is of the highest joy and that's why it goes out to the entirety of the earth because it is a message coming two men dead in their trespasses and sins all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God this message comes and it is a message of vation though you are dead in your trespasses and sins though you have transgressed the law of Almighty God be of good cheer if you believe in this one because he is the savior of man he lived a perfect life of obedience to that law that was broken by you and he died upon Calvary's tree to save sinners just as you and so believe on this glorious Christ and you will be saved it is a message of salvation by a divine Savior hopefully you see the connection here if you turn with me to Isaiah 52 Isaiah 52 connection again to the fulfillment of prophecy and that is throughout this passage it throughout the Gospels completely no doubt but the fulfillment of prophecy here at the point of Isaiah 52 and verse 7 notice the same language that we have in loop to how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news who proclaims peace who brings glad tidings of good things who proclaims salvation who says to Zion your God reigns I would I would think and I would hope that you would see the intimate connection between the language there and loot to not just the similarity of language because it is God's Word but the connection because it is a fulfillment of the prophecy who brings gospel things who proclaim salvation who says to Zion your God reigns the language of glory to God and peace closes this particular passage of Scripture glory to God and the highest and on earth peace goodwill toward men the message the nature of it is such that it is a message of salvation and notice by a divine Savior a savior who is Christ the Lord that's deliberate and the language Lord there as applied to Christ corresponds with Lord as used in verse 9 and behold an angel of the Lord stood before them and the glory of the Lord Sean around them and they were greatly afraid and then we have this message of salvation is about a savior who is Christ the Lord you see here the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ he's not just a man upon whom divine favor rests but not divine truly he's not just one who is given or who is in fleshed and animated as the impersonal word that endured since from all eternity that now in humanity that somehow the an impersonal word became an animated and fleshed individual blasphemy of blasphemies he is the Lord he is truly God when the fullness of the times had come what happened the second of the triune God the exact replica exact image of the Father the brightness of his glory and the Express image of his person took to himself man's nature and he is spoken of here as a savior who is Christ the Anointed One the Messiah and the Lord he is truly gone he is one who has the same resplendent glory and majesty as we read in verse 9 the angel of the Lord and the glory of the Lord this is a message of a divine Savior this is Cyril of Alexandria on this particular point he wrote for very many holy prophets had been born from time to time but never had any one of them been glorified by the voice of angels for they were men and according to the same measure as ourselves the true servants of God and bearers of his words but not so was Christ for He is God and Lord and the sender of the holy prophets and as the psalmist says who in the cloud shall be compared unto the Lord and who shall be likened unto the Lord among the sons of God your eyes land upon this page or the word preached lands upon your ears and your confront with this blessed truth Jesus Christ is Lord Most High he is God of God light from light true God from True God begotten not made one in being with the father who for our sakes and for our salvation came down from heaven you're blessed truth notice the instructions before we move on to the doxa logical explanation lastly under the angelic Proclamation the instructions attending that particular proclamation verse 12 and this will be the sign to you you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger the kindness of the angels in divine revelation you see we don't have a religion that is incoherent mystery and that is depends upon you know a burning in the booze and the angels that bosom the Angels didn't say you know get a feeling and find yourselves upon a trail and you know when a certain bird you know cause you'll be good they speak with clarity and perspicuity with prophetic fulfillment that the woman born of child at the Isaiah 714 one that the Isaiah 961 will be a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger that should be easy to find angels are kind we got to find a manger we got to find this you know stable or a cave or just an attached barn or place for livestock attached to a residence and there's going to be a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths in a feed trough the Angels give these attending instructions concerning the fulfillment of the woman who will be with child and the Shepherd's that go about their business after that instruction to find this glorious King born of a woman born under the law to redeem those who are under the law and notice finally then the docs illogical exclamation the docs illogical exclamation what does that mean well exclamations something that is spoken perhaps with great reverence and with great weight there is an emphatic declaration of something and it's Doc's illogical that is it's rich with praise it is delivered in the manner of praise and we have that in Luke to 13 and 14 notice 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 the first thing that we want to note is the choir that sings now some say that this isn't necessarily a song it doesn't say that they were singing and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying is is the text but hopefully with a little bit of preaching Liberty as Spurgeon says this was the first hymn of the Incarnation or it was the first Christmas Carol glory to God in the highest was the angel song he preached and so we have the choir that sings the announcing angel and the multitude of the heavenly host more angels those who are not the recipients of the saving work of Christ being ministers to the ones who do enjoy that salvation nevertheless sing of him being the savior of men you see what's going on here again an example of angelic humility and service unto God they're not the angels are not the recipients of the finished and perfect saving work of Christ they're elect angels who have never sinned needing no redemption eating no blood salvation they nevertheless come and they deliver the message of atonement to men for the salvation of their sins and they sing a song to this glorious King glory to God in the highest was the angel song and that same sermon Spurgeon rights yet angels did not envy men though they remembered that he took not up angels that is he did not take upon himself the nature of angels yet they did not murmur when he took up the seed of Abraham that is taking on the nature of Abraham and though the Blessed master had never condescended to take the angels form they did not think it beneath them to express their joy when they found him arrayed in the body of an infant that wonderful they sing this song when they cast their angelic eyes upon a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger these are now adding as one man has said to the hymn book of redemptive history they were present on that August occasion when God fashioned things by his divine power singing its job 38 7 all the sons of God saying glory to God with respect to his creative power now at the new creation these angels are gathered to sing the hymn of the new creation it's a blessed thing on that again as we move to a close this is Spurgeon speaking about this event and hopefully this brings to bear upon your minds the glory of redemption you see our minds can think about creation and they think rightly when they think this way what an amazing thing out of nothing did God create all things by his power by the word of his power in the space of six days and all very God did God create all things by his power and for his glory the heavens declare the the righteousness of our God and the firmament shows his handiwork and yet is not Redemption the whole purpose of creation you know that creation and redemption are not like this but they're like this creation and Providence serving the divine and glorious redemptive plan to save sinners from their sins Spurgeon they had been present the Angels had been on many August occasions that doesn't mean the month of August which by the way is named after Caesar Augustus but August a reverent high-end value in significance they had been present on many August occasions and they had joined in many a solemn chorus to the praise of their Almighty Creator they were present at the creation the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy they had seen many a planet fashion between the palms of Jehovah and wheeled by his eternal hands through the infinitude of space as when first created their first breath was song so when they saw God create new worlds then their song received another note they rose a little higher in the gamut of adoration but this time when they saw God stoop from his throne and become a babe hanging upon a woman's breasts they lifted their notes higher still and reaching to the uttermost stretch of angelic music they gained the highest notes of the divine scale of praise and they saying glory to God in the highest for higher and goodness they felt God could not go you see this is why we have what follows then in verse 14 we have the choir that sings those angels who sang at creation and now at redemption but the song that is sung glory to God in the highest and on earth peace goodwill toward men truly a song that marks the majesty and the glory of God and the fact that he deserves the praises of angels and Men glory to God in the highest and on earth peace goodwill toward men now some have seen here glory to God in the highest as an exclamation to God the Father perhaps for sending the Son into the world this babe now wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger the angels sing glory to God in the highest with emphasis on the person of the Father others might say generally speaking this is glory to God in the highest with reference to the triune law of God as essential essentially and and and largely considered others have seen that this is singing glory to Christ hark the herald angels sing glory to the newborn King citing loop 214 in our hymnal that is the lyrics to that song and we don't just gain our authority though from the Trinity hymnal in the notation at the top of the page think of Hebrews 16 notice what we find there and I promise as a preacher's promised that I am coming to a close in prayer notice in Hebrews 16 Hebrews 16 we have this exclamation or this disclosure of the glory of Christ we back up to verse back up to verse verse 4 speaking of Christ we read that he purged our sins sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high having become so much better than the Angels as he has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they for to which of the Angels did he ever say you are my son today I have begotten you and again I will be to him a father and he shall be to me a son but when he again brings the first born into the world he says let all the angels of God worship Him we have reason to suspect that the angels who had just proclaimed to the Shepherd this Savior born in the City of David wrapped in swaddling bands lying in a feed trough are now singing praise to that self-same Christ who is the second of the Blessed triune Cyril writing believes the sand he says when therefore thou seest the child wrapped in swaddling cloths stay not thy thought solely upon his birth in the flesh but mount up to the contemplation of his godlike glory elevate the mind aloft ascend to heaven so wilt thou be hold him in the highest exaltation possessed of transcendent glory thou wilt see him set upon a throne and high and lifted up they will hear the Seraphim extolling him and hymns and saying that heaven and earth are full of his glory yay even upon earth this has come to pass for the glory of god Sean around the shepherds and there was a multitude of the heavenly armies telling Christ's and this it was which was proclaimed of old by the voice of Moses rejoice he heavens with him and let all the sons of God worship in the angels singing praise to the majesty and to the glory of God and that could be terminating upon the second of the Blessed triune who took upon himself man's nature and is found wrapped in swaddling bands lying in a feed trough and lastly what does this message say it says glory to God in the highest and then there is this parallel ISM but on earth peace goodwill toward men many have noted a three-fold parallel here and perhaps the language might even be better translated and on earth peace among men of God's good pleasure but however we interpreted or translate and on earth peace goodwill toward men we have glory and peace we have in the highest and on earth and we have God and men and this last stanza if you if you will of angelic doxology is and on earth peace what does this mean it means that in this babe wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a feed trough in him only do we have true peace in him only do we have peace with God we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ you know some people will seek to find peace in all manner of things and leave aside the only one who is peace himself Jesus Christ the Lord in him you have peace you don't find peace in a bottle you don't find peace in a capsule you don't find peace a tying your arm with surgical tube and injecting a needle you don't find peace in anything save for Christ Jesus the Lord true and lasting peace you're here and here and your face doesn't even want to look up at the preacher you're here and your face is a little bit red because man do I ever just want to get out of this place you're here and the preachers gone too long and you I just can I just go mom and dad can you just pull me out of here even before the prayer you perhaps are looking for peace and all manner of things you're not going to find it save for him a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger who would be that one left naked and bloody upon a cross for the salvation of sinners make no mistake make no mistake a shadow of a cross is cast upon Bethlehem and this manger at the time of his birth because he was born into this world that he might go to that cross go to that Roman gibbet of execution to be put to death for guilty sinners that all who believe in him might have everlasting life later on in Revelation not the book of Revelation but New Testament scripture we find in the book of Colossians that Christ makes peace how by the blood of his cross on earth peace goodwill toward men if we were to read further along in that prophecy of micah notice what we would find remember Mike a 5-2 Bethlehem Ephrathah though you are little this one show again brothers and sisters loot too and the angelic song they don't just say and peace on earth willy-nilly and Oh doesn't that work out great because Micah fight no they sung the thousands of Judah yet out of you shall come forth to me the one to be ruler in Israel whose goings forth are from old from everlasting notice verse 5 and this one shall be peace by the decree and by the am phatak majesty and power of God in order to bring to bear the reality of the fulfillment of Micah 52 and this one shall be peace you're here this morning and you're finding peace and everything else you're looking for peace in all the wrong places there is peace solely and alone in the Lord Jesus Christ believe on him and you will have everlasting life and brothers and sisters if you already believe on this one who is peace the Lord Jesus Christ praise God praise God fill your minds with that is inerrant infallible inspired that brings forth glorious truths of historical veracity concerning the prophetic fulfillment of this one promised from the beginning who would come to be born of a woman who would bear His people sins upon Calvary's tree who would rise again who would ascend and great victory who by his ministers would say believe on me and you will have everlasting life rejoice in that Christ brothers and sisters and not just this time of year but throughout the year bring your eyes to the pages of this contemplate even with closed eyes the glorious riches of the revelation from on high concerning this Christ and in him find true peace day upon day when all the world rages against us when we're beset on all sides by unbelief by apostasy and by the madness of false religion realize that this babe wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a feed trough brought peace into this world and you by belief in him you by faith in him are united to that perfect one and will be brought into everlasting life where you will sing forever with the Angels glory to God in the highest let us pray Heavenly Father we rejoice in our Savior we rejoice in this account of his birth and we rejoice in the fact that he came into this world sinners to save and we pray that you would cause us to rejoice in him each and every day that we would sing the praises of such a Christ as we have breath in this lower world and that bringing us into that state of eternity we do pray that you would help us to rejoice in Christ that state of everlasting life that we would forever sing with the Angels glory to God in the highest and we thank you that you have brought peace to us by virtue of this Christ and we pray that others here this morning who are outside of him would even now by your spirit and word be brought to a knowledge of this blessed Christ that they might believe and rejoice in the king of kings we pray that you would go with us now and help us to rejoice in Christ help us as well to live in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ that we might bring honor to you and we pray in the name of Christ Jesus the Lord amen well let's stand and sing for our doxology the doxology if you don't know it by heart you can turn to Roman numeral 16 in your hymn books let's stand and sing the doxology together now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy to God our Savior who alone is wise be glory and Majesty Dominion and power both now and forever amen well please be seated we'll have a brief time of prayer and when the piano is finished you're dismissed you