Thank you to Pastor Eric Yata for the message from Acts 19:1-10, “Marked By The Spirit.” The world is watching and looking for Christians to live out their faith in God. It longs for Christians to display the glory and love of Christ, and for us to demonstrate what we believe, that we be consumed by God in order that they might know God. Luke records a situation in which Paul explains John the Baptist, because they are missing something in regards to their relationship to God and in their understanding of the Holy Spirit. Paul points out something crucial in order that they might live out their faith in Christ. We’re going to ask a simple but significant question, “What are the marks and characteristics of the indwelling of the Spirit?”

Mark #1- Profession of the Spirit: Profess or confess faith in Christ and the Spirit. As a believer in God, there is a desire and commitment to God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. (vv.1-5) ¹And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. ² And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” ³ And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” ⁴ And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” ⁵ On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Paul comes to Ephesus knowing the people do not understand the full impact of salvation in Christ. So he asks, “DID YOU RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT WHEN YOU BELIEVED?” Paul isn’t trying to convert them to Christianity, he is trying to correct their theology, their misunderstanding of the Holy Spirit. Be careful with this passage as there are many who apply this to what is called the second blessing, which is the belief that God gives you another blessing after salvation, the Holy Spirit. This is generally a charismatic viewpoint, not mine nor our church’s. This is a special circumstance in Acts, where the situation and context of what is happening is new and special for these believers. We know that Pentecost has already taken place. So, when we come to faith in Christ, the Spirit also comes to indwell within us. Let us profess and believe in the Spirit’s working.

Mark #2 - Participation with the Spirit: When we come to understand that the Holy Spirit lives and breathes within us, then God moves within us to make a difference for Him. We join together with the Spirit, and the Spirit moves us to glorify the Son.  (vv.6-7) ⁶ And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. ⁷ There were about twelve men in all. Paul laid hands on them as a sign of affirmation. Then, they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. Tongues are not a necessary result of salvation, but they are another special event in Acts in order to show these disciples that everything has changed. The act of tongues and the act of prophecy are an outward demonstration and verification of the Holy Spirit.  Participate with the Holy Spirit to receive the power to serve God, to receive the strength to love your neighbor or your spouse, to persevere to have self-control over sin in your life. Participate with the Holy Spirit, He’ll do amazing things!

Mark #3 - Proclamation of the Spirit: When we believe in the existence of the Spirit, there is outward expression of it. We respond to God and the Spirit’s leading in what we say and believe about Him in our lives. We will share with others about Christ and the gospel. (vv.8-10)  ⁸ And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. ⁹ But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. ¹⁰ This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. The Holy Spirit took the Apostle Paul captive. He was a person consumed by the Spirit. So Paul goes into the synagogue to share the gospel for three months. He spoke boldly, reasoning, and persuading them about the kingdom of God. Paul is met with some heavy resistance. His audience was stubborn, disbelieving, and speaking evil of the Way. The threefold response of hardening, unbelief, and speaking evil indicates their complete rejection of Paul’s message and the gospel. It’s not up to you to convert or to save someone, that’s the Holy Spirit’s job. It’s up to you and me to be faithful to deliver the message. If you can reason with someone about the existence of God, reliability of the Scripture, and the person of Christ, then you can bring them to a better understanding of the gospel and Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 3:15 says, “But set apart Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and respect”. Set your focus on Christ. Put Him first, and then be ready to give reasons for the gospel. Do all this with gentleness and respect.

Take hold of the Holy Spirit in our lives through profession, participation, and proclamation!

Thank you to Bruce Satow for giving the children’s message today based on Psalm 100:1-2, “Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!  Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into His presence with singing!” We all have feelings of inadequacy with certain skills and talents which causes us to hesitate to serve the Lord. This verse encourages that we
ALL can worship and serve the LORD with gladness, and don’t think we have nothing worthy to give.

Have a blessed week marked by the Spirit,

Stan,  for SLZJCC

Thank you to Dr. Vernon Kam for the message from Acts 17:16-31, “Making God Known.” As Disney is good at creating a fantasy theme park, so were the Athenians at creating gods.

A.  Athens. Paul was in Athens about 50 AD (Acts 17:16). Everywhere he looked, he saw sculptures of the Greek gods and goddesses.  Alexander the Great conquered much of the ancient world.   He brought Greek culture with him.   Paul was very familiar with Greek culture.  He was brought before the Areopagus who were the leaders of Athens.  He tells them that he noticed an altar to the unknown god and uses it as a way to tell them about God (v.23).

B.  What he tells them.

1.  God is Maker (vv.24-25).  God was not created by man.  Today, people still create their own ideas about God.   The God they worship is of their own creation.  But what about the evidence and validity of Christianity?

2.  Proof. Acts 17:31 (NASB)… having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” Paul talks about proof.   He says God the Father furnished proof of the truth about Jesus Christ by raising Him from the dead.   The resurrection of Jesus Christ is critical to the Christian faith.   We want evidence, both external and personal evidence.   External evidence is evidence outside of yourself.   You must also have confidence in who is telling you about it.  Personal evidence is based on personal experience.   What is the external evidence of the resurrection?  In 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, Paul says there were over 500 people who saw Jesus after He was raised from the dead.    But some may say, “How do you know they were telling the truth?  Maybe they were making it all up.”  Look at the disciples. Each insisted, to his dying breath, that he had seen Jesus after His death and resurrection. Look at Paul. Paul was very educated, very smart and very businesslike. And very anti-Christian. He said he had a supernatural encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus. (Acts 26)    Overnight, he completely changed and gave his life to Christ.  How could a man like Paul change like that?

3.  God overlooked times of ignorance. Acts 17:30 (ESV) The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent. What does this mean?  The times of ignorance God “overlooked” in the sense He did not bring immediate judgment. Does this mean that before Christ came, God allowed people to be saved no matter what they did?   But now that Christ has come, Peter says in Acts 4:12 (ESV) And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.  Second question:  After Christ came, what about people who never heard the gospel?   Paul gives us an answer in Romans 1:18-22.  He says people are without excuse, because God reveals Himself through nature.  His power and His divine nature are clearly seen in creation. But people suppress the truth, because they don’t want to glorify God; they want to live their lives in their own way.

4.  Coming judgment.  Acts 17:31(ESV) ^… He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom He has appointed…. Paul says God the Father has fixed a day when all of mankind will be judged by Jesus Christ.  All the dead will rise from their graves.  There will be two judgments.  The first will be of those who are saved.  This first judgment is for rewards (1 Corinthians 3).  It is for believers only.  The second judgment, often referred to as the Great White Throne judgment, will be for those who are unsaved (Revelation 20).  They will be cast into hell.  Hell will be a terrible place.  Jesus said it is a place where the fire is not quenched (Mark 9:48).

C. Conclusion.  If you have a loved one who is not saved, promise yourself you will pray for him or her.   And if you have not committed your life to Christ, please do so.  You don’t want to end up in hell.

Have a blessed week making God known,

Stan, for SLZJCC

Dr. James Dobson of “Focus on the Family”

If you participate in raising children as a parent, aunt, uncle, grandparent, sibling etc. this class is for you! Please join us Sunday mornings beginning Feb 5th at 9:30am. Childcare   provided from infant to 4 year olds.

Please sign up with Pastor Brian.

Dear SanLo Community, an update for the week of January 15, 2012…

Thank you to Pastor Brian Tekawa for the message from Acts 16:11-40, “Second to None”. In Christ you are a first class citizen of the Kingdom of God, but have you ever been treated like a second class citizen?  In God’s Kingdom you are a first class citizen because you know Jesus. In God’s Kingdom you are second to none. We need to constantly remind ourselves that God is in control, it is God who COUNSELS, it is God who CLEANSES, and it is God who CONVICTS His people, bringing them to the highest level of worth, children of God, the Father. So, how do you enter God’s kingdom?

As Paul enters the Roman colony of Phillipi, he looks to teach and preach in the synagogue. However, in Phillipi, the Jewish population was rather small. Possibly so few, there was no synagogue to teach in. So Paul and his companions approached a group of praying women who most likely were God-fearing and worshipped God but they did not yet know Jesus. Among this group of women was Lydia.

1)  God COUNSELS: If you are a follower of Jesus, God the Wonderful Counselor offers you words of instruction that pierce the soul, reach your spirit, and open your heart. Lydia was from Thyatira, she was a seller of purple fabrics, a wealthy and influential non-Jewish woman.  God counseled Lydia to respond or pay attention: “And the Lord opened her heart to pay attention” (Acts 16:14,15, 40).  Followers of Christ have available the Wonderful Counselor available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. God opens the heart of people but does not force them to listen. Sometimes even followers of Christ need to be reminded that God desires for us to respond or pay attention to His voice. All of us have the potential to die spiritually if we are not careful. Our salvation is not lost but our relationship with God can be negatively impacted through neglect. Spending time alone with God in His Word and prayer are disciplines that should be incorporated into daily living for Christ, in order to experience God in deeper and meaningful ways.  Attending church is also vital for your life with God. It just makes sense that involvement with like-minded people will encourage and teach you things about God you may not have otherwise discovered. Small groups is another great way to get to know one another and God on a more intimate level.

2)  God CLEANSES: There is nothing God cannot cleanse from your soul. He can wipe away all your sin. Shameful deeds of the past are wiped clean by God through His Son Jesus. He did that with the slave girl, who was a non-Jewish woman with a spirit of divination, exploited by her masters who profited from her fortune-telling. She was cleansed by God from the spirit of divination, “In the name of Jesus Christ come out of her” (Acts 16:16-18). After the slave-girl is cleansed of the spirit of divination, Paul and his companions are imprisoned in the deepest and most secure place of the jail. While in prison Paul’s group continues to praise God and pray. God opens the shackles they were in and opens the jail doors. This terrifies the Roman guard for if he loses the prisoners it meant death for him.

3) God CONVICTS: God convicts those He loves and loves those He convicts. To be convicted by God means He wants you to get back on track. He convicts you because He does not want you to stray away from all that He has for you. The jailer was a loyal Roman guard who was commanded by the chief magistrates to personally guard Paul and Silas. About to kill himself for failure to secure a prisoner, Paul stops him and God convicts the jailer as he asks the question, “What must I do to be saved?” “Believe in the Lord Jesus!” (Acts 16:30-31)  It is believed the jailer overheard the praises and prayers of Paul and was asking how to be saved from the judgment of God. God convicted the jailer through Paul’s message of Jesus which led to the salvation of the jailer and his whole household. The guardian of prisons was set free by Jesus, the Guardian of our souls. God convicts us of our need for Him but He is always the Spirit of Liberty.

God COUNSELED Lydia, He CLEANSED the slave-girl, and CONVICTED the jailer. GOD made them first class citizens in His Kingdom despite their socioeconomic status.             Scholars believe these three were founding members of the church in Phillip whom Paul thought very highly of. God used these three to get the message of Jesus to Europe. Who knows where He will take you if you respond to His call?

Have a blessed week responding to His call,

Stan, for SLZJCC

Thank you to Pastor Scott Shimada for the message from Acts 15:22-32, “Revealing God’s Love.” When we come to faith in Christ, some people go through a period of time figuring out how to live as a Christian. It was similar for the Gentiles in Acts.  They had come to Christ and left a life in darkness to live in the light.  But they were still unsure what that exactly meant. The Jerusalem Council (apostles and elders) not only helped them but also set for us an example of how God’s love is revealed. At the beginning of this chapter, some were being taught they needed to be circumcised in order to be saved. One group of Jewish Christians pointed to the laws of Moses which required that.  Paul, Barnabas and other church leaders believed Old Testament laws were very important, but did not need to be obeyed in order for someone to be saved.  Converted Pharisees, on the other hand, preferred a legalistic religion.  They believed that faith alone was not enough, that Gentiles would have to be circumcised in order to be saved.  Had this been the case, Christianity would have been just another Jewish sect. So the council met and discussed this and agreed that the Gentiles did not have to be circumcised. The Gentiles are waiting to hear what they should do which poses the question – How is God’s love revealed?

1)  God’s love is revealed in person. It was not popular for Jews to associate with Gentiles.  The council could have taken the easy way out and sent a letter explaining their decision. But (v.22) – “the whole church” – sent men with Paul and Barnabas.  Paul, Barnabas, Judas, Silas – men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (v.26)  The council knew that communication in person was more effective, so they sent people.  They did not want to send just a letter.  They wanted to make it personal.  When God wanted to send His message to us, He could have just sent a letter, but He decided to come down here in the form of a baby (Jesus).  He wanted to make it personal.  God reveals His message of love and hope in person.

2)  God’s love is revealed in the truth.  The council had a very important decision to make.  Would they go along with what the Jewish Christians were already teaching or would they put a stop to it?  They stood with the truth. (v.24) – “without our authorization” – they separated themselves from this teaching.  “we are not a part of this”.  They made it clear that they did not condone, support or agree with the legalistic teaching that said you had to be circumcised in order to be saved. The council does warn there are things that the new believers should be aware of. Food sacrificed to idols – spiritual aspect. Blood from meat of strangled animals – cultural. Sexual immorality – physical. “You will do well to avoid these things” – not a requirement but things that they could do to live out their faith. There is a fine line with legalism – you can get caught up in trying to stay away from certain things but we have to remember that we have a freedom in Christ where we are not bound to any laws. At the same time, there are things that can hurt us and draw us away from our relationship with God.  We have freedom in our relationship with Christ – but with that freedom comes a responsibility to live out our faith. When we do that, others can see it… as God’s love is revealed in the truth.

3)  God’s love is revealed by encouraging.  (v.31) The people rejoiced because the word for encourage means to call to one’s side; to aid, become a part of the help.  It’s not used to send others out, but to bring people together. The letter encouraged and so did Judas and Silas. (v.23) – “adelphois” – “brothers” – a very personal way to say we are your brothers and we are here with encouragement. We cannot forget how significant this is. Jews did not usually call Gentiles their brothers.  There were lines drawn.  There were boundaries.   This is like an old arch enemy coming up to you on the street and greeting you with a handshake, hug and a genuine, “How are you?”  There were definite differences between the Jewish Christians and the Gentile believers.  They may have acted different, talked different, looked different, but the elders and the apostles focused not on what was different but what they had in common – and that was a love and desire to follow Jesus. The Gentiles 2000 years ago were strengthened, supported and encouraged when they saw firsthand the love of God through personal visits, through the truth and through the encouragement of others.  They stood at the doorway of a door that spread the Good News across the globe.

We are not much different and we stand at the doorway of a much different door. A door that already has seen much of the world already being reached for Christ.  And yet with the far corners being reached, very few lives are being transformed.  God’s love, now more than ever, needs to be revealed to His people. As we stand at that doorway, we need to decide, are we going to allow God to use us to make a difference or will we just stand here and wait for others?

Have a blessed week in God’s love,

Stan, for SLZJCC

Thank you to Pastor Rod Yee for the message from Acts 14:8-18, “An Unexpected Walk.” There are times when we may find ourselves walking into something quite unexpectedly, however, most likely not as much as did the man in this passage. We learn about a man who was without any hope and how he responds after he encounters God. As we consider this man’s experience, we should ask, “How can we make an impact for God?”

We have to first understand that we are CREATED BY GOD. (v. 8 ) at Lystra there was sitting a certain man without strength in his feet. Lystra was a Roman colony, primarily a rustic community where many Roman army veterans settled. To be without strength in his feet, literally means to be without power or translated to be “impossible” to walk. There is a triple stressed repetition which emphasizes his incurable condition. The author, Luke, a physician, wrote the man was beyond human aid, there was no way to possibly help him. When we find ourselves in a difficult situation, our tendency is to complain, to be disappointed, frustrated, unhappy and show our dissatisfaction. Rather, we should always remember we are created by Almighty God and focus on serving Him.

Focus our CREDENCE (or belief) IN GOD. (v. 9) this man was listening to Paul as he spoke. Apparently there was no synagogue, so keeping with the practice of the apostles, Paul goes to the Gentiles in the marketplace. We too, should speak about Jesus to those God has placed with you. God placed Paul in the marketplace where the man was listening as Paul spoke, probably for several days. The term, listening, is the same as used of God hearing our prayers. “who when he fixed his gaze upon him and had seen that he had faith to be made well…” fixed his gaze – strained, intent, beheld, fastened his eyes, as he had faith – hold fast, keep his focus on Jesus. Paul read his eyes perhaps with special discernment and saw new hope, saw faith in this man. made well – to ‘make whole,’ literally to save from disease and its effects. The recovery of bodily health was also his spiritual and moral healing. (v.10) “said with a loud voice,“stand upright on your feet” This was a demonstration of Paul’s authority as an apostle. “and he leaped up and began to walk” His healing was instant, immediate. “he leaped up” – used of springing up of water, same as the woman at the well in John 4:14 “spring of water welling up to eternal life.” He began to walk – literally to walk around, continuous, also the same word used for ‘Christian walk.’ Here are several verses you may look up in the context of ‘Christian walk’: In newness of life – Rom. 6:4; In honesty – Rom. 13:3; By faith – II Cor. 5:7; In good works – Eph. 2:10; In love – Eph. 5:2; In wisdom – Col. 4:5; In truth – II Jn. 4; By the Spirit – Gal.5:16, 25; In the light – I Jn. 1:7.

We are to give all CREDIT TO GOD. (vv.11-13)  When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have become like men and have come down to us.”  And they began calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.  The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. The healing of the man excites the crowd but they come to the incorrect conclusion. There was a local legend saying gods came to two elderly people who took them in and served them a great banquet. They were rewarded with a gold roofed temple with marble columns while others had their homes destroyed. In this context, we see why the crowds may have thought Paul and Barnabas were gods and wanted to honor them. (v.14)  But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out. Paul and Barnabas were horrified at the blasphemy, the taking of the credit for healing away from God. (v.15) 15 and saying,“Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, WHO MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM. We are men just like you, but with a message. (v.18)  Even saying these things, with difficulty they restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.

If you desire to make an impact for God, begin with understanding we are created by God and give Him the glory. Are you willing to make a change? Speak to those where God has placed you. Take our eyes off of ourselves and focus on Jesus.

Praise God for His provision for this past year, praise Him for this new year to come,
Stan, for SLZJCC

Thank you to Pastor Brian Tekawa for the message from Luke 2:17-20, “Pondering His Presence.” This message concludes our Christmas series “Light of Salvation,” which focused on the gift of Jesus. Sadly, giving and receiving gifts has become such a major part of Christmas that Jesus is often neglected or overlooked. Christmas for some is a treasured time for family gatherings. Others treasure time off from school or work. Studying the story of Jesus’ birth according to Luke, we are reminded of the meaning of Christmas and God’s remarkable gift of Jesus. Think about what is important to you. What is it you value? What do you commit your time to? What do you treasure?

Luke 2:19, “But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.” There are two points here to remember. To TREASURE Jesus, and to PONDER the treasures of Jesus. The shepherds had come from the fields and told Mary all that had happened to them. Mary listened, took it all in, and treasured them in her heart.

1) TREASURE Jesus.  Mary treasured (suntereo – to keep close, preserve, guard), preserved and kept close to her heart all that the shepherds had said. “All these things” likely included all the previous experiences Mary had with Jesus. Can you imagine Mary’s wonder and awe as she treasured those moments? What was Mary thinking as she heard about the angel, Gabriel, speaking to Elizabeth’s husband Zacharias? They were told they would soon give birth to a son even though Elizabeth was well beyond her child rearing days. They were even instructed to name their son John, who was later known as John the Baptist.  Soon after, Gabriel talks to Mary who is not yet married but engaged to Joseph. Gabriel informs her she too will give birth to a son and call Him Jesus. When Mary went to see her relative Elizabeth, who was six months pregnant, Elizabeth greeted Mary, as “the mother of my Lord” affirming the incredible prophecy over Mary.

During this time, the Roman ruler Caesar Augustus, ordered the first census to account for all people in the Roman empire. Joseph and Mary travelled three days from Nazareth to Bethlehem. While in Bethlehem, Jesus was born and at the same time, shepherds in the field were surprised by an angel of the Lord who suddenly appeared before them in a spectacular way. This angel arrived with the glory of the Lord shining all around them. They were so terribly afraid the shepherds had to be calmed by the angel who said, “Do not be afraid for I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the City of David there is born for you a Savior who is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign for you; you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Then there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God exclaiming, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” “Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.” The Bible tells us in Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” What you treasure is what you value and commit to. You treasure what you spend your time, thought and resources on.

Again, verse 19, “But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.”

2) PONDER the treasures of Jesus.  Ponder (sumballo - to consider, bring together, to throw together, hence to discuss.) Mary considered all that was happening, gathering all her thoughts and reminding herself of all that she learned about Jesus. These thoughts that Mary pondered were remarkable and unique. Mary had immeasurable treasures to ponder. Consider how God, the Creator of this earth and the universe, desires to interact with you.

Have a blessed Christmas season as you ponder the treasures you have with Jesus,

Stan , for SLZJCC

P.S. Sunday School is canceled for January 1, 2012, but please do come for the 10:45am worship services.

Thank you to Pastor Rod Yee, for the message from Luke 2:12-17, “What’s Your Sign? Some believe that their astrological sign influences their lives. One sign continues to influence all life. That is Jesus Christ.  How did God reveal Himself to us?

1)  By Sign: (v.12) ¹²“This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” This sign is from God and is a message with much meaning. The shepherds just had been face to face with the angel. Their sign was pretty clear, straight from an angel. Many babies at that time were wrapped in cloths but only one would be found in a manger. Jesus was a unique child, and came with a unique sign.

2) By Song: (v.13) ¹³And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,… The sign was announced by one angel, now accompanied by a multitude. This heavenly host or multitude of angels is described as more than the human mind can comprehend. What a declaration and song of praise to God! (v.14) ¹⁴“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” Glory to God in the highest, is praise to highest heights, of heaven.  Peace here, is not peace with all, but is offered to all. The angels knew of God’s glory and majesty. Sometimes we can be too “us-centered.” (v.15)  ¹⁵When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” The angels had gone away from them into heaven and the night returns to its quiet stillness, but the shepherds wanted to confirm for themselves. It was a decision time, whether to act or not. “Let us go straight to Bethlehem” The tense used, indicates they never hesitated. They had excitement and energy. There can be danger of ignoring the miraculous wonder of the coming of Jesus. We can be realists too much and that is why worship and praise to God is important and needed. The shepherds were likely responsible for the care of the temple lambs some distance away from Jerusalem. They chose to leave their sheep to “see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”

3) By Sight: (v.16) ¹⁶So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. One’s importance is not a matter of circumstance or surroundings. One’s importance is found in relation to God’s work and will. A humble beginning goes against all that we admire today. There was no self promotion and not a ‘proper’ environment with Jesus’ coming. The shepherds had discussed and went to confirm and respond to what God told them. Here is a very private moment for Mary and Joseph, but God involves others. (v.17) ¹⁷When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. They told about the story of Mary and Joseph and proclaimed the Savior, the Christ Child had arrived. It was amazing that people listened because shepherds were looked down upon, as unclean, because they did not conform to ceremonial law. So here are the humblest of  messengers, telling of the humblest birth. God chooses us, the humblest of messengers, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Did Jesus reveal Himself to you? The greatest sign of credibility is Jesus at the cross. Should you risk disbelief and ridicule and tell others about Jesus? Jesus was born to give life eternal. It is up to each individual to decide to receive Him. No decision is actually the choice of rejection. Jesus established His credibility as the Son of God at His birth and at the cross.

Have a joyous week, celebrating Jesus’ birth,

Stan, for SLZJCC