Look at Luke chapter 2 verse 8. If you have a Bible, the kids are dismissed. Go to Mrs. Barbosa. Luke chapter 2 and verse 8. We'll start in verse 8. The first book of the New Testament. Luke, I'm sorry, I was gonna say Matthew, Luke. There it goes. Chapter 2 and verse 8. The Bible says, and there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were so afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you, Lord, for this wonderful time of the year on which we celebrate your birth. Emmanuel, God with us. Lord, you walked among us and you went to Calvary to pay for our sin. I pray this morning if there's someone here that is discouraged, may they find encouragement in you today. Lord, if someone is hurting, I pray, Lord, fill their heart with joy. If there's someone unsaved, may they see the need of a savior today. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen. You may be seated. Before we get into our message, I want to encourage you this morning with something that, this is, we have, we're a small church, we're not a big church. If you online think we're a big church, we're not. We're a small church. But you know what? You don't have to be a big church to have a big impact in the world. You can be a little church and today we have many sources on which we can be a tremendous impact on this world. all right let me give you we have if you know you know that i mean uh we use uh some free social media we use sermon i'm sorry we use uh youtube we live on youtube right now we are live on on facebook many people watch that but we have one app uh app up is the app app app yeah uh it's called sermonaudio.com we pay for that and some people said why in the world we pay for this thing All right, here's the report from January 1st of this year to December 28th of this year. This is what we have, okay? We reached 43 countries in the world. Our message, our service are reaching 43 countries in this world, okay? The plays, our video plays, they were played 10,508 times. And some total plays or mobile plays, some people might listen just the audio, 16,055 times. The biggest message that I preached, it's overcome discouragement. It's played over and over here many times. And another video is a new life resolution. I think it's probably like the first message of the year I had. But imagine a little church like ours reaching 43 countries throughout the world. just with one thing sermon audio i don't even if i've heard this app we have that uh it's uh we pay for that but you know what how many people probably got saved because of our ministry the impact that we have in the world we don't even i mean realize that this is just one social thing we have two others who are free uh but anyway i would say thank you for your sacrificial giving because with that we are able to do this I have somebody said to me pastor why we pay for that this is the reason this is the reason reaching so many can you imagine 16 000 times of our message have been played throughout the world in 43 different countries united states of america united kingdom germany canada switzerland And it goes on and on. And here, North Carolina, and this is in America, North Carolina, Washington, Oregon, Virginia, Ohio, Texas, California, Massachusetts, New York, Arizona, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Georgia, Colorado, Kentucky, Illinois, New Jersey, Delaware, Florida, South Carolina. And it goes, I can give you a bunch of names right here. And in the world, we see United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Switzerland, Singapore, Romania, Ireland, Japan, India, China. A country I never heard in my life here. I mean, they were not a spell. Austria, Spain, Italy, Russia. Another country I never heard of it. South Africa, Kenya, Malaysia, Netherlands, Egypt, Philippines, United Arabs. That's in the Middle East. South Korea. uh, Patagonia, Guinea, France, unknown country here, Chile, Mexico, Bahamas, Finland, Gambia, Kuwait, Nigeria, Norway, New Zealand, Portugal, Thailand, uh, Trinidad, Taiwan, uh, Uganda, Vietnam. Thank you, Lord. God is good, isn't it? If it doesn't touch your heart, it touched mine. It really did. I tell you folks, it's because of your sacrificial giving. This is a difference because I believe we were born for such a time as this. This is our time. I don't know if I'll be here next year. I don't want to try to scare you. But you know what? This is our time to serve the Lord. We serve a great Savior. We touch in the lives of so many people we probably will meet in heaven someday. I just wonder how many people we have encouraged. I just wonder how many souls got saved because of our little ministry here. Listen, we have a world impact as small as we are. Isn't that great? You don't have to be a giant church to make an impact in the world. When you think about the 12 disciples, put the world upside down. I guess we have more than 12 here. Praise the Lord. If you want to look at the report, I have it right here, just from Sermonario. Imagine about Facebook and YouTube, week in and week out. All right, with that said, let's go to our message, okay? praise the lord for his goodness all right so we have a series that we go on a season to celebrate i'm gonna i'm gonna preach this message tonight and i will close it uh uh tonight with the the last message and the last message i have tonight for you we're going to take a look it's a very um i think it was a good uh encouragement for us as a season to press on uh that's for tonight uh but this morning i wanted to uh preach on this one and let me get to my message right here in a second a season to proclaim a season to proclaim this is a season to proclaim the word of god in the middle of the indian ocean is a small land mass surrounded maybe you never heard of that by crushing waves known as christmas island ever heard of that The island is a territory of Australia that is home to about 2,000 residents. It was so named because it was discovered on Christmas Day 1643. Although too small to be of much economic value, it is known for its scenery. So 63% of the island is a national park full of beautiful hiking trails and mountains and breathtaking waterfalls. I've never been there. So several of its plants and animals species can be found nowhere else in the world but there in the island. But just over 9,000 miles away in the middle of the Pacific Ocean is another beautiful place also bearing the name of Christmas Island. This one has miles of white sand, sandy beaches surrounded by jagged cliffs and 120 square miles of a coral lagoon. This Christmas Island, the entirety of which is a wildlife sanctuary, is the world's farthest forward time zone and is one of the first places on Earth to experience the New Year. wow so the christmas islands and places like them reminds us that christmas should be a should be a short island a time we we can pause uh pull away from the busyness and cares of of a long year and spend a few moments in a peaceful contemplation of the greatest gift ever given to mankind the lord jesus christ this is a time of the year to really reflect i think on what Jesus have done and what Jesus means to all of us. Now, the want and desire of the human heart is freedom, peace and security. That's the desire of the human heart. That's what most people desire in their lives. But unfortunately, in our world, there are many places on which you cannot find freedom, peace and security. Luke chapter 2 shows us that God can bring peace to the most troubled hearts God comes and you can say pastor there's no peace in our world you know what that is true but the prince of peace is coming and he's going to establish his millennium reign on earth but as right now there's no peace on earth that is true there's wars and it is all rumors of wars going on But God came to make peace or to bring peace to the human heart. There are many people who are in their life is full of turmoil, headaches, hopelessness. But God came to make peace with them. Listen, we need to make peace with God. He is the Prince of Peace. That's why the Bible says I came to give you great joy. That's the joy you experience when we make peace with God. Amazingly God did not choose, listen to this, the rich, the religious and the popular people of our world to announce his birth. He didn't go to Hollywood. He didn't go to the rock stars and the most popular people of our day or even in those days to announce his birth. He went to the simple people, shepherds, the outcasts. Why? You know what? This is me. Because God wants every human being in this world to know that they can make peace with God. because he is reachable you know some people in our world are not reachable you cannot reach to them because of the things that they have in their life oh you know why you like this i'm over here you know who i am that's not our God our God is reachable to everyone no one is so destitute that God cannot reach That's why he sat with sinners and he was criticized for it. That's why the shepherds came and worshiped him. You know what? Because the rich didn't do it. The religious people didn't do it. They were not even curious enough to go see his birth. And they knew because it was prophesied about his birth. So well, let's look this morning at a Christmas is a time to proclaim. jesus's birth from several points this morning because i believe it is it don't matter what age we live in every day is a good day to proclaim jesus's birth every day all right if you like the follow outlines is the outline for this morning you see this uh proclaiming jesus's birth you see number one is a heavenly announcement Can you just imagine that God picked ordinary group, an ordinary group of shepherds for this wonderful news to proclaim the news that the Messiah was born. Get this, just as they could not wait to share what they have seen and witnessed. We experience, we experience the forgiveness and peace of God through salvation. We also have an obligation, we those who have been saved to tell others about the wonderful Savior. listen when you if you get out of here this morning and you go to a local restaurant and you I hope you do bow down and pray for your food and thank God for your food you know what you're doing you announce it to the world that you are a believer You tell everybody know what I shame you know what I believe in him. I ask him to bless my food and I'm grateful for what I eat. You know what you proclaim it to the world that you are a believer. Don't take that for granted because the world needs to see that because Christmas is not about Santa Claus and reindeers. Christmas is about Jesus. The greatest gift given to mankind. You know what? People can say, I don't need that gift. Yes, you do. I don't need Jesus. Yes, you do. You know what? It doesn't matter what they say. They need Jesus as much as you and I need Jesus. It is a sad thing for somebody to depart from this world without Jesus. Very sad. we tell someone about Jesus we are passing along heaven a heavenly announcement. Listen folks the reality of it all is that people need Jesus, people need to hear the gospel message, people need to hear that that this heavenly message that Jesus brings to all of us. The scene in Luke chapter 2 is that of an ordinary night of a group of people went to work just like you and I go to work. Listen they had no clue what was going to happen but that day the heavens open and the greatest announcement the world ever seen came to pass ordinary people just like me and you people that go to work for a living just like you and I you know what you know something let me give you something right here this morning don't you know when you go to work here amongst lost people don't you know you are a bible right there to them even if you open your mouth or not your behavior your your work ethics the way you speak you telling people who you are you are a messenger you are a child of the living God and you know what they'll take notice they know That's why they sometimes try to get you going by picking here and sticking a needle there to get to see how you get how you handle it. You know why I say to you don't sweat. Don't get discouraged. Don't give up. Be who you are in the Lord Jesus Christ and be that testimony. Tell them Jesus loves you regardless of what you do and how many times you curse him. Tell them. you see look what it says there in Luke chapter 2 verse 8 and they were in the same country shepherds abiding the field keeping watch their flocks by night ordinary people doing ordinary jobs they were simply going through their business doing what they're doing just make a living and that night the Lord show up to ordinary people these shepherds suddenly heard and a heavenly announcement and in the scene of a they saw the the angel of the lord can you imagine if you were there how would you feel about it you know in the darkness of night see letter a we see a special a special messenger in verse 9 the angel who appeared to the shepherds was no regular angel although surely the sight of a regular angel would have been shocking and amazing enough there this was the angel of the lord that you was visible visible appearance of god to man and it was sent on a special occasion in history right here this was the same angel that appeared to joseph and mary uh announcing the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ and I tell you what I tell you can you imagine if you were in that scene would you be scared oh yeah would you put your pillow all over your head over your head and say I don't want to see it that's what we do when we're in bed right put a pillow over our heads hoping everything goes away you know what this is something that I think all of us would love to see it the heaven's open the Lord allowed them to see the angel of the Lord announcing a heavenly news the Savior has come as promised let it be as we see a special message look what says in verse 10 and the angel of the Lord said look at that fear not don't you know if you do a word study this word fear not is a word that's used the most throughout the whole bible God says to me and you don't be afraid of me Fear not. You know what? Listen, we should have the joy of the Lord in our hearts and don't fear the Lord because he's our heavenly father. He loves us unconditionally. He's a loving God. What it says, Luke says, first of all, he says the angel knows they're afraid and he says fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. You say okay pastor where's the joy? Where's this peace? When you receive Jesus as your Savior, that's what you do. You make peace with God. Listen, folks, there are many people in our world, by the thousands, who are at war against God. If you ask them, or if you say something, they would say, I'm not at war with God. They are, they are against God. When they turn around and ask forgiveness and receive Jesus as their Savior, what they do, they make peace with God. And joy comes in. Listen, you still have the joy of your salvation? Aren't you glad you saved? Don't you rejoice? Don't you think back at the day you received Jesus as your Savior? I do many times. I'll tell you what, you know what I did? I wrote a letter to the person that led me to Jesus. I did. I was so grateful that the Lord used that person to open his Bible. and show me from God's word about the Savior because I was religious but I was not saved what a wonderful day that was you see we see a special message right here look what it says for unto you verse 11 is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord what a message What a message that God brings to the human race. You know the message of all that was promised in Genesis chapter 3 verse 15 way back when Adam and Eve sent against God that message became a reality. In the fullness of time God came. Listen folks God did not forgot the human race. He said he promised that and you know what? What God promised always comes true. People say to me well your Jesus is coming again. Yes he is. Oh, where is he? He's in heaven. Well, when is he going to come? I don't know, but he is coming. It's the same thing about Bethlehem. When is this Messiah going to come? When this Messiah is going to come? In the fullness of time, God's time, he show up on the scene. And the sad thing, those who knew didn't even bother to go see it. What a sad story. You see, this was a message of assurance. Now men could make peace with God. Wow. Why being afraid? Don't be afraid. Be full of joy and gratitude of heart. The angel told the shepherds not to fear because fear paralyzes us. He said, I came to bring tidings of great joy. this was a message of acceptance. In verse 10 the angel followed up the instruction of to fear not by saying he brought something that was the opposite of fear was good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. And let me tell you this every time somebody receives Jesus as Savior they make peace with God and an unspeakable joy comes in. Is it an unspeakable joy? Yes it is. Explain to me how somebody through the midst of tears still experiencing joy. Is that how that happens? I don't know. It's the joy of the Lord. How can we go through all kinds of troubles in our lives and still have the joy of the Lord in our hearts? It's because we have made peace with God. That's something the world does not understand. You know, it is a peace and a joy and a hope that even when death comes, we know where we're going. To the presence of the Lord. This was a message of acceptance right here. Listen, the word translated good tidings in the Greek is a wonderful word means good news. It is the same word which we get the word gospel. The good news proclaimed by the angels is for everyone. God in his love accepts all who come to him. by putting faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. And look what it says in John chapter 3 verse 16, Listen folks, God opened his heart and his door for every single person. That's why we spread the gospel everywhere. The blood of Jesus is sufficient for all people. That's why we give the gospel to people. That's why we proclaim Jesus. That's why we told everyone, no matter what language they speak, they need the Lord. That's the love of God. Isaiah chapter 45 verse 22 says, look unto me and be saved all the ends of the earth for I am God and there is no one else. People who are saved rejoice in the fact That salvation is not only for those who are members of some club or some church. Salvation is available to every single person. That's good tidings. That's a heavenly message. And number three, this was a message of peace. In verse 13 says, And suddenly they were with the angels, a multitude of heavenly hosts, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill towards men. Now don't misunderstand what I'm saying here because you might be thinking there's no peace in this world. The reality there will never be peace in this world until Jesus comes. The reality is not and there's no peace in this world. The message of peace here is for the human race to make peace with God like I said and experience the peace of God in their lives. That's the message of Bethlehem. That's the message of Christmas. It's for mankind to make peace with God and experience the peace of God in their hearts. Oh goodness, it's much different than living without peace than living with the peace of God in our hearts. Listen folks, when we have the peace of God in our hearts, we even treat people much different. We speak different, we behave different, we live different because we experience the peace of God. in our hearts get this how can people think that they deserve heaven and will be in heaven when they reject God and refuse to make peace with God they even think that they do God a favor when they come to church can you imagine that some people know say if I go to church the walls will fall down that's such ignorance even one man that says me the other day I said I said to him I'm sorry I tried to offend you but you're very ignorant now I don't see the way in a mean way no the church don't fall down you need to be in God's house you need to know who Jesus is to you you need to have him in your heart I said pastor you told him that yes I did he needed to hear The angel's message promised peace to the earth because of the birth of Jesus. No doubt, there was already peace on that first Christmas in the hearts of Mary and Joseph and the shepherds. Since that time, many people have made peace with God and continue to make peace with God this very day. The promise concerning his peace is not limited to the day of his coming. It still goes through the ages It continues to go until Jesus comes. Isn't that wonderful? Making peace with God and experiencing the peace of God. Wow! Jesus promised peace to those who believe him now. But peace will also come to all the earth when he establishes Millennium Kingdom. in the future for every Old Testament prophecy about the first coming of Christ there are eight about his second coming consider this from Isaiah look what it says for unto us Isaiah chapter 9 verse 6 is born unto us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulders and his name shall be wonderful counselor the mighty God the everlasting father don't forget this one the prince of peace and of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom to order it and to establish in with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this we know we may not know the day of the arrow but we believe the word of God Jesus is coming back as he promised so first of all we see that right here is a heavenly announcement secondly we see a heavenly arrival praise the lord for curious people people who are willing to go the extra mile for because of their curiosity when the magi arrived and asked where the kingdom of the jews would be born the doctors of the law of israel knew exactly what he would be and born but guess what who went to see the baby the magi Did the doctors of the law of Israel went to see it? They are not curious enough. Did the shepherds went to see the baby? Yes, because they were curious. You see, wow, praise the Lord for curious people. You know why people are sleeping late this morning and don't go to a church? Because they're not curious enough. You know why people say, you know why I don't like the Bible? You know why? Because they're not curious enough to know what's in there. You know why people have no interest on God? Because they're not curious enough to go to see what God is about. You know why people don't make peace with God? Because they're not curious enough to have that peace in their hearts. And it goes on and on today. It takes curiosity in our part to find out what God is about. Those men, the Magi, they travel miles but they're curious enough to go to Bethlehem to see the Savior. The shepherds came down the mountain, left their daily job and went to see the baby because they're curious enough to see. And they announced everybody on the way up to work again. Interesting. Herod the Great was not curious, neither were the doctors of the law. They appoint them in Bethlehem of Judea. That's where he's going to be born. But they never left their place. You see, it was a heavenly arrival. Praise the Lord for those who are curious. Praise the Lord for the curiosity in a good way, in a godly way. I'm not saying a bad way. Okay, we see letter A, the place of Jesus' arrival. We already learned that the word Bethlehem means house of bread and Jesus is what? In the great I am's of Jesus, what he says, I am the bread of life. In truth the bread of life was born in the house of bread. interesting town of bethlehem was located six miles from jerusalem in the district known as africa a region from its its wonderful hills and valleys bethlehem was the ancestral home of several well-known biblical characters let me give you some names for an example rachel the beloved wife of jacob was buried there genesis chapter 3 verse uh 35 verse 19 it was the original home of Naomi, mother-in-law of Ruth and was the setting for much of the book of Ruth but perhaps the most important person to come from Bethlehem before Jesus was David it was in Bethlehem that the prophet Samuel anointed David as a successor to King Saul It seems amazing that with such a rich history in Israel, it was still a common ordinary town. But the Bible indicates this was the case. Look what it says, but thou, Bethlehem, I'm sorry, the microphone is scratching here, Ephrathah, thou be lit among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall come forth unto me that is the ruler in israel who's going forth have ban from old from everlasting you see there was a place the place of jesus arrival the house of bread bethlehem and let it number two let it let it be the person who arrived there who arrived there look what it says in verse 11 for unto you is born this day in the city of david what it says a Savior which is Christ the Lord and we see another passage in the Bible in the New Testament which says Emmanuel God with us Wow who arrived there in that day in Bethlehem? God himself in a human form. Listen folks that's the love of God. God loves us so much that we cannot even explain how could think about this how could God the second person of the Godhead, took a form of a man, lived among this world, so I could get salvation. Can you imagine that? If you were the only person in this world, you would still do the same thing to save yourself. The person arrived here was God himself in the human flesh. That's the love of God. So when you look at Calvary, when you look at that cross, when you look at Jesus with his hands spread out, he's just saying to you and me, that's how much I love you. Not to just some people like some like to teach, but to the entire human race. He still says, I love you. Come unto me. Come unto me. Why are you carrying your burdens on your head? Why are you trying to go through life doing the best you can, when you can give it to me and I can guide you through life? The person who arrived there was God himself. I love this verse. Matthew 1.23, Behold a virgin shall be with child, shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel. which we interpret God with us. So what we see here, we see a heavenly announcement, we see a heavenly arrival, and number three, a heavenly amazement. Look what it says in verse 17. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wandering, and those things which were told them by the shepherds. put yourself for a moment in the shepherd's shoes right here how much they have felt felt to have seen this angelic beings they were afraid and telling they told them fear not they were wondering is what why did god pick us of all people why us you know we're just shepherd guys here we're taking care of the sheep we're in the middle why us Never even ask that question to yourself, Lord, why me? Why me? You should say to the Lord, thank you, Lord, for me, that you saved my soul. They say, why me Lord? Why are you using me for this? Why don't you pick somebody else? Imagine Moses when he went in the desert taking care of sheep and God says, I'm going to take you to Egypt. You're going to bring my people out. And you go, why me Lord? I don't want to go. Why me? Same thing. The Lord put something in your heart. You can say, Lord, why me? Because he loves you. And he knows you can do it. And he wants to use you for his glory. You know what? It is an honor. It is an honor to serve the King of Kings. I consider that an honor. Listen, if I have to clean toilets for the Lord, I clean the toilets for the Lord. I'm telling you, it is an honor to serve the King. Isn't it? God is so good. He does so much for us. Can we give Him a little thing? Listen, when He impresses something in your heart, you know what He's telling you? I want you to do this for me. And when we refuse and close the doors of our heart to Him, to what He's put in our hearts, you know what will happen here? You're missing a blessing. Who was David? Shepherd boy What they were due to them men of war down that valley trashing God's people Was David a man of war no, but God called him and he went forward look what happened He was Moses Oh Goodness who were the Apostles think about it fishermen, zealots, even what the doctors of the Lord called them unlearned and educated. And God says, it's okay, I can use you. Listen, when God impresses something in our hearts, he's impressing because he wants to use you and me. The shepherds said why me? Just regular people and a regular job and God said I'm gonna make the announcement to you and I want you to spread the news way down. You know what they did? Exactly that. He was going to listen to a shepherd. They just stink. They smell like, you know, they smell like the sheep out there. And they do, believe me. You ever been around a shepherd? They smell like sheep. You don't believe me? Go to a farm and stand around those guys that take care of animals. They smell just like an animal. And they're like, you're kidding me, pastor. I'm telling you, it's true. But you know what? Regardless of the smell, regardless of the gut, he used them to spread the gospel. What about us that smell good today? What about us? You get up in the morning, put your cologne on. You know, the ladies put all those kinds of perfumes on. You know what? God can use that too. There's a heavenly amazement right here. That A, a call to fearful men. You know, I met many people through my years in being a Christian, and what people is petrified, tell somebody about the Lord. You know what Jesus said? Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. He said, Pastor, but nobody wants to hear Listen, listen carefully, okay? Listen carefully. You cannot save anyone. You will never save anyone. We're just simple messengers. Listen, when we deliver a message, you're not a recipient of the message. You're just a messenger. How people receive your message, it's up to them. It's not your responsibility. It's their responsibility. Okay, when somebody witnessed to you and told you about Jesus, you were the recipient of that message, you receive it. You see that? The shepherds went everywhere announcing, they were the messengers. People wondering, but you know what? The Bible doesn't tell us they went to Bethlehem to see the baby. You follow that? We need to stop being so concerned about so and so getting saved. Yeah, pray for them. yes but some people get so afraid you know you know these people listen you're just a messenger you know simply saying God loves you goes a long way many times with us are trying to give them a whole doctrinal thing and a whole emphasis thing you know let me one second here let me give me give him two hours later he's still going oh you don't have to do that You know Jesus loves you so much. You'd be amazed what it does to somebody. That's it. Pastor, you do that? Many times. Many times. Hey, God loves you. Hey, good morning. How you doing? Wonderful. God, let me live another day. God is so good to me. See, that's it. You make God part of your life every day. You don't have to get into an argument with people and say, but these people. Listen, sometimes you have to do it like this. Goes this way, goes the other way. Don't take it to heart. They're trying to get you to hurt you, but they forget something. They need what you have. so you are a messenger you're not the recipient you follow that all right when a teacher any classroom as a teacher and as the students the teacher teaches all the students right some become good students some bad students whose fault is that thank you I'm glad you answered the question okay okay let it be a call to working man being a shepherd was not a glorious life calling in those days some theologian have noted shepherds were considered ceremony unclean and we're not allowed in the temple can you imagine that can you imagine these people are unclean they were not even allowed in the temple and God says that's the ones I'm going to how many unclean people is in our world today God says I love you and I love you and I love you. No one is too far removed that God cannot forgive. What a great God we serve. A call to willing men. Verse 10. God will use any humble servant who will surrender to him and you will do whatever God asks. The willingness of these men is seen in their actions and as soon as they had seen Jesus, they quickly went and told others about it. The world is full of people that want to be involved in great work for God someday. Someday they will know the scriptures better. They will witness to a person they know is lost and headed to hell. Someday, they will receive a financial windfall and they will make a commitment to worship God. They will tithe and they will give the offerings as God commanded. Someday, when they have more free time, they will serve the Lord by greeting, by getting involved in every aspect of ministry. Someday, they will do great things for God. Someday, they will do those things, but that someday never comes. if they're not willing to surrender today. Today is the day, not tomorrow. Somebody said to me one time when I was praying about starting a church. Did God impress that in your heart? Yes, He did. Do you think about that? I said, every day. Are you praying about it? Oh yes, all the time. How long are you going to pray? As long as it takes, you know God wants to put your prayer into faith. Step out. Oh, that hurt. That hurt like you know what, it's true. It's true. Some people are someday but someday never comes. Listen, we don't know if we have another tomorrow. That's the truth of life. Serve the Lord today. The shepherds didn't say tomorrow we're going down to Bethlehem. They went the same hour. If He calls us to do something, do it. Do it. Don't wait for tomorrow, do it today. Make that someday today. Let it be a call to witnessing men. When the shepherds realized they had seen, they couldn't help themselves but tell others. You know what? When I was a religious man, I never really bothered to tell anybody about Jesus. I just did my thing. I went to church on... when somebody died. On Easter. Eh, maybe. Eh, Midnight Mass. Maybe. I did my thing. When I felt guilty, I went to church. That was the way it was. You know what? I got saved. I don't know what happened to me, but now I'm talking about Jesus. I'm telling others about Jesus. He says, Pastor, what happened to you? I know what happened to me. You know what happened to me? I made peace with God. And I have the peace of God in my heart. And I want others to have the same thing, the same peace of God. Oh, Pastor, you're talking like this because you're a pastor. No. I've been saved for almost 25 years. Only been a pastor for eight. When you have something good, don't you want to tell others about it? Isn't that true? God is so good. And I close with this. God is so good. The gift of Bethlehem is a wonderful gift. Jesus is a gift for all mankind, and everybody needs Jesus. It's a precious gift, it never gets old. I don't know what you had at Christmas. You probably were happy. I'm wrapping these papers and look at all. Look at that. A new shirt. Oh, a new pants. A new pair of socks. Oh, I got a new tie and all those things. He go. Why? Yes, that's good. But you know what? Ultimately, they will get old. You will get old. I'll tell you what, that gift that came from Bethlehem never gets old. It's a gift that continue on giving. And you know what? That's what our world needs. That's what every person needs, is that gift. Our world will be much different if people will understand the gift of God. That's okay, Peter, you are forgiven. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you, Lord, for this wonderful gift that continue ungiven. Thank you, Lord, for your love and mercy. Thank you, Lord, for Calvary. Thank you for Bethlehem. Thank you for Jesus. And thank you, Lord, that we were able to make peace with you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. If you could stand, please, we're gonna sing a song of invitation this morning. Page 294. how can you serve the Lord just as you are just as you are God can use you just as I am page 294 just as I am with a one plea But that Thy blood was shed for me, and that Thou bidst me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come. Let me tell you this God doesn't want you to be like Moses God doesn't want you to be like Paul or like Peter or like me God wants you to be who you are and God will use you the way you are God can do great things through you if you open your heart to him and say Lord here I am send me use me Lord and he will use you Right there you are God wants to do great things Don't close the doors to the Lord. Let Him use you. What a blessing when God uses us, isn't it? What a blessing that is. God is so good. Here's one thing that you need to leave this morning here, is this. Just say it out loud. God loves me. God loves me. You are loved by Almighty God. God loves me. What a wonderful word, isn't it? God loves me unconditionally. Regardless of what I have done, regardless of who I am, God loves me. Wow, that is great. I'm going to preach another message. No, no, no, we're going to go. We're going to go. Let's sing one more verse and we're done, okay? Just as I am and waiting not to rid my soul of one dark blood, to thee whose blood Thank you for being here this morning Thank you for your attention Praise the Lord for his love and his goodness and remember this God loves me. I that is encouraging words in this discouraging world that we live in God loves me if I don't see you again have a wonderful happy new year as you celebrate the new year and I hope you had a wonderful Christmas let's pray will be dismissed Heavenly Father thank you Lord for meeting with us this morning thank you Lord for the preaching of your word for the singing thank you Lord for All we did this morning and everything we didn't say, bring on in glory to your holy name. Go with us, Lord. Protect us, watch over us, help us to be a testimony of your glorious gift, salvation. Bring us back again this evening, in Jesus' name I pray, amen. Just before you leave, just a quick reminder, we have our candlelight service tonight and after the candlelight service, right after we have celebrated our last Lord's Supper of this year. So hope to see you tonight at 6 p.m. 6 p.m. All right.