Let's do remember Brother Keith and his family as they are traveling today. There are others that are traveling also. Let's do remember each of them. Our lost loved ones, let's do remember them and our missionaries, the nation, the troops, Brother Robert and Sister Jean, Maxine and Imogene, our church, let's remember the Bolings, Brother Frank and Mary Donegan, Martha, and Mary, and Teresa, and Brandy, and Angie, and Sister Bonnie, and Teresa, and Heather, and Chris, Anita, and Amy. Also, let's remember Beatrice Jones, and Elmer Hancock, and Regina Decker, Diana Bray, Brock Muse, Everly Guffey, Gloria Whittle, Anthony Phillips, Harmon Mounce, Wayne Wesley, Miserous Coolman, Elizabeth Padgett, Amanda Maggard, Donovan Bradley, Sheila Hale, Dakota Alexander, Donna Bryant, June Smith, Denise Carinder, Pat, and Paula Sayer, Jody Williams, Diane Bradley, Denise Smith, Blaise Daniels, Terry Keith, Allison Tucker, James Reynolds, Michael Perdue, Brody Moore, Paul Edwards, Phillip Coffey, Tim Caldwell, Porter and Betty Morris, Trevor Jones, Max Crabtree, Ben Mattingly, Robert Lawson, James Dick, Linda Coomer, David Crabtree, Chad Bowling, Cinda Keith, Ruth Ann Hurd, Jay Maggard, Shannon Parker, Daryl Cox, Ellen Muse, Jayden Johnson, Danielle Rivers, Kara Muse, Melissa Turner, Kenny Nichols, Jerry Hull, Alice Rednair, Ada Hicks, Wilma Moles, also Byron Brown, let's remember him, Taylor Thompson, Brian Broughton, and Leroy Golson, Monica Duncan, Eddie Campbell, Kimbal Lester, Barbara Cowan, Bethany Ann Jace, Lisa Palmer, Cole Prater, Heidi Patarko, Gordon Vanhook, Ethan Carter, Lucas Barnett, Joy Latham, Casey Mitchell, Troy Patarko, Joe Peterson, Also, Linda Dalton, Andrew Perdue, Daniel Latham, Molly Maggard, Carolyn Konder, Lloyd Chapman, Delta Latham, Sarah Seely, Krista Dinan, Cheryl Nicholas, Stella Edwards, Wanda Gregory, David Palmer, Kaylin Brock, Curtis Southwood, Frank McCormick, and family, and Peggy Bell, and Joanne Burton, Danielle Raines, Virgil Johnson, Anthony Goodwin, Richard Abbott, Norman Smith, Mark Mantel, Wayne Baker, Anna Gane, Katie Ledbetter, Elisa Mantel, Jamie Roberts, Bobby Upchurch, Sandy Maggard, Danielle Harris, Mackenzie Harris, Brian Muse, Tim Muse, Wayne Carinder, Lucas Mitchell, Pauletta Gregory, Joanne Wilson and Jacob and Haley, Brian Owens, Travis Bentley, Cindy Mullins, Jimmy Howard, Courtney Corinder, Millie and Seth Cravens, just to remember him, Shears and Brad Richardson, David Smith, Isabella Toribio, Mindy, Beth and Paul Bright, Sam Neal, I still remember Ray Winchester, Karen Matthews, Kenley Lay, David Stinson, Karen Pointer, Joshua Anderson, Cecil Guffey, Leslie Cash, Lonnie Braswell, Mike Tackett, Roy Smith, Wayne Lilly, and the Levi Cravens and also Sister Bonnie. She's on here and she's doing well. She's back with us today. Let's still remember her in prayer. Also, let's still remember all of our soldiers that are in war today. I know they covered our prayers and each other. We all need one another's prayers every single day. Is there any others that we need to put on the prayer list this morning? I still remember Levi Cravings in prayer. Is there any others today? I know Brother Gordon and his wife are traveling. I still remember them. Mamie and he's Robinson there in North Carolina. They're traveling to my sister. And you're not traveling next week. Student member by the market system and he's a travel next week. If there are no other spoken requests, I'm sure there are many unspoken requests, and we can let that be known. I'm going to lift my right hands. May the Lord bless each of these. Well, at this time, let us all go to the Lord in prayer, and we'll ask Brother Johnson, if you would, to lead us in prayer. Father God, as we bow before you this time, Lord, as an assembly, we want to express our love for you. Lord, we desire to glorify you this morning. Lord, we desire for Lord Jesus Christ to be lifted up where he is worthy. Lord, we desire for your word to be preached to go forth. Lord, to accomplish what you have to accomplish. Lord, we desire to see souls suffer. Remember badly. Lord, our lives changed. Lord, we look to you. We trust you. Lord, we know that where nothing is impossible to you, nothing's hard for you. that you do as you will and as you please. And Father God, we take comfort that you are sovereign, that you're on the throne, and that you are doing that which is best for your people. Father God, we will rejoice, Father God, in order that our souls be saved. Father, you've heard me. Names have been written on the prayer list. Father, there are so many names over this great thing, especially Levi. The situation he's facing, Father, Lord, we want a good result. Lord, we trust in a good result. Lord, we're hoping for a good result. Father, God, Lord, we know that you're in control and that you have a plan and a purpose. Lord, we may not understand you, but Lord, we just pray, Lord, that we just feel your presence with us in this situation and other situations, Father, God. We need your touch, Father God, each and every one of our lives. Lord, just be with Brother Steve this morning, Lord, help him to If you will this morning let us all be turning to Luke chapter 2 Luke chapter 2 And today I'm going to be preaching upon visiting angels, visiting angels. These angels, they brought the good news of our Savior being born. And I want us to notice, you know, secondly, that after they had brought their message, these shepherds became very, very excited. And they had every reason to be excited because Jesus had been preached that He would come, since Genesis chapter 3 and verse 15, for 4,000 years. and now he was born. And so the shepherds, they heard the good news by these visiting angels, and they were excited. They had to tell everyone what they had seen. Thirdly, they were given the story of life, a story of a lifetime. And they would tell it to their children, And their children would tell it to their children. And I can only imagine, you know, after they got done telling the story, years went by and then they just kept adding to this story. Because if you think about this wonderful story, if these shepherds were around 20 or 25 years of old age, you find out very, very quickly that they also got to witness the miracles of Christ. They also got to tell their children about, hey, this is the one that the angels came to us and talked to us about. Now they are healing, this same one is healing those that are full of disease. This is the same person that's raising the dead. And so the story goes on and on about this one called Jesus. And so they had a story of the lifetime. We're gonna notice that thirdly. And this is an everlasting story. It's still going on today, isn't it? still going on today and it will go on throughout eternity. So these are four things today I want us to notice and we might get into a few more but I want us to notice these specifically. So in Luke chapter 2 in our text beginning in verse 7 the Bible states, And she brought forth her firstborn son, speaking about Mary, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them. And they were so afraid." Can you just imagine, you know, being a shepherd, and there it is, nighttime, and the angel of the Lord appears. How afraid you would be. They were sore afraid, the Bible tells us. But notice what the angel said, verse 10. And the angel said unto them, fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. This is still good joy to all people today, just as it was then. the good news of the gospel. Verse 11, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. So notice the news that they brought forth. The Savior is born. The Savior is here. And this shall be a sign unto you, ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and good will toward men. So there were more angels. appeared and they were all singing and they were all praising Almighty God for this good news for Jesus being born there in Bethlehem. So they heard the good news and they were excited and they said let us go and see what has come to pass. Let us notice on down And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste. Notice they ran with the good news, didn't they? They wanted to see this baby that had been born. and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. So they didn't keep it a secret, did they? They made it known everywhere they went. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. Everybody wondered. You can imagine this news that was taking place. And so we see that it's the best news that people could hear the Savior is born. Let us all pray this morning together. Your gracious Heavenly Father, as we come to your precious throne of grace and mercy, we're so thankful to be back in your house once again. We're so thankful, Lord, for each one that is here. And Father, we're so thankful for the good news that you sent your angels to proclaim over 2,000 years ago and is still being proclaimed today. We're thankful, Heavenly Father, for the wonderful message. Father, we humbly come before you with each of these that are on the prayer list, Lord, the spoken and unspoken requests. We pray for these that are lost, Lord. We pray for your healing touch to be upon these that are so sick. And Father, we'll give you the praise and the honor for every healing that you do, for every soul that you save. We know that we are nothing without you. We pray, Lord, that you would bless your holy word and help us to understand more and more of this wonderful, great news that you have for us. Lead us now and guide us, we ask, for Jesus' precious sake. Not our will, but thine will be done. Be with Brother Keith today and his dear family and each of those that are traveling, Lord, we do pray for Jesus' sake. Amen. You know, I look at this story and I see how wonderful this news is and they wanted to go and they wanted to see and they wanted to make haste. They wanted to make sure they got there very, very quickly. I can imagine you know, how this was at this very moment. Here it was, them watching over their sheep. It's amazing to me that, you know, Jesus is born there in Bethlehem and Almighty God, he goes to the shepherds first. Have you ever wondered about that? Why did he go to the shepherds first? You know, I just kind of have my own idea about this, but it's kind of like, you know, Jesus, John chapter 10, he said, I am the good shepherd. You know, the good shepherd went to the shepherds first. He didn't go to the scribes and the Pharisees, the high priest in the temple. It was to the shepherds. You know, Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. He came to save sinners. And these were shepherds out there in the field. And they needed saved just like anyone else, didn't they? And they could have already been saved because the Bible teaches here that these visiting angels, they came right to these shepherds. And the Bible teaches that we have guardian angels, doesn't it? Hebrews chapter 1 and verse 14 tells us, are they not all ministering spirits? sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation. We see that the guardian angels, they were over the shepherds here, and they had brought the good news that the Savior was born. And they were very, very excited. They heard this good news, and they went to see Him. And there they saw Jesus right there in that manger. They saw Mary, and they saw Joseph, and they wondered at this wonderful news that was sent to them. Have you ever thought, why me? Why'd they come to me? I'm sure they thought these things. But we see that they heard the good news, and they believed the good news. Seeing was believing, wasn't it? And they saw. This was peace and goodwill toward men. You know, in 2 Corinthians chapter 5 in verse 19, I believe that these shepherds realized, just as the Apostle Paul was inspired to write, that God was in Christ. God was in this baby, reconciling the world unto himself. He was making peace with men. That's why the angels were singing and they were praising God because this was goodwill and peace toward men. And so the shepherds were very, very happy concerning this good news. It was something to sing about. Otherwise the angels would not have been singing. about this good news. It was something to shout about, I believe with all my heart. It definitely was something to talk about, wasn't it? I don't know if the shepherds got any rest that night, because it appears that it was a pretty good travel from where they were at to go all the way back up to Bethlehem, based on the scriptures here. But they went, nevertheless, with haste, and they found this baby, just like the angels had said, lying there in a manger. So it was something to sing about that God was reconciling the world unto himself through this one little baby that had been prophesied would come for thousands of years. And now here he was. Secondly, let us notice that they were excited. How excited would you be? About scared to death because an angel comes? They took the fear away when they all started singing. Can you imagine the heavenly hosts start singing around the shepherds? Singing about all this wonderful good news. They became so excited about what God was doing. The best news that the world could ever hear. That the Savior was born. happy angels praising almighty God. Look in verse 13 and in verse 14. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God. The Bible teaches us that the angels in the book of Hebrews are innumerable. And so here is a whole heavenly host. I don't know how many of them that were there. I don't know how good they can sing, but I know what they were singing about, don't you? And they were happy. And so this really made the shepherds very, very excited. And this good news, they were not going to be quiet about it. They were given a story of a lifetime. Can you just imagine these shepherds raising their children up, listening to what had happened to them, They had a story to tell, didn't they? For their entire life, God Almighty came to us while we were watching the sheep. He came to us and told us that the Savior was born. Can you imagine the children just looking at their parents? You mean to you? They came to you? It's real? The Savior is born? The story of a lifetime. Year after year, every time the children got old enough to hear a story, to understand. Can you imagine the fathers, I just can't wait to tell this story to all of my children. You see, this story is the same story that we must tell our children to be excited about. for the entire entirety of our life. Because this is the best news that they can hear, that their sins can be all washed away by this Savior. This little baby that was born there in Bethlehem, Ephratah. This one that came and was laid in a manger. The one that Almighty God loves so much was told to the shepherds the good news that He was the Savior. He's the only one. After 4,000 years had passed by, of all the children that was born, He's the only Messiah. He's the only one that can take your sins away. And we witnessed it. The angels came from heaven. God sent them to tell us that this is Him. We are eyewitnesses of this. And so they were so excited about this. I don't think that story ever got old to these shepherds, do you? I don't think this story ever got old to them. And I'm sure they never forgot it. If you were visited by angels today, would you forget it? We entertain angels unawares. The Bible tells us in Hebrews chapter 13, Angels are still with us today. Almighty God is still in control, as He always has been. But these shepherds, they were excited, and they had been given a story of a lifetime. They were scared at first, but then joy entered into their hearts. A lot of times we can't wait to hear an exciting story as children, as people. We love mystery stories, don't we? Some of us, at times, we love action stories. This is a story that's filled with both, isn't it? It was a great mystery how that the Messiah would be born. It is still a mystery today to the world. how Jesus saved sinners, how God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. But there was so much action during this time. We see that, you know, here's all the angels up in the sky, telling all the stories, all these stories, and they were not about to forget it. We can't wait to Many times when a new movie comes out, get to the movies, get to the theater, can we? We want to know, you know, what's it going to be all about? This was a theater in the sky. This was Almighty God showing the world how much He cared and telling a few shepherds about it. People that were working the night shift. Hard workers. But they were not going to be quiet about this wonderful message. And as I was saying, they couldn't wait to tell others. They went with haste. And I say that because, you know, we should be the same way every day of our lives. Tell someone about Jesus. Tell someone about what God has done for us. What He's doing for our lives. You'd be amazed at how interested people get in your life. In a good way. I'm not talking about being nosy. But they become interested in you. You mean God did this for you? You mean God changed your life this way? When you used to be that way? You can imagine when they heard that shepherds, you know, they were the most, they were very despised in that day. We all watched the Christmas stories and Brother David Jeremiah, he brought out how despised, you know, this past year I'd heard that, how the shepherds were. And I thought, wow, look at how despised Jesus is today as the great shepherd. I mean, the Muslims will not even recognize Him as the Savior, and a lot of people don't. But we find that even though they do not believe the truth, it doesn't make it not be the truth. He is still the Savior. He is still the One that was born in Bethlehem. He was the One that the shepherds looked upon. The shepherds loved and admired and the ones that the shepherds kept telling everyone about, especially their family, the good news concerning Jesus. This story is an everlasting story. I look at how the angels were involved in this story. We know that They sang there in the presence of the shepherds. We know that they were with Christ whenever He was in the garden and praying and there was great drops of blood. A sweat came off of His body and they ministered unto Him there. The Bible teaches us that. And we know that they carried Him up into heaven, don't we? The Bible also teaches us that. And we know that one day, Matthew chapter 24, that He's coming back with the guardian angels and He's going to separate the wicked from the just because He's in total control of this world as He always has been. And the angels are with Him. They didn't go anywhere but back to heaven. When Jesus was lifted up into heaven, there was two angels standing by in the book of Acts, and said, why stand you gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus that you see go up is going to come right back down. He's coming back after the seven-year tribulation period, and he's going to rule and reign upon this earth for a thousand years, the Bible teaches us. So this is an everlasting story about Jesus. In Matthew chapter 1 verse 21, it was told whenever He was born that, And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus. For He shall save His people from their sins. We see the purpose of this baby being born is to save us from our sins. Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins. And Jesus would go to that cross 33 years later and shed His precious blood so sinners could have forgiveness forever and ever and ever. A promise that God made had come to pass. Whenever He died upon that cross, whenever He said it is finished, the sin debt got paid in full. by our Savior. And so this is why she brought forth her firstborn son, because Almighty God was going to give him as a living sacrifice upon that cross so sinners could have all their sins washed away. I want us to look in Luke chapter 2, look also in verse 41, because there's a story about Jesus here. And this story is about how his parents came to Jerusalem every year. And this kind of struck me as I was looking at this passage here in the Bible because, you know, you look at the life of Christ and there's not a whole lot told about him from the time that he was born, and then there's the time that he was 12, and then at the age of 30, he begins to preach. But here in this verse it states that year after year after year He was coming to the Feast of the Passover in Jerusalem. It states now His parents went to Jerusalem every year. Now they didn't go without Jesus. It was every year at the Feast of the Passover. Now we know that When Herod wanted to take the life of Christ, Jesus went down into Egypt. And His parents left Him, they were there for a little while, but then they came back to Nazareth. And so every year, here comes Mary, and here comes Joseph, and they come up to celebrate the Passover. And we all know the story of the Passover in Egypt. When the angel appeared and there was blood on the doorpost, he would pass over and the first one would not lose its life. And this was the picture of Christ shedding his precious blood, that he would pass over everyone that had been washed in the blood of the Lamb. Everyone that has their sins covered by his precious blood, they will live forever and ever and ever. They are saved eternally forever. And so here we see that all the way up to the age of 12. Jesus goes up with His parents and the subject is about the Passover. Do you think He at the age of 12 knew that He was the Lamb of God? He knew that. I want us to notice, if you will, look over here in verse 49 because there's something that took place here at the age of 12 because this one time he stays behind. Let's just back up to verse 45, because Joseph and Mary, they go looking for Jesus, and they can't find him, so they have to go back to Jerusalem. It says, and it came to pass that after three days they found him in the temple. sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions. So now this baby that was born, he's at the age of 30. I mean, not at the age of 30, but he's asking questions and he's at the age of 12. Verse 47, and all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed. And his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, which is very profound here, how is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my father's business? See, the Passover was the subject, year after year after year. And he was about his father's business at the age of 12. He knew. that he was sent into this world to be the Lamb of God, the only one that could take away the sins of his people. At the age of 12 he knew this. So you can imagine from the age of 12 all the way to 30, 18 more years. Notice what happened in the life of Christ. Let's go on down in verse 50. And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was subject unto them. But his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man. These shepherds that heard this wonderful news about this baby, now he's at the age of 12, and he's going to the temple every year, and he has astonished the doctors and the lawyers with his wisdom, and he's still growing in wisdom in the statue. These angels that were with Christ, that told this story to the shepherds, had began a story that would last a lifetime. And so this is why John the Baptist would state in John chapter 1 in verse 29, Behold, when he saw Jesus at the age of 30, Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. Look at him, he's saying behold Him, there He is. The shepherds had already seen Him whenever He was a baby. And now He's grown in wisdom and in stature with favor for men and with God. And now he's going to start his ministry when John the Baptist sees him. And he's the one that takes away all of our sins. As he stated that he must be about his father's business. This is the everlasting story. from Genesis to Revelation. The Father's business was about sending His only begotten Son into this world so that we could be saved eternally forever. Did not Jesus say in John chapter 9, let us turn over there if you will, that He must work the works of Him that sent Him? And we know the work that Jesus was sent to do was to give His life a ransom for many. In John chapter 9 verse 4 he states, I must work the works of Him that sent me while it is day. The night cometh when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. So we see that as this baby grew, And now he's at the age of 30 and he's telling the Jews that he's working the works of Almighty God, his Father. And we know that that wonderful work was that he was paying the sin debt that we had in full to Almighty God. You see, only the Lord could lay our iniquities upon Christ. Isaiah wrote about that, how that the Lord had laid the iniquity of us all upon Him. And so, whenever Jesus was hanging upon that cross, and it was dark upon this earth for three long hours, did you know that your Heavenly Father was pouring His wrath out upon His Son because He was paying our sin-debt in full? He was endearing the penalty for our sins. The way Jesus sinned is death. He was dying upon that cross for us. When the shepherds saw Jesus as a baby, do you think they understood fully that 30 years later they could still be telling the story that this was the one, this was the Messiah, this was the one that was going to save them and everyone that would believe Everyone that would repent of their sins, this is the one that God loves so much. This is the one that the angels told us about. This is the everlasting story. And so Jesus, He was doing that wonderful work that the Father called Him to do. This was the everlasting story. These visiting angels, They started something, didn't they? They started something that, in one sense, they couldn't finish. Because you know what? In the eternal ages to come, I'm talking about after the millennium, I don't believe we'll ever stop telling the story about Jesus. I don't believe we'll ever stop telling the story about, it's because of His precious blood It's because of His precious blood that we're rejoicing together, that we are saved. Do you believe He'll still have the male scar on His hands? Do you think He'll ever forget the purpose of Christ? I don't think we'll ever forget that throughout eternity, forever and ever and ever. We'll know when we see Jesus in the multitudes. We'll be singing about the Lamb of God that saved us. We'll be giving Him praises. So the angel started a story that was from everlasting and it's going to be eternally, forever and ever. The shepherds were not the only ones that were left with this story. You and I have it today, don't we? You and I have it today. This is the Father's business. You know, Jesus Himself states that this is the work of God, that you believe on Him whom He has sent. Jesus looked at sinners everywhere. He was referred to as the friend of sinners. It's because He came to save sinners. Has He ever saved you from all of your sins? Have you ever trusted Him to be your Savior? Have you ever repented of your sins and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ? You know, whenever He called the 70 preachers and the apostles, He sent them forth to preach repentance, didn't He? That men should repent. Those that repent will not perish. Those that obey the gospel will be saved. But those who do not obey the gospel shall be damned, the Bible tells us. So have you obeyed? Have you believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior? We must believe. and trusted the Lord Jesus. That's what this story was all about. And it's still about today. Look, if you will, in Luke Chapter 1. Let's turn back to Luke Chapter 1 today. Luke Chapter 1. Look there in verse 19. Let's back up just a little bit from the shepherds. Because here, you know, we have a story that Gabriel, the angel that stands in the presence of God, he comes to Elizabeth. And he comes to Zechariah. And then he comes to Mary. And he lets them know, you know, that there's going to be a forerunner to Christ, which would be John the Baptist. Elizabeth was barren, and she couldn't have children. And you find that Gabriel tells her that she's going to have a son, this wonderful angel. And we all know the story how Zacharias kind of doubted that, and he couldn't talk for nine months. But you find that when John the Baptist was born, you find that his tongue was loosed and he was John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ. The angels visited them and visited Mary. And I've often thought, you know, how that when the angels visited them, this time period that lapsed, there were six months went by. And then here comes Mary. And John the Baptist, we know the story how that he leaps in Elizabeth's womb for joy. Here is Almighty God that sends Gabriel and tells these two women that they are going to have children. And that one of them is the Messiah. And you know, that's an amazing story. A story that just shocked people. But I've often wondered, why did Jesus' siblings not want to believe in Him for a while? What was it that they didn't see? Anyway, that's just something I wonder about. We know that later on that the brother of Christ, he believed, James, he believed in Christ, but they were offended at Christ whenever he began to preach, weren't they? But we find that many times in our life we get offended too, don't we? John the Baptist even got offended whenever he was in prison. That's kind of shocking, isn't it? But that's another message altogether. But we know that he was about to lose his life and he was about to be in heaven with Christ very shortly after he passed away because they both had a ministry that they lived to be 30 years, a little over 30 years old. 33 and a half years for Christ. John the Baptist, they were just six months difference in these two men. And John the Baptist was beheaded And we find that whenever he was beheaded, that's when Christ began to do, I mean, he done a lot of miracles right there at the very end of his ministry. And that's whenever he looked upon the multitudes and had compassion when John the Baptist, whenever those that were following him began to follow Christ, and he was healing them in great numbers and feeding them in thousands and thousands. And you find that when this was taking place, Jesus was just about to go be with John the Baptist. And he was about to give his life a ransom for many. Those that had spoken with John the Baptist, there they were with him now. And he looked upon them with great compassion, great love, and fed them and healed them. And so the angels for the angel Gabriel, he came to Elisabeth here. Let us look at this. Luke chapter 1 verse 19. And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, speaking to Zacharias, that stand in the presence of God, and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show thee these glad tidings. And behold, thou shalt be dumb and not able to speak until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words. Would you believe the words of an angel today if they came to talk to you? Or would you be like Zacharias? He was a priest in the temple. We shall be fulfilled in their season. See, God has a time for everything. And the people waited for Zacharias and marveled that he tarried so long in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak unto them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. For he beckoned unto them and remained speechless. And it came to pass that as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. And after those days, his wife Elizabeth conceived, He had herself five months, saying, thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me to take away my reproach among men. And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee named Nazareth. And we know that was to Mary. And the angel, he tells this story to Mary. We do know that after this, shortly, that they both were with children. And look what took place when Mary comes. Let's go on down to verse 41, when she comes to Elizabeth's home. And it came to pass that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost, And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed, for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior, for he hath regarded the lowest state of his handmaiden. For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Look at the good news that the angel brought. Look what He was causing in the life of Mary. She's going to be blessed forever. The mother of our Savior. The story told unto her. The one that her heart was like a spear going through it whenever He was being crucified upon the cross. She knew that He was not only her Son, but her Lord. He was her Savior. just as He is our Savior today. So Gabriel, the great angel that stands before the presence of God, told this story and look what an effect it had upon Elizabeth and upon Mary. John the Baptist was born. Jesus was born. Thirty years later, here they are in Jerusalem. and they're preaching and baptizing, seeing souls saved. Jesus, He said about Himself that He came to seek and to save that which was lost. He said, I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. He said, they that are wholly not a Savior. Think about that. They that are wholly not a physician. but they are lost. They need a Savior. He came out to call the righteous. So many people today think that they are righteous, that they're going to make it to heaven without Christ. When Jesus said in John 14, verse 6, He said, I'm the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me. We need His righteousness. We don't need our own. Our own will not get us to heaven. We need this One that the angels spoke about, the One that was born in Bethlehem in a manger. We need this One to be our Savior. Do you have Him as your Savior today? You know, Jesus said there is more joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repented than 99 just persons which need no repentance. There is joy in heaven by the angels. There's joy in heaven by the saints that are there. When someone gets saved, when someone repents of their sins, when someone will trust Christ to be their Savior. You know, Jesus, He told this wonderful story in the beginning of His ministry to Nicodemus in John chapter 3. It states, and as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up. He's talking about upon a cross. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. You see, when Moses lifted up that serpent, people had been bitten by snakes because of their sins. They were literally dying. Their sins had a great effect upon their life, and they need to be saved. And Almighty God, out of love, told Moses to lift up this serpent, and everyone that would look upon it would live. There were many people that didn't, and they died. But those that looked upon it lived, just like today. There's many people that look upon the cross, and they see Jesus, and they trust Him, and they live forever. But many will not look upon Jesus. They will say, I will not have this man to reign over me. They will not surrender their lives to Christ. They will not believe that He could be their Savior. And they walk on in darkness. So Jesus, He tells Nicodemus, He says, He that looks upon man. Just as Moses lifted up the serpent into wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life. He said, For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He said, He that believeth on Him is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. Have you believed in Jesus as your Savior? Do you see Him dying upon that cross, hanging there, bleeding, so your sins could be covered and taken away forever and ever? Have you ever trusted that He paid your sin debt in full? You'll never have no peace in your conscience until you believe that He paid your sin debt in full, hanging upon that cross. You cannot pay for your sins. This was the story that the shepherds got told. This is a Savior. This is the good news. This is the good tidings to us. Jesus, He goes on and He tells Nicodemus, He said, and this is condemnation, that light is coming to the world. And men love darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. See, that's our problem in life. We love darkness. We love our sins. Sins are pleasurable. We enjoy them. We don't want to forsake them. We don't want Jesus to tell us what to do. But Jesus has said we need to repent. Jesus has said that we need to turn to God. We need to turn to Him. We need to look at Him and be saved. So Jesus, He goes on to say to Nicodemus, but he that doeth truth cometh to the light. that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. You see, when you want to do the truth, when you want to come to Jesus, and you want your life changed, He'll change it. That's why Jesus said in John, or in Matthew chapter 11, in verse 29, Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest unto your souls. Your soul is where all your affections are. Your soul is what sins. The soul that sinneth shall die. The wages of sin is dead. So your soul needs to be converted. You need to be made alive unto God. And my friend, it's the spirit that quickens us. Ephesians chapter two and verse one tells us, and you have he quickened who was dead in trespasses and sins. We need to be made alive unto God. Have you ever experienced being made alive unto God. That's what happens when we get saved. That's what happens when we repent and trust the Lord Jesus Christ to be our Savior. He saves us. Nicodemus, he couldn't understand. He said, how can these things be? Jesus said, it's the Spirit that quickeneth the flesh, the prophet of nothing. He said, the words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit and they are truth. Jesus spoke that He was the Savior. Remember, He said, if you believe not that I am He, you shall die in your sins. Let us look at this verse today, because many people are dying in their sins today. Let us turn over to the Gospel of John. Let us look in John chapter 8 and verse 24, and I'm going to be closing here very shortly. John chapter 8 and verse 24, Jesus is stating, I said therefore unto you that you shall die in your sins, for if you believe not that I am He, you shall die in your sins. The one that was born in a manger, the one that these visiting angels spoke to the shepherds about, that He was the Savior, He's the Messiah. Jesus is stating that you'll die in your sins if you can believe not that I am He. Have you believed upon the Lord Jesus Christ? In John chapter 5, verse 24, Jesus said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life, shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life. Romans 10 verse 17 tells us faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Has God given you a spiritual ear to hear that this is Jesus the one that you need to trust? The Apostle Paul said in Romans chapter 1 verse 16, He said, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth to the Jew first and also to the Greek, Gentiles, meaning us. The gospel is the good news about Jesus. Paul wasn't ashamed of it. The shepherds were not ashamed of it. They were excited about it. They went with haste. The people they talked to wondered greatly about this baby born in a manger. The angels are still helping sinners today. Jesus is still opening up the eyes of the blind. Has He opened up your eyes to see Him in His beauty? You know, Paul, he said, this is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. Paul was a blind Pharisee that was persecuting the church with all of his might. See, he had a zeal of God, he thought. He was doing God a service whenever he was persecuting Christians. And Jesus met him on that road to Damascus in Acts chapter 9. And he said, Saul, Saul, why persecutes thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. You know, in those days, they put little pricks on sticks, and when the animals would kick back, they would kick into those pricks, and it would hurt them. It would be very hard for them to keep on kicking them. They would begin to be in severe pain. And Paul, he was fighting against Christ. And so Jesus, he tells him that story. It's hard for you to keep doing this. And when he opens his eyes, he shows him that he's such a sinner. We know what effect that had on Paul. Paul said, I'm the chief of sinners. He was blinded for three days and three nights until Jesus opened up his eyes, literally. and called him to preach. He said, I am less than the least of all saints because this Jesus changed my life. I was a persecutor of the church, even all the way unto death, he said. But then this Jesus changed his life. Has your life ever been changed? You know, modern day preaching tells us that you can just repeat a prayer after me or, you know, walk an aisle, and you can be saved. My friend, that's all good if Christ is in it. But you can pray all the prayers you want to. If your spirit's not quickened and made alive unto God and your heart's not changed, you're still lost. There's a lot of lost people in churches today, and I believe that with all my heart. because their lives have not been changed. Paul's life got changed. My life got changed when the Lord saved me. I no longer love sin. Does that mean I stopped sinning? No, it just means I started hating sin because He changed my life. I want to love Him and I want to honor Him all the days of my life. I'm gonna do what He's told me to do. That's what happens whenever He changes our lives. Because I used to drink alcohol. I used to gamble. It was dishonoring to God. But when the Lord saved me, That desire was taken away. And I began to hate those things I once loved. So this same Jesus that was born, that the angels told about, is still transforming lives. Has He transformed your life? Let us all stand as we go to the Lord in prayer and we'll ask Brother Johnson to come and bring us a song.