Greetings, and Merry Christmas to all!
I had the very profound pleasure to deliver my very first homily at a Candlelight Christmas Eve Service after 17 years in ministry.
I will share it with you with a few minor editions for blog purposes.
Our text will be taken from the Gospel of St. Luke, chapter 2:13-14.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And if I could use for a title, it would be on this wise. SHOW FORTH HIS PRAISES!
Since elementary school, the aforementioned passage read above has always resonated with me.
For the most part, verses 8 through 14, was oftentimes recited at our Christmas plays many years ago in the Chattanooga Public School System as well as at church.
And back in the day when there were only three TV channels at our disposal, 3, 9, and 12…I was always eager and blessed to watch Linus Van Pelt recite verses 8 through 14 on the Charlie Brown Christmas special.
So, yes, I love hearing it and I love proclaiming it…Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace goodwill toward men and women, I might add.
A whole host of angels also enjoyed giving Glory to God and pronouncing this same passage of scripture.
No doubt the angels were excited that prophecy was finally being fulfilled about Jesus, the Captain of the Hosts.
One prophecy in the book of Micah reads thusly about our Savior, But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting (Micah 5:2)
Another prophecy noted in the book of Isaiah proclaims , For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6).
And my brothers and my sisters, there is no fake news, no prophe-lying in these prophecies.
And this is for free. “Fake news” was not a term many people used three years ago, but it now seems to be a favorite term of our current president and not a few media news outlets.
But make no mistake about it. The Word of God says that the Lord himself, will give you a sign, Behold a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.
And we all know the story that Joseph was about to put the virgin Mary away privately after he found out she was pregnant. But an angel of the Lord came to him in a dream saying, “don’t be afraid to marry Mary.” For that which was conceived in her was of the Holy Ghost, and she shall have a son and His name shall be called Jesus, and He shall save his people from their sins.
NOW, WE OUGHTA BE SHOUTING AND PRAISING GOD RIGHT NOW!
Because Even Mary gave God praise when she exclaimed, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” (Luke 1:46-47) And these verses are Mary’s joyous response to the announcement that she will be the mother of the blessed Messiah.
Now, If Mary could show forth praises to God. Certainly we can too.
And so let’s reflect a little bit, shall we?
Those of you in attendance here this evening, you could have been anywhere! You could have been baking that last sweet potato pie while listening to Merry Christmas baby, you sure did treat me right! Or you could have been in your feelings with the repeat button playing over and over….WHAT DO THE LONELY FOR CHRISTMAS.
But you chose to be here instead, on the eve of the birthday that traditionally, we celebrate for Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Now, for some of you, and as we reflect, this may be your first Christmas without your loved one. In a recent article, Franklin Graham, son of Dr. Billy Graham, recounted and I quote…
“It has been almost a year since my father passed away. This is our family’s first Christmas without him, and to be honest, it is sad, as it is for everyone who has lost loved ones. But the joy we have, is knowing that my father is with the Author of Christmas. He is with God, who designed the plan to send His Son to earth”. End of quote!
Now, If you haven’t lost a loved one this past year, perhaps your year has been fraught with other unfavorable circumstances. You might have experienced job loss or financial setback.
If not that, you may have experienced bouts of hopelessness, humiliation, rejection, the guilt and shame from past mistakes, despair, depression, disappointment, broken-heartedness, broken dreams, and loneliness, or being so sick that you didn’t think that you would get well. MASTER, CAREST THOU NOT THAT WE PERISH.
Perhaps that was the cry of Mary and it certainly was my cry in that we both held our sons when they were warm, and we held them when their bodies grew cold.
Some of ya’ll know what I’m talking about! Master, carest thou not that we are in this storm!
But I hear the Prince of Peace saying, “Peace be Still”! And I hear Him saying, Hold your heads up and come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest!
And so, as we finish out 2018, your mother may not be here, but the King of Kings is here! Your father might not be here, but the Everlasting Father is here. Your brother, your sister, your grandmother, or your child may no longer be with you in this world, but the Wonderful Counselor is here with you!
Please understand that the Bible does not expressly say that God will be a mother to us, however, He does say this, Can a mother forget the child nursing at her breast? Yes, but even if she could, I would not forget you. For you see, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands (Isaiah 49:15)
People of God, if you could but just look back over your life, and even over this past year; you would have to agree with me, that God has brought us from a mighty long way. Oh, Yes, He has, and for that, He is Worthy of our praises!
Please remember that with Jesus on our sides, no devil in hell can up come against us! Weapons might form but they will not prosper. The Bible says.., and we overcome him (the devil) by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of our Testimony.
And oh yes, we have a testimony! If you have breath in your body, you are a living testimony!
Do you mind testifying with me that The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27)
Saints, because of what He has already brought us through, it is easier to trust the Bishop and Shepherd of our souls when He says, Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27
King Jesus assures us with this promise, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33
You can testify with me that Jesus, that Wonderful Counselor, said that He would never leave us nor forsake us.
So, starting now and over into the year 2019, we might as well run on and see what the end is gonna be. And while we are at it, we might as well show forth His Praises.
And so, how are we gonna do that preacher! And I’m glad that you asked!
Well, for starters, your testimony is your story, so go tell it on the mountain because God can get glory from your story.
Tell every man, woman, boy, and girl who will listen that Mary’s little baby, Jesus, was born to die. Uh huh!
But tell them…that’s not the end of the story! And this story has a happy ending! Because King Jesus, this second Adam was raised up with all power in His hands. Help me shout!
And as we go to the mountaintop to tell our story, we might as well walk in the light, the beautiful light, come where the dewdrops of mercy shine bright! And tell anybody who will listen that Jesus is the Light of the World.
We ought to tell them that Jesus has brought us out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Yes, by all means, go tell it on the mountain that Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice when He shed His blood on Golgotha’s Hill to redeem us back to God so that we can spend eternity with Him. Halleluia!
Proclaim from the mountaintop that…I am redeemed, bought with a price, Jesus has changed my whole life.
Go tell it on the mountain, that we serve a living God and that He is in His Holy Temple.
Tell that person that feels unloved, that Jesus loves us with an everlasting love and that we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Tell them that… I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Uh huh!
Tell somebody that when they hear the renowned and prolific Handel’s Messiah, that it was taken from the oracles of John the Revelator, making the pronouncement that the Lord God omnipotent reigneth and that Jesus, is the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords and He shall reign forever and forever, Halleluia
And aint nothing fake about that!
And that’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.
Ladies and Gentleman, Thank You and May you have a Merry Christmas and a Peaceful New Year and remember to show forth His praises.
PRAYER: Thank you, Jesus, for stepping out of the Godhead and taking on the form of humanity to pay a debt that You didn’t owe to redeem us back to God.
If you do not know Jesus as your Savior, and you want to accept Him now, you can click on the Menu button under PRAYER, and pray the prayer of Salvation on the website.
