Week #36 – Good News of Great Joy!

Luke 2:8-12 – And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

                       

How often do you get the latest news delivered right to your work place in living 3D – by an angel of the Lord no less!!?  And, how often is it “GOOD” news?  Even greater than that, how about good news of “GREAT JOY?”  This particular GOOD NEWS did even one better than that – it was intended for EVERYONE!  Such was the grand announcement of the Savior’s birth.  God has been waiting for just this moment!  All of heaven is eager with anticipation!  The MOST AMAZING EVENT in all of eternity has just taken place and it’s time to broadcast it!  The Word has become flesh!  (John 1:14).  CAN YOU IMAGINE?  The Son of God has just divested Himself of His sovereign position and has come into the world as a BABY (Philippians 2:7)!   God sure has a flare for the dramatic.  No one else would have ever dreamt to rescue a fallen world in this way!  That’s because no one else ever loved the whole world that much.  But, God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him might not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16)!  And, no one else would have ever dreamt of announcing it this way!

The Great Creator became our Savior!  How were those who heard this good news of great joy supposed to recognize Him?  On this particular day, in the town of David, there would be only ONE BABY born who could be found wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger!  THAT would be their sign!  What do you think?  Would this newscast inspire you to want to investigate a little further?  Or, once the angels went away, would you just want to get right back to watching your usual programs – you know, the ones that were all about tending sheep?

These words of William Emmanuel Booth Clibborn offer us an inspirational rendition of the Good News of Great Joy that will be for all the people:

Verse 1 – Down from His glory, ever living story, My God and Savior came and Jesus was His name.  Born in a manger, to His own a stranger, A man of sorrow, tears and agony. 

Verse 2 – What condescension bringing us redemption; That in the dead of night, Not one faint hope in sight, God gracious tender, Laid aside His splendor, Stooping to woo to win, To save my soul.

Verse 3 – Without reluctance, Flesh and blood His substance; He took the form of man, Revealed the hidden plan.  O glorious myst'ry, Sacrifice of Calv'ry, And now I know Thou art the great "I AM."

Chorus: Oh, how I love Him, how I adore Him, My breath my sunshine, my all in all, The Great Creator became my savior, And all God's fullness dwelleth in Him.

 

Thursday:                                                                                                         

• Meet together with at least 1 or 2 other believers to enter the Throne Room of Grace.
• Join our 6:00pm Thursday night prayer team.         

Friday:                                         

• Give thanks for the good news of great joy that was announced for your benefit.
• Pray for the Good News families of the week: Dennis & Sherry Smith, Bob & Alison St.James (Matthew, Kelly, Nate), Steve & Allison Worrall (?).

Saturday:       

• Thank God for the creative, humble and loving way He provided for our salvation!

Sunday:                                                                      

• Praise God for giving His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.

 Monday:                                                                                              

• Pray that all may come to believe in the Savior who is Christ the Lord!
• Attend “In Touch” Prayer meeting at GNCC at 10:30am or join in prayer at that time.

 Tuesday:       

• Give thanks for the Savior who is Christ the Lord, born in the manger in Bethlehem!

Wednesday:   

• Pray that this Good News announcement may help others to know with certainty who Jesus is!

 

Prayer Challenge: Pray that your attitude would be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death– even death on a cross! – Philippians 2:5-8.