CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE HOLY KIND
SCRIPTURE: Luke 2: 8-14. K.J.V.
KEY 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.
Theme: Close Encounters of the Holy Kind.
PRAYER: Dear heavenly Father, I know that it is impossible for me to do everything, but I pray that I might do something this day that will bring lasting glory to the ONE who chose me unto Himself. Father we praise You for sending Your Son to bring us salvation. May our hearts always rejoice when we hear the Good News. As Jesus came to dwell among us, we long for the day when we shall dwell with You. In His matchless Name I pray, amen.
INTRODUCTION: verse 14- Glorious Message
A primary Message of that first Christmas is ‘Glory to God’ To say this is to proclaim that He who dwells ‘in the light which no man can approach’ ( 1 Timothy 6:16) has sole claim to glory. To God alone belong all majesty, radiance, and splendor. He is the Lord of Heaven and earth; He is God in the highest. In heaven, glory is given to God: on earth, peace is extended to us.
Peace is more than the absence of conflict: it is the presence of everything that is necessary for one’s well-being. This peace will come to the world through the prince of peace. Rome had brought a military peace that would later permit the early Christians to spread the gospel. The peace mentioned here, however, is a peace between God and people. ( For one of the greatest peace pronouncements in the New Testament, see Romans 5:1) The phrase good will toward men indicates that God’s favor rest on those who accept His grace.
Message:
The First ‘Close Encounter’ we’re going to talk about is in Bethlehem. With their words ringing in the ears of the shepherds, the angels departed and returned to heaven. No heavenly message had ever proclaimed such a glad message. To the world had been born a Savior, Christ the Lord. We should join the humble shepherds in their excitements and amazement. This is a message that calls everyone to rejoice.
A CLOSE ENCOUNTER IN HEAVEN:
The message of the birth in Bethlehem is far more than the mere sweetness of a baby. The real message of Christmas is the coming of the Son of God to live ( and give ) His life as the Son of Man. ( John 1:14) This is the miracle of incarnation.
Jesus came to have a close encounter, an intimate participation in our world. He came as a human to face hunger and thirst, temptation and persecution. He wept real tears; He bled real blood; He died a real death on the cross; He gained a real resurrection.
In all this, ‘He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him’ ( Hebrews 5:9 ) He was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin’ ( Hebrews 4:15 ). Jesus knew what it was to be a man. He came to earth to be Immanuel – ‘God with us’ ( Matthew 1:23 ).
Jesus came to live with us on earth so that one day we can live with God in Heaven. His close encounter with humanity makes possible our close encounter with God in the future. Revelation 21:3 foretells the day when, ‘He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people,’ and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.’
Because of the messages of Christmas, and Easter, we can look forward to the day when we shall join the angel’s praise: Glory to God in the highest." Christmas calls us to rejoice in the coming of our Savior. Christmas calls us to rejoice in the gift of God’s grace. So as we recall our close encounters of the Holy Kind Remember:
The Gospel is still good news of great joy for all people
CONCLUSION: Think back through your life at all the close encounters of a Holy kind that you have experienced. It happened back then and it is still happening today. ( talk about your experiences )
BENEDICTION: Jude 1:24,25
24- Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, * 25- To the only wise God our Savior, be glory, and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. amen.
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