Learning Daily

Luke 2:10, And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

The angels announced the birth of Jesus to lowly shepherds. The announcing of the birth of the One who would be the Savior, the Messiah was made to the shepherds and not kings and priests to announce He was for all the people. Pastor Jonathon Moore began a new series about “what happened when Jesus arrived.” He stated, “We are beginning the Advent season, the season of anticipating/expecting the presence of the Lord into every aspect of our lives. When Jesus came things changed, situations changed.” Audrey wrote in her sermon notes, “We are expecting Jesus to arrive because when He does everything changes.”

Look at the verse above and see that the announcement of his arrival came with “good news” and “great joy.” “Our world needs joy – right now!” (JM).  The angels told the shepherds to not be afraid. “It is not God’s plan for you to live in fear. He wants you to be set free from fear and for every Believer to live by faith. The angel told them that this “good news” was for all people. The Savior has been born and He is just what each of us needs right now” (JM). Audrey wrote, “Joy is not based on our circumstances!”

1 Thessalonians 5:16 tells us, “Always be joyful” (NLT). Philippians 4:4 states, “Always be full of the joy in the Lord” (NLT). Believers, more than anyone else, have so much to be joyful about; “it is a choice.” Pastor Moore said, “Bad things happen. We live in a broken, unhappy world. That is the world Jesus came into, and that is the message of Christmas.” Audrey added in her notes, “Joy is found in both the little and major things.”

Pastor Moore said, “Joy comes when we choose to hear the Good news.” The angels said to the shepherds, “The good news brings joy to all people.” What you are listening to is so important. Do you start your day with reading and studying God’s Word – the “good news”? Or do you begin by listening to or reading about what is happening in the world around you? Are you meditating on the “good news” and proclaiming it over yourself (Audrey’s notes)? “How does the “good news” impact your life? You need to want to walk the narrow way in the ‘good news’” (JM). What do you believe about Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes – the Jew first and also the Gentile.” “Read it to yourself. Proclaim it to yourself. Let it bring joy into your life” (JM).

Pastor continued, “Joy continues when we choose to do what God says.” This is about being obedient to what the “good news” says. Audrey wrote, “Hearing does no good if we do not actually take action.” Joy comes from walking with Him in obedience!

Pastor’s last point was, “Joy grows when you choose to tell someone else.”  Did you catch what the shepherds did after they had seen the baby? “They went and told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about the child.” “It is amazing how our joy grows when we share it. The gospel blesses others but also serves as a reminder of what God has done in me” (Audrey’s notes). Pastor said, “I may not be what I want to be, but I am not what I used to be!” How about you?

The “good news” brings hope! It brings joy!