Have you ever had the best of intentions only to see them not come to fruition?\u00a0 I apologize it has taken this long to get part three posted.\u00a0 I want to finish up the discussion of the shepherds in the Christmas story by talking about what they did once the angel had announced the birth of the Messiah.<\/p>\n
We notice is in verse 15 and it is the fact that the shepherds wanted to go investigate what they had been told.\u00a0 In this day and age there are so many people claiming to have a word from God, but they are nothing more than false teachers who are leading people astray.\u00a0 The Bible tells us in 1 John 4 to “test every spirit to see if it is from God.”\u00a0 When someone says “the Bible says” or “God told me” we need to take the time to go and find out if what we are being told is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth from God.\u00a0 To show that what they were told was true the angel gave them a sign, the babe wrapped in clothes in a manger.\u00a0 Notice what verse 16 says, “And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.”\u00a0 It was just as the angel had told them and so now they have confirmed they have received a message from God.\u00a0 But their responsibility doesn’t end there.<\/p>\n
Luke 2:17 says, “And when they had seen it<\/em>, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.”\u00a0 The shepherds went and made the message known.\u00a0 Notice it doesn’t say they made their opinions known abroad, but rather they made the message they had been given known.\u00a0 So many times we want to offer our opinions, but many times our opinions muddy the waters.\u00a0 The Word of God speaks for itself and can defend itself.\u00a0 A proclaimer (not just preachers, teachers, or evangelist) is simply to proclaim the Word.\u00a0 It is the Holy Spirit who is going to convict a person and draw them, not the one sharing the message. So many times we worry about what we are going to say to a person.\u00a0 This leads to us depending upon ourselves to bring a person to God.\u00a0 The best thing we can do is to pray for opportunities to share the Gospel, pray before we begin sharing (even if simply quietly to yourself), and then trust the Holy Spirit to do the work the Father sent Him to do.\u00a0 When sharing the Gospel, keep it simple, clear, and concise.\u00a0 The Gospel is Jesus Christ crucified for the sins of the world, buried, and on the third day risen from the dead, and now offering us forgiveness of our sins and eternal life.<\/p>\n By His grace and through His strength may we live for Him<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Have you ever had the best of intentions only to see them not come to fruition?\u00a0 I apologize it has taken this long to get part three posted.\u00a0 I want to finish up the discussion of the shepherds in the … Read More