AND GLORY SHONE AROUND – PASTOR (DR) MENSA OTABIL – SPECIAL SUNDAY SERVICE:24TH DECEMBER 2023

SPECIAL SUNDAY SERVICE WITH PASTOR (DR) MENSA OTABIL (GENERAL OVERSEER, INTERNATIONAL CENTRAL GOSPEL CHURCH (ICGC) CHRIST TEMPLE, ACCRA GHANA)

TOPIC: AND GLORY SHONE AROUND

DATE: 24TH DECEMBER 2023

BIBLE TEXT: LUKE 2: 8-14

Let us rise up together as we make our “DECLARATION OF GATHERING” in this “YEAR OF GATHERING”.

Are you ready? Say with me:

I Proclaim Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. The Lord is the Shepherd of my Soul, my Shelter by Day, my Light by Night.

In His Name, we Plough our fields, by His Spirit we gather the Harvest, in His Light we seek and find.

In this Year of Gathering, the Lord of the Harvest has commanded: Launch Out into the Deep. At His Words, we cast our Nets, we gather in Souls and Substance for God’s Kingdom.

The Lord is our Reward; in this Season I received God’s Portion set aside for me: Full Measure, Pressed down, Shaking together and running over. 

Nothing is Lost and Nothing is wasted in Jesus Name – Amen!

Merry Christmas to everybody!

It is great to have you in the House of the Lord this Morning, including those reading on the Label of DMC. 

What a Joy to celebrate the Birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ. And we thank God for what Christmas means to each one of us. 

*Since we are in the Christmas mode, I am going to Preach around the Christmas Theme.*

*My Message is Titled: “AND GLORY SHONE AROUND.”*

You know that is a Phrase in a Popular Christmas Song – “While Shepherds watch their flock by night … And Glory shone around”

My Text is from Luke 2: 8-14 (NKJV)

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 

9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 

10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 

11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 

12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

13 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, goodwill toward men!”

This is the first announcement of Jesus’ Birth. Right about that time the star appeared in the East and the Wise men also started their journey towards the New Born King. 

It took them about two (2) years to get to where Jesus was. But the Shepherds were the first People who heard the announcement and went to see what had happened. 

*Today I am going to just focus on Four (4) Important Ideas that we find in this Passage.*

1. *The first one has to do with the Shepherds:*

*… They are the main Theme of the Story.*

Now, you have to understand that among the Jews of that Period, Shepherds were held  in very Low esteem. 

They were not allowed in court as Witnesses. 

Shepherds were not the brightest People in the Society; they were not the most Elevated People.

Shepherds were People who stayed Outside the Community – They tended the Sheep.

*But they did very important job – Apart from raising Sheep that People would buy and eat their flesh for their normal meals; they also Provided the animals that would be sacrificed in the Temple.*

*So, the Shepherds were Playing two (2) Roles:*

I. They Played a role that is domestic to People – They reared Sheep, People go to buy the Sheep and have their Christmas stew with it.

II. Also, when People wanted to make Sacrifices in the Temple, the Shepherds would be the ones who reared Sheep that they were Offering.

So the Shepherd Played those Roles in the Society

*And it is very instructive that the Angel of the Lord went to them because there are some Significance there, that we will get the very soon.*

The Passage says that the Shepherds were watching over their flock by Night – So that Story opens in the night. The Shepherds were watching over their flock.

There is a sense of diligence about these Shepherds – It’s Night time, they’ve been working daytime, taking care of the flock. Now it’s Night and it’s good to sleep but the Passage says, they are still watching.

*So, it shows a very diligent Group of People, very attentive by Day or by Night. They were very Mindful of their Sheep – Keeping watch over the flock.

*The Important thing I want you to note is that, this is happening in the Night.*

*So, at another Level, they are in the dark: they are Good People, diligent, honest People but they are still in the dark.*

*And in essence, the Story of Shepherd paints the Picture of Humanity – People who are Good, decent, doing their work but still in the dark!*

You know, sometimes we think, “if People are Good, then automatically they are right with Christ.”

But being right with Christ has nothing to do with your approach to work – You can be a Good Worker, a decent Human Being, and still live in sin, still be in the dark without the Light of God.

*All of a sudden, they are in the Light: the Glory of God Shone around them.*

The Angel of the Lord appeared to them and all of a sudden, the Night is bright; the atmosphere has Changed from Darkness to Light.

*Isn’t it amazing how God’s Love is able to reach us? Even when we are in the dark He is able to come to us with the Glory of the Gospel of the Power of Christ. God is able to come to our Night and bring us Light.*

So, these Shepherds experienced Light, surrounded by God’s Glory – They are in a Good Place.

And then the Bible says what happened when the Light came:

*And they were afraid! They were terrified by God’s Glory.*

I meant, when I read the Bible, I pay attention to all kinds of things – They were not afraid of the Night. 

In the night there was no fear but they are afraid of the Light! The Glory is Shinning and they are afraid.

*In the Darkness, which is the normal Place where People should be afraid, they have no fear. But when the Light comes, they are afraid.*

*It shows us the Picture of Human Beings – That many times when God’s Light Shines in our lives we get afraid.*

*In fact, that’s one of the reasons why People don’t go to Church. Because they are afraid they are going to hear something that would bring Light to them, and would convict them of something bad they are doing and they don’t want to stop it. So they don’t want to go to Church.*

These days a lot of Christians would say, “Oh! I Worship God Online.” And we know they are not telling the Truth. They are not worshipping God Online – Only a few People Worship Online sincerely. 

Only a few – Majority do not.

They use it as a cover up, because they don’t want to hear something that will convict them – They don’t want to leave the dark and go into the Light. 

So, the Glory of God Shone and the Shepherds are scared.

*Now listen to the response of the Angel – The Angel tells them, “Don’t be afraid, I bring you Good News.”*

*And if we can ever get to understand that God is not there just to cause pain to us, to cause havoc to us; He is not revealing our sins because He wants to Punish us.*

*He wants to reveal your sin to you because there is a Good Tiding of Great Joy!*

*God’s revelation is always a cause for Joy and excitement.* 

So, for the Shepherds, they are in the Night, they are afraid but they are assured, “Take it easy – God is not about to knock your head because of something terrible you did.

2. *The Second Thing we want to look at is the Story of the Angel.*

*The Angel said, “the Saviour is born: Salvation has began. The Process of Salvation has begun”.*

*And why is this very Significant? Because this is what the Jews have been waiting for all this time.*

They have been waiting for the Messiah. 

Of course, their views of the Messiah was that He was going to come and knock off the Romans.

As they were waiting for whoever this Saviour is – The Angel came and said, “the Saviour is born!” 

– What you’ve waited for has come to Pass. 

– What you’ve been expecting is now here. 

– Your Hope is now a reality. 

– What you have been Praying and Hoping for is here.

*In Christ we have Fullness of Life.*

If you want to have Life it is Jesus – Hope is Jesus, Liberty is Jesus, Experiencing Grace, Prosperity is Jesus. 

You want to abound? Whatever you need is Jesus!

*If you can understand that everything you need in Life is wrapped in Jesus Christ.*

You know, we go through the year hustling, working, labouring, going to and fro. And we want Peace, money and all of that.

*If we come to understand that everything we are looking for is in Christ Jesus; that what you’ve been waiting for has come, what you hope for has come, what you wish for has come. In Christ is the Fullness of the Godhead Completely, Perfectly.*

He is everything you need. There is nothing you need that is outside of Jesus. 

In Him there is Fullness of Joy, Peace, Love, Salvation, etc – He is it!

*That is what the Angel says: The Saviour is born. What you’ve been waiting for has happened – This is it.*

3. *Then the Angel said: I am going to give you the Sign.*

*I am going to show you how you can identify the Saviour – You are going to find Him somehow.”

*So, what is the Sign? He said, “you are going to find a baby lying in a Manger.”*

I always wondered: Why is that a Sign? – “A baby lying in a Manger”. 

There is something about this baby lying in a Manger, that was going to help the Shepherds find the Saviour.

When you read the Bible in our day, many times we use our current Understanding of things to understand the Bible but the Bible did not happen in our day. 

The Story of Jesus (especially) happened over two thousand (2,000) years ago.

So, certain words in the Bible, if we quickly bring it in our day, the meaning may not be accurate. 

And one of such is that “Jesus was born in a Manger, because there was no room in the Inn.”

Today, when we say ‘inn’ we mean something like Hotel or a Commercial Guest House. 

Immediately, we translate ‘inn’ to mean Guest House. 

So Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem, they were looking for a Hotel and they did not get one.

Don’t forget: Mary and Joseph, Bethlehem is their hometown. 

And I don’t know how many of you go to your hometown to live in a Hotel. 

If you went to your hometown now, except you are not a Proper Hometown Person; that you are quarrelling with all your Relatives and Nobody wants to see you in the Village again. 

But normally, when you go to your hometown, you are going to find a Relative to live with.

You are either going to go to your father’s house, grandfather’s house, or maybe to your cousin who has built a house – You are going to find a Place to live. 

So, Mary and Joseph cannot go to their hometown looking for Hotel – It doesn’t make sense. 

*What does the Bible mean by “an Inn?”*

Those days buildings were very Simple – We build a house, we have a Master’s bedroom, Guests’ room, and all of that. 

Those days, most houses would have one big room where everybody stays – Privacy was not as Prized then as it is now.

So, when you go to a Place to stay, about thirty (30) People can be jamed in one Place – Everybody is Sleeping there. 

And that one big room is what today is called, “Living Room” or “Sitting Room” – That is what was called an Inn then.

*The Inn then, is the big room where everybody stays.*

The Picture we want to see is, Mary and Joseph had gone to their hometown, and other People too have come to their hometown, because remember, they are coming for Census.

A lot of People are coming, so try go to their Family House and they all live in the Inn (The Living Room). 

Most of the time, in those days, People would keep their domestic animals indoor at Night and take them out in the Morning.

So, normally if Mary gave birth, it should be in the Inn (in the Living Room) if there were not many People. 

But there were so many People in the Living Room, so they had to go to where the animals were kept.

That is just to clarify what is meant by, “there is no room in the Inn” – It is not talking about a Hotel. 

And I don’t think Bethlehem had Hotels at that time.

Now, the Story starts with Shepherds and now Jesus is bundled up to where the Sheep are. 

The Bible is Painting a very clear Picture of who Jesus Christ is – That this Child, who has been born is actuall the Lamb of God who is going to save People from their sins.

And that is why the Shepherds were Chosen in the first instance, because normally the Shepherds would be the ones who would certify that this Sheep is right to be sacrificed – This is the right one!

And so the Angels said to the Shepherds: This is the right One! 

*When you go, go to the Manger where you would normally find the Sheep, do your inspection. And when you go, you will find that this One who has been born is truly the One who will be Sacrificed by God for the sins of the world – That’s the Sign.*

Of course, I am sure many children were Probably born in Bethlehem about that time. But no Child was born and laid in a Manger – Only one was born and laid in a Manger.

*Shepherds who understand the dynamics of it were told to go and find Him; to see whether it is so.*

*And as you read later on, they went and found that it is so: truly – The Son of God, the Lamb of the world, has been born.*

*So, that’s the Sign – A Baby is lying in a Manger – Shepherds, Manger, Lamb.*

*And the idea is clear – “The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.*

4. *The Final Thing is the Song of the Angels.*

*The Angel of the Lord who announces the Story; who tells the Sign, the Passage (Luke 2:8-14) says,  is joined by a Host of Angels – So many Angels and they start Singing:*

Glory to God in the highest

And on Earth Peace,

Goodwill towards men.

*Two (2) Things:*

I. First, is the Praise – “Glory to God in the Highest.”

*Why are the Angels saying, Glory to God in the Highest?*

*They are saying: everything that has happened to bring Christ to birth is Totally, Completely the work of God.*

This is not the work of Man; this is the work of God. 

Why? God is the One who gave the Promise in Genesis 3; And had been giving Promises throughout the Old Testament.

– This is all God – God is the One who chose the Vessel (Mary).

– God is the One who Protected the Seed.

– God is the One who brought them to Bethlehem.

*And beyond everything, this Child Who is born is God.*

*Who gets the Glory for what has happened? No one except, “Glory to God in the Highest”.*

*The Coming of Christ, the Life of Christ, the Mission of Christ – Everything about Jesus Christ is all about God. He is God come in flesh.*

II. But then they said something to those who are in Earth;

*And on Earth Peace.*

Not Judgement, not Anger, not Hatred, not God striking at home – “On Earth Peace and Goodwill towards all People.” 

What a Message!

And you know, when I was a Younger Preacher, I felt that condemning People, speaking about People’s sin was the smartest way to Preach.

And those days when we go to Preach, we would say “Look at you, Hell Fire is waiting for you.” 

And normally it is against the women. I don’t know why we don’t do it to the men.

We would say, look at your Miniskirt, do you think you will go to Heaven? Look at your Painted face and fingers. And we just scare People and think if we make them scared so much, they will turn to God.

But listen to the Message, “Glory to God in the Highest and on Earth be Peace – Not fire and brimstones. 

Goodwill from who? From God!

*It’s not just Human Being Showing Goodwill, it is about God having Goodwill – God thinking Good about you.*

*And His Will is to do the Good that He thinks about you.*

Does it include the Sinners? Yes! 

God has Goodwill towards the Sinners, the Wicked, People you have no Goodwill for.

*I came here to tell you that God’s Message towards you is Peace and Goodwill – Amen.*

*Maybe you look at your Life and you feel, Judgement is coming, Lightening will strike me. Oh! I am going to die. God says, Fear not and don’t be afraid. I bring Good Tidings of Great Joy.*

*When God reveals something about you that is scary, His next voice is, Fear not, I bring you Good Tidings of Great Joy – Amen.*

*So, you went to the Doctor and he tells you something; God says, Fear not, for I bring you Good Tidings of Great Joy – Amen.*

*Do not let the Revelation you know scare you. Because the Story of Christmas: I bring you Good Tidings of Great Joy.*

*And today this same God is announcing Good Tidings of Great Joy to you – Amen.*

*I don’t know how your year (2023) had been from January till now but there is Good Tidings of Great Joy – Amen.*

*I don’t know what Darkness has enveloped you; but this Morning, there is Good Tidings of Great Joy – Amen.*

*And to receive that, there are Two (2)  Things you are going to do this Morning:*

1. If you are here this Morning or reading now this Message on the Label of DMC and you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour Please, do so now.

God has done everything you need for your Salvation – All you need to do is believe and receive Him. 

And if you are here this Morning or reading now on the Label of DMC, and you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour come now, so I can Pray for you – That this Lamb of God would find room in your Heart.

Or you are not even sure if you are Born Again; then you have to be Born Again and be sure today.

So, if you want to have Assurance of Salvation, just lift your right hand wherever you are and say with me:

Heavenly Father, I come to you today just as I am. I am a Sinner, I cannot save myself.

I ask You Father, save me through the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Forgive me, wash away my sin, make.me Stand right before You.

I Thank You Father for the Gift of Salvation.

In Jesus’ Name – Amen.

Welcome home to your Saviour!

2. But it is not only about Salvation; it is also about God’s Good Tidings that Changes a Negative Story into a Positive one.

So, for everybody who is dealing with a dark spot in your Life (whatever it is):

It may be in your Marriage, Health, Finances, Career, Life of your children and Spouse – There is Good News for you. I bring you Good Tidings of Great Joy.

There is Healing in the Name of Jesus.

There is Deliverance in the Name of Jesus.

There is Help in the Name of Jesus.

And if you believe that, just Stand Up with me for a moment as we Pray that the Power of God would touch you wherever you are now inclusive those reading now on the Label of DMC.

Lift up your hands to God and just receive God’s Goodness into your Life, your family and Finances.

*CLOSING PRAYER*

Father, we Stand today, fully assured of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Fully confident that in Him we have Life and we have Life more Abundantly.

We Stand here settled in our Faith, that He is the first and the Last, the Alpha and Omega. That there is Nothing beyond Him – He is our all in all.

And so Father, by that Matchless Name of Jesus, I speak into the lives of everybody here inclusive those reading now on the Label of DMC:

I speak Good Tidings of Great Joy into their Finances, into their Health, Marriages, Physical Being, into every areas of their Being.

I speak Good Tidings of Great Joy into their Relationship.

May the Lord your God heal you, deliver you, establish you, and turn the situation around.

May the Lord your God give you a Testimony between now and the end of the year (2023).

Next week, about this time you would have Testimony!

Your Story would Change, in the Name of Jesus.

And if you believe that He has done it, then lift up your hand and Worship Him for a moment.

Thank you so much for staying all through to read.

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