"THEY HEARD THE ANGELS SING"

Sermon by Pastor John Hollis,

Christmas eve, December 24, 2006

Text: Luke 2:1-20

The night the angels sang was a night of all nights. The darkness surrounding the shepherds and their flocks was penetrated by a host of heavenly stars. But the stars was not the only heavenly host that was present on that extraordinary night.

"And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."

The song the angels sang on that occasion is a song that is full of beauty and meaning and interest. It contained a message for the shepherds and for all humankind through the ages and for us today.

It is logical that we should give much attention at this season of the year to the baby born in the stable. The babe in Bethlehem was of prime importance to the people who were expecting a Messiah, and came to know this new-born one as their Messiah.

But the song of the angels on that star-filled night was also of great interest because of the message it delivered.

The message began with the words: "Glory to God in the highest." This ascription of praise is the declaration of a fact; it declares that there is a God in the highest. However we may think of God, where he dwells, how he occupies heaven and earth at the same time, when we sing "glory to God in the highest," we are declaring there is a God that is higher than all the gods people may worship.

The coming of Christ has set forth God's attributes to the fullest. The One who came from the realms of glory into a world in darkness was with God in the creation of all things. John declares that "He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him; and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being." (John 1:1-3). And then John declares: "And the word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14).

This word became flesh, in order to declare the Father to us. "No man has seen God at any time, the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him." (John 1:18). Jesus Christ, by the way he lived, explained the Father. But Philip had some problems with this, and said to Jesus, "Show us the Father." Jesus responded: "He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how do you say, show us the Father?" (John 14:8-9). We see God by looking at Jesus: what he taught and did.

Giving glory to God is the outpouring of souls that long for a close relationship with Jesus Christ. It is worthy of note that God's people Israel had longed for the coming of the Messiah for centuries. As we look back to the prophets, we see through their messages how the people of God mourned for the coming of better times. Through their disobedience, they found themselves in exile; they wanted to return to their own land and find the peace they had known before. But they failed to see how this peace was to come. They missed the meaning of "Blessed are that mourn, for they shall be comforted."

It is appropriate to ask the question: Who is to give this glory? The apostle Paul reminds us that "every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:11). Again Paul reminds us: "whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31). Everyone should give glory to God in all that one does. This, of course, involves more than merely singing the song "Glory to God in the highest." How may we give glory to God?

We can give glory to God by promoting his glory among all people. Jesus often referred to the good deeds he did as being a time when people could behold the glory of God. We live in a social, educational, and governmental environment that is not always open to being shown the glory of God. There is a certain amount of hostility toward those who wish to declare the glory of God in their lives by following long-held traditions. There certainly is opposition to using certain environments and events to tell the story of love that came through the cross. In these situations, it makes it difficult to show the glory of God, yet in our lives we can still maintain our faith and show that faith by the deeds we do.

We can declare the glory of God in declaring thanksgiving to God for all his wonderful gifts. When we stop to think back over our lives and how we arrived where we are, we think of so many times, acts, events through which God has blessed our lives and led us in the right direction. When we think of these things, we should humbly bow before God's throne and give thanks for all he has done.

Another way we can declare the glory of God is to celebrate his majesty in praise. However we may interpret and apply the New Testament Book of Revelation, we have to admit there are some wonderful scenes of praise to God to be found therein. Listen to these words from chapter 4:12-13: "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing. . . . To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever." And again: "Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready." (Revelation 19:7)

We can give glory to God by rendering due honor to his majesty. He is the one who made it possible for the angels to sing their song and for the shepherd to hear them sing. The angel Gabriel told Mary, when she asked, "How can this thing be?" He responded "With God all things are possible." As the one who has dominion over us forever and ever, he is due our honor and praise.

Not only did the angels sing "Glory to God in the highest," they also sang "Peace on earth among men with whom He is pleased." The peace of which the angels sang is possible only as a result of Christ's coming into the world. The Greek scholar, Thayer, says of this peace: it is "The tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatever sort that is."

With this thought before us, let us look at some words of inspiration from the New Testament. This peace is tied to the way we behave ourselves each day. Listen to these words: "And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against any one, just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you, and beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:12-15). Wasn't Paul saying to us, "let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me?"

But let us notice two other brief passages. Jesus said to his disciples, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." (John 14:27). And again: "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). These are powerful words. Part of the trouble we have in realizing this peace is found in the failure to discern what world Jesus was speaking about. Jesus spoke of different worlds, and we need to grasp the meaning of this to fully understand the peace Jesus said he gave. The keyword to what Jesus said to his disciples in this place is overcome. What world did he overcome to bring peace to his people? Did he overcome your world?

The peace of Christ that he gives to all people includes every kind of peace. There is the peace of a clear conscience. There is an ancient Chinese Proverb that says, "There is no pillow so soft as a clear conscience." How true this is. Jesus Christ can give us the peace of a clear conscience.

There is the peace that we have with other people. This is what Paul meant when he said, "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts." We cannot, in our human weakness, always control our hearts. If the peace of Christ is ruling in our hearts, then we can control our hearts and thoughts.

There is the peace of mind regarding earthly things that we can know, when we realize that all our earthly possessions belong to God. They can be here today and gone tomorrow; and if this becomes our lot, how will we handle it? Will the peace of Christ be ours?

The elements of this peace are fourfold: First, there is the peace of an illuminated life. Throughout the New Testament we are taught that people apart from Christ are in darkness. Jesus came as the light. "In Him was life; and the life was the light of men." (John 1:4). Jesus said, "I am the light of the world; he who follows me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12). Peace comes only to the illuminated life.

The second element of this peace is the peace of a purified life. John speaks to this in his first epistle: "If we say we have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." (1 John 1:6-7). This is a continuous cleansing.

The third element of the peace on earth is that of a harmonized life. So many lives are out of harmony; there is no peace to bring relief from the burdens of life. Such lives need to know the peace which Christ gives.

The fourth element of this peace is that of a comforted life. Jesus promised comfort to those who mourned. Many people who are seeking to follow Jesus Christ in their lives continue to mourn over their sins; but their sins are forgiven in Christ Jesus, and the peace that passes all understanding is theirs.

The song the angels sang was "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." The recipients of this peace are those with whom God is pleased. God is always pleased when he forgives sins. So this forgiveness is more than an armistice; it is total amnesty. "For I will be merciful to their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more." (Hebrews 8:12).

Have you heard the angels sing? Listen carefully, for the song they sing may be the very one that will lift you up and place you in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

And then you can join with them and sing, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace."

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