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LUKE 2:8 -14

"GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY"

Intro: It is my opinion this angel was Gabriel.

I. SAVIOR; TO FULFILL MAN'S GREATEST NEED.
        A. Man was lost from God.
                1. Many were searching for peace and joy.
                        a. These are by-products of finding God.
                        b. They cannot be discovered to their fullest by direct pursuit.
                2. The path to God had been clouded by man who also placed many obstacles on
                   the road.
                        a. They stood there n their holy robes and professing superior
                           knowledge, led men astray.
                                1. One would cry, "This is the way to peace."
                                2. Another would cry, "He is wrong, this is the way."
                                3. So they would strive over the right way to peace.
                3. God saw the plight of the poor common man and love him.
                        a. So He sent His Son as a poor common man to teach him, and guide 
                           him to God.
        B. Man needed saving.
                1. He could not save himself.
                        a. Many teachers had pointed to man the path of goodness.
                        b. This was only frustrating, because no power was given to walk it.
                        c. Even the best men fell short of God's requirements.
                2. Jesus did not come to be a good example.
                        a. Man needed more than an example.
                        b. If you are sinking in quicksand, you don't need an example of how
                           to sit in public.
                3. He came to seek and to save-those who were lost.

II. "CHRIST": TO FULFILL GOD'S GREATEST PROMISE.
        A. Throughout Old Testament God had promised to send the "Messiah" which in Greek is
           "Christ."
                1. The Jews were prnyitig, hoping, waiting.
                        a. How excited the shepherds must have been when the angel said 
                           "Messiah."
                2. God had promised that a virgin would conceive and bear a Son who would be
                   born in Bethlehem. He would be known as "God with us" for He existed from
                   the beginning. He would be despised and rejected, cut off and crucified yet
                   He shall rule over the world in righteousness and peace.
                3. From Moses to Malachi, God spoke of this hope for Israel.
                4. The time has now arrived for God to keep His Word.
                        a. Some no longer believed it they had waited so long.
                        b. Conditions were so bad others also had given up.
                        c. Yet God kept His word.
                5. "For unto you is born this day a savior, Messiah, Lord."

II. "LORD" ONE YOU CAN TRUST TO GUIDE YOU ON THE RIGHT PATH OF LIFE.
        A. Every man has a lord.
                1. Every man is ruled by some one, or something, a pholosophy or ideal which
                   becomes the basis and criteria for his decisions and actions.
                        a. Some have low ideals others high ideals.
                        b. Each man governed by some master passion.
                2. For a time the Greeks felt that pleasure was the chief good of man.
                        a. The rightness of an action measured by the amount of pleasure it
                           brought to you.
                3. The Romans came along with their legions and blougeoned the world into
                   submission.and the concept developed "might is right."
                4. Still others maintained to know and understand is the greatest good.
                        a. Those who walked down the path to knowledge much further than I
                           cried back, "with much knowledge is much grief."
                        b. Those who experienced the greatest pleasures cried, "pleasure is
                           madness."
                        c. Those who possessed empires cried, "It's empty."
                5. How can I know the right path?
        B. Submit your life to me.
                1. "Come unto Me, I will give you peace."
                2. Peace on earth only found when Christ becomes Lord.