THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL

TEXT- LUKE 1:26-38

INTRODUCTION

A FIVE-YEAR-OLD HAD ONE LINE IN THE ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PLAY.  DRESSED AS AN ANGEL WITH A HALO AND WINGS HE WAS TO SAY, "I BRING YOU GOOD TIDINGS!"  AFTER MANY REHEARSALS, THE BOY ASKED HIS MOTHER WHAT WERE "TIDINGS."  SHE EXPLAINED TIDINGS WERE NEWS.  THE DAY OF THE PLAY CAME AND THE PERFORMANCE BEGAN.  BECAUSE OF ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE THE LITTLE ANGEL BECAME FLUSTERED. AFTER A LONG EMBARRASSING SILENCE, HE BLURTED OUT, "HEY, I GOT NEWS FOR YOU!"

ON WEDNESDAY NIGHTS I HAVE BEEN TEACHING A SERIES OF LESSONS ON THE TOPIC OF ANGELS SHOWING THE NATURE AND MINISTRY OF BOTH THE ANGELS OF GOD AND THE ANGELS OF THE DEVIL.

THIS MORNING I WOULD LIKE US TO CONSIDER THE ROLE OF ANGELS IN THE FIRST CHRISTMAS NEARLY 2000 YEARS AGO.

WHEN THE SHEPHERDS WERE WATCHING THEIR FLOCKS AT NIGHT IN THE FIELD AN ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED AND SPOKE TO THEM IN LUKE 2:9-12.

IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THIS WE ARE TOLD IN VERSE 13-14 THAT A HOST OR ARMY OF ANGELS APPEARED SINGING AND PRAISING GOD.

ANOTHER ANGEL OF THE LORD ALSO APPEARED AND SPOKE TO JOSEPH ABOUT MARY IN MATTHEW 1:20-21.

THEN AFTER THE BIRTH OF JESUS AN ANGEL APPEARED TO JOSEPH AGAIN IN MATTHEW 2:13 TO TELL HIM TO GO TO EGYPT IN ORDER TO ESCAPE FROM HEROD.

LATER, AN ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED TO JOSEPH AGAIN IN MATTHEW 2:19-20 TELLING HIM THAT IT WAS ALRIGHT TO RETURN TO ISRAEL.

ANGELS PLAYED A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE ON THE FIRST CHRISTMAS.

THIS MORNING OUR TEXT IS FOUND IN LUKE 1:26-38 AND THE TITLE OF MY MESSAGE IS, "THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL."

AS WE LOOK AT THESE VERSES THERE ARE FOUR THINGS I WOULD LIKE US TO CONSIDER CONCERNING THIS CHRISTMAS ANGEL.