When an Angel Spoke to Shepherds, Part 1

The Christmas story has become so familiar to the sometimes we tend to forget the shocking way of unfolding.

Imagine for instance what it was like for the unsuspecting Shepherd to hear from a messenger of God today on Insight for living. Chuck Swindoll takes is to that hillside setting an angel appeared and broke the news.

This one was coming this little baby would transform the world forever. Chuck titled today's message when an angel spoke to shepherds just before he begins. We step into the worship center sing a few favorites you're listening to a special Christmas edition of Insight for living now.

The devotional message from Chuck Swindoll titled when an angel spoke to shepherds. You are never alone. What I know some of you are saying but you'll understand why I lost her this year are I no longer have him whom I leaned on and needed.

I am alone actually are not you. You really are not. Not anyone of us is ever alone. The psalmist wrote in 91 verse 11. He will give his angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways your the last three words all your ways that's tonight when you live down thinking you're alone. You're not there watching over you in the morning when you arrive this Monday morning, another day, another week. Not alone, are always there are no you you can't see them but there there.

Mary thought she was alone and before she could blink. There stood Gabriel telling her that great revelation that her womb would be the vehicle, God would use to bring his son, she would bear the Christ child to realize not only am I not alone. Soon I will have one within me. Joseph thought he was alone. He heard Mary's story and strongly doubted Amini was hard enough to believe she was pregnant but to believe that it was God who made her pregnant really. So alone. At least she thought he went to his place in fell into bed dropped asleep and before you knew it standing beside him.

Remember, on the lost Corvallis. There he was wearing what you look like nobody sounded like Joseph realize he wasn't alone and what Mary had said was true. Not only should you believe her, said the angel, you should marry her and he did that cluster of shepherds in the field near Bethlehem. They were well they thought alone out there under the open skies.

The cold night clear and crisp. Suddenly they realize they weren't alone lost Corvallis surround about a dock saw Cory's angel of God, glory of God and the message they received my my once in a while you just suddenly come to realization that you don't go through life alone. God is a better plan. He has sent his angels. Now, a difficulty is that they are not like us will a hard time with it. Of we don't really know what they look like. Some appear with wings.

Some have no wings. Some of ago all around them and above them. Some have no blow some look just like the person sitting next to you they can cover a vast amount of space in an incredibly fast amount of time they can pass through solid surfaces whether it be you thick wall or locked door. There they are either not made like us different hold molecular makeup for the first time it began to really dawn on me.

I was an adult sitting in the class of theology at Dulles seminary, a student with all the other guys around me and we were listening to the lecture in what was called angelology by a professor who did not exaggerate that one of my classmates called him Orthodox on steroids. Coming straight he did not stretch the truth but suddenly pushed his textbook back and he said on all of you to hear his story and I hope you'll never forget it and I haven't had a missionary friend was home on furlough and he was going from church to church to raise the level of his funds. They were getting low and also spent some time with friends from former years.

One church to another schedule was tight. Didn't have long and so he finished one church on a Saturday night late realize he had to be at the next church early Sunday morning for the service, which meant probably driving most of the night if not all the light.

To make matters complicated was pouring down rain. He got into his car, shook his head and said, Lord, just ask you to keep me awake. I got a get there safely. He rounded the bend outside the city limits of that city in the soul man standing beside the road hitching a ride now. He was raised like you were like I was never pickup hitchhikers except he did. The thought will mobile help keep me awake.

If nothing else, the guy hopped in and before long they struck up a terrific conversation. It was a fantastic conversation. The guy knew most of the people he knew. He somehow knew he knew all about his ministry and they had that in common, and they have a delightful time and before long was close to dawn when they got near the destination.

The stranger said, well, here's where I get out is always before you leave the café over here with let's stop for a cup of coffee together. So they walked in, spend a few extra minutes. There are so enjoyable when it ended, he went his way and are missionary friend got in his car he realized every driven away any wood got the man's name or or address you want to keep up with him, so he quickly turned around went back to the little café in the set of the cook, standing behind the counter. Recent did you notice which way the other man went when when we left.

He said what other man, I wondered why you warded 2 cups of coffee when you came in alone. In fact, I wondered who you were talking to the table seem a little weird to me. Frankly, missionary crawl back in his car printed up suddenly realize the night before in the pouring rain and the stranger he gotten in you wasn't even wit gives us a Willison you know why we don't really understand angels they don't get wet when it rains in a guitar the end of the day. They don't forget that you been there charge. They don't sleep or slumber are not born order. The die with the same number. Now we've had since God created them and they were in the multiple millions step into the imaginary time tunnel with me.

Let's leave the familiar 21st-century and go back to the dawning of the first were walking along the rolling sloping hills of southern Judea, you could drive there today on highways and when you do you see little brown tents. Every once in a while. Those who live in the tents are not call shepherds and noticed Bedouins or better as the Israelis refer to them often, Bedouins are said to a friend of mine who lived there born there is a guide, and so he would certainly know is that you're never meet one of those out there that live in tents. He goes better when meet up better when no that little answer let you know the rank in the world that Bedouins have is a cluster of them squatting together around a flyer out in the field. We don't know what field you know how far it was from the little town of Bethlehem, but there they were sharing stories, smoking, or who cares whatever they were doing and all of a sudden the sky is lit with a million laserlike lights there stands a creature they've never seen before. I don't know what it would like allow me a little preacher's imagination.

Let's say he was a 1215 feet tall. Let's see his wingspan went out 25 feet if he had wings and his voice was like a dozen Niagara's as he said, greetings. But first he said I love this. Don't be afraid to imagine her on the film of the road with giant shows up in the sky and says don't worry all is well. Will they were scared they know what to think until he began unto you is born this day, wait a minute before we rush ahead when you read it as Luke wrote it mean for you is plural. So let's do it right under y'all.

There's a group on so is all you'll notice, but that's the first time you've ever heard that passage rendered all you'll under all y'all was born to you this day in the city of David a Savior is Christ the Lord, you know I love it because there Bedouins have any name ever etched in Scripture than nobodies accepting God's eyes.

No one is nobody to all you'll is born this day in the city of David a Savior, Christ the Lord. You will find the baby just just behind the cut aluminum we know it is in in, but it was a little more like a bed-and-breakfast stable behind. There were the animals were kept you go there.

You'll notice in the feeding trough Manuel that fabulous. The angel did not appear to some royalty in Rome, some totally dressed priest in Jerusalem, but even some rabbi in prayer. The synagogue appeared to folks like us just like us to us is born city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord will will will thanks to the stone briar community church in Frisco Texas soloist Mckenna Butler providing this magnificent performance of the Christmas favorite. Welcome to our world. You're listening to a special edition of Insight for living Chuck Swindoll titled today's message when an angel spoke to shepherds and to learn more about this ministry. Please visit us online@insightworld.org will just before we hear a closing comment from Chuck remind you he recently sent down for a special interview in this 30 minute conversation you hear Chuck describe his passion for reaching the lost which was inspired by the great commission of Jesus. More importantly, he'll help you understand how to integrate this command from Jesus into your daily life as well defined easy instructions on how to view Chuck's conversation when you go to insight.org/conversation with Chuck.

He presented a brand-new study through the entire book of Matthew that was called the King of Kings. That's right. Dave is a radio family. We spent 11 months walking through every single chapter in the gospel according to Matthew. It was an emotion filled journey alongside Jesus and now I'm devoting the better part of December to applying what we built during the grand crescendo that swelled in the last chapter.

Remember the parting words from Jesus.

Of course you do. He said therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and the son and the Holy Spirit, teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I've given you, and be sure of this, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. That's Matthew 2817 through 20.

No way. We don't dismiss this command of Jesus as though he was singling out the professional Christian whatever that means.

This command was directed to you and to me people that love the Lord Jesus Christ. So let me ask how is God moving you right at this moment to live out the great commission of Jesus with your family with your friends and even with your neighbors and what is your part in making disciples in all the countries of the world as we come to the conclusion of another ministry year. This is the perfect time for you to invest in things eternal you play a significant role in making disciples. Your contribution to insight for living ministries will be used by God to reach broken hearted, discouraged people who are burdened down by guilt and confusion and shame. In fact, I can't think of a better way to exercise our God-given assignment that you give generously.

So these dear people might hear about God's grace and then run into his forgiving embrace, let's do this together.

Let's get involved in this wonderful opportunity to make disciples together.

Remember, we don't have to do it alone. Jesus said I'm with you always, even to the end of the age so it's you and me and our Lord Jesus Christ teaming up together. How exciting things to please shut down. This contact information and respond to Chuck Swindoll today. There are several different methods for getting times first. You can use the convenient insight for living mobile half or give directly online insight.org/donate speak with one of our friendly ministry comments listening in the United States., 1-800-772-8880.

Again, that's 1-800-772-8888 or go to insight.org/donate Friday insight for living.

The preceding message when an angel spoke to shepherds with copywriting 2020 and 2021 and the Sam according was copyrighted in 2021 by Charles R. Swindoll. All rights are reserved worldwide. Duplication of copyrighted material for commercial use is strictly prohibited