Good Tidings Of Great Joy
Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 12/10/2023
Foundation Scriptures:
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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, good will toward men. Luke 2:8-14 KJV
1. Good Tidings of Great Joy.
a. The angel declared that he was bringing good tidings of great joy to ALL people.
b. Good tidings (Greek euangelizō) –– preach; evangelize; preach the Gospel; bring or show good/glad tidings; proclaim or declare glad tidings; to announce good news.
c. To preach specifically of the joyful tidings of God’s kindness, of the fulfillment of the Messianic blessings, and of the coming Kingdom of God.
d. Good news of the salvation obtained through Christ—and all the blessings made available thereby.
e. Good news makes you happy—full of joy!
2. Evangelize.
a. Evangelize—preach the Gospel—preach the Good News.
b. Luke 4:18-19 KJV –– The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
c. Jesus used this exact word, saying, “I am anointed to evangelize—preach the good news—to the poor.
d. Romans 10:15b KJV –– How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
e. The Gospel is glad tidings of good things.
3. This Day.
a. This day a Savior is born—Jesus—God in the form of man.
b. Psalm 2:7b KJV –– Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
c. “This day” refers to His birth in human form—and also the activation of God’s salvation plan.
d. Psalm 118:24 KJV –– This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
e. Luke 4:21 KJV –– And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
f. In His death and resurrection, an eternal covenant was established, through the shedding of His blood.
g. This is the good news of the Gospel!
4. Glory to God in the Highest.
a. God is worthy to receive all the Glory—for Who He is and for what He has done.
b. Luke 19:38 KJV –– Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
c. The multitudes gave Glory to God when they welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem.
d. Mark 13:26 KJV –– And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
e. Jesus was born in glory, everything He did brought glory to God, He was resurrected in glory, and He will return in great Power and Glory.
5. Peace on Earth—Peace with God and Man.
a. Romans 5:1-2 KJV –– Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
b. Through Jesus, we are made righteous, and we have peace with God.
c. Ephesians 2:14-16 NKJV –– For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation.
d. We have peace with man—Jew and Gentile reconciled with God and with each other—through Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:15-16).
e. We are brought into one body—the Body of Christ.
6. Good Will Toward Men.
a. Good will (Greek eudokia) –– good pleasure; good will; desire; kindly intent; benevolence; delight; pleasure; satisfaction.
b. Luke 12:32 KJV –– Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
c. God is a good God and His plans for us, and His benevolence extended toward us, are good.
d. Ephesians 1:5 AMPC –– For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent] —
e. Ephesians 1:9 AMPC –– Making known to us the mystery (secret) of His will (of His plan, of His purpose). [And it is this:] In accordance with His good pleasure (His merciful intention) which He had previously purposed and set forth in Him.
f. For it is God Who is working in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure—and to stir in you the reciprocal desire to please Him (Philippians 2:13).
g. Kenneth S. Wuest translation renders it this way: “For God is the One who is constantly putting forth His energy in you, both in the form of your being desirous of and of your doing His good pleasure.”
h. 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 YLT –– For which also we do pray always for you, that our God may count you worthy of the calling, and may fulfil all the good pleasure of goodness, and the work of the faith in power, 12 that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.
i. God is working in you His good pleasure, so that His Name may be glorified in and through you.