The Search of the Shepherds

Welcome to this week's message from the Church at Chelsea Westover.

Our core values are vibrant worship, intimate fellowship, fulfilling service, and clear biblical truth.

We pray that this message changes your life.

Let's tune in to today's message and see what God has in store for you.

Luke chapter 2.

Luke 2 · chapter mention

And it came to pass.

The beautiful Christmas story.

And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar, Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

And this taxing was first made with Serenius, who was the governor of Syria.

And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

They all had to go back to their birthplace.

And Joseph, who was born in that area, also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth, unto Judea, and to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem.

Because he was of the house and lineage of David to be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were, and here's the part of the passage I want you to see and understand.

And there were in the same country up there on the hillside outside of Bethlehem shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were so afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you, ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, so that we can see the thing which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us, and they came, I love this, with haste, and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger.

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the sayings which was told them concerning this child.

And all they that heard it wondered, they marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart, and the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen as it was told unto them.

Christmas is a time of surprises.

How many of you like surprises?

I didn't like that surprise about my birthday.

But no.

Hey, how many of you like surprises?

We all do.

We all do.

Christmas was a surprise.

Now, you don't want to tell me anything.

I cannot keep a surprise.

I'm sorry, I'm terrible, I'm the worst.

I'm gonna, if you don't want anybody to know something, don't tell me.

Telephone, telegraph, tell a Danny.

Amen.

You don't want, if you're gonna, y'all kept that a secret.

Except I knew something because I Melvin had this grin.

And uh so, and I did get him, Deedra and I got him pretty good on his birthday.

So we're even now.

We're even, Melvin.

But surprises, Christmas was a surprise to everyone.

Hey, it was a surprise to Herod the king.

It was a surprise to the innkeeper.

It was a surprise to the priest and the preachers and the Sadducees and the scribes.

Hey, they they knew that supposedly the king, a king, was prophesied to be born in Bethlehem.

We saw that last week in Micah chapter 5, verse 2, that it had been foretold that, hey, the baby, the Messiah, would be born in Bethlehem.

Micah 5:2

But guess what?

When it happened, they were surprised.

They were not expecting that to happen.

And then I thought about even the religious folk.

The religious folk, hey, the common people, they were surprised.

Now, don't get me wrong, they were religious but lost.

See, we got a lot of people today that are religious but lost.

What do you mean by that?

Oh, they attend the church.

Hey, they attend church, they they attend their mass, they attend whatever they're supposed to, ritually speaking, but they don't have a relationship with Jesus Christ.

In fact, that is exactly what happened on this morning that Jesus was born.

I mean, they they partook of their festivals, of all the sacrificing in the temple.

They did all the rituals.

They tried to keep the laws, but they had no relationship with Jesus Christ.

How do you know that?

John 1 says, and he came unto his own, and his own received him not.

John 1 11.

So they were surprised when Jesus was born.

So, why then were the shepherds the first to know the good news?

Well, I want to give you three reasons.

First of all, we see the reason.

First reason was their occupation.

They were shepherds.

They were shepherds.

Look at verse 8 again.

And the Bible says, and they were in the same country.

Look, shepherds.

Now, you've got to understand something about these shepherds.

They were really called, are you ready for this?

They were called the misfits.

Misfits.

They weren't even the common people.

They were the misfits.

In fact, the religious crowd really didn't care for the shepherds too much, even though they were providing probably one of the most important jobs that could be during that time, because these shepherds were outside on the hill of Bethlehem taking care of all the sheep and lambs that were used to be sacrificed at the temple for the people's sins.

That's a pretty important job, wouldn't you think?

Because their job was to protect those sheep, care for those sheep, feed those sheep, make sure that there's no blemish in those sheep.

That's a pretty important job.

But they were well, why in the world would such an important job be considered an outcast?

Because they couldn't keep the rituals, they couldn't do the cleansing, they couldn't wash their hands and go to the regular services and the sacrificial services that took place.

Why?

Because they were doing their job.

So we see their reputation was lowly at best.

They looked, the religious people looked down on them.

They snubbed them.

They ignored them because they were unable to do all the rituals that they should be doing.

What a beautiful picture of the salvation to come, though.

God gave his first message to the shepherds.

In fact, I got excited.

Do you know the first evangelists ever ordained in the New Testament were the shepherds?

Because after they saw the birth of Christ, they went everywhere telling the good news.

So that's pretty important.

And by the way, then I start thinking about it.

Jacob in the Old Testament was a shepherd.

Moses.

Anybody remember Charles and Hessen?

He wasn't Moses.

Moses was a great shepherd.

What about David, a man after God's own heart?

He was a shepherd.

And the Bible says that Jesus was the good shepherd, John 10.11.

Jesus, are you ready?

Was the great shepherd?

Hebrews 13, 20.

The Bible says that he was what?

Jesus was the shepherd and bishop of our souls, 1 Peter 2.25, and 1 Peter 5.4.

He was the chief shepherd.

No wonder he revealed himself to the shepherds.

Kind of got me excited.

I'm glad of that, because I would not have fit the religious crowd.

I would not have been with the rich and wealthy crowd.

I would have been with the outcast.

In fact, I probably was one.

But aren't you excited to know that's where he came?

He knew the rich and the powerful would, hey, hey, would not receive him.

He knew that the religious folk would not receive him.

So he came to the ones that he knew that would.

He came to his own.

He came to the shepherds.

So their occupation.

Number two, their dedication.

Look at their dedication.

They kept their flocks by night.

It was a 24-7 job.

No wonder they couldn't go to the temple.

Somebody had to do their job.

Amen.

And what I want you to realize today, this unbelievable dedication, the Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 15, 58, here's what we should be.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as you know that your labor is not in vain.

Listen, one thing you can say about the shepherds, their labor was not in vain.

And one day, every one of us are gonna die as Christians, and we're gonna stand before an awesome Almighty God, and we are gonna be able to hear him say, Well done, thou good and faithful servant.

Because you've been faithful over a few things, I'm gonna make you ruler over many things.

Enter into the joy of the Lord.

Because you've been diligent about your service.

Amen.

But notice what else?

Not only because of their occupation, their dedication, but notice their expectation.

Oh, when they received the message, they couldn't wait.

They couldn't wait.

Verse 15 and 16 that we read.

And it came to pass as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, let us say this with me.

Let us what now?

Let us now.

Let us say it with me, church.

Let us now.

Let us now.

No, let's not pray about it.

Let's not think about it.

Let's not wait till it's convenient.

Because it wasn't convenient.

There were 24 or 7.

They had to leave their sheep.

They had to leave their position.

They had to leave it, they had to leave everything to go.

Find the babe.

But guess what?

They did it then.

And then I love what he goes on to say.

And he goes on, now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord has made known unto us.

Now watch this.

And they came with, say it with me.

Again, they came.

You know what that means?

They came immediately.

They came now.

I meant they jumped up and took off.

Now, I thought to myself, hmm.

When God gives us direction, when God gives us a calling, and we're going to be looking at that today.

When we are to what?

Respond now.

We are to come to him with haste.

Don't put it off.

Don't let Satan keep you in that chair.

We had four or five people saved last week right here.

Amen.

Zach and Sam, a dad and son got saved.

Amen.

They came with haste.

They came immediately.

You don't hesitate.

Now, and by the way, once you are saved, you come to Christ immediately, now, with haste, to get saved.

And then, as you are growing in the Lord, by the way, we're going to start a discipleship program in January at 8.45 to 9.45.

And Darren and some others are going to help.

We're going to go through my book that I wrote on discipleship when I was a professor.

And we're going to meet over here in David's conference room and hold about 15 or 20, especially for you that have just been saved, or anyone else that wants to grow.

And you'll go through the workbook and you'll have a little bit of homework, not much, but it'll be to grow you up in the likeness of Christ.

And hopefully, as we we grow and God opens more areas.

I know David's, we uh the sales department will be moving to Pelham.

That's gonna free up more uh Sunday school room.

So we're gonna start doing some Bible as we can, the classes here on campus before the worship service.

Amen.

Amen.

Because we want to grow you up in the likeness of Christ.

But now, once you are growing in the Lord, listen to me, listen to me.

And God calls you to a purpose, He calls you to do something, you are to do it now and with haste.

Because, see, and let me tell you why Satan doesn't want you to do that.

Because once you get in the will of God and start doing what God tells you to do, you are a flaming arrow, a flaming testimony, a flaming uh, whoo! Serve it, whatever.

You are a flaming torch.

That's the word I'm looking for for Jesus.

Amen.

And he says, hey, I can't get, hey, the torch I no longer is mine, but bless God, I can do the next best thing I can keep it from flaming.

And how does Satan do that?

Keeping us from doing what God calls us to do.

Have you ever seen one of those flames where you can turn it, it goes up and down?

Well, see, when you are doing what God's called you to do and you're doing it with haste, it's a big flame.

But when you grieve the spirit and you quench the spirit and you start doing what you want to do instead of what God's called you to do, the flame just starts going down, down, down, down.

Till all of a sudden it's out and people look at you and they don't even know if you're really a Christian.

You're acting just like the world.

Huh?

Let your light what?

Before men.

That they may see your what?

Good works and glorify God which is in heaven.

Let them see that flame.

My heart is a burning fire.

Shut up in my soul.

When I didn't want to work for Christ, I couldn't help it.

I got the can't help it.

Amen.

Acts 4.20.

So we see the expectancy.

Once God calls you to salvation, you are to go now with haste.

When he calls you to sanctification to grow in the likeness, you are to do it now and with haste.

And then when he calls you for a purpose and a service, you're to do it now with haste.

Is that not good?

So let's look at some observations about the shepherds.

In fact, 2 Corinthians 6.2, you've got the verses.

It's just, I gotta show you this.

Man, that's so good.

Go back to the dedication.

There was a verse I wanted you to see.

Man, I get to go in a.

Go to Philippians 1 27 or 29.

No, 27.

That's it.

Now watch this.

What I just shared with you about now and haste.

Here it is.

Let your behavior, your conversation, be as it becomes the gospel of Christ.

In other words, we are the testimony of the gospel.

Come on with me, church.

Amen.

We are the testimony of the gospel.

That whether I come and see you, Paul said, he's writing to the church at Philippi, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs.

Whoo! Man, have you been?

Have you heard of the CCW, the Church of Jeff Cestover?

Man, that thing's on fire.

People over there getting saved.

People over there living for God.

They're helping the community.

They're providing needs.

They're paying power bill.

Whatever's needed, they're doing, they're loving God and loving people.

Wow.

I've heard of your affairs.

And what?

That you stand fast in one spirit with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel.

In other words, when you're standing, why?

Because God's called you and you know what God's doing in your life.

He's called you to salvation, he's called you to sanctification, he's called you to service, and you are standing, and nothing's moving you.

And when all hell comes against you, you just keep rowing.

When all hell comes against you, hey, you fight through.

Amen.

Amen.

Robert, now yesterday we're doing a little text.

He said, Man, Satan's coming at me.

I said, You know what I said?

I said, fight through and keep rowing.

Amen.

Just keep fighting, keep rowing.

The last thing, the what Satan wants you to do is to quit, quit your quiet time, quit being faithful to church, quit being faithful to the things God's called you to do.

Why?

Because when you start being, hey, quit being faithful to those things that God's called you to do, here comes your fire.

But when people see and they know what you're going through, and you, hey, you're you're in the battle for your life, you're in that storm and you're praying that you won't drown, like the disciples were.

Yeah, you're praying, but you just keep rowing, you just keep rowing, you just keep rowing.

There's not a greater testimony for the glory of God than that.

Not a greater testimony.

Amen.

Hey, it's easy to say, whoa, Jesus is awesome when you're on the mountaintop.

But let me tell you, when it's real, when Jesus is awesome, is real, is when you're in the furnace.

When you're in the storm.

And you're still saying Jesus is awesome.

That's when it's real.

Amen?

That's when it's real.

So anyway, I didn't want to miss that verse.

That's pretty powerful.

We see that the Christians' conduct is real.

They honor the Lord and they stand firm and they're courageous.

Amen.

Alright, let's look at the observations about these shepherds.

Observation number one.

Look at verse 8.

They were in the same country.

They were in their region.

They were in their community.

They were in their neighborhood.

Amen.

Observation number one.

Here it is.

Foot, you got it.

I forgot my little filly and I wished you'd have put it in there.

Find out what God is doing in your community and what?

Say it.

Get in on it.

Amen.

Get in on it.

In fact, what I wrote there, opportunities are often missed because we wait for the big moments and pass up the small ones.

Amen.

Hey, you say, Well, I'm waiting for the parade.

Well, you don't need a parade.

You got a neighbor.

Amen.

You got a neighbor in.

I'm waiting for God to show me a need.

Oh, hey, listen, there's needs all around you.

All around you.

Galatians 6.10, as I have opportunity, that's what he said.

As I have opportunity to do good to what?

All men.

Now watch.

Especially those of the household of faith.

Amen.

Is that not good?

Is that not what we see?

That's what he, hey, and anyway, as we have opportunity.

Every day I've had an opportunity to be a blessing to somebody.

This since December.

You know what I asked the Lord in my prayer time every morning?

Lord, let me be a blessing to somebody today.

And you know what a blessing may be?

Just telling somebody, Merry Christmas.

With a smile on your face.

I am tired of Christians saying they're Christians and not smiling.

I'm going to just go ahead and tell you that.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

It takes less, hey, muscles to smile than it does to frown.

Amen.

You say, well, I don't feel like smiling.

Well, smile anyway.

You'll help me.

I don't want to see your frowning face.

Smile.

Amen.

Smile.

It's okay.

God loves.

Listen, how can you not smile when God died for you?

Hey, took your penalty, and hey, loved you so much that he gave his very best for you.

How can you not smile about that?

Amen.

You say, Well, I don't want to smile.

Check your heart.

By the way, Proverbs, what is it?

I think eight different times talks about how a smile and joy is medicine to the soul.

So when you smile at somebody, you Giving medicine out.

Did you know that?

For the joy of the Lord, what is my strength?

Jesus said, These things have I spoken unto you that my joy might remain in you and that your joy might be full.

Hey, if it's full, it's coming out.

You say, Well, I'm running on empty.

Why?

Why are we running on empty?

I'll tell you why.

We've not come now with haste.

Amen.

Now with haste.

Look at another observation.

Verse 8 again.

Opportunity comes to people who are doing their job.

Woo! Hello.

If you're lazy, he ain't coming.

Amen.

If you're lazy, the opportunities aren't coming.

Hello?

Teach.

Colatius 3.23.

Throw it up there, Jeremy.

Oh, this is awesome.

Whatsoever you do, what does it say?

Do it what?

What is doing it heartly mean?

Now, with haste.

That's what it means.

As to the Lord and not unto men.

Hey, folks, if you're working for the Lord, how can you stay in bed all day?

Amen.

Hello.

Huh?

If you're working for the Lord, how can you make excuses of why you're not doing squat?

Amen.

Ask John.

You can't be a Marine and be lazy.

Hello.

You won't last a week.

Well, I didn't want to be one.

Okay.

Well, I don't want to.

I just I don't want.

I don't want.

I don't want.

Well, you just want to be a bum?

When you stand before the Lord, it'll be a judge and say, well, I just was glad to be a bum and be lazy, Lord.

Oh.

Oh.

But Pastor Danny, I don't want to be that.

Good.

Good.

That's the first step in your mind.

I don't want to be that.

Do something about it.

Amen.

Do something about it.

Oh, it gets better.

Look at what he says in verse 24.

Knowing that the Lord, hey, your Savior will give to you, you will receive the reward, for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom.

And well, that's a excuse me.

I'm getting ahead of myself.

Receive the reward of inheritance, for you serve the Lord God.

Now, next verse is the one that I really wanted to show.

Ecclesiastes 9 10.

What's over your hands, you put your hands to do.

Do it with all your might.

Now watch.

Why?

For there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave.

In other words, when you're dead, it's over.

Hello.

It's over.

You're not going to get a second chance.

Amen.

Hey, you get all the chances while you're living.

Right now.

Now.

With haste.

Let's say it again.

Now.

With haste.

Right now.

Now's your time.

Now's the day of salvation.

Now's the day of sanctification.

Now is the day of service.

Right now, while you're living, while you're breathing, man, you ought to be giving God everything you got.

Everything you got.

Because he gave everything for you.

Amen.

Amen.

And you know, my question is, why wouldn't you want to do that?

I look at these young men, Devon and all our college students, John and Joshua, all of Emily, oh, everybody.

All of them.

Nelson, God's just worked in his life, gotten saved.

Told Benjamin, I know I'm different.

I have a different desire.

Amen.

That's what happens when you get it.

You change.

You're different.

Watch.

Hey, when you go to the grave, it's over.

Guess what?

I'm gonna help you.

This is very deep, so get ready.

Real deep.

You're gonna die.

You're going to the grave.

What matters is what you did before you went to the grave.

Amen.

Revelation 14, verse 13.

Revelation 14:13

Your labors do follow you.

Wow.

Is that not good?

All right.

Let's keep going.

It's getting good.

Opportunities come to people who are doing the job.

Notice third observation.

Opportunities are many times fearful at the beginning.

Mm-hmm.

Look, look.

Oh, this is good.

Hey, look at verse 9 and 10.

And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were what?

How would you like to be out there minding your own business, working, doing your diligence, and all of a sudden an angel?

By the way, this wasn't just an angel.

This was the big boy.

This was Gabriel.

Oh, the big boy shows up.

And all of a sudden he says, Hey! Glory to God! I think I might have been a little scared.

Now I know I've had angels show up, but I've never seen them in person.

They saw him in person.

They saw him three different times.

He shows up during this whole birth thing.

Can you imagine?

It says they're afraid.

And the angel said unto them, it's one thing to see one, but now he starts talking.

Can you imagine?

Angel?

And I don't think they had wings.

I'm sorry.

I don't think they're the like we think they look.

I don't think they look like that.

I think they look more like the guy that showed up on 34.

I mean, on uh It's a Wonderful Life.

That's just my that's just my imagination.

Clarence, thank you.

Oh, you gotta watch.

You can't go through Christmas without watching Jimmy Stewart, and it's a wonderful life.

Best movie Christmas movie ever made.

34th Street 2nd.

But now watch.

Watch.

Here's what happens.

The angel said unto them, fear not.

For I bring you, hey, good tidings, great joy to all people.

Now watch.

When God calls you to something, boy, when God calls you, when God shows up, he has two things planned for you.

Good tidings and great joy.

Now, somebody say amen, preacher.

I will that's a good place to say that's good preaching, preacher.

When God shows up and calls you, there's good tidings and great joy planned for you.

Hey, and what's this?

Not only you, but everybody around you.

You're gonna be a conduit to bring good tidings and great joy to people.

Wow.

Now that ought to get us all excited.

So we see.

Hey, he said, you know what?

You know what's the greatest thing about, you know what Satan uses to keep most of us from doing what God really wants us to do?

Fear.

And you know what it is?

It's fear of failure.

I could I could give you, I don't know how hundreds of illustrations, uh how many times.

Abraham Lincoln, one of the greatest presidents ever lived, if not the greatest.

Do you know he lost every election but two?

And he ran like twelve times?

He finally won Congress and only lasted one term and got beat the next time.

But the next time he ran, he kept running, kept getting beaten.

But then you know what?

He ran for president and won.

He never gave up.

Henry Ford, David, you probably know how many times he he fell before he invented the Ford car.

Hey, you cannot succeed without being stretched and without getting out of the boat.

Amen.

They were stretched.

They had never seen this before.

Satan's always telling us, you can't do it, you can't do it, you can't do it.

Fear the unknown.

I wrote this to myself.

It involves, when you're doing what God calls you to do, it involves risk.

Because risk is what faith really is.

Trusting God, knowing God has given.

Now let me say this.

You may make sure you've got a word from God before you leave.

Amen.

Amen.

But if you got a word from God, what did he tell Peter?

Lord, if it be you, can I come?

One word.

Come.

If it's be of the Lord, come.

Go do it.

Now with that said, I'll go ahead and let's go on and look at the other.

Number four, God will make clear his guidance.

Is that not awesome?

God will make clear.

And by the way, you got the verses.

God's not given a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

God, and and then here, Psalms 32.8, he will instruct us, teach us in the way that we should go.

I love Proverbs 69.

Hey, we plan in our heart, but God directs.

Oh, it's exciting to plan.

Hey, you just, hey, we're planning around here.

We got a five-year vision.

And part of that five-year vision, I hope, includes what we feel right now is that that 94 acres right behind us.

Who knows?

Maybe the four acres are right here.

Because we feel like God wants to stay right here.

This is where He planted us, and this is what we feel right now.

But I'm got use for you.

We're planning.

But if God was to interrupt tomorrow and saying, no, you're going across the street, guess what?

What?

We're going to cross the street.

Hello?

Hey, we don't have a we don't have a dog in this hunt, in this fight.

Well, whatever it is.

Hey, hey.

Hey, we just want to do what he wants.

Amen.

Praise the Lord, really.

We just want to do what he does.

And he will direct you if you're, hey, if you do this, hey, if you do what the shepherds did, now and what?

With haste, he directs.

He showed them exactly where to go.

Exactly.

They just followed.

Amen.

And so that's what we see.

Now, watch this real quick.

Look at the guidelines for this directing, his guidance.

Number one.

Greater the, hey, greater the change, greater the sign.

Woo!

In other words, when you got to do something great that you've never done before, he's going to give you great confirmation.

Hello.

Hello.

Example.

I decided after David and I lovingly sparred about me buying a Surpro and I had it all figured out and I was going to be an evangelist and go to churches and then I have to give me a dime and just be a blessing to a lot of smaller churches.

That's what I thought the Lord wanted to do.

David said, Well, that's good.

And he do it and answer me.

And I finally said, Well, what do you think?

And I said, Well, you just don't think I can go build a surpro.

I know what you think.

He said, No, I you can probably do anything you want to do.

But he says, Is that what the Lord wants you to do?

Ooh.

I had forgotten to really ask the Lord, is that really what he wants me to do?

Because I had it all figured out.

Anyone else like that?

Amen.

So then he said, Well, why don't you think about it?

Why don't you ask the Lord?

I said, okay.

He said, Why don't you talk to Susan?

I walked in and told, where's my wife?

She's been leaving me lately.

I asked my wife, we walked in and said, David says we all pray about a church.

Help! I'm in! I said, You hadn't even prayed about it.

I know, but she says I don't want to do surpro.

And you know what?

She had never told me, but twice when I was trying to explain it to her, I wish she had just gone ahead and said, the Lord doesn't told me that, and I don't think he's told you that.

But she was trying to be nice, so here's the way she handled that the whole time.

She just kept saying, I'm not helping you in a surpro.

And we've been married 29 years, and she's helped me in everything we've done.

We've done it together.

She said, Are you listening?

I'm not helping you.

I thought to me, that's real submissive.

I'm gonna take her to 1 Peter 3.

I don't think she's read that in a while.

I know, I know.

I'm waiting for her to stick her head in.

She's listening.

But anyway, she said, I'm in, let's do it.

I said, Okay.

All right, but we prayed.

I said, All right, here it is.

Lord, I've only moved three times in 33 years.

This is a major change.

I'm starting over.

By the way, Lord, I am 58, like he didn't know how old I was.

So I'm starting, this is a whole start over.

I mean, this is a radical change in what my thinking and my plans were.

And up until now, I had always had such clear guidance.

I said, okay, David, God wants us to do this, He's got to sell my house.

It's been up for sale for three months.

He said, Okay.

I said, no, you don't understand.

He's got to sell it this week.

Oh.

I said, no.

If God's in this, I I need, I need a greater sign.

I need greater confirmation.

Well, long story short, we prayed on Thursday.

Lady walks in, my neighbor, and buys it on Saturday morning.

And you've heard me say it many times.

Where's Chelsea?

We're going to Chelsea.

Now.

With haste.

In fact, he even said, Well, we can.

I said, uh-uh, uh-uh.

I said, I'm moving in your basement.

We got to start hitting the doors now.

I mean, he's called, we know to go.

When you know, you go.

Amen.

When you know, you go.

You don't pray about it, you don't think about it.

Ask Deedra.

I had to turn to her and I said, Deedra, you paying the$500 for the house or not paying it down.

I mean, sold her house in two days.

Benji's house.

Now, David's just sold it, took a year and a half.

It's because he's more spiritual.

Maybe he got more money.

I don't know.

Amen.

You know what I've loved about that?

They didn't waver a bit.

They just stayed the course.

Keep roying.

But Christy got insight.

Christy's gone too.

Are they conspiring against us or something?

Okay.

And and and and and Christy just recently said, you know, I feel like God's going to sell our house at Christmas.

Guess what?

They got a contract week and a half ago.

Maybe our wives are more spiritual.

That's the truth.

Because my wife was not going to help me with a Zurpro.

You can forget it.

She let me, Greg, she made sure I knew that right up front.

I ain't helping you.

Okay.

But now she's all in.

You know why?

Because we know we knew what God wants to do.

Greater the task, the greater confirmation.

So let me tell you what you do on that.

Oh, thank you, Lord.

Choose to do something great.

Not average.

Great.

Choose to do something that if God doesn't come through, you're through.

Woo! That's good.

You say that's a bold statement.

Absolutely.

But if you know, you'll go.

Amen.

Secondly, the greater the call and the greater the affirmation.

I just shared that with you.

Greater the sign.

Being Philippians 1 6, being confident of this very thing that he which begun a good work in you will perform it to the day of Jesus Christ.

Listen, God will never, never call you, hey, to do something that he won't empower you to do it and provide for you to do it.

Amen.

Look at what God's been doing here.

Unbelievable.

Unbelievable.

Now watch.

Here's the other guidance, guidelines.

Where God leads, woo, he proceeds.

Isn't that good?

See, he's already blazed the trail.

Amen.

He already knew where the shepherds were going.

He said, hey boys, just follow me.

John 8 12.

I am the light of the world.

He that follows me, look at what he said.

I'm the light of the world.

He that follows me, say it with me, shall not walk in darkness, shall not walk in the wrong direction, shall not go in the wrong direction.

Why?

He's blazed the trail.

But shall have what?

The light of life.

You have life when you're doing what God's called you to do.

Amen.

Is that not beautiful?

John's in the Marines.

He knew that's what God had called him to do.

I remember, you remember what I asked you when you told me that, John?

I said, John.

John, are you sure?

I said, Marines are not just the average.

They're kind of the few and the proud, but they're kind of crazy.

People in their right mind don't do what they do.

Sorry.

Yes, sir.

This is what I feel like God wants me to do.

Amen.

And now look at him.

Handsome, lost 20 pounds.

I don't want I need to lose 20, but not that way.

But really, watch this.

Where God leads, he proceeds.

Alright, last thing.

Those who obey, watch this.

Will find the what?

The right way.

Is that not good?

For those that obey will find the right way.

Oh, look at the scriptures.

There are a few of those.

Isaiah 1, 19 and 20.

If you're willing and obedient, you should eat the good of the lamb, but if you refuse and rebel, you should be devoured by the sword.

It's just that simple.

You have the choice.

You have the choice to get out of bed and not be lazy.

You have the job, you have the choice.

Let me say something right here.

I want to be sweet and kind and see.

I don't want to.

I'm convinced if you're willing to work, God will open the door for you a job, some doing something.

I don't know what it is, but He'll do something.

He'll provide for you.

If He wouldn't, He would be a liar.

My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches and glory through Christ Jesus.

We have people that need a ride.

Some.

And we are.

We're gonna start saying Clay and I, Clay came up to me and said, look, let's get a savan.

I'll I'll help drive it.

I'll get some men to help drive it, and we'll start picking up people that don't have vehicles or can't come.

And and I've been kind of not jumping into that, but I'm s I feel that's what God wants us to do.

And I said that to say this.

Where's Bruce?

Wave at me, Bruce.

He's the real Santa Claus back there.

All the other ones have to put on fake beards.

Look at his.

He's real Santa Claus.

He brings a truckload.

Truck's got 800,000 miles.

It looks like it's falling apart.

And he brings a truckload of people every Sunday.

Hello.

Hello.

People say, well, the bus manager's out.

You know why it's out?

We just didn't want to do it.

It costs money.

Insurance.

Oh I you can start giving every excuse you want to give.

But the key is if God tells you to do it, you better go.

If you know, you better go.

Huh?

So we gotta get we're gonna get a van.

Amen.

And we need some drivers.

Okay?

We'll fill that sucker up two or three times on Sunday morning.

Then you'll have a van for your young people too.

We really need to get us a van.

So be praying about that.

If you know somebody's got one, let me know.

Okay?

With me?

I really have we've talked about this for a long time.

It's not something new.

And that's what I like.

We're being still and knowing that he's God.

But once we have that confirmation, he says, you need to start doing this.

And three weeks in a row with Bruce, those people getting out of his van, that's I think in fact it's kind of like that thing that God prayed for God to save him.

You sent him a boat, sent him an airplane, sent him something, and he died and went to heaven and said, Lord, I don't understand.

I had faith that you're going to save me.

And he said, Well, dummy, I sent a boat, I sent a plane, I sent this, and you didn't get in.

So, you know, after about three weeks, God gives you confirmation, and you know you better go.

Amen?

Amen.

So, those who obey will find the right way.

The book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night that thou mayest observe to do according to all that's written in that.

Now watch.

Then shall ye find success.

The only place in the Bible the word success used.

Only place is right there.

Right there.

But if you meditate and you become a doer, you know the way, you go the way, you do it now, you do it with haste.

Thou shalt make thy way prosperous and you will have good success.

That's what it says.

I didn't say it, God said it.

Number five, once you know, you better go.

Number six, once you go, you know.

They got that they knew.

Oh, no, this is what we're talking about.

Look at it.

This is what we're talking about.

Once you go, you know.

They heard, hey, can you imagine them coming to the manger saying that night?

Can you imagine?

Hey, they didn't know what they're gonna say, and all of a sudden they say Joseph and Mary.

Can you imagine?

Can you imagine the shepherds standing there and they're saying, They're gonna do some smells?

The angel Gabriel told us to come.

Where are the shepherds?

Mary and Joseph are there, and they say, you won't believe the story, Mary and Joseph, that happened to us.

This angel, Gabriel, just we're standing there, and he appears and he starts shouting and singing, blowing on the highest and goodwill toward me.

And then he starts telling us all these things.

Mary, Mary, Joseph, you don't know what he we didn't know, but now we know.

Now we're here.

This is the king.

About that time, Mary raises her hand.

She said, That's okay.

Let me tell you my story.

Same angel came to me and said, I'm gonna, I'm gonna have a child, and I had never had sex.

Can you imagine shepherd going, ooh?

And she went on to tell her story.

She gets through, then about that time Joseph raises his hand.

You hadn't heard my story.

I'm struggling.

My fiance's pregnant, and she's trying to tell me that she's she's gonna have the child of the Holy Ghost, that she's not had sex, but yet she's pregnant.

And I love her so much, and I know in our customs that she could be stoned to death.

So I'm gonna take her and we're gonna leave town, and we're just gonna get out of here.

I want to protect her, and then all of a sudden, that angel.

You have you seen the common denominator in this in these three stories?

The angel.

He said, No, you're not.

This is of God, Joseph.

I want you to take her.

You can't touch her sexually until after she has my child.

Can you imagine?

Now you're talking about a flea on the wall.

I would have loved to have been there listening to those three stories that night.

Would that not have been awesome?

Amen.

And I gave you the passage of scriptures of the stories.

Oh.

Once you go, you know.

Number seven, once you know, you will tell others.

Look at verse 17.

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the sayings which was told of them concerning this child.

Hey, listen to me.

When you get the real thing, you gotta tell somebody.

Hello.

Come on, church.

When you get the real thing, you gotta tell somebody.

You can't keep quiet.

What is go back to the time that you got something unexpectedly?

You weren't expecting it.

Whether it's a gift, a phone call, a letter, whatever.

And it was such a comfort, such a joy, such an encouragement.

That's the first thing you do.

Come here, honey.

Let me tell you.

Hey, let me tell you.

Can I tell you?

You're not gonna believe it.

That's the way it ought to be when Jesus comes into our life.

You ought not to be afraid to tell somebody.

You ought not to be afraid to follow the Lord in Believers' baptism.

Now, with haste.

I can't wait.

I can't wait to share the good news.

I can't wait for the opportunity to share the good news.

I can't wait for the opportunity in my neighborhood or in Walmart or wherever.

Everybody in Chelsea Westover goes to Walmart.

I went by on the Friday after uh Thanksgiving.

I couldn't even get in the parking lot.

I saw Susan, I said, you know, Westover uh Westover and Chelsea's not big.

There probably there won't be anybody at Walmart.

They're all at the malls.

Boy, was I fooled.

I I just did this.

I went and turned right around when said, nope, I'm going home.

And then once you know you would tell others.

They were scattered abroad.

I want you to see.

Here's what I want you to.

Acts 4.20, we can't help but speak things.

But go to uh Mark 6, go into all the world preachers.

Go to uh uh Yeah, Acts 5.42.

This is the New Testament church, just been born.

And daily in the temple, what we do every Sunday right here.

Hey, daily in the temple and what does it say?

I don't know how many of you have been in your homes and you said you're the first preacher ever visited me.

Why do we try to visit every week, every week, two and three times?

We love you, we love you.

And not only that, in every house they cease not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

We want to come to your house so we can love on you, pray with you, and find out what your needs are so we can help.

Can I get an Amen?

That's why we go house to house.

We don't believe in CEO ology, we believe in shepherdology.

Amen.

Amen.

And that's why you're here.

That's why you're giving.

So we can be what we're supposed to be.

And lastly, once you hear, two more, once you hear, you'll think about it.

You'll think about it.

You'll think about it.

Can you think about all the things that Mary thought about that night?

The shepherds thought about that night.

Joseph thought about that night when the angel appeared to him.

If you don't think about the one who gave his life for you all the time, something's wrong.

Thy word have a hit in my heart that I might not sin against thee.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path.

Thy words were found, and I did eat them, and thy words were unto me the joy and the rejoicing of my heart, for I'm called by thy name, O Lord God of host.

He's my refuge, my strength, the very present help in time of trouble.

With God nothing's impossible.

Just ponder.

And then Mary said, Nevertheless, at thy word, be it unto me.

Luke 135, I think, or 38.

Wow.

And then I fell through.

Once you meet him, you change.

The shepherds were never the same again.

Never.

They were never the same again.

Amen.

Therefore, if any man be in Christ Jesus, he's a new creation.

Old things have passed away all behold, all things become new.

I think of Jesse and Carolyn.

Wow.

To see the transformation in their lives.

It's been, you when all and Adrian and Amy and many of you that's been saved and and your faithfulness, but to see how God, they walk in this, and uh Melissa, when uh she the first Sunday they both came, they didn't know each other, and they just came in here.

They were searching and looking.

Uh Melissa was saved, and and Carolyn, Melanie.

I got it, I forgot it.

I got it.

I got too many Melanie's Melissa's and all together.

I got it right though, then at the last.

But they came, and we sat there for an hour.

We sat there for an hour and just talked about the things of the Lord.

She was telling about the ministry God had opened up and they were looking.

And Carolyn wasn't saying a whole lot.

Then she shared, you know, this is the first time I've been in church in a long time.

Long time.

Long time.

The long story short, she gets saved.

I'll never forget it.

Because she would she would sit back in the back.

She'd kind of slide in and sit back there.

You can't slide in here without us hugging your neck.

That's what I love about our people.

We find you.

We know you're new.

We're gonna love on you, tell you we love you.

How can we help you?

Glad you're here.

We're just gonna do that.

And if you if you want to be anonymous, this is not a good place.

I'll go ahead and forewarn you.

Amen.

Right, Heather?

She came in a little bit like that, too.

No.

And you know what most people say?

You know what they tell me?

They said, we've never been loved like that.

Or people like that, and and uh it's kind of you you might feel a little uncomfortable.

Well, can I say something?

Hey, it's real, it's real.

And by the way, with us, you take the bad, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Amen.

We all just sinners saved by God's grace.

None of us are perfect.

We all got problems, and we all need each other to go through those problems.

But anyway, Carolyn gets saved.

Boy, she went from the back to the front.

Whoo! And now she's got a very outgoing personality.

I love it.

But she wouldn't not have known that until she got saved.

Then she said, Can't push my husband now.

I don't know.

Jesse's I said, Well, we won't push him, but I won't come see him.

I won't just come live on him.

Well, we we did we did pull one on you, Jesse.

She had a workout equipment and we're trying to raise money for the use.

So David and I said, Tell him we'll come pick up the equipment.

Wise as serpents, harmless as doves.

Anyway, we've we began and and then she scheduled to get baptized, and and and Jesse had scheduled something else.

And so she got, she said, I'm a little up.

I said, Don't, don't, no, no.

Don't upset him.

Just love him.

Come on.

We're gonna go talk to him.

So we go back over, and I said, now Jesse, you don't want to miss her baptism.

Long story short, he said, no.

He and her parents, they all show up.

They'll be here hopefully next Sunday to watch him get baptized.

So he came to watch her get baptized.

Weeks later, he gets saved, and now this Sunday night, we're gonna, gee, everybody's gonna be watching him get baptized.

Now you tell me that's not encouraging.

That's why I do what I do.

And I love it.

That's the greatest encouragement.

And then Nelson and I had lunch together the other day.

Spent a couple hours together and him just sharing his past and what he feels like God may want him to do.

Amen.

That's what it's all about.

Javon.

Yes.

I love taking my young people out.

By the way, young people, all you gotta do is call me.

I'll take you out and feed you.

Pay for everything.

I want to get to know more about you.

Now that's a good deal.

And if I can't pay for it, I'll borrow money from David.

Amen.

Amen.

We love you.

We love you.

I don't care where you are.

God's got a beautiful plan for your life.

There is a wonderful life for you.

Guys, listen to me.

I love all of you.

On my heart.

And God's got a wonderful life.

Look at me.

Now y'all look at me.

I was kicked out of my home when I was 11 years old.

My mom hated me.

Said she never wanted to see me again.

You know why?

She was on alcohol.

Alcohol literally killed my mother.

But praise God she got saved before she died.

But I moved in with my grandparents.

Very poor family, but they were rich in the love of Jesus.

And like these counselors are rich in the love of Jesus for you.

We love you.

But more than who we are, God loves you.

And the Bible says in Psalms 27:10, when your mother and your father forsake you, the Lord will take you up.

Psalms 27:10

Amen.

I hung on to that verse all the way through my teenage years.

That verse and the other verse, Philippians 4.13, I can do all things.

Give me some five.

What's your name?

Colin Dean.

Colin Dean.

Don't ever forget that.

Amen.

Amen.

Give Jesus a clap also.

That's what it's all about, folks.

That's what it's all about.

Amen.

Let's pray.

Thanks again for tuning into this week's message.

We pray that your life has been changed.

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We hope you have a wonderful day and again, God bless you.