THE SHEPHERDS

THE REAL STORY OF THE SHEPHERDS "

LUKE 2:8-20
INTRO: * Imagine yourself in this story as one of the Shepherds.
* Imagine the reaction. ( They were sore afraid)
* Beautiful human interest story.
* I have twelve points (same as 3 main points with 3 sub points)

1. "ABIDING IN THE FIELD." (living in the world) (v 8)
* Jacob - "lambs being torn by beasts"; - "sleeplessness" "drought consumed me" - "frost by night" (Gen. 31:39,40)
* Moses - backside of the desert. (Exo. 3)
* David - Lion and bear attack - smote them both. (1Sam 17:34)
* Ezek. - "My flock became prey, they became meat for the beast of the field" (Ezek.34:8)
* Jesus the good Shepherd said, "The thief cometh to kill & steal."

2. "IT WAS NIGHT." (darkness) (v 8)
*1Th 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
* Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
* Suggests spiritual blindness, confusion, lack of understanding.

3. "OCCUPIED WITH THE SECULAR." (V 8)
(Making a living, doing their job, taken up with the ordinary, concern for food, clothing, wages)
Jesus said, "Take no though for your life, what ye shall eat...."

4. "INTERRUPTION FROM HEAVEN." (V 9) "The Lord came on the scene"
* Moses was caring for Sheep, sudenly, "Moses, Moses"
* Samuel was ready to sleep, when "Samuel, Samuel."
* Saul going to Damascus, " Saul, Saul."
* Peter, Andrew, James & John, fising or mending nets, "Follow me"
* Matt. collecting taxes..."Come follow me."
* Sometimes a sermon, witness, accident, tragedy, sickness.

5. "MESSAGE FROM THE LORD." (V 10) "Fear not", "Good tidings of great joy"
* Angel to Gideon, "Fear Not, I have chosen thee."
* Angel to Joseph, "Fear not, take Mary to wife."
* Angel to Zacharias, "Fear Not, thy prayer is heard."
* Angel to MAry, "Fear Not, thou art highly favored of women."
* Angel to Paul, "Saul, Saul...Interruption..

6. "THEY WERE SORE AFRAID" (V 9) He we have conviction.
* And Saul trembling, sai Who are thou, What must I do."

7. "THEIR RESPONSE." Let us go." (v 15)
* Imagine, " How do we know you are an angel anyway."
" Unless you show us some miracles, we're not going.

8. "THEY ACTED IMMEDIATELY" " (V 15) "Now", Came with haste."
Isa 1:18 "Come, now let us reason together."

9. "THEY SAW IT. (HIM) (V 17) (2 Cor.4:4) "blinded by the God of this world"

10. "THEY BELIEVED" (V 17)

11. "THEY BEGAN TO TELL OTHERS." (V 17) "made known."

12. " THEY WERE FILLE DWITH JOY." (V 20) "glorifing & praising God"