"Truth For Your Silent Night"
Pastor Albert Almore
“And in the same region there were SHEPHERDS out in the field, keeping watch over
their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.”
Luke 2:8-9 ESV
“And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”
Luke 2:10 ESV
“For unto you is born THIS DAY in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2:11 ESV
“And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,”
Luke 2:12-13 ESV
““Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, WHICH THE LORD HAS MADE KNOWN TO US.””
Luke 2:14-15 ESV
“And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:16 ESV
The shepherds said, “Let us go to see this thing that has happened, WHICH THE LORD HAS MADE KNOWN TO US…”
Out of all people, the Lord made this thing known to the shepherds.
This is interesting because during these times, shepherds were often regarded as the lowly. This is interesting because during these times, shepherds were often regarded as insignificant. When you have good news that you can’t wait to share, who do you tell first?
We often share good news first with those we’re close to. We often share good news first with those who we care about. We often share good news first with those who’s most important to us.
Maybe this is why God chose to appear first to the shepherds who were outside tending to their flocks, instead of Kings giving out orders in their palaces.
Maybe this was God’s way of conveying to ANYONE that the world may deem as insignificant, or just in the way, “No! You are important to me too! You’re just as important to Me as those who are in the palaces. To those who’ve been labeled as lowly, insignificant, I’m sharing this good news with you first, to let you know that I care about you too.
Though you’re outside in the dark, and you may feel overlooked, isolated, alone—you’re not…I’m close. People often share good news first with those they’re close to. I’m sharing this good news with you first to convey to you, that even when everyone else feels distant, I’m not. I am close to you.
“THE LORD IS CLOSE to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”
Psalms 34:18 NLT
On that silent night, as well as every silent night you’ll face. Know that you’re not facing it alone. The Lord is close.
📝 • God appeared to the shepherds to convey to us that His love is FAR REACHING.
This love reaches from eternity to time. This love reaches from heaven to earth, from palaces to the fields. Nothing can stop this love from reaching. Nothing can stop this love from giving. Nothing can stop this love from going the distance. It was this far reaching love that reached for David. God reminded him of this in 2 Samuel 7:8. It reads,
““Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I TOOK YOU FROM TENDING SHEEP IN THE PASTURE AND SELECTED YOU TO BE THE LEADER OF MY PEOPLE Israel.”
2 Samuel 7:8 NLT
📝 • God appeared to the shepherds to convey to us that this love RUNS DEEPER.
David and the shepherds were outside with the filthy sheep, but this love found them. This love runs deeper than your dirt. This love runs deeper than your sin. This love runs deeper than witchcraft. This love runs deeper than your appearance. This love runs deeper than your occupation. This love runs deeper than your attire, your economic status, or your background.
“And I am convinced that NOTHING CAN EVER SEPARATE US FROM GOD’S LOVE. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.”
Romans 8:38 NLT
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39 NIV
📝 • God appeared to the shepherds to convey to us that this love is for WHOSOEVER.
“And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy THAT WILL BE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE.”
Luke 2:10 ESV
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16 KJV
FROM THE LOWLY TO THE KINGS, THIS LOVE IS FOR WHOSOEVER.
“The LORD IS MY SHEPHERD; I shall not want.”
Psalm 23:1 KJV
It’s amazing to me that…
THE SHEPHERD, WENT TO THE SHEPHERDS.
The Shepherd, went to the shepherds because he knew that they would get it. These shepherds knew about caring for the weak. These shepherds knew about being compassionate. These shepherds knew about being patient, and how to show Tender Detailed Loved. “What you know about caring for the flock…go tell everyone that, that type of love is here!”
📝 What the angel proclaimed on that silent night was an ETERNAL TRUTH. Not only is He here—HE’S ALWAYS BEEN HERE.
“He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose THE SON OF GOD WAS MANIFESTED, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”
I John 3:8 NKJV
““I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “WHO IS and WHO WAS and WHO IS TO COME, the Almighty.””
Revelation 1:8 NKJV
📝 He always WAS, He always IS, He’ll FOREVER BE WITH US.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. HE WAS IN THE BEGINNING WITH GOD.”
John 1:1-2 NKJV
“Then God said, “LET US make man in OUR image, according to OUR likeness…”
Genesis 1:26 NKJV
Jesus was part of the, “Us.” Jesus was part of the, “Our.”
“Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord, who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.” She also said, “HAVE I TRULY SEEN THE ONE WHO SEES ME?””
Genesis 16:13 NLT
Jesus was THE ONE whom she saw.
“Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.””
Daniel 3:24 NKJV
““Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like THE SON OF GOD.””
Daniel 3:25 NKJV
It was Jesus, the 4th man, who loosed the other 3. He’s always been here. This is why Martha’s plea in John 11:21, is real but not accurate…
“Martha said to Jesus, “LORD, IF ONLY YOU HAD BEEN HERE, my brother would not have died.”
John 11:21 NLT
Don’t you allow pain, heartbreak, or disappointment tell you anything different. Jesus always WAS, Jesus always IS, Jesus will FOREVER BE WITH US.
“God is our refuge and strength, A VERY PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE.”
Psalm 46:1 KJV
“I HAVE BEEN WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU HAVE GONE, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes…”
2 Samuel 7:9 NLT
📝 When you find yourself in your SILENT NIGHT, know that He’s with you.
““Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘GOD IS WITH US.’””
Matthew 1:23 NLT
“Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 28:18-19 NLT
“Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. AND BE SURE OF THIS: I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN TO THE END OF THE AGE.””
Matthew 28:20 NLT
📝 God has His EYES ON YOU in your silent night.
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