This sermon delves into the significance of Jesus' birth, exploring the prophetic fulfillment, the role of the Holy Spirit, and the impact of surrendering to God for true peace. It emphasizes the need to embrace the good news of salvation and the transformative power of the Gospel, which convicts before it heals. The titles of Jesus as Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace are highlighted as sources of guidance, strength, and peace in challenging times.

If you have your Bibles, you can turn to Luke 1, verse 26. Luke 1, verse 26, and the message is He shall be called. He shall be called, and many of you know the famous verse from Isaiah. He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace. That's why He came, and that's what His names are. And we're going to look at those in the book of Luke 1, verse 26. Now, in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to the city of Galilee named Nazareth. Meaning sixth month, meaning that John the Baptist was born before Jesus, and Elizabeth was pregnant with John the Baptist. She was at the sixth month. That's where the story picks up. And then Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David. And it's interesting there. You're going to see, we had time we could show the lineage of Christ, of Jesus came from the bloodline of David, and also through Mary. The two gospels, Luke and Matthew, will show how Jesus came through the lineage of both of those to be the Messiah and to have rightful heir, not only through the bloodline, but also through the name, line of the tribe of Judah. Verse 28, and having come in, the angel said to her, Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women. And what I'm doing too is I'm going through the book of Luke. You can do this. And I encourage personal Bible study. Go through and jot down things you don't understand and things you want to go to later. But I want to just stop on this point. Mary, highly favored. Mary is highly favored. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women. And we see an interesting thing here. Actually, as many of you know, I wrote an article recently on the differences between Roman Catholicism and Mary. And I've never, or Mary, and Roman Catholicism and Protestants and Christianity, historical Christianity, just what the differences are. And I've never received more criticism than anything I've ever done, anything, not even close. You can times it by 10. And talking about Mary worship and Mary adoration and immaculate conception that she was conceived herself. She remained a virgin, the perpetual virginity of Mary. And she was conceived without sin, the immaculate conception and the assumption of Mary that she was taken up to heaven and did not die. And there's so many things. And people might say, well, it's tradition. What's the big deal? The big deal is many times they take that and then they begin to put her in a position where she wasn't designed to be and begin to worship and adore her in this area. And you'll see the Protestants probably don't give Mary enough credit and Roman Catholicism seems to give too much. But the Bible is clear that she is highly favored. She's a highly favored person throughout the Bible. And what we're going to see here is Jesus was born. The theologians call it a hypostatic union. What is that hypostatic union? Divine nature and human nature meet. And if you try to figure that out, you will get a headache. It's one of those things that you just know is true because the Bible teaches it. And Jesus was free of sin. Well, how is that possible? He was hooked to Mary, the placenta, the blood. But he was born of God through the Holy Spirit. So although Mary's blood probably gave life and nutrition, Jesus was conceived through the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it was without the sin. It's an interesting, very interesting truth that how that all worked. But we see that the Holy Spirit through God is visiting Mary and telling her you are highly favored. And then verse 29. But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a son and you shall call his name Jesus. And he will be great and will be called the son of the most highest. And the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. And of his kingdom, there will be no end. And it's interesting, too. When anytime angels would visit people, they would say, don't be afraid. Why? Because people would be afraid. And when the angels would show up and people are just so afraid of this presence of the angel, that she's afraid, the shepherds are afraid. Throughout the Old Testament, people are afraid because of God's presence, obviously, in these angels and being sent from God. Now, when we're not in control or we don't understand something, we get fearful. And that's often why when you see the angels visiting people, they would become fearful because they're not in control. They don't know what's happening. I'm losing that control. Maybe that's some practical application for you. When you're not in control and you don't understand something, instead of getting afraid, go to God. Instead of getting fearful and I don't know what to do, go to God. Because often life is throwing us curveballs every day. And we don't know what's going on. We get fearful. And we find also in this passage that man cannot save himself. Man cannot save himself. God himself had to provide the sacrifice. Man couldn't save himself. And this is interesting. When you talk about the good news or the gospel, the wonderful news is that man was destined to die and perish eternally without God. But God sent his son, born of a virgin, free of sin. He sent his son. He provided the way for salvation. And it's interesting. When Jesus is on the cross, we look back 2,000 years before that. And many estimate that this is somewhat the same location that Abraham was going to sacrifice his son on that altar. And then 2,000 years fast forward, God is sacrificing his son. So we see an interesting parallel. And it's interesting. Abraham's son, you think of some little four-year-old. It wasn't a four-year-old. This man was in his late 20s, maybe 30 years old. And he was obedient to his father. And then Abraham says, don't worry, son. God will provide a sacrifice. And it's interesting to look at the parallels and look at the foreshadowing that happened. Man cannot save himself. So that's what's happening here. And he couldn't have done it as a child. I believe Jesus, because of the sacrifice, He had to go through certain things. And He wouldn't have been able to do it as a child because He had to lay His life down willingly. I don't imagine a teenager going to the cross. I don't imagine a young adult. You still have to get some of that pride out of you, right? And I'm going to do things my way. But we see Jesus probably around 30 years old, 30 years from now, from when we celebrate Christmas. He wasn't born December 25th. I hope you know that. It wasn't probably cold out. It was more in the fall and different times. But we use this date to celebrate what happened at the manger. So 30 years later, the point I'm trying to get to this is He laid down His life willingly. It couldn't have been a child giving its life. It had to be a man, Jesus Christ, laying down His life. And He had to endure the cross. He had to endure the cross. And it's interesting. We think we have mental anguish. But can you imagine from the moment you realize what's happening? I don't know what age He was at, but He knew about the cross. How would you live? Okay, 25 more years, 20 years, 15, 12. And He knows He was born to die. He knows He's going to the cross. So He had to endure the cross. He had to go through what He went through, but He also had to, from the time He was a little child, once He realized His calling and who He was, can you imagine the mental anguish to know what you're going to go through in a few years? And when the year gets here in a few months, and when the week gets here, and He kept His composure. He didn't have a nervous breakdown. He endured the cross. And we see a wonderful example in Him. This is why He's called Wonderful Counselor, but Eternal Father. This is wonderful news. He's called an Eternal Father. And then the angels announced Jesus to the shepherds. Isn't it interesting how God goes to the lowly and the receptive? He didn't go announce it to the kings, King Herod. He didn't go announce it. He went to the shepherds. Those who are lonely and receptive will receive from God. Lowly, not saying lonely. Lowly and receptive. Humble and want to receive from God. Now there they were in the same country with the shepherds, living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. And they were greatly afraid. Here we go again. Then the angel said to them, Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Christ is a word that means anointed one. Lord is his headship, his lordship over us. He's the anointed one. Jesus Christ the Lord. It's a whole title there of who he was. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is called Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you. You will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth. Peace, goodwill toward men. I would have loved to saw this worship set, wouldn't you? The angels singing. The angels rejoicing. Peace, goodwill toward men. That's why he's called the Prince of Peace. Everlasting Father. That's his title, Prince of Peace. He's the ruler of peace. We know who the ruler of darkness is. We know who the ruler of discouragement is. And chaos and confusion. What is happening in our world today? Is that Jesus? No, that's the Prince of Destruction. So Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Now, it's interesting. On this note of peace and goodwill toward men, many people say, What good news, Shane? Good things of great joy will come to all people. What great news? Look around us. Are you guys insane? Are you not watching what's on the news? Are you living in a tent by yourself? What do you mean what good news? I mean, when you say that, goodwill toward men, what's happening here? Well, here's the key. The good news has to be received. The good news has to be received. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. In order to experience the good news and the peace of God, you have to receive it. It doesn't just happen on its own. So all these people struggling in all this chaos and confusion, they're rejecting God's offer of salvation. They're rejecting His offer of peace. It has to be embraced. It has to be taken. Think about this. When is there peace throughout our life? We talk to those, we read history books, World War I, World War II, many wars. When was there peace? When someone surrenders. Now, how does that parallel with us? That's when you'll have peace. When you surrender. That's when there's... Well, I'm not surrendering. You won't win this fight. You think America has a strong military. You haven't seen anything until God tells one angel to go kill 185,000 in the Assyrian army. You will not win this battle. So, peace comes when you surrender. Peace comes when you surrender. Just this week, I think it was on Wednesday or so, I had the privilege, and I call it a privilege because it was something, it was hard, it was difficult, but I'm glad I was given the opportunity. There was a person through a friend of ours that was able to go with me. So, there was two people. This man in West Hollywood who is actually, he's a homosexual and he is a male prostitute in that area. And his friend, he's sick, and his friend said, hey, would you be interested in talking to a pastor? Sure, I'd love to. So, I drove down to West Hollywood and met with this person for two hours and just talked and shared God's love and not condemning. And he was very open, very receptive, but the one thing, the sticking point was this. Surrender. Surrender. But I was born this way, and God's Word isn't really true. It was written by men. And I don't want to give up that area. And he's sick, and he's not doing well, and he wants to hold on to that portion of his life. And it's sad to see. That's why I say, I don't joke around when I say, I see people dying spiritually with living water just steps away. Just steps away. I wish you could force something. Open your mouth. You know, drink up. Drink this living water. But you can't. You can only love and proclaim and pray and petition, but they have to receive the gracious gift. Why am I in so much turmoil? I said, I want to kill myself every single day. Every single day, I want to kill myself. I'm thinking of ways to do it. What am I supposed to do? Here's your gracious gift. God has given you eternity and peace. You've got to receive it. You've got to surrender. And what happened? He doesn't want to surrender. So see, we want peace, but we don't want to take the step to get that peace. And I wonder how many people that pertains to today. It was interesting. I think it's something we all should think about. And I talked to him about salvation. And you know, when he was a boy, he went to church. And you know, I didn't want to question his salvation. And of course, I challenged him in that area. But I also told him about the story of the prodigal son. You know, if you're caught and if you're eating with pigs, you're pretty depressed. The prodigal son was eating the swine food. And the Bible says when he came to himself, when he came to himself, he surrendered. He came to himself. He said, I've got a father who loves me. And the father didn't sit there and condemn him. The father ran to his son. So you have this picture of God running to the prodigal, but God's not going to just take you and pick you and put you where you need to go. He wants you to run to Him and return. And then He will welcome with open arms. The father ran to the son and embraced him. And it's a wonderful story we see here, but that could be a long rabbit trail, so I'm going to get back on track. But I think some of you are here just tonight just to hear that. You will have peace when you surrender. What time is it? We could just end it on that note. You will have peace when you surrender. Now, this works for a believer as well. If they're not having peace, if they're in turmoil, it's because they probably need to surrender a certain area of their life. It's keeping them in that bondage. That's how we have peace, to give it all to God. Another example of him in West Hollywood, but another lady I talked to, heroin addict at one of the hospital homes. And you give them the same exact message, same exact message, and one is filled with God's love and begins weeping and giving her life to the Lord and surrenders. And you see one that does not. And I was reminded of an old saying that the Puritans used to say, the same sun that melts the wax hardens the clay. The same sun, the same Word of God that will melt the wax. This sermon will either melt or harden depending on what we do with it. The shepherds visit Jesus. Chapter 2 v. 15 So it was when the angels had gone away from them into heaven that the shepherds said to one another, Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass which the Lord has made known to us. And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen as it was told them. Now it's interesting, I know I keep saying that because there's a lot of interesting stuff here. But the shepherds, the shepherd, I caught myself on that one. I don't have to wait till I get home to die and my wife tell me. You said that 25 times. It's funny when you speak a lot, you tend to pick up habits. Bad habits ain't good habits. But Mary, the shepherds went to visit Mary to see the baby right then. It just happened right then. And now I don't want a lot of you just a nugget of truth, a fact that you know, that you found out tonight. But don't change your little manger scenes. You don't have to change your manger scenes. But the wise men weren't there. You know that, right? The wise men came maybe a year or two later. And we don't know if there was three. It says wise men. They brought frankincense, myrrh and gold. And so we have our manger, right? The wise men and the shepherds and the animals. And you know, it's good to represent those things. But just as a nugget there, just so you know, the wise men probably came a long time later because when they told King Herod, Herod wanted to stop the birth of Jesus and he wanted all kids under the age of, male children under the age of two to be killed. And fulfilling prophecy. Rachel, you will weep for your children and not be able to be comforted. Simeon's, I'm sorry, Simeon's prophecy. This is a man who was there at the temple and he saw Jesus. He'd been praying to see Jesus because the Holy Spirit God revealed to him that you will see the Messiah, the anointed one. And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. And this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Spirit was upon him. I want to stop there for a minute. Consolation. What do you think of that word? When you think of that word consolation, do you think of console? That's what he is. He's waiting for the comfort of Israel. Are you comforted this evening? Back to the peace issue. This is the consolation of Israel. This is the comfort of mankind. And then the Holy Spirit was upon him. The Holy Spirit was upon this person. And we've learned as we've been going through the book of Acts that the Holy Spirit is not some weird cosmic gas out there. It's part of the triune nature of God. And the Holy Spirit comes alongside of us, comforter. The Holy Spirit is in us and the Holy Spirit can come upon us. And when you see the Holy Spirit coming upon Peter, the Holy Spirit coming upon Paul, the Holy Spirit coming upon Jesus after his baptism, this wonderful work of the Holy Spirit. And I was reminded, and I want to remind you, are you alive spiritually tonight? Because many of us can go through the motions. But are you alive spiritually? Do you have the Holy Spirit upon you? And God's Word is in your heart like a burning fire. And I just love the things of God. And the Holy Spirit is upon me. You're ministering to people. You're praying for people. Or are you dying spiritually? Because that can change tonight as well. You have to surrender. He was waiting because the Scriptures foretold of His birth. Simeon was waiting for Jesus because the Scriptures foretold of His birth. Now, this was challenging because there are 300 or so Scriptures dealing with the fulfillment of Jesus Christ. Would you like to sit and go through all 300? Here's what you do. Google all 300. It's amazing. But just some highlights. He was born of a woman. Keep in mind, this was written hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of years before Jesus was even born. That's why I don't understand the Pharisees. I don't understand the religious leaders. They knew the Scriptures. They knew the Torah. They knew it. They studied it. And when they see everything happening, what happened? How can you... The hardness of the heart. The human heart can get so hard that you cannot be receptive and open when God is slapping you in the face. It's right there. It's crystal clear. And you can still turn a deaf ear to what God is doing. But He was born of a woman in Bethlehem. A descendant of Abraham from the tribe of Judah. The lion of the tribe of Judah. There was a massacre if children would take place. A messenger would prepare the way being John the Baptist. His own people would reject Him. He was crucified with criminals. They gambled for His garments. No bone would be broken. And on and on it goes. The Bible also says that He is the final sacrifice. The final of a Passover lamb. And what happened in the Old Testament, they used a lamb in the Passover when they were delivering. The children of Israel were being delivered. And when they put the blood on their door, when the death angel came by, he saw the blood, he would pass over that house. He would leave. And that's where that word comes from. And now we see Jesus filling that role. Verse 26, And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death. We're again talking about Simeon. Before he had seen the Lord's Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. The Holy Spirit led him into the temple. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him according to the custom of the law, He took him up in His arms and blessed God and said, Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace according to Your word. For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel. And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, Behold, this child, this is critical, this child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel and for a sign which will be spoken against. Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed, may be opened. And on this line here, Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also. Something we forget about Christianity is the Gospel. The good news, right? That we're talking about. The Gospel condemns you before it releases you. I've stated that many times before. The Gospel condemns me. I'm condemned. And then it releases. If you surrender and if you repent, the Gospel penetrates and hurts before it heals. It shows me my sin, then I see my need for a Savior. See, there's always a double-edged sword. The Gospel hurts to help. It convicts to restore. It makes a person upset to ultimately bring peace. I mean, we just sang that song, didn't we? Noel, Noel, come and see what God has done. God says, come and drink of the water freely. Come to me all your weak and heavy laden. I will give you rest. Come to me and let me show you salvation. Come and see what God has done. It's always an invitation. Always an invitation. And what happens though, their hearts get hard and they don't want that. He shall be called Wonderful Counselor and Mighty God. Those are two titles I wish I had time to go through. But if you're going through a challenging situation and you don't know where to go, you don't have answers, things are confusing, He is Wonderful Counselor. Wonderful is the totality of what God knows. His direction, His guidance. He's a Wonderful Counselor. Everlasting Father. Mighty God. Prince of Peace. He's mighty. The enemy. That's why I often say the devil and Jesus are not equal. They're not fighting to get equal. Jesus has overcome. The Lion of the tribe of Judah has overcome. These are titles He has. He's not working for these. So if you need counsel, if you need direction, take it to God.