Glory To God
by Raymond Sloan
December 4, 2022 · Cornerstone Apostolic Church (Chattanooga, TN)
Kind: sermon
Scripture: Luke 2:1-11, Luke 2:13-14, Genesis 2:1

Source: https://acts238.life/repository/sermons/raymond-sloan--glory-to-god
Published by Acts 2:38 Life from the sermon transcript on that page.
Free to copy and share with attribution.

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if we entered today into the last month of what we call our yearly calendar we call this month December yeah we of course were brought once again face to face with the celebration of the birth of the Christ child what's his name yeah now in the modern days the season of the year is welcomed with lights and trees tinsel hung wherever it can be put I guess we know that this time of year refers to many miraculous and marvelous events that transpired more than two Millennium ago for the most of it most of us we look forward to this time of year it brings a certain unity and Harmony in families and friends doesn't it you come together to eat and to celebrate many bad situations perhaps are even forgotten during this time of year somebody say I'm thankful for this time of year there's hope there's cheer that abounds in most places and for the most part there's a certain anticipation that rises from children and adults alike I think that we could agree as I say often and has been stated in multiple ways All Through the Ages it is truly The Most Wonderful Time of the Year somebody say happy birthday Jesus there you go thank you a light bloomer Christmas time a time to reflect a time to remember the enormous and awe-inspiring events that unfolded in the Judean Countryside years and years ago it included carpenters and sheep herders and Scholars and rulers simple girls revered adults the scene itself attaches both to the rich end of the poor the top of society as well as the lowest of the low every one of these particular peoples and and Lifestyles brought together in the most amazing story that ever connected the words together the birth of Jesus the Messiah would you allow me today to once again reinstate the foundation of where we are Luke chapter 2 verse number one it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be taxed and this taxing was first made when serenius was governor of Syria all went to be taxed everyone into his own City and verse 4 and Joseph also went up From Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea under the city of David which is called Bethlehem because he was of the house and the lineage of David to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife being great with child verse six and so it was that while they were there the days were accomplished that she should be delivered she brought forth her first born son wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a Manger because there was no room for them in the end verse 8 says and there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field keeping watch over their flock by night and lo the angel of the Lord came unto them and the glory of the Lord Shone round about them and they saw afraid the angel said unto them fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people verse 11 says this for unto you is Born This Day in the city of David a savior which is Christ the lord has anybody read this story before okay there's a few of us we understand this story it's known simply as the Christmas story we read it we recite it this account comes to mind actually several times throughout the year you you give mention to it you talk about it's a reminder to ourselves as well as the generations that are to come a story that has to be repeated so that the effect is not lost in the hurry and the hustle of every day there are so many characters that are represented in this particular moment in history and I am certain I am sure that each one of the parts played out really each one of those people had no true understanding of what was happening at that moment that would touch the future of all of humanity the baby born in a manger would indeed transpire into a story that is worth telling time and time and time again somebody say Jesus came no way that these folks could have known the impact that they were to experience with this baby coming into the world in such a lowly way yet here we are in 2022 and once again we are recounting the good news that Jesus was born in Bethlehem over the next few weeks with the help of the Lord I want to look at particular sets of items in this event first of all I want to talk a little bit about these Shepherds it was the most basic job but the most amount of alone time that anybody basically could have at that time a simple task was to watch a group of animals these animals keep in mind they had very little very few defensive skills it was a very staple though of the livelihood of those people living at that particular time Shepherds for an example they have always been considered the most remote and distant job that a person could have the the long hot days by themselves longer Lonely Nights by themselves sheep meat for an example was very important part of the Hebrew diet at that particular time also listen to this God himself put importance upon the value of a spotless sheep a lamb that could be slain to push sins ahead for a year that particular sheep so the shepherd's job the Sheep needed to understand that they had to have a Shepherd in their life agreed I believe that sheep could not survive if they had not had somebody watching out over them they couldn't defend themselves they really had no ability to to go Ninja on anything they didn't have fingers and thumbs to pull triggers of guns none of that stuff basically somebody would have to watch over them a shepherd's job was not a glorious job but it was the necessary job that had to be done notice in our reading today that as soon as the birth of Jesus happens listen to this the Shepherds were very quickly brought into the story the savior of all of humankind is born and the very next phrase brings the simple the shepherds are brought onto the scene lowly lonely and perhaps even disregarded because they are basically sheep Watchers they become the front players in this incredible event as it unfolds let's take a look at this story the Bible says suddenly here in Luke chapter 2 verse 13 there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God and saying glory to God in the highest and on Earth peace good will toward men the writer of Luke he puts the words together very specifically suddenly as if it happens unexpectedly a blink a flash a moment suddenly one moment it's this the next moment it's that the angel of the Lord appears and all these sheep herders these Shepherds gathered here they had a purpose they had a meaning sitting there watching their sheep be sheep but all of a sudden a multitude of heavenly hosts shows up on the scene follow the story for mere moments we can only assume of course that the simple meaning would have a massive group of angels from heaven and we would be right the announcement of the birth of Jesus the Messiah the Christ child would bring all of Heaven to Earth to make sure that they understood the power of what was taking place but I want to to notice something in this moment that's awe-inspiring multitude of heavenly hosts came and noticed what they said glory to God in the highest let's go there for one moment a host of Heaven screaming glory to God glory to God glory to God glory to God glory to God an event that brought the host of Heaven to attention an event that would declare an announcement that required not somebody with a pen in hand not somebody to Simply declare it with one voice but the entire host of Heaven appeared on that particular moment and in unison with a loud voice all of Heaven's entirety would shout glory to God Oh What A Savior what a declaration that we have heard what an incredible Moment In Time a baby is born only because the plan of God came together at a precise moment through all of history oh listen to this all the Wars all the famines all the pestilences all the plagues all the rulers of bad reputation and all of the possibilities both natural and Supernatural that could have happened at one moment of time it was declared perfect and right therefore the heavens began in unison and Harmony to declare glory to God what the world had to happen What had happened at that moment begins to allow us to see that God's plan was coming into balance at that particular moment glory to God began to be the Cry of all of humanity saying I want to understand who God is and the birth of this Christ child makes me say glory to God stay with me for one moment today I begin to ponder this story I've read this story countless times and you probably have too I would hope you have recounted it to your children to your Sunday School classes you sang it you've done it in Christmas programs you've talked about this and and even in all types of of situations it came to understand that this was a very particular time in history yet for you and I sometimes I'm not really sure if we grasp the entirety of what transpired allow me a moment the Bible tells us in the book of Beginnings in Genesis chapter number two verse one notice what it begins with thus the heavens and the Earth were finished and all the hosts of them in creation God made all things the Earth the sky the animals the fish the fowl the herbs of the ground the trees the water the sky all things in the atmosphere God spoke it into place only God could do those things with such a precise and perfect manner all of the hosts of heavens and earth were completed by the voice of God so could it be that on that particular night where we spoke about in The Book of Luke in that chapter of the visitation of the angel that he wrote about might it be that it was not simply a host of angelic beings that began to declare who had happened and what had happened at that place but could it befriend that understanding the Book of Genesis and understanding the Heavenly beings that God put out into the atmosphere if you will could it be that it was not simply an angel of the Lord standing there with a host of angelic beings behind it but could it possibly be that understanding creation that it was also Pluto that it would also possibly be Venus and Mars and Neptune that it would be the stars of any Stratosphere and the galaxies that are out in the Milky Way that's there could it be that when the host of angelic being stood at that mountain moment in that particular time that not only did the Shepherds the lowly ones see the Angelic presentation but through all of that everything that God spoke into existence was standing at an attention to declare glory to God glory to God I've come to declare on 2022 the month of December that when you speak the name Jesus everything in the atmosphere begins to change its way begins to alter its position why because all of the hosts of the heavens will declare glory to God in the highest if we could ever really understand the power of a risen savior to declare that everybody and everything that was ever made and spoken and put into existence stands at attention when you speak the name Jesus oh somebody ought to worship him right now oh come on it was more than a bathrobe and a cardboard crown it was more than that it was more than a cow and a sheep sitting by a Manger all of Heaven stands at attention and declares glory to God in the highest not simply Angels which we cannot see but stars planets milky ways everything ever created by the holy God of all things along with the Shepherds viewing this all of God's creation declared at the same moment in time Glory to God in the highest foreign should we today as smart and as intelligent as we may seem have we today forgotten the splendor of the birth of this Jesus do we haphazardly handle the name Jesus and even at times maybe make it a by word maybe at times forget about the Splendor and the glory of An Almighty God could it be that we have become complacent in the presence of majesty that we would expect for God to do things as if we deserve them as if it's just Christmas time have we even those who understand the power of the Risen Savior could it be that you and I would even embrace what our nation and our world and our culture is trying its best to get us to embrace happy holidays Mary Xmas all of the words that you would look at one another and you say why no he wouldn't do that well I know we'd be crazy to do that it is all about Jesus I got to get to the store because my coupon expires in a minute I know that we understand that Christmas time is more than just a month in the a time a day if you will on a calendar that makes no sense at all December 25 come on it it wasn't that day even history itself would declare that it would only become known as Christmas when the Catholic Church established a Mass for Christ and the the the the Beggars and the lowly would be allowed to leave the town to go out and to Worship in that one time they would call it Christ's mass and they would gather to have that one day off work to to worship the way they did I know that in 2022 we we understand come on in the church we know that mistletoe has no real power except a good old hot juicy slap on sorry sweetie that just overcame me right there huh Christmas trees that man I looked at my I got a tree in my house I look around all I know is you a lot of work and I'm gonna beat that dog if you touch it you know what I'm saying yeah years ago we made a mistake and we had one of those with a cat in the house foreign oh no he didn't huh I have yet to bow down before a tree in my house a bow of holly or anything like that now some of you if that's your personal thing you do that you stay with that God gave you that for a reason but y'all understand where I'm coming from if I'm going to be vehemently opposed to the things of this world then I have to understand why God gave these things to me through the word of God and at the very beginning in the outset of understanding that the birth of the Christ child was more than just a really cool day that a whole lot of folk got together and they began to sing Kumbaya one with another and harmonize and go see the the babe in the manger and swaddling clothes whatever that means anybody ever swaddled something do we know what it means I'm getting back to the mistletoena anyway listen to me I've come today to declare to somebody in this room that when the angels and when all the planets and when all the stars and when the Heavenly hosts begin to establish on that particular moment that those Shepherds those lowly low class nobody needed them around Shepherds when they stood there in this hole Angelic host of all the super created things of God were spread out in front of them no wonder they took off running as fast as they could go to find this child they had to declare to anybody who would listen and put eyes on it glory to God is all I know what you mean you saw a baby in a Oh Glory to God is all I can tell you what do you mean that you found him laying in a Manger only thing I can tell is every planet out there began to declare glory to God in the highest all I know is when I came and found him it was just like it happened hey why do you think for one moment that Mary laying there just giving birth and then this Joseph sitting there with his look on his face and the cow on the side and the Goat over hearing the Sheep over there why do you think that when these Shepherds came in they weren't startled but these Shepherds walk in and they oh you don't know like I know what just happened back on the hillside tell me what you saw I saw the entire Heavens open and every Star and Milky Way in Galaxy and planted everything out there the Heavenly Host began to declare glory to God in the highest and Mary listening in her heart Joseph scratching his head all of Heaven is wrapped around this baby Jesus therefore you and I today we can declare he has become salvation if you're sitting here today under the sound of my voice brother John would you come please should we not then at this point in time declare with a loud resounding unified voice that we being full of the Holy Ghost and Power can declare Glory to God in the highest Glory to God in the highest I call myself to attention with every Angelic being that would ever come and show itself to humanity I call myself to the side of every planet and star that was ever put out there by the voice of God and I declare with them he truly is glorious if we believe that we're full of the Holy Ghost and the spirit of God lives and dwells within us if we are calling ourselves to be after the one true Living God his name Jesus then we should be the ones who are Redeemed by the blood of Jesus and our sins washed away it should be us that declare today in this chaotic messed up world of 2022 there is still a god of Heaven that loves you that can forgive your sins that can wash you wider than snow that can put you on the straight and narrow and get you out of the mess of this world there is still the name Jesus he's not a Jehovah Junior he's not some person of a Triune God that holds a position there but when I speak the name Jesus there is something that happens in the heavenlies there is an anointing in the glory that begins to move from Heaven on high onto the Earth beneath I've come today to tell you you've come too late to tell me that Jesus Christ has changed his way no friend he's the same yesterday today and forever I declare to the Church of Believers that you would rise to this moment and say glory to God in the highest glory to God in the highest I put my praise with everybody else's praise I attach what I say with what the planets say and the Stars say why because when the Heavenly Host begin to cry they cried glory to God in the highest whoo who oh I got so sidetracked y'all stand if you want to I got so sidetracked this morning I was trying to finalize and rabbits jump up everywhere I can't not chase a rabbit brother rob you got to go after it anybody here know what Hallelujah means anybody anybody say it it's what I was great hybrid I'm gonna get close to you a moment you realize that Hallelujah then declares High Praise to the high God Hallelujah is actually a combination of words understand this the beginning the Hebrews were not allowed to say the name of God out loud it's impossible it's called irreverent and he would die at the moment of it you could not do it but to Halal something in Hebrew is to declare its Glory but you couldn't say hello yeah because yah would be connected to what you said and if you said yeah which was where understanding of the way oh God is helping me right now then you'd have to understand that in order for us today to be able to say hallelujah what y'all just said is highest praise we'd have to be able to connect the two so when the translators begin to look at the words they said you know what we can't say this we can't describe we can't use that word we'll be killed on the spot King will come out and he'll smash us down then they added between halal and yeah the connecting word of you it wasn't you and me it was a word that said I understand the understanding of this one but I reverence the part of that one and in order to connect the two together and make it to where you reference who it is I've got to put a u in there therefore I'll let you yeah began to be demonstrated in the word therefore the church can stand today and you can say there's nobody like my god oh Glory and Honor goes to my God I'll reverence it and respect goes to my God how do I say that hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah why did they get caught on this Rabbit Trail I'll tell you why because every time I say hallelujah I'm connecting the glory of God to God and my understanding says this I can say as the highest praise Hallelujah glory to God in the highest thank you Glory to God in the highest my watch wants to know if I fail I'm okay no I did not fall it does that every Sunday Eli and thinks that I hurt myself look good over there bro look sharp today so when you come to the church hella and you shout with the loud Voice Hallelujah what you are indeed saying then Glory to God in the highest all praise all honor and all glory belongs to him now I've come today to ask somebody are you ready to connect with the king of all of creation if you're here today and you have yet to receive the wonderful gift of the Holy Ghost I've come to tell you if you'll repent of your sins the way the Bible says and you'll be baptized in that name Jesus he'll wash away remit your sin and he'll fill you with the wonderful gift of his Spirit the Holy Ghost and you will speak with tons as the spirit moves and you'll be able to declare Hallelujah Glory to God in the highest this altar is open right now they're going to play something and sing I want to invite you to come with all the praise you've got and all the worship unto him that you've got and declare Hallelujah God I glorify you in the highest today come on would you come would you come I glorify you I glorify your name that's right that's right I glorify your name I glorify your name oh come on glory to God in the highest glory to God in the highest foreign into his presence now with praise glorify the name of Jesus magnify the name that's above every name you are God you are good you are holy Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah I lift you up I magnify you I need you I'm nothing without you try come on bless the Lord bless the Lord somebody he's a holy God he's a righteous God yes Jesus Jesus yes Jesus Jesus I need you come home that's right you can repent of your sins today oh God I need you I'm sorry Lord please forgive me today please forgive me today Jesus said I'm so sorry Lord for the sins the mess that I've made I must have you I've got to have you I need you in my life only you can make a difference in me come on go pray with somebody find somebody pray with them God anoint my brother today anoint my sister today God raise them up in this hour great card raise them up at this moment that's right come on let the Holy Ghost use you today the name of Jesus hallelujah hallelujah Hallelujah I love you Jesus I Believe In You Jesus I believe in you Jesus oh come on that's right reach to the Lord reach to the Lord Jesus I'm trusting you God I don't know what else to do I'm trusting you Jesus I'm trusting you Jesus I'm believing you Jesus I'm honoring you right now God you got you God you make the difference you make it come on pound somebody else pray with them that's right the Holy Ghost is here right now there is healing right now in this place that's right in the name of Jesus you can be made whole right now salvation's here today salvation is here today Hallelujah Hallelujah yes Jesus yes Jesus you can satisfy the heart of man Jesus come on young folk that's right reach to heaven I need you Lord I'll Trust You Jesus I will trust you Jesus I will trust you Jesus Hallelujah hallelujah oh come on let's try reach to heaven right now reach to heaven right now Jesus Jesus Jesus I'm believing you today I'm trusting you Jesus be high and lifted up only one come on that's right come on Church come on church I try come on connect with the Lord right now the name of Jesus oh come on that's right Spirit of the Lord is in the house right now you can receive the Holy Ghost right now I love you Jesus I believe in you Jesus I Trust You Lord oh come on that's right come on don't stop now let the world do its work today let the spirit of the Lord do its job today come on let it work in your lives I need you Lord I Trust You Lord I bless you Lord I I worship you Lord I honor you Jesus I know God that I can give you glory I can give you glory I can give you glory I can lift up your name Jesus you can work the miraculous Lord glory to God in the highest Hallelujah High Praise unto you o God High Praise unto you great God that's right come on go pray with somebody else yeah come on pray with somebody else let the Lord use you right now the name of Jesus the name of Jesus oh yes oh yes the name of Jesus worthy of honor worthy of honor worthy of honor great God I call on you right now I need you Jesus right now You Are Holy all together lovely is your name all together lovely is your name Jesus that's right yes yes yes Worthy is the day Worthy is the name hallelujah hallelujah oh yeah come on pray church pray pray church pray I Need You Jesus I'm nothing without you lord I must have you great God I must have you Jesus I must have you king of glory yes Jesus bless the Lord O My Soul bless the Lord I Will Bless The Lord I will bless the name holy is the name Worthy is the name of Jesus you Lord are you thankful for the name of Jesus come on give him praise one more time lift up your voice to the Lord I I bless you Jesus glory to God hallelujah hallelujah High praise to you High Praise unto you unto you I Praise Jesus I'm sure that we all understand the sheer power of the birth of Jesus can you require recall or study or remind yourself of any other time that all of the Heavenly hosts came together in the beginning God created all the hosts came together Jesus is born all the hosts comes together we are living in the listen to me we are Living Church in the greatest time that we could ever live God is doing things that will simply is simply blowing our minds how God is working right now in this room of how many was here today I didn't get the number 105 in the room 45 watching online there are so many miracles that are happening that have happened in this room am I telling the truth Josh so many miracles that are have happened are happening in this room do you think that just happens Because of Who You Are or is it because of who he is Hallelujah High Praise well we've got to grab a hold of is the reality of lifting ourself above ourself humbling ourselves to a place that he can be put where he's supposed to be