Sermon # 43 - Good News For All Series

Here’s what is recorded in Luke 2:10, but the angel said to them, "Don't be afraid! I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people. (GNB)

From the above mentioned verse, the word that I would like to highlight for our meditation is the word ‘good news’. Everybody irrespective of who they are, look forward to, and earnestly are expecting some kind of good news. For example for those without jobs, finding a job is good news, for those who lie sick in hospital, the fact that there is a cure for their ailment is good news, and for those who are in turmoil, the announcement that peace is close at hand is good news, for the ones in bondage to sorcery and the occult, the fact that there is deliverance is good news, and for the one who are entangled with sin, the truth that they can be set free is good news.

Strangely what is good news for one may not be as such to someone else. Let me explain it this way. To someone who is hungry the fact that there is food is good news, but if the same person has had his fill, the thought of having more food may not be good news.

God made everything good and all will be good when the end comes

In Genesis 1:31, we read, And God saw everything that he had made and that it was very good. (GW)

Have you noticed students when they receive the corrected answer sheets from their teachers, if the teacher commented and said ‘good’ the student is happy, but when the teacher remarked ‘very good’ the student is elated. When God created the world and everything in it, he beheld all of it and said, ‘it was very good’. This was God’s will from the beginning of creation for that is how the Lord intended for the world, and all of us to be, very good.

Let us read in Revelations 22:3, There will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and the lamb will be in the city. His servants will worship him (GW)

When we read the last book of the Bible namely Revelation, taking note of the above mentioned verse, which describes the end of the age, we understand that on that final day God will remove every curse, God will be exalted on His throne, and his servants will worship him continually. Therefore, when the end comes, it will once again be very good and glorious for the children of God.

However, to those of us who are living right now, we are caught in this period of time between the beginning and the end. No wonder then that as we struggle through this time we realize that there is so much of chaos and confusion; conflict between husband and wife, parents and children, financial crisis, and hardships of various sort that oppress us. The Lord assures us that as we plod along this difficult path, He is with us, and can certainly change everything that is imperfect or bad to become perfect and good.

The testimony that we should desire to receive from the Lord is that each one of us is very good. It is therefore good to analyze ourselves to see if this is so, or if we are still struggling with sickness, poverty, bondages and sin. It is the will and longing of God that each one of us should prosper in every way, and lead the life of fullness that He intended for us to live.

As human beings the first emotion that grips us when faced with adversity of various kinds is that of fear. The word of assurance from the Lord is ‘don’t be afraid,’ and this declaration is not just for a few select people, but for all men, and most certainly envelops any hardship that may confront us, be it sickness, division, sorrow or any other hardship that we may encounter. When the Lord begins to work in our lives, the good news is that everyone around us will be filled with joy.

What is this Good News?

We read in Luke 2:11, For to you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Webster)

The good news that the angels declared that day was the wonderful announcement that a Savior has been born. The word ‘Savior’ implies that He is someone who is born to save us from all of our troubles, struggles, emptiness, conflict, bondage or sin.

Sadly the world today is more ready to accept bad news, rather than the good news. So many are living empty lives, in debt, not realizing that if they could believe in this Savior and accept Him as Lord of their lives, he can transform any and every appalling situation.