Did the gospel come to who did the gospel come to? the there's we're gonna look at several different individuals and The groups that they represent this morning and we're gonna look very quickly at some passages of scripture So Luke chapter 2 we're gonna start in verse 25. The Bible says this I Luke 2.25, And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. And the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy word. For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel." Let's skip down to verse number 36. Verse 36 says this, "...and there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phenuel of the tribe of Aser. She was of a great age and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, and she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem." And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned unto Galilee to their own city, Nazareth. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, I thank you for today. Lord, I thank you that the gospel of Jesus Christ has come to us. I pray that you'd be with us this morning as we look at these different groups that you did come to. Lord, I pray that you would help us to examine our own lives and see where we're at in relation to you and to your word. God, I ask if there's one here this morning that doesn't know you as their personal Savior, that today would be that day they'd get that settled once and for all. Thank you for all that you have done for us, all that you are doing, and all that you will do. We love you. Bless this morning, I pray in Jesus' name. Amen. The first group that we see here, the two people that we just saw, Simeon and Anna, Faithful saints the Lord had promised to Simeon that he would not die until he had seen the salvation of Israel until he'd seen God's messenger coming until he had seen the Messiah and The Lord these people were faithful at the temple at the place of God serving God God brought to his faithful servants It was 40 days after Jesus had been born the eight days of his or the seven days and the eighth day He was circumcised and then the additional 33 days that were after the custom of the Jews for purifying and after that they come to Jerusalem for the purifying of the mother after that to come to Jerusalem to make sacrifices and at that time there's Simeon and Anna both Simeon immediately following that Anna and that recognize the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ that has come to Israel. And I would say today, as we look at each of these things, we're going to see the people that the Lord did come to, that Jesus was made known to, but we're also going to see how does that relate to us today? And I would tell you this, the people that see the evidence The good news the people that really appreciate the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ the people that really appreciate that really can understand have a little bit of an idea comprehension of The idea that the King of Kings was born a man for the purpose of dying for your sins and mine You know the people that really you can tell, you can see it on their faces, the people that really appreciate that are the faithful saints, the people that have been serving the Lord for years and years. And when you get around somebody like that, whether it's at Christmas time or Easter time, we talk about the resurrection of Christ, or really for those kind of people, it's any time you get around them and you start talking about the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. That truth isn't lost on them. Why because for years and years and years they've been faithfully serving him in anticipation of someday seeing him and Looking forward to that day and they are the ones that would say even so come quickly Lord Jesus if he comes today They'd be just fine with it. Why because they've been faithful you know, there's a lot of Christians today that Aren't real excited, you know, they're saved and they know the Lord and for that purpose They're excited about the coming of Christ, but they know for a fact that they're not living and walking With God today, and if you were to tell them that the Lord is coming back today, they'd be scared. They'd be nervous. Why? Because they haven't been faithful Want to be able to look forward with all anticipation and excitement to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ And in order for that to happen in order for me it's kind of like when my wife and I if we go out on a date or we're away for something and we leave the kids at home and They always want to know the kids always say dad. Can you call us like 30 minutes before you're gonna be home? Why would they say that? Why would they say, can you let us know when are you going to be home? Or they'll call later if it gets later on in the evening and we're not home. How close are you guys to being home? Why? Because hey, mom and dad will be home in 15 minutes. Everybody quick, pick up. My wife used to joke about when her and her brothers and sisters, when they would stay home, if they were home without mom and dad and everybody, you know, the brothers would aggravate and they'd get enough, you know, the brothers would get in a fight with each other, aggravate their sister, whatever. Nobody listened. There's all kinds of big fighting and everything going on. Mom and dad pulling the driveway. All right. Nobody tell on anybody. Everything's fine. If you don't tell on me, I won't tell on you. It's kind of that way sometimes. I feel like a lot of Christians are living that way. They're living in fear that the Lord could come back today because they're not walking with them like they ought to. But if you're faithful to the Lord, if you're living with God the way that you ought to, if you're abiding in Christ the way that you and I ought to, if we're living that way, then man, we can be excited for that day when the Lord comes back and we can say, I hope it's today. Unfortunately, there's a lot of Christians say living saying I hope it's not today I know I want him to come back and I'm excited about heaven, but I really hope it's not today because I got some stuff I need to get straightened out if the Lord came back today. I might be ashamed But the Lord the gospel was made known to the faithful saints the faithful saints that were living with the Lord Let's look then in chapter 2. We're gonna back up towards the beginning of the chapter Chapter 2 starting in verse number 8 It says this, 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 upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly 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, goodwill toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wandered at those things, which were, which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherd returned glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen as it was told unto them. The second group of people here that we see is the obedient sinners. The obedient sinners first of all, you saw the faithful saints, but now you see the obedient sinners These fellows are out there these shepherds. They're out there in a field They're just they're just taking care of their business doing what they're supposed to be doing watching the flock of sheep it's it's at nighttime and they're out there with the sheep and all of a sudden the angel of the Lord appears to them and Tells them unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior Which is Christ the Lord? Suddenly there's with the angel multitude of heavenly hosts praising God and saying glory to God in the highest and on earth peace goodwill to men What are the shepherds do after the angels gone away from them into heaven? What do they say? Let's go check this out That doesn't happen every day fellas. This isn't something that happens all the time. We need to go inspect this We need to go see what's going on and they came and found exactly as it was told to them and what did they do they immediately began to tell other people and This is what happened to us, and this is what we saw. The obedient sinner, when the Lord comes, when the good news, when the gospel comes to this person, this is the person that you knock on their door, or maybe they come into church, maybe you see them on the street, and you begin to share the gospel with them, and you say to them, if you were to die right now, if you were to die today, do you know 100% for sure that you'd be on your way to heaven? And they say, no, I don't know that for sure. And you say, would you like to? And they say, yes, I think I'd like to know that. I'd like to know that. And you take them and you show them from the Word of God what the Bible says. What must you do to be saved? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. Show them what the Bible says and they're obedient to what the Bible says. And the Lord Jesus Christ comes into their hearts. You have the faithful saints and then you have the obedient sinners that the gospel is coming to Jesus Christ has made known it's announced to the sinners and say hey Somebody's come he was born so that he could die so that you could live That's who the gospel has come to It's come to that second group. They're the obedient sinners. Then we're gonna see one more group turn back to Matthew chapter 2 Matthew chapter 2 You have people that are, that are saints of God, that are obedient to God, that are following God, that God makes himself known to. And then you have people that are out there in the world. Their savior is come. They weren't seeking for a savior. They weren't looking for Jesus to come. They weren't faithfully in the temple serving. These were just shepherds, just people that were out there. The average Joe that's out there doing, taking care of their daily life that the Lord appears to. But then the third group that we see is the attentive seekers. The attentive seekers. There are some people that aren't Christians yet. They're not maybe necessarily serving God. They're not living a life for God in the temple. And they're not just the average Joe that's not out there really looking for Him to come. There are religious people all around our world today. That are seeking a savior that are actively looking for signs that are looking for God to come. Look at Matthew chapter two and verse number one. Now, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod, the King behold, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem saying, where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East and are come to worship him. We have seen His star in the east and are come to worship Him." These folks, these wise men, were looking. You know why they saw His star in the east? Because they were looking for it. They were seeking. They knew the Old Testament. These are people that knew the Bible but didn't yet know the Savior. And they were looking, they said, we have seen his star in the east and we're come to worship this king that is born. They come to here. They don't know who else to go to. So they come to the political leader and say, Hey, we're just looking for direction. I'm reminded of when, when name and Came and he was he was had the leprosy the leper and he came to the king Because the little the little servant girl I told them there's a prophet in our country And so he goes to the king and says you better heal me and the king doesn't know how to heal him The king says I can't what am I gonna do? I can't heal him All that the world knows is there's somebody over there that has an answer But they don't necessarily know where exactly to find him These wise men they were wise and they knew they know they were smart enough They were wise enough to know what the Bible said in the Old Testament and to know to follow that star But they got to the general vicinity and they go to the king. They says where is this? Where is this child that is born? Where is he that is born king of the Jews? These are attentive seekers look down at verse number nine. I When they had heard the king, when they had heard the king, so they, they asked the king, the king sought some, you know, sought some advice from his counselors. They said, Hey, down in Bethlehem. And so they, they hear the king and they head down that direction. The king says, by the way, if you find him, come back and tell me where he is so that I can worship him too. We're going to get to that in a minute. Verse 9, When they had heard the king, they departed, and, lo, the star which they saw in the east went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshipped him. And when they had opened their treasures, They presented unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way." They got to see Jesus. You know why they got to see Jesus? Because they were looking for Him. Because the shepherds weren't looking for Him. The shepherds weren't looking for Him, but they were obedient and willing. These people got to see the good news of Jesus Christ. They got to see the gospel. They got to experience the gospel. Why? Because they were seeking. You know, for you and I today, there are people all around our world and even people in our community that are just simply doing exactly that. They're seeking the truth. They're looking for the truth. I can't help but think last week, Dr. Williams and Brother Leo were out door knocking, met Tom Gomez that was here last week. 50-year-old man that was looking for the truth. He sat down, allowed them to take him through the gospel and show him what he needed to do to be saved, and he bowed his head and prayed and asked the Lord Jesus Christ into his heart to save him. There are people in our community today that are seeking a savior and it's our responsibility to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to them. Those three different groups of people that we see, we saw the faithful saints and we saw the obedient sinner and we saw the attentive seeker, but not who did he not come to? Who did he not make himself known to? Who didn't get to experience the joy of Jesus Christ? Let's look at Matthew chapter two, starting in verse number three. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he had demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him in Bethlehem of Judea for thus it was written by the prophet. Thus it is written by the prophet and thou Bethlehem in the land of Judea art not the least among the princes of Judah for out of these shall come a governor that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privately called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and search diligently for the young child. And when you have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. And then skip down with me to verse number 16. Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked..." This is after the wise men came, saw Jesus, they went another way back home because that's what the Lord had told them to do. "...Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wrath, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men." Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Ramah was there a voice heard lamentation and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not." Who did the Lord not appear to? The wicked slayer. The wicked slayer. The one that sought to take his life. There are some people out there that they see Christians and they see people that follow God and they say, I want what you have. How do you get it? What do I got to pay for? You see in the New Testament with the with the disciples, some, hey, how much do I got to pay you? What do I got to pay to get what you have? People that aren't really seeking for Christ, they're seeking for the power that can only come through Jesus Christ. Herod, when he heard that there was a king of the Jews, what was Herod's position? He was the king. He didn't want you know, he saw that as a threat to his authority And there's a lot of people today that see the Lord Jesus Christ as a threat to their liberty I would get saved but he would take away everything that I want I'm if I got saved then I'd have to give up all this stuff that I do that's what they see Christ is the one that tells him all the thou shalt not I Would get saved but I like the liberty that I have the freedom that I have outside of Christ The truth is outside of Christ you and I are slaves But they don't understand that. They don't see that. All that they see is the captivity that comes from that. Herod didn't have good intentions. He sought to slay Christ. We know that this is now a couple years after Jesus has been born. He had diligently inquired when the star had appeared, and it says that he went then and sent and killed every child two years old and under, based on the time when he said that that had appeared. So the Lord is now probably a couple of years old, thereabout. Inherit says everybody every single baby there that's two years old and under I want to kill Why? Because he didn't want to know the Savior He wasn't seeking the Savior to change his life to come into him and allow him to transform his life He was seeking to destroy. Let me tell you there are people out there today who? The devil is very, very real today. And there are people, our world is full of people today that are seeking to destroy Christians. Seeking to destroy the gospel of Jesus Christ. Seeking to destroy the word of God. By doing what? Changing it. Change the words. Change the layout. Change this. Make it more relevant for today. What are they really doing? Taking things away. They're seeking to destroy. And the people that have that as their focus, they won't know the gospel of Christ. They won't know the Gospel of Christ. They can't understand it. They can't comprehend it. There's three groups of people that the Gospel did come to, and I want to ask you, are you in one of those groups today? Are you a faithful saint that you want to see God work? He'll make Himself known to you. Are you an obedient seeker? Maybe you're that one here today that you would, or you're that one, that obedient sinner that would say, you know what? I don't know Jesus Christ as my personal Savior, but I want to. And if the Bible says that that's what I need to do to know Christ as my Savior, to be assured of eternity, then that's what I want. That's my heart's desire is to follow Christ and be obedient to Christ. And if somebody is willing to take a Bible and show me what I need to do, that's what I'll do. I'll be obedient to whatever the Bible says, you know It's that heart for somebody that maybe just got saved that says hey the Bible says hey I just want to know preacher or somebody Sunday school teacher. Just tell me what does the Bible say? I'm supposed to do and if the Bible says do this then that's what I want to do if the Bible says don't do that then I don't want to do that It's amazing how somebody that's obedient that's willingly obedient, that'll just say, I just want whatever God wants for my life. It's amazing at the growth you can see in a person that's just willing to do what the Bible says. Show me what the Bible says, and that's what I'll do. And then maybe you're that seeker. Maybe you're that attentive seeker that would say, I've been looking for a long time. I've been looking, but I haven't been able to find the truth. I've looked for it in maybe other religions. I've looked for it in finance. Solomon talked about it in the Song of Solomon. Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. I'm sorry, that's lamentations. The emptiness that's there, Not seeing, not getting it. There's people that today, you know, it doesn't matter if it's a Buddhist monk or if it's a Muslim or if it's a Catholic priest or whatever it is. The truth is, while they may be very well-intentioned, may be very sincere, they're empty. They're empty. They may very well be seeking the truth, but they're empty. Where are you at today? Where are you at today? The Gospel of Jesus Christ has come. But what effect has it had on you this morning? Jesus Christ was born to die for you and me. He was born to die for you and me. We know that that's true. But what difference has that made for you this morning? Let's have every head bowed and every eye closed. I'm going to ask Miss Evelyn to make her way to the piano. We'll have a verse of invitation in just a minute. Brother Wesley will lead us.