When Heaven Speaks
HEAVEN SPOKE
Luke 2:10-11 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”
- The angel didn’t come with a warning. He didn’t arrive with a list.
- He didn’t lead with everything that was wrong.
He opened with an invitation: “Do not be afraid.”
- In other words—you can stay.
- Because fear pushes people away. But invitation draws people in.
“FOR TODAY, A SAVIOR HAS BEEN BORN TO YOU.”
- Salvation doesn’t start with a command — it starts with welcome.
Even the elect will be deceived. 2 Timothy 3
- Not because God stops speaking, but because we can get so used to church and faith that we stop paying close attention.
Don’t miss what God is doing because you think you already know how He works.
If heaven didn’t start with condemnation, then God isn’t waiting for you to fix yourself before you come close.
1. Some of you think, “Once I get my life together, then I’ll come back.”
- But Christmas says: You don’t get your life together to come to God — you come to God so He can begin the work.
2. Others of you feel pressure anytime God comes up. You expect judgment.
- But the first words of Christmas were: “Do not be afraid.”
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
3. And some of you have been around church a long time.
- You know the ways. You know the verses.
- The danger isn’t that God stopped speaking — it’s that familiarity made you stop listening.
Responding doesn’t mean having answers. It means taking a step.
- So here’s the invitation of Christmas:
- He’s saying, “Come — and I’ll walk with you from here.”
Heaven has already spoken. The only question left is: Will you step closer… or keep waiting?
Heaven didn’t speak to pressure you. Heaven spoke to welcome you.
- It didn’t say, “Figure it out… Try harder.”
- It said four words:
Do not be afraid.
Christmas doesn’t begin with pressure. It begins with peace.
HEAVEN CELEBRATED
Luke 2:12-14 The angels said… This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Can you imagine that moment?
- A sky full of angels. Heaven erupting in praise. Singing, “Glory to God in the highest.”
And here’s what’s wild: Nothing looked different yet.
- The baby was still in a manger.
- The shepherds still had to go back to work. But heaven celebrated anyway.
Why? Because heaven wasn’t praising God for what had already changed –
heaven was praising God for what had already begun.
- Glory doesn’t wait for the outcome. Glory responds to the arrival of hope.
- That’s why the angels sang before the cross, before the resurrection‚ before anyone understood.
- Because the Lamb had arrived.
- Give God glory because Jesus is on the scene!
Earth Responded
Luke 2:15-18 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
Luke tells us something striking: When the angels finished speaking… they left.
The shepherds responded.
- They went and they encountered Jesus… Then told everyone!
Missing Jesus doesn’t usually happen from rejection — it happens from assumption.
The greatest tragedy isn’t rejecting Jesus. It’s being close enough to Him that you stop responding to Him.
Responding looks like:
- Praying instead of pretending…
- Taking one step instead of waiting for certainty.
- Stopping the assumptions.
- Letting Jesus interrupt your routine.
Earth responds when ordinary people take ordinary steps toward an extraordinary Savior.
Heaven doesn’t shout. It speaks to hearts that are willing to move.
- Heaven spoke — not with condemnation, but salvation.
- Heaven celebrated — because the Lamb had arrived.
- The shepherds responded. They moved. They proclaimed.
- They didn’t miss what was standing right in front of them.
Heaven has spoken… will you respond?