As we move toward the end of time and the second coming of our Lord. We need to make sure people understand we're not inviting you to be part of a religion. Jesus didn't come to establish one. We made it one after he left. But he didn't come to establish a religion.
He came to establish relationship. between God and man. It may be the most familiar verse in all the Bible, but it's always worth hearing again. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. Hello, and thanks for stopping by for today's Destined for Victory, where we feature the preaching ministry of Pastor Paul Shepard.
Well, when we say God loves everyone, we're saying that He loves everyone. the serial killer, the rapists, the cynics who don't even believe God exists. As you'll see today, he loves them all and he wants to have a relationship with every single person on earth. Remember, you can always come see us at pastorpaul.net, Where you can listen to any of our recent messages on demand, including today's. That's PastorPaul.net.
No. Let's listen to Pastor Paul's Destined for Victory message. He gets us. My original goal. Was to give a homily today.
I thought I don't Want to preach, we'll enjoy the kids, and then we'll just enjoy fellowship with one another. After that, I'll just give a quick little homily. And that was my plan all the way up till this morning. I woke up. Very, very early.
I've been preaching the gospel for a very long time, and I've been in pastoral ministry for a very long time. And the Lord has done this off and on across the decades to just tell me that there's something that I need to say beyond what I thought I was supposed to say. And so this morning that happened to me, and I was still shaving for church, and download was coming. And I said, All right, well, they don't have any notes, so this is like old-fashioned church. Whatever I say that means something to you, you write it down.
They know the scripture. I mentioned the scripture, Luke 2, verses 8 through 11. If you have a Bible, go with you. They don't have anything else because I just got it while I was shaving. All right.
Because again, my homily was going to be based on this, just to talk about one little aspect of this passage. But then the Lord gave me that. I've learned when He does that, there's one or more people, probably more than one, but He loves people so well. God will give a message for a single individual. If he needs to.
I'll never forget a time that I was at a meeting of, there were probably 8,000 people there, and I sat there, I said, It's a shame all these people had to come here. This guy preached to me. It really was that profound, that profound. I sat there and cried because God was speaking to me. Maybe they got something too, but I know it was for me.
And so if this is for you, grab it. That means God loves you an awful lot. And we all take the word because sometimes, if it's not for you now, it's not Rhema for you now, tuck it away. because sooner or later you'll need to. Remember it.
Amen. Verses 8 through 11. And there were shepherds living. out in the fields nearby. keeping watch over their flocks at night.
An angel of the LORD appeared to them. And the glory of the Lord shone around them. And they were terrified. But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid. I bring you good news.
of great joy That will be for all the people. Today in the town of David A Saviour has been born to you. He is Christ. The Lord. And I have decided to title these remarks.
as of a couple of hours ago. He gets you. He gets you. There is a very extensive evangelistic campaign. It was launched several years ago.
I remember when it was launched, I was speaking for a group of pastors in some city. I think it was in Pittsburgh, and I was speaking at a pastor's event. And uh this particular Group of folks who sponsor the He Gets Us campaign. asked if they could talk about it and it was pretty much the launching of that That campaign. It has taken hold literally all around the world, very well funded by.
kingdom people who Are investing very heavily in us getting the word out to people around the world. simply that Christ gets us. And they're trying to make the point. You'll see them during Super Bowl commercials and you'll see it. Just keep watching football during this season and you'll see these He Gets Us commercials, very well shot.
And they're just making the point That Jesus isn't about religion. He's about relationship. And that's what we need to affirm over and over again. The more time wraps up, and time is wrapping up, I am convinced. That time is wrapping up.
We don't have forever. And so, as we move toward the end of time and the second coming of our Lord. We need to make sure people understand we're not inviting you to be part of a religion. Jesus didn't come to establish one, we made it one after he left. But he didn't come to establish a religion.
He came to establish relationship. Between God and man. That's what Jesus is about. That's the birth that we're going to celebrate, Christmas Day. And yes, we know, all of you skeptics know Jesus wasn't born December 25th.
We know that very well. In fact, Every indication just based on the time and the events of his coming. that uh he was born more likely in the spring. Just when you look at the history of it all. But Although that is true, we don't have to wait till the spring to celebrate Jesus' birth.
So they chose December 25th. Y'all who get mad at the commercialization, all that, that's, you know, don't waste your time fussing about stuff you can't change. People are gonna do what they're gonna do. And all that. Broke folk are gonna spend money.
That's just what they do. Yeah. Just It just You know, it is what it is. Just stop fussing about stuff you can't change. They're going to be out there on the malls and the stuff.
All of that's all going to happen. Just get your head together and be glad to know that. Beyond all of that, what is really worth celebrating is that, for God so loved the world. That He gave His only begotten Son. That whosoever believes in him would not perish, but have everlasting life.
But the homily that I started out saying I was going to emphasize was simply this: that That whole phrase of he has Given us the reason to have good news of great joy that will be for all people. It's the old people that struck me And was the original basis for the homily that he's not here for religious people. He's here for all people. He's not here for folk who have a certain view of the world and of life. He's here for all.
People, if you're a people, if you're a person, he came for you. That's what you need to know. Jesus has a love that embraces you. And it's okay if you don't. I wasn't raised a believer.
In fact, I was raised in an atheist family and agnostics. We've been taught to be very. Very discerning and critical in our thinking. All of that's fine, not a problem with any of that. The fact of the matter is, Jesus really was born.
History bears that. Everybody who is credible in terms of studying history knows that Jesus was born. Not all of them would call him the Savior, but they know he was born. They also know he lived in that region of the world that the Bible speaks of, and we also know that he was crucified. That all of those are historic facts.
And some, of course, would debate whether or not he rose from the grave. But when you go to where they say the burial was, there is no body. And we believe that, in fact, his life bore the The evidence that he was who the Bible says he was, and that he, in fact, rose from the dead. But the first thing I want you to know is that yes, he came because he came for you to give good news to you. Christianity ought to get back to the good news business.
I am so sick of these so-called Christians who do nothing but fight culture wars and talk about what they don't like about the world and what they don't like about the society. And I want to holler and say, Would y'all, for God's sake, preach the great commission message, which is that Jesus, who came to this earth, came because he loved people and he gets people and he wants to save and redeem people. And all of this culture war fighting, we need to get out of that business. Jesus didn't come to change a society politically. I said he didn't come to change it politically.
In fact, Jesus came in the world of the Neroes, came in the world of the people who were very much against the view of God that Judaism knew very well. And so Jesus came in the midst of all of that, and he didn't come trying to make the case that Abraham and Isaac and Jacob established a certain way of living and all of y'all need to do it. He came because God so loved the world. Not just the Jew, but the world. Not just the religious person, but the world.
That he gave his only begotten son. That whoever believes in him. And so we need to understand that he came for everyone. And here's the thing about this passage: that means he came for everyone. for common people as well.
Still ahead, the second half of today's Destined for Victory message, featuring the teaching ministry of Pastor Paul Shepard. If you enjoy listening to Pastor Paul, you may be glad to know that we archive all of our recent messages at Pastor Paul.net. That's Pastor Paul.net. You can also listen and subscribe to the podcast at Spotify or wherever you enjoy your podcasts. For almost 15 years now, we've been bringing you these Destined for Victory messages the whole year through.
And we have listening friends and partners like you to thank. You are the ones who provide all of our financial support, and we're so grateful for all you've done. To give generously today, please visit pastorpaul.net or call 855-339-5500. Shortly before the birth of Jesus Christ, God sent His angels to announce the good news, and He chose to send them to an unlikely group of people.
Now, let's get you back to the second half of today's Destined for Victory message. He gets us. Shepherds were about as common as it gets. In Bible times, you'll see shepherds in both the Old Testament and the New. Of course, you see the very first shepherd in the Bible in Genesis 4.
That's how early it was. And guess who that was? It was a man named Abel. a man who was soon slain by his younger brother, Cain, but he was a shepherd. He took care of flocks.
He took care of livestock. And that. has been characteristic throughout human history of those who cared for flocks. And very, very common. And right up to Jesus' day, shepherds were common people.
No one wanted to be a shepherd. If you were, it was because you didn't have anything else. Really, that struck you, and that you were able or qualified, or whatever the case might be. And in some cases, it just became the norm as you grew up in your household, and you never launched out to try to do anything else by way of livelihood. You just took care of the family's flocks.
But it was a very, very common lifestyle, and Jesus. Tells us when these angels come, they could have appeared to the muckety-muck, they could have appeared to the big shots of that day. But they chose to come and appear to shepherds. In a field. Out there with the flocks at night.
And the angel of the Lord appears, the glory, he brought glory. With him from the world where the Lord dwells. He brought glory with him. Glory means that weighted, tangible presence of God. Today we call it the manifested presence of God.
Where God not only is there, He is everywhere, but every now and then His presence shows up in a tangible way. I don't know if you've ever been, I've been in places where His glory came and to the place in a tangible way. I've been in services where you couldn't preach, where the preacher couldn't preach and all because the glory was too heavy. It was all about God, it wasn't about people. It was God showing up.
Said, introducing himself to people. And when he does that, it's always because he wants to let people know that he gets them. That he's into people. God is into people. You who don't like people, you're going to have to get a touch from God because God is into people.
And so the shepherds were the chosen audience for this announcement because God wanted to let us know that He gets us, and the good news that the angel came to proclaim was good news not just for special folks. I need you to know we live in a day where we think rich people are special or famous people are special or how many folk who have a certain number of followers on their social media platform are special. Listen, let me correct the record for you. Just because you got to multiply millions of people following you on some platform doesn't make you special. It just means they got nothing better to do than listen to what you got to say.
That's all it means. They have nothing better to do with their life. Except, listen to you. They don't know you from Adam. These are my friends.
No, they're not your friends. That's why when Facebook first came out and they said, I said, well, how do you get on? They said, well, you got to request that people be your friend. I said, I'm not getting on that, miss. I'm not requesting nothing.
God will raise up the friends I need for my life. And I quickly found out as my different people were getting on, and so, oh, yeah, I have. X number of friends. I said, just go through a tough time and see how many of them are really a friend. Are you kidding me?
The Bible tells you what a friend is. A friend loves at all times. And a brother is born for adversity. You're not my friend because you follow me on social media. In fact, if I go through some wrong thing, you're going to be the very one out there talking about me like a dog.
You ain't none of my friend. And so Jesus didn't come for popularity. He came to hang out with folk who knew they needed him. Shepherds were among people who understood the value of caring, the value of taking care. And Jesus said, I'm coming and I'm going to send the angel to announce it.
And the angel, I don't want you to go to where all the up and in people are. I want you to find some down and out people.
Now, up and in, folk, that's some of y'all here who are really special and important. God bless you wherever you are. God bless you. And online, oh, yes, you're this and that and the third. God bless you.
I'm so not impressed, but God bless you anyway. God bless you anyway. Don't expect me to get excited about you, but God bless you anyway. But the fact of the matter is: if you are up and in, if you are somebody who's who loves everybody, your name being on everybody's tongue, that's fine. That's fine.
I've just long since decided rather than have a bunch of followers, a bunch of friends, all the other language in social media, I I'm looking for one like in my life. I need one like.
Now, any the rest of y'all who join him, I'm down. But I need one if all y'all disapprove, but he says, Well done, good and faithful servant. I'm going with that. I'm going with that, 'cause that one that one matters. And so he's here for the up and in.
I'm not hating on y'all. You special and you wonderful and you beautiful and all that. You one most likely to do this and that and all that. That's great. Wonderful.
Congratulations. But Jesus loves more than you. Y'all who feel bad about yourself, don't let these people make you feel bad about you. You are the apple of his eye. He cares about you.
And all of that. I just need us to understand that we live in a day where there's all of this imagery, all of this. And now you got people, their job. When they first told me, I said, Well, what's your job? I'm an influencer.
I said, No, what do you do? I'm an influencer. When I first started to find out about influence, I said, my goodness, there are people who make majority, some of them major, major money. And all they do is influence people to do something. And apparently, the advertisers and the companies and all are betting on them using their image to cause you to do stuff that will keep them black financially.
Keep them making major money in the black financially, and they're willing to pay. It's quite amazing.
Now, college students, if you are a certain athlete, a certain status in college, you don't have to wait till you get to the pros to make big money. You got college kids. I know college kids who are multi-million. Millionaires. and haven't even left college yet.
But because we live in the NIL world, let me school you real quick: name, image, and likeness. And if you are a certain kind of person, those you can cash in for major, major money. Wonderful. God bless you. But I came to tell you: don't get excited about how much money you have or how many followers you have.
Get excited because Jesus came. Knowing that he wanted to have a relationship with you. Because at the end of You got to remember, Jesus said, what does it profit a man or a woman if they gain the whole? Oh wow. And lose their soul.
Now they're talking about a man who is known as coming to be known as the richest man in all the world, right here in America.
Well, all right.
So you're the richest of all the rich people all around the world. You're the richest man in America. Guess what? What does it profit a man to be the richest man in America if you lose your soul?
So, I will always have a job saying to you, as well as to common. Everyday people, broke people, folk who just not only can't they get their ends to meet, their ends don't even see one another. But the message of the gospel is as valid. For them. As it is for the other guy.
And so we need to know that he gets us. That's why he came. Isn't that good news? Jesus came to save everyone, including those who we might consider lost causes. The truth is, apart from Him were all lost causes.
If He had come to save the worthy, no one would be saved. I'm so glad you stopped by for today's Destined for Victory message. He gets us. If you joined us late, or if you want to hear the full message one more time, stop by Pastor Paul.net. That's pastorpaul.
net. Yeah. Well, when Pastor Paul was teaching his final group of messages, he stopped right in the middle of it, took a one-week detour, and inserted a special message that was weighing heavily on his heart. That message is called Sometimes You Have to Encourage Yourself. It's filled with practical advice and, as he always did, he delivered that message with his signature humor and down-to-earth style.
Now, this message has never aired before on Destined for Victory. It's not available anywhere else but right here.
So, today, in appreciation of your most generous gift to Destined for Victory, we'll send you this exclusive message as either a DVD or a streaming link. Again, it's called Sometimes You Have to Encourage Yourself, one of the last messages Pastor Paul ever preached, and it's only available right here for your most generous donation. And today is the final day of this offer, so act now so you don't miss the blessing of this special offer. You can give by phone by calling 855-339-5500. 855-339-5500.
Or visit pastorpaul.net to make a safe and secure donation online. Or mail your gift to Destined for Victory, post office box 1767-455. Fremont, California, 94538. Here, Destined for Victory, we believe in the power of prayer, and we're always happy to pray for you. Please use the contact feature at the top of our homepage, pastorpaul.net, and share your request with us.
That's pastorpaul.net. God will give us grace to you. Not only will he share his glory, but he'll give his grace. The reason you need a personal relationship with Jesus is because you're going to go through some stuff you've never gone through before. And you're going to go through some things you never thought you'd ever go through.
That's tomorrow in our continuing Destined for Victory message: He Gets Us. But until then remember. He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion. In Christ, you are destined for victory.
