December 21st, 2025
River of Faith CHRISTmas Sunday Service
Worthy
Luke 2:8-20
Pastor Ray-Ann Dela Fuente
December 21, 2025
Memory Verse:
“Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness.”
Psalms 145:3 NLT
Introduction:
Welcome to the River of Faith! Today is our CHRISTmas Sunday Service and we are celebrating the birth of the Messiah and the Savior Of the world! All glory to God!
What does being worthy mean? The word "worthy" brings an idea of being able to "live up" to a certain standard. In many times and occasions we may feel that we ourselves are "worthy" of a certain degree of honor or recognition. Who alone can "live up" to the standard of God? God's standard is not like ours, His standard is holiness, complete obedience, and surrender.
Main Pointers:
“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior yes, the Messiah, the Lord— has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them."
Luke 2:8-20 NLT
1. All glory of heaven rejoices as God gave His greatest gift on earth.
A. The glory of the heavenly hosts rejoices as the angel delivers the "good news" to shepherds. Humanity's greatest gift was not wrapped in fine linen and cloth. It was not delivered by chariots not announced by trumpets. Jesus was laid in a manger wrapped in strips of linen surrounded by animals.
B. “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”
Philippians 2:6-8 NLT
2. Jesus is the heaven's standard of worthiness.
“Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it. Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe ofJudah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Revelation 5:1-5 NLT
A. Fast forward to when Jesus ascended into the heavens and seated at the right hand of the Father. As the entire heavens look for the one who is "worthy" to open up the seals on the scrolls they could not find anyone "worthy" except for One, the Lamb who has been slain.
B. “And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered—to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.” And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb.”
Revelation 5:12-14 NLT
3. Jesus Christ alone is worthy of all our praise and all of our worship.
“After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
Matthew 2:9-11 NLT
A. The wise men intentionally sought out the new born king of the jews under the guidance and direction of God and when they found him they did what they came to do. They bowed down to worship Him and give him offerings as sign of their worship of Him.
B. “Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:9-11 NLT
Conclusion:
Every year we get to celebrate the most wonderful day of the year. Rightly so, because this day is worthy to be celebrated and remembered not because of the day itself, but because of the person to whom this day is dedicated to. CHRISTmas reminds us of who alone is truly worthy. Worthy of all our praise and worship. To be Him be the glory, honor, and praise now and forever Amen!
Worthy
Luke 2:8-20
Pastor Ray-Ann Dela Fuente
December 21, 2025
Memory Verse:
“Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness.”
Psalms 145:3 NLT
Introduction:
Welcome to the River of Faith! Today is our CHRISTmas Sunday Service and we are celebrating the birth of the Messiah and the Savior Of the world! All glory to God!
What does being worthy mean? The word "worthy" brings an idea of being able to "live up" to a certain standard. In many times and occasions we may feel that we ourselves are "worthy" of a certain degree of honor or recognition. Who alone can "live up" to the standard of God? God's standard is not like ours, His standard is holiness, complete obedience, and surrender.
Main Pointers:
“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior yes, the Messiah, the Lord— has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them."
Luke 2:8-20 NLT
1. All glory of heaven rejoices as God gave His greatest gift on earth.
A. The glory of the heavenly hosts rejoices as the angel delivers the "good news" to shepherds. Humanity's greatest gift was not wrapped in fine linen and cloth. It was not delivered by chariots not announced by trumpets. Jesus was laid in a manger wrapped in strips of linen surrounded by animals.
B. “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”
Philippians 2:6-8 NLT
2. Jesus is the heaven's standard of worthiness.
“Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it. Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe ofJudah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Revelation 5:1-5 NLT
A. Fast forward to when Jesus ascended into the heavens and seated at the right hand of the Father. As the entire heavens look for the one who is "worthy" to open up the seals on the scrolls they could not find anyone "worthy" except for One, the Lamb who has been slain.
B. “And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered—to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.” And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb.”
Revelation 5:12-14 NLT
3. Jesus Christ alone is worthy of all our praise and all of our worship.
“After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
Matthew 2:9-11 NLT
A. The wise men intentionally sought out the new born king of the jews under the guidance and direction of God and when they found him they did what they came to do. They bowed down to worship Him and give him offerings as sign of their worship of Him.
B. “Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:9-11 NLT
Conclusion:
Every year we get to celebrate the most wonderful day of the year. Rightly so, because this day is worthy to be celebrated and remembered not because of the day itself, but because of the person to whom this day is dedicated to. CHRISTmas reminds us of who alone is truly worthy. Worthy of all our praise and worship. To be Him be the glory, honor, and praise now and forever Amen!
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