Wisemen Bring their Treasures
Gifts that Wisemen Bring • Sermon • Submitted
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1 Now when Jesus was born in Beth-lehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 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.
11 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.
12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
One child wrote a letter to Santa which read, “Dear Santa, you did not bring me anything good last year. You did not bring me anything good the year before that. This is your last chance. Signed, Alfred.
Kingdom Defined
A kingdom is defined simply as a State, nation or territory ruled by a king
It is the the domain of a king and realm of his sovereignty
Very quickly this morning, I want to look at this form of society, which is actually one the earliest known forms of society, by looking at the attributes of a kingdom…or the checklist that qualifies a society and its governance as a kingdom.
Attributes of A Kingdom
Attributes of A Kingdom
1. A king and lord - a sovereign ruler
First and foremost, a society cannot be deemed a kingdom in the absence of a king
A king is not a King without a kingdom. and a kingdom is not a kingdom without a king.
The King is the embodiment of the kingdom, representing its glory and nature. The kingdom is a reflection of the king.
A kingdom is often called a monarchy, which means that one person, usually inheriting their position by birth or marriage, is the leader, or head of state.
Every kingdom must have a king, but it is also true that every king is automatically a "lord". A lord is defined as someone having absolute power, authority, or influence.
It is this quality of lordship that distinguishes a king from a president, a prime minister, a mayor or a governor.
In fact, a king's lordship makes him different from any other kind of human leader. Lordship makes the king unique.
The title or position “Lord” does not exist in a democracy, socialist society or a republic
2. A territory - the domain over which the king exercises total authority.
The territory, its resources and people are all personal property of the king. The king by right owns all and, therefore, is considered lord over all.
You can see on your handouts today the remaining attributes that constitute a Kingdom, each having powerful parallels into the Kingdom of God and its governance in our lives today…but i want to focus especially upon the last two, listed on your handouts as
3. A constitution - the covenant of a king with his citizens and expresses the mind and will of the king for his citizens and the kingdom.
4. The law - standards and principles established by the king himself, by which his kingdom will function and be administered.
5. A code of ethics - the acceptable conduct of the citizens in the kingdom and their representation of the kingdom. This code includes moral standards, social relationships, personal conduct, attitude, attire and manner of life
6. An army - the kingdom's system of securing its territory and protecting its citizens.
7. A commonwealth - the economic system of wealth which guarantees each citizen equal access to financial security.
The kingdom's glory is in the prosperity and health of its citizens.
8. A social culture - the environment created by the life and manners of the king and his citizens.
9. A citizenry - the people that live under the rule of the king.
Citizenship in a kingdom is not a right, but a privilege, and is a result of the king's choice.
The benefits and privileges of a kingdom are only accessible to citizens and therefore the favor of the king is always a privilege.
Once one becomes a citizen of the kingdom, all the rights of citizenship are at the citizen's pleasure. The king is obligated to care for and protect all of his citizens; and their welfare is a reflection on the king himself. The number one goal of a citizen in a kingdom is to be subject to the king, seeking only to remain in right-standing with him.
10. Privileges - the benefits the king lavishes on his faithful citizens.
This aspect of kingdom is very different from other forms of government. In a kingdom, citizenship is always desired by the people because,
once you are in the kingdom, the king is personally responsible for you and your needs
Benefits of Citizenship
Benefits of Citizenship
King
Isaiah 9:6–7 (KJV 1900)
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: And the government shall be upon his shoulder: And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, Upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, To order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice From henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
2. Territory
1 The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; The world, and they that dwell therein.
15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
3. Citizenry
1 Peter 2:9 (KJV 1900)
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
John 3:5 (KJV 1900)
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
4. Privileges
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
19 Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loadeth us with benefits, Even the God of our salvation. Selah.
These are the benefits of being a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven.
When we are citizens of His kingdom, as a king he becomes responsible for us and for our needs. ‘
When we are citizens of His kingdom, His glory is manifest in the earth through our health and prosperity…People look at our lives and say, they serve a good king!!!
this is where the dichotomy of our American democracy and a kingdom clash...
We often want the befits of a kingdom, but with the personal independence of a democracy.
I want God to supply all of my needs, but I still want to call the shots.
I want the host of heaven to fight for me, but I still want to be in control.
I like the lavish gifts, but I’m not sure I want him to be Lord
I want to tell someone today that He is a Great King!
The benefits of being a citizen of His Kingdom are great and they are eternal…His is the only Kingdom that offers eternal life!
Citizens from another Kingdom
Citizens from another Kingdom
The wisemen were from a far away nation. Most believe them to be from Persia, or at that time the Kingdom of Parthia, under the rule of King Phraates (Fray-eight’s)
They were citizens of another nation.
They were not under the constitution of Israel’s king
They were not guarded nor protected by the Army of Israels kingdom
They were not subject to the laws, nor were they privy to the privileges of the Kingdom of this King of the Jews.
Yet…they came to worship
They saw his star in the East, and they came to the conclusion:
That this king was a good king - This king was worth travelling for!
This king was a just king - This king was worth worshipping!!
This king was a righteous king - This king was worthy of their treasure!
Yet, they came to worship him because they understood what kind of King he was…Not because he was their king!
Their salutation in jerusalem revealed this understanding when they said, we have come to worship HE that is born…KING of the JEWS!!
They did not worship him because of his sovereignty in their lives.
They did not worship him for the fact that, as his citizens, he would be responsible for their needs.
They did not worship him from the understanding that his glory would be revealed in their health and prosperity...
Oh yes…we know that this Christ child was not just the king of the Jews…he was king of Kings and Lord of Lords!
Oh yes…we know that this child hailed King of the Jews would in fact be the savior of the World...
But as citizens of another kingdom they opened their treasures and they presented their gifts unto him.
He is Our king!!
He is Our king!!
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
We are citizens of His kingdom!
He is Lord of our lives!
He does rule and reign in our lives!
And if you are here today, and you have not been born again...
First you must repent…denounce your citizenship to the kingdoms of this world.
Then you must be baptized in the Name of the King…This is how you become a citizen of the Kingdom of heaven…you must be baptized in the Name of the King!
You must be filled with his Holy Spirit....because his kingdom is not of this world....it is a spiritual kingdom and it is a Holy kingdom....
And these Wise men…they brought their treasure…and the bible says in Matthew 2 vs 11
11 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.
If we just quickly look at the symbolism of the treasures that they opened up to a king of whose kingdom they were not citizens.
Gold - A valuable gift that was given unto kings
Frankincense - Used in the making of incense that was burned in the temple…it was a fragrance that was pleasing unto God.
Myrrh - Symbolic of death…it was used in the process of embalming in biblical times.
and if wisemen that were not citizens of his kingdom would open their treasures and present to him these gifts…how much more should we…knowing that he is our King…bring our treasures!
Wise men bring their treasures!
Citizens of His Kingdom gladly bring their treasures!
Giving is an integral part of worship
You cannot claim to be wise without surrendering your treasures.
Gold - Our earthly possessions and things of value
Wisemen that weren’t even citizens brought gold…expecting nothing in return.
They had travelled first to Jerusalem, because simple reason and common sense said that a king would be born in a palace. But they didn’t find Jesus in a palace. Nor did they find him in a stable or lying in a manger. They found him in a house, but no doubt born into the poorest of circumstances.
This is further demonstrated in the Luke 2 when Mary and Joseph come to offer Jesus back...they bring with them an offering of 2 turtle doves Leviticus 12:8...they were not a wealthy family. the home was undoubtedly a humble abode.
Yet the wisemen were not giving based upon the conditions that they found.
Unconditional giving...no strings attached
2. They were not giving as an investment (what will I get in return) - He was not their king…they would return to their own kingdom…to their own king (Fair-eights)…this king had no responsibility to supply their needs…yet they gave their gold in worship to the King!
How much more should we give our possessions? Knowing that HE IS OUR KING!
He is our Jehovah Jireh!
His glory is shown on this earth through the blessings he bestows upon us!
January 15th
…First Fruits service! I will share more with you about this in the weeks to come…but we are going to bring our “gold” and we are going to worship our king!
Frankincense - Becoming a fragrance to this world that is filled with the stench of sin! By reflecting the character of Jesus Christ and loving the lost.
15 For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;
Wisemen bring their treasure…Our lives are the fragrance to the world around us…No today, we don’t travel from Parthia to Bethlehem to present this fragrance…but everyday that we live a lift that is pleasing unto Christ, we are opening up our treasures. We are bringing our treasures!
We are bringing honor to our king!
We are bringing glory to his name throughout the earth!
Myrrh - Our willingness to suffer for the sake of his Kingdom! To deny ourselves, to take up his cross and to follow him...
As Jesus said to the disciples when He called them to His kingdom...
IF any man would follow me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.
Wise men bring their treasure.
This is the gift of myrrh today…when you place your life in his hands, and…like the Old Hym the Old rugged cross declares:
To the old rugged Cross, I will ever be true
Its shame and reproach gladly bear
So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross
Till my trophies, at last, I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged Cross
And exchange it some day for a crown