Sunday 12/25/22 AM Service

Chapter 2.

Major announcements.

So we love major announcement specially these days don't we? So like we even have announcements for announcements y'all know that but you were having a nice before the announcement he would just going to be an announcement so we're making an announcement about the announcer. They do that. Now, I'm like this. Make the announcement. Don't tell us when you don't mean like and then we do well. Now, when people get pregnant and they have children or they they find out the sex of the baby, they have to have a big party to tell everybody that it's a boy or girl. Don't know. That's the thing. That's, that's the thing I've been to one. Actually, I had to I had to go, but I went to one and nothing right now. This big this big party and it lasts about 2 seconds. Then then you know, and Then you just stand there anyway, we love announcements, we love making announcements. We love telling other people about stuff, and birthday parties. Save the date for wedding. Save the date for a save-the-date.

Bingo online with this stuff. But the one we find in scripture in Matthew 2 is, is probably the biggest announcement the world has ever known. And yet it's done and quiet really, but we would consider quiet. I mean, not a lot of Twitter and stuff going on at that time. But, I mean, you know, there were not any huge crowds surrounding the event. I even years later, which is where we'll find ourselves today. There's not There's not some big crowd surrounding Jesus in the carpenter but yet this is the king of the entire world. Walking out around to the toddler with just blows my mind. The thing that that that's the king. And so we're going to we're going to look at restarting first one. And I'm going to read through 6 but we're really just going to camp out in verse to last week. We walk through 18 through 25 and we looked at it from the point of view. Matthew looks at the birth of Jesus from the point of view of Joseph and we left him last week with Joseph woke from his sleep and did his Angel to look commanded him? He took his wife. He knew or not until the he gave birth to son and he called his name Jesus. We we ended with the birth of a just kind of happens in Matthew, just not a whole lot of Pomp and Circumstance and then go to the details of Luke, he's just kind of on the scene. Going to get to Matthew 2 verse 1. It says now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, In the days of Herod, the king behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem saying, where is he, who has been born, King of the Jews, but we saw his star when it Rose and have come to worship him. When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled and all of Jerusalem with him and assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them. Where the Christ was to be born, they told him in Bethlehem of Judea for so it was written by the prophet. Then you will Bethlehem in the land of Judah are by no means least among the rulers of Judah for from you shall come a ruler. Who will Shepherd My People Israel. Do this one verse verse 2 is, the one thing that we hear out of the wise men from the East. Where is he, who has been born King of the Jews for he saw his star when it Rose and we saw a star when it Rose in and have come to worship him. Just one simple statement, that's all they gave us. So the idea this morning in my desire is that we would look at this. Child has been born this manager, and look at this event of these wise men coming from the East to see him and just and walk through it with him. So to begin with, we're going to look at their inquiry. Look, what they start with where is he, who has been born King of the Jews? Now, this is not that big a deal, but you would think it would be other people. Honestly, you would think that it would be people from Jerusalem, you would think that it would be the scribes and the Pharisees. You would think it'd be those very people, the religious Elite so to speak. Who would be looking even though It's time for the king. They be waiting for him them. They, they obviously knew according to the scriptures that we're at exactly where he was going to be born. You would think you would keep your eye on it? That they understood it but instead of it being them who are happy about it or well, honestly, and anyway, looking forward to it. Instead, you find these wise man who come in and they seek him out. They want to know where he is, but not only that they call him. Look what he says, where he where is he, who has been born, King of the Jews. He wasn't going to be king. He wasn't in some day in the future going to be king and wasn't. When he got to be 30 years old, he would be king is not it wasn't an age Jesus Christ. When he is born, is King from the moment that he's born And that's kind of astounding again. Cuz again, verse 16. Look what he says, then Herod. When he saw that he been tricked by the wise, man, there's a little story there. If you want to go read it became Furious dissenting killed all the male children in Bethlehem and all the region who were two years old. And under, according to the time that had been ascertained from the wise, man, the wise men come, they tell Haron what they're doing. He finds out that it's in Bethlehem. All the scribes and Pharisees telling this, right? They give them this information, they go and they worship, they don't go back. So he sends people to kill every child under two to make sure that he's covered the time Gap. This is the leader of Jerusalem, this is the leaders in Jerusalem. These are the people who are against should be going there to worship them himself, should be going to find him. But they said and verse 3 Herod, the king heard this. He was troubled, but not only him, but all of Jerusalem was troubled. Why would they be troubled? The king had come. If the king is here, why are they worried? They should be praising the Lord, according to the Old Testament scripture. If he comes good things happen, not the way they would understand them, but still good things happen. But see they're more concerned about their position of power and authority than they are actually wanting to know the king. They don't desire to know him. They don't desire to seek him out or where to find him for any other reason, but to kill him. Think about that. Cuz we talked about a lot about the fact that, at the end of the Lord's life, there are many people. Who will, they want him dead member? They sought to kill him. Multiple times again, he makes the Pharisees look bad over and over and over again. And finally there like okay we're getting rid of this guy. But from the very get-go from the very beginning of this life of our King, they don't want him there. They don't want him around. The Beloved they should have recognized him as king. Now by the time, the wise men get there is somewhere between the ages because of the timeline that we were given from Herod somewhere between the ages of 1 and 2. They've got a little toddler so to speak won between one and two. And this child, this baby that is born in Bethlehem is King. Now, he would later on trial, be given these titles, Matthew 27:11 says, Jesus stood before the governor and the governor asked him, are you the king of the Jews? And Jesus said you have said, so that is at the end of his life, I'm well, before he goes to the crucifixion, while he's on trial, they call him King. At the crucifixion in Matthew 27, 37 and over his head, they put the charge against him, which read this is Jesus, the king of the Jews. This is why they wanted in bed. To see the Old Testament told us. These things were going to happen. Jeremiah 20 35 says, behold the days are coming, declares the Lord. When I will raise up for David, A righteous branch and you shall reign as king and deal wisely. So execute Justice. And righteousness in the land, they should have been looking forward to the Keene coming. They should have been praising the time that he would come. But instead it's not the kill him again at the end of his life. But out of Zechariah says this Rejoice greatly o Daughter of Zion. Shout out loud. Oh, daughter of Jerusalem. Behold, your king is coming to you righteousness. Having salvation, is he humble mounted on a donkey on a Colt, the full of a donkey that this is when the large crowd surrounded him as he entered into Jerusalem, as they were going to kill him. But at the time, they were praising him as King. The same people, that was some 24 hours later. Be yelling, crucify him. We're on this day, singing. His Praises singing that he was King singing hosanna in the highest. They saw him as king then, but 24 hours later they wanted Kelly. Beloved, this is our Lord. He is our King. He is absolutely our everything. It is not about being a religious group or religious people. It is not about knowledge, is about a relationship and a desire to really know him. Who is he What a great question to ask yourself this morning, who is he? Who is he to you this morning? Is he the guy that brings Christmas along every we know once a year and we get to wrap some presents and put them under the tree and open them up and then you know that feeling right after you've opened up everything you know when everything's destroyed. In the whole house. Looks like a tornado just went through it.

Or was it about the Savior? And Lord of the world that came and gave his life for you? The one who is your king to this day and so, who is he to you? The great question to ask yourself on Christmas Day. Secondly, want to look at their encouragement? So where he is, where is he, who has been born, King of the Jews, but we saw his star when it Rose and have come to worship him now. Again, if I'm riding the Bible, which I'm not. But if I'm writing the story about the savior of the world to come, if we were going to get together in a room, we would send this information. Well, not to some pagans that lived in the Far East that would not be my first idea. Hey, why don't we send us some people who don't even know about him? We would send it to the people in Jerusalem. We would send it to the religious Elite. We would send this information to them and we would say, hey you got to get out there, right? But instead all we're giving is really a little bit of detail. Is that these wise men? And by the way, I know we always say there's three and we really do that because of the gifts that they bring but I got bad news, there's probably more it's probably not just three. We don't know how many but just cuz the song says there's three does it mean that's exactly how many there were. I no rush ruined my whole world. All the nativity sets in my house are all messed up. Now, I can't look at him, right? I got to go get more little man to put around.

There's more. these men that have been given the sign, And it was a choice by God. Is a choice by God to let them in on something. The amazing part is is that scripture predicts. It we read this verse Wednesday night when we were together out of Numbers. Chapter 24, it's really neat. I see him. But now I Shall Behold Him but not near a star shall come out of Jacob. In a scepter, shall rise out of Israel, it shall crush the forehead of Moab and bring down the sons of Chef It speaks to a time when one star would rise, one star. One king revelation, 22 says, it this way, I Jesus have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the church's. I am the root and the descendant of David, the Bright Morning Star, So they see this star and they and they are drawn to it. Now, I don't know exactly how it got there. My goodness, you read the commentaries and and people tell you all kinds of good stuff. It was Saturn and Jupiter that cross paths just at the right time and made a really bright light that was around 6 BC. Some believe it's Halley's Comet but that doesn't work cuz that's on the wrong time, some believe it was just a star that exploded and then the bright lights called a Nova, Nova Star. It goes on and on some, Terry's, go on for pages and pages about all the theories. Are you ready? This is really really simple. You serve a really big God If he wants an extra star in the sky, do you know what he does?

He puts it there. We know this, an exodus, we remember in Exodus 13, the Lord went by them by day, and a pillar of cloud and let them along the way. And by night and a pillar of fire to give them light, they might travel by day. And By Night beloved, this is just a supernatural reality that God decided to show himself to these Magi to these wise men to draw them under himself, to bring them here to Worship the Lord to worship The King, The One and Only King, and he did it because, well, he's God.

That's how big a God that you serve. So he can put a star in the sky, he can give the message to whoever he wants to give the message to

He doesn't need our permission. He didn't need the permission of the people in Jerusalem. He didn't need all them to get it. I love it and I'll speak to being a king. That would come in this light. They follow it. And the other thing that is amazing to me is that again. We don't know how far they come from. There's different theories on where they come from, but I'm trying not to get too much into that and just the fact of, here's the thing they were they were Pagan from a foreign land. They came from the East, it's not like you and I who just decide if we want to be in a different city today, we could go get on a airplane and being a different city. They left. They believe they left everything behind to get here. They left everything behind. They would have to have traveled for days and weeks and months and it would have taken some time for them to get their. They gave him themselves with the desire because they wanted to know the savior. They wanted to know the king. They wanted to see him, they wanted to be around him as a child. They recognized him as king. A carpenter's son. In Bethlehem was just so, you know you know those little towns that you passed through when your car, you know, and they got like one red light. That's Bethlehem. You know you sneeze and you missed it. You like I totally missed the town had a Taco Bell in the red light. That was it. This is Bethlehem, they have nothing there that just a DOT on the map. They mean nothing except for the King of Kings and the Lord of lords is there and is born there in the Lord decided that he would be born there and he's King this day and forever more.

But they didn't see the star. The other point I wanted to make was this they didn't see the star and go man, that star. Sure is pretty. I heard, I heard there's that the king of the Jews that we don't know how they know that information could be from. Daniel, could be from Old Testament could be that the Lord just flat out. Told him which I tend to believe that because well again I believe God really big.

Get a responsibility to go.

Obviously they did or they would have just sat on the couch and stayed right there. You know, the big rock couches that they had back then. Said they got up and they went, they left, they gave of themselves because they wanted to see him they didn't get there. And all of a sudden say now that I'm amongst the king, he owes me. I didn't travel this far looking for a king that they were going to be given something by or he was going to do something for them. That's not what they were here for. Beloved. They were there for one reason, and one reason alone, and it's an example to you. And I Where is he who has been born King of the Jews for? We saw his star when it Rose and have come to worship Him. Spurgeon said they saw. They worship and they gave. They saw they worshipped and they gave. Hagan's from a far-off land, that have come to worship the king. Magi who were nothing to the Jews. Understand from a Jerusalem standpoint, these people that are coming to visit this other people there, nothing. Nothing.

And yet, God selfie. Open their eyes to the truth. That this is the king, this child. Probably crawling around. In the dust.

What looks like just an ordinary baby? Enlighten them. And he came to worship him, because of who he was not, who he was going to be not what they would get in, in, in return. Hey, we've come to worship because well, we needed to. We need to have a good day. We need to have a good year, so we're going to worship you. So we're going to come in and, and worship you now, because of what we can get out of the deal.

So the question is this morning are who is he to you? And and, and after you enter the who is he The next question is, why do you worship? Why you here this morning? Are your parents made you?

Cuz it was the thing to do was the box to check off.

It was inconvenient but man will just I better do it or am I? Not met. Let Me In Heaven someday.

When you come here, because this is your king that were talking about. Is there a war? This is the one that is worthy of worship every day of Our Lives.

I don't worship him because of what? I can get out of him. I don't worship him because I made a deal with him or I just was feeling down and he makes me feel up or, or emotionally I get something out of this. That's not what this is.

What was the first answer of? Who he is to you. We'll tell you why you're worshipping him. You realize that go together?

Jesus is my king. This is my Lord and he's King honestly, whether I recognize it or not, he's King. seize the Lord of my life because I I some point in time I got to the point where I realized that I couldn't, and I didn't. And then I had sinned against this, holy and righteous God. And I I needed a way.

And I and I and I found, I found Christ to be the one way. And who is he to me this morning? He is. My salvation is my God and my king. I've never met him face-to-face. I didn't get to see him walk as a child.

But in faith, just like these Magi, who traveled so far to get here in faith. He's my Lord. I believe not only that he was born in Bethlehem but that he walked the righteous life, all the days of his life. I believe that he said his face on Jerusalem. And that he died for me. I believe in faith that not only did he pay for my sins in his wrath was upon his shoulders but I believe that he rose from the dead.

In faith, I believe, someday, I will experience that same thing in which I will die in this life, but I will open my eyes, and I'll be before him.

So, being at that's who he is to me.

Worship is not just about what we do in this room. Worship is what happens in my life everyday. And the ups and the downs and the life that we live, we don't walk it alone. We walk it with one who cares for us and knows us better than we know ourselves.

He's our King. Is 430 over my life and he does as he Wills.

But see at one point in time, I didn't know him. I didn't know him as the awful bug at Omega. I didn't know him as the Bright Morning Star. I I didn't know him.

I do now.

It changes my worship. Cuz now I no longer worship me. I worship my God.

Why am I here this morning? Cuz my savior deserves, all of my worship. Why do we go about our business on a day-to-day walking in the power of the spirit of God? Not because we're smart or great people, Because he is. Because he is a Great and Mighty savior because he is a great and mighty king because he saw fit to indwell me with his spirit that in the fullness of time, I'm at walk with him.

Shall we partake of the Lord's supper together here in a few moments? We do it in the form of worship to him. Beloved, you realize how important this day that we celebrate on this day, is the Believers life?

He had to come and put on flesh. He had to walk among us. God did this for you?

Not so that you could live your best life. Now,

he did it because he desired to draw you on the himself that he might make much of himself in your life that others might see him in you. That's astounding this morning. That is unthinkable.

That's a miracle.

That we would even count ourselves among the Beloved. So, we take her the Lord's supper together. We do it in remembrance of him, not only remnants of his birth, but his death. Is paying the penalty for us that we could not pay. We do it in remembrance of the life that we've been given beloved a life that has been changed. Going to leave you with this Galatians chapter 4, starting University Ford. It says this. But it went in the fullness of time had. Come God sent forth his son, born of a woman born under the law to redeem those who are under the law so that we might receive the adoption as Sons. And because you were Sons, God has sent the spirit of his son into your heart. Crying Abba, Father, so you're no longer a slave but a son, and if a son than an air through God, Beloved, we are heirs to the kingdom of God because of the baby that was born in that major, what he accomplished for us that we could not do for ourselves. And we worship him this morning. And they pray we come before you. Now we thank you, Lord. are there for you and your Grand plan, father, you saw fit to send your son to be amongst us.

All the guy that he would leave the heavenlies.

Reborn in that Manger.

Ali. Pray. Lord that Will you be reminded of that very fact, this morning, the father we are only counted amongst the Beloved right now because of what you've accomplished for us, not because of ourselves.

We're kind of monks the Beloved in our faith in Christ. Jesus, our lord and our King.

By the way, we may we recognize him as such both today and everyday.

by the way, we pray, Lord, that we would live lies pleasing before you Empowered by your spirit and your goodness.

Father, would we worship you will? The life live before you.

Until the day in which we see you face to face.

For your praise and For Your Glory. And for all your honor Lord, we pray these things. We had bad, your eyes closed for a few moments. Spend the moment with your lord.

Oh my God weekend. We thank you. Lord, for just the right time. You would send your son for us.

We pray that each heart here would examine their own hearts. laid out before you Lord, that you might guide and direct.

Father.

We thank you for your saving Mercy's.

Are you partake of this Lord's Supper? Why? I pray Lord, that we wouldn't do it lightly.

I will be truly, do it in remembrance. Have you?

Let understanding that the life we have is not our own.

A lot's been bought and paid for with a price Lord. One in which we could never pay.

But our Lord and savior did.

I prayed all in your son Jesus name.

When our dad come here, applying to the table and the apostles with him and said to them, I've honestly the desire to eat this Passover with you before I suffer for, I tell you, I will not eat it until it's fulfilled in the kingdom of God. He took a cup, you gave thanks. He said, take this divided among yourselves for, I tell you that from now on, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. He took the bread when you give thanks. He broke it and gave it to them saying, this is my body which is given for you do this in remembrance of me.

And likewise the cup after they had eaten saying discovers that is poured out for you. Is the New Covenant in my blood? Do this in remembrance of me,

All the guy. We thank you, Lord.

Oh yeah, we thank you for our Lord and Savior. Jesus Christ. Who gave us lot his life. Lord, that we might have life. Father, we thank you Lord. That we serve a Risen King this morning. Want to do all honor. Or maybe we worship you well this day. And all the days after Lord. Are you alone are worthy? Thank you for this Christmas Day, you've provided for us together as a family and we pray all this in your son Jesus name. Anna.