Fueled by Joy - Part 2
Notes
Transcript
Main passage
Main passage
Matthew 2:1–12 (CSB)
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born. 5 “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “because this is what was written by the prophet: 6 And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah: Because out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.” 7 Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and asked them the exact time the star appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship him.” 9 After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route.
Introduction
Introduction
The magi from the east (1-2)
The magi from the east (1-2)
The Greek word for “wise men” here is “magoi” from which we get “Magi” and “magic”
Daniel 9
“Come to worship him” - Not just a king but God as understood by Daniel’s prophecy
The expectation was that the Jews knew their messiah has come...
Disturbed by Joy (3-8)
Disturbed by Joy (3-8)
10 He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name,
Did not receive him...
Why?
Disordered love
God by definition is the highest thing that exists
Now whatever you have as the highest love in your heart, that’s your god… but again, God by definition is the highest thing (greater than we can imagine, if there is a such thing as the collect consciousness of humans, event that can’t contain Him)
So what the Bible points out is that it is possible for humans to love supremely that which is not Supreme
More than it being possible, the Bible tells us that this is our default perspective
Examples
Young boys and girls in high school
What was Herod’s supreme love? Himself. His power - His official title given by the Roman Senate was ‘king of the Jews’
by “all of Jerusalem” it probably refers to Herod’s administration
They didn’t want the messiah to interrupt what they had going on.
Verse 8
He let them go with the pretense of worship but with ulterior motives
At this moment, I believe it necessary to pause and comment on what’s been happening in our society.
For many reasons, I, without any type of shame, am happy with the inauguration of our new president. And that it happened on MLKJ Day, I think, is a testament to how far the modern liberalism has moved away from the preaching of Dr. King
Love your enemies sermon 1957
He wasn’t looking for equality of outcome, he was looking for equality of opportunity
Executive orders,
Official policy that there are only two genders
Pardons 23 (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances FACE - act 1994 - Physical force)
Bevelyn Beatty Williams - wrongfully convicted in Tennessee 2024
Don’t play the political game
What I am most grateful for is that we have the opportunity now to worship with impunity and we need to use it.
Overwhelmed with Joy (9-12)
Overwhelmed with Joy (9-12)
v 10 - They fell on their knees and worshiped… Some translations may have “bowing/kneeling down” but the Greek word used there means to fall down violently... You need to understand, one of the worst ways you could deny Christ is treat Him as just another good idea
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The worshiped him:
As I was driving home from church last week I was listing to a worship song… I thank God for what he’s doing in the lives of our youth and young adults. The topic of holiness has kept on coming up
Three were a few things that are challenging that we have to go through… but as the song was playing and I was singing with it, my focus shifted to Jesus and His goodness, His majesty, His love… The lyrics go:
“For God so loved this world, He gave His only Son
Whoever would believe would never die
The scars of love are upon His hands
We'll watch the darkness flee at His command
He reigns over Heaven
He reigns over Earth
Who is this King?
who is this King?
His name is Jesus
His name is Jesus
He's the light of the world
There's freedom in His name
Awesome in power
Reigning forever
Light of the world
There's freedom in His name”
And as I sang those words, refocusing on Jesus, all the other all the other worries I had just washed away...
But the song is only about 3 mins long haha. And as soon as it finished, I did what many of us would do, I replayed the song… And the thought came to my mind, “...Why did I do that?”
I wanted to recapture that moment when my focus was on Jesus, and his majesty, and all the worries of my life washed away
I don’t know specifically what heaven will be like
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.
This is the reason why Christ is to be worshiped
35 Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field.
9 The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.
Ending
Ending
In the book of Nehemiah 8, the Israelites had just come back from captivity
8 They read out of the book of the law of God, translating and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was read. 9 Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, because the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
