Be Ready & Faithful

During a Sunday service, the pastor was teaching about patience and waiting on God.

He said, “Sometimes, God’s timing is perfect, even if it feels like we’re waiting forever.”

From the back pew, an old man grumbled loudly, “Yeah, I’m still waiting on my wife to understand that ‘waiting’ part!”

Historical/Cultural Context -

This Gospel is written by Matthew, also known as Levi who was a former tax collector. It was most likely written between AD 50-60. Matthew left everything behind to follow Jesus. Matthew wrote primarily to Jewish believers—people who knew the Old Testament well. Matthew had one goal: to prove that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, the King of Kings, and the fulfillment of God’s promises. Connecting the Old Testament prophecies to the life of Christ, proving that every word God spoke was coming true in Jesus. The key themes of the Gospel include Jesus as King, The Kingdom of Heaven, Fulfillment of Prophecy and discipleship.

Biblical Text -

Matthew 2:1–23 NKJV

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? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ” Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: “A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more.” Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

-[Prayer]-

Life Principle - God Is Full Of Promise & He Wishes Us To Be Ready & Faithful

Life Point- God Is Full Of Promise

Exegetical -

Matthew 2:1–12 NLT

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?” “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote: ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’ ” Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!” 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. When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.

Homiletical -

Before we make an application let’s break down what we just read.

Jesus is born in Bethlehem in the time of Herod the Great. Herod would have been called King of The Jews because he ruled over them as the governor in the name of Rome.

He was considered a good king, though he was very evil, because he restored the temple to it’s former glory. You see the temple had been stripped of it’s gold and splendor. You could say it had fallen in disrepair so Herod comes in and wants good will amongst the Jews and he takes care of it for them.

Under Herod you had the Jews who enforced their own local laws. The laws found in the Old Testament. These rulers were Sadducees and Pharisees. Thought the Sadducees were more of the elite political class and the Pharisees were more about teaching the people. The Sadducees tended to discount anything that deals with the supernatural. They were not into miracles, that is why they were Sad-You-See. They also didn’t believe in an after-life. Whereas the Pharisees believed in miracles and the after-life.

This is the political backdrop that we see when we come to look at these “Wise Men.”

The term for wise men is actually Magi. Signifying that they were Astrologers from the east. It is not known by this text where in the east they come from but most scholars lean toward Media/Persia because they have wise-men there that match the description.

These guys were pretty wealthy as they served their king in dreams and advice about matters relating to state.

We are told there were three wise men by our traditions. This is not the case. It is most definitely more than three including servants they may have brought with them. We don’t know the number that came because that is not what this is focused on. The focus is on Jesus.

We get three because of the gifts they brought with them. Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh

These gifts have significant meaning.

The Gold speaks to Jesus’ birth and kingship

Frankincense speaks to the beautiful fragrance of His life

Myrrh Speaks to His death and subsequent resurrection.

The wisemen were called before Herod and Herod, the snake and liar that he is, told them he wanted to worship this king too.

Please take note of this. It says they wanted to worship Jesus and that is exactly what they did when they got there. You don’t worship just any old standard king. You worship divinity. You worship God.

They knew that Jesus was divine and worshipped Him.

When the star for Jesus appeared these astrologers followed it. Some people believe the star moved with them, but in actuality it would have appeared in the west and they saw it in the east. These men were well versed in things of the heavens so they knew how to track where this star appeared and knew how to plot a course to follow it.

We will see later that these Magi didn’t show up until about two years after His birth. It would have taken that long for them to travel from the far east to the house of Jesus.

Then the Magi were warned to go to their own country by another route in the form of a dream.

Why would God do this?

To protect Jesus from being killed by Herod.

Why would Mary and Joseph stay in Bethlehem for so long? Because it would be dangerous to travel with an infant and because Joseph probably found work there.

Let’s look at this from the perspective of Joseph and Mary for a minute

You think they were expecting them to show up?

No, of course not

This was another instance in which God showed how special Jesus is.

He also provided for the family with the gifts. These gifts weren’t cheap, and they weren’t a little. You don’t travel that far and be as far up the totem pole as these guys were and show up with paltry gifts. The family was financially provided for by God.

You don’t know how God is going to work some things out, but He will. It is usually the last minute too. It is God that takes care of His people. Physically, spiritually and emotionally.

When all seems lost, you can trust God to come through with the provision. He is never late, but it is always on His timing, not ours. So we must have faith in a loving and powerful God who takes care of His people.

Psalm 37:25 NLT

Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.

Illustration -

In the early church, believers faced persecution and imprisonment for their faith. Yet, they gathered in secret, sharing testimonies of God’s promises. One day, a man who was about to be executed found a Bible hidden in his cell. He read the words of hope and promise from Romans 8, 'Nothing can separate us from the love of God.' Instead of despair, he felt a surge of peace, understanding that God’s promises endure beyond trial. This teaches us that no matter the severity of our situation, God's promise remains steadfast and unchanging. Even in that dark time, God provided Him with a provision of peace.

Life Point - God Wants Us To Be Ready To Change At A Moments Notice

Exegetical -

Matthew 2:13–15 NLT

After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother, and they stayed there until Herod’s death. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “I called my Son out of Egypt.”

Homiletical -

So the wise guys leave and again Joseph has a dream telling him to do something. Did you notice that they didn’t wait to an opportune time? No he got up and immediately did what he was told.

You know sometimes our problem is that we don’t do what we’re told, when we are told to do it. We give up, and continue to sit in our ruts. If we would only listen to the nudging of the Holy Spirit to do the things which He has told us then we would be better off.

Yes God provided for them in times past and Joseph did what he was told to do in the past, but now God has a new thing for him to do. That is to arise and flee.

Do you think he was stuck in the past? No, because if he was he wouldn’t have done the new thing he was told to do and the child would have been killed.

Let’s not get stuck in the past, but move forward with what God is doing today.

Do you think that as they fled some things had to stay behind?

Of course they did, but they put their trust in God and fled to Egypt.

It says they stayed in Egypt until good old Herod finally died. He did the last thing God told him to do and was faithful to continue in it until he was told otherwise.

Can the same be said about us? Have you missed God somewhere? Or just out and out refused to do His will?

Joseph and Mary would have built a life in Egypt and would have “put down roots” as we would say. But notice the Lord told them to stay in Egypt until He said otherwise. Meaning that there would come a time when they would have to pull up and leave things behind again and go back to Israel.

In Churches we like to look back and say, “see how God has provided in the past?” Yes, but what if He is calling you to continue on with Him and you’re still stuck in an old provision in Egypt and not the new provision He has for you as you move forward in His blessings.

Let us always keep an ear out for what God wants to do next in our lives.

Illustration -

In the early 1900s, the world faced a rapidly changing landscape with the advent of technology. Many businesses failed to adapt, clinging to outdated practices. However, those who embraced change thrived. Just as these businesses had to shift their strategies, God often asks us to let go of our comforts and adapt to His will. Will we be like the thriving businesses, or will we resist and stagnate?

Life Point - God Wants Us To Be Faithful With What He Tells Us To Do

Exegetical -

Matthew 2:16–23 NKJV

Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: “A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more.” Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

Homiletical -

Notice that Herod felt that the wise men had deceived him. So he got pretty mad about it and took out his rage against all children in the area and had them murdered from two years and under.

Herod was not only mad, but he couldn’t have anyone, child or not, test his authority. He couldn’t have anyone come back in a few years to say they were the Messiah to lead a rebellion against him and Rome. Because that would have gotten him in hot water later in life and it would cause tremendous backlash from the Roman government.

You see Herod had been told by the Jews that the Messiah would be a conquering king; and He will be, but not yet. In His first coming He is the suffering servant, the sacrificial lamb. In His second coming He will be the conquering King and His second coming draws closer and closer. I am looking for it any day now.

Revelation 19:11–16 NLT

Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

Herod was afraid, so he ordered the death of the children to try to thwart what was coming to pass. But, it didn’t work

Now many years later Herod dies and an Angel again appears to Joseph and says to go back to Israel. Joseph does this without hesitation and without question.

Joseph hears the the son of Herod is reigning in his place and this concerns him. So, he is warned in a dream to go to Galilee, specifically Nazareth which fulfills prophecy.

So what can we learn from this?

First of all, Satan and his minions will try to thwart the plans that God has for your life.

Second, Because Joseph was obedient to God’s call he was protected at every step he took.

If he had not been obedient and Mary had not been submitted to his leadership something awful could have happened.

Third, we must seek God’s will in all matter, no matter how big or how small. God has placed you in this church for a reason, don’t thwart His plans for you.

Find out where God is moving in the church, or wants to move and make it happen. We are never done following God’s will.

Illustration -

During the Great Awakening, a preacher named George Whitefield traveled the colonies, energetically sharing his faith. Despite exhausting travels and countless rejections, he remained committed to his calling. His consistent evangelism led to a spiritual revival, with thousands turning to Christ. When we are faithful with the Gospel message, even in the face of challenges, God can work through us to ignite spiritual transformation.

Life Principle– God Is Full Of Promise & He Wishes Us To Be Ready & Faithful

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