Wise Men Still Seek Him
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A Christmas Touch - Wise Men Still Seek Him • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 1:17:22
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Wise Men Still Seek Him
Wise Men Still Seek Him
Confession Of Faith: I am not moved by what I see or by what I feel. I am moved by what I believe. I believe the WORD of God The victory is mine! - I have it Now!I can see it through the eyes of my faith
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.”
Wise Men Still Seek Him
During this Christmas season, we need to ask ourselves what we are truly seeking after is. Are we looking for a special gift under the tree, a collective dinner with all our friends and family, a new year that we’ve promised ourselves to make better than the last? Exactly what is it that we thirst after in our imaginations and spirits.
Matthew 2:1-2 (KJV)
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem 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.
Three Wise Men
Here in Matthew 2:1-2, we find three wise men, not foolish men, but three wise men following a star in the night, which will lead them to the Messiah. What’s puzzling is that these three wise men didn’t have a Bible to inform them about Jesus. Though often referred to as the ‘Three Kings,’ the Bible gives no account of how many men there were, nor their status in society. One theory states that they may’ve been Kings of the Yemen, as during this time they would have been Jews. The amount of wise men is guesstimated by the number of gifts offered, which was three, being that each wise man offered something. However, regardless of the number of wise men who came, it is believed that they brought servants with them as well.
These men are also referred to as Magi. The word Magi comes from the Greek word ‘magos,’ where the English word ‘magic’ comes from. ‘Magos’ comes from the Old Persian word ‘Magupati,’ which was the title given to priests in a sect of the ancient Persian religions, such as Zoroastrianism. In today’s terms, we would call someone who practices Zoroastrianism an Astrologer. Regardless of what the English language derives from the word ‘magos,’ It should be noted that Zoroastrianism strongly opposed sorcery.
These magi saw an unusual new star in the sky, and somehow knew that it signified the birth of a special king. No one knows what the ‘star’ in the sky truly was, though many theories think it could have been a comet, supernova, a conjunction of planets, or even just something supernatural.
Legends tell us that these magi have been identified, but there isn’t solid evidence for validity. Here is how they are often described:
1. Gaspar, or Caspar, who has brown hair, a brown beard (some believe he had no beard), and wore a green cloak, and a gold crown with green jewels on it. He is the King of Sheba. Gaspar represents the Frankincense brought to Jesus.
2. Melchior, who has white long hair, a white beard, and wore a gold cloak. He is the King of Arabia. Melchior represents the Gold brought to Jesus.
3. Balthazar, who has black skin, a black beard (some believe he had no beard), and wore a purple cloak. He is the King of Tarse and Egypt. Balthazar represents the gift of Myrrh that was brought to Jesus.
Herod inquired the Wise Men to find Jesus and tell him his whereabouts, under the impression that he desired to go worship him, which was deceit, because he sought to kill Jesus. He felt that Jesus posed a threat to him and his power.
Listen up. Everyone who asks you to tell them about Jesus, doesn’t do so to worship Jesus; some wish to kill your faith in Him by feeding you lies. If they succeed in their attempt, it will cause you stop calling on His name, and become discouraged. This is, in large part, why so many people leave the church.
So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
You see, we must hold our faith not only in our Church, but in our everyday lives; we must seek Jesus continually.
In 1825, a business man by the name of Samuel Taylor decided he was going to give the Lord 10 percent of every dollar he made; that the Lord would be his business partner. That same business is now ‘Lord and Taylor.’
We must become star gazers; looking up for our deliverance and not hanging our heads down low when we feel defeated, or like we don’t have everything we should. Sometimes the greatest gifts God gives us are the ones he doesn’t allow us to obtain.
We must become wise in our desires, decisions, actions, and thoughts.
Wisdom is the principal thing;
Therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.
Are we seeking after understanding in this season, or complaining about what we can’t afford and didn’t receive? Are we truly thankful for the gift God gave us; salvation? I’m afraid many of us have forgot the reason for the season.
When we become unthankful for the gifts we’ve been given, we neglect the spiritual aspects of our makeup and give in to our fleshly desires
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
One of the biggest problems our world faces today is the lack of fear for God. Understand, God doesn’t want us to be frightened by Him; fear refers to reverential aw. However, these wise men were obedient and followed the star in the sky, searching for a King they’ve never seen, to worship Him.
If we truly wish to give God a gift this year, let’s start by being obedient.
So Samuel said:
“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
As in obeying the voice of the LORD?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams.
The wise men made a great sacrifice to travel from the East, however they were blessed by their obedience. They had the honor of being some of the very first people to see Jesus. God’s spirit is whispering to all of us right now, “seek, and ye shall find…” These wise men weren’t following just any old light, they were following a light from which the world didn’t know.
This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
You may not have put a tree and Christmas lights up this year, but if you’ve got Jesus, you have a light that’s brighter and more powerful than the sun itself. Forgot about GE, look at the JC (Jesus Christ) wattage in your home. That’s the wattage that will bless you, keep you, encourage you, direct you, and ultimately save you.
Don’t get caught up in the world’s interpretation of the Holiday season, get caught up in the season of Jesus Christ’s birth, the true Christmas season. This is a season you can celebrate 365 days a year. During this kind of season, you get a gift every day; a gift of life, a gift of peace, a gift of protection, a gift of direction, a gift of love…
When we celebrate God in our lives every day, we have a light that no amount of money or friends can give us
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?
When this light shines from within you, you no longer have to be afraid of anything, because we serve a God who takes care of His own.
Remember, the wise men didn’t travel by day, but by night. You can’t see the stars when the sun is shining, but when it’s dark. As Christians, we’re going to have some dark days, but it’s during these times we need to look for the star of Bethlehem.
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart,
All you who hope in the LORD.
They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat;
A man who has friends must himself be friendly,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last.
Before Jesus Christ was a dead body on a rugged cross, He was our Savior, and He still is, because we serve a living Savior!
Jesus Christ was betrayed by those He loved, falsely arrested, dragged from false court to false court, brought before Pilate, given a sentence, given a crown of thorns to wear on His head, forced to carry His own cross, nailed to that same cross, crucified, placed in a tomb, and laid all Friday night and Saturday, but on Sunday morning, He arose out of that tomb. Two wise women, by the names of Mary came down to that tomb to anoint His body, but found the rock had been moved
And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee,
We serve a living Savior whose given us so many gifts and will continue to give for the rest of our days! Brothers and sisters, seek Him, seek the bright and morning star called Jesus Christ! If you want peace, love, and an everlasting life, seek Him! His name is Jesus!