Where are You Going for Christmas? - part 3
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1 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,
2 saying, “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.”
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;
4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 “ ‘And you, O 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.’ ”
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”
9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
God uses the circumstances of our lives to change us - Mary and Joseph ()
Life gives us struggles and trials but allow the Holy Spirit to change you and make you more like Jesus
God uses the circumstances of our lives to change those around us - the shepherds ()
Allow the Holy Spirit to turn your fear into joy as you fix your eyes on Jesus and his salvation
God uses the circumstances of our lives to change those around us - the shepherds
God uses the circumstances of our lives to change the world - the wise men ()
Matthew 2:1=
Allow the Holy Spirit to produce in you a faithfulness that will not only endure but allow others to see Christ in you and their need for Jesus
1 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,
2 saying, “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.”
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;
4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 “ ‘And you, O 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.’ ”
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”
9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,
Your faithful testimony will bear fruit at the Lord’s appointed time
(1) Be faithful because God is at work in your life, the lives of those around you, and around the world (2:1-2)
(1) Be faithful because God is at work in your life, the lives of those around you, and around the world (2:1-2)
1 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,
2 saying, “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.”
Luke 2:1-2
God has placed eternity in the hearts of men -
1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
God will also place believers into places of influence so that they share the true path to eternity
The ancient Magi were a hereditary priesthood of the Medes (known today as the Kurds) credited with profound and extraordinary religious knowledge. After some Magi, who had been attached to the Median court, proved to be expert in the interpretation of dreams, Darius the Great established them over the state religion of Persia.
What God has done through others will bear fruit - Daniel
What God has done through others will bear fruit - Daniel
“O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation.
There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him, and King Nebuchadnezzar, your father—your father the king—made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers,
Daniel 5:
God has placed eternity in the hearts of men - Ecclesiastes 3:11
God has placed eternity in the hearts of men
2:1-2
What God has done through others will bear fruit - Daniel
Your faithful testimony will bear fruit at the Lord’s appointed time
(2) You can bear fruit in spiritually troubled times (2:3-6)
(2) You can bear fruit in spiritually troubled times (2:3-6)
Matthew 2:3-
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;
4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;
4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 “ ‘And you, O 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.’ ”
3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
Troubled because of those who hate God (3)
Troubled because of those who should know God (4-5)
Troubled because we do not realize that God is over all things (6)
Your faithful testimony will bear fruit at the Lord’s appointed time
(3) God will give you joy when you acknowledge His unstoppable will (2:7-10)
(3) God will give you joy when you acknowledge His unstoppable will (2:7-10)
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”
9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
Matthew 2:
5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 “ ‘And you, O 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.’ ”
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”
9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.
7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.
10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
)
Written in 1964 this is an old wonderful song - I suspect Chris Tomlin will add a chorus to it and make it famous.
Luke 2:5-10
I don’t always sing in church but when I do Dos Choro
He’s Everything to Me
(5) Joy is always part of God’s unstoppable will (2:5-10)
He’s Everything to Me
Verse 1
In the stars His handiwork I see
On the wind He speaks with majesty
Tho' He ruleth over land and sea
What is that to me?
Verse 2
I will celebrate nativity
For it has a place in history
Sure He came to set His people free
What is that to me?
Chorus
'Til by faith I met Him face to face
And I felt the wonder of His grace
Then I knew that He was more
Than just a God who didn't care
That lived away out there
Chorus 2
And now He walks beside me day by day
Ever watching o'er me lest I stray
Helping me to find that narrow way
He's everything to me
Chorus
'Til by faith I met Him face to face
And I felt the wonder of His grace
Then I knew that He was more
Than just a God who didn't care
That lived away out there
And now He walks beside me day by day
Ever watching o'er me lest I stray
Helping me to find that narrow way
He's everything to me
1964 - Ralph Carmichael
Your faithful testimony will bear fruit at the Lord’s appointed time
(4) Be faithful at Christmas to worship Jesus (2:11-12)
(4) Be faithful at Christmas to worship Jesus (2:11-12)
11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
It’s not the journey that the wise men should get credit for. It’s what they did once they arrived at their destination.
They didn’t brag about getting a star. They didn’t write a book about how hard their journey was compared to the shepherds. They arrived at their destination and they did the one thing, the only thing, the expected thing. They worshiped.
They didn’t brag about getting a star. They didn’t write a book about how hard their journey was compared to the shepherds. They arrived at their destination and they did the one thing, the only thing, the expected thing. They worshiped.
They knew something wasn’t right. They knew Herod was a murderous tyrant. But still they came, they worshiped, they gave.
They knew Herod was a murderous tyrant. But still they came, they worshiped, they gave.
What are you offering to Jesus?
What are you offering to Jesus? Don't focus on how difficult you journey has been or how others have it easier. Fix your focus on Jesus and giver him your worship.
Be faithful, seek the Holy Spirit’s power to persevere and endure.
What are you offering to Jesus?
Your faithful testimony will bear fruit at the Lord’s appointed time