Authentic or inauthinic Worship this Christmas

Matthew 2:1–12 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.

Matt 2:

Are you ever fooled by anything that appears real and then turns out not to be?

This happens allot in the movies weather its the crazy effects that are like computer generated imagery Where you get landscapes from out of this world like in the movie Avintar

Or maybe its that suspense film your watching you think you got it all figured out and here comes the plot twist, ..... Its like Wow where did that come from. Those are my favorite

We expect to be a little fooled in the movie theater.

But how about real life, ....... Relationships......... Has there ever been that real life plot twist with someone who maybe you though was so sweet or maybe very encouraging that you entrusted with everything ..... only to find out they were the villain in your own suspense film............. These seem to hurt the most .......... Those real life plot twists that turn our closest friends into our enemies

So looking at our Text this morning When Jesus was Born some came to Worship Jesus in all sincerity and Some came who’s motives were not so pure.

1. What is Authentic Worship

The Bible doesn't tell us everything about the Maji but it does reveal to us their nature. They did not come to Jerusalem to seek the Star of the night but instead came to seek what the Start shined light upon the coming King the New born baby Jesus who would be our redeemer.

The Maji Left everything ..... everything..... to pursue their worship,

Worship ought to be the top priority of our lives and when we place anything else at the center of our lives, it is a insufficient substitute.

The Maji Said, “ We saw the Star and we have come to worship Him”

It was natural for them to come to Jerusalem as it was the city for the King of the Jews , However Jesus was not born in Jerusalem but on a back road in a small village of Bethlehem a small insignificant city or was it ?

Davis was Born in Bethlehem and so was Joseph

They had to travel To Bethlehem because the Roman emperor had decided to tax and have a census count

This the Maji did not know . So they showed up on the steps of King Harold expecting to find the newborn King

The Maji were astrologers who believed the starts somehow game special meaning to everyday life

Yet after such a long trip of following this start when they got to their destination the essentially said the star is not the point but what its light shines on where is the Child the new born King

They wanted nothing more than to Worship the Son of God

Worship means “to kiss towards “

In the culture of the time it meant to bow before the royal presence as the Royal extends his had one is to Kiss the Hand to show humbleness, obedience, loyalty and service towards the King

The Maji did just that they sought the King to worship Him.

Not for what they ought receive by doing so, but just Because He Is. For he Is the Great I am!

To Worship God means to come to Him in his presence to bow before him to thank him to offer my willing sacrifice in service for him in all humility and obedience to Him. Doing so not because I need something or I desire something but Just because He is

Worship is the desire of the spirit filled beliver that comes in the presence of God and says I love you,,....... Not for what you give me but because you are.... I love you........I am here to serve you..... as Isaih said

Isaiah 6:8 NKJV

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

This Is authentic Worship may not be perfect but its real

2. What about inauthentic Worship..............

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Harold after hearing the Old Testament prophecy regarding the birth of Christ hatched a plot of his own.

Matthew 2:7–8 NKJV

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.”

You simply cannot tell the story of the Maji without Harold old Harold what are we going to do with you.

We see one story of the Maki and their authentic worship to the new born king and we see another story woven in that of King Harold who comes in the name of worship alone ................ Who is truly inauthintic

Harold was a ruthless bloodthirsty Killer who was paranoid above all measure and to have his kingdom his power threatened by that of a child who could have such a thing

He know instinctively and from that of the prophecy that the child was not just a threat to his crown, But was actually the Son of God!

in His paranoia he planned to murder Jesus while pretending to worship him...................

Do we not do this are we not guilty of this we pretend to worship him but destroy his very nature we make him less than what he was we make him fit into what we would want to worship instead of worshipping him for who he is never being humble never being obedient, never in service to him only to our selves by this we too seek to destroy Jesus just as Harold did meanwhile pretending to worship him all along

If I purposely disobey God and pretend im a follower of Christ i only deceive myself I only pretend to worship and my worship is unauthentic I feel empty un filled

_________________________________________________________________________________________________3. Authentic Worshipers Delight in True Worship with He who made them

Matthew 2:9–11 NKJV

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.

There ought to be something in you that says I don't worship because I have to but because I long to

Because I love God for He Is all there is

The Maji Brought three expensive gifts to the Lord as a part of their worship towards Him

Then they Fell down and Worshiped Him That they did so not grudgingly but with exceeding Joy The MAji were in the Presence of God and they were Joyful they came to worship and worship they did not out of ritual not out of traditions but out of Love for Him

In Conclusion

What are your motive when it comes to worship, you are the only one who can answer that not mom not dad not your husband not your wife you and the Lord alone knows your heart

I would encourage you to fall down worship Him as He is not who you wish he was worship Home not for what he has done not for what you hope he will do but because of your love for Him

Maybe you know not of this love .... The greatest love ever known I would encourage you to speak with me let me point you towards the King who gave all out of love for you so that not would have to perish so that all could come into the family of God