Living through the Moment

Intro

It’s more than a baby boy.

Christmas is about the story of good and evil.

It’s about a cosmic battle that is raging for the hearts of men.

Its a battle between two Kings. One who rules out of peace and harmony and the other who rules out of control and dominance.

We are going to look at the hearts of two groups.

Herod and His minions

The WIse Men

When we look at the reception of these people groups it will better help us appreciate the moments that came before.

The Mystery of Faith

Matthew 2:1–2 ESV

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.”

The Magi -

Usually had a bad connotation with it.

Everyone like Jesus missed him, it was only the outsiders who recognized him.

The Magi understood

They were the outsiders

Natural Phenomenon

They followed the NATURAL PHENOMENON (Link to natural phenomenon at the crucifixion)

Stars produce light and that’s how the Magi knew the way. They followed the light.

Some say it was a comet, some say it was two planets lining up, others say it was a supernova or a start dying.

Whatever it was, it was a light in the sky and it gave these men pause.

They weren’t like Jesus, they didn’t have all the same beliefs, they didn’t have the same skin color, the same apparel, they were outsiders

They were the guys on the streets the neighbors poked their heads out the door to see. They would’ve been the talk of the town but for not good reasons.

Outsiders tend to get Jesus better than those in the circle.

King of the Jews

They call him “King of the Jews” (make a big deal about this phrase and use it in the end)

They know he IS king, they don’t say the one who will be king, but the one who is King.

Research Numbers 24:17

Numbers 24:17 ESV

17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.

Your Story

In order to move into the mystery we first must embrace the mystery.

2 Corinthians 4:18 ESV

18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

When you follow the call of God you will be surrounded by mystery.

You will be surrounded by things you cannot explain. You will begin to hear stories of people and think I would never of thought I’d be standing next to them. I would never of thought I would’ve met you or had you over for dinner.

As long as you have mystery you have health; when you destroy mystery you create morbidity. The ordinary man has always been sane because the ordinary man has always been a mystic. - GK Chesterton

You will hear stories in the midst of mystery.

Insert Christmas Invitations

Everyone in this room to bring one person.

We want to see 175 people in this building next week and Christmas Eve.

I want to see people from every different walk of life. Every skin color, every class.

God brought magi, who would’ve been upper class and brought them to a couple who would’ve been middle to lower class people.

The Struggle of Faith

Matthew 2:7–12 ESV

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.

With every moment of joy, there is something working under the surface. With every apparent victory, something is lurking in the shadows.

The Hope of Faith

Joseph takes his family to Egypt in order to protect his family.

Matthew 2:16–18 ESV

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Men you are the protector of your family.

God has placed a special call on your life to be the gatekeeper of your family. You are called to be a protector. You are called to be the enforcer.

Joseph was a father who listened to the voice of God.

He led from a position of being led.

Do you lead your kids from a position of submission to the call of God?

Do you lead your wife and family from a position of being led.

WHEN YOU LEAD FROM A POSITION OF BEING LED YOU PROTECT YOUR FAMILY FROM OUTSIDE THREATS BUT ALSO YOURSELF.

It’s not just Micah leading but God leading through me.

MENS AXE THROWING NIGHT THIS THURSDAY

Starting at Tokyo Grill in the mall.

After every main point there is going to be a promotion for New Life.

WE ARE A GROUP OF MEN LEADING OUT OF BEING LED.

Hope is born out of Tragedy

This isn’t the first time hope was born out of tragedy.

Jesus’ ancestors had something very similar happen 1600 years prior, when the Egyptians held the Jews captive. They were becoming strong and feared they would be overpowered so they had every baby boy thrown into the river.

Pharoah senses his power potentially slipping away and does something to regain control.

Herod senses his control slipping away and does something to regain it.

So often in scriptures God takes a situation where humans try and grasp aimlessly for control and he can still create something with it.

Herod commits an atrocity yet still from the ashes of this human error, God will preserve life.

God takes Herods dysfunction and uses it for his glory.

Herod’s reaction can be seen in all of us. We all have moments we can’t control and what we do is strive to gain cpntrol but in the process we create a mess around us.

God takes a tragedy and creates out of it hope.

God uses us despite us.

God can use you despite you.

Boy that’s not very nice. But i think we need to hear this.

THE ARMY OF CHRIST

Herod had his band of government sanctioned guards. He had his military that followed his orders and they had their official garb on and thats the army that Herod leads.

Jesus leads an army of somebodies who used to be nobodies. Jesus leads an army of the broken who have been made whole. He leads the mass of sinners who are being redeemed.

HOW DO WE LIVE THROUGH THE MOMENT?

When the world is crashing around us, how do we live through the moment?

When the Christmas is approaching and you have bad memories or loved ones you’ve lost.

The Tragedy of the Cross

Matthew ironically tells us of another natural phenomenon.

The son of God would be murdered by the ruling class.

Instead of Shepherds and wise men gathering around the stable to see the Christ. Hords of people from the city would come out and watch God be crucified in open shame.

They would put a sign over his head that said “This is Jesus, King of the Jews.” and instead of bringing gifts of Gold, Frankensense and Myrrh that would bring a hammer, nails and a spear to kill him.

And instead of there being a star of light to showcase the life and birth of the Son of God. There would be darkness over the land signifying that we humans had finally killed God and taken his place.

Because Jesus went through his moment, you can make it through yours.