Epiphany… surprise?

Series: Do we hear God Speak to us today?

Pre-series intro

Title: Epiphany… surprise?

Theme: manifestation or the appearance of the Devine .

Text: Matthew 2:1-12

Goal: To encourage the children of God to open there hearts to the revelation of God

ME: ORIENTATION: FIND COMMON GROUND WITH THE AUDIENCE

God breaks forth in the church revealing himself to humanity who are touched and transformed by the moment.

Can anyone share a moment in their lives?

Mother: looked out the window and saw Jesus. He is mine I will take care of him.

There has to be more than this?

Grand mothers witness and my mother opens to Christ.

Moment when Christ becomes real and we invite him into are heart and turn are life over and live for him.

The Devine breaks into are world and we have a moment with God.

WE: IDENTIFICATION (MAKE IT CLEAR THAT YOU STRUGGLE)

Epiphany can’t happen to me?

I shouldn’t expect that.

I read the Bible and nothing like that breaks forth in my life.

I have not been healed , saw the parting of the red sea…. Nothing.

That thinking proves we don’t understand yet.

I find their faith, their insight, their wholehearted search and adoring worship, utterly amazing. It is one of the many surprises in the Gospel. But then God is the God of surprises. Those who think they can predict his actions need to think again. How sad that in many churches, this element of surprise is almost entirely absent, and boring predictability governs all that happens!

Green, M. (2001). The message of Matthew: the kingdom of heaven (p. 66). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

GOD: ILLUMINATION (THE GOAL IS TO RESOLVE THE TENSION

A series on hearing God in our lives. How do the stories and words of scripture speak to our lives? Can they touch and transform us? Can we learn from them? What does this inspiration mean for us today? How can this change our lives, and lead to transform in our everyday living?

Herod

Identify troubling verses

2 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.”

B.This is what we know about Herod?

Herod summons the city’s top priests and scholars

Phrases & Saducess, sanhedrin, tecnical people

to search the Jewish Scriptures for prophecies about the Messiah’s birthplace (Matt 2:4).

4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. This reaction reveals Herod’s assumption that the newborn king is the promised and long-awaited Messiah, God’s chosen person to lead Israel to restored prosperity and self-rule.

The priests and scholars tell Herod that the prophet Micah identifies nearby Bethlehem, about 6 miles (10 km) south of Jerusalem, as the Messiah’s birthplace (Matt 2:5–6; Mic 5:2; see also Mic 5:4).

Herod meets again with the wise men and asks how long ago they first observed the new star (information he will use later; see Matt 2:16). Then he sends them to Bethlehem, asking that they let him know the newborn king’s location—ostensibly so that he, too, can pay homage (Matt 2:7–8).

Herod was half Jewish, Better to be hearts pig than family

40AD Rome puts and by 37 AD he has grap power

Do you think his concern is getting close to God?

The wise men

A. Out of towner

2 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;

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Mt 2:1–3). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

B. The Wise Men

Learned men with an idea.

Didn’t know Herod ?

Didn’t read this guy at all

God revealed later.

They offer three valuable gifts: gold (probably coins), frankincense (λίβανος, libanos, precious resin from special trees burnt as incense), and myrrh (σμύρνα, smyrna, another precious resin used as incense or medicine)

Because of the greek rendering the believe the wise men showed up later and they had a house.

They worship him.

They had a revelation, Epiphany of the Son of God. Gentiles meet the son of God

They receive a dream from God and they go home another way.

You Take away

I find their faith, their insight, their wholehearted search and adoring worship, utterly amazing. It is one of the many surprises in the Gospel. But then God is the God of surprises. Those who think they can predict his actions need to think again. How sad that in many churches, this element of surprise is almost entirely absent, and boring predictability governs all that happens!

Green, M. (2001). The message of Matthew: the kingdom of heaven (p. 66). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

If you are a believer and follower you:

* Ask Christ to forgive your sins.

* receive him as Savior

* follow him as Lord.

* live for him daily

How much time do you spend with God?

YOU: APPLICATION (TELL PEOPLE WHAT TO DO AND WHAT THEY HAVE HEARD)

Conclusion:

I find their faith, their insight, their wholehearted search and adoring worship, utterly amazing. It is one of the many surprises in the Gospel. But then God is the God of surprises. Those who think they can predict his actions need to think again. How sad that in many churches, this element of surprise is almost entirely absent, and boring predictability governs all that happens!

How much time do you spend with God?

If you are a believer and follower you:

* Ask Christ to forgive your sins.

* receive him as Savior

* follow him as Lord.

* live for him daily