SF385 - WHAT CAN I GIVE A KING (Matthew 2 11)

What Can I Give a King?

December 23, 2001

Matthew 2:1-12

Introduction

Each year I wonder if Christmas can become anymore secularized than it was the previous year and each year it does.  It is amazing to me how Christmas has become nothing more than an opportunity to satisfy the desires of our flesh.  We make our list and expect to have it filled.  We expend great amounts of energy and money getting ready to celebrate the birth of our Savior and very little energy or money actually worshipping Him.

Even for Christians, Christmas has become nothing more than a series of parties and events mostly geared to please us and not centered on Christ.  I wonder how many of us have made up or Christmas list for God?  Those things we want Him to do for us in the coming days.

It is time for us to restore a bit of sanity to Christmas.  Perhaps a good place to begin is to stop making lists of what we want and instead make of list of what we will give to the Lord.  We need to follow the lead of the Magi and bring our gifts to the Lord.  That brings us to the theme for today’s lesson, “What should you give Jesus this Christmas?”

1A.      Give Him Your Heart (Psalms 51:16‑17)

Psalm 34:18 “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

1B.      A broken heart

“Broken,” shabar; to break in pieces

You must be brokenhearted about your sin.

Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

You must confess that you are spiritually bankrupt before God

Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

2B.      A contrite heart

“Contrite,” dakah; to crush

You must be humble before the Lord.

Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek (humble), For they shall inherit the earth.”

James 4:6 “But He gives a greater grace.  Therefore it says, ‘God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’”

You must forsake your sin and turn to God in faith.

Luke 13:3 “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”

Ø      It is only by God’s grace that we can truly experience brokenness and repentance.

Ø      Therefore call upon Him that He might shed His grace upon you.

2A.      Give Him Your Life (Proverbs 3:5-6)

1B.      Trust Christ only and completely (3:5a)

Acts 4:12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

Proverbs 22:19 “So that your trust may be in the LORD, I have taught you today, even you.”

2B.      Do not trust in yourself (3:5b)

Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.”

Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?”

3B.      In everything bring glory to God (3:6a)

1 Corinthians 10:31 “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

4B.      Follow His lead (3:6b)

Luke 9:23 “And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”

3A.      Give Him Your Obedience

1B.      Obedience a requirement for a believer

Hebrews 12:6 “For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives”

2B.      Obedience proves our love for the Lord.

John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”

3B.      The believer’s goal is to finish the task the Lord has given him to do.

2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith”

4A.      Give Him Your Service

1B.      Love others

1 John 4:20-21 “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.  And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.”

2B.      Be a soul winner

Proverbs 11:30 “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who is wise wins souls.”

3B.      Be faithful

1 Corinthians 4:2 “In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.”

Application

Give It All

At Christmas time a poor bootblack with only $3 went to the store to buy a present for hi mother.  The clerk said to him, "Why don't you spend just a dollar for her and keep the balance for yourself?"  "Oh, no," replied the boy.  "I love my mother and I want to give it all to her."

At Christmas time let's not withhold anything from Christ.  Let us come and lay our all at His feet because we love Him.

Preparing for Next Week

1.       Read John 5:16-31.

2.       What is the force of Christ’s answer in verse 17?

3.       What is the meaning of Christ’s words in verse 19?

4.       How does verse 20 bring out the Deity of Christ?

5.       What does verse 23 prove about Christ?

6.       How does verse 24 establish the eternal security of the believer?

7.       Why should the “Son of Man” be the Judge?  (5:28)

8.       Does verse 30 speak of Christ’s humanity or Deity?