By Ronald E.
George Jr. at the Fayetteville Baptist Church
Face Off is a sermon series that invites all to come
face to face with the Lord.) Over
2000 years ago the Creator decided it was time to come to earth and to meet
face to face with His creation. To
make it possible to be known by the creation He chose to become one of them.
He grew a people who believed in Him through the faith of a man named
Abraham. Abraham and his
descendents would be the family through which God would come to earth.
The difference between the God man and earthly man was that He would be
perfect, as He had created them to be in the beginning.
This meeting of God and man would begin in a tiny place in the world
called Bethlehem. In this
forgotten place God would come into the world through a virgin woman named
Mary. He would live in a
carpenter’s home and be visited by shepherds, wise men, and others.
This sermon series declares that through the eyes of these humble
people we can see today the Lord face to face.
Through the experience of the Wise men we can see how God wants the
world to know of His Coming. He
wants all to experience who He is. He
wants you to be wise enough to seek Him and to shine bright enough to bring
others to Him. Will you be wise
and shine?
Scripture Text:
Matt 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days
of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2
Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star
in the east, and are come to worship him. 3 When Herod the king had heard
[these things], he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he
had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he
demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In
Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou
Bethlehem, [in] the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of
Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people
Israel. 7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of
them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to
Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when
ye have found [him], bring me word again, that I may come and worship him
also. 9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star,
which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over
where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with
exceeding great joy. 11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the
young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and
when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold,
and frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And being warned of God in a dream that they
should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another
way.
1.
The Wise Men came from the East.
God announced His coming to
the entire world, so that these men came from the east to see the King that
was just born. Friends, God wants
to announce his coming to all. He
will use whatever He has to make known the good news.
He can use you. You will
become one of God’s stars shining in the world to make known the coming of
the King of Kings. Shine as a
star of the Lord. Who are the
true stars of the world. You who
live with the Lord are the true stars of the universe. Phil 2:14 (NIV)
Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become
blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved
generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.
How far will you go with the Lord?
2.
The Wise Men came looking for
a King. True
wise men recognize the one, true living God.
Wise people will look for Him and He will be found.
He came to reveal God to his creation.
He came to be known by you. He
won’t be hid. Will you be wise enough to look for the King today?
True wisdom begins with your search for the Lord.
Wisdom is born when you find Him, worship Him, and follow Him.
Then it can be said that you are a wise person.
3.
The Wise Men followed the
star. God
will use His creation to show the way to Himself. You can know a person by what they do. You can get a glimpse of the glory of the Lord through His
creation. God will use what it
takes to lead you, but we have to be willing to look up and look around.
Don’t miss the forest for the trees.
The glory of the Lord can be seen if we will just take the time to stop
and look up every now and then. God
will recreate (born again) us, so that we would shine to bring others to see
the Savior of the world. Follow
the star/light. Jesus is the
light of the world.
4.
The Wise Men fell down and
worshipped. The
Wise Men came to worship the One whose birth was marked by a star.
Worship of the King is an opportunity to become who we were created
to be. Many miss out on this
great opportunity, because they fail to take the time and make the sacrifice
to God. When they found the King
they fell down before Him. They
humbled themselves before Him who created the universe.
Have you recognized who he is? King
Herod and the religious leaders of the day could have gone to worship too.
But, they failed to see the importance of worshiping the true King.
Wise men will worship and fall before the King of Kings.
Phil 2:9 Therefore
God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every
name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on
earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
A Christmas Parable
A man is climbing a mountain, at the top of which he hopes to find God.
By ascending the heights, the seeker expects to leave all the cares and
miseries of life behind in the valley. But
while he climbs, God is coming down the mountain into the toil and grief.
In the mists of the mountain God and the man pass one another. When the
man reaches the mountain top, he will find nothing.
God is not there. What
then will he do? He knows the
climbing was a mistake, but in agony of that recognition, will he fall down
and despair? Or will he turn to
retrace his path through the mists and into the valley to where God has gone
seeking him? Love
came down at Christmas, but only a few perceived its coming.
-- Christian Communications Lab
5.
The Wise Men rejoiced to see the star.
God had not forgotten their
quest. He will make a way for all
those who seek Him to find their quest. Joy
to the world. Joy to you and me.
6.
The Wise Men gave gifts to the King of Kings.
Wise men will recognize the
importance of giving to God. Giving to God is an opportunity to be used by Him.
He will take your gifts from the heart and multiply them for His honor
and glory. What will you give to
the King? He wants you.
Have you given Him your all?
7.
The Wise Men followed the direction of God and departed another way.
To follow God’s direction
in your life is the fulfillment of God’s desires for you.
He will show you the way and then you have the choice to go with Him
through your life. What direction
is He giving you today? Do you
need to go a different way in your life?