January 6, 2008 am    Star Search      Matthew 2:1-12

By Ronald E. George Jr. at the Fayetteville Baptist Church

What are you searching for in this New Year?  The wise men came looking for the new born King of kings after his birth.  They found the young child with his mother and adopted father in a house in Bethlehem .  If you are searching for God in this New Year, then you can be sure that He will reveal himself to you.  He doesn’t play hide and seek.  He wants to be found by those who seek Him.  He makes himself known to those who are looking.  What are you looking for this New Year?  Are you looking for God?

Matthew 2     After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi^a from the east came to Jerusalem ^2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east^b and have come to worship him.”

^3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. ^4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ^c was to be born. ^5 “In Bethlehem in Judea ,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

^6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’^d” ^7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. ^8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

^`9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east^e went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ^10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. ^11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. ^12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. ^[1]

Who is the real star of the universe?

1. His birth causes the stars to shine.  Where is Jesus?  Have you found him?  God reveals himself to those wise people who still search for Him.  

2. His presence disturbs the establishment.  He causes things to happen. 

3. He fulfills the prophesy.  He is the answer to where is he that born king of the Jews?  He is the King of kings. 

4. He makes the kings of the world to fear.  Would you make a report to the king?  Who have you made your report to? 

5. He causes great joy in hearts of people who search for Him.  When they saw the star they were overjoyed.  They found it.  Have you found it?  They found Him

6. He is revealed by creation.  God wants to reveal himself to you.  He wants to be found.  He wants to know you. 

7. He is worshipped and revered by those who recognize Him.  They bowed down or they humbled themselves.  .  They worshipped him.  They gave him gifts. 

8. He changed the course of history.  They listened to God and went back another way.  God changed the course and the life of those wise men.  Why?  Because they listened.  Are we listening? 

Gifts Of The Magi

There is a beautiful legend about the three Wise Men who followed the star to Bethlehem . It seems that one of them was a young man, and in his youthful idealism he looked for a King. He carried gold, a fitting gift for royalty. Another was middle-aged, and to satisfy the deep questions that disturbed his maturing mind, he longed to find God. His gift was frankincense with which to worship God whom he hoped to find. The third was aged, with many a sin-stained year behind him; he longed to discover a Saviour. Feeling that his Saviour must be a sufferer, he took with him a gift of healing myrrh. —Gerald M. Ward^[2]

Communion for the first of the New Year of 2008. 

Will you look for him today?  Will you take him?  Will you worship him?  What gift do you bring? 

^I Corinthians 11:23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. [3]

Take him as your King today and receive his sacrifice for your sin.