Grosey's Messages

 QUESTION OF EXISTENCE:    WHY AM I ALIVE?

Jeremiah 20:18  "Why was I born? Was it only to have trouble and sorrow, to end my life in disgrace?"

Possible Answers For Meaning to Life

Mystical – Look within, 

Philosophical –science, logic, history, debate

Naturalist –  environmental, humanism

Hedonist – Pleasure is the only good

Materialist – Physical world is all that exists

Proverbs 16:4a "The Lord has made everything for His own purpose."

Ephesians 1:11  In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

An unknown person once said, "There are two great moments in a person's life. The first is when you were born; the second is when you discover why you were born." That leads me to make one of the most arrogant statements any pastor could ever make to anybody. If there is a God and if that God has revealed himself in the Bible, and if the Bible is God's word and true, then I can confidently, though it may sound arrogantly say, "I know the purpose for which every person was born." Now we may not carry that purpose out the same way throughout our lives, but nevertheless we were all born for the same purpose. Paul in one simple sentence gives us the one purpose for which we were created. It is the purpose of the church. In fact, in the grand scheme of things it is the purpose of everything. The reason we exist individually, why do we exist as a church, why did God create anything or anyone? Here is the purpose, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31) We will never understand our purpose, or accept our purpose, or practice our purpose unless we understand one thing about our lives – it is not about me.

PEOPLE FIGHT ABOUT PRIMARY CONCERNS

The context is that some people in a church were feuding.

The Corinthian church could feud over anything: Who is boss …..

POWER  1Corintians 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers.12 What I mean is that each one of you says, "I follow Paul," or "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Cephas," or "I follow Christ."

PRIDE  1 Corinthians 3: 3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?4 For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human?

PERMISSIVENESS   1 Cor 5:1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife.2 And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn?

PASSIONS   1 Corinthians 6:8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud---even your own brothers! 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God

Paul uses a problem about eating meat in an idols temple to reveal a principle. And that principle deals with the wrong desires that often dominate people's lives.

Swindoll called out the problems as the desires for fame , fortune, power and pleasure.

fame , fortune, power and pleasure are not sufficient centres for our lives to fulfill our lives.  We have a God shaped hole in our hearts that only God Himself can fill.

1 Corinthians 10:23-33"All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up.24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience.26 For "the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof."27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience.28 But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience---29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience?30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God,33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

The Westminster Catechism says "Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man's chief end is to glorify God, And to enjoy him forever.

1. To Seek God's Glory

What do we mean by "the glory of God?" The word "glory" means "something that is worthy of complete praise and honour." It refers to the greatness, the grandeur, and the goodness of God. One thing to keep in mind, too, is that God doesn't just deserve glory. He is glory. He is the only being in all of the universe who is glorious, who radiates glorious. In one sense, He doesn't need us to give Him glory so He will have it; He already does! If we didn't praise God, exalt God or give God glory He would still be glorious, great and good. We are to give him glory. We are to recognize his glory. Why? Because He deserves it and because He is God. You don't add to His glory. When you don't give God glory you don't take away from His glory. Our major purpose is to talk and walk in such a way that we always recognize His glory, exalt His glory and proclaim His glory.

Romans 12:1 So then, my friends, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer…  WORSHIP is my Response to God's love "Because of God's great mercy…"

WORSHIP is giving back to God. Offer yourselves to God…"

Mark 12:30 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul, all  your mind, and all your strength… This is the first and greatest commandment."  

Love Him           Passionately "with all your heart and all your soul"      Thoughtfully "with all your mind"

Practically "with all your strength" 

2. To Share God's Grace

When you seek God's glory you will then do the greatest thing you will ever do for anyone else – you will share God's grace. you are either a part of the church of God or you are not. Paul's point is we should never be a stumbling block to an unbeliever coming to Jesus or a stumbling block to a believer in getting closer to Jesus. They may be offended when we share the gospel, but they should never be offended by the way we live the gospel. So with that in mind, what is the end goal? Paul shares it in his letter to the Corinthians, "Even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved" (I Corinthians 10:33). Our number one desire for everyone on this planet is in those last five words, "That they may be saved." Nothing brings more glory to God than when we share God's grace and people respond to God's grace.

1Corinthians 1:4-9  I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge---6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you---7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ,8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Luke 19:10 "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

Jn 17:18 As you sent me into the world [mission], I have sent them into the world.

Jn 20:21b "…As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you."

Acts 20:24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.

1 Cor. 15:1-4 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved... that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

1 Cor. 9:22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.

John 4:35 "...open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest

Matthew 9:37-38 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

3. To Show God's Goodness

Paul was so committed to seek God's glory and share God's grace he could say, "Follow me in the way I live, because I am following the way Christ lived." How did Jesus live? Here is what he said at the end of his life, "…it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 'Father, glorify your name!'" (John 12:27-28). Jesus came to glorify God His father. If you think about it, everywhere Jesus went He not only was seeking God's glory, but He was sharing God's grace and He was showing God's goodness. What Paul said about his life we should say about ours. We should live our lives in a way that clearly shows God's goodness to everyone we encounter.Romans 8:29a For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son. Ephesians 4:15 "…speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ."

Call to Worship:  Luke 1:26-38.

Law and Grace Reading:  Genesis 18:1-14

Bible reading:  Jeremiah 32:17-28 Nothing is too hard for the Lord.

Benediction  Ephesians 3:19-21

 

Nothing is Too Difficult  Jeremiah 32:17-28

Is this a promise to everyone on their 80's that if they want to have a baby they can have a baby?

Look at Jeremiah 32: "And I bought the field at Anathoth from Hanamel my cousin, and weighed out the money to him, seventeen shekels of silver.10 I signed the deed, sealed it, got witnesses, and weighed the money on scales.11 Then I took the sealed deed of purchase, containing the terms and conditions and the open copy. 

Can I make property purchases that will make money? Is anything too difficult for the Lord?"

Wait none of those things are what these passages are actually about!  This is not a text for positive affirmation!  Name it and claim it Prosperity doctrines! 

Have you ever been in a difficult situation and found yourself saying, "I can't do this anymore"? Have you ever wondered how you were going to handle the circumstances you've been dealt? Have you ever worried about how you were going to fix the problems in front of you that seemed impossible to solve? Well, the good news is, you are not without hope. There is nothing too difficult for the God of the Bible. He is the can-do God. His Word reminds us that all things are possible with Him.

Heavy weights, lifted fewer times in succession, produce greater strength.
Lighter weights, lifted with more repetitions, produce greater endurance.

For me, the problems that are the toughest to overcome are the problems that never seem to get solved . . . the ones that keep coming back. God wants us to be strong men and women of faith. To achieve that, I believe we must become men and women of resilience and endurance. If I cannot stand strong under the adversity of unrelenting pressure, I'll lose the joy of the journey.

Endurance.  Some years ago a friend got me to read the story of the amazing Endurance.

Endurance was the three-masted barquentine in which Sir Ernest Shackleton and a crew of 27 men sailed for the Antarctic 1914–1917. She became trapped in pack ice and finally sank in the Weddell Sea off Antarctica on 21 November 1915. All of the crew survived her sinking and were eventually rescued in 1916 after using the ship's boats to travel to Elephant Island and Shackleton, the ship's captain Frank Worsley, and four others made a voyage to seek help.

The wreck of Endurance was discovered on 5 March 2022, nearly 107 years after she sank, by the search team Endurance22. She lies 3,008 metres (9,869 ft; 1,645 fathoms) deep,

It took 2 years and a journey in small boats.

By 15 January 1915, Endurance was within 200 nmi (370 km) of her destination,

There is something far bigger behind this text repeated three times in our bibles.  This has everything to do with God's eternal purposes and the covenant of grace that God made with Abraham.

Our problem is that we are often so self-oriented.  We need to be Christ-oriented.  Being Christ oriented means understanding the real issues.  God went to a lot of trouble over many long ages to make this clear for you and I, and this saying "Is anything too difficult for the Lord!" is a key hinge to help you move into God's big picture plan.

"I will make you a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed in you" (Gen. 12:2-3)

Is anything too hard for the Lord? 

Rom 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

I want to give you four practical applications that you can take from this message and apply to your everyday life as you follow Christ. These four things will give you the confidence to face anything life throws at you and be victorious.

 

Notice three illustrations of 'hard things' that God promised and accomplished:

He promised that the walls of Jericho would fall, but that Rahab's dwelling on the wall and her family would be spared. This was indeed a hard thing – read Joshua 2:1-24; 6:1-25.

He promised to feed Elijah by ravens at Cherith and by a widow at Zarephath. This was a hard thing – read 1 Kings 17:2-16.

He promised that Mary would bring forth a son, though she was a virgin. This was a hard thing – read Luke 1:26-38.

 

No PRAYER too hard.
One of the greatest statements about prayer I've ever heard is this: nothing lies beyond the reach of prayer except that which lies outside the will of God. Anything that falls in line with the will of God is a done deal. It doesn't matter how big the request is. It doesn't matter how difficult it may seem for God to answer that prayer. God will answer that prayer! Now, there is one prayer that God cannot answer it is the prayer that is never prayed. After all, Scripture says you have not because you ask not. I believe if there is anything that frustrates God it is the unprayed prayers that we leave on the table that God would have answered had we just asked. So don't be scared or hesitant to offer your prayers up to Him. No prayer is too big, too great, or too intimidating to Him that He can't answer it!

Do You Know God's Character? 
You show steadfast love to thousands, but you repay the guilt of fathers to their children after them, O great and mighty God, whose name is the LORD of hosts,19 great in counsel and mighty in deed,

Do You Know God's Ways?

20 You have shown signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and to this day in Israel and among all mankind, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day.21 You brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and outstretched arm,

 

No PROBLEM too hard

Jer 33:2 "Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it---the LORD is his name:3 Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

Possibly you have a problem which you have been trying to solve by yourself – and you have failed! Ask the Lord to solve it for you. He can and He will perform a miracle for you, if it is for His glory to do so. He is a miracle-working God, and nothing is too hard for Him. Look up the following, and see how His power was put forth in the solution of His people's problems.

He enabled them to pass through the Red Sea unharmed and on dry land – Exodus 14:13-31.

He solved the problem of the bitter water at Marah – Exodus 15:23-26.

He gave them water out of the rock – Exodus 17:5-7.

He turned the water into wine – John 2:1-11.

He stilled the storm – Mark 4:35-41.

He raised the dead – John 11:38-46.

What He did then He can do today! Have we so soon forgotten the miracle of Dunkirk, and other similar miracles in our day and generation? – and miracles that God has performed in our own lives?

No PERSON too hard.

Hebrews 7: is still true. 22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.

23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office,24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

The woman who was a sinner was wonderfully saved by the Lord Jesus – Luke 7:36-50.

A condemned criminal was gloriously converted in his dying hour – Luke 23:39-43.

A persecutor was humbled to the dust by the sight of the risen Lord – Acts 9:1-7.

Is anything too hard for the Lord? What is your answer?

All throughout Scripture we hear about people who devoted their lives to serving God and spreading the message of Christ. But also throughout the Bible, we hear about people who were evil and horrible. We read stories about the worst of the worst, the scum of the earth, the ones walking with the enemy. And yet, time and time again, we see how God redeemed them. We see God save those who at one point wanted nothing to do with Him. It is through these stories of history we can have hope that there is no person so sinful that God cannot save him or her. No matter what you've done, no matter how far gone you think you are, and no matter how many mistakes you've made, God can redeem your life. He can bring restoration. He can bring salvation. And He can bring sanctification to your life.
7 I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and rebuild them as they were at first.  I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me

Is any nation excluded? No!

EMBRACE YOUR ADVERSITY

The Bible is very clear about the way God teaches His children endurance: "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing." (James 1:2–4 NLT).

The apostle Paul makes the same point in Romans 5: "We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope" (vv. 3–4).

DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT QUITTING

Endurance requires a strong sense of resolve. We have to make up our minds that we will not falter or give up. Hebrews 12:1 puts it this way: "Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."

STAY FOCUSED ON THE GOAL

Endurance takes anticipation. We must focus on Jesus and the life He offers us. Hebrews 12:1–3 ends with a glorious upward shift:

Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won't become weary and give up. (NLT)

Toward the end of his life, the great apostle Paul spoke of his goal. Here's what he said: "I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:14).

TRUST GOD    Nothing is too hard for the Lord.

 

 

"Wise Seekers"    Matthew  2:1-12

Who was Herod the king? He had been appointed by the Roman Senate in 40 BC; he was half- Jew and half-Idumean. As he grew older, he became increasingly paranoid about threats against his person and throne. He had numerous sons, wives, and others close to him put to death because he feared plots to overthrow him. The idea of a baby "born" king of the Jews was a direct threat to him. His response to the Lord Jesus' birth was both fascinating and disturbing. By now, Jesus was between one and two years old. He and His parents were living in a house in Bethlehem. A quick review of this chapter sheds light on the response of this secular king to the Messiah.

 (3) He was "troubled." You might say he was all shook up!

 (4-6) He was insecure. He had to find this rival to his throne.

 (7-8) He was deceitful. He had no intention of worshiping the Lord.

 (16) He was angry. The Bible says he was enraged!

 (16-17) He was maniacal. He had little innocent babies slaughtered.

 (19) He was dead.

Our Quiz

Question: The "star in the east" was seen by: a. the shepherds b. three kings from the Orient c. astrologers living in Persia The answer is: "c" – astrologers living in Persia. Understand that these were the Magi. This word gives us our word "magic" or "magician". However, these Magi were more than this. The ancient Greek historian Herodotus informs us that the Magi were responsible for training the future kings of Persia. These were professors of the arts and sciences, languages and mathematics. No one could ascend the throne as king without mastering the disciplines and receiving the blessings of the Magi. The most distinguished Magi to have lived in Persia was a believing Jew named Daniel. He would live out his faith before several kings in this kingdom and nearly pay for it with his life when he was thrown to the lions. He held to the law, which informed him in Numbers chapter 24 that a star would rise from Jacob.

It could be that some of the lost tribes of Israel are to be found in isolated regions of Northern Iran. There from the exile of Israel by Assyria, there are reported to be isolated tribes that speak Hebrew in these regions of Assyria and Iran. As such they may have maintained copies of the Hebrew scriptures in their exile.  And with Daniel' prophecies and Micah's Bethlehem prophecy , they may well have come from that region familiar with the prophecies.

This was no ordinary star. The word used for "star" or "aster" can be translated "brightness".

· This was the light that guided the people of Israel as they journeyed through the wilderness (Exodus 13:21).

· This was the light that made the face of Moses glow after he had met with God (Exodus 34:30).

· This was the brilliant light that knocked Saul off his horse on the Damascus road in Acts 9.

· This was the vision of John the apostle as he saw the light of Christ's face shining like the sun in Revelation 1:16.

This star was the Shekinah glory of God. How can its disappearance when the Magi arrived in Jerusalem be explained otherwise? How can its sudden reappearance when the Magi left Herod's place be explained otherwise? How can the fact that

it stood over the very place where the Child was be explained otherwise?

The Magi, believing descendants of Daniel's faith and professors from the ancient kingdom of Persia, had arrived to worship the Saviour, led by a literal light of God.

This leads to the next question of when the Magi arrived.

Question: The wise men came to visit Jesus:  a. while Jesus was lying in the manger

b. just after the shepherds returned to the fields c. in the house where Joseph and Mary were staying

The answer is: "c" – in the house where Joseph and Mary were staying. Matthew records in chapter 2, verse 11, that . . . After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary . . . The text implies that Joseph might not have even been there at the time – perhaps he was at work.  The wise men came into the house and saw the Child. This word is not "brephos" (brefoV) for "baby," used earlier when the shepherds were told to go and find the baby; the word now used is the word "paidion" (paidion), which is the Greek word for "little child". King Herod's later command to kill . . . . . . all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under . . . (Matthew 2:16) . . . gives an indication of the timing of the Magi's arrival and their disappearance back to their kingdom. In order to be sure the usurper of his throne was eliminated, Herod ordered all the male children in Bethlehem ages two and under killed. By the way, the church developed the myth of three wise men. We are not told in scripture how many there were. We are only told that they brought three significant gifts of:

· gold – which represented royalty; · frankincense – which was used by the priest in his daily intercession; · myrrh

As with gladness men of old     Did the guiding star behold,

As with joy they hailed its light,      Leading onward, beaming bright;

So, most gracious Lord, may we    Evermore be led to Thee!

This story of the Wise Men of the East is placed on record to show that every sky has its star. A man may live in the most outlandish spot in the solar system. But if his heart is hungry, and his eyes wide open, he will discover some pin-prick of light in the dark vault of his heaven that, faithfully followed, will lead him to Jesus. These men kept their vigil in a place so remote, and so out of touch with the rest of the world, that Marco Polo, in spite of the most painstaking researches and inquiries, had the greatest possible difficulty in locating it. Yet, in response to their aching desire for something that, sensed by their spirits, their science failed to reveal, a star swam into their ken that led them to Bethlehem.

There is in every person's sky the light of nature.

The Evidence of Creation       Design

Moral Law                 Life-giver

There is in every person's sky the light of history.

Evidence of Jesus' Birth   -Gospels, Church

Evidence of Jesus' Life   -Josephus

Evidence of Jesus' Death and Resurrection

Eyewitnesses     Empty Tomb   Effect on believers and unbelievers

There is in every person's sky the light of scripture.

Fulfilled Prophecies

There is in every person's sky the light of providence.

You are not here by accident

Everyone experiences miracles and coincidences

Answered Prayer

 

This story of the Wise Men of the East is placed on record to show that every vision has its price. For the star insisted on going the wrong way! It went West! To an Eastern mind that was anathema. What good could come out of the West? An Eastern looked to the East as the source of all intellectual and spiritual illumination.

To make matters worse, in leading them on a westward course, it directed them, of all places, to Palestine! Palestine was the home of everything that was conservative, everything that was antiquated, everything that was behind the times, It had no observatories, no academies, no universities, no anything!

After crossing the sandy desert; after having found a way across the turgid and tumultuous waters of the Euphrates; after having forded the fast-rushing streams of the Tigris; after having followed the star among the oaks of Bashan and the cedars of Lebanon; after having seen for the first time the heights of Carmel and of Hermon; after having caught sight of the glories of Jerusalem and gazed upon the stately proportions of the Temple, they at length found themselves below a caraavanasri at a cave!  The object of their search had been born in a manger.

The Magi turned the faces their camels westward. Whatever truth was; wherever truth was; they were prepared to part with all the gems that they had accumulated in order to purchase that one Pearl of Great Price.

This way and no other! This thing and no other! This faith and no other! Even though it command me to worship a babe in a manger at a wayside inn, I prefer a religion that is sovereign and majestic to a religion that is trivial and subservient. I want to be led to a Rock that is higher than I.

Every Vision has its Price of Conversion

When the Magi understood from the scriptures that they had discovered the date and place of the Saviour's birth, they immideiately prepared and left to meet him.  When you understand who the Saviour is, and that He has fulfilled all these prophecies and is indeed the Saviour of the world, you have no choice but to be converted and go to Him. 

The word converted only  occurs twice in the New Testament.  It refers to the human side of the New birth or regeneration.  Matthew 18: 3 and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Acts 3: 19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

It includes turning from sin and turning to Jesus as your Lord and Saviour.  Have you been converted? Has the truth of who Jesus is so impacted you that you would leave home and friends for His sake?

Every Vision has its Price of Conviction  3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared…8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also."

Note: Herod didn't leave his fortress of solitude in Jerusalem . He wouldn't get off his throne for anyone!  He had no conviction. Therefore he had no conversion!  So the Magi left him to himself.

Every Vision has its Price of Commitment.  Those to whom the star appears may, from that hour, live lives that are divinely guided and controlled. Heaven has its beckoning and its frightening angels, The beckoning angels bade the Wise Men follow the star. The angels bade them, later on, ignore the instructions of Herod and return to their own country another way. God has many messengers yet but one message. Whether He sends angels, as in the case of the shepherds, or stars, as in the case of the Wise Men, He is seeking, both by shining spirits and by celestial orbs, to lead the wayward hearts of men to the feet of His divine Son. It may be that, if only we had eyes to see and ears to hear, we should discover that every star that shines, and every bird that sings, and every flower that blooms is calling us to the worship and service of Jesus.

Follow the Star

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

Exodus 13:21 By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.

Luke 2:10-11 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

 

3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.

Throughout the story there were others that should have gone to Bethlehem too. But there was Indifference shown by the people

4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 "In Bethlehem in Judea, they replied…

In verse 4, we are introduced to the "chief priests and scribes." The "chief priests" headed the twenty-four main orders of priests who lived in and around the city. The scribes ("teachers of the law") had inherited the ancient profession of copying Scripture, but they had evolved into a class of teachers well trained in interpreting and applying the Old Testament as well. So Herod turns to the scribes and priests for advice. He has only one question: Where is this child to be born? The scribes don't have to look it up—they already knew the answer. Seven hundred years earlier the prophet Micah had predicted the Messiah's birth in Bethlehem. That was common knowledge in Israel. Little children learned that in Sabbath School before they were six years old. It's hard to believe that Herod didn't know it. Matthew cites a second fulfilled prophecy to prove that Jesus Christ is the King (Matthew 2:5).

How He was born was a fulfillment of prophecy, and where He was born was a fulfillment of prophecy.  They knew it all and did nothing! Their apathy hardened into outright opposition to Christ

You can know a great deal about the Bible, about church history, even be an expert in theology (a so called Greek scholar who can't read Greek!) and still respond to the Lord Jesus Christ with apathy and complacency. You can be sucked into a religion of rituals and you can miss out on the most important concept of all—a personal relationship with God.

John 1:10-11  11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

Look at how Matthew contrasts their attitude to that of the Magi

Rejoicing  10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

1 Peter 1:8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy

WISE SEEKERS…Recognize the Worth  Worship Him! 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.

Jesus was Given… Gold – a Gift for Royalty

 Incense – a Gift for Deity     Myrrh – a Gift for Humanity
The Magi gave Jesus gold, signifying His kingship, frankincense, signifying His priesthood, and myrrh, signifying the death He would one day submit to (Matthew 2:11). At the time they gave their gifts to Jesus, did they know He would one day die an unusual death? Did they know the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah dying—for example, Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53?

We don't know what they knew, but providentially they gave gifts to Jesus that signified whom He would become: King, Priest, and Savior.

Myrrh was a bitter herb that was used when preparing the body of a deceased person for burial. The apostle John tells us that Nicodemus brought a hundred-pound mixture of myrrh and aloes with which to prepare Jesus' body for burial after the crucifixion. Myrrh had another use—as a sedative, or pain killer. Mark tells us that Jesus was offered a mix of wine and myrrh as He hung on the cross to deaden His pain—"But He did not take it" (Mark 15:23).

And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. John 19:39
Give thanks today that Jesus "endured the cross" (Hebrews 12:2) for your salvation.
The cross shows the seriousness of our sin—but it also shows us the immeasurable love of God. It shows us For God so loved that the world that He gave His only begotten son.

1 John 3:16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us

1John 4: 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

WISE SEEKERS… Receive the Gift

2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God

These wise men sought Christ with all their hearts! They surrendered to Him and acknowledged His Lordship. This illustrates the faith response that God requires for all who come to His Son. Will you submit to the authority of King Jesus?

Repent of your sins and place your faith in Him as your Lord and Saviour.

Yield your hopes and dreams to Him and follow His plan for your life.

Give Him your heart daily and live to please Him.

Trust Him when life gets hard.

HOW WILL YOU RESPOND TO CHRIST?

Will you respond to God's Messiah and our one and only Saviour with faith that results in Conversion,  Conviction, and Commitment?

 

One of the things that I love about the Christmas season is that it provides the opportunity to deepen our appreciation of the humility and sacrifice of Christ – observed in His incarnation. I fear the Christmas story has become so polished and cleaned up that we would not recognize the real scene if it were enacted in front of us. The truth is that the original Christmas scene was actually a dirty, desperate scene with two teenagers delivering their first born in a limestone cave cut out of a hillside. I have prepared a quiz. It won't be recording your marks – your church membership is not on the line!

Question #1: Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem:

a. on a camel     b. in a wooden cart   c. in a Volkswagen  d. with Joseph walking and Mary riding a donkey The answer is: none of the above. I guess I should have given you this answer as letter "e," you didn't think I would just give away the chuppa chups did you?   

The record of scripture merely records in Luke chapter 2, verses 4-5, Joseph . . . went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem . . . in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. It is possible that both Mary and Joseph were too poor to even own a donkey!

Question #2: When Joseph and Mary finally arrived in Bethlehem, the innkeeper's actual words to them were:

a. "Why didn't you make reservations?" b. "Please use my stable." c. "There is no room for you in the inn."  The answer is: none of the above. The Bible simply informs us that there is no room for them in the inn. In fact, an innkeeper is never introduced in the scene.

Luke simply records in chapter 2, verse 7, . . . there was no room for them in the inn. We have every reason to believe that with all the travelers heading back to their hometowns to register according to the emperor's decree, every place was packed with people. Furthermore, we are never told that Joseph even knocked on the door of the inn. He was probably told by other people in the courtyard that the place was overflowing and there was no room. Have you ever thought about the fact that the innkeeper always gets the worst job in the Christmas play?

I read of one church that put on a children's Christmas play, and a child with Down's syndrome was to play the role of the innkeeper. The moment finally arrived when little exhausted Mary and Joseph arrived and knocked on the door. The innkeeper came to the door, right on cue. Joseph explained their pitiful situation and ended with, "Can we have a room?" The innkeeper was simply supposed to say, "We're full – use the stable." However, he was so engrossed in the scene that after pausing a moment, he said, "We're full, but you can have my room."

This inn in Bethlehem remains to this day a powerful metaphor. How many hearts have written across them today a message for God that says, "Sorry, no vacancy," or "I'm filled right now – there's no room!"? Is there really any room for Jesus Christ in your life – or are you crowding Him out?

Mary delivers the baby in this stable. However, we have to be careful in this because we are never told she and Joseph were in a stable. The only thing that implies this occurred in a stable is the fact that when Christ was born, Mary laid Him in a manger. It may have been out in the open, where the travelers had tied their animals. Many scholars believe this was a hollowed-out cave in a Bethlehem hillside, as was common in these days. Luke informs us that Mary,. . . laid Him in a manger . . . (Luke 2:7)

Question #3: The place where Mary and Joseph placed newly-born Jesus was: a. a wooden cradle b. a hammock  c. a feed trough The answer is: "c" – a feed trough. This is a literal translation of the word "phaten" (fathn) or "manger". This also supports the idea that the place is a hollowed-out area in a rocky hillside. The owner simply carved a trough into one of the sides of the cavern; he literally cut into the stone to make a place where hay could be put for the animals to eat. This is not quite the cozy picture that we have of warmth and adoration from the animals. You might say, "But I saw the pictures of the manger scene. I saw the animals. In fact, they all had halos. It's soft and warm. There's a campfire."

Question #4: The number of angels that spoke to the shepherds was:

a. a heavenly host   b. one  c. none The answer is: "b" – one.    One angel spoke and delivered this message, as recorded in Luke 2:10-11,. . . the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; "for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Only one angel spoke. He was then joined by a host of angels who began singing. Their lyrics were, according to Luke 2:14, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." This angel gave the shepherds a clue to identify the Saviour, in Luke 2:12, which leads to another question.

Question #5: The sign the shepherds were to look for in identifying Jesus was: a. a Christmas tree  b. three wise men  c. a baby lying in an animal feed trough The answer is: "c" – a baby lying in a manger – or an animal feed trough. The truth is that it was so unusual for a newborn baby to be surrounded by the flies and the filth of manure – and to have been placed in the feed trough – that the shepherds were given this as their sign.  Whatever the date of the birth of the Lord Jesus, summer or winter, it was not like here in Australia.  Sheep were kept overnight in Bethlehem in caves, where they could be shut in and guarded by shepherds appointed to the night shift.  It was their cave, and their feed trough.  And this young couple with a baby were there is that cave. Surely there were other infants in Bethlehem, but Jesus was the only one in such poverty-stricken conditions. Both Mary and Joseph were so exhausted from their trip and then the delivery of their child that after wrapping Him in strips of cloth, as was their custom, they laid Him in the feed trough – no doubt softened with some hay or perhaps Joseph's cloak.   "Listen shepherds – listen world – your Messiah; the King of Heaven has been born, and He is lying in a feed trough."

And that brings us to the one big question! Why is Jesus' Birth Ultimate!

One Time Only! Uniquely! One Time Ultimately!  One Time Universally!

Colossians 2: 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power

Genesis 1:1-2 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

John 1:1-3,14 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made....14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus Is...UNIQUELY   The Eternal Self-existent One!

Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

John 8:58-59 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

Rev. 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

Jesus Is...UNIVERSALLLY  The Second Person of the Trinity!

Genesis 1:26a "Then God said, Let us make man in our image, in our likeness..." Matthew 3:16-17 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

2 Corinthians 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Colossians 2:9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form

Pre-Creation Activities of Christ...

Fellowship with the Father – Jn 17:5 Creation of Angelic Beings – Job 38:4-7

Choosing His Elect – Eph 1:4; 2Tim 1:9 Planning His Church – Eph 3:7-12

Planning His Mission as Saviour – 1Pet 1:18-20

Planning His Future Kingdom – Mt 25:34

Jesus Is...UNDOUBTEDLY  The Awesome Creator and Sustainer!

Colossians 1:16-17 For by him (Christ) all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

John 1:3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  Jesus is an Awesome God!  Psalms 147:4 He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.

Jesus Is...UNEQUIVICALLY   The Promised Messiah!

Micah 5:2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

Estimated 456 OT prophecies concerning the coming Messiah with 300 fulfilled with Jesus Christ's first advent...

Genealogy – Is 9:7  Virgin Birth – Is 7:14      Birthplace – Mic 5:2      Birth date – Dan 9:25 Miraculous Miracles – Is 42:6-9  Suffering and death and resurrection – Is 53:4-5  Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.    "Immanuel – God with us"

Respond with Conviction

Respond with Conversion