Wise men still seek him Pt. 3

Wise Men: A Christmas Sermon Series

This summary recaps the key points, scriptural references, and applications from the sermon, following the pastor's original presentation order.

Introduction: The Purpose of Christmas

• Sermon Series Context: This sermon is part of a Christmas series focused on the Wise Men, drawing lessons from their lives as examples of wisdom, in contrast to foolishness, as described in the book of Proverbs.

• The Gift of Christmas: The pastor shared a personal story about his father borrowing money every year to provide a big Christmas for his family, a sacrifice the pastor didn't understand until he was older. This illustrates how we often don't fully grasp the magnitude of the gift God has given us in Jesus. We are, in some ways, "spoiled" by a gift we haven't seen with our own eyes but accept by faith.

• Finding God in Loneliness: The pastor recounted a lonely Christmas he spent in Bible school in 1988. His truck broke down, preventing him from making the 14-hour drive home. He woke up on Christmas morning alone in an empty house. This experience, though painful, was spiritually formative.

  • It was in this moment of total solitude that the meaning of "Emmanuel" ("God with us") became real to him. He learned that "sometimes you don’t know He’s with you until you have nobody else with you."

  • This experience also cultivated compassion for others who have difficult or painful holidays, similar to how Mother’s Day or Father’s Day can be hard for those with painful family histories.

The Foundation: Seeking and Finding God

• The pastor affirms that he is not just "selling" a message but is sharing truths that are central to his own life and faith journey.

• The Promise of Finding God: The Wise Men, though they arrived later than the shepherds, ultimately found Jesus. This reinforces a divine promise.

  • Scripture: A reference to the principle found in Proverbs: "if you’ll seek the Lord’s face with all of your heart, you will find it."

  • Application: For those who feel lost, need help, or are displeased with their lives, the answer is to seek God. He is the source of joy, comfort, and peace.

• The Purpose of Jesus’s Coming: Jesus did not come primarily for our happiness.

  • The Problem: We were born in sin, and "the wages of sin is death." Without Jesus, we will face judgment before a holy God.

  • The Solution: Jesus came not to make us happy, but to make us holy. The goal of our faith is not personal happiness, but God’s honor, glory, and the holiness He offers us.

Recap of the Sermon Series: The Wise Men's Journey

Week 1: The Direction and Attitude of the Wise

• Scripture Reference: Matthew 2:1: "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."

• Going the Right Direction:

  • The Wise Men traveled from east to west, a pattern in the Bible that signifies moving toward God.

  • Conversely, moving "east" often represents moving away from God (e.g., Adam was sent east of Eden; Lot journeyed east toward Sodom in Genesis 13).

  • The pastor made a cultural observation that modern trends (fashion, Hollywood) often seem to originate in the west and spread east, the opposite direction of God’s movement in Scripture.

• The Identity of the Wise Men: They were not random characters but a recognized class of educated advisors, astrologers, and scholars who often served kings (e.g., Pharaoh’s wise men in Genesis). They studied Scripture and the stars.

• The Key Point: Don’t Be a "Wise Guy"

  • God often uses the "base things" of the world to shame the wise. Intellectual pride can lead people to exalt their own knowledge above God’s Word.

  • The pastor noted that many highly intelligent people often have debilitating habits or social strangeness, suggesting this is a spiritual consequence described in Romans 1: when we fail to honor God, our thinking becomes futile.

  • Application: Whatever gifts you have—intellect, wealth, beauty, athletic ability—use them for the glory of the Lord, not for your own honor. Remember that God revealed Himself first to the humble shepherds, not the elite.

Week 2: The Response of Worship

• Scripture Reference: Matthew 2:11: "And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh."

• Four Key Actions of the Wise Men:

  1. They fell down.

  2. They worshipped.

  3. They opened their treasures.

  4. They presented the gifts.

• Falling Down with Purpose:

  • When the Wise Men found the King of the Universe, they willingly bowed the knee. This is a proactive act of worship.

  • Most people fall down as a result of sin and defeat, ending up at "rock bottom." The Wise Men demonstrate falling down with a purpose: to put ourselves as low as possible in order to exalt God as high as possible.

  • Application: We should choose to bow the knee to God now, while there is time. A day is coming when every knee will bow before Him. Let’s adore and worship Him willingly today.

• The Meaning of Worship:

  • The act of worship is one of profound humility. One definition of the word evokes the image of "a dog licking his master’s hand."

  • These powerful, respected Wise Men positioned themselves as humble servants before the child King.

• Example of Humility: Saul to Paul

  • Saul, a man who persecuted the church, was struck down by a light from heaven and humbled before the Lord.

  • His name, Saul, meant "head and shoulders above the rest."

  • After his conversion, he became known as Paul, which means "small one."

  • This name change reflects a true heart of worship: a recognition of one’s smallness in the face of God’s greatness.

• Opening Our Treasures:

  • The act of opening their treasures and presenting gifts was a practical and significant part of their worship.

  • The pastor noted this ties into the theme of gratitude, reflecting on what we can possibly give to a King who has everything.

  • What Do You Give a King? The sermon poses the question: "What do you give a king who has everything?" The answer is your heart. God desires our hearts, even in their broken state, because He is in the business of making them new. You are the gift.

  • Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7 says, "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." It is not about the quality of our "vessel" but the holy treasure—Christ Himself—that God places within us.

  • Application: We are called to open up our "treasures"—our true selves, including the parts we hide—and present them to the King. This vulnerability is a sign of great strength.

Key Points: A Parallel to Christ

The four key actions of the wise men beautifully parallel the life and work of Jesus Christ Himself.

1. He Fell Down: The wise men fell to honor the infant King. In the same way, Jesus humbled Himself.

   • Scripture: 1 John 3:16 points out, "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us." God left the riches of heaven and put on the "rags" of humanity for our sake.

2. He Worshipped: The wise men worshipped Jesus. In a reciprocal way, Jesus demonstrated the ultimate act of worship and love for us. He showed an even greater love than laying down His life for a friend by laying down His life for us, His "sorry tale," demonstrating our value to Him.

3. He Opened Treasures: The wise men opened their treasures. Jesus opened up the treasure of His very being for us.

   • Scripture: Philippians 2 describes how He "made himself of no reputation." In Gethsemane, He prayed, "Let this cup pass from me," yet followed with, "nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."

   • Application: Jesus was broken like the alabaster box, so His love could be poured out for us.

4. He Presented Gifts: The wise men presented gifts. Jesus presented us with the ultimate gifts: eternal life and holiness. Our righteousness is like "filthy rags" before God, so these are gifts from a good God that we could never attain on our own.

The Gifts of the Magi: Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh

The sermon returns to the specific gifts presented by the wise men, as detailed in Matthew 2:11, explaining their prophetic meaning. These were not typical baby shower gifts; they were symbolic of Jesus's identity and mission. The pastor begins by discussing Myrrh, connecting it to the final sermon section.

1. Gold: The Gift for a King

• Symbolism: Gold has always been a gift fit for royalty, representing Jesus’s royalty and supreme authority.

  • Context: In the Old Testament, the Queen of Sheba brought "very much gold" to King Solomon (1 Kings 10). The wise men’s first question was, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews?"

• Application: This gift acknowledges that this child was the King of the world. After His resurrection, Jesus declared in Matthew 28:18, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." Just as overlaying wood with gold in the temple made it valuable, Christ's divinity makes us valuable.

2. Frankincense: The Gift for a Priest

• Symbolism: Frankincense was a key component of the sacred incense used in temple worship (Exodus 30:34), symbolizing holiness, righteousness, and priesthood.

  • Context: It was burned daily by priests and added to sacrifices (Leviticus 2). Its fragrance was a sweet smell rising to God, and the prayers of the saints are described as a fragrant offering.

• Application: This gift prophetically points to Jesus’s role as our Great High Priest.

  • Scripture: Hebrews 4:15 states, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

  • Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5 states that Jesus "became sin for us." When Jesus was crucified, the temple veil was torn, signifying that through His sacrifice, every believer can now approach God directly. We are a "royal priesthood."

3. Myrrh: A Gift for One Who Would Die

• Symbolism: Myrrh was an anointing oil often associated with suffering and burial, used to cover the stench of death.

• Application: This gift points to Jesus’s humanity, suffering, and purpose: to die for our sins.

  • Scripture:

    • Mark 15:23 mentions Jesus being offered wine mingled with myrrh on the cross.

    • John 19 notes myrrh being used in Jesus’s burial preparations.

  • The myrrh prophesied the finished work of Christ on the cross, covering the "stench" of our sin and death. As Psalm 103 says, He removes our sin as far as the east is from the west.

Our Gifts to the King: Moving Beyond Leftovers

The sermon transitions from the Magi's gifts to the gifts we offer God today, challenging the congregation to examine the quality and heart behind their giving.

The Problem of "Cheap Gifts"

• The pastor shared examples of people giving worn-out or leftover items to the church, including dilapidated bookcases and used teabags.

• This is a metaphor for how we sometimes treat God. We give Him our leftovers—tired energy, divided attention, and lukewarm devotion—even though He hates what is lukewarm.

• Application: Jesus is worthy of gold—the very best of our lives, not just what is "broken and busted." We should give our firstfruits, making it an intentional part of our planning. The central question is: Are you giving the Lord your best?

The Gifts We Give Are the Gifts We've Been Given

• The pastor shared a personal story of needing to ask his father for five dollars to buy him a Christmas gift, illustrating our relationship with God. The gifts we offer back to God are the very gifts He first gave us.

• Spiritual Gifts: God gives us spiritual gifts for His glory, not our own. The pastor shared his testimony of being a shy "cement mason" whom God gifted with public speaking for ministry. Another example is a deacon with the gift of service who came from a difficult background. These gifts are to be used for God's purposes.

Two Types of Giving in the Bible

1. Required Giving: Mandated in the Old Testament for the support of Levites, festivals, and the poor (e.g., the tithe in Deuteronomy 12 & 14).

2. Free Will Giving: The emphasis in the New Testament.

   • Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:7 says, "Every man as he purposes in his heart, so let him give. Not grudgingly or of necessity."

   • Application: God is more interested in our hearts than a specific percentage. When God has your heart, He will have everything else, and you will want to give Him your best.

The Transformative Encounter: A New Lord

The ultimate evidence of genuine giving is a changed life, as exemplified by the wise men.

• Scripture: Matthew 2:11-12

• The Encounter: The wise men were commanded by King Herod to report back to him. However, after they met Jesus and presented their gifts, God warned them in a dream not to return to Herod. They obeyed God, not the earthly king.

• Application:

  • When the wise men came face to face with the King of Kings, their allegiance shifted. Jesus became their new Lord, and their direction changed.

  • An encounter with Jesus should do the same for us. If our lives look the same and we only give Him leftovers, He is not truly our Lord.

  • When Jesus is Lord, His Word becomes our authority, which should challenge and change us.

Conclusion: Be Wise and Give Him Everything

This Christmas, we are called to be like the wise men.

• Treat Jesus as King: Acknowledge His worth and give Him the best.

• Treat Jesus as High Priest: Allow Him to be your mediator and cleanse you.

• Embrace His Sacrifice: Let Him cover the "stench" of sin and death in your life.

When we truly come to Jesus, He confronts our greatest fears, like the fear of death, with the gift of eternal life. Your gifts to Him are your skills, abilities, personality, and even your past trauma. When you surrender these things, He redeems and uses them as a gift to minister to others. Let the Lord change your direction. Give Him your best, give Him your first, give Him everything.