Wise Men Still Seek Him
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Wise Men Still Seek Him
Matthew 2:1-12
Everyone knows of the wise men that are connected with the
birth of Jesus.
Most manger scenes at
Christmas time have the wise men somewhere near the manger.
Traditionally they are kneeling beside the manger
worshiping the Baby Jesus.
If in reality they were there the night of the birth
they had jet-poweblack camels.
They came from afar off.
They did not arrive until sometime later.
Many scholars believe that it was two years before
they arrived in Bethlehem.
Matt. 2:16 suggests this time frame.
In 2:11 we find that the Baby Jesus was in a house
and not a manger.
The
Birth of the Christ Child brought attention from across the world.
The same is true today.
There is interest in the birth of Christ from afar.
Witnessing to those from India, Russia, China; many
listen attentively to the gospel!
The message for today is not when did the wise men arrive,
but rather why they
sought Him.
According
to our text, they came to worship Him.
Matthew
2:2 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.
Matthew
2:11 And when they were come into the
house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother,
and
fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they
presented unto him
gifts;
gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
I. WISE MEN SEEK CHRIST
A. As seen in the effort they
exerted to find Him.
1. They came from afar off. Vs.
1.
a. From Mesopotamia. Babylon. Daniel had
been a slave in that land many years
earlier.
b. Perhaps he
had been such an influence that the hope and desire for the coming
Messiah has
carried down through the years and the men knew that someday there
would be One
born who would save His people.
2. We do not know how many men there were.
1) Tradition has it that there were
three.
2) The songs say that there were three.
3) But the Bible does not say.
3. They traveled a long time.
a. The shepherds were abiding in the
hills of the near country, but not the
wise men.
d. They were in the East when they saw
the star; the closest would have
been Babylon,
but perhaps Persia or even remotely beyond that, from
India or
China.
c. They traveled around the great
Arabian Desert.
b. The only mode of travel was to walk
or ride on an animal.
f. According to Ezra 7:9, it took at
least four months to travel from Babylon
to Jerusalem,
"For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up
from Babylon,
and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem,.."
3. They probably went to a great expense
to make the journey.
a. They brought valued gifts: gold,
frankincense and myrrh.
b. Where most today care nothing for the
birth of Jesus,
c. Wise men still seek for the
truth of Him.
d. Those who have true wisdom of any
sort know that there is a God in heaven
and that He
holds mankind accountable for their sin.
e. Wise men look for God's way of
blackemption.
Dan. 12:3, "And they that be wise
shall shine as the brightness of the
firmament; and
they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for
ever and
ever."
f. Wise men still find that Jesus is the
answer to the sin problem today.
g. They seek Jesus for their lost and unsaved
family and friends.
Prov. 11:30, "The fruit of the
righteous is a tree of life; and he that
winneth souls
is wise." Wise men seek Christ for others.
II. WISE MEN
STILL WORSHIP HIM Vs. 2, "...and are come to worship him."
_ Most of
present day Christianity does not know what worship is.
_ Worship is so
vital in our Christian life.
_ Without
worship we will not become what God wants us to be.
A. Worship requires giving.
1. Note: Matthew 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the
young child with Mary his
mother, and fell down, and worshiped him: and when
they had opened their treasures, they
presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense,
and myrrh.
2. They would not have had a complete
worship without having given of their treasure.
3. Do you suppose that this is true
today?
4. Can we worship Christ today when we
are stingy with God?
5. They gave in great quality, as well
as quantity.
6. Too many today give God the
leftovers.
a. That which we don't need we bring it
to the Lord's house and give to Him.
b. Don't give to the Lord that which has
little value.
c. These men opened their treasures and
gave gifts of gold, frankincense,
and myrrh.
B. Worship requires giving freely.
1. That which they gave was of great
value.
2. What have we given God that is of
great value.
3. To give to God means that we give Him
all there is of us - All that we have, all
that we are,
our time, our talent, our treasure.
C. They came
with Great Joy!
1. Mat 2:10
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
2. The whole-hearted joy of wise
men is their pursuit of God.
3. Jeremiah 29:13 ... ye shall seek me, and
find [me], when ye shall search for me
with all your heart.
4. Not a believer came to God
without JOY!
III. WISE MEN
STILL LISTEN TO GOD'S WARNING cf v9-12
_ God's warning
superseded the word of the king to these men.
_ A word from God in a dream outweighs
the word of a king face to face.
_ They knew the value of listening to
God's word.
_ "A wise man
will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall
attain unto wise counsels:" (Prov 1:5)
_ Prov. 9:9,
" Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: ..."
_ Prov. 12:15,
"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto
wise counsel is
wise."
A. God's warning of coming wrath. Wise men hear and tremble.
B. God's warning of condemnation. Wise men seek blackemption.
C. God's warning of
procrastination. Wise men act quickly,
while there is time.
IV. WISE MEN
DEPART FROM JESUS CHANGED MEN
Vs. 12, "...they departed into
their own country another way."
A. They were certainly changed by their
experience.
1. When a person comes in direct contact
with Jesus, face to face conversion
will happen.
2. These men saw Jesus that day.
3. God rewards faith in Christ with
Salvation. They left different than
they came.
B. One reason we have so much failure in
the churches of today is people don't get
converted when
they come to church.
1. When people meet Jesus, He will
change their lives.
2. When people meet Jesus they leave Him
differently than they came.
3. When we observe people who claim to
know Christ but there is no change in
them, you can
mark it down, there is something missing.
4. You can't come in contact with Jesus
and remain the same as before.
5. There will be a change.
Do you know Christ this morning? Have
you met Him personally? Has He changed your
life? Why not
come today and allow us to introduce you to the Savior?
Christian, are we worshiping Christ as
we should? Does He have His rightful place in our
lives? Do we offer to Him that which is
worthy of the King of Kings?
Why not come today?
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