I'll Give You...The Founder Of The Feast
Notes
Transcript
What Is Epiphany?
Manifestation or Appearance. A sudden perception as to the meaning of something.
A Christian Feast day that celebrates the revelation (theophany) of God incarnate as Jesus Christ.
This is where we get our song 12 Days of Christmas and is traditionally January 6th, 12 days after December 25th.
Traditionally for the church in the west, it celebrates the visit of the magi to the Christ Child, highlighting Jesus’ physical manifestation to the Gentiles.
In the Eastern Churches it celebrates the manifestation of Christ to the world as the Son of God at His baptism.
Why 3 “kings”? Because 3 gifts were given, but no evidence on the actual number of magi.
Introduction:
I’ll Give You The Founder of the Feast.
I’ll Give You The Founder of the Feast.
Originally, said by Bob Cratchit.
Despite being poorly paid and ill-treated at work (for example having to warm his hands on a candle) by the mean-spirited Scrooge, Cratchit is not resentful and instead is generous enough to propose this toast to show how grateful he his.
Then Mrs. Cratchit goes off:
The Founder of the feast Indeed.
The Founder of the feast Indeed.
Bob: My dear, the children, it’s Christmas Day.
To which she replies:
It should be Christmas Day on which one toasts to…odious...
It should be Christmas Day on which one toasts to…odious...
In the Muppet’s version, then, Tiny Tim butts in and repeats:
To The Founder of the Feast.
To The Founder of the Feast.
Tiny Tim. Why was he so tiny? And yet he makes such a huge difference with this one phrase.
A Gift of Graciousness. Truly Tiny Tim and his dad offer a Gift of praise recognizing that even the little they had was a blessing.
Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Today we’re going to look at some other gifts given, the three gifts of the magi. These gifts may not have been sacrifices to these mighty men, but their travel was a sacrifice, their declaration to Herod was definitely risky, and the gifts were something shared that was most likely used for good.
We’ll examine the wise men’s attitude, their gifts, the impediments to the offering of their gifts, and how we can offer gifts similarly.
The Object Of Worship – (vs. 1-8)
The Object Of Worship – (vs. 1-8)
We were all created to worship something (vs. 1-2).
Jesus – King of the Jews (vs. 2)
Herod…the king (of the Jews) (vs.1)…the king (vs. 3); called Herod the Great.
You can acknowledge that others may indeed deserve worship, but not submit yourself to that person. (vs. 4-8)
In the end we worship one of 2 things
“I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images.
For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
The Creator
The Created
Satan (Matthew 4:8–10) - angels - (Col 2:18) - spiritual realm.
The World (Romans 1.18ff; I John 2:15-17)
Creation itself
man-made things
wealth (Matt 6:24; I Timothy 6:9-10, 17)
the system/philosophies/knowledge (Col 2:8; Romans 12:1-2)
Ourselves - Pride, Talents, Gifts
Honest Evaluation 1: Who Or What Have I Been Worshipping?
The Joy Of Worship (vs. 9-11)
The Joy Of Worship (vs. 9-11)
Following The Star (vs. 9)
Vigilance in waiting
Diligence in pursuing
Expectation in finding
‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. ‘Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. ‘You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
Rejoicing – a state of happiness and well-being (vs. 10)
Exceedingly – vehemently, eagerly, greatly
With mega joy
“My heart is dancing like David before the Ark of the Covenant.”
I will rejoice and be glad in Your faithful love because You have seen my affliction. You have known the troubles of my life and have not handed me over to the enemy. You have set my feet in a spacious place.
Worshipped Him (vs 11)
proskuneo - Fall to knees and touch forehead to the ground
Sometimes they would lie flat
Throwing kisses at the same time toward the superior.
This method was only done by one who was much inferior.
Honest Evaluation 2: Does My Worship Look Like The Magis?
One of my favorite parts of our Christmas program this year was when the Lefer family came forward, lit candles, and worshipped the Christ child.
But do we worship Christ like that everyday? What does our worship look like Monday through Saturday?
The Gifts of worship (vs. 11-14)
The Gifts of worship (vs. 11-14)
Bringing gifts was particularly important in the ancient East when approaching a superior.
These gifts were not just any ordinary gifts, but were very expensive gifts, but typical of what one would bring to a king.
In God’s sovereignty knew that Mary and Joseph after expenses for a 90+ mile trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem (about a week’s journey) and they had just paid their taxes. It is probable that they used these gifts to help pay for their trip to Egypt and back.
The gifts are intensifiers of the desire for Christ Himself. They were acknowledging who He was, not what He was to become. For example, the gold didn’t make him a king. He was already king.
Gold – Royalty; Kingly reign – they knew He was to be a king.
He didn’t need the gold. He created the gold.
Love: what I love…that which brings me pleasure
God is glorified when we are satisfied in Him.
describes the longings of a person’s heart or cravings.
Allegiance: God’s identity or ours? God’s image or ours? God’s fame or ours?
Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Frankincense – It was mixed with other substances as an incense offered in the tabernacle. Exodus 30:1, 6-9, 34-38
The Frankincense didn’t make Him a priest, He was already THE High Priest.
He didn’t need the Frankincense, he was the Frankincense.
Prayers: Smoke from the incense being burned was a symbol of the prayers of God’s people. Revelation 5:8, 8:3-4; Hebrews 5:7-9, 8:1-2
Seeking counsel, wisdom, offering intercession, guidance, direction
Turning to the one who can help
Reliance: The finished work of Christ, or my jars of clay?The Father’s verbal approval or man’s empty praise? Our futile efforts or God’s amazing grace? Blessings in Heaven, or earthly treasures that fade?
who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
Myrrh – It was an astringent used as an antiseptic and an anodyne or pain killer. Mark 15:23; It was also a much valued spice and perfume for embalming. John 19:39; The passion and burial of Christ.
Myrrh didn’t make Him the sacrifice. He was already the sacrifice.
Sacrifice: What am I willing to give up to God?
What creature comforts are we willing to give up?
Obedience: conscious choice to follow God’s way.
Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.
Honest Evaluation 3: What Gift Do I Need To Work On?
The Impediments Of Worship
The Impediments Of Worship
Uncertainty – Where, What, When – vs. 2
Do we have to have it all figured out? Can I trust God?
Risky - Herod was troubled and all Jerusalem with Him. (vs 3)
Sometimes we have to step out of our comfort zones to worship.
Sometimes we have to take chances.
Insincere – vs 8
Do I have to “feel like it?”
Watch for ulterior motives.
Sometimes we worship to get. Rather than worship to give.
Non-committal - vs 11
Worship costs me too much.
Worship asks too much of me.
Inconvenient – vs. 12
I want worship to be easy. No fasting, or sacrifice
Sometimes worshipping means changing course
not status quo. too comfortable. apathetic.
Unpopular – vs. 13
Attacked
Driven out
Persecution
Mocking
Honest Evaluation 4: What Excuses Am I Holding On To That Impedes My Worship?
What Will You Bring To The King This Year?
What Will You Bring To The King This Year?
Follow The Star - Looking Forward To What God Will Do In 2023
Vigilance, Diligence, Expectation, Joyful, Worship
Which word will you commit to focus on this year?
Bring Your Gift
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
What Gift Of Gold Will You Give? Heart
The gift of Gold reflects a heart attitude of worship.
“What I value most, I give back to you.”
What I value the most pales in comparison to you.
A commitment to worship God alone.
What Gift Of Frankincense Will You Give? Soul/Mind
The gift of Frankincense reflects a dependence on God’s grace, mercy, and finished work on the cross.
“I will rely on You…Seek You…Draw close to You…pray to You.”
A commitment to holiness, prayer, and thanksgiving.
What Gift Of Myrrh Will You Give? Body/Might
The gift of Myrrh reflects a willingness to sacrifice and serve.
As you gave your life to save mine, I now give you my life in service to You.
“What would you have me do?”
A commitment to obedience.
Which of those three gifts do you need to focus on better this year?
Let Go Of Your Impediments to Worship: What Holds You Back - Put The Past In The Past
Giving Up What’s Bad For What’s Good
Giving Up What’s Good For What’s Best.
Good enough Father - Courageous
“Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past. “Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert. “The beasts of the field will glorify Me, The jackals and the ostriches, Because I have given waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My chosen people.
Uncertainty, risky, insincerity, non-committal, inconvenient, unpopular.
Which of those impediments do you need to give up to Jesus?
Closing Challenge: Don’t let what you can’t do or can’t control stop you from doing what you can do in worship of God.
Just like the magi brought their gifts to the Savior, what gift of grace can you bring to someone else in the name of Jesus? Be the gift of gold. Be the gift of Frankincense. Be the gift of myrrh.
The magi by bringing their gifts and presenting them to the Christ child were in essence saying: “I’ll Give You, Jesus Christ, The Founder Of The Feast!”
In the end we acknowledge with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, the Founder of The Heavenly Feast: God the Father through Jesus Christ. To God Be The Glory!
I’ll Give You...The Founder Of the Heavenly Feast.
I’ll Give You...The Founder Of the Heavenly Feast.
How Many Kings