Seekers Are Sought
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Introduction
Introduction
Sometimes Christmas carols teach us some great theology. Sometimes they lie to us.
God is seeking those who seek Him.
God is seeking those who seek Him.
The gospel is for everyone. (1-9)
The gospel is for everyone. (1-9)
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, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .
We know from Luke’s account that likely the first outside visitors to Jesus were shepherds to whom angels announced Jesus’ birth.
Here, we have an account of ‘wise men’ travelling from ‘the east’ to worship Jesus.
First need to break up some misconceptions about the wise men:
Wise men were not necessarily wise.
Just because they were called ‘wise men’ does not mean they were more intelligent than other people
“Wise men” = magi.
“Wise men” = magi.
“Wise men” = magi.
They were astrologers and sorcerers from the East - Persia - Babylon
Would have had access to ancient Jewish writings
Despite the song,
We don’t know if there were three of them.
The number three is based on the gifts and so three men were assumed
They did not show up the night Jesus was born.
the magi arrived some time later after Jesus’ birth.
The magi were the first Gentiles to worship Jesus.
Those who seek Jesus may be different.
Different nations
Different languages
Different statuses
Different knowledge
Different guiding influences
Same manger, same Jesus
Those who seek Jesus may be unlikely.
Some of the first people to worship Jesus were wealthy pagan astrologers (and poor unlearned Jewish shepherds).
God is not seeking only the pretty people or the intelligent people or the well-behaved people. He is seeking ALL the people.
** Finding Jesus has less to do with your privilege, intelligence, or location and more to do with the willingness of your heart to seek when sought.
Those who seek Jesus must do so humbly
Several types of seekers:
Seek pragmatically
Herod
Seeking Jesus for selfish reasons.
Seek religiously
Chief priests and Scribes
They quoted prophets (). They knew where Messiah was supposed to be born and yet they never went to see him.
In seeking they never truly sought.
There are many people who will claim to be a Christian yet never truly follow Christ.
Seek humble-heartedly
The Magi went wherever God guided them
As unlikely as they found Jesus to be, they still worshipped him.
Those who seek Jesus need access to Him.
I couldn’t help but think about how odd it must have been for Mary to allow these people to meet with Jesus
First, it is risky and uncomfortable.
Shepherds must wash their hands and wipe their feet.
Magi were not seen as godly.
Second, it is an extreme privilege.
Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew begins his Gospel with Come and See and ends with Go and Tell.
From the beginning to the end, Matthew's purpose is to show that the gospel is for everyone.
**The question is, is that OUR purpose as well?
We, as a church, must never be content to simply manage the gospel, we must have a passion to move the gospel.
Before you agree with that statement, remember that the “church” (as God intends) is not an entity, an organization, or an institution, it is the collective title of individual followers of Christ.
I know not everyone is called to go overseas... but I’d say a lot more of us than are probably should. And I think the burden of proof lies on you to show why you should stay. I think it’s fine for you to stay here if God directs you. But there are over 800 Baptist churches in RDU alone. And I think you need to be prepared to answer why you stayed in a place where there was so much when there were so many places that had so little.
- JD Greear
We will keep giving and going.
ILLUST- Because you give. . . INDIA Pics?
Dear sir,
Greetings and marry Christmas. I hope and pray that you and your ministry is well by God grace. We are well and doing good by God grace. Me and my two brother Mr. Manik and mr. Bhobas Roy went to our house church name Barea. There we called little children and we celebrated Christmas party and we preach there about Jesus Christ birthday. We told them Jesus story and at last we gave them a packet of cookies. They were very happy. So praise the Lord. Please pray for our activities because we want to do this programme at two places.
Thanks regard,
Hannah Roy.
Frontier Peoples are unreached groups most needing pioneer church planting. Frontier Peoples are less than or equal to 0.1% Christian and an approximation of groups without a known gospel movement.
22 of the 31 largest Frontier People Groups are found in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
These 31 frontier people groups total 893 million people - almost 12% of the world’s population.
**What if someone asked you to show them Jesus? Would you have somewhere to point?
**What if a muslim asked us to show them Jesus?
** Write down the name of two people who need to find Jesus before this Christmas passes by.
** We cannot be content to hear these words and not be moved by them!!
God can move the universe to lead people to Jesus. (9-10)
God can move the universe to lead people to Jesus. (9-10)
The Star
2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .
The magi were studying the sky and followed a star. But what was the star?
Planetary Conjunction
Jupiter and Saturn align
Supernova
there was a prominent one in 5/4 BC according to Chinese records
Comet
Halley’s comet appeared around 12 BC
Angel
Whatever it was, it was enough to motivate the magi to spend time, energy, and money on finding and paying homage to the one born king (not born to BE king)
prophets
God didn’t just move a star:
A star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel
Moses and the prophets were available int he Babylon region due to Daniel and others being taken captive to Babylon from Israel
Story of prophet who’s donkey spoke to him as an angel stood in the way
taxes
God moved the leaders of Rome to institute a tax that required Joseph to take Mary from their hometown of Nazareth to the city of Joseph’s family, Bethlehem, the pl
The idea that ‘God can move the universe to lead people to Jesus’ is not just for those who need to trust in Jesus for the first time.
As a believer, the same God who arranged times, events, and people for you to be led to Jesus the first time continues to do the same to lead you closer to Jesus.
**The God who knows, names, and can move every star knows you, knows your name, and arranges every detail of your life in a way that brings you closer to Jesus.
Seeking Jesus means a shift in allegiances. (11-12)
Seeking Jesus means a shift in allegiances. (11-12)
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. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
From worldly authority to Jesus.
From self authority to Jesus.
The people were ‘troubled.’ Not necessarily because the people loved Herod so much that the thought of a new king bothered them, but because Herod was as cruel as he was crazy and the potential of a rival king might disrupt their settled lives.
The people had a valid reason to fear - Herod WAS as cruel as he was crazy, but was it a good reason?
If the people truly understood who Jesus was, they would have run to him with joy (like the magi) instead of responding in fear.
God is seeking those who seek Him.
God is seeking those who seek Him.
Conclusion
Conclusion
The gospel shows up at Christmas:
(Lead into Communion)
The gifts that the magi bring are often seen as symbolic even though Matthew never mentions the gifts having any sort of significance.
Gold - King
Frankincense - Deity
Myrrh - Suffering and death
Whether intentional or not - these gifts do paint a picture of the gospel.
Glorious now behold Him arise
King and God and Sacrifice
Alleluia, Alleluia
Earth to heav'n replies
“We Three Kings”
Response:
Maybe you’ve been sensing God leading you:
to Come and See Jesus for the first time
to Go and Tell Jesus for the first time
Maybe there are some allegiances in your life that need to shift.
Your own desires have been leading you more than Jesus.
The world has been leading you more than Jesus.
they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
There is ridiculous joy when you find Jesus.