How often do you say something but do not do it? Have you ever heard the term “Action speaks louder than words?” I think we all have, in fact scripture tells us ‘Faith without works is dead.’ I suppose when we think hard about it, when we say something and do not fulfill it, unless of course if its for a valid reason, we could be misrepresenting ourselves couldn’t we! Possibly misleading others, not to mention being contradicting.
Have you ever thought what if God worked that way? How promising and satisfying would He be to us when his promises are deliberately broken? All the assurances we received in faith, hope and love just become hot air with no value? Its kind of scary if you think about it.
In a previous sermon, I gave you examples in scripture how Christ’s birth, was prophecied and ultimately was fulfilled:
Isaiah spoke about Christ Would be Filled with Power, Peace, and the Spirit from Birth, and how he would be born of a Virgin
Micah mentions Christ Would be Born in Bethlehem
Book of Numbers says a Star would Point the way to Christ
Book of Psalms talks about how There would be a Presentation of Gifts to the Messiah and several others.
Two young girls was talking and one said “I have 10 pennies.” The other girl looked surprised and said, “I only see 5. Where are the other 5 at?” The first girl proudly said “My father told me he would give me five more tonight when I get so, so then I would have 10.” The little girl understood that her father’s promises was a good as done. Do we have that kind of confidence in Gods plans for our lives? Do we over evaluate our current understanding about things of life to then create in our own mind a way to do something, even when God has already promised it to you? Maybe we have doubt, fear, disbelief, or even worse, we lose full trust in God!
I often think about God’s fulfillment during this time of the year, especially in regards to Jesus and his miraculous birth. But one thing stands out is the visitation of the magi that came from the east. Now magi quoted here in scripture in Greek is called ‘magos’ or magian, astrologers, magician. Basically they were men of great knowledge. If you think about it, how could these magi come directly to Jesus, only by following a star in the heavens, if it is not by God's design!
Another fact I want to mention to you is despite the hymn ‘We Three Kings’ says, scripture does not give an actual account of how many magi came to Jesus. Next, many Christians does not want to believe that the magi could have come up to 2 years after Christ’s birth, but that is a subject for another time.
In attempting to understand the Fulfillment of Gods word, lets read from the Gospel of Matthew the account of the magi. “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
So up to this point, we know that the magi, are determined to acknowledge God's promises, not only by following an anomaly in the heavens, but also in scripture, as mentioned earlier. They came from a long distance, following the anomaly, and from this anomaly, Gods promise is fulfilled as a sign from heaven, not just to these magi, but for ALL to see. And notice, they identified the star as HIS STAR! Now I researched this, and found the term HIM used here in Greek ‘autos’ meaning him is used in the third person perspective. So lets read on!
When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Look at that! All Jerusalem with him was troubled, by having this sign from heaven proclaiming the King of the Jews. Now, if I didn’t go no further, I would declare that just as the sign was a threat to the evil of the days of Jesus, so is God’s word then, and today! Why? Because it holds the truth of what God intends to do, and what his promises hold!
So lets read on. When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For from you will come forth a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”
So lets look at this a little deeper! God's promises, being fulfilled about his son Jesus, were not a secret, not a lost document, not a lost piece of mail or email. What you see happening here right before us is that God’s promises were overlooked and forgotten! You see friends, something as simple as a sign to guide these magi, or anyone who saw the star, was clearly a method for his true followers to come and learn to trust in his promises. All the scribes of the king had access to the Holy Scriptures, and some did know of the prophecies of course, but the idea here is they wasn’t prepared to receive Christ this soon! They wasn’t ready! The earthly perspective was Jesus would come down in a blaze of glory, surrounded by heavenly hosts, trumpets sounding and making a grand entrance to earth! But none of that was in God’s prophecies of Jesus birth! When I think about how the ages past long before Jesus birth came, the synagos, rabbi’s and prophets of God was readily spreading Gods love and word, but over time of losing faith, hope and love,
It's much like when a little child is led by a parent's hand along a very stoney path. The child kept on falling and stumbling, and the child asked the parent, “why don’t you look where I’m going?”
The perspective has changed! Responsibility has shifted from the child to the parent, when in fact each of us are responsible. Yes the child needs led correctly, but the child has to learn how to walk correctly! This includes trusting in God! No one on earth can be expected to trust God without it being tested and exercised! Does not the Book of Jude tell us “But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
We are to remember, what was said and done beforehand in our lives as well as what we are taught correctly by truth! Paul tells us in his Letter to Timony “You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them.”
Now, king herod obviously was being sneeky. He asked the magi to find the child so he too could worship him. Knowing Jesus would be an imminent threat, that was not something he would take lightly! He enjoyed his caviar too much!
So lets read on. “After hearing the king, they went on their way; and behold, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on ahead of them until it came to a stop over the place where the Child was to be found. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And after they came into the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary; and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And after being warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.”
Wow! Lots of stuff here. So again, the star in the heavens, moved and stopped over the place where the Child was to be found! Could you imagine that? What a spectacular event by itself, but then the magi did something wonderful. They rejoiced exceedingly with great joy! Now, up to this point, I’m not fully certain of course, but they obviously did not know where exactly Bethlehem was, but when the star led the way, they followed by faith, didn’t they? Seeing Gods prophecy being fulfilled, right before their eyes, leading them to the chosen child. And now, comes the juicy part of the story in my opinion. They honored God with earthly gifts of Gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Gold being a minuscule token that the human race can give to the King of Kings. Frankincense, being a timely honored incense used in the rural priesthood. Then Myrrh was also used in the temple as was frankincense, but was also used during a burial. Both Frankincense and Myrrh were collected by sap from a tree, and its compounds made it just as valuable as Gold in the day.
But then the conclusion of the magi’s story, which ends rather mystifying. They received a dream to not return to herod. They clearly was in marker with Gods purpose and plan, in both protecting themselves and the Holy Family.
In todays message talking about Fulfillment of Gods word, is there anything in the story of Jesus Birth and the Magi that would conclude that God does NOT keep his promises? That God does NOT fulfill what he sets out to do? Quite the contrary isn’t it?
I often think about how if the magi did NOT come by way of the star, or maybe just ignored the star from the beginning, how would Jesus birth story be different? Would it prevent Gods word from being fulfilled? Not at all, because remember the Prophecy was told great death would come from Jesus birth, which was the killing of the infants. If the magi did not come by following the star and relaying this to the King, then the prophecy of the great deaths would probably not come to pass as well. You see, the Magi had a purpose and plan in Gods design, just as we do today! Do you realize that? When all we could offer Jesus was Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh, what could we offer today?
Listen to the words of the Prophet Samuel, “Samuel said, Does the Lord have as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than a sacrifice, And to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.”
Did not also Jesus tells us “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” So what can we offer Jesus for his fulfillment of his words, keeping his promises? Just as the Hymn tells us ‘We trust and obey, for theres no other way!’ God desires a relationship, our love for him and with him friends. Not just this time of year, but everyday of our lives. In todays message, I covered only one story of hundreds of promises God has kept! I urge you to pick up your bible, read his word to remember who he is in your life today and forever. And from that, you will find everlasting peace. Amen
PRAYER OF CONFESSION