This message is an edited version of a sermon given at Loving God Fellowship. Copyright © 2007 Loving God Fellowship, Inc. http://www.LovingGodFellowship.org . You are encouraged to share this message with those you know that are hungry for God’s Word.
Worshipping Jesus
By Rev. Greg Johnson
Matthew 2:1-12
On this Sunday between Christmas and the New Year, God draws us to a wonderful paragraph of Scripture in which we can glean much insight today. (Matthew 2:1-12 NIV) "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem {2} and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." {3} When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. {4} When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. {5} "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: {6} "’But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’" {7} Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. {8} He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him." {9} After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. {10} When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. {11} On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. {12} And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route."
God’s ability to draw us to Jesus is awesome. Our response to God drawing us to Jesus is what differentiates a Christ follower from those that do not follow Him. Our response includes the use of our time, talent and treasure.
GOD DRAWS US TO JESUS
Jesus said (John 14:6 NIV) "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 6:44 NIV) ""No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day." We see what Jesus taught taking place with the Magi. God uses a supernatural happening in the heavenlies to draw them to Jesus.
Every Christ follower can look back and easily see how God drew them to Jesus Christ. Every testimony is unique as God draws us to Jesus in many ways. With some it is a process, with others it is more instantaneous, but nevertheless, God does the drawing. If you are not yet a Christ follower and you are listening to this message today, God is using this message to draw you to Jesus Christ. How will you respond? Will you respond like King Herod or will you respond like the Magi? I encourage you to respond like the Magi.
THOSE THAT COME TO JESUS WORSHIP HIM
At the very beginning of Jesus’ life here on earth as the Son of Man, the Magi demonstrate the proper response to God’s drawing of one to Jesus.
They Bow Down and worship
The Magi allow nothing to deter them from coming to Jesus. When God drew them, they stopped everything. Nothing was as important as finding Jesus. When they came to Jesus the Word of God specifically tells us that they “bowed down and worshiped him.” They submitted to His Lordship.
To be a follower of Christ, one must submit to His Lordship. We fall at the foot of the cross realizing that it is at the cross where we die with Christ to sin. We stop living life for ourselves and for others. We no longer live for our work only. We no longer live for our spouse, our children or our grandchildren only. We no longer live our life to please others or even please ourselves. We live for Jesus Christ and we submit our life to Him for His use and for His purpose.
As we are resurrected into new life in Jesus Christ, we pick ourselves up from the foot of the cross and begin to follow Him. As we follow Him, we give Him our time and talent to make a difference in our day. Jesus makes us the best employee, spouse, parent and grandparent that there can possibly be.
They give their treasure
After these Magi submit to the Lordship of Jesus, they do something very specific; they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. This was an outside indicator of their submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
One of the biggest obstacle to fully following Christ is finances and the temptation to not trust God for His provision; to trust logic instead. God knows this and that is why He gives us so much instruction and encouragement on finances in the Scriptures.
1 of every 6 verses in the New Testament is about money
16 of the 38 parables of Jesus are about money
1 of every 7 verses in the gospels is about money
God’s Word has much to say about money. Here are just a few thoughts:
(Matthew 6:19-20 NIV) ""Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. {20} But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."
(Luke 6:38 NIV) "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.""
(1 Timothy 6:10 NIV) "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
One can not rob God and be a Christ follower at the same time. God’s Word says (Malachi 3:6-12 NIV) ""I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. {7} Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty. "But you ask, ’How are we to return?’ {8} "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, ’How do we rob you?’ "In tithes and offerings. {9} You are under a curse--the whole nation of you--because you are robbing me. {10} Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. {11} I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. {12} "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty."
Some that do not submit to Christ in the area of finances says that the tithe is an Old Testament principle. Well, listen to what Jesus says to the religionist of His day. (Luke 11:42 NIV) ""Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone." Here Jesus is saying that one is not only to tithe, but they are also are to work toward ending social injustice.
Christ followers are givers. They give their time, talent and treasure in faith believing that God is going to take care of their every need.
Are you a Christ follower? Are you giving your time, talent and treasure to Him in total worship? As we face the coming of a new year, may we all submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all areas of our life. May we give Jesus our time, talent and treasure. May we give Him our first fruits and not our leftovers.
Know that you are loved,
Greg Johnson
www.GAJohnson.org
Founding Pastor
Loving God Fellowship
www.LovingGodFellowship.org
Loving God Fellowship is an interdenominational Christ following fellowship with a revolutionary new church plant in Salem, Oregon, and a worldwide Internet church community @ http://www.LGFinternetChurch.org .
