1 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.
Introduction:
The journey of the Magi from the East to Bethlehem to look for the Savior and the blessings He brings from heaven can be likened to our journey from 2012 to 2013. We all desire to go to 2013 and be blessed by it. How we go through the year successfully shall be the subject of today’s message.
1. Do not depend on your wisdom, past experience, ability, etc .
Wise men are smart guys, they know all things. Unwise people come to them for counsel for solution to knotty issues. Other kings came to see and experience Solomon’s wisdom. King of Babylon sought the counsel of Daniel.
With all their wisdom, the Magi could not locate the spot where little Jesus was to be found. They went to Jerusalem instead of going to Bethlehem. Their human wisdom failed them.
Math 2: 2…….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."
Let us not depend on our human wisdom or experience in 2013 otherwise we will fail.
2. Depend only on God:
Before leaving their home in the East, God had given them a sign – a Star to guide them to where the Savior was, yet instead of diligently following the star, they depended on their human wisdom. They did not focus on the star consistently and so they ended up in Jerusalem instead of Bethlehem and in the palace of Herod for that matter. They are Wiseman; they ought to be smart enough to know that they needed to go straight to Bethlehem.
Math 2: 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.
What happened? Obviously the star never left its place. The Magi simply did not carefully and patiently look for it.
By the time they realized their mistake they look for the star again and it led them to where the Savior was. Therefore in 2013 let us focus on God diligently so that we will not miss our way.
Prov 3: 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Psm 37: 5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:
Psm 125:1 those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
1John 1: 5 God is light, in Him there is no darkness.
Psm 119: 105, 130 His word is light to our feet
Psm 119: 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
Psm 119: 130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
As we trust in Him, He will:
• Lighten our path and we will not walk in darkness
• He will grant the desire of our heart
3. Recognize and avoid joy killers, destroyers, deceivers, etc on the way:
Because they lost their focus on God, they slipped into the hands or presence of Herod, a joy killer, a destroyer, deceiver.
Math 2; 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
Math 2: 13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."
16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.
In 2013 there will be people who will not be happy with us and will be disturbed by our progress, let us depend on God only so that He can help us overcome them. He provided a way of escape for little Jesus. He will always provide a way of escape for us.
4. Worship the Lord:
The Magi sacrificed their TIME to go look for the Savior. And when they found Him, they worshipped Him not only with their BODY, but also with their SUBSTANCE.
Apart from depending on God for direction to 2013, we must all continually worship Him with our time,
Our body and
Our substance
Math 2: 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
Math 2: 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.
The Magi accomplished their mission. They returned home successfully.
Conclusion:
The Magi started their journey with God and ended with God. They accomplished their mission and they were over joyed, As we look forward to the New Year, let us all start and end the journey of the New Year with God so that we can all be happy and overjoyed at the end of 2013. The Lord bless us.
Prayer Points:
1. Psm 4:6 Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?" Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD. Lord in 2013; let your light shine on my ways.
2. Psm 18: 28 You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.29 With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. Lord in 2013 turn every darkness I may see into light. Let me never walk in darkness.
3. Before leaving their home in the East, the Wise Men saw the star that indicated to them where they were to see their blessing- the Lord Jesus. Lord before I leave 2012 show me the way/road to my blessing in 2013.
4. The Magi found Jesus, Lord as I walk through 2013, let me find you always.
5. Jesus was a blessing to them, Lord in 2013 let me find my blessings.
6. The Magi made a mistake by going to the den of lion, i.e Herod, but you delivered and corrected them, Lord as I walk through 2013, correct me from every mistake I may make.
7. Exo. Before leaving Egypt the Lord told Moses to tell the Israelites to ask the Egyptians for articles of God and Silver and for clothing, and the Egyptians acceded to the request. Year 2012 as I am leaving you for 2013 I command you the release to me articles of gold and silver and of clothing that are still in you in the name of Jesus.
Exo 12: 35 The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing.36 The LORD had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians.
8. The Magi started and ended their journey successfully, Lord let me start and end the journey of 2013 successfully.
a. Let me start and end it in peace, in joy, happiness and good health.
9. The Magi were considered to be clean people; that was why God reveal the secret of the birth of Jesus to them, you are here this morning and you want God to consider you as a clean person, so that He will always reveal His secrets to you. All you have to do is to come before Jesus Christ
a. Confess your sins to Him – He came to forgive sins and deliver people from their sins
b. Repent of your sins – promise Him you will try not to do sins anymore
c. Ask Him to come into your heart/life as your Lord and Master so that He can be preventing you from committing sins.
d. Thank Him for forgiving you your sins and accepting you as His child.
