DO YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO GO A DIFFERENT WAY?
1. Matthew 2:2-12: 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 have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’” 7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” 9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country by a different way.
2. Proverbs 28:1 The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
INTRODUCTION: DO YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO GO A DIFFERENT WAY?
Merry Christmas To All: Let us talk about courage during this Christmas Season. Anyone who comes in contact with Christ must have the courage to act when necessary. Courage is the ability to do something that frightens other people; strength in the face of pain or grief or uncertainty. Synonyms: brave, person of valor, one who has nerve, is fearless, daring, bold, heroic, gallant, etc. “You can choose courage or you can choose comfort but you cannot choose both.” Our society and the Bible are rich with exemplary tales of bravery & self-sacrifice. From Martin Luther King, Jr., Nelson Mandela & Mahatma Gandhi who spoke against racial injustice to David battling Goliath or Moses challenging Pharaoh. The Wise Men stood against a despotic leader and exemplified courage. Mark Twain: “It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.”
1. Joshua 1:6-7 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
2. Psalm 27:1-3 1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked came against me To eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell. 3 Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident.
3. 2 Timothy 1:7 God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love and of sound mind.”
In The Bible, God Says “Fear Not” 365 Times – One For Each Day Of The Year.
SIX TYPES OF COURAGE.
1. Physical Courage. Courage at the risk of bodily harm.
2. Social Courage. Courage that risks of social embarrassment, unpopularity or rejection.
3. Intellectual Courage. Willingness to question our own thinking at the risk of making mistakes.
4. Moral Courage. Doing the right thing when risks involve shame, opposition, disapproval.
5. Emotional Courage. Going against past negative feelings to embrace a new me.
6. Spiritual Courage. The courage to do what God says though unpopular with others.
PEOPLE WHO ARE COURAGEOUS ARE…:
1. Brave In The Face Of Danger. They say: “I won’t be afraid.”
2. Steadfast In The Face Of Opposition: They say: “I won’t give up.”
3. Active In The Face Of Resistance. They say: “I won’t be intimidated.”
4. Optimistic In The Face Of Despair. They say: “I won’t lose heart.”
PEOPLE OF COURAGE IN THE BIRTH OF JESUS.
1. Mary: She joyfully accepted the responsibilities that would come in bearing the Messiah. The circumstances would look bad, but she was ready & willing to do whatever God would desire.
2. Joseph: His reaction to news of Mary’s pregnancy wasn’t positive. Initially, he had not heard from God on the issue thus making Mary’s explanation ridiculous. But once he hears from God, he complies with courage.
3. The Shepherds: When the angels appeared to the shepherds, they were terrified. Nevertheless, they had the courage to go to Bethlehem and find out about this Child that is born King.
4. Zechariah & Elizabeth: They were very advanced in years and without children, but still had the courage to serve God without complaining.
WHY SOME PEOPLE ACT DIFFERENTLY
Some People Act Different For Different Reasons. To be acceptable or a part of. Because they are angry or bitter or keeping a grudge. To Get back at someone. Out of arrogance. To show that without them, you cannot make it. Out of envy or jealousy. To sabotage or create a hole. To make a statement. The key is to act differently to represent God. That is what the wise men did.
A LOOK AT THE WISE MEN AND THEIR COURAGE TO GO A DIFFERENT WAY.
These Men Were Referred To As Three & Wise though there is actually no evidence to support they were three. They offered 3 gifts do not mean they were three. Some believe they were a group of astronomers from the Mesopotamia area. They approached Herod and asked for information concerning another King – “The King of the Jews”. Herod Shows Us The Desperation Of Evil. He was a ruthless murderer - executed his wife, two brothers, two sons, a brother-in-law, a sister-in-law because he suspected them of treason. He valued only prestige & power and killed to hold to his throne. So when the magi showed up, he pretended he cared. But he was not about to let a boy take his throne. Here, the wise men had the opportunity to be ordinary, but they chose courage. We don’t know their names, nor their number, but learn valuable lessons from them - have the courage to go the different way. So How Do We Go The Different Way?
1. Don’t Be Comfortable.
We Must Be Ready To Move Out Of Our Places Of Security. The men were prominent and powerful in Persian culture because they had extensive knowledge of science, agriculture, mathematics, history, religion. When you include the understanding of the movement of stars, they were not to be trifled with. No Persian was able to become king without mastering the disciplines of these men for it was these men that approved and crowned future kings. They most likely had read writings of Daniel since he served both the Babylonian & Persian empires. When they put the prophecy of Daniel and the appearance of the star together, it was so significant that it caused them to leave their life of comfort and get moving.
We Don’t Know What About The Star That Caught Their Attention – whether it moved differently or was located unusually in the sky. They ventured on this 500-mile journey through the desert - no air-conditioned cars, CD & DVD players, no convenience like hotels, McDonalds or Burger King. Their mission was to boldly go where no man had gone before to find the Messiah. They had the courage to leave their life of comfort, security & power to go a different way. Serving God is not comfortable. We must have the right weather, right emotions, right friends, right message, right kind of service, right finances, right conditions of life before we serve God. When He acts to us like a Sugar Daddy who provides everything we need, then we will gladly service Him. No. Song: Serve Him. Serve Him. Serve Him in the morning. Serve Him in the noon time. Serve Him. Serve Him. Serve Him when the sun goes down. Luke 14:27: And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
2. Don’t Be Conceding.
Don’t Give Up Because Others Do Not Believe Or Follow The Truth. The wise men could have been easily discouraged that there was no activity in Jerusalem when they arrived. Certainly, it was a logical conclusion that the new king would be born in Jerusalem. But when they arrived, there was no festivity for the king. But they did not let go of their purpose due to lack of information. They were committed to what they had heard.
They Went To Herod To Get Some Information. Interestingly, even though Herod was ignorant, he did have people around him that had the right information. And when they found out what the wise men knew, you would think these high priests and scribes would be the most excited to go to Bethlehem and greet their Messiah. Instead, they stayed right there in Jerusalem. But the wise men teach us again about going a different way. They are not put off by the unexpected behavior and emotions. Rather, they teach us that we are to keep to our objective. They were in this to the end. They were not going to concede at this point. Though none go with them, they were willing to go the different way. Thus they teach us that a diligent search for God always draws us closer to Him.
One thing that stops us from commitment to God is that we follow what others do. Connections influence connections. Examples: a) Boys mocked Elisha (2 Kings 2). b) Jeroboam listens to friends (1 Kings 12:8 But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him.)
3. Don’t Be Conceited.
Don’t Be Selfish And Full Of Pride. Be ready to worship God. Remember that where the wise men came from, they were powerful and prestigious. When they spoke, people listened. Again they show us a different way. They had gone through struggles to come and see Jesus. They didn’t come to show how great they were. In the presence of God, there can be no greatness. They were ready to be confronted with someone that was greater than them. They came with humility. They came to worship. They gave gifts that had great meanings and were costly. They didn’t come with leftovers. They didn’t come with an expectation to get something. They came to worship.
We Must Be Open To Hear God’s Direction. The magi were ready and open to hear God. And God did give them direction. As a result, they willingly and obediently returned to their homeland. They become attuned to what was right and wrong. They would not go back to Herod. They would go a different way. They listened to a higher than Herod and took the risk to be a part of contending for the faith. They protected Jesus and thus kept him safe. Do you fight for what you believe?
Proverbs 16:18: Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. James 4:6 God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Pride involves fault-finding, superficiality, defensiveness, a harsh spirit, presumption, righteous spirit, etc. Its victims are Lucifer in Heaven, Nebuchadnezzar, Pharisee in the Temple praying, etc. It comes in spiritual, political, domestic, materialistic forms. Pride never ends well with anyone.
4. Don’t Be Opinionated.
We Must Be Governed By Truth, Not Dogma Or Rituals Or Man-Made Principles That Hold No Relevance. In Order To Be Governed By Truth, The Wise Men…
a. “Opened Their Eyes”: Matthew 2:9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
b. “Opened Their Hearts”: Matthew 2:10b-11 They rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him. Surely there were some who saw the star and simply ignored it! These men opened their hearts to what God was trying to show them.
c. “They Opened Their Treasures”: Matthew 2:11 …And when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 8:32 You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. Galatians 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law to redeem us that were under the law. God sent forth His Truth. We are not innocent when it comes to Truth. The real fact is we fell we can escape its consequences if we act like we don’t know or do not want to know. Christmas Tells Us The Truth, Jesus, Is Alive. John 8:36 If the Son (Truth) therefore shall make you free, you are free indeed. This was what Herod feared. In the presence of the Truth, all pretenses are exposed. Isaiah 6:1-12 In the year that Uzziah died, Isaiah saw the Truth. God was still on His Throne. Nothing changes God’s position.
REASONS TO MOVE FROM FEAR TO FAITH, FROM COWARDICE TO COURAGE…
1. Because God Himself Is With Us. We aren’t facing our challenges alone. Joshua 1:9: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Remember Your Position. “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.” The righteous are bold, not the wicked. In Christ I am strong, victorious, accepted, justified, redeemed, saved, forgiven.
2. Because God Has a Plan for Us. God has a plan for each one of His children, and He will fulfill that plan. Acts 23:11 The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” Confront Your Fears. “The wicked flee when no man pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.” Fear will win until you stand against it.” 95% Rule of Worry: 95% of what you worry about won’t happen.
3. Because Jesus Has Overcome the World: If we look at this world only, we will lose heart. We can “take heart” and take courage for Jesus is greater than the world and has already overcome it for us. John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
4. Because Nothing Can Separate Us From God’s Love: Whether we lose our jobs or our homes or our health or even our minds, take courage because Jesus will hold us in His love. Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Cultivate Your Love. You have to love as if fear didn’t exist. 1 John 4:18 “Perfect love casts out fear.” Have the love of God or the fear generated by Satan, but you can’t have them both dominating your life.
5. Because God Himself Will Strengthen Us: We don’t have the strength to part the Red Sea or be cheerful in the midst of troubles but God does. And He will pour his strength into us. Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
6. Censor Your Input. A spiritually healthy mind is essential to getting free from fear. “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” Romans 12:2 “Be not conformed to the world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Colossians 3:2 Set our mind on things above where Christ dwells with God in heaven. Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.”
SOME EXAMPLES OF COURAGE IN EVERYDAY LIFE
1. Be honest with yourself.
2. Apologize to someone who hurt you.
3. Apologize to someone you hurt.
4. Ask for help.
5. Take a position that is not popular.
6. Stand for God. 7. Start something new.
8. Believe in & challenge yourself.
9. Learn to love again.
10. Learn to say “no” or “yes” when you have to.
11. Speak up for yourself or a cause you believe in.
12. Walk away from gossip or negativity.
CONCLUSION: BE DIFFERENT TO REPRESENT GOD.
Herod Attempted To Deceive The Wise Men, but when you are listening to God, He will direct you a different way. Herod can’t face the reality that there is power above him. This baby would be the ruler of all! The wise men were not deterred from the purpose that they had been given. They could have returned to Herod and win political friendship & favor. But they battled evil with courage. They had the courage to refuse evil’s seduction and go a different way. Will you have the wisdom and courage of these men? The world, flesh & Satan are after you. You must choose a different way.
INTERCESSORY
1. Don’t Be Comfortable – Don’t be ready to settle comfortably. When you find Jesus, you find yourself going a different way – the best way.
2. Don’t Be Conceding – Don’t be easily put off by the unexpected – instead, courageously keep to your search of Jesus – it is a different way, but a way worth going.
3. Don’t Be Conceited – for when you find Jesus, you will find that pride has no place
4. Don’t Be Opinionated. Embrace truth by “Opening your Eyes, Hearts, Treasures” for God.
