The Wise Guys.
Matthew 2:1-11TPT.
Pastor David Smith tells the story about a small Southern town and the "Nativity Scene.”
Smith states, it showed great skill and talent in creating it.
One small feature bothered me. The 3 Wise Men were wearing firemen's helmets. Totally unable to come up with a reason or explanation, I left.
At a "Quick Stop" on the edge of town, I asked the lady behind the counter about the helmets. She exploded into a rage, yelling at me, “Don’t you read the Bible!" I assured her that I did, but simply couldn't recall anything about firemen in the Bible. She jerked her Bible from behind the counter and ruffled through some pages, and finally jabbed her finger at a passage. Sticking it in my face she said "See, it says right here, 'The three wise man came from afar.'"
With all major holidays come expectations. Expectation gets your hope up, that’s why it’s called expect—ation.
This I know—
Wise men—Seek Him
Wiser men—Find Him
Wisest men—Follow Him.
Upon reading Matthew 2:1-11, There are several things I want you to be prepared for:
We prepare ourselves to, live low—to bow low—Walk in humility.
Matthew 2:1-2TPT Jesus was born in Bethlehem near Jerusalem during the reign of King Herod. After Jesus’ birth a group of spiritual priests from the East came to Jerusalem 2 and inquired of the people, “Where is the child who is born king of the Jewish people? We observed his star rising in the sky and we’ve come to bow before him in worship.”
Bethlehem means, House of Bread. In John 4, Jesus stated that he’d become your bread— your living substance.
This I know—Spiritual men and women observe signs. They aren’t naïve, they observed the star, (they follow the Holy Spirit), and the stars name is called, Jesus.
These Holy Men bow—that’s what Holy Men do—They worshiped.
1 Peter 5:5b-6TPT …In every relationship, each of you must wrap around yourself the apron of a humble servant. Because: God resists you when you are proud but multiplies grace and favor when you are humble.
Let others act out, and pitch a fit. Here’s the difference maker—Do what you do for the King.
How do we prepare ourselves? We expect while we worship; We find relief and strength as we pray in the spirit.
Jude 20TPT But you, my delightfully loved friends, constantly and progressively build yourselves up on the foundation of your most holy faith by praying every moment in the Spirit.
Paul uses this phrase, “praying . . . in the Spirit” to refer to praying in tongues. Ref. Romans 8:26.
Paul writes, 1 Corinthians 14:15TPT So here’s what I’ve concluded. I will pray in the Spirit, but I will also pray with my mind engaged. I will sing rapturous praises in the Spirit, but I will also sing with my mind engaged.
It can also mean, “pray as led by the Spirit,” “pray in the Spirit’s realm,” or “pray by means of power of the Spirit.”
These spiritual priests came expecting. They— expected a shift; A season change.
Previously, there had been 400 years of silence. Meaning no prophets voice, No spiritual revival, No spiritual awakening. The voice of God seemed silent.
2. The second thing we prepare ourselves for is, not everyone will be pleased.
Matthew 2:3-4TPT King Herod was shaken to the core when he heard this, and not only he, but all of Jerusalem was disturbed when they heard this news. 4 So he called a meeting of the Jewish ruling priests and religious scholars, demanding that they tell him where the promised Messiah was prophesied to be born.
Warren Wiersbe writes, Herod was a ruthless murderer, he had his own wife and her two brothers slain because he suspected them of treason. He was married at least nine times in order to fulfill his lusts and strengthen his political ties.
First, Herod was a non-Jew—He was of Edomite descendent. In his past history his people were somewhat forced to accept Judaism during the reign of the Maceabeans
Second, Herod was a puppet; he received his authority from Rome.
A true miracle from God was about to manifest. This King, this Messiah, was The Consolation of Israel, which refers to the promised Messiah. This King came as a helpless babe.
This humble servant was, to console, to— alleviate grief, or to take away a sense of loss or trouble. The Messiah, the Consolation of Israel, was to remove sorrow and comfort the nation.
In Luke 2:25, Simeon and generations before him waited for the coming of the One who would console God’s people.
Isaiah predicted that the Messiah would take on the ministry of consolation Isaiah 40:1-2ESV “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for”
God gives comfort—The Holy Spirit is called the great comforter.
3. The third thing we prepare ourselves for is, His return.
Just as He was born as a babe lying in a manger, He will return on the clouds to call His bride home.
These wisemen, these spiritual priest, studied and knew the Torah.
They were looking, they were waiting. They became agents of change. They studied, they knew what to look for.
They for sure would know this one verse found in, Micah 5:2AMP “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah; From you One shall come forth for Me [who is] to be Ruler in Israel, His goings forth (appearances) are from long ago, From ancient days.”
Just as these men studied the sign of the Messiah—we are to do the same.
Matthew 2:5-6TPT “He will be born in Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,” they told him. “Because the prophecy states: 6 And you, little Bethlehem, are not insignificant among the clans of Judah, for out of you will emerge the Shepherd-King of my people Israel!”
Again, Just as Jesus’ coming forth—His arrival would become a game changer, so will His return! P.H
Again, Jesus’ return is eminent. Nothing will stop Him.
Paul wrote in, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18TPT This is the word of the Lord: we who are alive in him and remain until the Lord appears will by no means have an advantage over those who have already died, for both will rise together.
16 For the Lord himself will appear with the declaration of victory, the shout of an archangel, and the trumpet blast of God. He will descend from the heavenly realm and command those who are dead in Christ to rise first. 17 Then we who are alive will join them, transported together in clouds to have an encounter with the Lord in the air, and we will be forever joined with the Lord.
I believe these wisemen were living with extraordinary insight. I believe it’s possible that these spiritual men saw the end from the beginning. P.H
4. The fourth thing we prepare ourselves for is, Fakes—not everyone has the right motive.
Matthew 2:7-8TPT Then Herod secretly summoned the spiritual priests from the East to ascertain the exact time the star first appeared. 8 And he told them, “Now go to Bethlehem and carefully look there for the child, and when you’ve found him, report to me so that I can go and bow down and worship him too.”
King Herod had no intentions of worshipping this baby. His intentions were to destroy.
Jesus states in, John 10:10TPT A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow!
The thief comes only to kill, steal and destroy.
The Greek word thuo, is not the usual word for “kill.” It means to “slaughter.”
5. The fifth thing we prepare ourselves for is, The star, and its manifold influence.
Matthew 2:9-10TPT And on their way to Bethlehem, the same star they had seen in the East suddenly reappeared! Amazed, they watched as it went ahead of them and stopped directly over the place where the child was. 10 And when they saw the star, they were so ecstatic that they shouted and celebrated with unrestrained joy.
This star, (Jesus), would have many dimensions and multiple facets. It would shine its brightest as He’s needed most.
Need salvation? This star shines. Need a miracle? Need direction? Need purpose? Need deliverance this star shines— He gets brighter and brighter.
I love the promise found in, Daniel 12:3NLT Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.
Think for a moment—The wise are led to the light, while the wise become the light. P.H
6. The sixth and final thing we prepare ourselves for is, the gift we offer. Their source of joy was finding Jesus.
Matthew 2:11TPT When they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, they fell to the ground at his feet and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests full of gifts and presented him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Again, Matthew 2:11b…they fell to the ground at his feet and worshiped him.
These wise men, these holy men, became a living canopy over this young babe, this star. Finally, the canopy folded, bowed down and wholeheartedly worshiped.
Think about this—Throughout life and in everything you do, You’re giving gifts. Some folk—sow only what’s required, while others sow and eventually receive a bountiful harvest. ” P.H
When giving, (sowing), check your attitude. 2 Corinthians 8:7TPT You do well and excel in every respect—in unstoppable faith, in powerful preaching, in revelation knowledge, in your passionate devotion, and in sharing the love we have shown to you. So make sure that you also excel in grace-filled generosity.
Let’s look at the gifts these wisemen brought to give to Jesus. All three of these gifts were—types of, shadows of, or a symbol of:
Notice, these men gave their best—Their gifts were well thought out.
1) They gave gold for royalty, a King.
2) They gave Frankincense for anointing, and service in ministry.
3) They gave myrrh for burial and His resurrection.
Think about this, They worshiped the babe whom they knew would become a King—Now that’s insight!
What, or who do you worship? Are you a wise guy?
Benediction.
