DON’T GIVE IN TO EVIL!
Matthew 2:1-12
S: Wise Men
Th: Courage at Christmas
Pr: WE MUST HAVE THE COURAGE TO GO THE DIFFERENT WAY.
?: How? How do we do it?
KW: Temptations (to avoid)
TS: We will find in our study of Matthew 2:1-12 three temptations to avoid so that we have the courage to go the different way.
The _____ temptation to avoid is…
I. DON’T BE COMFORTABLE
II. DON’T BE CONCEDING
III. DON’T BE CONCEITED
Version: ESV
RMBC 28 December 03 AM
INTRODUCTION:
Many of you know that I can’t get past this time of the year without making some kind of comment about America’s favorite gift: fruitcake.
Though our time of gift-giving has passed us, I do want to share with you the “TOP 10 CHRISTMAS GIFTS TO NOT GET YOUR PASTOR.”
This is for future information, just in case…
ILL Notebook: Christmas (bad Chr. Gifts)
TOP 10 BAD CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR YOUR PASTOR
10. Fruitcake
9. Frankincense Aftershave
8. A rooftop hot tub.
7. Golf Club Covers with the 12 Disciples’ Faces on Them.
6. Did I mention fruitcake?
5. A bobble-head statue of the apostle Paul for the back of his car.
4. A “Begats” Family Tree Chart.
3. Did I say anything about fruitcake?
2. An Official Hellfire and Brimstone Backyard Grill.
1. The Left Behind Series “Practical Survivors Guide.”
Well, now I feel much better now that I have gotten that in…
So, how about you?
Do you give good gifts?
Today, we are giving consideration to the wise men.
We know them for giving good gifts to Jesus.
And though their gifts are extraordinary and rich in meaning, we are considering another perspective today.
TRANSITION:
This is our final study of our series called “Courage at Christmas.”
So far…
1. We have considered the courage of…
1.1 Mary
It was Mary who joyfully accepted the responsibilities that would come in bearing the Messiah.
Though the circumstances would look bad, she was ready and willing to do whatever God would call her to do.
We also considered the courage of…
1.2 Joseph
Joseph’s reaction to the news about the pregnancy of Mary was not as positive as hers.
Initially, Joseph was without the benefit of hearing directly from the Lord on this issue.
Therefore, Mary’s explanation of the pregnancy seemed more than ridiculous.
It was, to him, a clear betrayal of their commitment to one another.
But Joseph does hear from the Lord, and he displays the courage to look beyond how bad it looked, and took Mary as his wife.
Then on Christmas Eve, we considered…
1.3 The Shepherds
When the angels appeared to the shepherds, they were understandably terrified.
You would be too if you met just one angel.
Nevertheless, when they are confronted with the good news about the birth of Jesus, they are not so frightened to keep still.
They have the courage to move out to Bethlehem and find out that the good news is truly good!
Today, we are considering the courage of the wise men.
Interestingly, I believe that…
2. The wise men had the opportunity to be ordinary.
But ordinary was not a path they chose.
Though, we do not know any of their names, nor do we know how many of them there were, we do know that they teach us by their example.
They teach us that…
3. WE MUST HAVE THE COURAGE TO GO THE DIFFERENT WAY.
But how?
How do we do it?
Well…
4. We will find in our study of Matthew 2:1-12 three temptations to avoid so that we have the courage to go the different way.
Let’s hear what the text says…
(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 saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." (3) When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; (4) and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. (5) They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
(6) "’And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’"
(7) Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. (8) And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him." (9) After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. (10) When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. (11) And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. (12) And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
OUR STUDY:
I. The first temptation to avoid is DON’T BE COMFORTABLE.
We must be ready to move out of our places of security.
The magi were important people in Persian culture.
They were prominent and powerful, because they had extensive knowledge of science, agriculture, mathematics, history, and religion.
Then, when you include the understanding of the meaning of the movement of stars, they were not to be trifled with.
No Persian was able to become king without mastering the disciplines of the magi, for it was these wise men that approved and crowned the future kings.
It was likely the magi had read the writings of Daniel since Daniel had served both the Babylonian and 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 exactly what about the star caught their attention – whether it moved differently or whether it was located lower in the sky – whatever it was, it was different and it got their attention.
So they ventured out on this 500-mile trip.
They were willing to endure sore saddles, wind in their face and more and more sand.
There were no air-conditioned cars.
There were no CD and DVD players to entertain them.
There were no stops of convenience, like hotels, McDonalds or Denny’s on the way.
They were, perhaps, on the very first “star trek.”
Their mission was to boldly go where no man had gone before, to find the Messiah of the entire world.
They had the courage to leave their life of comfort, security and power.
They had the courage to go a different way.
II. The second temptation to avoid is DON’T BE CONCEDING.
1. We must not be thrown off by the unexpected.
I believe that the magi could have been easily been put off by the fact 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 party for the king.
There was no big celebration.
But they did not let go of their purpose.
They were unencumbered by their own misconceptions and undeterred by the obstacles.
They report to Herod to get some information.
What was interesting here is that even though Herod was ignorant, he did have people around him that had the right information.
And when they find out what the wise men know, you 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.
Rather, they teach us that…
2. We are to keep to our objective.
The magi were in this for the long haul.
They were not going to concede at this point.
Though none go with them, they were willing to go the different way.
And they teach us that a diligent search for God at work will always lead us to Jesus.
Now we come to…
III. The third temptation to avoid is DON’T BE CONCEITED.
1. We must be ready to worship.
Remember, where the magi came from, they were the powerful and prestigious ones.
When they spoke, people listened.
Yet, again they teach us about a different way.
They had gone great lengths to get to this place.
But they didn’t come to show how great they were.
Instead, they were ready to be confronted with someone that was greater than them.
They came with humility.
They came to worship.
And worship they did.
The wise men give gifts that have great meaning.
They give gifts that are costly.
They didn’t come with leftovers.
They didn’t come with toys.
They didn’t come with an expectation to get something.
They came to worship.
ILL Notebook: Hearing (onion rings)
When Mary Wyly was pregnant with her first son, her husband took her shopping for maternity clothes. After they purchased several very pretty and expensive outfits, he put his arm around her. She was delighted when she heard him whisper, "Now I’m going to take you where they have the best diamond rings in the world."
Mary thought that this was a perfect romantic ending to a perfectly romantic day. When she found herself in the mall restaurant, however, she realized that what she had heard was "diamond rings," but what he had said was "onion rings."
Well, this shows us that we tend to hear what we want to hear.
But…
2. 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.
APPLICATION:
How about you?
1. Are you ready to go a different way?
What I find so fascinating here is that finding Jesus changes your life!
I am confident that the magi not only went back a different way, they went back different.
They had contact with the Living God.
You see, when you are obedient, God does not send you back the same way you came.
You end up with a different outlook on life.
You end up with a different outlook on God and on mankind.
When you truly meet Jesus, you are very ready to go a different way.
Interestingly, there is one man that hated Christmas and he never even heard the word.
His name was Herod.
Herod shows us the desperation of evil.
For…
2. Evil always works to deceive.
Herod was a ruthless murderer.
He executed his own wife, two brothers, a brother-in-law, and a sister-in-law because he suspected them of treason.
Human life had no meaning to him.
What had meaning for him was prestige and power.
He had fought and clawed and killed in order to hold on to his throne.
So when the magi showed up, he didn’t say what was really on his mind.
No, he was a smooth talker.
He sounds like he cares.
But, he was not about to let a boy take away his throne and his power.
He attempted to deceive the wise men, but when you are listening to God, He will direct you a different way.
But we must continue to be wise, for…
3. Evil keeps us from discovering our purpose.
Herod can’t face the reality that there is power above him.
Nevertheless, it was reality.
This baby would be the ruler of all!
The wise men, on the other hand, were not deterred from the purpose that they had been given.
Yes, it may have sounded like a great thing to do, to return to Herod and win political friendship, and perhaps even political 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 the courage of the wise men today?
The world and Satan would have us deceived with the temporal.
The world and Satan would have us distracted from our purpose.
But when we look for and find Jesus, we find what is worth finding – a different way.
BENEDICTION: [Counselors are ]
Don’t be comfortable – don’t be ready to settle, for when you find Jesus, you find yourself going a different way – a way worth going.
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.
Don’t be conceited – for when you find Jesus, you will find that pride has no place – only worship – and that you have good news to tell that will send you on a different way – a way worth going.
Now to him who is able to establish you by the gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
