The Wise Guys

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”