Seek The Lord Jesus For Christmas!

MATT. 2:1-12   (VS 2, 11)

(CHRISTMAS MESSAGE, PART II)

SUBJECT: OUR LORD’S YOUTH/ TRUE CHRISTMAS

THEME: These Wise Men Sought the Lord Jesus Christ With Great Diligence For the Purpose of  Worshiping  Him. We Would be Wise to Follow Their Example!

INTRODUCTION:

Matt 2:1, Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

Matt 2:2, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

We Today Must Understand the Great Wisdom in SEEKING HIM in Every Department of Our Lives. We Must SEEK HIM to Know Him Personally and Intimately, to Secure the Sweet Knowledge of His Precious Will,  and to Discover Another Place in Our Lives in Which We Can WORSHIP HIM.

Isa 55:6, Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

1.  We Are Commanded to SEEK the Lord.

2.  We Are Assured That He Can Be Found When We Seek Him.

3.  We Are Warned That We Only Have a Window of Opportunity to Seek Him and Actually Find Him.

James 4:8, Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

LET US THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON SEEK HIM THAT WE MAY WORSHIP HIM!   LET US ENDEAVOR TO SECURE ANOTHER PLACE IN OUR INDIVIDUAL LIVES, OUR FAMILY LIFE, AND OUR CHURCH LIFE TO WORSHIP HIM THIS CHRISTMAS!

YES, WISE MEN STILL SEEK HIM TODAY!

MESSAGE:

I.  UNWISE MEN ARE NOT EVEN AWARE OF HIM   VS 3-8

Matt 2:2-3, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3, When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

Jerusalem’s inhabitants, King Herod, the High Priest, and the Nation of Israel did not even know of the coming of their King.  But yet these Gentile Wise men knew and diligently sought for Him.  How shameful this is.....

        A.  THEY WERE NOT AWARE BECAUSE THEY HAD IGNORED PROPHECY

Matt 2:4, And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

Matt 2:5-6, And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

IT IS NOT WISE TO IGNORE THE SCRIPTURES!

        B.  THEY WERE NOT AWARE BECAUSE THEY WERE BLINDED BY RELIGION

Matt 2:4, And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

It is amazing that these men knew where they Messiah would be born but still did even bother to go and see Him.  The Son of God was five miles down the road and they were not even interested in meeting Him. MANY TODAY HAVE THEIR OWN “INTERPRETATION” ON CERTAIN VERSES AND AS A RESULT THEY ARE LOST IN SIN.  THEY HAVE LISTENED TO THE RELIGIONS OF OUR DAY AND HAVE IGNORED THE SAVIOR.

        C.  THEY WERE NOT AWARE BECAUSE OF WILLFUL IGNORANCE

Matt 2:7-8, Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8, And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

Many will sing the Christmas Carols and Songs of His birth but not even think twice about the meaning of those songs.  There will be many “X-MAS” shows on TV that totally ignore the truth of Christmas. Many will end up in Hell because they just simply refuse to believe God and what He has done.

        D.  LIKE THESE WISE MEN WE MUST INTERRUPT THEIR IGNORANCE WITH TRUTH    Matt 2:2-3,  Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3, When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

II. WISE MEN STILL LISTEN TO GOD’S WARNINGS

Matt 2:8,   And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

Matt 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.

Matt 2:12,  And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

The Word of God Was More Important to Them Than the words of well Respected Men.

Ps 118:8-9, It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.  9, It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.

           A.  GOD STILL WARNS US CONCERNING SIN

Prov 29:1, He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

Ezek 18:24, But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN ARE INCREDIBLE....

           B.  GOD STILL WARNS US CONCERNING HELL

Ps 9:17, The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

2 Pet 3:9, The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

           C.  GOD STILL WARNS US CONCERNING ASSOCIATIONS

James 4:4, Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Forsake Love, Loyalty and Friendship with this World’s system and ideals; Choose to be like Abraham who was the “Friend of God”! 

                  1.  The World Says What People Think About You is Most Important.  God says What You Actually Are in Character is Most Important.

                  2.  The World’s Says What You Have Will Make You Important.  God Says Who you are is What’s Important to Him!

            D.  GOD STILL WARNS US CONCERNING PROCRASTINATION

Isa 55:6-7, Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7, Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

2 Cor 6:2, (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

    APPLICATIONS:

1.  Stop Procrastinating Concerning Salvation. Trust Christ TODAY!

2.  Stop Procrastinating Concerning Baptism. Submit to Scriptural Baptism TODAY!

3.  Stop Procrastination Concerning Church Membership.  Join the Church TODAY!

4.  Stop Procrastinating About Your Devotional Life. Start Praying and Studying the Word TODAY!

5.  Stop Procrastinating Concerning Your marriage. Determine to Build It TODAY!

6.  Stop Procrastinating Concerning Witnessing. Start Witnessing TODAY!

7.  Stop Procrastinating Concerning Tithing. Start Tithing TODAY!

8.  Stop Procrastinating Concerning Serving God. Start Serving TODAY!

           E.  GOD STILL INSTRUCTS THE WISE MAN

Prov 1:5, A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

Prov 9:8-10, Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. 9, Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. 10, The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Prov 12:15, The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

III. WISE MEN STILL DEPART FROM HIM ANOTHER WAY

Matt 2:12, And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

I am talking about conversion! When a persons has meet Jesus in a saving capacity, they come away different!  Jesus Christ is still in the life changing business!  And when we have truly turned to Him we will have to leave different! 

ILLUSTRATION: THE SALVATION OF THE GADARENE DEMONIAC---MARK 5:1-20.

The Demoniac was Delivered from Satan (Picture of Salvation).   He Was Sitting at the Feet of Jesus (a picture of Discipleship).  He was Clothed (a picture of Atonement and Being Covered in Christ’s Righteousness) and he Desired to be with Jesus and the People of God (picture of Identification, Fellowship & Sanctification).  He was a Witness of the Grace of God in His life among his people (a picture of Witnessing and Christian Service).  Yes, just one encounter with Jesus will Dynamically change a Life!

APPLICATIONS:

  1. Bring Your Marriage to Him and You Will Depart Another Way, With Your relationship gloriously changed!

  2.  Bring Your Burdens to Him and You Will Depart Another Way, With your Burdens Lifted by Him!

  3.  Bring Your Children to The Lord and they will be changed by His Power Divine!

  4.  Bring Your Sin to Jesus, Sinner and Saint Alike, and He will Cleanse it ALL away!

  5.  Bring Your Faithlessness to Him and He will Build Your Faith!

  6.  Bring Your Lack of Joy to Him and He will Build Your Faith!

  7.  Bring Your Lack of Compassion and Love to Him and He will Build Your Love!

  8.  Bring Your Hatred to Him and he will Build Your Ability to Forgive!

  9.  Bring Your Fears and Insecurities to Him and He Will Give You Complete Security in Him!

10.  Bring Your Loneliness to Him and He will be Your Friend!

11.  Bring Your Unfruitful Christian Service to Him and he Will make You Fruitful

CONCLUSION:

These Wise Men Sought the Lord Jesus Christ With Great Diligence For the Purpose of Worshiping Him. We are demonstrating real wisdom when we follow their worthy example!

We Today Must Understand the Great Wisdom in SEEKING HIM in Every Department of Our Lives. We Must SEEK HIM to Know Him Personally and Intimately, to Secure the Sweet Knowledge of His Precious Will, and to Discover Another Place in Our Lives in Which We Can WORSHIP HIM.