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CHRISTMAS GIFTS



INTRODUCTION: TURN TO Matthew 2 THIS WEEK WE BEGIN THE BOOK OF ACTS 1-2 CHRISTMAS SEASON • We have some exciting things planned for the Christmas season • December 11: Cal-Baptist University / Mini-Christmas Concert • December 18: Charlie Campbell, ALWAYS BE READY • He is an expert in apologetics and will be speaking • I encourage all the youth to bring their friends • December 18: Our annual Christmas Play • December 24: Christmas Eve Together service • December 25: Our Family Christmas Service • Pray, Invite, Bring TODAY… we begin our Christmas Series – Christmas Gifts • Looking at the gifts that were given to Jesus at His birth and what these gifts mean to us today • Now traditional nativity scenes depict three “kings” or “wise men” visiting baby Jesus on the night of his birth with angels, shepherds, all the animals gathered around baby Jesus in the manger • BUT History tells us the 3 “kings” or “wise men” didn’t arrive until several weeks later and some historians believe it was up to 2 years later • The timing isn’t as important as the fact that they came looking for a King, bearing gifts in response to an astronomical event known as the Star of Bethlehem Who were these wise men? • History tells us that the wise men were actually Magi • The Magi were a tribe of priests who practiced Zoroastrianism • Zoroastrianism was a Persian false religion that was influenced by Jewish monotheism during the Jewish captivity in Babylon • Thus the Magi were aware of the Old Testament Prophecies Numbers 24:17 (NKJV) 17 “I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult. CHRISTMAS GIFTS - GOLD / John © 2016 Holland Davis

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CHRISTMAS GIFTS



• They were also astronomers and when they saw the Star of Bethlehem, they believed it referred to this prophecy in Numbers and they set off to find this King who would destroy all the sons of tumult • There are several theories concerning the cause of this star • Some say it was an alignment of planets, some a comet or a supernova • We don’t really know what caused the star to appear, but we do know that the Bible says… the heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of his hands (Psalm 19:1) • It’s not unusual that there would be signs in the heaven, especially for something as significant as the birth of Jesus • Thus the Magi came to find this newborn King • Matthew is the only one who records the account of the Magi Matthew 2:1–12 (NKJV) 2 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.’ ” (Micah 5:2) 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 another way. CHRISTMAS GIFTS - GOLD / John © 2016 Holland Davis

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CHRISTMAS GIFTS



Now that’s it… that’s all we ever hear of the Magi • But what I want us to understand is this… • Here are 3 Magi, priests from a false religion… they do not worship the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob… yet they are more aware of God’s activities on earth than God’s own people • What I want us to grasp is this… God is moving on the earth and His movement crosses religious boundaries, social boundaries, economic boundaries, cultural boundaries • You don’t have to be a Christian to be in touch with what God is doing • In fact, historically the church establishment is the last to know • When I listen to preachers on the radio, I hear that God is loosing out • The culture isn’t interested in God, people don’t care about God, we live in a secular society where God is no longer welcome • Yet, in the story of Christmas are 3 Magi, priests from a false religion, who are seeking a King because they recognize that God is at work • I want to encourage you to stop listening to voices that tell you the devil is winning, the culture is winning, we’re loosing the youth, we need to do something or the church is going to die… stop listening to those voices • Start looking at what God IS doing, look for the movement of the Spirit, look for the open door, the hungry heart, the one who is seeking • God is working in every generation • My job isn’t to focus on what God isn’t doing, my job is to focus on what God is doing and to do THAT But notice here the Magi give Jesus 3 gifts • Vs. 11 they give Jesus gold, frankincense and myrrh • Isaiah prophesied in Isaiah 60:6 they shall bring gold and incense and they shall proclaim the praises of the Lord • According to tradition, these items were standard gifts to honor a king in the ancient world • Gold as a precious metal, Frankincense as perfume or incense and myrrh as anointing oil • But some suggest they were also symbolic concerning Jesus Himself • Gold representing his kingship, frankincense a symbol of his priestly role and myrrh representing his death on the cross • What I want to look at is what these gifts mean to us

CHRISTMAS GIFTS - GOLD / John © 2016 Holland Davis

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CHRISTMAS GIFTS



The first gift we look at today is GOLD • Gold representing the Kingship of Jesus • The Magi asked in Matthew 2 where is He who has been born King of the Jews • They were looking for a King Jeremiah prophesied that a King was coming Jeremiah 23:5–6 (NKJV) 5 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. 6 In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS Zechariah prophesied that a King was coming Zechariah 6:12–13 (NKJV) 12 Then speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, saying: “Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, And He shall build the temple of the LORD; 13 Yes, He shall build the temple of the LORD. He shall bear the glory, And shall sit and rule on His throne; So He shall be a priest on His throne, And the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” ’ Daniel prophesied that a King was coming Daniel 2:44 (NKJV) 44 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. And when Jesus was born the angels announced the King had arrived Luke 2:11–14 (NKJV) 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

CHRISTMAS GIFTS - GOLD / John © 2016 Holland Davis

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CHRISTMAS GIFTS



• And the Magi came bearing gifts to honor the newborn King because they knew this King was different from all other kings • This King would destroy all the sons of tumult (prophecy in Numbers) • Tumult means to ruin, to make a loud crash, a devastating storm and the root word means doubtful which suggest unbelief • Thus the sons of tumult refer to all the powers of sin and death that brought ruin, doubt, unbelief and devastation to man • Jesus, the King would destroy all the sons of tumult… and He did that when He died on the cross for the sins of the world, was buried and rose again from the dead • Now this is wonderful news, great news… the King has come • But what does this have to do with us? • Why should I care? First of all what it means for you and I is this… • If Jesus is the King, then you and I are citizens of the Kingdom of God and our citizenship in the Kingdom of God takes precedence over our citizenship on earth or even as American’s • We are now citizens of heaven and as citizens of heaven we are no longer bound by the laws of the land we are governed by a higher law, the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus Philippians 3:20–21 (NKJV) 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. • And because we are citizens of heaven we are not to set our mind on earthly things… rather Paul goes on to write… Philippians 4:8 (NKJV) 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

CHRISTMAS GIFTS - GOLD / John © 2016 Holland Davis

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CHRISTMAS GIFTS



• Don’t get caught up in the controversies, the attitudes, the arguments, the ambitions of the things of the world… you are citizens of heaven Secondly, if Jesus is the King, then you and I are royalty 1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV) 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; • What is royalty? A person of royal lineage, a member of a royal family • As believers we need to see ourselves as we truly are… we are royalty • Because we are royalty there are things we do… we are loving, we are merciful, we are kind, forgiving because that’s what those who are part of God’s royal family do… it’s no special thing… it’s what we do • Because we are royalty there are things we don’t do because it is beneath us… hatred is beneath us, being easily offended, lying, fornication, drunkenness… it’s all beneath us • Why would I want to stoop down and do something that would bring shame to myself when God has lifted me up to a place of royalty? Third, if Jesus is King, then you and I are joint heirs to the Kingdom Galatians 4:4–7 (NKJV) 4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. • That means everything that is given to Jesus is given to us! • Jesus said, all authority is given to Me and I give all authority to you • We are not to live in fear, in guilt, in shame or in bondage to events or circumstances beyond our control because we are heirs to the Kingdom and all the resources of the Kingdom of God are available to us • God has given us power to heal… we can pray for healing • God is fulfilling His plans and His purposes in our lives… we can rest in His finished work • All this is mine because Jesus is MY KING. CHRISTMAS GIFTS - GOLD / John © 2016 Holland Davis