Word To The Wise

• Matt 2:1-12 READ- Word to the Wise
• Who watched the debates? For years, people in churches have always used the President as an earthly example of a king- sermon example on conduct before a king-
• Can we all finally agree that earthly kings are not to be worshipped or adored? Only Jesus is worthy of our adoration-
• America was never intended to have a king- Someone with absolute power- We shouldn’t adore these people- They are charged with the affairs of the state- not our adoration
• Jesus on the other hand, is worthy of all of our love, adoration, and respect.

1. Wise people seek Jesus
2. The scriptures are not clear who these guys were and where they came from, but we know two things- they were wise, and they came from the east-
3. It tells us- that smart men figured out that messiah had come- it doesn’t say that they were jews, but we can guess that they were some sort of pagan or gentile astrologer types- they saw the signs and they came
4. And they wanted to know- where is he? We see the pics and its always 3 dudes coming across sand to a manger, but I have to guess this wasn’t an easy task- they had to ask around and figure it out-
5. Here’s a truth- You will always find God when you are looking for him
6. Acts 17:27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;
7. Jeremiah 29:13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
8. Proverbs 8:17 I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me.
9. The problem is that many people are not willing to go looking for God- the figure that if God wanted to find them, he’d come looking for them“wise men from the east” “where is he”
10. There are times when people come looking for God- in the church- be aware- job loss, relationship change, sickness, death, of course new to the area
11. But when they don’t? In love with their sin, love their money, time, feel as though they don’t need God, self righteous, self reliant, don’t want to be bothered, don’t want the respsonsiblity
12. What true- is that Jesus IS true- and who he is IS true-
13. Its why Herod was  “troubled’ because even he knew that this Jesus was something special.

1. What does it mean to you
2. Jesus is king- He is messiah- he is the King of the Jews- If the wise men searched after him- you should search after him
3. Deuteronomy 4:29 29 But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
4. The truth is- people can’t admit that they search for Jesus with all of their heart and soul
5. They want the easy Jesus with the easy path- Because they want to check the box
6. Have you ever lost something in your house and had to look for it? Not because you needed it- but because it bothered you that you couldn’t find where it was? Lost keys for DDD- in bed
7. Jeremiah 33:3 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and [a]mighty things, which you do not know.’
8. Isaiah 65:24²⁴ “It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear.
9. Psalm 91:15¹⁵ He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;I will be with him in trouble;
   I will deliver him and honor him.
10. These are true promises of Scripture- the God of this universe wants relationship with you- but you must seek him- pray- read- bible- he will show up

• 2. Wise people don’t reject him
• Herod the great was the ruler of Judea during the time of Jesus arrival. Throughout his life he accomplished a lot and did a lot of crazy things. He divorced his first wife as a political ploy, married another woman, but eventually went back and killed his first wife and her offspring. He built a lot of things and infrastructure. Ruled for many years, but in the end, tried to commit suicide and failed, but died a natural death. Very interesting life this guy had
• He was very strategic. He had and made friendships based on their political expediency to hold on to his power. He wasn’t a righteous ruler, he was a self serving ruler that wanted power
• So this is the guy who hears about Jesus being born.
• Read v 3-7
• Notice from this passage a few things
• He was troubled when he found out about Jesus, v3 “he was troubled”
• he trusted the known prophecy through the Jewish leaders, v4 ‘he gathered the priests’
• he lied ‘that I may come and worship him also’ (he wanted to kill him)
• Herod was called the king of the Jews before Jesus- he rebuilt the temple for them- politically expedient. Had built pagan temples as well- Coligula wanted his statue in there so they’d worship him- but didn’t happen.
• Herod was a strong unrighteous leader, that appears to have a measure of intellect- but in the end, he rejects Jesus as king of the jews- His son, Herod Antipas will come up later during Matthew
• This is somewhat normal response to people who don’t know the Lord- I see that people who don’t claim to be Christian are often more convicted and respectful of the things of God
• I’ve had people who want nothing to do with Christianity ask me about end times
• And they’ll lie and say things to appear to be religious to keep you and Jesus at arms length
• What does it mean to you
• Conviction is of God- and useful for the Christian life. If you feel convicted, that’s Good
• This was a primary goal of Jesus coming to the earth- READ John 3:19-21
• When Jesus promised the HS he promised conviction of Sin John 16:8
• Even paul said in 2 Cor 7:9-10 that conviction is good if it leads you to repentance
• Herod was troubled- but he didn’t let his troubledness bring him to his knees and repent
• You have that chance- you can turn to God- You can feel conviction and confess and be forgiven
• Sidenote- condemnation isn’t conviction- know the difference- Conviction brings repentance- condemnation wants you to feel as though you ‘re not forgiven when you actually are
• But don’t be a Herod- Don’t stay away from conviction- embrace it-
• Its why we read the Bible, and listen to preaching, and pray- We want conviction, because conviction brings righteousness
• I’ve seen many people that reject it- but if you’re trying to have a growing righteous relationship, you want all the bad to come to the surface so it can be dealt with so you can have a life that can glorify God- and you don’t have anything in your life that you shouldn’t have
• Military- cleaning barracks- never clean- always cleaning- same with weapons “You pig”

• Jesus is to be worshipped
• A huge part of this story is that the wise men had come to worship Jesus and then they worship Jesus.
• V2 ‘we have come to worship him’ V11 ‘fell down and worshipped’
• I want you to notice that these foreign men had travelled, directed by a star to come and worship a king, that was not their king- These were not Jewish people. They were people who more than likely were at best gentiles, but possibly pagan based on their astrological leanings
• But nonetheless, they saw the signs and they came to worship the King of Kings.
• Psalm 95:6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
• Why is it that the ancients understood worship, but modern day people don’t.
• Probably because we are self-centered people that haven’t been shown what worship looks like
• Isaiah 12:5  Sing to the Lord, For He has done excellent things; This is known in all the earth.
• Why did they worship him, because it was due him and they were wise enough to realize he was worthy of it- so they did it
• What does it mean to you    
• It shouldn’t take that much to worship Jesus- These guys worshipped him for who he was, not because they needed something from him- or he had done anything for him
• We worship him because he has taken away our sin- but that hadn’t even happened yet
• They saw who he was- and bowed down and worshipped him
• We, as people of faith, have always been worshippers- singers, instrument players, singing songs about God- and to God in worship. From the OT to the NT. Its who we are
• It’s why I’m always curious when people say they are Christians- but they don’t worship
• Parking lot Christians that don’t want to come into the building in worship
• Being deployed- coming home in tx- wanting to get in to worship- I have to do it!
• Hebrews 13:15  Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, [a]giving thanks to His name.
• Worship isn’t just Sundays- it’s all week long. Listening to worship, singing worship, etc
• But God has called us to collectively worship together in the assembly- its biblical
• How do you do it? Go to bed on time Saturday night. Get up on time Sunday. Get to Church early. Don’t fill up on liquid. Be focused. Get your mind right. Minimize distractions for you and others. Yes you may have kids, teach them how to worship. Show them what it looks like. Childrens ministry Is a gift, but teach your kids discipline at home, and it translates to church
• Psalm 50:14  Offer to God thanksgiving,And pay your vows to the Most High.
• Just as I think I owe God my tithe- I owe him my worship. He deserves to be worshipped and lifted up. He deserves my praise.  I stand up because I don’t want to be lazy- I raise my hands because he’s worthy.
• 1 Peter 2:5  you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

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