[The following is the full manuscript of my sermon that would have been delivered on the 27th of December, 2015, had it not been for a very moving visit by God's Holy Spirit. Look for the video on our Vimeo channel, http://vimeo.com/pilgrimreformedchurch.]
Have you ever watched what they call a “state visit” on TV? That’s when some foreign dignitary of very high ranking – like a king or a prime minister – comes to visit the US. Or when our President goes to visit the leader of another country. There’s always all kinds of pomp and bluster, armed troops and police all over the place, long lines of big black limousines and SUVs and motorcycles. It seems to be a very big deal, and a huge fuss. Just so one important person can come have a chat with another.
But one night a little over 2000 years ago, some very important men, dignitaries from far off lands, came to pay a visit to the most important person ever born on the face of this earth. There was no fanfare, no fuss, no big show at all. Listen and follow along to how the Apostle Matthew describes this visit in the 2nd chapter of his Gospel account, verses 1 through 12, and I’ll be reading from the venerable King James Version of our Holy Bible…
But one night a little over 2000 years ago, some very important men, dignitaries from far off lands, came to pay a visit to the most important person ever born on the face of this earth. There was no fanfare, no fuss, no big show at all. Listen and follow along to how the Apostle Matthew describes this visit in the 2nd chapter of his Gospel account, verses 1 through 12, and I’ll be reading from the venerable King James Version of our Holy Bible…
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,
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.
3 When Herod the king had heard these things, 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 demanded of them where Christ should be born.
5 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.
7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired 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.
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.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.
12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
--Matthew 2:1-12 (KJV)
Let us pray… Father God, You sent Your Son to us not as a conquering king or an important dignitary on a state visit, but as a tiny baby, born in the most humble of surroundings. Let us be just as humble, Father, as we seek Your will for us this morning. Speak to us through Your Holy Spirit and give us the message we need to hear today, and help us live it all week. In the beautiful name of our Savior Jesus we pray. Amen.
There was an art contest held in a local school in East Texas at Christmas time a few years ago. One of the prize winners was a picture drawn by a nine year old boy showing three men, offering gifts to the baby Jesus in his manger. What made the picture unique is how the three visitors arrived: there was fire truck off to the side in the picture.
The principle asked the boy about his decision to draw the truck and the boy, in his heavy East-Texas accent, was quick to reply: “Well, the Bible says the wise men came from a far, so they musta been ridin’ a far truck.”
But have you ever stopped to think what it might have been like if those wise visitors had been women instead of men?
Does it really matter whether the visiting dignitaries were men or women? Would it make any difference that they rode in on camels or in a firetruck? Not to them, I think… nor to us.
What matters is that they received the living, breathing fulfillment of what God had promised so long before. They found the Christ, the Messiah, Immanuel, God with us. And when they came into the house and saw the young Child with Mary, His mother, they fell down and worshiped Him.
Over the last few weeks, we’ve been looking at how everything God has told us throughout our Bible has either come to pass, is happening right now, or is promised for a future time. Just the other day we recognized and celebrated the fulfillment of God’s dearest and greatest promise: that a Savior would come to us and live with us and offer us eternal life through Him. And Jesus was born, to keep God’s promise.
The wise men in Matthew’s Gospel responded to that promise which they had uncovered in their research. The followed the star’s path that led them right to the Christ Child. I think the author of the book of Hebrews might best explain that promise, when in chapter 9 verses 11 through 15 he writes this…
There was an art contest held in a local school in East Texas at Christmas time a few years ago. One of the prize winners was a picture drawn by a nine year old boy showing three men, offering gifts to the baby Jesus in his manger. What made the picture unique is how the three visitors arrived: there was fire truck off to the side in the picture.
The principle asked the boy about his decision to draw the truck and the boy, in his heavy East-Texas accent, was quick to reply: “Well, the Bible says the wise men came from a far, so they musta been ridin’ a far truck.”
But have you ever stopped to think what it might have been like if those wise visitors had been women instead of men?
- They would have asked directions in Bethlehem rather than feeling that they needed to stop off at the Palace in Jerusalem.
- They would have arrived on time.
- They would have helped deliver the baby and clean up the stable afterwards.
- They would have given practical gifts, and probably brought a casserole.
- And there would indeed be Peace on Earth.
Does it really matter whether the visiting dignitaries were men or women? Would it make any difference that they rode in on camels or in a firetruck? Not to them, I think… nor to us.
What matters is that they received the living, breathing fulfillment of what God had promised so long before. They found the Christ, the Messiah, Immanuel, God with us. And when they came into the house and saw the young Child with Mary, His mother, they fell down and worshiped Him.
Over the last few weeks, we’ve been looking at how everything God has told us throughout our Bible has either come to pass, is happening right now, or is promised for a future time. Just the other day we recognized and celebrated the fulfillment of God’s dearest and greatest promise: that a Savior would come to us and live with us and offer us eternal life through Him. And Jesus was born, to keep God’s promise.
The wise men in Matthew’s Gospel responded to that promise which they had uncovered in their research. The followed the star’s path that led them right to the Christ Child. I think the author of the book of Hebrews might best explain that promise, when in chapter 9 verses 11 through 15 he writes this…
11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
--Hebrews 9:11-15 (NKJV)
“The promise of the eternal inheritance”, the everlasting life as Jesus put it in John 3:16. And of course, we know that Jesus promised in chapter 14 of John’s Gospel that someday He will return to take His church home. Many wonder when this will happen, and some have even tried to predict it. Peter tells us there’s a reason Jesus hasn’t returned yet, and it all has to do with God’s great love and mercy. List to what the Apostle says in his 2nd letter to the young Christian churches, in chapter 3 verse 9…
9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
--2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV)
So we just have to be patient. We just have to wait, because we know it will happen. We know it will happen because Jesus promised it, and Jesus is God, and everything that God promised would happen, either has happened already or is happening right now.
That’s what He’s been telling us the last few weeks. Jesus will come again, He will take His church home, and He will judge the world. We just better make sure we’re ready, and we’ve discussed that too.
So what about us? Do we live and act and think like we’re ready for Jesus to return? I love how Paul opens his 2nd letter to his young friend Timothy, in chapter 1 verse 1…
That’s what He’s been telling us the last few weeks. Jesus will come again, He will take His church home, and He will judge the world. We just better make sure we’re ready, and we’ve discussed that too.
So what about us? Do we live and act and think like we’re ready for Jesus to return? I love how Paul opens his 2nd letter to his young friend Timothy, in chapter 1 verse 1…
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus…
--2 Timothy 1:1 (NKJV)
The word “apostle” means “one sent out”. Paul says he has been sent out into the world for Jesus Christ by the will of God. What compelled him to do this? The promise of life that is Jesus! This was God’s will, that Paul go out into the world spreading the Gospel of Jesus and the promise of eternal life that Jesus extends to us all if we only believe, and act on our belief.
Paul reiterates this sending in the opening words of his letter to the church in Rome, in Romans chapter 1 verses 1 through 3, with one small addition…
Paul reiterates this sending in the opening words of his letter to the church in Rome, in Romans chapter 1 verses 1 through 3, with one small addition…
1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh…
--Romans 1:1-3 (NKJV)
Did you catch the additional point Paul makes? Just like he mentioned in his letter to Timothy, he says he is called as an apostle, sent out to help let people know about the promise of God that is made complete in Jesus. But he adds “separated to the gospel of God”. Separated, held apart, dedicated to the Good News of our Father God. Another word for that is “sanctified”.
The gospel of God - that Good News - is Jesus! Born to take away the sin of the world. Born that man might live. Paul accepted God’s will to be an apostle and he separated himself to serve that task wholly and completely. That was the promise Paul made to Jesus. And that was a promise he most definitely fulfilled.
So I’m back to the question, what about us? Have we even made a promise to Jesus, to God? If so, are we working to fulfill it?
With the coming of the New Year, many folks will make “resolutions”, usually intended to make them better persons in some way. They’ll diet, get more exercise, lose weight, quit smoking, go to church more often, be nicer to their spouse… The list of possibilities is endless. Sadly, most of those resolutions will be broken before we’re even through January.
So I don’t want us to make any resolutions. Instead, I want us to make a promise, and not to ourselves but to God. Each one of us knows some area we are lacking in when it comes to our faith. We all know things we could do so that others can see Jesus in our lives. We can spot ways that our love of God can be translated more into the real world by being better servants, by helping others more, by loving others fully. The Apostle James says that faith without works is dead. We can all increase our work serving Jesus so that we don’t have to worry about our faith dying.
Sanctify yourself to God. Separate a part of your life out from the culture of the world and give it all to Jesus. God fulfills His promises. Make a promise to Him today, and fulfill it.
Amen.
Let us pray… Father, God, as we read through our Holy Bible, we see that everything You ever promised You fulfilled. Everything You said would happen did or is happening right now in the world. So we can be sure that what You and Jesus said would happen in a time yet to come will indeed come to pass. But the greatest promise You ever made, Father, and the greatest gift You ever gave us, is fulfilled completely in Jesus Christ our Lord. In Him You give the embodiment of Your love. In Him reside all our hopes and dreams and faith. In Him we have salvation and life eternal. Thank You, Father, for keeping that very special promise.
Hear us now, Lord, as we come to You in the silence, our heads bowed in Your holy presence. Accept the promise we now make to serve Your Son Jesus throughout the coming year and all the years ahead…
Heavenly Father, help us fulfill our promise to You, just as You fulfill all Your promises to us. Help us truly separate ourselves to do the work of Jesus, to complete the assignment He left us. Help us not to look upon this moment as simply making another resolution, one that we may not keep for long, but to see it as a promise to our Almighty God and His Son Jesus, a promise that we will fulfill. This we pray in the blessed name of Jesus Christ our Lord and our Redeemer. Amen.
The gospel of God - that Good News - is Jesus! Born to take away the sin of the world. Born that man might live. Paul accepted God’s will to be an apostle and he separated himself to serve that task wholly and completely. That was the promise Paul made to Jesus. And that was a promise he most definitely fulfilled.
So I’m back to the question, what about us? Have we even made a promise to Jesus, to God? If so, are we working to fulfill it?
With the coming of the New Year, many folks will make “resolutions”, usually intended to make them better persons in some way. They’ll diet, get more exercise, lose weight, quit smoking, go to church more often, be nicer to their spouse… The list of possibilities is endless. Sadly, most of those resolutions will be broken before we’re even through January.
So I don’t want us to make any resolutions. Instead, I want us to make a promise, and not to ourselves but to God. Each one of us knows some area we are lacking in when it comes to our faith. We all know things we could do so that others can see Jesus in our lives. We can spot ways that our love of God can be translated more into the real world by being better servants, by helping others more, by loving others fully. The Apostle James says that faith without works is dead. We can all increase our work serving Jesus so that we don’t have to worry about our faith dying.
Sanctify yourself to God. Separate a part of your life out from the culture of the world and give it all to Jesus. God fulfills His promises. Make a promise to Him today, and fulfill it.
Amen.
Let us pray… Father, God, as we read through our Holy Bible, we see that everything You ever promised You fulfilled. Everything You said would happen did or is happening right now in the world. So we can be sure that what You and Jesus said would happen in a time yet to come will indeed come to pass. But the greatest promise You ever made, Father, and the greatest gift You ever gave us, is fulfilled completely in Jesus Christ our Lord. In Him You give the embodiment of Your love. In Him reside all our hopes and dreams and faith. In Him we have salvation and life eternal. Thank You, Father, for keeping that very special promise.
Hear us now, Lord, as we come to You in the silence, our heads bowed in Your holy presence. Accept the promise we now make to serve Your Son Jesus throughout the coming year and all the years ahead…
Heavenly Father, help us fulfill our promise to You, just as You fulfill all Your promises to us. Help us truly separate ourselves to do the work of Jesus, to complete the assignment He left us. Help us not to look upon this moment as simply making another resolution, one that we may not keep for long, but to see it as a promise to our Almighty God and His Son Jesus, a promise that we will fulfill. This we pray in the blessed name of Jesus Christ our Lord and our Redeemer. Amen.
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