The Four Kings of Christmas (Jesus) (Part 6) (Mt. 1:18-25; 2:1-3, 9-10)

The Hardy Boys

Conclusion:

• “Frank Stratemeyer may hold a record for pseudonyms used by an author. He wrote books in the Hardy Boys series as Franklin W. Dixon, wrote the Bobbsey Twins books using the name Laura Lee Hope, wrote the early Nancy Drew mysteries as Carolyn Keene and wrote the Tom Swift books using the pseudonym Victor Appleton. A busy fellow! But most of those monikers were only fake, used to identify his writing in different styles.”¹
• Frank Stratemeyer used four names in order to accomplish his vast, literary work.
• Jesus, in order to accomplish His vast, spiritual work, has at least 200 names² and fulfilled the meaning of each one!
• This message highlighted only four. Actually, they were descriptions more than titles.
• Jesus is God to us.
• Jesus is God for us.
• Jesus is God with us.
• Jesus is God over us.
• How do you respond to One who is so Wonderful?
• Especially at Christmas, you don't have to be ignorant or confused about God's intentions toward you.
• When we say Jesus is God to us, we can rejoice that we have a Mediator, a go-between (1 Tim. 2:5). 
• Jesus qualifies to be the go-between, since He is 100% God and 100% man. 
• As Mediator, Jesus ransomed us (1 Tim. 2:6) and reconciled us (2 Cor. 5:18, 21).
• When we say Jesus is God for us, we can rejoice that our sins have been forgiven (Psa. 103:10, 12).
• We can also rejoice that nothing or no one can prevail against God's people (Rom. 8:31).
• When we say Jesus is God with us, we can rejoice that God is near us and interested in us.
• How sincerely and strongly Jesus desires to meet with His people! (Rev. 3:20).
• When we say Jesus is God over us, we can rejoice that He has the credentials and credibility to shepherd us through life, until we see Him face to face.
• Herod was the king who missed Christmas, the magi were the kings who managed Christmas, but Jesus is the King who makes Christmas.
• If you take Christ out of Christmas, all you have is mass.
• Mass despair, mass discouragement, mass deception, mass distraction, mass debt and mass delusion.

1http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/1702709/3dd6bf9786/TEST/TEST/ (accessed 12.14.15)

2http://www.gotquestions.org/names-Jesus-Christ.html (accessed 12.17.15)

The Four Kings of Christmas (Jesus) (Part 5) (Mt. 1:18-25; 2:1-3, 9-10)

JESUS IS GOD OVER US.

“For we saw His star in the east . . .” (Mt. 2:2).

“ . . . the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was” (Mt. 2:9).

•  It is no great insight to say that the star was above the magi.
• That which is above means there is something or someone below. You're with me so far, right?
• The record also says that the star moved until it stopped.
• Why did it move? Think of the star as God's celestial GPS.
• Long before cars had On-Star, God had the natal star.
• The star in the east guided the magi to Jesus' precise location.
• Let's put the pieces together.
• Fact #1 > The star was above.
• Fact #2 > The star moved until it reached its destination.
• What do these facts mean?
• They mean that God governs us.
• They mean that God guides us.
• Peter combined governance and guidance in relation to people's souls. "For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls” (1 Pet. 2:25).
• The titles together speak of Jesus.
• Jesus is “Shepherd” in that He guides us.
• He guides us by His Word.
• He guides us by His voice.
• He guides us by His Spirit.
• He guides us by wise counsel.
• He guides us by previous experience.
• Jesus is “Guardian” in that He governs us.
• The word “Guardian” is better translated “Bishop,” an administrative title emphasizing supervision.
• Jesus – what a trustworthy Guardian! (2 Tim. 1:12)

The Four Kings of Christmas (Jesus) (Part 4) (Mt. 1:18-25; 2:1-3, 9-10)

JESUS IS GOD WITH US.

“ . . . they shall call His name 'Immanuel,' which translated means 'God with us'” (Mt. 1:23).

• When I say that God is “with us,” I'm talking about proximity, closeness, being approachable.
• There are two theological words that contrast the proximity of God.
• The first word is “transcendence.”  That means God is above and beyond, “up there”, in a class by Himself. He is distant from us, different from us and sovereign over us.
• Transcendence is described in 1 Timothy 6:15-16.  Jesus is “the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.”
• The second word is “immanence.” That means that God is near us, with us and interested in us. He is not just “up there” but He is also “right here.” In other words, He “gets us” (Heb. 4:15-16; 5:2, 8).
• Jesus knew temptation (Heb. 4:15).
• Jesus knew weakness (Heb. 5:2).
• Jesus knew suffering (Heb. 5:8).
• Jesus knew rejection (Mt. 27:46).
• Jesus knew discomfort (Mt. 8:20).
• Jesus knew hunger (Mt. 4:2).
• Jesus knew thirst (Jn. 19:28).
• Jesus knew betrayal (Mk. 14:10).
• Jesus knew loneliness (Mk. 14:50).
• Jesus knew grief (Jn. 11:35).
• So what is Jesus, “God with us” and “God who gets us”, doing right now?
• Jesus is praying for you, that you will draw near to God through Him (Heb. 7:25).
• If you ever wondered what God wants from you more than anything else, now you know!

The Four Kings of Christmas (Jesus) (Part 3) (Mt. 1:18-25; 2:1-3, 9-10)

JESUS IS GOD FOR US.

“ . . . He will save His people from their sins” (Mt. 1:21).

• How do I know God is for us?
• He sent His Son, Jesus, to save us from our sins.
• “For us” – That's the language of advantage.
•  Since Jesus came to save us from our sins, that means God wasn't interested in leaving us in a state of sin.
• In other words, God acted proactively; He took initiative (Tit. 3:4-7; Rom. 5:6-8).
• Since Jesus came to save us from our sins, we had better review what sin means.
• Sin means missing the target or falling short of God's standard.
• Sin means violation, a transgression or trespassing.
• Sin means iniquity, which is lack or mismanagement of moral integrity.
• Sin means rebellion, which is any attempt to throw off God's rule over our lives.
• Sin means treachery, which is a breach of trust.
• Sin means doing that which is crooked, bent or distorted.
• Sin means abomination, which is an obnoxious or repulsive deed done to detest or despise God.
• Sin means lawlessness, which is living in violation of your conscience.
• Sin means godlessness, which is withholding from God His due and not acting as God requires.
• Sin means licentiousness, which is living as though you have a permit to do anything you want, whenever you want, simply because you want.
• Since Jesus came to save us from our sins, we had better know what the big deal is about sin (Ezek; 18:4; Rom. 6:23a).

The Four Kings of Christmas (Jesus) (Part 2) (Mt. 1:18-25; 2:1-3, 9-10)

JESUS IS GOD TO US.

“ . . . with child by the Holy Spirit” (Mt. 1:18).

“ . . . the child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit” (Mt. 1:20).

•  Mary gave birth to a son, who was named Jesus.
• This son was 100% human 100% of the time.  
• His humanity and his physical body came from Mary.  What made Jesus' humanity different is that, though He was tempted in every way that we are, He never used His humanity as a vehicle for sin (Heb. 4:15).
• This son was 100% divine 100% of the time. 
• “Divine” simply means God (capital “G”). 
• The visible, breathing, and soon-to-walk son of Mary would also, at all times, be the Son of God.
• The divinity of Jesus did not come from the Holy Spirit.
• The divinity of Jesus did not come the moment He was born. Jesus was already the Son of God before He inhabited a human body (Jn. 1:1-2; Col. 1:17a).
• Earlier I emphasized the Holy Spirit in verses 18 & 20.  What's the big deal about that?
• The Holy Spirit made possible the supernatural event known as the Virgin Birth.
• Joseph was not the biological father of Jesus.
• When Jesus was older, He said this:“He who has seen me has seen the Father” (Jn. 14:9).
• In other words Jesus said, “When you look at how I think, speak, feel and act, you will know how God thinks, speaks, feels and acts.”

The Four Kings of Christmas (Jesus) (Part 1) (Mt. 1:18-25; 2:1-3, 9-10)

Introduction:

• Illustration: “Lost Identity”
• "In his sermon, 'We All Need Roots,' William P. Tuck tells of a man who stepped onto the platform at an American Legion Convention.  As he looked over the large crowd, he asked, 'Can anybody tell me who I am?'  He had lost his memory, with no record of his past or his identity.  His desperate appeal was: 'Does anybody know who I am?'" ¹
• What if Jesus asked us that question?
• “Does anybody here know who I am?”
• He wouldn't ask because He was confused or didn't know.
• He would ask because He knows too many people can't give the right answer.
• Who is Jesus?
• What a significant question to answer!
• Today's Bible verses provide four answers.
• Matthew 1:18-25; 2:1-3, 9-10.

1https://bible.org/illustration/lost-identity (accessed 12.10.15)

The Four Kings of Christmas (Magi) (Part 4) (Mt. 2:1-12)

Conclusion:

• The magi were curious, certain and committed.
• They were curious about the star's rising.
• They were certain about the star's meaning.
• They were curious about the king's identity.
• They were certain about their own responsibility.
•  They were committed to an inconvenient journey.
• They were certain about their noble purpose.
• The magi were curious, certain and committed, but they weren't changed.
• They made the right decisions, followed the right protocol, offered the right gifts and displayed the right posture in worship.
• Having satisfied their curiosity and fulfilled their commitment, the magi returned to their land.
• How we wish the account said that they were changed as a result of what they encountered!
• How we wish the account said that they quit their astrological pursuits!
• How we wish the account said that they became evangelists once they got home, spreading the good news about the birth of a Savior-King!
• None of those things are mentioned in the biblical account.
• We can assume that they went back to the way things were before they saw the star.
• What a squandered opportunity!
• How close the magi came to significant, lasting, spiritual change!
• They stopped short because they chose to manage Christmas.  Their management instinct said to get close but not too close.  Their management style said to be interested but distant.  Their management manual said to be polite and respectful while remembering to bow down and worship.  Oh, yes, and bring a good offering.  In other words, go only so far and no further. Don't get carried away.
• The magi did many things correctly, but they left the most important thing behind.
• They got the formality, respect, offering and worship posture right.
• In spite of the external things they got right, the magi did not get the internal thing, the ultimate thing, right.
• The ultimate thing, the internal and eternal thing, is this: What will you do with Jesus, now that you have encountered Him?
• What will you do with Jesus?
• You can do what the magi did – be religiously correct.
• You can settle for having attended, stood at the right time, sat at the right time, listened at the right time, closed your eyes during the prayer time, and put something into the offering.
• While those behaviors are commendable, they fall short of God's design.
• You can do what the magi didn't – surrender to Jesus, repent of your sin, and begin to live for Jesus instead of yourself.
• You can maximize the opportunity you had to be in church and to encounter Jesus.
• You can turn from your sin and turn toward Jesus.
• You can ask Jesus to forgive your sin and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness, guilt and shame.
• You can invite Jesus Christ into your life to be your Savior.
• You can, by the power of the Holy Spirit, live for Jesus.
• You can have a new purpose in your life.
• God's design is that, when you meet His Son Jesus, your life would be changed.
• Change begins with repentance.
• Repentance isn't just a set of words to express but a lifestyle to pursue.

The Four Kings of Christmas (Magi) (Part 3) (Mt. 2:1-12)

Transition: The magi noticed the star's rising and investigated its meaning; they realized that this newborn King deserved worship; and they were willing to be led by God. Having considered the magi in such a positive tone, what was their deficiency?

SECOND, NOTICE ONE THING THE MAGI DID INCOMPLETELY (Mt. 2:12).

• THEY WENT HOME A DIFFERENT WAY THAN THEY CAME.
• That was true about their route, but not necessarily true about their lives.
• THE ENDING TO THEIR STORY IS ALMOST ANTICLIMACTIC.
• If we had written this story, most of us would have stopped at the end of verse 11.
• We would have preferred to end the story with the magi's worshiping Jesus.
• Instead, they had a dream and decided to bypass the interstate.  That's it?
• What happened when the magi returned home?
• Did they live any differently, having seen and worshiped Jesus?
• THERE IS A TEMPTATION FOR US TO PORTRAY THE MAGI DIFFERENTLY THAN THEY WERE.
• Yes, they sought Jesus.
• Yes, they bowed down before Jesus and worshiped Him.
• Yes, they presented costly gifts to Jesus.

However . . .

• There isn't any evidence that the magi stopped being magi.
• There isn't any evidence that those pagan astrologers had a conversion experience.
• There isn't any evidence that the magi became evangelists when they got home.

The Four Kings of Christmas (Magi) (Part 2) (Mt. 2:1-12)

FIRST, NOTICE THREE THINGS THE MAGI DID CORRECTLY.

• THE MAGI NOTICED THE STAR'S RISING AND INVESTIGATED ITS MEANING (Mt. 2:2).
• The star's rising must have meant something. Their conclusion was that a King had been born.
• THE MAGI REALIZED THAT THIS NEWBORN KING DESERVED WORSHIP (Mt. 2:2).
• Their worship would be expressed in several ways.
• They would worship Him through initiative.  They determined to go and see this King for themselves. They didn't send a delegation, didn't send a registered letter with an attached survey, and didn't send an e-mail, text or Snapchat.
• They would worship Him through inconvenience. They traveled an inconvenient distance over uncomfortable terrain; they left behind familiarity, preference, and comfort; they requested leave from their king.
• They would worship Him through insight.
• Insight #1 > Preparation > The correct way to worship this King is by rejoicing when you anticipate meeting Him (Mt. 2:10; Psa. 100:1-2).
• Insight #2 > Place > The correct way to worship this King is by entering into where He is (Mt. 2:11; Psa. 100:4).
• Insight #3 > Posture > The correct way to worship this King is by bowing down (Mt. 2:11; Psa. 72:11; 95:6).  Bow physically (kneeling) and internally (humility).
• Insight #4 > Presents > The correct way to worship this King is by offering gifts that are worthy (Mt. 2:11; 1 Chron. 21:24).
• THE MAGI WERE WILLING TO BE LED BY GOD.
• There were three things God used to lead the magi.
• God used a star to lead the magi (Mt. 2:1-2,9-10; Psa. 19:1).
• God used a politician to lead the magi (Mt. 2:8a).
• God used a dream to lead the magi (Mt. 2:11).
• It is never that God isn't speaking and doesn't want to direct us, only that we are not listening.

The Four Kings of Christmas (Magi) (Part 1) (Mt. 2:1-12)

Review:  In part 1 of this series, Herod missed Christmas.  The posts for that sermon start on December 7.

Introduction:

• This post begins part 2 of the series "The Four Kings of Christmas."
• Video Clip (The 2011 NASCAR Coca-Cola 600).
• The lead car, driven by Dale Earnhardt, Jr., ran out of gas late in the final lap.
• Would you agree that was poor fuel management by Earnhardt's team?
• This decision about fuel management, though it was only one incident among an otherwise flawless plan, cost Earnhardt's team a coveted win.
• Today's Bible verses also talk about a poor management decision.
• The main characters, called magi, decided to manage Christmas.
• They determined to do everything that was politically and religiously correct.
• Their plan? Find the child, bow down, worship Him, present gifts, and then go home.
• What was the problem?  After all the things the magi did correctly, they went home unchanged.

The Four Kings of Christmas (Herod) (Part 4) (Mt. 2:1-8, 16-18)

Conclusion:

• Since the meaning of Christmas is significant, you must be careful not to miss it.
• Don't miss it through busyness, distraction or ritual.  Here are a few ideas to help you not miss Christmas. Each idea requires being intentional.
• Perhaps you would set aside one week and covenant with Jesus to listen to no Christmas music except carols.
• Perhaps you would set aside one week and covenant with Jesus to watch no Christmas movies or television shows that involve Santa, Rudolph, elves, snow, The Grinch or snowmen.
• Perhaps you would set aside a few evenings and determine that you will not go out except in an emergency.  Stay home and listen to carols.  Better yet, sing carols. Stay home and play games with your family.
• Perhaps you would set aside Christmas Eve and join us for a one-hour service that night.  Why not invite someone to attend with you?
• Don't miss it through rebellion, which is refusing to recognize King Jesus and submit to His authority.
• Are you threatened by Jesus?
• Is Jesus King in your life?
• You do have a king in your life.  It is impossible for you not to have one.  Either Jesus is King in your life or you are king.
• It is impossible to have two kings in your life (Mt. 6:24).  To enthrone Jesus as King in your life is to dethrone yourself.
• It is folly to think you can have Jesus as King in theory but not in practice. Calling yourself a royal subject of King Jesus doesn't make you one.  The question isn't whether you say you are a subject; the question is whether you are living in subjection to Him.

The Four Kings of Christmas (Herod) (Part 3) (Mt. 2:1-8, 16-18)

Transition: What is it about Herod that causes us to be concerned?

HEROD WANTED TO RETAIN CONTROL.

• Why did Herod issue an executive order to murder all boys in Bethlehem two years old and under?
• He wouldn't allow for any possibility that another king would reign.
• In other words, Herod was threatened.  He wanted to remain in control.  Murder was his vehicle for dealing with the threat.  It is estimated that between 6 and 20 boys were murdered in Bethlehem.¹
• Regardless of the actual number, you can imagine the grief this atrocity caused.
• The magi came to Herod and announced that a King had been born.
• Herod determined that there was no way he would surrender his domain by acknowledging the legitimacy of this King.
• Today, I remind us that a King was born.
• Not only was this King born, but He was crucified on a cross and He rose from the dead three days later.  Now that's a powerful King!
• Just as Herod viewed this King as a threat over 2,000 years ago, so also many people today view Him as a threat.
• They do not want to relinquish control of their lives to King Jesus.
• They do not want to repent of their sins.
• They do not want to embrace the lifestyle demands that King Jesus imposes.
• They rightfully understand that King Jesus is highly intrusive.
• When people surrender to Him, there is no area of their lives that can be considered “off limits.”
• Christmas didn't happen – King Jesus wasn't born – so that you could annually accumulate more stuff that you don't need to impress people who don't care.
• King Jesus was born for one purpose – to die.
• To rebel against King Jesus, by determining not to surrender control of your life to Him, means that you will once again miss Christmas.
• Oh, I don't mean that you won't have any gifts.
• What I mean is that there is no gift that can ever compare with the ultimate gift – salvation.
• In 2 Corinthians 9:15, Paul called it God's “indescribable gift.”
• In Romans 6:23, Paul defines this “indescribable gift” as “eternal life through Jesus Christ.”

1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massacre_of_the_Innocents (accessed 12.05.15)

The Four Kings of Christmas (Herod) (Part 2) (Mt. 2:1-8, 16-18)

Transition: What is it about Herod that causes us to be concerned?

HEROD WANTED TO ELIMINATE CHRISTMAS.

• Herod decreed that every boy two years old or less in Bethlehem be murdered.  By such drastic action, Herod sought to eliminate not only Jesus but also Christmas  
• What? You would never do that?  I'm glad to hear that, but you can eliminate Christmas in other, more socially acceptable ways.
• While you're rejoicing that you're not a murderer, that doesn't mean you can't kill Christmas. You can kill Christmas a lot of ways.
• You can kill Christmas through busyness.  Parties, shopping, baking, decorating, – go, go, go – Where will you find time for it all?  You can still have a holiday amid the busyness, but you might not have a holy day.  If you check everything off your holiday list but don't get to rest, reflect and rejoice, how is that worth it?
• You can kill Christmas through distraction.  
• Is anyone else tired of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”, “Frosty, The Snowman”, “Silver Bells”, “Jingle Bells”, “Santa Baby” – I mean, where is the “Joy To The World” and “O Come, All Ye Faithful”?  And what's up with this joy-sucking song: “Last Christmas I gave you my heart; the very next day you gave it away”?  You can be distracted by frivolity and dysfunction.  
• Don't be surprised to find an uptick in stories about violence as Christmas approaches.  While each story is sad and should be a call to prayer and compassion, be careful that you don't lose your joy along the way.  You can be distracted by negativity and evil.
• We've already discussed busyness. Busyness is distraction through motion.
• You can kill Christmas through ritual.  
• Ritual is preference, tradition, routine, custom, a way of doing things.  
• Ritual is usually harmless unless its realm is the spiritual.  Spiritual ritual is habit without heart, form without faith, movement without meaning, participation without profession, routine without repentance.  For instance, every year at Christmas Eve, there are those who take Communion who shouldn't. They take Communion not because they are in right relationship with Jesus and others but because they don't want to stand out.  
• When you're done with your household Christmas ritual, will there have been any mention of Jesus?
• Will there have been any joy?
• Will there have been any thankfulness?
• Will there have been any peace?
• Will there have been any hope?
• Will there have been any wonder or worship?
• You can kill Christmas through rebellion.

The Four Kings of Christmas (Herod) (Part 1) (Mt. 2:1-8, 16-18)

Introduction:

1. Illustration: Missing The Point

      “On Dec. 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright made their first flight of an airplane at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. On their fifth attempt, the plane under the control of Orville, embarked on a 12-second flight.

      Wilbur rushed to the local telegraph office and sent the following message: WE HAVE FLOWN FOR 12 SECONDS—WE WILL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS!

      Upon receiving the telegram, their sister, Katherine, went to the newspaper office, told the editor of her brothers' new flying machine and informed him they would be home for Christmas if he would like to set up an interview. He told her that was nice, and he would be sure to put something in the paper regarding the boys.

      On Dec. 19, the local paper placed the following headline on the sixth page of the paper: "Wright Brothers Home for Christmas."

      The most important story of the year—man's first flight—and the editor missed it!¹

2. Today's Bible verses have to do with a king named Herod.  Just as the newspaper editor missed the point about the Wright brothers' flight, so Herod missed the point about Jesus' birth.

3. My concern today is that it's possible to have another Christmas pass quickly and without impact. When December 26 arrives, will you look back at the last 25 days and say, “I missed it”?

Bible Verses: Read Matthew 2:1-8, 16-18.  Have the sound technician softly play “Coventry Carol” (handbell version) while you read.

1 http://www.preaching.com/sermon-illustrations/11660821/ (accessed 12.02.15)