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Matthew 12:22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. 25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: 26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? 27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. 28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. 29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. 30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. 31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. 33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. 34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. 38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah: 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Words matter. Words always matter. It is the idle word that you will give account of in the day of Judgment.

Jesus always chose His Words carefully – and it makes sense that He would. He is the INCARNATE Word of God. When the Apostle John penned the first verse of the first letter he wrote, God led him to pen:

John 1:1-2  In the beginning was THE WORD, and THE WORD was with God, and THE WORD was God.  [2]  The same was in the beginning with God.

Who is the One called THE WORD? John went on to write:

John 1:14  And THE WORD was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Jesus Christ is THE WORD of God. He is THE WORD made flesh, the Communication of God. Words matter, and THE WORD matters. What Jesus says matters above all else.

1 Jesus Can Only Heal The Willing. In our text today we read:

Matthew 12:22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb

A man was brought to Jesus. Three things were diagnosed as being wrong with this man. He was possessed with a devil. Evil had hold of him. When evil gets hold of someone, they can’t hear or speak the things of God. Sin separates us from God.

Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

Sin possesses us and covers us so that God cannot hear us.

Isaiah 59:2 ESV but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

The Thrice Holy God will not hear us if we cherish sin in any way or fashion. We – each and every one of us – must come to Christ. We must feel the healing touch of His nail scarred hands, and hear His Word. Someone who loved that person brought that person to Jesus. And Jesus – Jesus alone – blessed that Person so that

Matthew 12:22 … {Jesus} healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.

The Word gave words to the one who was wordless! And the people praised God!

But the Pharisees did not.

Matthew 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

The Pharisees were blinder and dumber than the man who was brought to Jesus for healing. They had made up their minds. They had shut Jesus out. They didn’t like His Gospel message, so they turned Jesus off. People do this every day. They have preconceived ideas based on their preferred lifestyle. They lock it in place, and no matter what is said turn off any other hearing. The Pharisees didn’t want to hear Jesus, so they said something about Jesus that could not be proven. They slandered the Lord. “Jesus casts out demons by Beelzebub, the Prince of Demons”. They demonized Christ and His followers before the people – saying what could neither be proven nor was true.

They were pretty good politicians!

But Jesus did not attack back, but explained.

Matthew 12:25-28 Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: 26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? 27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. 28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

No Kingdom divided against itself can stand. Jesus is the exact opposite of Satan. Satan and his kingdom of darkness have one Word that they speak, whereas Christ and His Kingdom of light have a totally different Word. Jesus was casting out demons and sickness by the Word of God and the Spirit of God. He was not using demons to cast out demons. Darkness cannot cast out darkness.

Romans 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Darkness supports darkness, light supports light. Godliness supports God, godlessness supports Satan. Jesus said:

Matthew 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

You are either WITH Jesus, or you are NOT. There is no fence sitting with Jesus, no Switzerland in this war between light and darkness. Satan’s Kingdom is a Kingdom of Darkness. Christ’s Kingdom is a Kingdom of Light, a Kingdom that cherishes the Word of God and magnifies the Will of God.

2 The Pharisees – Rejecting The Word Of Christ – Were Guilty Of The Unpardonable Sin. The Unpardonable Sin Is To Speak Against The Holy Spirit.

Matthew 12:31-32 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

The Unpardonable Sin is not a thing you DO, but a thing you SAY.

Jesus Christ is THE Word of God Who cast out demons by the Spirit of God. The Pharisees saw a clear work of God and rather than giving God the glory they gave the glory to Satan. They said that Christ was using demons to cast out demons. When a person’s heart is that hardened then it is too hard to be breached by the Gospel of salvation.

The Pharisees got into this predicament and committed this sin by continually speaking that which was not true to God’s Word. They kept saying the wrong thing and kept rejecting Jesus until they could no longer attempt to hear the Gospel of salvation. Their lips spoke poison that cursed them.

Matthew 12:33-35 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. 34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Just as a thermometer in the mouth determines if a person is sick or well, the words a person speaks shows whether that person is saved or lost. Words are the fruit of our lives. If we are saved by hearing the Word of Christ’s Gospel then our hearts are changed. And if our hearts are changed then our words will reflect that.

Jesus called the Pharisees “vipers” because their mouths were filled with poison. Like the serpent of Eden, the Pharisees spoke against the Word of God and against the Spirit of God. “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings forth good things”. The saved person is changed inwardly, and that change is both SEEN and HEARD outwardly.

3 We Must Listen To Jesus To Be Saved. We Must Follow The Risen Savior To Be Blessed. The only way to salvation is to listen to Jesus.

Matthew 12:36-37 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

By our words we shall be either justified or condemned. Words matter. What we say matters. What Jesus said matters.

At this point the Pharisees did what most people do when losing an argument – they changed the subject. “Well Jesus, show us a sign”. Jesus said:

Matthew 12:39-40 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah: 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Jesus has given us all the sign we need in His death and resurrection. As Jonah was three DAYS and three NIGHT in the belly of the whale, so JESUS was three DAYS and three NIGHTS in the heart of the earth.. He died for our sins. He was buried for our sins. Three days and three nights later He rose from the grave.

He rose from the heart of the earth so He could redeem the hearts of His people!
Blessed be His Name forever.

Judges 8:22-27 (KJV) Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian. 23 And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you. 24 And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) 25 And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey. 26 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels’ necks. 27 And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.

The past few Sunday nights we have looked at what I like to call Heroes Of Our Faith. We have seen the lives of great Biblical people like Mary Magdalene, Noah, and Hagar. These are people like you and I, people who heard the call of God and who trusted Him, and because of that trust God used them to do amazing things. Tonight we’re going to look at someone named Gideon.

Our responsive reading began with:

Judges 8:22 (KJV) THEN the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son also

Do you see that word “THEN”? The word tells us there was something that came before to cause the men of Israel to ask Gideon and his children to be their King. Who was Gideon?

1 When God Met Gideon He Certainly Wasn’t “King” Material. If you study the Bible you’ll find out that Gideon’s name literally means “He that bruises or breaks, a destroyer”. Though his parents named him this Gideon certainly didn’t live up to his name. Gideon – also known as Jerubbaal – is the son of Joash, an extremely poor family from the Abiezrite clan in the tribe of Manasseh. Gideon and his family lived hand to mouth in Ophrah, a town often hard hit by the enemies of Israel called the Midianites. The Bible tells us that when God sought out Gideon that he found him hiding:

Judges 6:11 (KJV) …. Gideon threshed wheat by the wine press, to hide it from the Midianites.

Gideon was not a brave man. He was pragmatic, practical, and broken. The Midianites had attacked his poverty stricken family so many times that Gideon had taken to threshing wheat where wine was supposed to be crushed. The Angel of God appeared to broken Gideon and said:

Judges 6:12 (KJV) … The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valor.

That’s an interesting title for Gideon, “Mighty Man of Valor”. Gideon was anything but a “Mighty Man of Valor”. Gideon was a broken man. But God uses the broken, the willing, those who will submit to His Will. The Bible says:

1 Peter 5:6-7 (ESV) Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you…

The skilled Potter takes raw clay from the river bed and, crushing it, forms it into a lump. The Potter takes the clay and, spinning it on the wheel, forces it from useless mud into a work of beauty. The Potter then takes that formed object and fires it in the kiln, hardening that work until it is a lasting treasure. The trials of life that come often open our eyes to the reality of the Eternal Savior. The Bible tells us that:

James 4:6 (ESV) …. God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

and our Lord Jesus declared ..

Matthew 23:12 (ESV) Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

When you’re down and broken then you are exactly in the right place for God to bless you. The Angel finds Gideon and encourages him. “I’ve been looking for you, Mighty Man of God”. As soon as he is addressed Gideon begins the blame game. You know what that is, don’t you? When Adam sinned against God in the Garden he said:

Genesis 3:12 (KJV)… THE WOMAN WHOM THOU GAVEST TO BE WITH ME, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

God, YOU made this mess! God, YOU’RE the Cause that I am in the quicksand of sin. The woman you gave me was imperfect. Gideon follows the same pattern that we have all often followed:

Judges 6:13 (KJV)13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.

These Midianites are killing us! That YOUR fault, God. But wait a minute … is that really true? You see, when God led Israel into the land He told all the tribes to cast idolatry out of the land, to drive out all the idolaters. Rather than do this the tribes intermarried with the idolaters. The Tribe of Manasseh intermarried with Midianites …. and the Midianites turned on them.

When we fail to listen to God (Who, after all, knows best for us) then we bring misery on ourselves. The solution to our problems is not to blame God. The solution to our problems is to heed God, and obey His Word.

The Bible says:

Judges 6:14-16 (KJV)14 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: HAVE NOT I SENT THEE? 15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house. 16 And the LORD said unto him, SURELY I WILL BE WITH THEE, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

God told Gideon “GO in this THY MIGHT”. Gideon has no might. He is a broken man. But Gideon can do two things:

He can GO where God tells him, and
He can DO what God tells him.

That’s all God is asking Gideon to do. Get up and go knowing that God is with you. Get up and do knowing that God sent you. Make sure that the Captain of your salvation is with you and that you are heeding HIS Word.

A young Ensign was making his first trip on a Destroyer. Fully trained, the Captain assigned him the duty of maneuvering the Destroyer out of the harbor. He barked orders and the ship got out of the harbor in record time. One of the mates came to the young Ensign and said “You have a message from the Captain”. The message said “You’ve done an excellent job, but there is an unwritten rule you’ve overlooked. The next time you set sail, make sure the Captain is on board!”

Gideon was to GO and DO as God said. The Midianites cannot be defeated while you’re hiding in the wine press. You have to go with God to the Midianites doing what God said – then you can see things turn around.

2 Before Gideon Could Be Used By God He Had To Be Focused On The One True God.

A man bragged that he had cut off the tail of a man eating lion with his pocket knife. When he was asked “Why didn’t you cut off his head” he replied “Somebody had already done that”. If Gideon – and we ourselves – are going to defeat the darkness of evil which is all around us we must rely on the Lord our God.

a The Idols Must Be Toppled Before We Can Stand With God. God told Gideon:

Judges 6:25-26 (KJV) … And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him …. throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it: 26 And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.

Gideon was afraid to do this by day, so he did it in the night (see verse 27). The next morning the townspeople saw that the altar of Baal was destroyed and demanded that Joash

Judges 6:30 (KJV) …. Bring out thy son {Gideon}, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it.

Gideon’s dad said in effect “Let Baal defend himself if he is really a god”. On that day Gideon was given the nickname Jerubbaal which means “let Baal talk it over with him”. The idols must be gone from our lives if we want God to bless us.

A wife walked into a local grocery store and saw her husband passionately kissing another woman. As she angrily came toward him he saw her out of the corner of his eye. He stopped and turning to his wife said “Honey, it’s not what you think. When I saw this woman and how beautiful she is she reminded me of you … and I just had to kiss her!” What response do you think he’ll get from that? It won’t be good! Likewise, our God is a jealous God. He says:

Exodus 34:14 NLT You must worship no other gods, for the LORD, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.

When God saves a person the first thing He demands is that the idols be gone. We are not to idolize anything – not even our familial relationships – above God.

Luke 14:26 CEV You cannot be my disciple, unless you love me more than you love your father and mother, your wife and children, and your brothers and sisters. You cannot come with me unless you love me more than you love your own life.

The idols must go. God must be first! Always! Gideon tore down the idols in his life, and after the idols were gone and his heart was focused on loving God first – then and only then could he be used to bring a great change to his world.

b Before We Can Go We Must Be Sure Of Our God And His Word. Gideon was growing in faith, but he wanted to be sure before he went to battle that God was with him. So Gideon “placed a fleece” before God.

Judges 6:36-37 (KJV) And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, 37 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.

This is not an act of faithlessness, but an act of faith. If God is going to use Gideon – pitiful and weak Gideon – then God can use this piece of wool. Think about that wool for a moment. It is a piece of skin off of a dead animal. If God can interact with something like this, then He can use Gideon.

God did exactly as Gideon asked. The dew was on the fleece only, and not on the ground. So Gideon asked God to reverse the process – to put dew on the ground but not on the fleece.

Judges 6:39 (KJV) … Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.

You know what? God did it. God loves His children. And God loves to use the humble. He used humble Moses. He used humble Gideon. He will use a humble you. He will speak to you. Now that God has spoken to Gideon it is time for him to go meet the Midianites. Gideon’s army was initially 230,000. But God told Gideon:

Judges 7:2 (KJV) … the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.

God does not need a LOT or a BUNCH to get the job done. Jesus started His Church with just 11 faithful men. On the day of Pentecost 120 faithful men and women prayed in the Upper Room until the Holy Spirit came. The Scripture says:

Zechariah 4:6 …. not by MIGHT nor by POWER but by MY SPIRIT saith the LORD.

Acts 17:25 KJV Neither is (God) worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed any thing, seeing He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things

God is the Giver of all things. He doesn’t need us. But He wants us. He wants to incorporate us into His plans. He blesses us by giving us an opportunity to serve Him and see how great He is!

God had Gideon reduce the number of fighters until the 230,000 became only 300. Then Gideon followed God’s plan. The Bible says:

Judges 7:16 (KJV) {Gideon} divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers.

Three hundred men. Three hundred trumpets – and three hundred men knew how to play them. Let me ask you right now … how many of you can play a trumpet? That’s what I thought. But God is in control. Every man is able to do what God called them to do. And they had three hundred trumpets available. That boggles my mind. I don’t think I could find three hundred trumpets in all of Nashville and Franklin! The plan was very simple. Gideon said …

Judges 7:18 (KJV) When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.

They were to blow their trumpets, and break the pitchers that was in their hands that had candles in them. They did just as God told them to do. And the Bible says:

Judges 7:22 (KJV) … the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.

The enemy ran away!

3 We Must Be Careful Never To Depart From Glory To God. There is a lot more to the story of Gideon and how God used him to defeat the darkness. Sadly, time requires I move on to our focal text for tonight. God made Gideon. God blessed Gideon. God saved Israel using Gideon. As a result we read that:

Judges 8:22 (KJV) Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son also: for thou hast DELIVERED us from the hand of Midian.

Do you see that word “DELIVERED”? That is the Hebrew יָשַׁע yasha` (pronounced yaw-shah’) which means “to save or be the salvation of”. The people of Israel are saying to Gideon

YOU are our Savior! Rule us, Oh Savior!

Now Gideon is wise not to fall into this trap. He said:

Judges 8:23 … I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.

What a wonderful response. The LORD – the Eternal God – Yahweh – HE shall rule over you. I think it is wonderful that we honor the heroes of the faith, but as we honor them let us never forget that without the empowerment of God they would be nothing.

Do you remember when Gideon started with an army of 230,000 and the Lord made him reduce it to 300. Do you remember why God had Gideon do that? It was so that no Israelite would create an idol among themselves.

2 Corinthians 3:5 …. our sufficiency is from God

John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Gideon was of the Tribe of Manasseh, not of Judah. God never set the kings to come from Manasseh, regardless as to what the “popular vote” was. So Gideon rejected the offer of being King.

I have heard powerful speakers like Adrian Rogers or Charles Stanley or Max Lucado referred to as “great men of God”. With all due respect, what is more true is that they are “men of a Great God”. As long as we keep that in mind of ourselves God can use us to do great things. When we forget that we mess ourselves up.

Gideon compromised. He said:

Judges 8:24 (KJV) …. I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)

The Midianites were actually ISHMAELITES – descendants of Ishmael, Abraham’s child by Hagar. They were Arabs – cousins to the Israelites, and it was their custom to wear ear rings. When enemies were defeated it was the practice to take the possessions of the defeated dead. Gideon asked that each Israelite give him one ear ring from the spoils of war. At the end of the day they collected about 43 pounds of gold.

In today’s market this would be worth about $779,101.88

What was Gideon going to do with all this gold? He came from a poor town. He grew up in a poor household. What good could Gideon do with that much money? He made a gold Ephod. An Ephod is an outer garment – a ceremonial sleeveless coat worn by the High Priest of Israel. He had a 43 pound coat made.

Judges 8:27 (KJV) … Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.

It wasn’t wrong to take the gold.

1 Timothy 5:18 ESV For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”

It was wrong what Gideon did with the gold. When God gives us something, it is to be used for HIS GLORY.

1 Corinthians 10:31 NASB Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Colossians 3:17 NASB Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

I do not believe that Gideon meant to set up an idol, but he in effect did set up an idol. He put his name on the library, and his picture in the hospital corridor. God took a broken man and made him whole. God’s Grace lifted him up, and put him in charge of a 300 man army that overthrew the idols and idolatrous people who plagued Israel. At one time Gideon’s family kept a Temple to Baal. Now they kept a Temple to Gideon’s Ephod.

And people flocked to Ophrah not to worship the Lord Who delivered Israel, but to worship the golden ephod that Gideon made. If we are to be blessed of God and be the Light that he wants us to be we MUST reject all ephods, golden or otherwise. We must stand firm on God’s Word, loving Him and glorifying Him in all that we say and do. May God bless you with His Word!

Amos 1:2 ^(KJV) … The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.

Why are we in the Book of Amos? Why are we in the Old Testament at all?

Because the Old Testament is the foundation of our New Testament. The Apostles and our Lord Jesus Christ quoted extensively from the Old Testament. Before there was a written “New Testament” the Bible was the Old Testament. The Old Testament is important – and very rarely read.

I heard a preacher once tell his congregation to “Turn to the Book of Hezekiah”. After listening to the pages rustle for a few minutes the preacher told the congregation that there is no Book of Hezekiah – Hezekiah was a King of Israel mentioned in 2 Kings which IS a book of the Scripture. Dr. Adrian Rogers once told His Church “If I asked you to turn to Phillips 66 some of you would try to go there!”

There is a Book of Amos. Go to the Psalms, the center of your Bible. Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentation, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos. If you hit Obadiah you have gone too far.

What is the Main Point of Amos?

1 God’s Word Is To Be HEARD and OBEYED, Or God’s Roar Will Come.

Amos 1:2 ^(KJV) … The LORD will roar from Zion…

God made us, created us in His image, and God knows what is best for us. God loves His creation. He loves every person. The Bible says:

2 Peter 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.

God offers His creation blessing – but blessing comes only through heeding and living by His Word. God is not asleep in the Heavens. He is aware of what we are doing, and God WILL JUDGE sin. Those who love and walk with God will be protected – but those who DO NOT will be judged.

I believe that America is headed toward judgment. I believe that a large part of the so called Church in America is headed toward judgment. But I believe that those who love the Lord and hear and obey His Word will be blessed while others shall be judged.

When you read the Old Testament you see nations who were destroyed because they turned away from the Word of God and to their own desires.

• You see Adam and Eve cast out of Paradise because Adam received the word of the world over the Word of God.

• You see Cain murdering his brother Abel because Abel followed the Word of God in worship, but Cain thought that his own feelings and desires were best.

• You see God destroying a world by water, saving only Noah and his family, a few people who believed God’s Word.

• You see Israel being denied the Promised Land because they rejected God’s Word to advance, whereas Caleb and Joshua entered the land and were blessed.

• You see the shepherd David trusting in the Word of God, slaying Goliath, and eventually being advanced by God to become King in place of Saul – whereas Saul lost the Kingdom because he would not heed to Word of the King of Kings and Lord of Lord.

• You see Lot leaving Sodom with his daughters while his wife becomes a pillar of salt, looking back, turning from God’s Word to the World’s woo.

I could go on and on for an hour, but you get the point. When we read the Old Testament we see when a people follow God’s Word they are blessed, but when they reject God’s Word they are cursed. To reject God’s Word is to bring God’s Judgment on us. But if we heed and live by His Word then we shall be blessed.

On Monday April 4^th 2016 the Tennessee State Senate voted 19-8 in favor of a bill to make the Bible the “Official Book of Tennessee”. Whether the Governor Bill Haslam will approve or veto the bill is yet to be determined. I admire our State Senate for attempting such a thing. Yet whether the Bill passes or not, the Bible is forever the Word of God. To heed and do God’s Word is to be blessed. To reject His Word is to be cursed. As Jesus said:

Matthew 7:24-27 (HCSB) Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great!

Again, I admire our Senate for what it is trying to do.

Until each person regards the Bible as THE Word of God and acts appropriately there will be no widespread blessing, no light, no safety from the storm.

a The LORD Will Roar From Zion …. And Amos Heard Him And Was Not Afraid.

When God speaks to us, He speaks to us in a language we can understand. When He spoke to Amos, God spoke to Amos in a language he could understand. Amos was a HERDSMAN.

Amos 1:1 ^(KJV) The words of Amos, who was among the HERDSMEN of Tekoa …

A HERDSMAN is someone who farms SHEEP or CATTLE for a living. God called this simple but honest man out to stand up for Him and speak His Word. God calls each and every one of us to stand with Him, to hear His Word and be blessed. If you hear and apply the Word of God then you will be blessed. God uses the willing. The Scripture says:

1 Corinthians 1:28-29 ^(HCSB) … God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world — what is viewed as nothing — to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, 29 so that no one can boast in His presence.

Anne Graham Lotz wrote in her book And We Are Changed:

“You may think you are ill equipped, but that is irrelevant. We are all ill equipped! He doesn’t need our equipment to take care of His business! We need His equipment, and the Bible declares emphatically that He has ‘given us everything we need for life and godliness’ (2 Peter 1:3).”

As a Shepherd Amos was acquainted with LIONS. When a LION roared it was a warning. The first words God tells Amos to utter is …

Amos 1:2 ^(KJV) … The LORD WILL roar from Zion …

When the LION roars the prey is frightened, but the lion cub is comforted. When the LORD roars the godless are disturbed, but those who love Him and walk with Him are at peace!

Hosea 11:10 ^(HCSB) They WILL follow the LORD; He will roar like a lion. When He roars, His children will come trembling from the west.

The Lord roars from Zion to call His children to Him, to call the faithful to walk with Him. But He also roars to warn the disobedient that He is coming to execute judgment against those who will not hear Him.

Adrian Rogers said “Hope” means certainty, but not just any certainty. When the Bible says “hope,” it means a rock-ribbed assurance with anticipation, based on the Word of God. When I was a little boy, my dad would take us out for a ride on Sunday afternoon. We kids would be in the back seat, getting into squabbles. If things got too heated, my dad would turn around and say, “When you boys get home, I’m going to whip you.” With my dad, I knew this was a rock-ribbed truth! We could anticipate it, but not with gladness!

Hebrews 10:31 ^(HCSB) It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God!

Amos didn’t have to worry about the Lion of Judah attacking him – he was walking with the Lord! If you’re a shepherd a lion is no threat if it is on your side.

The Lion of Judah was on Amos’ side because Amos was on the Lord’s side. Though many nations will fall in Amos’ time, he will be preserved.

Psalms 37:34-39 ^(HCSB) Wait for the LORD and keep His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land. You will watch when the wicked are destroyed. 35 I have seen a wicked, violent man well-rooted like a flourishing native tree. 36 Then I passed by and noticed he was gone; I searched for him, but he could not be found. 37 Watch the blameless and observe the upright, for the man of peace will have a future. 38 But transgressors will all be eliminated; the future of the wicked will be destroyed. 39 THE SALVATION OF THE RIGHTEOUS IS FROM THE LORD, THEIR REFUGE IN A TIME OF DISTRESS.

2 What Does This Text Tell Us About The Roar Of God?

a It Is An Eternal Roar. “The LORD Will Roar From Zion”. Notice that the word LORD is all UPPER CASE. When you come across this in the King James Version this is the YHWH – Yahweh – the Eternal Name of God. When Moses asked God “Who shall I say has sent me?” the Lord replied:

Exodus 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

Our God is the Eternal God, and His Word is the Eternal Word. What He has said is right is right yesterday, today, and forever. God’s Word does not fluctuate, but it endures. God calls people everywhere to salvation by faith in His Word.

1 Peter 1:23-25 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. [24] For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: [25] But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

b This Roar Is NOT Against Those Who Love The Lord. We read again:

Amos 1:2 ^(KJV) … The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem

Notice that God roars FROM Zion to the world – but “UTTERS HIS VOICE” – He speaks – FROM Jerusalem. God loves His children saved by faith. Jerusalem is an Old Testament picture of God’s Church, those Who love Him and who are loved by Him.

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins.

Isaiah 53:5 But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Those who love the Lord need not be fearful of His roar. His roar is against those who have rejected His Word. His roar is against those who have rejected His Grace.

c At The Roar Of The Lord “The Habitations Of The Shepherds Shall Mourn”. The false shepherds – those who twist the Word of God rather than speak the Word of God – shall be exposed. The Lord will roar from Zion. His Word will be heard!

There are false prophets who have not presented the Word of God but instead used His Word for their gain. The Pharisees and Sadducees in Jesus’ day were of this sort. But there are many more besides who blaspheme God by twisting His Word.

I heard a “Television Preacher” say at a funeral “no matter what this good man believed, I know that he is united with his wife in Heaven”. Is that true? No. For Jesus has said:

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

I heard another preacher say “When we come together, we do not need to always speak about Jesus”. That is rot! I have to speak about Jesus. I have to hear about Jesus. A good Shepherd will always point to the Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

d When The LORDs Roar Comes, Prosperity Will Cease.

Amos 1:2 ^(KJV) … The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.

Economic ruin comes to the nation that hardens its conscience against God and His Word. With moral failure comes eventual financial collapse.

and the top of Carmel shall wither

The nations had been enjoying prosperity – they were on the golden mountaintop of Carmel – but now this would wither. God roars against six very powerful nations because of their crimes against humanity. What did they do?

• Damascus (Modern day Syria 1:3) and Edom (1:11) had little regard for human life. They were merciless and cruel when they killed.

• Gaza (1:6) and Tyre (1:9) treated people as property. They loved to trade slaves for profit, robbing others of their God given freedom.

• Ammon (1:13) was guilty of not only aborting babies, but killing pregnant mothers.

• Moab (2:1) burned the bones of the King of Edom and mixed them with lime. They mocked and dishonored the dead.

Each of these nations were guilty of crimes against humanity. They were no longer doing what God created nations to do!

God created nations and governments to protect those within its border so that every person can have the opportunity to be saved by faith in Him.

God destroyed the nations in Noah’s day because …

Genesis 6:5 ^(HCSB) … the LORD saw that man’s wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every scheme his mind thought of was nothing but evil all the time ..

these nations no longer existed to protect its citizens so they could freely consider God’s Grace. Because of that God wiped out all but eight souls. When Noah and his family got off the Ark God warned them – and warns us today –

Genesis 9:5-6 ^(HCSB) I will require the life of every animal and every man for your life and your blood. I will require the life of each man’s brother for a man’s life. 6 Whoever sheds man’s blood, his blood will be shed by man, for God made man in His image.

God said “I made man in My image”. Man did not descend from a monkey. He was not an evolutionary quirk. We did not crawl from goo to good to the image of God.

We were made in God’s image by the God Who loves us.

America rose from obscurity to become one of the greatest superpowers in the world because – as a nation – we honored God. The American Revolution was fought by Christian men and women who believed that certain truths were self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness (Declaration of Independence). An honorable America fought in World War II to overthrow nations that were guilty of crimes against humanity. A Christian America stood against atheistic Communism and the murderous rule of the United Socialist Republic – the USSR. Only when this evil system toppled did we discover that in Stalin’s reign alone some 70 million people were murdered. From its founding America has led the way in being used of God, and we were blessed as a nation because the Bible says:

Proverbs 11:19 ^(HCSB) Genuine righteousness leads to life, but pursuing evil leads to death.

If God used America to overthrow nations that despised life, what nation will God now use to overthrow US, for do we not despise His Word?

3 Through Amos, God Is Calling His People To Be Light In The Midst Of Darkness. If you read Amos chapter 1 you hear the LORD roar against Damascus (1:3), Gaza (1:6), Tyre (1:9), Edom (1:11), and Ammon (1:13). In chapter 2 God speaks against Moab (2:1). As Amos preached against the six nations I’m sure the congregation was shouting and clapping. When he finished addressing the sixth nation I’m sure than many leaned forward, closed their Bibles, and started gathering up their possessions so they could get to the nearest Kosher Deli before the tables were all taken. But Amos wasn’t done. In Chapter 2:4-16 Amos addresses Judah and Israel, God’s Old Testament divided people. God told His people ….

Amos 2:10 ^(KJV) Also I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and led you forty years through the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite.

God has been good to us. He has been good to His Church. We have the blessings we have because we listen to our Lord, our Father, and the Holy Spirit of God. God said to His Judah:

Amos 2:4-5 ^(KJV) Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have despised the law of the LORD, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked: 5 But I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem.

We are saved by the Grace of God. But once saved, we are to follow the One Who saved us. Jesus declared:

John 14:14-15 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. [15] If ye love me, keep my commandments.

John 15:9-10 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. [10] If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

Matthew 22:37-40 ^(HCSB) … Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important command. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.

Please stay on the right side of God’s Word. Hear and obey His Word, or He will roar!

Philippians 1:27-29 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; [28] And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. [29] For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

… let your CONVERSATION be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ …

In modern English the word “conversation” means “an informal talk involving two people or a small group of people : the act of talking in an informal way”. The word “conversation” entered the pulpit years ago when the Seeker Sensitive Movement gained popularity. There was a time when the Pastor got up and preached the authoritative Word of God. But the Seeker Sensitive Church changed “preaching” into a “conversation”. There was less authority and more tolerance. The late great W.A. Criswell, the Pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas once preached in 1963:

“The actual minister of today, usually, as you find him, will be an effete, effeminate, dilettante, standing in the pulpit with his mild manners, speaking to a mild-mannered congregation on how to be more mild-mannered.”

Prayerfully that’s not what you’re going to hear tonight. Though it is the middle of the week I am praying that the Holy Spirit grab us, lift us up, and help us to understand what the Apostle was talking about when he wrote “let your CONVERSATION be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ”.

“Conversation”. The word in the Old English – a word that was understood back in the day that it was written – means “the act of a citizen”. The original Greek word in this text is is πολιτεύομαι politeuomai (pronounced pol-it-yoo’-om-ahee). If you look at the word you can see it looks a little like political. There was a time when being political meant “being a good citizen – expressing allegiance to your country or nation”. Later in this letter the Apostle writes:

Philippians 3:20-21 For our CONVERSATION is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: [21] Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Here he uses the same Greek word – slightly different but the same – here it is πολίτευμα politeuma (pronounced pol-it’-yoo-mah). You can see the similarity.

We who are Christians are citizens of a Heavenly Kingdom. We are first and foremost citizens of the Kingdom of God. Though we live on this earth and should be good citizens of the country we live in, our allegiance is first and foremost to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ our Savior.

1 We Are “Citizens” Of The Kingdom Of God Because Of The Gospel. The Apostle said:

Philippians 1:27 … let your conversation^{(way of life)} be as it becometh the gospel of Christ …

We are not citizens of the Heavenly Kingdom – destined for glory – because of anything we have done. We are saved by the Grace of God! When God saved Israel He warned His people against arrogance, saying:

Deuteronomy 7:7–9 (ESV) It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8 but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore …

We who are children of God’s Kingdom need not be puffed up in our salvation. The Bible says that:

Isaiah 64:6 … we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

It is not that we were better than other men or women that we are citizens of His Kingdom. We are all in the same state, for the Scripture says …

Romans 3:23 (ESV)… for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

This is the BAD NEWS. But the GOOD NEWS is that

Romans 3:24-26 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: [25] Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; [26] To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

I have heard of people who, in order to escape terrible injustices and horrible treatment, risk their lives in flimsy boats to try and cross the waters from Cuba to the Florida shores … a distance of about 90 miles. They risk everything to trade their citizenship, to get away from the darkness of the dictators and to the hope of America. Many die in the attempt. How horrible it must be to be raised in countries where there is no freedom!

But to enter the Heavenly Kingdom – that New Jerusalem – does not require a dangerous passage over treacherous waters. It is Jesus Christ Who is both the Author and Finisher of our faith. He is the Author. It is His Blood that purchased our redemption.

Ephesians 1:7 7 (in Jesus Christ) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

We have no pride in acquiring our citizenship! We are citizens because Christ paid our passport.

Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe;
Sin left a crimson stain,
Oh but praise Him!
He washed it white as snow.

Our citizenship should be AS IS BECOMING the Gospel of Christ. The Gospel is received by GRACE.

At the end of the worship service a little boy watched a man go forward and stand at the front of the Church. “What is that man doing, Mommy?” the child asked. “Why honey, he is asking Jesus for something.” The child replied, “Well if he really wants something from Jesus he needs to get down on two knees.. That’s what I do at night before I go to bed”. There is great wisdom in a child. The Bible declares:

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Jesus Christ provided the treasury of Grace, but only those who receive it humbled in His sight shall be blessed. Jesus died for every man – but only to those who receive Him as Lord and Savior.

2 Corinthians 5:15 (NLT) (Christ) died for everyone so that those who RECEIVE his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

The glorious Gospel of Christ declares that all may be saved if they but receive it’s promise. When a person no matter how leprous, no matter how blinded by sin, no matter how lost asks “how may I be a citizen of Heaven?” our answer must be repent and look to Him.

Look to God in the manger, that blessed Baby Virgin born
Look to God hanging, bleeding, the Son dying for you
Look to Christ gone from the tomb, risen, conquering the grave
Look to Him ascending, sitting at the Father’s right hand
Look for Him coming, He is coming again
and one day He will reign, and we will reign with Him

2 We Are Citizens Of Christ’s Kingdom. We Are Citizens TOGETHER. The Apostle wrote:

Philippians 1:27-29 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with ONE MIND STRIVING TOGETHER FOR THE FAITH OF THE GOSPEL;

We should be in one mind. Focused. On. Jesus.

The Church of Jesus Christ is to be an earthly reflection of the New Jerusalem. The only revolt that ever occurred in Heaven was when the Devil, called in Revelation the Dragon, with his tail drew out the third part of the angels of Heaven (Revelation 12:4). The Devil and his angels have stood against God from the beginning – and …

Revelation 12:9 …. that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

There is no place in Heaven for the devil and his angels – and there is no place in the Church for the devil and his angels. The Church is a family of faith, a people who love one another because they have been loved.

The One Who saved us by His Blood said:

John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. [35] By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

We are to love and encourage and support one another. When we get to Heaven there will be no hospitals, no graves, no sickness, no sadness. When we get to our eternal home, that Heavenly City, there will also be no misunderstandings, no divisions, no arguments, no grudges, no uplifted by pride, no backbiting, no hurt nor pain in all of God’s Holy Mountain. The Bible says of the Christian that we are to be reconcilers.

2 Corinthians 5:19-21 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. [20] Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. [21] For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

When every member is reconciled to God and our eyes are collectively on Christ, glorifying Him, magnifying Him, then we are most like that Heavenly Jerusalem. We stand fast in one Spirit – the Holy Spirit. We are with ONE MIND STRIVING TOGETHER for the faith of the gospel. Nothing harms the cause of Christ more than the Judas Iscariot going out and selling Christ for his own gain. The Iscariot often dies by his or her own hand. But those who live as if a citizen of Heaven will be Christ-like not Judas-like.

Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;

Treat one another as the workmanship of God as Ephesians 2:10 declares.

None of us are perfect – but we are moving toward perfection.
None of us are masterpieces, but we are the Master’s one and all.
All of us struggle, and sometimes fall.
But we are children of the King – if we have received Him on bended knee.

Remember the words of the Apostle:

1 Corinthians 12:13-14 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. [14] For the body is not one member, but many.

1 Corinthians 12:26-27 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. [27] Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

This sense of family is missing from far too many Churches today. The Church is a city – a microcosm of the New Jerusalem. The Church is a body with every member following the Head that is Christ. We are to treasure Christ and treasure our Christian family.

3 We Are Citizens Of An Eternal Heavenly But Hated Kingdom.

Philippians 1:28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

The Apostle does not speak as if we might have adversaries. If you are a Christian you will have adversaries. The world hates the Gospel. The Apostle said:

1 Corinthians 1:23-24 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; [24] But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

The Gospel is FOOLISHNESS to the world. The Light cannot ever be palatable to the darkness. Darkness and light are always at war. Good and evil are always at war. There is no peace between Satan and the Son of God. If you belong to Jesus you will be attacked. Jesus said:

Matthew 10:36-39 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. [37] He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. [38] And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. [39] He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Oh, how the world and the worldly hate a sectarian Gospel. But Beloved, it is not the Gospel if it is not the Gospel of Christ.

Jesus clearly said:

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

You cannot win anyone to the Kingdom of God if you are not serious about your faith. You cannot be double minded, with one foot in the fallen world and one foot on the ship of salvation. Choose!

I remember as a little boy going fishing with my dad. We would step off the dock and onto the edge of the boat, then quickly get fully in the boat. One time it was particularly windy, and I kept one foot on the dock as with the other I stepped on the edge of the boat. Daddy told me

“Boy, make up your mind.
Get IN the boat,
Get ON the dock,
or gravity and the tide will make the decision for you!”

Citizens of the Kingdom live for the Kingdom. We are sold out for Jesus! I heard a story once about the Roman Legion who went to conquer, traveling by ship. When they docked, the citizens of that land gathered what weapons they could to defend their homes. Forming into a small army, they headed toward the shore to attack the Roman Legion. But they weren’t prepared for what they saw. When the Legion disembarked they fired flaming arrows into the ships, burning them until they sank. When the citizens saw this they laid down their weapons and surrendered.

The Legion was not going to retreat.
These people were serious about conquering.

Too many local Churches today are trying to live in two worlds. We cannot. We are citizens of God’s Kingdom. Christ is our Savior and King. We will be attacked. We will be hated. But we will NOT be defeated, for Christ is at the helm of this great ship. In NOTHING we are to be terrified of our enemies. NOTHING! Christ has conquered. He has won. The darkness may still be, but God greater than any darkness.

Philippians 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

It is a privilege to suffer for Jesus. He suffered for us. He suffered to save us. The darkness of evil will always attack God’s Kingdom and God’s citizens. The Bible says:

Luke 6:26-35 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets. [27] But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, [28] Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. [29] And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. [30] Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. [31] And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. [32] For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. [33] And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. [34] And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. [35] But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

When evil is done to you, do not join the darkness but let the light of the Kingdom shine through you. Let others see Christ in your hands, your feet. Let others hear Christ from your lips. Whatever you suffer, suffer it for Christ’s sake. For one day we will join Him in glory. O glorious day!

May God touch your hearts with His Word.

Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, [2] Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

One of my favorite movies is a very old one called Sgt York. Tennessee born, Sgt Alvin York (played by Gary Cooper) was one of the most decorated Army soldiers in World War I. He received the Congressional Medal of Honor for charging a German machine gun nest, and for killing at least 20 German soldiers, and capturing 132 others. Alvin is a Christian. When he was told he had to submit to the draft and go fight the enemy Alvin refused to go. When his Pastor asked him why, and told him that if he didn’t go he would be in trouble, Alvin said “The Book says ‘Thou shalt not kill’, and I ain’t gonna kill!’ “ I like what the Pastor (played by Walter Brennan) said to Alvin. He said:

“Alvin, most people have the Sunday go to meeting kind of faith –
but you have the living kind of faith”

What the Pastor said to Alvin is truer todays than it was back when Alvin York walked this earth. Too many people have the Sunday go to meeting faith – but that’s not the kind of faith God wants us to have. God wants us to have the overcoming kind of faith. Life is tough. Hard things happen in life. But we are not – if we are Christians – to be overcome but to be OVERCOMERS.

How Can I Have OVERCOMING Faith In A Overwhelming World?

1 My Faith Must Be Placed In The Right PERSON. I must first of all do as the Scripture says:

Hebrews 12:2 …. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith ….

Our eyes must be on JESUS. Our focus must be on JESUS. Our ears must be tuned to His Word. Our faith is to be in Him. Do you see that work “LOOKING”? The beginning of salvation is to LOOK at Christ. To FOCUS on Him. Jesus Christ is THE Author of salvation. Salvation is a Book written by the Blood of Christ. When you look at Christ and put all of your focus on Him then this belief will save you. The Bible says:

1 John 5:4-5 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. [5] Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

The Bible declares that those who are “born again” are those who are “born again by faith in Christ”. The Bible further states that the “born again” are “born again as overcomers”. That it is the natural state of Christ’s children. We are overcomers – not to be overcome. Salvation is a gift, a free gift, but it is an overcoming gift. Salvation is given to those who acknowledge their inabilities:

Romans 4:5-7 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. [6] Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, [7] Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

It was not the LEPER that stood far off from Christ TRYING HARDER who was healed.

It was not the BLIND MAN who QUIETENED DOWN and who got Jesus attention.

It was not the TEARLESS MOTHER who saw Jesus RAISE HER BABY from the dead.

It was not the CONTENTED CRIPPLE who rest by Siloam to whom Jesus GAVE STRENGTH.

None whom Jesus saved were ever saved to be defeated once more.

2 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which ALWAYS CAUSETH US to triumph in Christ…

Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM that loved us.

You cannot be saved apart from LOOKING UNTO JESUS. Salvation is more than just a cursory glance. We are to be LOOKING unto Jesus.

Isaiah 45:22-23 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. [23] I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

a We Look Unto Jesus, Not Unto The Crowd. We are told in our text:

Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, [2] Looking unto Jesus

We are to be LOOKING unto Jesus. But before we come to that part of the text what are we told?

“seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight”

There are a thousand opinions on right and wrong in the crowd. There is a cloud of witnesses – a crowd around us – every day. But we are NOT to be focused on that crowd. If you ask the world an opinion on anything, and particularly on Jesus, the world will give a thousand answers. Things are worst today than in Biblical times. Today there is television and internet and mainstream media and liberality. There is a great crowd of witnesses all about telling us what is right and what is wrong. Put all that away and LOOK UNTO JESUS.

Do not run for the crowd. Do not run for the statue quo. LOOK UNTO JESUS. Run to His arms regardless as to what others may say or think. Don’t let the crowd be your controller. Let Jesus be your Christ.

b We Lay Aside Every Weight. Put away doubt and despair. The devil loves doubt and despair. He loves to convey hopelessness and lostness.

IA young boy recently entered into college stopped by his grandmother’s house. “Grandma, I’m overwhelmed. I don’t know anybody. I feel so alone. My teachers seem to hate me. The whole world seems against me.” His grandmother – a good Christian lady – said “Darling, is God dead? Is Jesus yet in the Tomb? Has He not risen? Is He not sitting on the right hand of God? Look up and reach up to Jesus before the devil drags you down to hell!”

Lay aside the doubts. The fears. The questions. LOOK unto Jesus. See Him Who:

Hebrews 12:2 LOOKING UNTO JESUS the author and finisher of our faith; who for the JOY that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus went TO the Cross and then THROUGH the Cross. He was not defeatist. Jesus knew that God is in control.

Isaiah 55:8-11 ESV For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

Jesus laid His life down for you. He did not allow the momentary and temporal trials to defeat Him – praise God. Trust Him. As He laid down His life for you lay your life down for Him. Surrender your broken life to Him. Do not follow the Crowd – follow the Christ.

c Lay Aside The Sin. The Scripture says:

Hebrews 12:1… let us lay aside every weight, AND THE SIN which doth so easily beset us,

Besetting sin must go. Confess yourself a sinner before Christ, and ask Him to forgive and quench that sin from you. Christ must lead your life – not sin. Do not believe that you shall SEE GOD if you are not first LOOKING AT CHRIST and NOT SIN. We are told:

Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and HOLINESS, without which no man shall see the Lord:

That word HOLINESS means “to be focused on being used of God”. To be HOLY is to follow CHRIST and not SELF. Your faith will not be overcoming unless sin is OUT of you and CHRIST IS IN YOU.

Illustrate We are not to be like the little girl who was overheard praying:

“Lord, please make me good, but not TOO GOOD.
Just good enough not to get a whipping.”

If you enter the Family of God by faith in Christ then you are under the loving discipline of the Father. Sin must be laid aside to be saved. Sin must be laid aside to run the race and to prosper. Sin in the unbeliever is understood. It is something that Christ came to save us from.

The Savior will not receive you if you hang on to your sin and your selfishness. The first word in the Gospel is REPENT.

Hebrews 12:15-17 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; [16] Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. [17] For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Esau was a selfish man who sought gratification in every moment of his life. He was supposed to receive the blessing of his father. Instead he chose to sell his birthright for a bowl of lentils, satisfying his temporary hunger. He failed the Grace of God by rejecting it and choosing the temporary. And though he later sought that Grace by tears – he could not receive it. If God speaks to your heart today do not deny Him.

Repent.

Run to His arms.

Mark 8:35-37 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. [36] For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? [37] Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Esau gave his soul away for a bowl of lentils. What are you giving your soul away for? Turn unto Jesus!

d Lay Aside The LAW. Salvation is all of Grace. You cannot “run with patience the race set before you” while you worry about your salvation. We are told:

Hebrews 12:18-24 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, [19] And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: [20] (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: [21] And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) [22] But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, [23] To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, [24] And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

In these verses two mountains are compared – Mount SINAI where the Law was given and MOUNT ZION where Grace is given. When the Law was given only Moses went up into the mount. It was a frightening mountain, one from which came smoke and voices and lightening and if you touched it you could die. It was so frightening that Moses said “I exceedingly fear and quake”.

Some so called Christian’s religion is like that. Some who profess Christ do not know which mountain we are on.

We are on Mount Zion.

The Lord Jesus in love for us climbed that Mountain. We belong to the Kingdom of God. We who believe in Christ are one day to enter “the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels”. We are part of the “general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect”. We are loved by “Jesus the mediator of the new covenant”.

Sin has no dominion over us. Satan has no dominion over us. We belong to neither sin nor Satan, but to the Savior!

2 My Faith Must Be Actively Follow The Right PERSON.

Hebrews 12:1-2 … let us run with patience the race that is set before us, [2] Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith …

If you’re running a race your eyes are FRONT not BACK. You’re looking FORWARD. We run the race set before us LOOKING UNTO JESUS. We keep our eyes on Him as we run. The overcoming life runs following Jesus.

1 John 4:4-6 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. [5] They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. [6] We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Jesus said in John 16:33 …. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. The only One who has EVER – in the history of all mankind – overcome the world is Jesus. When Jesus cried out

IT IS FINISHED

from the Cross it was the VICTOR’S CRY. He defeat death. He defeated the grave. He defeated the political powers that be. He defeated the devil.

Any time we get our eyes off of Jesus we will fail.

Abraham failed. He got his eyes off of Jesus and listened to Sarah. “Honey, why don’t you go into Hagar – let’s help God out!” What did he get out of it? Ishmael, and a group of people that hate God’s Israel to this day.

Moses failed. He got his eyes off of Jesus and began to focus on a complaining Israel. He struck the Rock that was Christ and lost the Promised Land because of anger and frustration.

Elijah failed. Standing on the top of Mount Carmel he singularly defeated an overwhelming foe while focused on Jesus. The Prophets of Baal were destroyed. God was vindicated. But the very next day he got his eyes on Jezebel, Satan’s bride, and fell into despair.

David failed. He who defeated Goliath when his eyes were on Jesus became a murderer and an adulterer when he kept looking at Bathsheba. He should have kept on looking at Jesus!

Peter failed. Bold Peter, brave Peter, was questioned by a milk maid. “Aren’t you one of Jesus’ disciples?” No, I am not! “Are you sure?” I am not! “But I saw you …” Then Peter curses, and the rooster crows.

I wonder if that same milk maid saw Peter on the day of Pentecost. “Why, isn’t that the man who said he didn’t know Jesus? Wasn’t he the frightened person huddled in the crow that night, scared of his own shadow. I wonder what happened to him? Now he speaks with POWER and without fear. What happened to him?” I’ll tell you what happened.

He stopped looking at the crowd and started looking at Jesus.

He stopped listening to the politically correct and started listening to the Prince of Peace and Lord of Lords.

Listen Beloved: We LIVE by faith in Christ. We STAND by faith in Christ. We WALK by faith in Christ. We walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). We are like old Jacob who commits to Christ, saying:

Genesis 28:20-21 …. If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, [21] So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:

Jesus Christ is with His children. Jesus Christ meets the needs of His children. But we are to run with patience the race set before us, following Jesus our Lord.

The great Evangelist D.L. Moody told this story. A very wealthy but stingy farmer met the Lord Jesus one day and was converted, born again, gloriously saved. Soon after his conversion a poor man came to him and asked for help. The man had lost his home and all he had in a fire. The farmer offered some help, then decided to give the poor man a ham from the smokehouse. As he headed toward the house the tempter whispered “Give him the smallest ham you have”. He struggled all the way to the smokehouse trying to decided whether to give a small or a large ham. In order to defeat his selfishness he took down the largest ham and gave it to the poor man. The tempter whispered “you are a fool!” The farmer said “If you don’t keep quiet I will give him every ham I have in that smokehouse!”

Run the race with Jesus. Run the race set before you. If you are selfish, give something. If you are envious, do a good thing for the person you envy. That will kill it! If you are angry at someone, do good toward that person lest your anger be your demise.

Run with patience the race set before you. Run with Jesus. Run for Jesus. Tun knowing that Jesus is running with you.

There are eight “overcomes” in the Book of Revelation. The first is:

“To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life” (Revelation 2:7)

Run the race with Jesus. You were saved to run. There is no life to those who do not run! Leap into His arms!

Mark 16:17-18 (KJV) And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 

Someone jokingly posted an article to my Facebook timeline about a Kentucky Preacher who died handling snakes. The article can be found at:

http://www.newschannel5.com/story/24738922/snake-handling-kentucky-pastor-dies-from-snake-bite

My friend was just joking, but I want to address this subject. Why don’t we as Christians handle snakes? The Preacher who died was on a reality show put out by National Geographic (yeah, the same people who do not believe in God nor do they believe God created the earth) called “Snake Salvation”. I never saw the show, and never will. The Preacher said that he too what Jesus said in Mark 16:17-18 “at face value”, and then revolved his preaching ministry around this. The Preacher wasn’t the first one to die at his “Church”. In 1995 Melinda Brown died while attending services at Preacher Coots Church. The District Attorney wanted to prosecute the preacher, but the Judge refused to sign off on the criminal complaint. Preacher Coots continued handling serpents until he died doing so. He told the Associated Press:

“We literally believe they want us to take up snakes. We’ve been serpent handling for the past 20 or 21 years.”

Who is the “they” that Coots was referring to? “They want us to take up snakes”. Certainly it wasn’t God. If God wanted him to “take up snakes” then Coots wouldn’t have died, nor would have Brown suffered the same fate. The reason Coots died is that he failed to READ what God said in the Scripture he quoted. This is a common problem among Christians and non-Christians alike. Let’s look at the text for just a moment.

Mark 16:17-18 (KJV) And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 

Jesus said that those who believe in Him would be marked by several “signs”:

1. They shall cast out devils.

2. They shall speak with new tongues.

3. They shall take up serpents.

4. If they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them.

5. They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.

Two of the things in this list are deadly, items 3 & 4. Now, was Jesus telling His people to INTENTIONALLY seek out and handle snakes. No. Jesus said that these five things were SIGNS that would follow those He was talking to. Look at item #4. If Jesus meant His people to intentionally seek out to do item #3, then He would also expect the same thing of when it came to item #4. Ok you “Snake Handling Christians”, let me see you drink a can of Drain O. I’ve seen the effects of someone who drank liquid Drain-O, and what it did to their bodies. “If you drink any deadly thing, it shall not harm you”. Why isn’t National Geographic doing a show about “Drain – O drinking Christians” or “Cyanide Salvation”? Because no one intentionally drinks Drain-O, nor should they. Jesus didn’t mean that those He loves should go out and intentionally handle rattle snakes or drink Drain-O. Read your Bibles, folks. Quit listening to charletains!

Matthew 2:1-3 (KJV) 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.

What makes someone WISE, and what makes someone FOOLISH? The Founder of Apple Corporation, Steve Jobs, was visionary. Everytime you see a young person walking around doing this (texting) while bobbing their heads to music you can’t hear – ear phones in place – you have Steve to thank for that. You may not have one, but I’m sure you’ve heard of the I-Phone, the I-Pod, the I-Pad, or the I-Mac. Steve Jobs was a mover and a shaker, a visionary man. But was he a WISE man? I hope he was, and I pray he was.

What makes a WISE man? Is it book smarts? Is it the ability the do things in your own power to change the world? The Bible says that a WISE man or a WISE woman is a person who is open to the Lord. The Scripture says that:

Psalms 14:1 (KJV) The FOOL hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

The Bible defines the FOOL as the person who says in his heart “There is no God”. There is a God. We see the evidence of God clearly in the order and design of nature. From the tiny humming bird to the flower it hovers before, drinking its nectar, to the trees in the fields. Look up and you see thousands of evidences of God in the sky. He is there, and He is not silent. Wisdom comes from God. The Bible says:

James 1:5-6 (KJV) If any of you lack WISDOM, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

The Wise seek God. The Foolish do not. In our text today we are going to see some Wise Men and some Fools. The Fools will do foolish and destructive thiongs, but the Wise will do what they were created to do – they will worship the Lord!

1 The Wise TRAVELED Outside Of Their Comfort Zone, While The Foolish Were TROUBLED And Unresponsive.

Matthew 2:1-3 (KJV) 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.

The Wise Men traveled “from the east to Jerusalem”. The commentaries tell me that this undetermined number of “Wise Men” would have come from Persia, particularly from ancient Babylon. Babylon is around 800 miles from Jerusalem. Traveling by camel this was a little over a month to travel. Why did these men come that long journey? Because God called them. Three things brought these men from far off to where Jesus was.

a These Wise Men Heeded The Message Of God’s SCRIPTURE. God speaks to the world through His Word, the Holy Bible. These Wise Men asked:

Where is He that IS BORN King of the Jews?

Jesus is born King of the Jews. Herod the Great is king of Israel at this time, yet he has no right to this throne. God established that the ruler of Israel would ALWAYS be from the Tribe of Judah. We are told in:

Genesis 49:10 (KJV) The SCEPTRE shall not depart from Judah, nor a LAWGIVER from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

Both the SCEPTER and the LAWGIVER was decreed to be from the tribe of Judah. The tribe of Levi brought forth the priests, but Judah alone was to be where the King came from. King David was of the Tribe of Judah. Before David’s rule ended the Lord God promised him that:

1 Chronicles 17:11-12 (KJV) 11 And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He shall build me an house, and I WILL STABLISH HIS THRONE FOR EVER.

God promised that King David’s throne would be established FOREVER. God decreed that the King of the Jews would come from the line of Judah FOREVER, that is, until SHILOH or the MESSIAH came. The Messiah would come from the lineage of David. When He came the crown of Israel would not pass down from father to son, but would be on Him forever and ever.

When the wise men got to Jerusalem they were not careful in what they said. “Where is HE Who is BORN King of the Jews?” When Herod found them I want you to note that he didn’t say “But I’m King of the Jews”. He was at that time the recognized King of the Jews. But Herod had absolutely no right to the title ”King of the Jews”. He was not “BORN King of the Jews”. Easton’s Bible Dictionary notes:

“Herod the Great was the son of Antipater an Idumean, and Cypros an Arabian of noble descent. …. Herod was appointed Tetrarch of Judea by {Roman Politician and General} Mark Antony and also King of Judea by the Roman Senate.”

Herod was appointed “King of the Jews” by the powers of man, but he was not by any means the King of the Jews. The King of the Jews must be BORN the King of the Jews. His lineage must be traced back to Judah, and through the line of King David. We see that lineage in the first chapter of Matthew pointing directly to Christ. Most people skip over the genealogies in the Scripture thinking them unimportant. They are important. We read:

Matthew 1:1 (KJV) The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Here is the lineage of Jesus Christ our Lord. Beginning at Abraham, the founder of our faith the lineage of Christ is traced

Matthew 1:6 (KJV) And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Uriah;

through David the King, through Solomon,

Matthew 1:16 (KJV) And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

all the way up to Joseph His stepfather and Mary His Mother. Jesus Christ is Shiloh, the Messiah, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. When the Wise Men were led into the palace of Herod with all its regal trappings they did not hesitate. This man, this ARAB, this Idumean, he was not descended from King David. He might have been from Ishmael, but he was not of Isaac. He might have the title “King of the Jews” but he was an usurper.

God made Judah the ruling Tribe.

God made David the source of Messiah.

“Where is HE that IS BORN King of the Jews?”

You are not he. The Scripture says so.

The Scripture is the lighthouse of the Christ Follower. The Scripture establishes the Christ. The Scripture points to the Christ. Our power comes from His Word. It is our Lighthouse, our Beacon, that all Wise Men follow.

IA battleship saw another ship’s lights headed toward them. The radioman on the battleship called out. “Light bearing on our north, change your direction.” The reply was immediate. “Light bearing on our south, change YOUR direction.” The radioman called out again, this time irritated. “Light bearing on our north, change your direction. This is a BATTLESHIP!” Again the reply was immediate and sure. “Light bearing on our south, change YOUR direction. We are a LIGHTHOUSE, and we are not moving!”

The wise man or woman is the person who, like these wise men, heed the message of God’s Scripture and correct their course in life to be guided by it. Herod the usurper and his entourage of fools had access to the Scripture, but were unmoved by it.

Matthew 2:4-6 (KJV) And when {Herod} 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.

Scripture unapplied is Scripture denied. Scripture denied makes a fool!

b These Wise Men Heeded The Miracle Of God’s STAR. The Wise Men said …

Matthew 2:2 (KJV) 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.

As the wise men studied God’s Word the Lord began to interact with them, to show them signs and wonders. When you hear the Word of the Lord and act on it God will interact with you. I have read several articles on this “Christmas Star”. People argue about what this star was. Some say it was a comet, moving through our outer atmosphere. Others think it might have been a shooting star, or even a planet like Jupiter. Can I tell you what I think it was?

It was God doing a miracle, showing them the way. The Scripture tells us that the wise men left the false king Herod and …

Matthew 2:9-10 (KJV) …. 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.

If this was a comet then it would have kept on moving. If it was a planet it would not have “come and stood over where the young Child was”. This was a miracle from God.

Why don’t we have miracles today? Because we do not respond to God’s Word like we used to. Faith is to HEAR and OBEY, to SEE and then DO. These wise men were studying the Word of the Lord, then God showed them a moving star to follow. Rather than sit at home and chart its course they went outside their comfort zone. They moved in response to God – and God showed them a miracle.

God wants to show us all a miracle.

These men were not raised in Church nor in the Jewish Temple. They probably came from a background that was steeped in pagan tradition. But God reached out to them – called – and they came toward Him.

When the Shepherd David stepped out in faith against Goliath he had a sling and five smooth stone – but it only took one to kill Goliath. Our God is the God of Miracles.

When General Joshua was battling the forces of evil at Gibeon and the sun started to set, Joshua spoke to the Lord saying “Sun stand still upon Gibeon, and Moon in the valley of Ajalon”. The Lord caused the sun to stand still and the moon to stay until God’s battle was fought (Joshua 10:12-14). Our God is in control.

When the Shepherd Moses stood at the Red Sea and the armies of Egypt thundered in the distance

Exodus 14:13-14 (KJV) 13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. 14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

The children of God passed through the sea as if on dry land – but the foolish drowned in their unbelief. Why don’t we see miracles like this anymore? Because we as American Christians are too much like Herod and too little like the wise men. Things TROUBLE us – but we do not move. We hear His Word, but do not act on it. We are waiting for someone else to do something.

If the wise men had waited for someone else to do something, they never would have seen the star move. Herod never saw the star move. The Chief Priests and the Scribes never saw the star move. Only when the wise men moved did they see the star move! Only when you and I in faith move will we see God move.

We must go outside our comfort zone. We must HEAR and DO in order to be blessed. Like the wise men we must go TOWARD Jesus and AWAY from Herod, the Chief Priests, and the Scribes. Jesus told us:

Matthew 7:21-27 (KJV) 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

There is no blessing in sitting still. Faith must move. Faith hears God’s Word, then moves to God’s miracle!

2 Traveling Outside Their Comfort Zone, The Wise Are Blessed. They actually got to see something you and I will never see. They saw the Baby Jesus. We read:

Matthew 2:11 (KJV) And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him…

a The Wise Person Comes Prepared To WORSHIP The Lord. When they came into the house the Bible tells us that they fell down. They humbled themselves before God the Son. Before you can ever worship God you must NOT worship yourself nor anything else. The very first two of the Ten Commandments is:

Exodus 20:2-6 (KJV) I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

God made us for Himself. He loves us. He gave His Son for us. Therefore only God is to be worshiped. Daily we are to remind ourselves that we are not to be like Lucifer, lifting ourselves up in the Presence of God.

1 Peter 5:6-11 (KJV) Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

The devil our adversary like a roaring lion seeks whom he may devour. How does he devour? He invites us to be lifted up with pride as he was. He invites us to death, destruction, and hell with him and his fallen angels. Wise men do not heed him. Wise men fall down, and worship Him. These wise men were prepared to worship Jesus.

b Wise Men Receive Jesus As He Is. We read:

Matthew 2:11 (KJV) …. when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

As an act of worship these wise men presented three presents to Christ. These were treasures, things of great value. Too many people say “I am a Christian” but treasure themselves above Christ. These men were believers indeed for they gave something that cost them something to Christ. They didn’t give the least, but gave the most. They gave time. They gave of their lives. They gave not just a minimal amount in the offering plate, but presented unto Him gifts. And their gifts were so appropriate.

They gave Jesus gold. God is the gift of the King, and a gift suitable to God. The Ark of the Covenant was overlaid with gold. Solomon overlaid the Temple in Jerusalem with gold. The Heavenly City of God is pure gold, and the street of that city is pure gold (Revelation 21:18-21). Gold would certainly be a gift for Him Who is:

1 Timothy 6:15 …. the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

They gave Jesus frankincense. Frankincense is a white resin that is drawn from a tree by cutting the tree – afflicting it. The resin when burned provides a pleasant smell. It was used as an offering before God in the Old Testament.

Exodus 30:34-37 (KJV) 34 And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these SWEET SPICES WITH PURE FRANKINCENSE: of each shall there be a like weight: 35 And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy: 36 And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy.

Frankincense was forced from a tree, drawn out through a wound in its bark. Frankincense symbolized the Cross that Christ would some day bear for us all. He would be beaten for us. Wounded for our sins.

Colossians 2:13-14 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; [14] Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Jesus Christ died for us. Just as Frankincense was burned by the priest, Christ died for us. Just as Frankincense was burned as a cleansing and sweet smeall to God, the Bible says that

Hebrews 10:10-12 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. [11] And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: [12] But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

The wise men also gave Jesus myrrh. Myrrh is a product of Arabia, and was obtained from a tree in the same way that Frankincense was. Myrrh was used to embalm the dead. When Jesus was taken from the Cross, the Bible tells us in John 19:38-39 that Jesus was wrapped in cloth and about a hundred pounds of myrrh, and laid in a tomb. Myrrh was mixed in gall to stupefy those being crucified (see Mark 15:23; Matthew 27:34). Though offered to Christ He would not drink it. He suffered for us so that we do not have to suffer damnation.

He gave Himself for us.

Wise men – and women – still seek Jesus today. He is life. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is our Eternal Life. He is the greatest Person in all of history.

I pray that you know Him!

May God touch your hearts with His Word.

Luke 2:6-20 (KJV) And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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, good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

I love this time of the year. Yes, it is over commercialized. Yes, a lot of people miss the fact that Jesus is the Reason for the Season. Yes, the stores are crowded. But I love Christmas. Christmas is a reminder to us all that God is not an impersonal God sitting in the heavens. God loves us. God cares for us. And God wants the best for us. God made us in His image and after His likeness. God is immense! The Apostle Paul said:

Acts 17:24-31 (ESV) The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. …. 28 for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’ …. “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’

It’s ironic that God does not NEED us, but He WANTS us. God is all sufficient. He has everything He needs. Yet God WANTS us because He LOVES us. Yet sadly throughout this season we call CHRISTmas many people will have time for the parties, time for the presents and the meals and the family – but no room for God.

1 There Was No Room For Them In The Inn. We are told in

Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Mary and Joseph made a 70 mile journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. I don’t know how she made the journey, but God must have been watching over them. Mary was, the Bible says, “Great with child”, and the Child that she carried was the Messiah – God Incarnate come to this earth.

This Baby is the most important Person Who will ever live on this planet. Yet few people know who this Baby is. When Mary and Joseph come to town that night the little town of Bethlehem was packed. The little tyrant who ruled Israel was called Herod, and Herod – a puppet king – did something he shouldn’t have done. He offended the Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar. Caesar, in turn, demands a census and a tax on Herod’s people the Jews. Everyone must go to their home of birth, and for Mary and Joseph this is Bethlehem. Here their names must be recorded, and the name of their baby as well. When the Messiah came He was supposed to be of the line of David. What sign would show that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Savior of the world. When the Angel goes to announce His birth to the “shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night” what “sign” does the Angel tell them to look for? The Angel says:

Luke 2:12 And THIS SHALL BE A SIGN unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

““THIS” is the SIGN you shall look for. You’ll not look in the best hotel in town. You will not head to the Governor’s Mansion. You won’t even find Him in a Motel 6. No. You will find Him – the Savior of the world – lying in a manger.”

In our world today we have parking garages in the basements of hospitals, malls, and fancy stores. I have often had to visit Vanderbilt Hospital and park in it’s garages. I would not think of staying there – camping out – in that dark and dank place. In the ancient world many houses and places where people stayed had “parking garages” for their animals. This was a warm and comfortable place for the animals to be kept safe from theft or harm. The “manger” is not a place where you would normally find a baby. The “manger” is where animals rest and feed. Yet this is a perfect place for the Messiah.

His entire life there was “no room at the inn” for Him. Jesus was not received with fanfare. When the British Crown had a baby Americans talked about that child with wonder. When the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to her second child at St. Mary’s hospital in London it was on every news channel and reported in every paper. Yet when Christ was born He was born in a manger.

a Jesus Was Born To Die. He was born in a manger because of what His future held. Jesus was born to be:

John 1:29 Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Jesus came to this earth to give Himself for our sins. Throughout the Old Testament God taught two things to His people. He taught them that they were sinners in need of a Savior. And God taught them that they could not save themselves. To cover their sins, God’s Old Testament people brought a lamb or a goat without spot or blemish to the Temple. The people then laid their hands on that creature, acknowledging that they were sinners. Symbolically transferring their sins to the animal it was then killed, it’s blood collected, and the blood sprinkled on the people.

Salvation came by the shedding of blood. Yet no animal can bring about the salvation of a person. We are sinful creatures – humans created in the image of God. Christ was born to be the Savior, the Lamb of God Who takes away our sins. See Him. The Scripture says of Jesus that He was discounted from the very beginning.

Isaiah 53:2-9 (ESV2011) …. he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 ​He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 ​But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 ​All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Jesus Christ was born to die. The sacrifice of animals could not pay for the sins of man. Christ came to be our Savior. He was laid in that manger as the Lamb of God. The Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was born in that manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes by His precious mother Mary. 33 years later He would be wrapped in swaddling clothes once more.

John 19:30 (KJV) (Jesus said) It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

John 19:40-42 (KJV) Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulcher, wherein was never man yet laid. 42 There laid they Jesus …

Jesus was born, bathed by His mother, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lay in a borrow cradle, a manger. When Jesus died He was taken from the Cross, bathed by His friends, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lay in a borrowed tomb. Why was this Man born? To save us from our sins. Why did this Man die? To save us from our sins. The Scripture tells us …

Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Hebrews 10:12, 17-18 But {Jesus}, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God. . . . AND THEIR SINS AND INIQUITIES WILL I REMEMBER NO MORE. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

Praise be unto God for the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ our Lord!

b Jesus Was Born For All. If Jesus had been born in a palace or in a castle many would have thought He had not come for them. Jesus was born and lay in a manger. C.H. Spurgeon wrote:

“The manger and the cross standing at the two extremes of the Savior’s earthly life seem most fit and appropriate to each other. He is to wear through life the clothes of a peasant; He is to associate with fishermen; the meek are to be His disciples; the cold mountains are often to be His only bed; He is to say, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head;” nothing, therefore, could be more fitting than that in His time of humiliation, when He laid aside His glory, and took upon Himself the form of a servant, that He should be laid in a manger.”

Jesus would not be like that tyrant Herod or the monstrous Caesar. He was born in the lowest of places so that He could reach the lowest of people. The Angel told the shepherds that night:

Luke 2:10-11 Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

“Fear not”! Those of you in want and in pain need not be afraid. God is giving you the Greatest Gift He can give you. God is giving you HIMSELF. This is “good tidings of GREAT joy, which shall be to ALL the people”. Jesus was born for all to die for all. He is a Savior.

No one can save us but God. God tells us in:

Isaiah 43:11 (KJV) I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no Savior.

Hosea 13:4 (KJV) …. I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no Savior beside me.

Jesus Christ is God incarnate, God in the flesh. He saves His people from their sins. The Angel said “Unto YOU is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord”. Jesus gave Himself for you. He came to this earth for you. He lived for you. He died for you. He rose again for you.

2 Make Room For Jesus In The Inn Of Your Hearts. God made room for you in His heart – do you have room for Jesus in YOUR hearts? When the Angel finished announcing the birth of Christ we read:

Luke 2:13-15 (KJV) 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, good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven …

The Christmas Cards and the Children’s Plays often portray the Angels singing at this point. They aren’t singing – they are PRAISING and SAYING. They are glorifying God for this wondrous gift. Do you realize that when Lucifer fell from Heaven and led a third of the angels in revolt against God, that their fate was sealed. The Bible tells us that:

Matthew 25:41 (KJV) …. everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Everlasting Fire is prepared for the devil and his angels. Hell is where fallen angels go. When Lucifer fell and recruited a third of the angels, God never reached out in love to save them. But Jesus was

Hebrews 2:9 (KJV) …. made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

God became man to die for man – but He did not do the same for the angels. When the angels saw this they glorified God, for they who have no second chance realize what a great gift this is that God offers us.

The Angels rejoiced over this miraculous manger. Yet after announcing the birth of Christ the Angels did not go door to door throughout Bethlehem and beyond spreading this good news. They told the Shepherds. Now it is up to them. Will they receive this wonderful gift or not? What will they do? We are told that:

Luke 2:15-16 (KJV) And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste …

Told of the sign of the manger the Shepherds – “who were keeping watch over their flock by night” – immediately dropped everything they were doing. They looked at one another. “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass which the Lord has made known unto us”. They don’t bother gathering up their sheep. They don’t herd their sheep back into a fenced area or into a manger. They came with haste. Everything else took second place, for seeing Jesus was first place.

They made room for Jesus in their hearts.

Luke 2:16-18 (KJV) And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

I was struck by the fact that the Shepherds went with haste, and when they saw the manger they went out and told others about the Child. Yet the world just wondered at those things that was told them. Here we see the two mindsets. Those who are saved will drop everything and run to the Christ. They want to see Him, to worship Him, to be with Him. The world, however, just wonders. Though the shepherds made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this Child the world just wondered. There is no indication that anyone else got out of their comfort zone that night.

They just wondered.

They did not act.

True saving faith acts. It hears of Christ, and goes to Christ. The things that occupied the heart before are put out of the heart, and room is made for Christ. The Shepherds made room for Christ. Those who make room for Christ will find themselves blessed of God. If you have made room for Christ, God has made room for you. Your sins are paid for. Your eternity is sure.

The world wondered.

Mary pondered.

But the Shepherds celebrated.

Luke 2:19-20 (KJV)19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Charles Stanley wrote:

“Imagine the wonder of the shepherds when an angel of the Lord spoke to them, followed by multitudes of the Heavenly host filling the night sky with otherworldly light and music. … Yet the most life changing experience they had that night was meeting the Messiah face to face. It moved their hearts to worship. …. Likewise when you encounter Jesus and see Him for who He is, the realization of His love and glory will fill your heart with thanksgiving and make you want to know Him better.”

Make room in your hearts for Jesus this Christmas. Come to where He is. He is available for you. He loves you. Receive Him as Lord and Savior this day, and every day will be blessed.

May God touch your hearts with his Word.

“Mary Did You Know”

by Mark Lowry (lyrics) & Buddy Greene (melody)

Mary, did you know – that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?

Mary, did you know – that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?

Did you know – that your Baby Boy has come to make you new?

This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know – that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?

Mary, did you know – that your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand?

Did you know – that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?

When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?

The blind will see. The deaf will hear.

The dead will live again. The lame will leap.

The dumb will speak The praises of The Lamb.

Mary, did you know – your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?

Mary, did you know – your Baby Boy would one day rule the nations?

Did you know – your Baby Boy is heaven’s perfect Lamb?

The sleeping Child you’re holding is the Great, I Am.