Christmas 2021 “Tis The Season To Be Genuine”

Series – “Christmas 2021”    Sermon – “Tis The Season To Be Genuine”

Matthew 2:1-12

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

6  ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;

For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”[a]

7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

PICTURE:  Violinist playing in the subway, Washington DC 2007 — No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, of the best musicians in the world. 

(He was nervous out of His own context … surprised even that no one one paid much attention)

He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars.  $1000.00 Per Minute

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats average $100.00 each. This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people.

In a commonplace environment:

Do we perceive beauty?  Do we stop to appreciate it? 

Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

Put the Mona Lisa in a Tim Hortons … would anyone care!

PICTURE: Our Christmas tree. Very busy. You might not notice the things on the tree that have great meaning to us.

Psalm 89:15 “Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance.” 

(AMP) “…know the joyful sound [who understand and appreciate the spiritual blessings symbolized by the feasts]; they walk, O Lord, in the light and favor of Your countenance!”

Galatians 4:4 “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,” 

God is still working out His plan.  You are a part of that plan. 

7 Actions For Wise Transitions. 

1. Pay Attention      “…we have seen His star…” vs. 2 

Wise Men had working awareness.  Event of global, eternal significance   Not distracted by noisy negatives. 

2. Consumed With A Purpose “… come to worship Him.” vs. 2
“Empires of the future are empires of the mind.”   Winston Churchill

3. Willing To Exert Themselves  “…at its rising and have come…” vs. 2 (AMP)
Romans 12:11 “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” 

4. Not Going To Give Up  “…they went their way…” vs. 9  

Herod didn’t spook them.    They pressed on.
Acts 20:24 “But none of these things move me; …so that I may finish my race with joy,…”

5. Willing To Get Happy  “When they saw the star, they were thrilled with ecstatic joy.” 10 

Pursuing God is a joy filled trip.
Be responsible for how you feel … rule your emotions. 

6. Willing To Worship “…fell down and worshiped Him. Then opening their treasure bags,…” (11) 

God wants worshippers who worship. 

John 4:23 “…for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.”

7. Willing To Change  “…departed to their own country by a different way.” vs. 12
You can’t go back the same way when you have had a genuine encounter with Jesus. 

Psalm 65:11 

“You crown the year with Your goodness, And Your paths drip with abundance.”