Sermon Central
-
In Search Of Truth Series
Contributed by Billy Noel on Dec 13, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: This Christmas rather than seeking gifts and office celebrations seek the truth of Christmas.
“In Search of Truth”
This is the is the season of giving and all of us are pondering creative ways in which to demonstrate our love and concern for other people through giving and sharing
One of the reasons that the story of the wise men is significant is that it illustrates that God will speak to anyone who will hear, and the he speaks in a variety of ways
It also illustrates that no matter how remote your situation or environment if you will hear and are willing to traverse the desert of your experience you will come upon the miracle of the Son
Today and in this season many people are searching for significance and listening to a myriad of voices, anything and anyone to give life meaning
May if I give more to charities, maybe if I volunteer my time, maybe if I deny myself pleasure, maybe if I speak kindly to people, maybe if I go to church more.
May I share with you that it may not be what you do, but your motive for what you do?
These men were no different from you and me; they were searching for something or someone significant
By all appearances they didn’t need anything
They were using false science but yet they were sincerely seeking
For what were they searching?
Seek truth this Christmas
I submit to you that they were searching for the truth
History teaches that if truth is to be grasped in its fullness, it must be sought for
The left the world as they knew it, their homes surrounded by wealth and the promise of pleasure and happiness and set out for a distant land
They would not settle for anything less, the found semblance of what they were looking for but found him to be a poor substitute, he was searching too
If you would seek the truth this Christmas you must abandon the superficial
You must press beyond the average
You can’t be satisfied with the status quo
You cannot get caught up the commercial sight and sounds, you want find truth there
You cannot lend your time and talents to surface or superficial celebrations, you won’t find truth there
They Found the truth
Their search led to a great discovery
They found He who is the way the truth and the life
Their Response to the truth
They worshiped Him
Their outward behavior reflected the desire of the inward man
What was internal was exhibited externally
Before there was the external prostration, there was prostration in the soul
The worship was an acknowledgement of who He was
They proved their sincerity by offering gifts
The scripture says that they opened their treasures and offered Him gifts
The respond with gratitude by offering Him gifts
What gifts do we have that He would desire today
Let’s begin with offering Him you
Then offer what He’s blessed you with
Honor Him with your time your talent and your treasure
Honor Him by blessing others
Give to the poor,
Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Pro 19:17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed.
He who oppresses the poor insults his Maker (Prov. 14:31); he who mocks the poor insults his Maker (Prov. 17:5); he who oppresses the poor will come to poverty (Prov. 22:16);
You can’t get caught up in the joy of sharing gifts without stopping by the real tree, the tree of life and receiving the gift of the Son
***Indeed in the spirit of Christmas ought to be giving but we should give as we have been given
As I close today I want to suggest to that the star is still shining, can you see it, will you follow it
