Topic: Preparing for Christmas
Text: Math. 2: 1-12.
By: Pastor: Dr. ’Sola ONI
Houston South Foursquare Church, 8001 South Kirkwood(by Beechnut) Houston, TX 77072
Introduction:
Preparations are being made here and there for the Xmas celebration. Our houses are being given a facelift with different kind of decors internal and external. We are already buying gifts etc, changing our ward robes, etc. and generally preparing for the celebration.
As we do all these I want to bring to your attention five keys things the Lord wants us to be conscious of and include in our preparations for the season. From our text this morning the five things are:
1. Seek for Him: verses 1 and 2
You might been saying to yourself “what does this man mean”? I already sought and not only know Him but also have a relationship with Him. What else does he want me to know about Him that I have not known? This morning, brothers and sisters I tell you that there are still more you have not known about Him. How do I know this?
From our text this morning we are told that Maggi or Wise men came from the East looking for Him. I begin to wonder within myself, these men are already wise, what else do they want? Obviously there must be something wonderful and important and which in spite of their wisdom they lack but which baby Jesus has. I know that those of us here this morning are highly intelligent and educated and wise; the Lord is telling me that there are still some things which you lack but which Jesus has. Look for that or those things in Jesus this season. John 3: 3 says Nicodemus a Pharisees and member of the Jewish ruling council who knows and obeys both the Jewish and God’s Laws came looking for Jesus to know and seek for what he lacked.
Therefore in this season, any wise person will seek for Jesus. Let us not be foolish but wise and seek for Him.
Isaiah 55: 6 says seek for Him while He may be found. He can still be found now, let us therefore be wise and seek for Him.
Any wise man or woman who has known or sought Him before will want to know more about Him. Nicodemus heard about Him before and yet he still went ahead to seek Him.
If there is any period of the year one need to seek for the Lord most is this season, because the Devil is also there preparing to rejoice. The Lord will not allow him to use us to rejoice in Jesus’ name.
2. Be strong and do not give up/Put discouragement behind you: verses 1b and 9.
The wise men were not discouraged of the time it will take them to go from Jerusalem to Bethlehem; they had traveled from the East to Jerusalem and yet could not find Him but they continue to look for Him until they found Him. The Lord says to you this morning “do not be discouraged” but continue to look for Him and as a wise man or woman you will find him. There is no one who looks for Him and fails to find Him; you cannot therefore be an exception.
As a wise person who has been looking for Him over these months and years you must not be discouraged in looking for Him. You might have been looking for Him and have never seen or experienced Him, this season make extra effort and put discouragement behind you and as a wise person, go a little further and you will find him because the wise men found Him. Nobody who put his hand into the plough and look back that is fit for the kingdom of God, Lk. 9: 62. Even the enemy of the Lord, Herod encouraged the wise men to look for Him, therefore be encouraged to look for Him more in this season.
3. Be joyful or joyous, verse 10
When the wise men saw Him they were overjoyed. Why? Because in Psm. 16: 11, the Bible says in His presence there is fullness of joy. Nobody ever come to His presence and become sad, you will not be sad this season. No matter what you have been going through as you put more effort in seeking for him this season you will be overjoyed. Your joy will be full.
In Lk. 2: 10, the angels that announced His birth to the shepherds said His coming brings news of great joy. You will hear and experience news of great joy in this season and beyond.
When the baby John the Baptist saw baby Jesus in the womb of Mary, he leaped for joy, you and your family will leap for joy this season in Jesus name.
4. Bow down and worship Him alone: verse 11a
As the wise men set their eyes on Him, they bowed down and worshipped Him. They saw Mary and never worshipped her, but worshipped Him ALONE. Remember Exo. 20: 3-5 “have no other gods before me”. Do not be carried away with the activities of the season and begin to worship your houses, clothes, properties and gifts. But remember not to bow down to or worship them, but worship HIM ONLY. Do not bow down and worship the gods of the season.
5. Lastly Give Him your treasure: verse 11b
As the wise men found Him they gave Him their treasures. Give Him your treasures this season. As you give and receive gifts from one another, remember to also prepare and give Him His own gifts.
Conclusion:
Christmas is not just a season of beautifying, buying, giving and receiving; it is a season of remembering to obey the commands and statutes of the Lord. The Lord will put these in our remembrance and give us the grace to do according to His will in Jesus’ name.
Brothers and sisters are you going to seek Him this season? Are you already a wise person in your own eyes? The Bible says the Lord uses the foolish things of this world to confuse the Wise man. You might have been wise in your own eyes, not knowing that you are actually foolish in the eyes of the Lord. Become wiser today by seeking Him. He also said the things of God are foolishness to those who are perishing. Why will you want to perish? Why not seek Him today and live and in His presence you will find joy and that joy will overflow in Jesus name.
