Living Wisely in the New Year

Living Wisely in the New Year
A Sermon Preached on January 6, 2013 (Epiphany Sunday)
Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, LA
Dr. Joe Alain, Pastor

Scripture Readings: Isaiah 60:1-6; Matthew 2:1-12
Introduction: Do you have all of your Christmas decorations packed away? If not, don’t feel too bad because Christmas isn’t really over yet. On the Christian calendar January 6th is called Epiphany Sunday, which marks the celebration of Epiphany, following the twelve days of Christmas. And for some of our fellow Christians, this day is bigger even than Christmas! Epiphany comes from the Greek word “epiphaneia” which means “appearing” or “revealing” (see 2 Tim. 1:10). Epiphany marks the first appearance of Jesus to the Gentiles. On this day, some Christian traditions pay special attention to the visit of the Wise Men (“Magi”),  the focus of our Scripture readings today.

We usually associate the coming of the Magi with the birth of Jesus, which is ok, but keep in mind that some time had elapsed between the birth of Christ and the visit of these wise men, possibly two years since this was the age range given by Herod when he ordered the massacre of the children living around Bethlehem (cf. 2:16-18). When the Magi finally made it to see Jesus, he and his family were living in a house rather than a manger (2:11).

How many Magi came we do not know for certain. Tradition has three mainly because of the three gifts that were brought. These wise men, although influential in their country were not kings (although we can still sing one of our favorite Christmas songs, “We Three Kings”), but astrologers, scientists, philosophers, the sages of their day. Think wise men in Daniel’s time. They became in Persia almost exactly what the Levites were in Israel. The picture of kings coming to the Messiah also comes from our reading of Isaiah 60 which says “Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your radiance” (60:3). Kings coming from far away nations, caravans of camels, bearing gifts of gold and frankincense, all images we find in Isaiah.

There’s always been a fascination with the star in this story of the Magi. Was it a supernova? Halley’s comet? A special alignment of the planets such as Saturn and Jupiter? Or perhaps the unusual occurrence of the star “Sirius” that appeared at sunrise during the Egyptian month of “Mesori,” which happens to mean “the birth of a prince”? We cannot tell what star the Magi saw; but it was their profession to watch the heavens and some heavenly brilliance spoke to them of the entry of a king into the world.

Beyond our fascination with the extraordinary events that took, is the wonderful meaning behind the story. There is much to see in Matthew 2:1-12 that illustrates living wisely. Today, as we begin a new year, we will view this story through what’s been identified by many Christians as the five marks or characteristics of a maturing believer. What can we learn from this account about living wisely?

Living wisely involves a commitment to . . .
1. Worship
The expressed desire of these wise men was to worship the one who was “born King of the Jews” (v.1). Their long journey was rewarded when they found the child Jesus. “And falling to their knees, they worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (v.11). They bowed the knee before Jesus, gave offerings, and rejoiced!

The gifts that they brought Jesus were significant, they were costly, gifts worthy of a king. Each of the gifts speaks in some way to the character of Jesus.
    (1) Gold is the gift fit for a king. Jesus was born to be king, but He is a king who rules by love (cf. 1 Jn. 4:9).
    (2) Frankincense is the gift fit for a priest. It was in the temple that frankincense was used by the priests. The function of the priests was to open the way to God for men. The priest is a man who builds a bridge between men and God. This is what Jesus did. As our “mediator,” He opened the way to God; he made it possible for men to enter into the very presence of God (cf. 1 Tim. 2:5).
    (3) Myrrh is the gift for one who is to die. Myrrh was used to embalm bodies. Jesus came into the world to give His life as the sacrificial Lamb of God (cf. Jn. 1:29).
The gifts of the wise men, even at the cradle of Christ, they foretold that he was to be the true King, the perfect High Priest, and in the end the supreme Savior of men.

The worship of the wise men was Christ-centered, it was costly worship, it was joyful worship, and it was intentional or planned worship. They came prepared to worship. They bent their knees in adoration, they gave costly gifts, they expressed joy, and behind all of it was a plan, a plan to seek Christ and to honor Him.

How will you worship the Lord this year? Your worship will be realized to its fullest as you have a plan for worship. This is why we encourage every believer to have some type of plan for meeting with God daily. Without a plan, my time spent with God is haphazard, other things take precedence, God gets squeezed out. That’s why I need a plan to meet with God, a time and a place to meet with God.

You need a personal plan to meet with God and a commitment for corporate worship as well. Plan to be in worship each week unless there is sickness or work, or you are out of town. And when you go off somewhere, worship where you go. For some of you this commitment to worship will be difficult (if you have small children), but it can happen, but you have to have a plan, you have to be intentional about your worship.

The account of the Wise Men also points out that giving is a vital part of our worship. This too was a planned part of their worship. Some of you have a well-thought out plan for how you will give. Everyone can have a plan and everyone can give. If debt or your lifestyle or your priorities are keeping you from giving, then make this the year that you will deal with your debt, your priorities, your lifestyle choices. You have to plan to worship. As believers we can not worship just based on feelings which is not a good or godly way to mature in Christ. The wise men with their full reasoning and confidence were following God’s Word, which is never just a subjective feeling. They had a plan. We need a plan for 2013 if we are going to worship the Lord.

Living wisely involves a commitment to worship, to . . .
2. Discipleship
There is some overlap here because a commitment to worship is what a disciple of Jesus does. But before even worship, the wise men must have had knowledge of God’s Word. They heard God’s Word, they read it. God’s Word brings faith, then they applied God’s Word. Because that is what brought them to seek the Christ child in the first place. A growing disciple reads and applies God’s word to his or her daily life. And because of this, there is a transformation that takes place in that person’s life.

Why do some Christians appear different than others? More joyful? More confident in God? More purposeful? Is it because there are different classes of Christians? Do some just get it and other do not? No! The reason some people are different is because they are not just hearers of the word, they do the word. There’s a commitment to being a disciple. There is a hunger for God, to know Him. A disciple is someone who does the word. And because of that they are different! But you can be different too, with a commitment to be a disciple, a growing learner, someone who hears and puts God’s Word into practice. This too must be thought-out if it’s going to happen. It begins with reading and reflecting upon God’s Word. It continues with your participation in a small group study where you can interact with other disciples. Your spiritual life is further developed as you put your faith into practice, using what God has given to you for His glory.

Living wisely involves a commitment to worship, discipleship, to . . .
3. Evangelism
One of the more fascinating things about this story to me is that these wise men came from a pagan nation in the East. How did they hear of the Messiah? How was this possible? Who told them? These wise men were from the same area of the world where the Jews had lived in captivity, Persia, today’s Iran and Iraq. Many years prior to this, while in captivity some of God’s people did not lose heart. They held on to the hope of God, they held on to the Scriptures and the promises of God.  In captivity, faithful Jews held on their Scriptures and shared them with their captors (e.g., Balaam’s prophecy, Num. 24:17). So these men had the revelation of God from the Old Testament Scriptures. And by faith in God’s Word, they traveled to Bethlehem in search of the King of the Jews, the Messiah. The once captors have been become captivated by the Sprit of God!

God’s faithful people in captivity were like lights shining in the darkness. They shared with their captors and bore witness of the coming light that Isaiah and others spoke of. Like the story of Hansel and Gretel, God’s people left some stones of promise all the way to Babylon. Those precious stones of truth that were left behind led these men to the truth – Jesus! You and I can leave some stones of promise, of truth in our daily path of life, stones of promise that will point people to the truth of Jesus.
After the wise men came to Bethlehem they returned to their own country. We’re not told, but it’s not too hard to imagine that they told others what they had seen, what they had heard, who they had worshiped. They became witnesses to many more generations in the great chain of grace. The call of salvation always brings the call to return to your home and to tell what God has done in your life (cf. Mk. 5:19). Have you met the king? Have you bowed the knee to Him and worshiped? God calls you to share what you have seen, who you know, and who has changed you, right where you are. And he will give you the power and grace to do it.

Living wisely involves a commitment to worship, discipleship, evangelism, to . . .
4. Ministry
I’ll just say a brief word about this because it is more implied here than explicit. It has been noted by many Bible scholars that the costly gifts that the wise men brought were gifts that would have been a God-send (no pun intended) to this peasant Jewish family. These gifts would have met their needs in a significant way. And that is what ministry is – meeting needs in the name of Christ.

Ministry, real ministry flows from all of what I have already spoken of today. Real ministry flows out of our sacrificial worship. We are able to minister, to meet needs because of faithful worshipers. Real ministry flows out of a life of obedient discipleship, loving not just in word but in deed as well. Real ministry flows out of a life that is concerned for the spiritual condition of others. It flows out of a heart that longs to see people reconciled with God.

Meeting needs without Christ is merely a handout. But with Christ meeting needs becomes a ministry, a hand up. When we worship, when we are serious about our discipleship, when our heart is warmed for others to know God, we will discover ways to minister and it won’t be forced, it will be natural, supernaturally.

Living wisely involves a commitment to worship, discipleship, evangelism, ministry, to . . .
5. Fellowship
Finally, let me say a brief word about fellowship, again more by implication here. These wise men traveled together. They were seeking the Lord together and there is incredible strength in that partnership. By themselves they may have never had made it to Bethlehem to see the Christ. At the very least, the journey would have been more difficult and downsized. By yourself the journey of following Jesus will be much more difficult. You need a commitment to make this spiritual journey with other believers. By yourself your likely to become discouraged, you will probably make more detours than are necessary.

Solomon said “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (Eccl. 4:12). There is strength in numbers. “If one falls down [and we will], his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” (4:10).

Summation and Invitation
The maturing believer, the believer who lives wisely is one who Worships, one who is a Disciple, who Evangelizes, who Ministers, and who Fellowships with other believers. Will you live wisely in this new year? Will you make a commitment today to these five areas of a growing Christian? It’s a commitment between you and the Lord.

My New Year’s Resolution
With God’s grace and strength, I will live wisely in 2013 through a commitment to the five marks of a maturing Christian.
My Signature: _______________________________
Today’s Date: _______________________________






For His Glory!
Pastor Joe