Light Of The World |“Light Collides With Darkness” Sermon

Sermon Series “Light Of The World” Sermon #3 “Light Collides With Darkness”

John 1:5 “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish (Overcome) it.”

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, 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.’  (A Collision Of Kingdoms)

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 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.  So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

‘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.’    Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared.

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.”

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.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.  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.

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

“Herod had an evil nature, relentless in punishment and unsurpassing in action against the objects of his hatred.” 

Josephus — 1st century Historian

“It is safer to be Herod’s pig than Herod’s son.”   Emperor Augustus

“I am come to rest my safety on my integrity…I am not ashamed to declare my loyalty to Antony. But if you would disregard the individual concerned, and examine how I requite my benefactors, and how staunch a friend I prove, then you may know me by the test of my past actions. I hope that the subject of inquiry will be not whose friend, but how loyal a friend, I have been” (Ant. 15.193; War 1.390).

“The light shines in the darkness.”

There was a cosmic confrontation taking place.  Kingdoms were colliding.

Very few recognised the moment.   Herod thought he could resist.

Lessons From Wise Men:

1.  Be Aware  “Have seen His star.”

Two types of consciousness.
a) Automatic – Reacting       Same thing over and over.
b) Accountable – Responding         A working awareness …adjusting.

2. Be Intentional   “… come to worship Him.” vs. 2

Colossians 3:2 “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”
“Empires of the future are empires of the mind.”    Winston Churchill

3. Be Passionate      “at its rising and have come” (AMP)
Romans 12:11 “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” 

4. Be Determined   “…they went their way…” vs. 9  

Herod didn’t spook them.   

Acts 20:24 “But none of these things move me; …so that I may finish my race with joy,…”   

5. Be Joyful    “…rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.”

Engaging Jesus is a joy filled trip.
Phillipians 4:4  “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”

6. Be A Worshipper 

“…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. Be Transformed      “They departed for their own country another way.” vs. 12
You can’t go back the same way when you encounter Jesus. 

John 1:12  “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God.”

“The light shines in the darkness.”

Herod died a horrible death.

The infant born in a stable 5 miles south of Herods palace is filling the earth with His Light and Life!

“If Jesus were born one thousand times in Bethlehem and not in me, then I would still be lost.”

          CORRIE TEN BOOM

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