Matthew 2:7–12
7Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. 8And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.” 9After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.
Focused Thinking:
Why did Herod secretly call the magi and ask about the exact time the star appeared?
Herod was afraid of this promised “King of the Jews.”
Herod was afraid of an uprising.
Jesus’ title, “King of the Jews,” raised suspicion because Herod feared anyone who threatened his throne. He was a ruthless monster who even killed his own children to protect his throne. He had nine (or ten) wives and was known for his treachery and lust. An Edomite, he had a natural hatred for the Jews. Herod was the appointed King of the Jews by Rome; he wasn’t a Jew appointed by Jews to lead the Jews.
Herod was protecting himself and his position.
How did the magi respond to King Herod?
They discerned King Herod’s deception.
They discerned King Herod’s intentions.
What did the magi do when they saw Jesus?
They rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
What caused the magi to rejoice exceedingly with great joy?
They must have known all the promises associated with the Messiah.
They must have known the significance of this moment in time.
Personal Application:
When is the last time I/you rejoiced exceedingly with great joy?
I rejoice when God’s shows me His glory through His Word.
I rejoice when I see/experience faith, hope and love.
I rejoice when I see God’s love in and through people.
I rejoice when I experience God’s love in and through people.
I rejoice when I see love for others overcome love for self.
I rejoice when I see good overcome evil.
I rejoice when I see light overcome darkness.
I rejoice when I see God and God’s people win.
There needs to be more rejoicing in our churches.
There needs to be more joy in our churches.
Matthew 1:11–12
11After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.
Focused Thinking:
What did the magi do when they saw the child?
They fell to the ground and worshiped Him.
Personal Application:
What causes me to fall to the ground and worship?
I typically fall to the ground with holy feelings.
Holy feelings are rarely happy feelings alone.
Holy feelings are usually a combination of feelings.
God’s holiness reveals my lack of holiness.
God’s holiness inspires my desire to be holy.
God’s holiness produces godly sorrow in me.
Godly sorrow produces a repentance without regret.
Focused Thinking:
How did they worship?
They came prepared to worship.
They brought their treasures.
The presented their treasures.
Personal Application:
Do people come prepared to worship today?
The majority don’t come prepared to worship.
The majority think they are doing God a favor to show up.
The majority don’t prepare their hearts.
The majority don’t bring their gifts.
Focused Thinking:
Who warned the magi about King Herod’s intentions?
Matthew 2:12
And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.
Personal Application:
Would you believe God if He spoke to you through a dream?
Have you ever had a dream that you felt like God might have spoken through?
What would have to be present for you to believe and obey a dream?
How should I respond to dreams that people in our congregation have about our church?
Why don’t give dreams much creditability today? Acts 2:17–21 tells us that dreams will be a part of the last days.
A lady in our church had a dream the other day about spiritual warfare in our church believing that the Spirit of God was about the break loose but that there was a lot of resistance trying to prevent that from happening.
We must wake up and fight the spiritual battles through prayer.
We must quit acting like there isn’t an enemy or a spiritual battle.
We must put on the full armor of God and aggressive fight the battle.
Interactive Prayer:
Father, why does everything seem so heavy right now? I know I need to lead our people to fight the battle of spiritual warfare. I know we need to put on the full armor of God. I know we need to take up the offensive weapons of the Word and prayer, but it feels overwhelming right now.
I feel like I need to see what the magi saw. I need to see You and rejoice exceedingly with great joy. I need to experience You in such a way that I fall to the ground and worship. I need You to speak to me to increase my faith. Father, I feel empty and I’m asking You to fill me up with all the fullness of God. Father, my faith feels weak and I’m asking You to increase my faith. Father, I desire to see You answer my prayers from December 2008. I desire to see my friend’s freedom. I pray that You will change the judge’s heart and bring yourself much glory through this verdict. I pray that You will free him and his wife from the choices of their past. Give them the ability to reap the harvest of their obedience instead of their disobedience. Father, I desire my Jewish friend to come to faith in Christ. It is hard to see You do so much in his life and for him to continue to delay his obedience. Father, save him for the purpose of using Him for Your glory. Father, continue to heal his Father. Thank you for the work You’ve already done. Father, I pray that You will also heal his daughter. Protect her and restore her to perfect healthy. Father, as we saw the importance of dreams in this scripture, he told me that he had a dream that he trusted Christ. Father, give him the faith to believe. Father, I pray that You will give us the faith and commitment to pray for revival. Father, do a work in us that makes us trustworthy of revival.
Father, I pray that the people in our church who are trusting Christ will follow through and be baptized. I pray that they will go to Ignite Faith. I pray that they will truly be forgiven and freed. Father, I pray that they will become true learners and followers of Christ. Father, give us the ability to truly be a New Testament Church in today’s world.
Father, please help me escape this pressure and stress and return to finding my joy in You. Father, help me to do what only I can do and trust You to do what I can’t do. Father, give me the ability to make the transitions I need to make this year to become holier and healthier than I’ve ever been before. Father, give me new and fresh encounters with You. Father, free me from never feeling good enough. Help me quit carrying too much responsibility. Help me quit controlling too much. Help me to prioritize what You want me to do and to be faithful in those things. Father, give me the faith to let go and to wholeheartedly devote myself to prayer and the ministry of the Word.
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