Sermon in Phoenix 07.01.2018

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, let us unite our hearts together this morning hour in opening prayer and thanksgiving unto our Heavenly Father.

Dear Lord, God Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, we this morning, dear Father, awake to another beautiful day in Thy creation. We thank You, dear Lord, for giving us this light. Not only the light of the morning sun, dear Father, but also the light that shines forth from the face of Thy dear Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

We pray this morning, dear Heavenly Father, that Thou would continue to give us strength to believe upon this journey of faith. As we begin this new year, dear Father, we stand before You and bow our hearts in that hope that Thou would continue to carry us as children of God as we endeavor in the midst of this present world.

We thank You, dear Father, for giving us that gift of living faith. For calling us Your children. For allowing us to be partakers and members of this kingdom of God here upon this earth. This kingdom where we are guided and cared for by Your hand and through the power of Thy Holy Spirit.

We again turn to You, dear Heavenly Father, with that hope in our hearts that Thou would bless us and that Thou would keep us. We thank You also for the many gifts and benefits of this life. For our homes and our families and our friends. For caring for us and providing for us. For putting bread on our table and for nourishing us on this journey towards our eternal home in heaven.

We pray, dear Father, for those who are unable to be with us even today. Those whose endeavors in this life are not yet fulfilled. We pray, dear Heavenly Father, that Thou would continue to give us strength to believe upon this life. For those who find themselves in faraway places. For those who serve in our military and for those who provide for their families in many different ways.

For all of these things we pray in the name of Thy dear Son. And we also remember those who walk in unbelief. Those who have walked in darkness and have not lived seeing the glorious light of Your kingdom.

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Yesterday, January 6th, was Epiphany. And we know that Epiphany marks the end of the Christmas season. It's known in this way that Jesus is light and He brought light into the darkness of this world with His humble birth there in the city of Bethlehem.

So, I thought we would read even today from the Gospel text for Epiphany, which is recorded for us in the Gospel of St. Matthew, chapter 2, verses 1-12. And this is a familiar text to all of us.

Now, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him.

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled. And all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah, for out of thee shall come a governor that shall rule my kingdom.

And he said unto him, I will rule my people, Israel.

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and search diligently for the young child. And when ye have found him, bring me word again that I may come and worship him also.

When they had heard the king, they departed. And lo, the star which they saw 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 exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshipped him.

And when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. Amen.

When I was considering a text for this morning's sermon, I looked at this text and with our carnal mind, we as speakers sometimes might think that, well, that's a text that everybody's heard. There's really not much more that can be said about it.

And so I looked at other texts, but then realized that even that thought is a thought of the enemy of the soul. And that God's word needs to be heard many times. And believers need to come to the hearing of God's word often.

And every time God's word is preached, there is a message that is brought forth. And sometimes that message reaches a certain believer, maybe many, maybe few. But regardless of what text is read, we know that it's God's Word and it is God that gives the words and He gives the increase also.

So after looking and reading this text, I chose to take it and begin to think about it and study on it and realize that there is much that is said in these words.

We know that this is a text that is set aside for Epiphany Sunday. And we know that Jesus is the light of the world. And these wise men, these wise men who it is thought came from perhaps Persia or Arabia, they followed this star, this bright star.

And I've read somewhere that it was so. I know that at some point in time prior to this, that there were Jewish people that had been taken as slaves into the Persian Empire. And it is thought that perhaps they might have even, these wise men who were Gentiles, perhaps had even heard of these stories of the coming of a Messiah, of a coming of the Lord or Jesus.

At any rate, we know that they were such that they were guided by God to come unto this land of Israel, the land of Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

And I think that this is a very important point.

One thing that I once read, and I think Luther spoke of this matter in Genesis chapter 49. When Jacob was speaking unto his sons, he spoke of this time. And it's in chapter 49 verse 10.

And this is when Jacob, one of the patriarchs, called his sons together. And he spoke unto them. And when he got to Judah, he spoke unto him and said that, Thou art he whom, thy brethren shall praise, thy hand shall be on the neck of thine enemies, thy father's children shall bow down before thee.

But then he went on in verse 10 and he said, The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come, and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

Here Luther explained that Judah was speaking of that time of Herod. Of that time when he would be chosen by the Romans to come to Jerusalem and to rule over the people.

And we know that that time that he ruled, 30 something years, was a bloody time. It was a time when the people were put into subjection to the laws of the land. And if they stood up to the Romans, they were slaughtered and killed. As were many of those male children that Herod also slew.

But here it speaks of that a scepter shall not depart. And that scepter is like a rod of a powerful leader or ruler. Nor a lawgiver from between his feet.

And this Shiloh is another name for the coming of the Lord and Jesus. The Lord and Savior Jesus. And unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

So, we know that this birth of Jesus was prophesied. We know that many of the prophets spoke of it. Isaiah and Micah. And many of these prophets.

And so it was that he was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king. And these wise men came. And they asked that question, that where is he that is born? Of the king of the Jews.

So, we know that the wise men, they stopped in Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the capital. This was where the king, the ruler was Herod. And, of course, in their mind, they might have thought that this is where the Lord and Savior, or where this king of the Jews would be.

And, when Herod heard these things, he was troubled. He was troubled in that he wanted to retain his leadership there, his kingship. He knew that the Jewish people really didn't want to be led by a gentile. He was himself from Edom.

And so, he gathered together all these chief priests and the scribes. And he wanted to know where this Christ would be born.

And of course, they needed to go to the scripture. And this in itself is a picture unto us, that these wise men, who were guided by that star, and they stopped there in Jerusalem, that they still needed to go to the scripture to determine where this Christ child was.

And this is how it is, even until this day, that one must search the scriptures to find where everlasting life is. To find where this Lord and Savior, Jesus is. And it's through the studying of the scriptures that one might know.

We know that Jesus was born in that stable. He was wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in the manger.

And this, of course, and we've heard this, that this is a picture of how Jesus was wrapped in the scriptures and the Old Testament prophets.

And Martin Luther also pointed out how, when we remember that picture of Anna and her husband, and I, his name slips my mind right now, Simeon, Anna and Simeon, how they held that baby Jesus.

That this was also a picture of how Christ is held by the holy scriptures. And that even at that point in time, Anna and Simeon represented the holy scriptures.

And so it was that the holy scriptures played a point following God's futurism.

Now, it was said that God was greatly well-known in the religious world. And so they went and they looked and they said unto Herod that in Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet.

Now, it's interesting in that here we had these scribes and these Pharisees, these were learned men. Yet, they did not follow these wise men unto Bethlehem. That they let them go ahead without... And they stayed there in that city of Jerusalem.

We could say that perhaps they were afraid. They might have been afraid of the governor or of Herod the king. Because it says in verse 3, that when Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled. And all of Jerusalem with him.

But nevertheless, these scribes and these Pharisees stayed there.

And of course, we know that Herod and his people certainly did not want this Christ child to become king of Israel.

Yet, we know that there were some in the land that believed on the promise. And they believed that Jesus was indeed the Christ child.

We remember those lowly shepherds who came on that night of the birth of Jesus and praised the Son of God.

And so, it was that these kings departed and they went into Bethlehem.

In verse 6 it says, And thou Bethlehem in the land of Judah art not the least among the princes of Judah. For out of thee shall come a governor that shall rule my people Israel.

And again, this comes from the Holy Scripture.

We know that Bethlehem, that area where Bethlehem was, it was an area that grew grains. We know that Bethlehem was called the city, or the town of bread.

And Micah in the Old Testament referred to it, and I can't remember the name that he used, but he referred to it as a fruitful land.

And so it was, we know that Jesus was the bread of life.

And so these kings departed.

And after Herod had talked to them, he had called them, and in private he had talked to them. And he inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

And of course, it doesn't say too much about their conversation with him. But I would imagine that Herod talked to them privately because he did not want the Jewish people to begin to question his authority, to begin to rumors to be spread that there was another king that had been born in that city of Bethlehem.

And we know that there was a king that was born in Bethlehem.

And we know that Herod spoke to him in this way, that he sent them to Bethlehem, but he said, go and search diligently for the young child. And when ye have found him, bring me word again that I may come and worship him also.

And we know that what Herod said unto them was not what he believed in his heart. So, he lied to these wise men.

And these wise men probably didn't have any reason not to believe him at the time.

But they departed and then the star again appeared in the east.

But of course, these wise men knew through the Holy Scripture where that Christ child was to be born.

And so they followed that light.

And we know that that star which appeared in the east and that went before them, that it brought them over that young child.

And we know that that star represents the brightness of Christ.

And these wise men came, and they brought treasures from their country.

It really doesn't say in the Holy Scripture how many wise men there were.

Tradition has it that there were three wise men, perhaps because there were three different gifts, those gifts being gold and frankincense and myrrh.

But those gifts that were brought were not the same as the gifts that were brought by the king, but were probably gifts more so from the country that they came rather than from each of these men individually.

But nevertheless, tradition has it that there were three kings.

But more importantly, is that when they came and they arrived in Bethlehem and they stood before that Lord and Savior, Jesus, and they were before the mother of Jesus, they fell down and they worshipped Him.

And then they opened these treasures and they gave them these gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh, which these gifts were given as an honor, as one would give unto a king.

But we know that Jesus did not come to earth as a king, as a temporal king. He did not come to earth to lead the Jewish people in a temporal way as did King David or King Solomon, which is what many of the Jewish people thought and perhaps even to this day.

But rather, He was Lord over earth. He was Lord over creation. He was that Lord and Savior that the Heavenly Father prepared and gave unto the world to save sin-fallen mankind from their sins.

And this is the light that shines forth in the world even today.

We know that we have just celebrated this Christmas season. And in this Christmas season we give thanks unto the Heavenly Father for the birth of His dear Son.

And we know that this Christ child was indeed a King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And He was that Messiah that was prophesied from the beginning of time.

He was that promise that God had given unto Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. He was that Shiloh that even Jacob spoke of unto his sons.

And He is that Savior which we believe on, even today.

God has given us the power to believe. God has called us into His grace kingdom. God has opened His Holy Word unto us so that we could also believe on that promise of God.

God's promise was fulfilled on us. God's promise was fulfilled on that Christmas day. That promise that He had made through the prophets of the coming of Jesus.

And we know that He suffered and died on that middle cross of Golgotha for your sins and for my sins and for the sins of the whole world.

And even today this marvelous light, this grace of God is even offered unto the world.

The world today is in great darkness. But we know that even in the time of Herod, the time when Jesus was born, that the people suffered persecution.

We know that the reason that Herod had wanted to find out or had wanted these wise men to return unto Him, is so He could find out, so He could kill that Christ child.

But nevertheless, when these wise men were departing from that place where Jesus was, an angel of the Lord appeared and they were being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod.

And they departed into their own country another way.

Sometimes when we read the Holy Scriptures, we wonder why it is that God has caused circumstances to happen as they have.

We know that God, with all of His power, has created the world over Heaven and Earth. That He could protect that child, even if Herod knew where that child was.

But again, I was reading some of Martin Luther's works, and Martin Luther explained it in this way, that God still wants it such that man in the normal circumstances that we live in day to day, that his plan is that man would also participate in this creation and would participate even in something as important as the protection of the Christ child, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

So he spoke unto these wise men and explained unto them that they should not return unto Herod. And they believed God.

And as such, they went a different way into their own country.

And we know later on that Herod, he thought that he was mocked of the wise men and he was very mad.

It says later on, when Mary and Joseph took the young Christ child and they fled by night into Egypt and they stayed there until the death of Herod.

But we know that Herod was very mad. He was mocked. And that he slew all the children that were in Bethlehem and in all the coasts thereof from two years old and under according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.

So, and this was also prophesied by Jeremy the prophet.

So, we know that even these children that were slain and we know through faith that these children were also children of God.

And that even though Herod sinned greatly and slew all of these children, we know that these children are there in the bosom of Abraham.

Amen.

Even as all believers who have believed on God's holy word and have received the forgiveness of sins in the name and in the blood of Jesus.

We today live in a world that is also very sinful. And we know that every day that we are also tempted in many different ways.

There are trials set before us in this life.

But when we believe on the Heavenly Father, when we put all of our trust in God and believe the holy scriptures, we know that we are tempted in many different ways.

We know that God will protect us on this journey of faith.

And though we be tempted daily, perhaps moment by moment, we know that we can turn to our dear brothers and sisters in faith.

And we can speak of these matters that are on our hearts.

And even as John said, we can walk in the light as He is in the light.

And we can have that fellowship one with another where the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.

This is why Jesus was sent into the world. This is why He was born.

As that lowly Christ child, He was the spiritual leader. He was the spiritual king.

And though He was mocked when He was placed on that middle cross of Golgotha, how they mocked Him and put that crown of thorns on His head, and called Him King of the Jews.

We know that He was never meant to be that temporal king.

But rather He was that spiritual king. He is the king of this kingdom of God here upon the earth.

Yet He is more than a king. He is our brother in faith. He was a servant unto sinners. He fulfilled the law of God for each and every one of us.

And we can be thankful and we can give thanks unto the Heavenly Father that He has called us from the darkness of this world into the everlasting light of God.

Into the everlasting light of God. Into the everlasting light of God of His Son.

And even as we go forth into this new year, we can be thankful and we can keep our spiritual eyes on the light at the end of the journey.

And even this morning hour, each of you here today can lift up your hearts and believe.

All sins, doubts, and temptations forgiven and washed away in Jesus' precious name and atonement blood.

This is how it is for a child of God.

And I've often thought that as I've gotten older, when I was younger, I thought that it would perhaps be easier when I got older to spend my time in the church.

But I'm not.

Speak of these matters of sin and temptation. And to ask for the blessing of the Gospel.

But the enemy of the soul is still there. He still whispers in my ear.

And I am sure that each of you, brothers and sisters, would agree that if it was up to our own flesh, if it was up to our own strength, that we would fall from this kingdom very quickly.

But it is only through the strength of God. It is only through the work that His Son did for us when He died on that middle cross of Golgotha and He paid for the sins of the world.

That we are even able to be given the strength to yet believe.

So continue to put sin away as it comes upon your conscience.

If the enemy of the soul, the world, or Satan causes you to fall into sin, to be tempted and then that temptation somehow results in you falling into sin.

Be encouraged to put those matters away.

And if they bother you by name, then put them away by name.

By doing this, we continue to travel with a clean conscience. One that is spotless before the Heavenly Father.

And through that faith that God has given us by grace, we can continue to walk in faith and to be guided by the Holy Spirit to have those ears of the disciple and the hearts of a believer.

And we can remain as little children in this grace kingdom of God putting sin away and believing in God.

And we can continue to walk in faith.

And we can continue to walk in faith on that precious gospel.

And even this morning when you come here to this communion supper, you can come as you are.

And we come to this holy supper in remembrance of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

In remembrance of all that He has done for us.

And we partake of His body and His blood for the strengthening of our weak faith.

Even for my own many sins and doubts upon this journey, can I believe my sins forgiven.

And I promise to believe with you, dear brothers and sisters, in faith.

In Jesus' precious and holy name, Amen. Amen.