Emmanuel: We Three Kings

(Mt 2:1–21) 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, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:

18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.

The reign of Herod is the backdrop for the Christmas story. For 33 years, Herod has worked to build an empire and he’s done so with a potent mix of military might, political ingenuity and cruelty. Now at the end of his life, we find him resting in his palace, securing his legacy and linage when he is visited by magi from the east asking a question that threatens everything he’s worked for, “where is the one born king of the jews?”

Vs 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled,

Emmanuel is always a threat to the status quo!

We welcome change around us, but will we truly welcome change within us? Emmanuel didn’t just come to change the world… he came to change me!

1) Emmanuel was a threat to his Territory (His accomplishments)

Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under

This was Herod’s cruelty on display. Order: Kill every male under two.

Christmas is a reminder of the potential found in an unplanned pregnancy!
Lk 1:39-45 John the Baptist and Jesus were anointed from the womb
Ps 139 “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” when knit together in my mothers womb and that all my days where written before the first came to be
Jeremiah 1:5 knew before formed and called as prophet

Though a child may be preceded by an incident, No child is ever an accident, All have a purpose, and just because they aren’t seen and heard doesn’t remove the anointing or call that rests upon them, even in the womb

It is the height of pride and selfishness to destroy an innocent life in an effort to protect our territory!

Pattern In History (enemy kills infants before transitions in dispensation)
Enemy tried with Moses
Enemy tried with Jesus
Enemy tried with this generation

Contrast to Mary, who faced an unplanned, unexplainable pregnancy… she accepted potential ruin, ridicule and rejection…she said YES!

Herod tried to abort Truth. But Truth is truth, doesn’t need my vote to make it true… it is by its very nature… absolute

When presented with unsettling truth do you Deny, Destroy, or Delight

Deny it - ignore it, hope it goes away.

(Ro 1:20) For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Destroy it - Delete, destroy thoughts, people, history that is unsettling.

(Is 40:8) The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

Delight In It - receive it, accept it, embrace it and find freedom and life in truth

(1 Jn 2:21–25) I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.

Irony, we seek to deny or destroy truth in an effort to protect our life, freedom or liberty - but it is only in the embracing of truth that we persevere and protect freedom and life

2) Emmanuel was a threat to his Title (Identity)

“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Herod saw himself as a great king. Expanded the kingdom, allied with the most powerful empire on the planet, rebuilt the temple. His answer, I am the king - I am great.

(Mt 24:1–2) Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

Herod’s entire legacy lasted less than 100 years…would be in ruins… He saw himself as a great king, yet in the end, he was simply the set designer for the greatest story in history

(Jn 2:18–22) So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Shame we spend so much time on temporary things - titles and territory - these things are simply tools in the hands of our king.

Unhappy is the man who spends his whole life climbing the ladder of success, only to reach the top and discover he placed the ladder on the wrong wall

3)Emmanuel was a threat to his throne (kingdom)

“Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”

Herod's Mountain Fortress - the Herodium was 4 miles southeast of the cave in which Christ was born. It was a mountain vs a manger. One king high and lifted up in pride, another hidden in a lowly humble manger.

Herod missed his Emmanuel moment because he refused to surrender his territory, title and throne

ADORATION requires HUMILITY (the fuel of an Emmanuel moment)

WE MISS WHAT IS BEFORE US BECAUSE WE REFUSE TO SEE ANYTHING BEYOND US

This moment in history has threatened Territory, Titles and Throne

Fire doesn’t fall upon empty altars, There has to be a sacrifice on the altar for the fire to fall. If you want the fire of God, you must become the fuel of God. - Tenny

Our theology does not allow for sitting around, “waiting” for the fire of God to just sovereignly fall from Heaven. Rather, WE are called to offer up our lives to the Lord as living sacrifices. We become earthly altar that attracts heavenly fire.




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UNITE714
Weekly Prayer
13 through 19 December

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil .”Matthew 6:9-13 (ESV)

THE PRAYER

Heavenly Father, our world is shaking. In some countries, Your precious people are being oppressed—and even persecuted. Governments are being besieged by angry citizens and being shaken to their very core. With news feeds spewing hatred, fear, and bias, we are thankful You are seated on Your Heavenly throne. Your plans for our world will not be thwarted; they will not be frustrated. We rest securely today, under Your rule and Your sovereignty. We hallow Your great Name above the name of every person, problem, pain, and political system in our world.

Lord, fill us with Your peace, confidence, and tranquility today. Your Name is greater than COVID. Even as You have mitigated this pandemic, we cry out, ”Crush COVID! Crush it under Your feet!” Both indirectly—through the wisdom You give medical professionals—and directly—through Your divine intervention—You have shown mercy to this planet. Though we grieve each and every loss, Your intervention has spared millions who could have perished. Today, we join our voices with the heavenly hosts: “Holy! Holy! Holy is Your name!”

Lord Jesus, You taught us to pray, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is inHeaven.” We cry out for Your Kingdom to come to the earth afresh today. Awaken Your Church to the reality of her mission, and empower her for its fulfillment. We desperately need a fresh outpouring of Your Holy Spirit on our broken planet. We need an outpouring of divine light to pierce through the demonic, moral, and philosophical darkness which brings spiritual blindness all over the world.

Heavenly Father, we come to You in holy desperation. Thy Kingdom come! Thy Kingdom come! Thy Kingdom come! Come—in revival power! Come—in evangelism through Your Church around the world! Our planet is broken beyond repair; no government on the earth can deal with the virus of sin and death. Heaven come down, revival fall, exercise Your will—in every one of our cities, communities, and nations. Hear our cry, harkenn to our plight; the world is covered in thick darkness, and we are desperate for Your light! In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.