THE WORSHIP OF THE KING AT CHRISTMAS

If there is anything we should seek for and pursue at Christmas, it is the right attitude to worship. The Magi possessed the right and genuine attitude to worship as they set out to seek the King that was born as revealed by the star they saw from the East.

 Reverend Gabriel S. Adeyemo

Text: - Matthew 2:1-2, 11                                                                        21/12/2018

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”  On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”

Introduction

The keyword in this message is ‘worship’; there is a great importance attached to worship in the Bible. It is mentioned 8629 times in the Bible. Worship is very vital because it is our response to an awareness of the closeness and supremacy of God Exodus 34:8; Judges 7:15. As someone says, “True worship is a valuing or a treasuring of God above all things.” 

True Worship 

When your worship is wrongly conceived, its outward expression is nothing but vanity. Worship begins from within a man and it is expressed outwardly.  Jesus rebuked the Pharisees who show off their religious piety with a reprobate mind saying, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Matthew 23:25. 

In other words, their worship outward expression no matter how great it seems is vain because their inward worship was impure.

The Worship of the King by the Wise men

The Magi from the east demonstrated true worship in three dimensions

1. They recognized the authority of the King as recorded in the scripture

2. They ascribed dignity to the King that was born

3. They demonstrated their conviction by worshiping the King with substances

The Worship of the King at Christmas

If there is anything we should seek for and pursue at Christmas, it is the right attitude to worship. The Magi possessed the right and genuine attitude to worship as they set out to seek the King that was born as revealed by the star they saw from the East. 

Have you discovered the reason for the season? There cannot be true joy at Christmas if you have not seen the King who is the reason for the season. When you seek Him, you will find Him and definitely you will honour and worship Him with your life and substance. 

Conclusion

The wise men gave gold to acknowledge Jesus’ kingship and supremacy over their lives and the whole creation. They gave frankincense to symbolize the priesthood of Christ. That means they recognized Him as one and only person that can connect them to God. Lastly they gave Him myrrh which is a gift for the dead. They acknowledged that Jesus had come to die for the sins of the world. Seek Jesus the King at Christmas, Worship Him and give Him your best and it shall be well with you in Jesus name

THE UNLIMITED PROMISE KEEPER

 Reverend G. S. Adeyemo

Whatever happens to you happens for you. You will come out in glory and greatness. Keep moving forward and don’t stop, you are so close to success. 

Every tough time is for a hero to be raised. When a terrible king is ruling, a credible deliverer is in the making that will overshadow him. Whatever happens to you happens for you. You will come out in glory and greatness.  Keep moving forward and don’t stop, you are so close to success.  In the Bible, great men and women are products of tough time. Noah showed up when God decided to destroy the entire men with flood Genesis 6: 7, 8. It is not because he was without weakness. Noah has blood and flesh like every other person. As it was in the days of Noah, so we still have it today. You might be down right now, but don’t stay down forever. Joseph, Moses, David, Elijah, the Apostles became heroes in when there was tough and terrible times challenging their God and they were not discouraged. Though you might be knocked down but you will not be knocked out and you will rise above your situation in Jesus name.

In the Gospel according to Luke 1: 21-25, the Bible says, “Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak. When his time of service was completed, he returned home. After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion.  “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” Zachariah was to intercede on behalf of the people. He was carrying their burden while he was confronted with barrenness. He was not discouraged by what he was going through. His primary concern was the kingdom of God and His righteousness. The people were waiting outside the Temple for their needs to be met. However, the man of God was having his situation being dealt with. Brothers and sisters in the Lord, people are looking up to you. Your testimony will give birth to their breakthrough in Jesus name.  

You are not alone in this experience. The word of God says, “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” Romans 8: 22 God will single you out for liberation. It is not over until it is over. As long as you are alive, hope is not lost. You will surely deliver the good intentions in your heart. How do I know this? The answer is simple; our God is the Unlimited Promise Keeper. He has never failed, and can never fail.  The Lord promised that Elizabeth will conceive and give birth to a son. It came to pass. The promises of God concerning your life will surely come to pass in Jesus name. The word of God says, “By which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire” 2 Peter 1: 4 Observe to take necessary steps for you to enjoy the unlimited promises of God for your life.

• Be ready to be where God wants you to be

• Do what God wants you to do

• Believe what God wants you to believe and your life will never remain the same in Jesus name. 

Lord, Visit Our Foundation

Hope is not lost, turn to God the Author and finisher of our faith, He is able to mend and rebuild the fractured foundation.

 Rev'd G. S. Adeyemo

When the foundation of a building is faulty, everything builds on it is a potential ruin and detriment to precious life. Beloved in the Lord, if you are experiencing cracks in the wall, do not cover up but check the foundation to see if there is a defect. Life is too precious to be left unattended to while the cracks keep manifesting. You need the specialist in handling it and effect necessary repairs. The Lord is the Architect of all life; He alone has the power to redeem your foundation from collapse. "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." says the Psalmist. 127:1 

Religiosity, human intelligence and philosophy may fail you; let God visit your foundation. The Bible says, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Psalm 11:3. Hope is not lost, turn to God the Author and finisher of our faith, He is able to mend and rebuild the fractured foundation. And you will never remain the same. God bless you in Jesus name.