"Building a Church Through Outreach"
The Foreshadowing Gifts
Christmas Message 2007
ELCOG 12/23/07
Text: Matt. 2: 9-12
Read story: "Gold, Common Sense, and Fur"
The wise men followed the star to present Jesus with gifts. The bible records three gifts that were given to Jesus. Each of these gifts were a foreshadow of what the man Jesus would accomplish.
The First Gift: Gold
The First gift presented was gold which announced that Jesus would become a great king. We know that through scripture the wise men’s prediction of Jesus was right on target.
The Scripture portrays Jesus as King.
John 12:12
12On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
John 12:13
13Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
John 12:14
14And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,
John 12:15
15Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.
John 12:16
16These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.
John 18:33
33Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
John 18:34
34Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
John 18:35
35Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
John 18:36
36Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
John 18:37
37Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
John 19:17
17And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
John 19:18
18Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.
John 19:19
19And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Rev. 17:13
13These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
Rev. 17:14
14These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
Rev. 19:15
15And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Rev. 19:16
16And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
A King is the supreme ruler, but Jesus is the King of Kings. He is the ruler over the rulers. He is over the leaders. It is good to know that the supreme decision is not in the president, but in the king of kings! Kings have the final say in justice and in punishments. They have the right to set the captive spirits free. This morning Jesus sets you free.
The second gift was frankincense: This gift announced that Jesus would be a great healer.
Not only was Jesus the king of Kings, but he was also a great healer.
Isa. 53:4
4Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
Isa. 53:5
5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Mark 1:30
30But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.
Mark 1:31
31And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.
Mark 1:32
32And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.
Mark 1:33
33And all the city was gathered together at the door.
Mark 1:34
34And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.
Mark 3:10
10For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.
Mark 5:23
23And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.
Mark 5:29
29And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
Mark 6:5
5And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
Mark 6:13
13And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.
That same Jesus is the Jesus that heals today. The wise men declared that he would be a great healer and we can still experience his healing today!
James 5:14
14Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
James 5:15
15And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Jesus paid the price for our healing and you have the right to be healed. I want you to experience this gift in your body today. He is giving you the gift of healing. He will heal your broken heart, your wounded spirit and your sick body. Rejoice today that we serve a savior that gives the gift of healing.
The third gift was myrrh: This gift declared that Jesus would be a great peace maker.
Isa. 9:6
6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isa. 9:7
7Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Jesus brings peace.
2 Thess. 3:16
16Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.
1 Thess. 5:23
23And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
John 14:27
27Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Jesus is a great peace maker. Are you troubled today? Do you need the Prince of Peace to speak to your life? The gifts spoke clearly that day when the wise men gave their gifts now, let them speak to you.
The King has the final say on your fate.
The Healer has the final say on your condition.
The peace maker has the final say on your turbulence.
See the baby lying in a manger. He is much more that a baby. He is a King, a healer and a peace maker.
One Solitary Life
He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another obscure village, where he worked in a carpenter shop until he was 30. Then for three years he was an itinerant preacher. He never had a family or owned a home. He never set foot inside a big city. He never traveled 200 miles from the place he was born. He never wrote a book or held an office. He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness. While He was still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turn against him. His friends deserted him. He was turned over to his enemies, and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While he was dying, his executioners gambled for the only piece of property he had – his coat. When he was dead, he was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave. Two thousand years have come and gone, and today He is the central figure for much of the human race. All the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that ever sailed and all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as this "One Solitary Life".
Let Him affect your life today. Open the gifts that he has in place for you today and live without fear of judgment, live in peace and be healed in Jesus name.