The Tabernacle Today

Wise Men Still Worship Him - Matthew 2:1-12

Wise men followed the guidance of 2 stars. - V. 1-2

But who were these wise men from the east, and why did Pastor Danny say they followed the guidance of 2 stars?

The word Magi only appears in one book of the Greek Old Testament. Can you tell me which one it is?

In the book of Daniel, Daniel is described as having a wisdom from God that made him excel all of the Magi (the wise men) of both Babylon and then Persia.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. - Proverbs 9:10 (ESV)

There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom... of the gods were found in him, and King Nebuchadnezzar your father... made him CHIEF of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers, because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel… - Daniel 5:11-12 (ESV)

I believe that the wise men who came to seek the Jewish King came because they had been influenced by Daniel and his prophecies. Centuries had passed; their knowledge was incomplete, but they followed the knowledge they had.

And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever. - Dan. 12:3 (ESV)

An insecure king is counseled by Israel’s unmoved shepherds. - V. 3-6

What a contrast! The Gentile wise men with limited revelation travelled hundreds of miles to seek out the Savior of the world. The unmoved shepherds of Israel couldn’t be bothered to walk 5 miles to see if the Messiah was here.

We are too often religiously educated far beyond the level of our spiritual obedience.

Wise men find the Real Star and shun the fake king. - V. 7-12

God led Israel toward the promised land using a pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night that stood above the Holy tent. Here another pillar was shining directly above the Holy child, and led the wise man to God incarnate.

What does it mean to worship someone or something? Worship means to ascribe worth to someone or something. A worshipper of Jesus shows in word and deed and how much they value Jesus!

The Wonder of THE Birth

Every good story has a hero, a goal, a conflict, and a resolution. -Charlie Wetzel

Read Matthew 1:18-25

The Christmas story includes Anxious Parents - V. 18-19

The Christmas story includes Angels Proclaiming - V. 20-21

Jesus means “God saves,” and YES He does!

If you are anxious about a matter of obedience, and like Joseph considering all the ‘what ifs’ and ‘what nows’, FEAR NOT, know God is with you, and the resources of Heaven are available to help children of God as they walk by faith!

The Christmas Story includes Ancient Prophecies - V. 22-23

It also backs up for us a biblical principle – When we think God is calling us to do something, we need to check it out using the Bible as our evaluation tool!

From Joseph we learn that when we are anxious we are not to act rashly; Instead, we are to thoughtfully pray over and process biblically matters before us. Our first concern needs to be God’s glory, not personal embarrassment.

The wonder of THE Birth - V. 24-25

What I wonder is if Jesus as a full human also had a touch of wonder about being in a human body?! I think He did!

Jesus called Himself the Son of Man 75 times in the gospels. By comparison, the other 40 things He calls Himself add up to 132 occurrences.

Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. - Matthew 20:28 (ESV)

For there is one God, and there is one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. - 1 Timothy 2:5-6 (ESV)

When the fulness of time had come, God sent forth His son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. - Galatians 4:4-7 (ESV)

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God. - John 1:12 (NASB)

Donkeys in the Plan of God

Donkeys are so useful they are actually put in the 10 Commands. Do you know which one?

Even the parts of a donkey are powerful – How many men did Samson kill with a donkey’s jawbone?

But at His first coming Jesus rode in on a donkey, a beast of burden – He was the ___________ of sacrifice who was offering Himself up for the sins of the world, and the perfect animal to ride in on was a donkey, representing His work for us on the cross!

Matthew’s Extended Manger Scene

When the Holy Spirit had Matthew write his gospel, he began by adding over 40 more people to his manger scene, trailing all the way back to Abraham. He did it to beautifully demonstrate that Jesus was indeed the Promised Redeemer!

Matthew 1:1-17

Genealogies are especially important to establish a King’s right to a throne. Royalty depends on heredity. In verses 1-17 Matthew establishes Jesus’ human heredity, and then in verses 18-25 he establishes Jesus’ divine heredity!

The days of the kinsmen V. 2-6

But instead of including Sarah and other ladies of note, Matthew chose stories that illustrate God’s mercy, grace, steadfast love and forgiveness of sins – stories that show He is the God of new beginnings.

He can do it for you as well! With God it’s not where you come from, it’s where He is taking you to!

By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. -Hebrews 11:31

Christ is the true and better Boaz – the ultimate Kinsman Redeemer!

The days of the kings V. 6-11

In 2 Samuel 7 David was promised by God that the future Messiah King of Israel would come from his descendants.

Every individual generation had to decide to love and obey God; but our totally faithful God kept His unconditional promises to Abraham and David to keep the line going and to bless the world through their Seed, the coming Messiah King.

The days of the curse V. 12-16

The name Jechoniah (also called Jehoiachin) means “God anointed.” But he was such a wicked man that Jeremiah stripped God out of his name, calling him just Coniah. This also included a curse on the descendants of Coniah going forward.

Thus says the Lord: “Write this man down as childless, a man who shall not succeed in his days, for none of his offspring shall succeed in sitting on the throne of David and ruling again in Judah.” -Jeremiah 22:30

In Jeremiah’s first mention of Jeconiah, he is cursed, childless, and deported. In Jeremiah’s second mention years later, he is released, restored, and the father of many!

Matthew’s genealogy through the Kings of Judah shows Jesus’ legal right to rule. But Mary’s line in Luke 3, shows Jesus was also descended through David’s son Nathan, ensuring the biological line is intact.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us – for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who is hanged on a tree.” -Galatians 3:13

Bethlehem – Birthplace of the Savior

Bethlehem means House of _____________________!

And Jesus said to them, “I Am the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” -John 6:35

So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). -Gen. 35:19 (see also Gen. 48:7)

Genesis 38:12-30

Judah and Tamar became the parents of the twins Perez and Zerah. We will see the significance of that in a moment. In Genesis 49:8-12 Judah was given the great prophecy that the Messiah would come from his _________________________.

Ruth 4:1-22

The blessing of Ruth and Boaz in Ruth 4 shows how God’s grace can bring beauty even in the aftermath of sinful _____________________ like the ones seen in Genesis 38 and Ruth 1. Ruth ends with the genealogy of David traced through Boaz back to Perez!

Now this is the genealogy of Perez: Perez begot Hezron; Hezron begot Ram, and Ram begot Amminadab; Amminadab begot Nahson, and Nahshon begot Salmon; Salmon begot Boaz, and Boaz begot Obed; Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David. -Ruth 4:18-22

1 Samuel 16:1-13

David of Bethlehem went on to be Israel’s greatest King, the King all others were ___________ by! In 2 Samuel 7 David was promised that the Messiah would come through his descendants.

Isaiah 9:6-7 Micah 5:2-4

The Prophet Micah lets us know that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, but also that He had ______________________ existed before that coming birth!

But when the fulness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. -Galatians 4-4-5

The law required perfect righteousness, but grace __________________ perfect righteousness through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone!

Luke 2:1-20 Matthew 2:1-18

Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was? -John 7:42

Psalm 47

Psalm 47 is a tribute to God, the _______________________ King over all the earth.

Did you see a touch of chiastic structure in the Psalm as I read it?

Chiastic structure is when the first and last verses have corresponding thoughts, and then the next verses in, with a key point made in the middle.

Praise God because He is King over Israel and the __________________ earth V. 1-4

What joyful expressions of worship are called for in verse 1?

God is not just the King of His people Israel, but the King of all peoples with a special place for __________________ in His plan.

What are some things about God that elicit AWE in us?

If only Israel’s ancient and current ______________ realized that God’s plan of blessing for them includes doing it through Israel and Israel’s Messiah Jesus.

Praise God the King with __________________________ V. 5-9

The phrase “go up” let us know this is a type of enthronement Psalm. Just as a King of Israel would “go up” to Jerusalem to be crowned over Israel, God deserves to “go up” and be _______________________ King over all the earth (Psalm 2).

“And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” -Jn. 12:32

As verse 9 indicates, pagans hoped appeasing their idols would shield them from bad things happening. But God alone is every nations’ ___________________ shield, and biggest threat if a people defies Him!

How many times in verses 6-7 do the sons of Korah bid us to sing praises to God?

Book 2 of the Psalms usually uses the more general God, or Elohim, as in Genesis 1:1 – in the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth. Here the nations that instinctively know that there is a Creator God are urged along with Israel to sing praises _____________ understanding.

The God of Abraham is the God _________________ peoples need to worship.

And the Lord shall be King over all the earth. -Zechariah 14:9 (see also 14:16)

- - From our 12/10/2023 Worship Service - -

Turn in your Bibles and join Daniel Ritchie in his sermon from Romans chapter five. We pray that this recording is a blessing for you!

To tune in live for next Sunday's worship service, check out our Facebook page (link at bottom)!

__________________________

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Ephesians 3:21-22 (NKJV) - "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Last Call Hebrews 13:18-25

Our Great Savior and our great salvation help us make it through even great struggles (Chapters 1-12)

Love those you know; love those you don’t know. Honor your marriages; honor your God-given leaders (Chapter 13).

What do you suppose is the last thing the author asks them to do? ___________________ 1 Timothy 2:1-2

The ________________ to pray V. 18-19

Verse 18 tells us that what he is asking them to do, he himself has done – he has persevered amidst ______________________

He is saying, “The issue is settled for me – I am 100% committed to living honorably, ___________________ well!”

Poem: Let me get home before dark by Robertson McQuilken

When you gather with other believers to pray, you are _________________ to the Lord.

The reasons we pray V. 20

We can pray with _____________ because we know the God of peace

We can pray with _____________ because of Jesus’ resurrection

Ephesians 1:19-20

We can pray with _____________ because we have a Great Shepherd

Ps. 23:1 John 10:11-12 John 10:14 1 Peter 5:4

We can pray as the blood-washed ________________ of an everlasting covenant!

The author’s prayer for us: ____________________ V. 21

GROW UP = Godliness Ruling Over Worldliness Under ____________

Psalm 46 Worksheet

In the inscription we read that this is a Psalm for Alamoth. Some think this refers to a musical instrument, or a voice range for singers, like __________________, connecting it with the word for maidens. Still others think it refers to a melody.

But the theme of Psalm 46 is the same throughout – God’s presence and help during times of _____________________.

God’s presence gets us through the ________________ of life V. 1-3

What great hymn of Martin Luther came from this verse?

The word refuge makes us think about how God is our defense when we need it; The word strength makes us think of how God is our __________________ as we serve Him!

What kinds of natural disasters are spoken of here?

Matthew 7:24-27

God’s presence keeps us ‘___________________’ through the storms of life V. 4-7

Jerusalem’s waters come from two springs, Gihon and En-Rogel.

BUT…

Both Isaiah 33:21 and Ezekiel 47:1-2 speak of a ___________________ river near Jerusalem. And Revelation 22 speaks of the river of life in the middle of the coming New Jerusalem.

What early Psalm does verse 6 remind us of?

Do you remember a time when Jesus dealt with a storm?

Matthew 8:23-27

God’s presence keeps us ___________________ during the storms of life V. 8-11

I can’t tell you how many times I think about verse 10 when I am trying to get through a _________________________ time in my own strength!

Proverbs 3:5-6

Matthew 28:18-20

Did you notice what word is in the first verse and the last?

The Beginning of the New Beginning

Hanukkah means dedication, and it celebrates the ‘rededication’ of the Temple after it had been desecrated by Antiochus Epiphanes, who sought to forcibly convert all his subjects to Greek ways.

The most popular game during Hannukah is the spinning of the dreidel. It is a 4 sided top with 4 Hebrew letters on it. The letters are short for Nes Gadol Hayah Sham, “A great miracle happened there.”

Matthew’s gospel was written about 25 years after its events by an eyewitness of those events, Jesus’ disciple Matthew the tax collector.

It’s no surprise then, that Matthew’s gospel breaks 400 years of silence since the last writing in the Jewish Old Testament by showing that Jesus has the genealogical credentials needed to be the Messiah, the Christ, the Savior.

Matthew using the word for both beginning and genealogy reminds us of how Genesis lays out. Ten times Genesis says “this is the genealogy of…,” using the Hebrew phrase eleh toldot.

And I will establish my covenant between Me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God. -Genesis 17:7-8

Here’s what is cool as the New Testament begins: Each gospel begins with a “new beginning” statement!

Genesis begins the Old Testament with the beginning of the world and its fall; The gospels begin the New Testament with the beginning of the world’s salvation and coming restoration.

The name Jesus means “God saves,” and yes He does! He saves everyone who turns to Him in repentance and faith.

Now don’t get the idea that Jesus is His first name and Christ is His last name. Christ is the Greek way of saying Messiah, which in Hebrew means “Anointed One.” Jesus is the promised Messiah of the Old Testament prophecies.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor; He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound. -Isaiah 61:1 (See Luke 4:16-22)

Also don’t get the idea that Jesus came into existence when He was born in Bethlehem. No, the Bible makes clear that He had always existed as God the Son. The Author of Life stepped into time when He was born in Bethlehem.

For to 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, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to uphold it with justice and righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts shall accomplish this. -Isaiah 9:6-7

And in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice. -Genesis 22:18

“I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.” -God to Isaac in Genesis 26:4

“I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near: A Star shall come from Jacob, and a scepter shall rule in Israel.” -Numbers 24:17

Now therefore, please let your servant (Judah) remain instead of the boy as a servant to my lord, and let the boy (Benjamim) go back with his brothers. -Genesis 44:33

Others have written you off, but Jesus wants to write you into His story – won’t you let him this Christmas time?!