Epiphany Sunday, January 5th 2024.
Matthew 2:1-12
Guidance, Journey and Response
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem…’’
Guidance
They followed the star. They are open to God guiding them on the journey.
John writes: “Through the Word all things were made, without him nothing was made that has been made.” (John 1:v3). The One through whom creation was made,
part of his creation, a star, leads people to him. The magi are open to guidance – it was not an ordinary star.
And later, they continue to be open to that guidance of God through a dream about not returning to
Herod.
We know, it is God who God guides them, and God guides them through means that worked for them.
When we read the rest of Matthew 2, we read of God guiding through dreams and angel visitations.
All these ways may for some of us, seem strange, unexpected.
In All Saints, at Prayer and Praise, or in other books or podcasts, we may hear testimonies, about God’s way of guiding and directing.
What we hear may not be the way he guides us, but does that mean it is not from God?
Is the test perhaps in what direction does that guidance lead?
Is it honouring to the king.
Does it bring the person closer or keep them close, from wandering away?
God may use common sense, but he may also use the supernatural inbreaking of the Spirit as we pray, or scripture is illuminated, or practically doors appear to be open or closed as God incidences occur, or wisdom comes through other Christian believers.
Guidance.
Journey
They made the journey and they ask the first question in the NT – ‘’Where is one who is born king of the Jews?’’ They wanted to come close and practically walked and rode for weeks, months. They wanted to come close to the King, to Jesus.
So a practical question. This year, 2025. How can you come closer to Jesus?
What will help you? What journey do you need to go on? Maybe for some of us, God will break in – through a service, a song, and get our attention about what we need to do or have to change. But also we have a responsibility to consider at the start of this year, how can I come closer to Jesus?
Is there an area of knowledge?
Or maybe it isn’t knowledge, it is actually putting into practice what you already know?
Maybe consider our church core values and apply them to yourself – how can I grow as a 3DM Christian this year, a Christian of up in out?
To have a good honest look at ourselves.
Where do I need to move forward?
where in my personal worship, where in my prayer life, where in my relationships with other believers, where in my discipleship, where in my serving others around me in my street or work place where can I move forward in sharing my faith…
Perhaps for some, our Alpha course is the right time, right thing for the next part of your journey – hearing and tackling questions with others – how do I resist evil, what does the Holy Spirit do, how and why should I pray, how can I make the most of the rest of my life.
One reason Alpha is popular is that, as a group meet together for the 12 weeks, they journey together, in growing closer to Jesus and what to means to follow him and live like him…
Perhaps for others, a life group is that next step. Fellowship with other believers, sharing honestly how our journey with the Lord goes, to receive prayer, to be a support for others, to study the word and seek to learn how to apply it to your life… Our Life Groups have been studying Romans and next month, they will move into a season studying the Holy Spirit – who he is, how he works in us and through us. Is that where you need to move forward next? That topic? Within a life group?
Whatever is your journey. At times there will be battles and blessings. Sometimes blessings then battles, other times, blessings in one area of life, battles in another. Luke’s Gospel shares about some challenges but mostly joys around Jesus birth. Matthew brings in battles, opposition, in fact satanic opposition right at start as Revelation 12. Blessings and battles together…
How did the magi feel as they travelled. Were they sustained by the vision – to come close to the king.
At times, did they say to one another, like our kids can say when we travel again to see relatives, are we there yet?!
What journey will you take, to come closer to the King this year?
Let someone know who is close to you know and ask them to pray that it doesn’t become like some new year resolution.
Nicky Gumbel shares: ‘I belong to a squash club, which is also a gym. Each year on January 1st, they bring in extra gym equipment. The place is packed out. By about January 7th they move all the extra equipment out again, as most people have given up on their New Year’s resolution and the club returns to normal!”
Share your journey aim. Perhaps come to our prayer ministry team ask them to commit it with you to God. Or again within the life groups, to share your aim for the coming months and let that be one way they pray for you at your next life group gathering…
You may say – well, I have no idea where to start? I have no plan…
As I said, take an honest look and ask those questions I mentioned earlier.
You may feel you have no need for a plan… well can i suggest. Take that to the Lord.
Talk to him about it.
Lord I have no plan.
Lord I don’t think I need one.
And then ask him, Lord, do you have a plan?
If you pray over it this coming month, I expect something will come to mind.
Conclusion
At the end of magi’s journey we see three responses:
We see joy –but we see this joy is more than just joy when people see a new baby.
These wise men kneel down. The wise men are humble – they are great people. But they recognise someone truly great.
And they bring their gifts – gold, frankincense and myrrh. Costly gifts.
My hope is that in our 2025 journey with the Lord, we will each find those responses within us.
As we draw closer to our King, there will be worship and worship with great joy.
As we draw closer to our King, we will recognise how Great is our King.
And as we draw closer to our King, we too will offer him our costly gifts – our time, our money, our abilities, our life experience, our talents, our energy, our life.
Shall we pray.
Lord, the magi were open to your guidance…
May we be open to the various ways you want to guide us this week and this year…
Lord, journey, what journey do you want to lead us into this year… what journey do we need to take to come closer to the King…
Lord, we ask that you would do such a work in us, at the end of this journey, that we would worship, worship with joy, we would be humble kneeling at your feet and we would be offering our costly gifts to you…
In Jesus name.
Amen.