Matthew 2:1-12
FOLLOWING
A STAR AND FINDING A SHACK
Intro:
Have you ever noticed how life doesn't always turn out the way we carefully
plan it to? Sometimes circumstances don't always follow our plans. Often,
it seems that life is nothing more than a series of shattered dreams.
Ill. These Wise Men, they had spent the last two years following a star,
v.s. 7, 16. To follow this star, they had left home
and family behind. They had left their country and were now pilgrims.
Along the way, they no doubt had to face perils and obstacles. They
even found themselves in the presence of a king. Then, when they finally
arrive at their destination, they find the star they have been following
stops over a humble house, instead of a royal palace. These men probably
dreamed of finding the Messiah in a palace, this probably explains their
going to Herod's first! I'm sure they at least expected luxury, and
a nice home. What they found did not match their dreams. They found
the King of Kings, in the home of a peasant; probably nothing moret
han a shack! No doubt their dreams were shattered. Yet, amid the rubble
of their torn and twisted dreams, these wise men found some things in
that humble setting that changed their lives. Sometimes life has a way
of shattering our dreams and destroying our hopes and plans. I want
to help you tonight. I want to tell you what to do when you are following
a star and find a shack.
I. WISE
MEN RECOGNIZE GOD IN THE SHACKS OF LIFE
A. Ill. The Context. It wasn't what
they had expected, but they came to worship and worship they did!
They saw God in that shack! They saw God in Jesus!
B. When life shatters your dreams, your first duty is to find the Lord. If you are His, then nothing can happen in your life that He has not
allowed. (Ill. Job 1:1-2).
C. When your star leads you into a
shack, remember that God is doing one of three things:
1. Correction - Heb. 12:6; Rev. 3:19
2. Instruction - He is trying to reveal Himself to you in a new way, Rom. 8:28. (Ill. John 6 - Storms; John 6 - Hunger; John 6 -
Fear) (Ill. Israel - Had they never faced anything that they did,
they would never have known that He could see them through!)
(Ill. The men of Samaria - They believe because of what they
had experienced - John 4:42.
3. Perfection - He is trying to mold you into His image. He desires
a vessel that He can use and has chosen you as that vessel and
He is getting you ready for service! (Ill. Moses - He could not
have led Israel, until he first led those sheep in the desert!)
D. When you star leads to a shack
- Look for God, He will be there!
II. WISE
MEN RENDER GIFTS IN THE SHACKS OF LIFE
A. Ill. The context. It would have been easy for these men to have
turned around, packed up all they had and went home. After all,
who would blame them? It hadn't turned out like they had planned.
But, they didn't! They gave Jesus What was rightfully His. (Ill. The
significance of the gifts and the necessity!)
B. When your star leads you into a
shack, that is the time to give! Ill. Most
people's response to the shack. Most people will stop giving when
they get in that shack situation. That is the wrong response! The
way to get from God is to give to Him - Mal. 3:8-10; Luke
6:38; 2 Cor. 9:7, Ill. 2 Cor. 9:1-9. Ill. Matt. 10:40-42; Matt. 25:34-40.
C. These wise men received back far
more than they gave away. That is always the way with God. No man
can ever out give Him. No very many try, but those who do find Him
to be over abundant in His supply.
D. The surest way to get a blessing is to be a blessing! (Ill. The Parable of the Talents - Matt. 25:14-30)
III. WISE
MEN RECEIVE GRACE IN THE SHACKS OF LIFE
A. Ill. The context. While they were there, the experienced two kinds of grace. First, they experienced saving grace. Secondly, they experienced sustaining grace. God saved them and then He
directed their lives.
B. When our star leads to a shack,
we can expect to find God's grace in that hour of need - 2
Cor. 12:9. Life is seldom fair, nor what we think it ought
to be. But, even when life lets us down, we can be sure that God never
will! (Ill. Heb. 13:5; Heb. 4:15!) (Ill. Heb.
2:17-18!!)
C. When our star leads to a shack,
we can expect God to provide leadership and guidance for us, John
16:13!
D. As God's children, we are never
alone and never without recourse. He will always make a way for us
and will support us through the shacks of life!
Conc:
Have you ever been following a star and wound up in a shacks, surrounded
by the debris of your shattered hopes and dreams? Maybe you are there
right now. If so, let me tell you that Jesus is still in your shack.
He is working on your behalf and is concerned about your need. Why don't
you do what the wise men did, fall down before Him and worship Him.
