"Ordinary Miracles: The Wisemen"

Dean Angell

December 15/16, 2001

Friday night was the celebration of the end of a journey. It was our small group wind up. We went to the Samurai to eat, laugh, and celebrate. Then we went back to one family's house and talked, gave gifts, and prayed. Now I said that celebration was the end of a journey. These 14 people have been together for nearly 2 years.2 years of joy, of love, of deepening relationships, of faith steps, of increased knowledge. None of us knew 2 years ago what God would do in us and through us to one another. All of us have been changed spiritually because of that group.But Friday night was the final meeting for us 14 - and we will birth at least 3 new small groups out of this one..Others from our group have been called to lead and share life and develop relationships outside of our group - perhaps with some of you. So yesterday, if I'm honest, I was in a bit of a funk.Sad to know we won't be quite as involved in one another's lives.But happy to see God grow and work and develop and lead people to new stages of spiritual growth and development.

Each of us is on a journey that God is clearly leading.and let me say this at the outset - the destination is not always what you think it will be. Today, we're going to learn about 3 fellow sojourners - travellers - on a journey to find Jesus. Here is their story.

Here's the first lesson we can learn from the 3 kings.

I. God always calls those who are seeking.

The first thing we have to realize about these 3 kings is that they were earnestly looking for - searching for - Jesus - before they ever saw the star - before they ever got a glimpse of that star or took one step on the journey, they were looking for the Messiah..They were searching for a savior in their hearts and minds..Historians and scholars tell us, (and when you read the story, it's pretty obvious) these guys had read the Old Testament (The Jewish Bible) and had read the prophecies about the birth of Jesus..That He would be born in Bethlehem...and that there would be future signs from God to point them in the direction of this new born King..These wisemen were looking for a sign from God and when it showed up - they were ready to follow.

See folks, the spiritual truth and principle here is a significant one..God calls those who are searching for Him, and true seekers know God's voice when He calls. People - you are here today in this place - giving an hour of your time for one reason - you believe that God is real and you would like to meet Him in some greater way - You want your soul and your family's souls to be touched somehow by God - that's why you are here.... Here's what God says to us..He promises that "If you seek [Him] you will find [Him] - when you seek with all your heart." - Jer.29:13.

Well, I'm here to tell you that the voice you hear calling you in your life is very real..and that seeking after God is a very worthwhile pursuit to chase in life..These wisemen started out with really only seeking in mind. They hoped to find the Messiah - the Savior - the One whom God's Word had promised would come to set people free from sin and to bring peace, the One they had read about. The One with whom the prophet Isaiah had promised hundreds of years before.

Isaiah 9:6-7 says this: "For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His ever expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule forever with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David. The passionate commitment of the Lord Almighty will guarantee this!"

The wisemen were seeking that Savior..and God birthed a dream into their hearts - what if they could find Him? What if they would be the ones to see Him first? What if they could be there to usher in God's Son - the Savior of the world - the hopes and dreams of seekers..And so God called them. Not because they were special or more spiritual than anyone else..God called them because they were seeking and watching and listening for His voice. See, divine guidance comes only to receptive and prepared hearts. Folks, that's a great line to remember. It is the receptive heart, the searching heart, the prepared soul, that hears the still small voice of God. He seldom hollers at us - mostly He whispers and it is the seeking heart that hears.

The wisemen had seeking hearts and faith-filled hearts. They believed God for a dream and then started walking towards it..

Now, the key to this whole story is what I just said..They took that first step of faith - when they saw the star they knew it was the sign they'd been searching for..Catch that - when they saw the sign, they didn't call a committee together to meet for 6 months to see if this star was really the one they should follow - They didn't ask for 38 other people to agree that - yes - that was a start and it was moving..

No - they didn't question or doubt or waiver. They simply began to follow..First with their hearts and then they began to pursue the dream God had given to them - they began to physically chase after God's destiny for their lives..on foot and by action.

Notice this - they made a very clear and concise decision to put other very vital and important things in their life on hold so that they could pursue the call of God..more on that in a moment..

Here's the question I've got for you..What's God been saying to you? What areas of your life/soul has God been challenging you in? What direction has He been pointing you in? See folks, there is no question that God speaks to each one of us..Clearly He calls us - To some of you He may simply be saying "I'm real, I'm here, I want to get to know you. I want you to get to know Me."....To others of you He's saying "Join this community - get in relationship with others who can follow God with you - who will love you and walk beside you..".....To others of you He may simply be saying "I love you - you're my child - I'll help you - I'll forgive you - I'll heal you..I'll lead you to wholeness." And to others He's saying "Just spend some time with me - read My Word - pray to Me - listen to My voice - Grow in your relationship with Me." And to others He's saying "I have a mission for you. I've got a specific journey for you to be on that will impact your life and the lives of others greatly. I have a ministry for you." Church, hear this - God is speaking to us..each one of us..He is speaking and He knows what we need next and He knows what we are ready for..And in every one of us He has placed a dream - a destiny - a calling that only we can fulfill - It is specific and clearly defined and each one of us was created by Him with that dream in mind..

People, we have a purpose placed into our lives by the God of the Universe - And that is the greatest secret - the most life changing nugget of truth I can tell you this day..God is calling you to greatness..So seek Him hard during these days - listen for His voice. Quiet your soul so you can hear Him..And when He calls you, start the journey..And just like the wisemen - what seemed like a very ordinary journey had an extraordinary purpose..You too will be called to a journey..With a purpose that only God could have planned. Know that God is calling you this Christmas..Just listen to His voice. Now here's the second lesson we can learn from the wisemen.

II. God never calls us to a short journey (or an easy one).

Now catch that - if you really read the story you'll see that from the time the star appeared to when these 3 seekers got to Bethlehem was nearly 2 years. 2 YEARS!! And thousands of miles across a desert on camel's backs. Are you getting the picture?

This was not simply hopping on West Jet and an hour later they're in Bethlehem...NO..This journey they were called to was a long one - and it took great commitment. Think with me a little bit of not only the time it took, but the money and the energy. It was a sacrifice.time away from families and away from regular life/responsibilities. They dropped whatever important things they had going to do this one vital mission. Then picture this..Maybe one night they stop at the nearest Super 8 motel and oasis and someone asks them around the campfire at night - where are you headed? The three of them simply look at each other with that - "do we dare tell this story again" - look. And when they do..the listeners either laugh or they smile and say "Great..you keep following that star"..or they say "Are you nuts?? Wasting this much of your life on faith??"

Think about it - there would have had to have been doubts and questions and frustrations and perseverance and commitment for these 3 guys to follow through on what they started - So we too must realize this - following God's plan for our lives is not just about having a nice spiritual experience or feeling. Once in a while it takes sustained energy and effort to fulfill the destiny God calls you to.

Here's how the Apostle Paul puts it..".train yourself to be godly." -

1 Timothy 4:7b. Hebrews 12:1b says this, ".let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

So..what does all that mean? It means a couple things to me..

First of all, we must be disciplined and focused in how we approach our spiritual lives. Here's my life - every day before my feet hit the floor, I simply tell God I don't want to live today without Him. I don't want to work or talk or love or plan or dream without Him leading me. And I spend some time listening to what He needs to tell me - and I spend some time learning what His Word says. And I spend some time worshipping. I listen to worship music and I center my heart and soul around the heart and soul of God. I spend time letting God's Spirit and mine mesh together..And that's what I try and do every day..And when I do that the journey is a great one. When I don't, it seems like the road I'm on spiritually is a whole lot bumpier.

People hear this..You cannot sustain a long-term relationship with God without significant and consistent time spent building that relationship. This lifelong journey we're on spiritually is built every day.

Here's another thought - if the journey you're on in life right now is in a tough stretch and life hurts..hear this good news. God will not keep you there..and He has not left you, and in fact, He's with you even now - much closer than you know. Isaiah 40:31 promises this: "But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."

Isaiah 43:1-3: "The Lord who created you says: 'Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One, your Savior."

God is faithful - it's as simple as that. He doesn't leave us and He will bring us out the other side..

There's a picture that someone gave to me sitting on my desk. It says this..Success is the journey - not a destination. Now, that's a nice saying and I've often looked at it and said - isn't that nice..But I don't believe I apply it very often..

Think about those wisemen..When do you think their character and faith and friendships and lives were most developed? When the journey was long and challenging or when they reached the destination? Well - if I could interview them today and ask them that question - I know what they'd say. "Spiritually, it was great to see that baby..but we learned more through that 2 year journey than the destination." People - please take the long view of life and grow your faith...just a little bit every day..and you'll be surprised by the destination for sure..but you'll be amazed at what you'll see as success..

Spiritually, success comes as you step out every day - walking with God. Success with God is all about the journey - the destination is only a bonus..

Here's the third lesson we can learn from the wisemen.

III. God always calls us to a greater place.

Watch the description of what happened when the wisemen finally found the baby Jesus..".Once again the star appeared to them, guiding them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house where the child and his mother, Mary, were, and they fell down before him and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh." - Matthew 2:9b-11.

After 2 years of travel and thousands of miles and after all that had happened and the anticipation of God's plan being revealed..Can you imagine what it felt like to see Jesus? To see the chosen One - the Messiah - the Savior of the world..Amazing. Suddenly all of the effort of the journey felt pretty painless..and that ordinary journey - suddenly took on the extraordinary - and majesty and holiness took on a whole new meaning to these 3 faithful star followers..

These 3 suddenly catch a glimpse of the greatness of God and they catch just a corner of the significance of the destiny to which they were called..And what is their response to this look at the greatness of God? They fell down on their knees and worshipped Him - and they gave Him the very best of what they had..

See folks, when you believe, and begin to understand the great plan and calling God has for your life - and when you see the destiny and walk in the dream He sees for you..and you begin to get a larger picture of who God is and what He wants to do in your life..You too will only have one response - you'll hit your knees. And suddenly you'll understand what worship is and what it means to have a thankful heart..And you'll want to give Him the very best of everything you have..and the very best of everything you are..

This is a great picture of what happens inside of us when we meet God. (We are humbled)...Picture kings bowing down to the King of Kings.

Now some would say (without knowing the whole story) that this would seem absurd - kings bowing...but those 3 kings knew better..Because to them, the impossible had just occurred - they were in the presence of God.

When I read that this week and saw a picture in my mind - it was a picture of Lakeview Church. I couldn't help but think of you dear people - children of God - seekers and followers of the King..Hear this again - God loves you and He desires to know you more and intimately and He has an amazing plan for each of your lives individually - a destiny to which He has called you personally..And His greatest desire is to see that dream fulfilled in your life..

So hear this - I don't know where you're at or what you're facing today. I don't know your needs or desires or dreams for sure..But I do know this for sure - God does. He sees you and He believes in you and He is passionate about your life..And He longs to walk beside you..

Listen to this promise..Ephesians 3:20 - "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us." He is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine..

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"Ordinary Miracles: The Wisemen"