HOW INTERESTED ARE YOU IN CHRIST?
Raymond Elliott
I. INTRODUCTION:
A. The sequence of events surrounding the birth of Jesus in chronological order.
B. The visit of the magi (wise men) from the East.
C. Media, Persia, Arabia, Chaldea or some Far East country.
D. Daniel was made president of this order in Babylon. Daniel 2:48.
E. First mentioned in Jeremiah 39:13 (Rab-mag).
F. They could have known of the coming of the Messiah by”
i. Jews living in their country
ii. Chinese sage: Confucius (551-479) foretold a coming teacher in the west.
iii. Zoraster, founder of the Persian religion was contemporary with Abraham, predicted coming of a great, supernaturally begotten prophet.
iv. Septuagint, in the year 280 B.C., was translated in Alexandria, Egypt in the Greek language. This was the universal language of the day.
G. The star that led the wise men was not a regular one.
H. How interested are you in Christ. Notice the interest displayed by these wise men.
II. THEY WERE INTERESTED ENOUGH TO MAKE SEARCH FOR THE CHRIST.
A. We must search for the Christ.
i. John 1:45 – “Philip found Nathaniel and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
ii. John 7:17 – “If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, Whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.”
iii. Matthew 7:7 – “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”
B. They did not have to be begged, but voluntary sought Christ.
i. Matthew 5:6
ii. Acts 2:41
i. Herod wanted them to do his searching.
ii. Some things we must do our selves. We can’t borrow faith, good conscience, faithful Christian life, etc.
iii. Galatians 6:2, 5.
D. They were interested enough to follow the light God gave them.
i. I Peter 1:18-19 – “And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”
ii. Psalms 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
iii. II Corinthians 4:3,4 – “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”
iv. II Peter 1:3 – “As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue…”
E. They listened to the voice of God rather than man.
i. Herod said, “Come back and tell us…”
ii. We should listen to God rather than man.
iii. Acts 5:29.
F. They were interested enough to pay the price to find the Christ.
i. They left their homes and traveled a great distance to seek the Christ.
ii. Luke 14:28 – “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it – “
G. They kept on until they found Jesus.
i. We must continue until we find the Christ.
ii. We should not be like the Galatians who did not complete their race.
iii. Galatians 5:7 – “You ran well, who hindered you from obeying the truth?”
iv. Luke 9:62 – “But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
H. They were interested enough to worship Jesus and give gifts to Him.
i. This shows that Jesus was God. Matthew 4:4.
ii. We must worship God today. John 4:24.
iii. Worship involves giving of our selves and what we have to the Lord.
III. CONCLUSION:
A. How interested are you in Christ.
B. Church sign: “Wise men still seek Him.”
i. Proverbs 9:10 – “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”