Our Universal King

You never know you never know when you share the gospel to someone you never know when it's been a better team if you never know what you're doing today.

Don't get discouraged that I have a friend on her share the gospel man. He hates God or he is an atheist reclaims the Bible is full of errors in you want a believer. She don't want to come to church. Don't give up. You never know it may be years down the road. Daniel didn't realize the 500 years later, here comes this bunch looking for the king of the juveniles you just turn a portion of the upcoming message titled, our universal King by Pastor Albert on shot of Clearview church in Henderson North Carolina. Our focus is on making Christ visible from the way we worship the way we serve to the way we love one another. Come check us out at 3485 Oxford Rd. visit us online@clearview.org join us for the rest of this week's message number in a series called Royal and many of you have told me how much you enjoyed the series specially you enjoyed my Disney illustrations. I don't expect that. So I can break the trend. Now I have to bring up a Disney lustration again. How many of you all remember watching Robin Hood.

Growing up, oh great I'm somebody animated version of Robin Hood.

How many of y'all okay still about the same number. I love that movie. Anybody else love it. Yes all y'all.

Do you have a favorite character.

Of course you know Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham but the funniest one to me is this guy right here you'll remember him. He is hilarious. Every time he gets paranoid or upset he starts sucking his thumb, reminds me of some people I know, but his name is Prince John. He is the phony King who is posing and he hates Robin Hood because Robin Hood and his band has robbed his royal coach and so he finds every opportunity to kill, but he can't until the real king comes who is King Richard by the way, these were real people and but anyways Richard comes to claim his throne. But what does that have to do with our message today. 2000 years ago. If phony King was ruling Jerusalem.

He was ruling Judeo until Jesus came the true King came to claim his throne. In fact his own failed to recognize him and a group of men from the other side of the world came looking for the king came to worship him in this morning to try to understand how Jesus is not just the king of the Jews.

He is the king of all people. Amen. He is the universal King you have your Bibles with you, turn to Matthew chapter 2 very familiar passage starting in verse one and let's all stand together for the reading of God's word.

Now, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king here is the phony King, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, where is he who has been born king of the Jews were. We have seen his star in the East and have come to worship him. When Herod the king the Prince John when he heard this, he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him. You see, Herod thought he was the king of the Jews, but he was a false king. The question this morning before we pray is who is the false king ruling your life who is that person who is that the situation that is ruling your mind every night before you go to sleep that person or that situation pops up when you wake up. That's on your mind. You see, sometimes we have kings ruling over us and this morning. If a false king is ruling your heart is time to dethrone him dethrone it and let Jesus Christ the rightful King sit on the throne of your heart were in our Christmas series called Royal repeatedly. The Bible portrays Jesus as our king. As I mentioned to you before, it is hard for us to understand because we've never lived under a king or in a kingdom leave lived in democracy, a Republican, is hard for us to understand that when we live under Christ is our king.

We can say no to him, his rules is our of his principles are command so this morning as we get into this message again, we need to understand that Christ is our universal King, not for the benefit of those who haven't been here you been traveling the first message in the series was Christ is our Creator, king means he is more than just a little baby in the manger. He is the one who created everything and he sustains everything. The second message was, Christ is all good king.

Unlike David is ancestor who took advantage of a woman and had her husband killed Jesus is the good king who never hurt anybody. He is righteous, he is perfect. Last weekend we had snow and ice of your cancel services, but the message was our humble king and many of y'all joined us on social media and you heard the message he is the humble king who came into Jerusalem riding on a donkey. That was a symbol of Christ being the peaceful king of Christ being the humble king in this morning, Christ is our universal King. The three questions would you ask this passage to understand what is that mean that Christ is our universal King. The first thing is, let's talk about who were the strangers, who are those people who can listen again to verse one now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judeo in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem. Now here's a problem.

The word is not wise men. The word is Magi Magi came nowhere. The Magi, the Greek historian Herodotus tells us that the Magi were one of the six tribes of ancient media.

Now where is media media. If you notice on the extreme right hand corner of the map. These were people of a priestly caste. They were involved in all kinds of divination. Divination means some interpreting dreams. These are kinda people who would you would go to and say hello had a bad dream and you tell me and they will find some chicken livers and the and do some stuff and you're laughing too much on her.

Y'all do that, hope not. Or they will tell you know. Looking at the flight pattern of the birds. This is what limits the apartment they would read it. This is what some of the Magi's did some of them were astrologers reading the stars some of them were astronomers they were not just your typical palm readers date they knew the pattern of the movement of the stars of somewhere sorcerers also took on the the name of a sorcerer of sorcerers. That's where we get the English word magic or magician is from Magi so these were people who were odd. I grew up in India and there's a kind of people known as the South whose and they have long hair.

The day you know the just a different kind of people you don't get close to them to me. Magi is sorta remind me of those people the kind of weird. I mean, how often would you like to bring someone to your home who practices rooted. It is like nowhere with were very good right here if I if I have a dream problem on the call you but no, we don't want people like that near us, but somehow these Magi had made their way into King Nebuchadnezzar's court. King Nebuchadnezzar was the king of Babylon, and the first time we hear about them is in the book of Daniel. I want you here with me. Daniel chapter 2 and verse one now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign. Nebuchadnezzar had dreams there you go. There were, they were there for the job and his spirit was so troubled that his sleep left him. Then the king gave the command. Listen to this to call not the magicians but the Magi.

The word is Magi in the astrologers and the sorcerers in the county of these are people who specialized in dreams and dream interpretations.

The king calls them in and says I want you to tell me my dream and then give me the interpretation and the Magi's had stood before him, wringing their hands. The king wheat. We are experts in interpreting the dreams, but you gotta give us the dream first I want to tell me the dream first and then give the interpretation. If not, listen to what he says in verse nine. If not, you make known the dream to you.

To me there's only one decree for you breathing his say all for the head, for you have agreed to Spiegel lying and corrupt words before me until the time has changed. Therefore, tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can give me the interpretation he is putting them to the test. Nebuchadnezzar did not trust the Magi anymore. These were people who had earned a bad reputation. There were wise.

There were there were, you know, very resourceful, but they were also very corrupt. Some of them when the Cyrus captured Babylon.

Many of them had come home with him into Persia now Persia became Babylon, and again they got involved in political power and got into a lot of trouble for the Jewish people looked down with suspicion and disdain on the Magi, even the Romans did not like them. They tried to kick him out of Roman Italy several times get these Magi's out of here so I want you to picture with me. It people. Some are really weird. Some are very intelligent, but either way kings tolerate them. Most people do not trust them there no one for sabotaging thrones and kingdoms. Somehow they got on God's mailing list. Somehow they knew that Jesus Christ, the son of God was going to be born. They were on God's mailing list.

What I'm trying to emphasize to you is that no one is too far from the grace of God.

You are here this morning is by the grace of God I think about my own self, but Ed was a Muslim group in a wealthy home, but a Muslim home, educated home but a most about how in the world did happen. I cannot give you pattern is the hand of God is the grace of God, and I hope none of us take our salvation for granted, you are hereby grace of God I want to do something that I hope will stay with you the never look down on anybody to never look down anybody. Don't ever think that you are better than someone who never hold your family tree your pedigree to high. The never talk about those on the other side of the tracks.

Be careful because they may be on God's mailing list. Yet we had with me. I want to hear what Jesus said in Matthew 2016. In fact, I want to say it with me.

What did Jesus say so the last will be first in the first last for many are called but few are chosen. If you think you are on the front of the line. God has a sense of humor. He was a gone back and the person you think they are unworthy reviews led them under any word visit on the porch and this and that God's will is that you come up over here, Your Honor. You think you deserve it. This person thinks he is undeserving. The more undeserving you are, the more God's grace is given to you. Your bill with me in one reason we do.

The Kendall ministry is because we want to be in line with God's plan. God is working. God is working in powerful ways, and you never know.

That toy is not about toys thereby knows that right is not about the toys is about the gospel that comes with the toy is the grace of God and man is the grace of God coming towards you.

By the way, how do you think they got on God's mailing list. How did these Magi's this this motley crew of weirdos. How in the world did they hear that the son of God was going to be born will go back again to Daniel your member in the book of Daniel will read this passage in the just a second. Belshazzar Belshazzar was in his drunken stupor.

Having a big party. He commands that the Temple vessels be brought in the Jerusalem Temple vessels and the bringing to begins her drinking in those vessels, I mean it's is debauchery is going on and before he knows there is a hand that comes out of begins to write on the wall. Many many to kill a parson, Parson Ms. Persia means before the nights over your kingdom will be taken away from you. Belshazzar is scared his knees begin to knock against each other and then someone says to Belshazzar.

Daniel five verse 11 there is a man in your kingdom and home is the spirit of the holy God and in the days of your father light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him and King Nebuchadnezzar your father talking to Belshazzar, your father, the king made him listen to this chief of the not magicians but Magi did you know that Daniel was head over all the Magi's the astrologers, the Chaldeans, the soothsayers who anything total about Jesus Christ. More than likely Daniel did you never know you never know when you share the gospel with someone you'd never know when it's going to bear fruit him in. You never know what you're doing today. Don't get discouraged that I have a friend on her share the gospel man. He hates God or he's an atheist reclaims the Bible is full of errors and he'll want to believe Ashita want to come to church. Don't give up. You never know it may be years down the road. Daniel didn't realize the 500 years later, here comes this bunch looking for the king of the Jews questioned this morning to you is are you on God's mailing list.

Are you telling the most unlikely people about the coming of Jesus Christ you see the strangers tell us that Jesus is the king not just of the good Boys and Girls Club but even of the undeserving unworthy, but number two was the star listen verse two again they came saying, where is he who has been born king of the Jews, for we have seen his star in the East and have come to worship him. There been a lot of speculation about what is this star we don't know for sure. I personally think that God made a star just for the coming of Jesus Christ as my views on somebody may disagree with me but you have a right to be wrong but I believe as well make the other way. I believe just the way God created the big fish that swallow Jonah God made this star to the problem is over with the supernovas or the alignment of the planets or the comet. This star actually rose in the East. Okay and they followed the store and that it came and stopped over Jerusalem, music in a star do that.

Keep in mind king Jesus made everything the earth.

The entire solar system. The galaxy, the universe belongs to him. If he wants to make a star that can move at his beck and call.

He can do it.

Amen as his world start moving. I've never heard of that no one records it will go back to the Old Testament, the people of Israel were led by a pillar of cloud in the day and a pillar of fire at night. Nobody recorded 40 years go with me.

Sometimes folks listen. The world cannot see what you and I can see I was a very weak amen. Sometimes you're trying to convince the world of miracles. What God can do.

They cannot see it because the star was not saying I don't believe Herod saw the star these Magi did and it moved and stars move like that what God has done things like that with celestial bodies. If you go to Joshua chapter 10, Joshua and the and the people of Israel were fighting against the Amorites and the day was about to end. The sun was going down. Listen to what Joshua said in Joshua 1012 and he said in the side of Israel, son standstill over Gibeon and moon in the value of age alone was the answer.

So the sun stopped still and the moon stop to the people fought against the enemies, and I listen to the last line verse 14 and there has been no day like that before it or after it that the Lord heated the voice of a man for the Lord fought for Israel. The point is, God can do that final someone will say well you know the sun doesn't stop you know I made it out.

How can you do that the earth is orbiting around the sun. Joshua was speaking in a language that his listeners would understand the earth stopped in its orbit because God heard the voice of a man is another passage in the Bible where God did such a thing with a celestial body is in second Kings chapter 20 verse 10 Hezekiah was asking for a sign in Isaiah the prophet's was there with him and Hezekiah said is an easy thing for the shadow to go down 10°, but no but let the shadow go backward 10° so Isaiah the prophet cried out to the Lord, and guess what happened. He brought the shadow 10° backward. Can God do such things. If you believe in God and it says universe.

He can do anything King Jesus is in charge. He made the world.

He sustains the war if he wants to create a star that moves across the sky and stops and moves again as his power was all that mean. It means this folks. He is in charge. He is in control. He is the king of the universe. The question today is is he the king of your life is in charge of your life. Does he have total control of every part of you. So we looked at the Magi, the unlikely bunch of then we saw the Staller again subject to the universal King King Jesus. Finally, on us to focus on the gifts. Listen to Matthew chapter 2 why the gifts why the gifts Matthew chapter 2 in verse nine says when they heard the king to help you catch up. They come to King Herod and they explained to him what they have seen King Herod is afraid he is troubled and he calls his religious leaders, scribes, he says, have you heard of this thing is. Oh yeah he's supposed to be born in Bethlehem now. I will put a map up on the screen. The first map tells us that the people in media okay. The Magi's travel 700 miles to get to Jerusalem. That's a lot of miles 700 miles, but they were willing to go across this Arabian desert. There were willing to endure hardships didn't have good reputation and they were crossing through kingdoms willing to go 700 miles when they told Heron that they had seen the star and he consulted his leaders, his wisemen that told a lawyer in Bethlehem.

How far was Bethlehem from Jerusalem. Anybody know only 7 miles only 7 miles that I don't about you. I would've gone the camel and gone to see that Intuit is see the Magi were motivated by these men, Herod and the entire city of Jerusalem did not even move.

Just 7 miles between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. But guess what verse nine when they heard the king, the departed, and behold a star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was once again the star appears first-hand when they saw the star that rejoiced with exceedingly great joy and when they had come into the house. This saw the young child with Mary his mother was the reaction they fell down and worshiped him, and when they had opened their treasures. The presented gifts to him were the three gifts gold, frankincense and myrrh that sometimes people talk about gold being his royalty, frankincense, divinity, and all the stuff that's fine.

Personally, I believe the broad goal.

Frankincense and myrrh because they were going to see a newborn King. They were bringing gifts worthy of a king, then you and so they come in.

I want to go back to verse 11 for a moment and they fell down and worshiped him, that they came with the expectation of finding the king of the Jews in a palace but instead were to define him in a little house maybe a cave.

Nonetheless, they fell down and they worship out if I would've done that I'll be like well I don't know for sure this is the real deal, but it didn't matter to them, they worshiped him. Another prophecy is in Isaiah chapter 60 in verse six. Listen to this. The multitude of camels shall cover your land. The dromedary sort of the dromedary's account of the camel ride with only one hump.

The dromedary's of Midian and Epp have all those from Sheba shall come, they shall bring gold and incense and they shall proclaim the praises of the Lord you heard it all your life.

It was not just three more than likely there was a whole caravan because the Bible says camels will cover the land. Can you just imagine probably 150 all over this little town of Bethlehem by the came and they gave it all. Would you have done that if you had found this baby supposedly the king and a cave organic tiny little house in a an insignificant town which you have given all that goal and all that frankincense and all that murder. Here's a final point.

Sometimes we give what's left over.

Sometimes we give but doesn't cost as much sometimes we give what is what hurts the least when it comes to Jesus Christ. If he is truly your King he deserve your best. He deserves all and today the question is, is Jesus Christ truly king of your life. Thank you so much for Jesus is the universal King is a belong to just one people or group is truly the Lord of all and he should be the Lord of our lives is Jesus your King.

This Christmas, give your heart and your allegiance to King Jesus and make the universal King. The king of your heart. For more information visit us online@clearviewb.org for the sermon notes checkup exercise one of it on shall