Matthew 2
The Visit of the Magi
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
6 “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel. ’ ’”
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
The Escape to Egypt
13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet:“Out of Egypt I called my son.”
16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
18 “A voice is heard in Ramah,
weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.”
The Return to Nazareth
19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”
21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets:“He will be called a Nazarene.”
Here we read what happened after Christmas. It is not really a good thing. King Herod wanted to kill him. This king is trying to take the life of the child. And not only that, Mary is forced to travel after delivery. Mind you they had to travel and flee for their life to Egypt. It is not easy for Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus. They never had Singapore Airlines back then. They has to travel on a donkey.
Tomorrow we will countdown to the new year. But this morning as we prepare ourself for the new year, here are lessons we can learn.
There was this story where a slave fell in love with a girl name Ellen and wanted to get married. But at that time it was forbidden for a slave to marry another. So both of them lived in fear that they will be separated. So they decided to flee to Philadelphia where it is possible for them because the laws were different. Ellen was light skinned and could pass off as a white. So he pretended to be the slave to Ellen and they went in to Philadelphia.
It reminds me of their situation. Joseph and Mary had to flee for their lives. It's like our forefathers who came here in search of a new life.
So Joseph and Mary made a tough trip. With a king looking to take the life of their son. They must have been terrified. They went through the prompting of an angel.
Here we can learn a few things.
First, we need to acknowledge that not everything will go well just because we believe in Jesus.
Many people already know that Jesus will come as a King and set up his nation. But did that happen? No. Mary had to see her son grow up and be crucified on the cross and prophesy was not yet fully fulfilled.
I will share what the scripture did say about the promise of God. Sometimes it will not be easy for us to follow Christ. I remembered my father was the first in his family to become a Christian. He came home and when he told his parents he was kicked out of his house. And I think some of us can identify with that. But God promised that He will be with us all the time.
Sometimes we say that when you become a Christian all your problems will go away. This is a very simplistic way of looking at it. Yes, it is true that God is sovereign and will deliver you but it is on His time. Let's look at the book of Job.
Job 1
Prologue
1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.
4 His sons used to take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would send and have them purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.
Job’s First Test
6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”
Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.”
8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
9 “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. 10 “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
12 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”
Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15 and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised.”
22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
Can you imagine a man who has followed God with all his heart went through all these. He did not lay the blame on God.
And now in Chapter 2, God again asked Satan if he had considered Job. This is the second time.
Job 2:1-10
Job’s Second Test
1 On another day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”
Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.”
3 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”
4 “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. 5 But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
6 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.”
7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.
9 His wife said to him, “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!”
10 He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”
In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
I don't know if you have had sores before but it is terrible. And really painful especially if it's at a sensitive spot. Sometimes it's so bad that a doctor have to dig in and removed the "nana". Imagine for Job it is from the sole of his feet to the top of his head. He must have been miserable.
Sometimes when we receive a promise of God, we may have to wait for it to be fulfilled and sometimes it needs to get worst before it gets better. But here is the good news, just as Joseph and Mary brought baby Jesus to Egypt, He promises to be with them every step of the way. And from Egypt they came back again. And Joseph and Mary had to cling on to the promise of God. Just as how God is interested in your life. God is going to be with you all the way. He says "I will never leave you not forsake you."
As they followed the instructions of the angel, they were fulfilling a prophecy. In spite of what they were going through. As we enter 2013, I am not going to say that it will be wonderful. But what I want to say is that He will be there with you throughout 2013.
Two years ago I answered the call of God. I had to shift my family and my extended family, my fishes and pets. Some people ask me "Pastor, no church in Klang meh?" It was not that but it was about being obedient to God.
God provided for everything including my children's school. Two of my children went in. And they give it only to children staying in the vicinity. But we were not near there yet God did it. I went to the ministry and it so happened Bro KB had a cell member that was chairman in the school. You may say that he is the influence but if God had not made the two spaces available, it would not have happened. What are the chances that two of the students were transferred out.
Was it easy? No. We had to go through the stress. Looking for the house. Cannot stay at condo because of my fishes. And we had to shift again when the landlord wanted it back. And we found one a few doors away. That was another miracle. That is a long story. But God worked things out for us. Including all the kitchen cabinets, extended the house for my fishes, water heater and more.
Maybe there are some uncertainty in your life. Know this, God will never leave you nor forsake you. He is a good God. A faithful God.
Two years I have been in Penang and I am enjoying every moment of it. And I have a new child here. That shows the land in Penang is fruitful.
As you enter 2013, remember this, God is with you. It is going to be an awesome year. Not that there will be no problems but that He will be there with us. I am excited for TOP. Because I sense He is going to do something lasting in TOP. Built the people as you build the church. Are you ready for 2013? Come for watch night.
The Visit of the Magi
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
6 “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel. ’ ’”
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
The Escape to Egypt
13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet:“Out of Egypt I called my son.”
16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
18 “A voice is heard in Ramah,
weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.”
The Return to Nazareth
19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”
21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets:“He will be called a Nazarene.”
Here we read what happened after Christmas. It is not really a good thing. King Herod wanted to kill him. This king is trying to take the life of the child. And not only that, Mary is forced to travel after delivery. Mind you they had to travel and flee for their life to Egypt. It is not easy for Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus. They never had Singapore Airlines back then. They has to travel on a donkey.
Tomorrow we will countdown to the new year. But this morning as we prepare ourself for the new year, here are lessons we can learn.
There was this story where a slave fell in love with a girl name Ellen and wanted to get married. But at that time it was forbidden for a slave to marry another. So both of them lived in fear that they will be separated. So they decided to flee to Philadelphia where it is possible for them because the laws were different. Ellen was light skinned and could pass off as a white. So he pretended to be the slave to Ellen and they went in to Philadelphia.
It reminds me of their situation. Joseph and Mary had to flee for their lives. It's like our forefathers who came here in search of a new life.
So Joseph and Mary made a tough trip. With a king looking to take the life of their son. They must have been terrified. They went through the prompting of an angel.
Here we can learn a few things.
First, we need to acknowledge that not everything will go well just because we believe in Jesus.
Many people already know that Jesus will come as a King and set up his nation. But did that happen? No. Mary had to see her son grow up and be crucified on the cross and prophesy was not yet fully fulfilled.
I will share what the scripture did say about the promise of God. Sometimes it will not be easy for us to follow Christ. I remembered my father was the first in his family to become a Christian. He came home and when he told his parents he was kicked out of his house. And I think some of us can identify with that. But God promised that He will be with us all the time.
Sometimes we say that when you become a Christian all your problems will go away. This is a very simplistic way of looking at it. Yes, it is true that God is sovereign and will deliver you but it is on His time. Let's look at the book of Job.
Job 1
Prologue
1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.
4 His sons used to take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would send and have them purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.
Job’s First Test
6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”
Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.”
8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
9 “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. 10 “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
12 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”
Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15 and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised.”
22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
Can you imagine a man who has followed God with all his heart went through all these. He did not lay the blame on God.
And now in Chapter 2, God again asked Satan if he had considered Job. This is the second time.
Job 2:1-10
Job’s Second Test
1 On another day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”
Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.”
3 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”
4 “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. 5 But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
6 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.”
7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.
9 His wife said to him, “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!”
10 He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”
In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
I don't know if you have had sores before but it is terrible. And really painful especially if it's at a sensitive spot. Sometimes it's so bad that a doctor have to dig in and removed the "nana". Imagine for Job it is from the sole of his feet to the top of his head. He must have been miserable.
Sometimes when we receive a promise of God, we may have to wait for it to be fulfilled and sometimes it needs to get worst before it gets better. But here is the good news, just as Joseph and Mary brought baby Jesus to Egypt, He promises to be with them every step of the way. And from Egypt they came back again. And Joseph and Mary had to cling on to the promise of God. Just as how God is interested in your life. God is going to be with you all the way. He says "I will never leave you not forsake you."
As they followed the instructions of the angel, they were fulfilling a prophecy. In spite of what they were going through. As we enter 2013, I am not going to say that it will be wonderful. But what I want to say is that He will be there with you throughout 2013.
Two years ago I answered the call of God. I had to shift my family and my extended family, my fishes and pets. Some people ask me "Pastor, no church in Klang meh?" It was not that but it was about being obedient to God.
God provided for everything including my children's school. Two of my children went in. And they give it only to children staying in the vicinity. But we were not near there yet God did it. I went to the ministry and it so happened Bro KB had a cell member that was chairman in the school. You may say that he is the influence but if God had not made the two spaces available, it would not have happened. What are the chances that two of the students were transferred out.
Was it easy? No. We had to go through the stress. Looking for the house. Cannot stay at condo because of my fishes. And we had to shift again when the landlord wanted it back. And we found one a few doors away. That was another miracle. That is a long story. But God worked things out for us. Including all the kitchen cabinets, extended the house for my fishes, water heater and more.
Maybe there are some uncertainty in your life. Know this, God will never leave you nor forsake you. He is a good God. A faithful God.
Two years I have been in Penang and I am enjoying every moment of it. And I have a new child here. That shows the land in Penang is fruitful.
As you enter 2013, remember this, God is with you. It is going to be an awesome year. Not that there will be no problems but that He will be there with us. I am excited for TOP. Because I sense He is going to do something lasting in TOP. Built the people as you build the church. Are you ready for 2013? Come for watch night.
 |
| Bro Koay praying for Sunday School students who are graduating to Youth this year. |
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