Date: January 1,2017

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Title: Sideline or Start line?

Scripture: Matthew 2

Contributor: Senior Chaplain Jesse Barrett

The last time I was with you I spoke on the God of the impossible using the scripture surrounding the birth of Jesus.  It was my intention to challenge you with the question, “Do you believe in the God of the impossible?”

Hopefully you took it to heart and it planted some hope in your life.  For that is what we offer to those far from God, hope.  

The belief that God can, and is able, to do great and seemingly impossible things in our personal lives, in our community, and even in this congregation.

We discussed that God can do the impossible in the smallest and unknown areas of this world, that he also can do the impossible in the lives of people, and we have the joy of answered prayers in the most impossible ways when we commit to prayer in a great big God.

This morning, I’d like to stay in the time period of Jesus’s birth.  I don’t know about you but it seemed Christmas came to quick and left way to fast.  

I’d like to stay here a little longer and encourage you with a section of scripture that does not get talked about very often.  

We will be in Matthew 2 and in this section of scripture there is described, a star, that lights up the sky… and because people saw that light, and then reacted to it, it impacted the world around it.

Today I entitled my message “sideline, or start line?”

And as we begin let me tell you a story…

You see, as I was thinking about this light in the sky, my mind was thinking about another light made by a company called Port-a-tree.  It’s the light system that tells drag cars when to take off from the start line.

I know it’s a weird, but I love drag racing! I get excited when I go…  It’s almost as exciting as… Christmas morning to a five-year-old.  

Yep, I know what you are thinking, I am just a big kid, but that’s ok, someday I want to take you there so that you can smell the air when it's full of race fuel.  

They got all these different kinds of race fuel, some smell like cherry, or bubblegum, it’s almost like walking into Grandma’s house when she’s baking cookies.  You just… stick your nose in the air and just breathe it all in.  

I have this race day ritual, I get all dressed up in my coolest racing t-shirts and hats.  Then I grab the money that I was careful to set aside for entrance into the big event.  

I get in the car turn on the radio and pound my fists against the steering wheel to the music while I’m driving down the road.  

As I pull in, I greet Joe at the gate, he is so nice.  He always has a smile, he is always glad to see me; and I am always glad to pay my entrance fee to him, after all, I know he does a lot for the track.  

I drive in with anticipated excitement and begin to make my way for my favorite parking spot… you know the spot, the spot where I can hang out with my closest friends and chat about drag racing in between heats.  

Oh, you should see us. We embarrass our wives as we act like modern day King David, dancing in the street - all around these fancy cars.  We make circles around each one talking about how fast each car will go, or the new paint jobs.  

We talk to each other about all the upgrades that should be done to make each car run at the highest optimal level.  We look at each new gadget and spend hours talking shop with our closest buddies.

Occasionally, a new car will pull in that we have never seen before.  We all look at each other at the exact same moment… waiting for the others guy to be the first to have an expression with an ooh, or a wow!  

In the same moment, we all decide we should make the new guy feel comfortable… so we go down and introduce ourselves and get to know the guy.  

Of course, we want to talk about his car with him as well.  

We pat him on the back and tell him we were glad to meet him and wish him Godspeed as he heads down the track.

As all the drivers roll in, the air begins to fill with that smell of race fuel that I was talking about, and engines begin to rev to intimidate their competition and just… show off.

The man behind the starting line brings out the water hose and wets a small piece of the track. The first two cars roll onto their marks and then back slowly over a little part of the wet pavement.  

In a flash the tires spin and the smoke rolls… The car begins its move to the starting line.  Inch by inch, both cars come up to the line until the set light, is lit.  

When both cars are set, the first yellow light is lit, then a second, and then a third, and then the green!  

Go go go! Mash the gas as hard as you can! The engine roars and the tires squeal in excitement… The car lifts like a bucking horse and it tears up the road to the finish line just as fast as it can.  

“Wow, that was the fastest one yet!” I bellow out in excitement as my heart races uncontrollably, “I love drag racing!”  

The guy to my right hits me with his baseball cap, “hey settle down you almost knocked my drink off the bleachers! Besides you aren’t drag racing, they are!”

In an instant I flash to reality.  He’s right, I am sitting on the bleachers.

Now my story is not entirely accurate, I have true feelings for drag racing but my goal is to make you think of where you are today.  

Church, I want to ask you, are you sitting on the bleachers or are you ready to tear up the road from the start line as soon as the light is lit?

You see my story is a lot like a church experience.  

You can be excited for Sunday,

you can pick out your nicest clothes,

you find the perfect parking spot,

you greet Joe at the door, he’s so nice!  

You gladly tithe a portion of your earnings because you’ve set it aside ahead of time, after all, the church and the pastor do a lot.  

You make your way to your special seat and talk with your closest pals about the new stuff you have been reading about, it so interesting.  

You chat about the church and the new paint job,

you talk about the new coal stove and how much more efficient it is.  

Then the worship begins and people sound so nice you just really love it,

and you even take good notes when the preacher begins to speak.  

“Wow what a day,” you say to yourself as you leave the building, “I can’t wait to do it again next week.”

Church if this is you, you are missing out!  

See like my drag racing story, the people who are actually racing, are the ones creating all the excitement.  They are the ones who cannot wait for that light to be directly in their view.  

They plan their day, and build their cars, and buy their way to that light, and when it turns green, Look out!  They tear down the track just as fast as they can.  

But imagine, for example, if all the drag racers pulled into the place to race and then… did nothing.  Would anyone find enjoyment in that?  People would say, “I came here to watch a race not to visit a museum of old cars.”  

In the same way, there must be generated excitement in the church by people who are on the starting line waiting for the light to turn green and then mashing the gas of their faith towards the finish line.

Could it be, that way too many people get all caught up in others emotions, thinking that they are experiencing God, because they feel excited.  

The unfortunate reality is, that they will walk into heaven empty handed, for they road as passengers in someone else’s vehicle, or they were sitting on the sidelines, watching the race, but never part of the race.

I need to tell you, God does not desire for you to only watch, he wants you in the race, and in it - to win it!

He wants you, to live by Faith!

This morning, Matthew 2 describes a star that lights up the sky, and because people saw that light, and then reacted to it, it impacted the world around it.

I would like us to focus in on the light.  

Christ said in John 8:12 "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

As a body of believers, once we see the light, and then embrace its purpose in our life, it will compel us to begin a journey of faith right to the finish line, where we find our God and King.  

I would suggest three main concepts to this point from our text.

Number one, allow the light of the world to take you on a journey of faith.

Read with me Matthew 2:1 “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 when it rose and have come to worship him.”

So, take for example the wise men from the East.  They made a journey of faith, they saw this star and it motivated them to cross a wide continent to see him.  

I am not exactly sure where these wise men were from, but I’d like to suggest that the mere fact that they were called Magi from the East, means they were not close by.

These Magi were learned men who saw the light in the sky and chose not to sit on the bleachers and say, wow, I bet something amazing is going to happen over there.  

They did not call over their buddies and talk shop about what that star meant and then… did nothing about it.  No, they planned their day, they got into their cars, drove up to the starting line, and put the pedal to metal by living out their faith on the road.

Ultimately it is not the traveling that is the point, rather that faith in Him prompts you to follow him wherever he may take you.  

For the purposes of God’s sovereign will, these Magi were led to seek out the Christ child.  They walked for probably hundreds of miles driven by only their faith in the promised ruler.

Many other men have taken this journey of Faith.

Turn over to Hebrew 11

1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.

If you will, this is what the Magis’ are commended for.  They believed the king was near that light, so out of faith, even though they could not see the child, the sought him out.

3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.

5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.

Here is the most important verse to remember:

6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

I would like to suggest that even though the Magi brought gifts with them, God rewarded them a hundred times more for believing in his existence and earnestly seeking him out.  They walked for, probably months on the fuel of faith alone.

As I was meditating on this point this week, I was awe struck by what they gave up to find Christ.  I mean, for me to pick up my life, and be in a constant state of travel for like months or years… it would mean selling almost everything I have.  

For a brief second I thought, is this was the Magi did?  Was the gold the cost of seeing him? The profits from selling all his possessions?  Maybe, I don’t know.

I thought about how my daily life would have to be completely different, like no hot showers every day.  No sofa or warm bed.  I’m not sure, but is it possible that these men left behind families, siblings, or children to make this trip?  It’s possible.

I would assume they counted the cost and realized, I would rather meet the King than have earthly comforts.

Turn with me to Matthew 19:29 “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”

Christian let me ask you this morning, when was the last time you stepped up to the starting line and counted the cost to follow Christ?  Did you then walk a road of faith like our Magis’?  

It does not matter what the situation was, perhaps it was something like placing your last coin in the offering plate with the faith that God would provide the next meal.  

Perhaps it was driving to an interview that you believed God was calling you to with no gas for the return trip.

Perhaps you are facing a future event in which you need faith.

Perhaps God is calling you to take a journey into the jails or homeless shelters.

Perhaps it will be a step of faith with the man who will pastor your church.  

Ultimately it does not matter what the circumstance is, it could be unique to you, but I hope you understand that without Faith, it is impossible to please God.  

Take that journey with God, step out in faith, it is this life’s greatest adventure, and it will lead you to the King.

Secondly, by following the light you will understand true worship.

Matthew 2: 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, frankincense and myrrh.”

I love how the verse reads, they were overjoyed when they saw the star.  

They could not wait to worship him for he was the light of the world.

The star was a light for their path, the light gave them entrance to the king, and they worshipped him, by bowing and presenting gifts.

Do you ever wonder what it will be like to finally see your King in all his splendor and glory?  I do.  

I like reading Revelation 4, I am going to read this to you…

4 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 

4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing.

These are the seven spirits of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:

“‘Holy, holy, holy

is the Lord God Almighty,’[b]

who was, and is, and is to come.”

9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
    and by your will they were created
    and have their being.”

Wow! I love this text.  Can you imagine yourself there?  I mean we are nothing compared to him.  When we finally get to heaven, don’t you think that this is like… word for word - what we will be doing?

Bowing and worshiping and praising our great God and King… One day our reward for our faith will be living in eternity with him, but let me ask you a question, has God ever rewarded you for your faith in the here and now?  

How did you respond?

If you are like the Magi, when God gives you that little taste of the reward from your faith, it causes you to fall on your face and worship him.

Recently a brother in the Lord called me up on the phone, he says, “Jesse, I’d like to give you my Christmas bonus to help with your prison ministry.”  “Wow!” I replied, that’s mighty generous of you, I cannot thank you enough.”  He said, “Let me tell you a little story, you see I wasn’t planning on getting this check, and truth be told I thought for half a second to keep it and put it to cost of fuel for the house.  

But then I thought of my children and how I could impact them with this gift.  My desire is to show my kids by my example what faith looks like, so I decided to step out in faith and I told God that I am mailing this check out to you.  

It was about this same time that my fuel pump went on my car and I thought, maybe I should use the money there.  Instead I kept the faith and went to the auto parts store to explain how I just bought the fuel pump and I needed another one.  

The parts clerk said, do you have your receipt?  To which I replied I did not.  To make a long story short, not only did I get the money back from the failed pump but I got back a little more than I paid for it.  

God is good brother, check should arrive soon!”

Now God gave him a taste of his goodness, his kids will be blessed by his example, and we both were worshipping God for his provisions for both of our lives.

Now that is the positive side, but let me also take a minute to describe the flip side.

There are times in our life when going to church to worship him is the last thing you want to do.  If you find your desire to worship God is lacking, it is because you are running on your own ability, on your own path, with no light directing it.  

The number one thing that keeps you from desiring to worship God, is the desire to live for yourself.  The sin of pride, of selfishness, and evil desires will turn you from your worship of Him and on to yourself.

Let us not forget that Satan was at one time the worship leader in all of God’s creation… where is he now?  He is worshipping himself and turning the hearts of men to desire anything but God.

If you find yourself lacking the desire to worship God today, you need to take a moment to analyze your Faith.  

Do I have it? Can I see it? And if not, repent and turn back to him, for he will light the way in your life.

Lamentations 3:40 “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.”

A man or woman of faith has much to thank God for, the way you worship tells a lot about your faith.  When God rewards you for your faith, you are driven to your knees in thanksgiving.  

You want to worship him.  You turn on the radio and sing songs of praise as tears stream down your face.

That kind of joy comes only through faith and repentance.

Third, As you travel, God will use you to impact the world with the light of your testimony.

Look at Matthew 2:1-3 again

“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 when it rose and have come to worship him.”

3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.”

These Magi were on fire for God.  Not only did Herod hear about Christ, but all Jerusalem with him.  

For men of faith like that, there is only one person, one truth, that they are dying to share.  It is the truth of Jesus Christ.  A person on fire for God shines like a bright light in a dark place.  

Turn with me to Matthew 5

Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Someone who is in love with God will not be able to hide their light.  I believe that a person who commits everything to live by faith will attract others to his light.

Now, that does not mean that it will always be in your favor, for Christ’s light will cause friction between you and this world.

We must understand that not all men want to see the light. They have been in the dark too long.

It’s like… have you ever been woken up by your sibling by the flicking of the light switch.  Oh, it’s painful, isn’t it?  You cover your eyes with the first thing you can find and scream orders for someone to turn it off.

John 3:19 says it this way, “And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness more than light, because their deeds were evil.”

When King Herod heard the news, he thought he had everything earthy to lose.  His pride could not tolerate another King to live in his kingdom.

So, in Matthew 2:16 we read how he handled it, “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.”

Herod slaughtered all the male children under 2.  It is a failed attempt by a lost soul to continue to control his world.  Little did he know that his heinous crime would only help to solidified Christ as the messiah by a fulfilled prophecy.

Verse 17 says, “Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they care no more.”

So, don’t be discouraged, God is sovereign.  

Christ Reminds us in John 15:18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.”

Friends the Bible says in Matthew 5:11

11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

We all need to be reminded that we have a job to do.  Not all jobs are fun or easy, but we must be doing the works of God through our testimony.

Let me conclude with this thought

Christ said it this way in John 9:4 “As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Church, is one soul in Hell too many? ……….

Is one life sitting on the sidelines too many? ……..

The only place we need to be is on the road of faith sharing our testimony and using our God given gifts to impact the world around us. Amen?

Anything less, is a faithless disobedience.

Your sweetest fellowship and unity will be when this whole body lives out their faith and works together for the cause of Christ.

I would encourage you… to travel with each other on this great adventure of faith God has given us…

Let’s impact the world with our excitement driven by our Faith!

Today is January 1st, it’s a perfect day to be on the start line… Let’s pray.