<“Christmas 2016: Postlude to the Story
Click Above to Listen!
A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
I. PRINCIPLE #1 – LEAVE THE DIRECTION UP TO GOD
A. PROGRESSION
>1. GUIDANCE OF THE STAR
Mt 2:9-10 And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came and stood over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
>2. GIVING WORSHIP
Mt 2:11a and on arriving at the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him.
B. PROVISION
>1. GIFTS FOR A KING
Mt 2:11b Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.
>2. GAMBIT OF WISE MEN
Mt 2:12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
II. PRINCIPLE #2 – LEAVE THE DEFENSE UP TO GOD
A. PROTECTION
>1. GUARDING
Mt 2:13 When they left, 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.”
>2. GETAWAY
Mt 2:14-15 So he got up, took the Child and His mother during the night and left for Egypt, 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.” (also Hos 11:1)
B. PROCLAMATION
>1. GULLIBLE KING
Mt 2:16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was greatly enraged, and 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.
>2. GRAVITY
Mt 2:17-18 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: “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.” (also Jer 31:15-17)
III. PRINCIPLE #3 – LEAVE THE DETAILS UP TO GOD
A. PROVIDENCE
>1. GUARANTEE
Mt 2:19-20 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 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.”
>2. GAME PLAN
Mt 2:21-22a So he got up, took the child and his mother and returned to Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there.
B. PROSPECTS
>1. GAUNTLET
Mt 2:22b-23 Having been warned in a dream, he returned to the area of Galilee, to live in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.” (also Jn 1:46; Isa 11:1; Acts 22:8; 24:5)
>2. GROWING
Luke 2:39-40 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. The Child grew and became strong; He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him. (also Lk 2:52; I Pet 4:10; Jn 20:30-31)