R1615 Wonderful Joy

This is the season of wonderful joy and that's today's topic from Dr. Don Wilton on this edition of The Encouraging Word in just a moment with Dr. Donald like us to Matthew chapter 2. Three. Talk about the wonderful joy that we know in Jesus Christ is a life-changing understanding of how God takes us in even the most unique situations where we may not find ourselves happy. We can discover joy in Jesus as we open God's word know that were open to speak with you and pray with you right now like to give us a call or numbers.

866-899-WORD jot the number down and start yourself. That's 866-899-9673 you'll find that number in more ways to connect on our website as well. GW online.org that's DEW online.org that's today's great teaching with Dr. Don Wilton as we prepare for Christmas. During these days we been looking at what the Bible has to say about this wonderful Christmas today. I'm very delighted. I want you to turn in your Bibles to Matthew chapter and then as you turn there. I wanted just pulls for a moment and lost God's blessing on this moment. Father as people everywhere open the word of God, we come into your presence today because we are about to read that which was written which came to Paul's.

This happened Lord what we are about to read is amazing the wonderful joy of Christmas father right now in this moment, we pray that you would take hold of the hearts of every person who reads the word who hears the word that by your spirit people might become convinced in their hearts that this is indeed Jesus Emmanuelle God with us. He is the Christ the son of the living God speak to us.

We pray in Jesus name, amen. Let me read this wonderful account to you. Matthew chapter 2 not often Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, where is he who has been born king of the Jews, for we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him that when Herod the king heard this, he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him and assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told Bethlehem of Judea for so it is written by the prophet and you Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are by no means the least among the rulers of Judah. From you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel. Then Herod summoned the wisemen secretly and ascertain from them what time the star had appeared and he sent them to Bethlehem say go search diligently for the child and when you found them bring me word so that I too may come and worship him. After listening to the king. They went on their way.

Behold the stall they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to risk right over the place with the child when they sold the store they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy going into the house. They sold the child with Mary his mother and they fell down and they worshiped him. Then opening-day treasures offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh and being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country another way.

This is the word of the Lord. May he write his word upon our hearts. Well I want to just share a couple of things with you before I share with you this most wonderful joy before we unpacked and try to understand what it is that the Lord would say to us really there off off full groups.

One.

Phenomena and there off off three groups of people first is the man on top and I referred to nobody in our world. In particular his name was Herod the king historians recording was Herod the great, he was the original Herod and he was a mean dude if I can say it like that Herod was not hold the great for no reason. By the way he is titled the great came through recorded history because he was given over to opulence. He loved his position in his will he just removed in well there was a second group of people that were hearing the story and that's the wisemen lot is being said about these wise, we have them.

These men and women I'm looking at you they were not kings. They were not rootless. They had done very well in life, they will him they were astrologers not just draw to your attention today as we consider the wonderful joy of Christmas that when the wisemen went to Herod and said where is this Jesus we've seen the stall.

Herod didn't on so the question Herod was just a rank pagan. He never clued well, of course, into all of this comes the stall, which is the supernatural part of this stall which moved and then settled over one place, which according to the Scriptures gives to us an indication of the supernatural reality of God very similar to the Shekinah glory of God that guided the Israelites under Moses through the wilderness. Read all about it in Exodus chapter 13 verse 21, for example, stall these guys knew the stuff on any that they were very blessed people in life. They were they were wealthy, well situated people not any that they will highly respected but voided their faith drive the joy so let's just awesome this question they enjoy the joy of the Magi, the joy of Christmas was seen in at least five or six ways.

In this passage, number one, it was seen in the question that they almost the Bible tells us rocked in verse two they lost a question.

You know it's really just the loveliest Christian is where is he wears Jesus, can you help me find your asking that where is he being born king of the Jews. We saw the stall they went asking if he was they were asking where he was and was just a beautiful question speaking to someone a week or so ago and I just said the most beautiful thing to me that were talking about over.

Should reason should increase of church and all the things that go on and this lady said to me should foster she said I just I just wanted being church to worship Jesus. Then joy was seen in the in the question they joy was seen in the onset they gave you have onset came from the temple hierarchy, but there was joy in that onset because the Magi believed it. The people that David didn't listen. I'll guarantee you can drive across America today and most people will tell you everything you want to know about Christmas but not everybody believes in the Christ of Christmas. Then joy it was in the onset that they gave a mean what what did they say. I mean, the Bible was just so very clear in verse five. They told King Herod in Bethlehem of Judea. They knew exactly they didn't believe they knew Bible says to us, we need to give out. We need to invite him, not just look at him and when we do when we invited men, everything changes. Please forgive the interruption will be back for the rest of Dr. Don's message in just a moment.

But as we take a pause to know that were here for you. Would love to pray with you and for you at any time day or night at 86689.

That's 866899673 or we can connect on our website as well. TW online.org here in the middle of December. You may have noticed our website TW online.org that there is a wonderful opportunity to share this Bible-based teaching with even more people because of the special challenge gift is Dr. Don without the details how God has done things again this year. Through the Encouraging Word Rd. cost ministry.

Do you know that over 5000 telling us what this ministry means to them in their spiritual life and so many are coming to know Jesus. A friend has just given a $200,000 challenge gift this ministry and we are asking as he is asking that listeners will give an additional $300,000 to this ministry by December 31 so that God's word could continue to go out across the world in London. Recently someone came up to me and said thank you for the Encouraging Word and for what it means. Would you help me do this.

If all of us participated, even at 2 to 3 to 4 dollars each. God will help us to reach this goal together. Yes we can do it if you would like to get involved. You can call us right now with your gift at 866899 word member. We began with two dollars a week from hundred 20 people. Many, many years ago and every gift from two dollars to $2000-$200,000 is making difference in the lives of people around the world.

Again, you can discover more and give online as well. At TW online.org that's TW online.org or call 866898668999673. Now, the conclusion of today's great teaching with Dr. Don Wilton called wonderful joy. The onset joy was just in this onset they joy was in the fact that in the onset they just put it out. They knew exactly where they knew exactly who said the prophets. They knew exactly how it was said it was written down. That's what they say they, for it is written by the prophet so they joy the Magi's joy which we get to this super awesome joy that caused them to just open their hearts up and say everything we just can't give enough they just gave the very best.

What holds only joy can do that only joy can call those three people like this with the knowledge they have offered journey they've driven to be able to just open up and say when we do is get Rita's content gold, frankincense, bow down and worship the Lord you are only joy can produce that only joy. Does that their joy was seen in the understanding they showed you know these temple people scribes and the Pharisees and Sadducees are they referred back to Micah chapter 5 in verse two we know that written in the eighth century BC.

Think about how long that was before 37 BC written in the eighth century BC. Think of how long that is before full BC AED and wanted Micah writes about Michael what Micah said was, literally, I declaration of the deity of Israel's Messiah and by the way Winnie when he quotes Micah to boot listen written in the fifth century BC C before Christ. This is God's servant briefed on by the Holy Spirit what he say about the coming of Jesus to things right there really three things. Number one is going to be born in Bethlehem of Judea. Number two, he's going to be a ruler and number three he's going to be a shepherd of my people. Bethlehem, the place ruined sovereign God.

By the way, one of the Bible say the government will be way on his shoulders.

There it is. This is the fifth century BC that the prophet say and from you shall come a ruler because the government will be upon his shoulder, so they have gone kingdom across the Messiah, Lord of lords and King of Kings, sovereign, overall, buddy very quickly and from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people God wants us to know that this King.

Unlike Eric will be all will have authority but will love us with the shepherds. He's not into killing people easing to bringing people to life. He's not into destroying he's into building up is not into breaking down. He's not into using and abusing God so loved the world he will be shepherd to my people, Jesus will rule the world.

There is rain with tender care is not beautiful with tender care. This is this is amazing how do you unpack this joy seen in the question Magi are seen in the onset they gave it seen in the understanding they should but then forfeits. Then joy is seen in the journey they made Allison. They were in Jerusalem and I had to get going.

We know Bethlehem is in the south of Jerusalem. It's not for us. I mean come on, you know, getting to my emoticon dominating two tics.

Not a problem.

Few barriers you go to go through today. Go therefore, off noon to you and be back in the hotel in time for dinner. They say taught these Magi. I had such, they were willing to do whatever it takes, it often think about the fact that came from Persia, so let's not forget the pre-journey journey before they got to Austin question of Herod the great, to put it in this way, they had traveled a long way on, it's very interesting. By the way, let me give you tip if a camel smiles at you and wants to give you a kiss.

Don't do it, turn it down. Just turn it down. Those lips will give you the biggest kiss you've ever had in your life you will live with it for the next five years. No brushing of your teeth will ever help these guys wrote a camel all life from Persia right data Jerusalem, by the way, do you know just the journey from down in the valley of Persia and into Jerusalem was arduous enough. It was a massive undertaking coming across those go land heights. Just amazing stuff coming up from the South from Sinai. Just amazing journeys to get to Jerusalem because Jerusalem is high up high up. Then joy was seen in the journey ahead.

But you know they joy finally not conclusively seen in the response they had or did they have a response.

Their response was a phenomenal response. They bowed down they sold, they gave so you have the response you have the faith of these people. They joy was seen in the faith's amazing story here. I'll ask yourself the question we oldest joy comes came from. They had they had such joy when they sold the Christ child when they sold the stall, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. The question they are on. So they gave the understanding they showed the journey. They made the response they had and the faith they had. You just everywhere you turn you just see joy. By the way, what was the ultimate joy the ultimate joy was off today so Jesus and what was that the spirit of God told them everything they needed. The Bible says in the dream God the spirit. This is a manual, God with us in us said to them, don't go back the same way you see the joy of knowing Christ is the ever present presence of Christ by his Holy Spirit. He raises flags any points the way and he encourages our hearts. He alters out direct ship. He prevents us from stepping into.

He gives us wisdom beyond ourselves just foods talked with unspeakable joy, would you bow with me today bow your heads today. However, it is that you worshiping the Lord. Yep, this Jesus, you know, maybe the question today is of these three groups of people.

Herod the great Temple hierarchy. The Magi, which one do you suppose you would fall into. Are you in the camp with Herod you just don't believe, are you in the camp with the temple hierarchy. You know all about it. You've never trusted.

You've never accepted you have no faith essentially don't believe in Christ you know about it is in your hand but never coming you are are you able to say today you know I'm I'm in the group with the major. I know Jesus was born.

I know why he came. I see him as ruler shepherd King.

I know that he loves me. Give your life to Christ today, would you pray this prayer with me today.

Dear God, I see Jesus today. Today I repent of my sin. By faith I receive you into my pray this prayer today and I prayed in Jesus name I cannot see everybody today. God can you give in your heart to Jesus. Every week we have people coming to know Christ.

Would you just raise a hand right where you are in the presence of the Lord today. God bless you my friend, for those that I can see Lord Jesus people today. God bless you my friend. People today given their lives to class this Jesus.

What wonderful joy. Lord Jesus bless these frames. They all part of our family. My family they all my Magi because we believe in Jesus Lord, we pray.

Today we pray for a list.

Pray Lord for our just they would come to Christ we pray most of this Christmas Lord Jesus the light of Jesus would shine so brightly. The name of Jesus will be lifted so Jesus is the reason since you are the Christ, the son of the living.

What wonderful pray together in Jesus name. If the Lord has touched you. Perhaps you were praying along with Dr. Wilton. Moments ago to give your life to Jesus Christ. We dedicate your life to Jesus.

Dr. Don has wonderful resources he wanted to have one to give us a call 8668 or does the phone number that is 866-899-9673 or you could meet us online as well. TW online.org that's our website TW online.org.

Also, you'll find great resources like this, many people have endured a lot of changes. Lawson hardships over the past two years. As you reflect upon your life this season about giving a gift of hope and encouragement your friends and family this Christmas this season.

Dr. Wilton wants to encourage you to make a commitment to meet Jesus every day, you cannot only learn more about him, but be able to live a life of absolute trust and not here in anticipation of his return your gift $25 or more support to The Encouraging Word this month you will receive heaven life and the resurrection.

A beautiful 52 week leather bound devotional written by 52 trusted pastors and church leaders including Dr. Wilton. You will find blessings upon blessings. As you read uplifting scripture versus daily devotions and prayers. Call us today at 866-899-WORD to request the new devotional 866-899-WORD 9673 this'll make great Christmas gifts of hope and encouragement to those who need it so desperately right now.

Thank you for your continued partnership Christmas to you from all of us here at The Encouraging Word. That's just one of many great resources on our website@twonline.org grab one of those for gift will be perfect. Another great Christmas gift is Dr. Wilton's book call Saturdays with Billy about the 20+ years he spent as the pastor of Dr. Billy Graham will find that resources well online@tewronline.org is Dr. Don mentioned earlier were in the middle of a remarkable opportunity you're led to give now's the time to do so call us at 86689 or visit us for more information and ways to get online@wonline.org that's TW online.org