“THE GIFTS OF THE MAGI: Frankincense” 12-12-21

 “THE GIFTS OF THE MAGI: Frankincense” 12-12-21

INTRODUCTION

Two women who were having lunch in an elegant hotel were approached by a mutual friend who asked the occasion for the meal. One lady replied, "We are celebrating the birth of my baby boy." "But where is he?" inquired the friend. "Oh," said the mother, "you didn't think I'd bring him, did you?" 

What a picture of the way the world treats Jesus at Christmas.

Source Unknown

If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; 

If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist; 

If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist; 

If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; 

But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.

Source Unknown

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 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.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “ ‘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 shepherd my people Israel.’ ” Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 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.”

Matthew 2:1-11 NIV

I.  FRANKINCENSE

The little boy was no more than seven years old. It was time for Church, and he wanted to take his teddy bear, whom he had always called Frank. His parents protested, but he insisted that he had to take Frank, today, and they finally relented.

When the offering plates were passed, he put the teddy bear in the plate, along with a few coins.

Later, when asked about it, he simply said, "Well, the Bible says the wise men brought Jesus gifts gold, and frankincense and myrrh. I didn’t have any gold, and I don’t know what myrrh is. So I just gave Frank and cents!

Gold, frankincense, and myrrh

A.  Resin from a tree

In the summer, cuts are made in the trunks of frankincense trees, causing a  milky-white fluid to seep out.  After a week or so, the fluid hardens into pale  gold globules, which are scraped off.

B.  Mainly a component in incense

C.  Household shrines in Egypt, Greece and Rome

D.  Used in special formula in Israel per God via Moses

E.  Other uses-chewing gum, salve, smoke for lungs, cosmetics

II.  GIFT FOR A GOD

A.  Primary use was liturgical

B.  Israel's worship of God

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Take fragrant spices—gum resin, onycha and galbanum—and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts, and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer. It is to be salted and pure and sacred. Grind some of it to powder and place it in front of the ark of the covenant law in the tent of meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you. Do not make any incense with this formula for yourselves; consider it holy to the Lord. Whoever makes incense like it to enjoy its fragrance must be cut off from their people.”

Exodus‬ ‭30‬:‭34-38‬ NIV

“When anyone brings a grain offering to the Lord, their offering is to be of the finest flour. They are to pour olive oil on it, put incense on it and take it to Aaron’s sons the priests. The priest shall take a handful of the flour and oil, together with all the incense, and burn this as a memorial portion on the altar, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.”

Leviticus‬ ‭2‬:‭1-2‬ NIV

“Praise Him for the incarnation,

for the word made flesh.

I will not sing of shepherds

watching flocks on frosty nights,

or angel choristers.

I will not sing of a stable bare in Bethlehem,

or lowing oxen,

wise men trailing star with gold,

frankincense, and myrrh.

Tonight I will sing praise to the Father

who stood on heaven’s threshold

and said farewell to his Son

as he stepped across the stars

to Bethlehem and Jerusalem.

And I will sing praise to the infinite, eternal Son,

who became most finite, a baby

who would one day be executed for my crime.

Praise him in the heavens,

Praise him in the stable,

Praise him in my heart.”

By Joseph Bayly

III.  EXTRAVAGANT GIFT FOR WORSHIP

A.  Astrologers, philosophers, kings, wisemen, 

B.  They were worshippers /priests

C.  We should worship the baby God

Many years ago the Puritans thought that they were ruining Christmas with all their pagan rituals. They especially objected to the fact that the holiday usually came on a week day, therefore distracting people, they thought, from the Lord's Day of Sunday. But they did more than annually complain about it as we do. They took action and got rid of Christmas altogether. In Puritan settlements across 17th century America a law was passed outlawing the celebration of Christmas. The market place was ordered to stay open for business as though it were no special occasion and all violators were prosecuted. It was against the law to make plum pudding on December 25th. The celebration was not referred to as Yuletide but as fooltide.

So we want to reform Christmas and clean it up do we? Well, is this how far we want to go? Do we really want to be rid of it altogether. Then will Christmas, as the Puritans thought, be saved from us and our sinful ways. So what if we spend $40 billion annually on presents. Can you think of a better way of spending all that money than on gifts of love. And most of them are just that. And so what is all the lights and tinsel does create a fairy tale setting that soon disappears as does the so called Christmas spirit. At least it lets us know, if only for a brief time, what life can be like if we only try.

So let the message ring out this day, not that we are destroying this holy day, but rather, that we can never destroy this day. “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be for all generations. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a savior who is Christ the Lord.”

Sermon Illustrations, 1999.

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

‭‭ 1 Peter‬ ‭4:10-11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

CONCLUSION

The wisemen treated the little boy like a king.  They worshipped him as a god.  They gave him extravagant gifts.  How will you show your fidelity to the baby God?

There is an old story of a young boy who saw the 3 wise men coming to worship the baby Jesus. He watched in wide-eyed wonder as they presented their gifts of gold, frankincense & myrrh.  

Oh, how much he wanted to worship the baby, too. But he had nothing to give, no gift worthy of the little king. His eyes filled with tears as he turned & began to walk away.

But just then an angel appeared to him, saying, "Give what is dearest to your heart." The boy thought for a moment, & then following the angel’s advice, laid a faded blue bag alongside the gifts of the wise men.

Inside his bag was a butterfly preserved in candle wax, a forked stick used for a slingshot, a ragged rope to help climb high trees, & a seashell that, when held to the ear, echoed the roar of the sea. He gave what was dearest to his heart, & thus was privileged to stand in the presence of the king.

CHALLENGE

This Christmas let us endeavor to give more than we receive.  Give a gift that is dear to your heart.  Give it to someone who will appreciate it.  Give even though you personally will have to do without it.

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.