Worship of the Magi

The point: Recognize that God delights in bypassing human curiosity and focusing on what truly matters: what you see in Jesus and what you do when guided to Him.

Martin uses the expensive nature of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to illustrate that the Magi were likely wealthy or entrusted with significant wealth, contrasting with common retail purchases.

And by means of this, came to seek the Messiah, the King of the Jews. And then about the only other thing we can say for certain is that they came from the East, because the text says that, certain magi from the East, and that they were obviously either wealthy men or someone had deposited a great deal of wealth in their hands for they presented gifts of gold, of frankincense and myrrh, and you don't get those at J.C. Penney.

7:07 - 7:39 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Supernaturalism oozes from all of its pores.

Martin uses the analogy of stumbling through the Bible, starting with the virgin conception, to illustrate how rejecting the supernatural in one part of Scripture leads to rejecting it throughout, potentially leading to damnation.

This was God operating in His own world. And once you see you've embraced the miracle of chapter 1, that a virgin conceives in her womb, and that that womb contains nothing less than the enfleshment of deity, chapter 2 is no stumbling block. You see, if you stumble at chapter 1, you'll stumble at chapter 2, and then you'll stumble at chapter 3, and you'll go stumbling all the way through. Bible until you stumble into hell.

21:54 - 22:26 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not be content with carnal self-contentment; recognize your spiritual sickness and need for Christ, the divine physician.

Martin quotes Jesus' statement, 'They that are well have no need of a doctor, but they that are sick,' to illustrate that Christ comes to those who recognize their spiritual need, not those who are self-satisfied.

He never comes to men as an unsought luxury. Do you hear me? He never comes to men as an unsought luxury. And men never come to Him as some kind of an extra commodity. Jesus Himself said, they that are well have no need of a doctor, but they that are sick. I am like that. Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden. There are few things more destructive to the souls of men than smug, carnal contentment with what we are.

26:24 - 27:16 Read in full sermon

The point: Recognize that by nature, you are like Herod, seeing Christ as a rival to your own throne, and face the reality that Christ will conquer you in grace or crush you in judgment.

Martin describes Herod's slaughter of the male infants in Bethlehem as a brutal act stemming from his fear of a rival king, highlighting his deep-seated cruelty and opposition to Christ.

they or work were not right so to judge or punish would seem wrong but so to command and Mills appeals to both of them and let it go out of their hearts to the whole sartorium. out in prostration, he would have risen up and plunged a knife into that one who was a threat to his own throne. But then you see the real attitude comes to the surface in verse 16, when his design of subtlety is frustrated by the Lord visiting the Magi in a dream. Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth and sent forth and slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and all...

36:44 - 37:51 Read in full sermon

Driving home: We will not have this man to reign over us.

Martin quotes Luke 19:14 to represent the natural human heart's rebellion against God's rule, illustrating the inherent opposition to Christ's kingship.

of Luke 19, 14. We will not have this man to reign over us. Isn't that a description of some of you sitting here tonight? You see, the presence of Jesus always exposes the Herods for what they really are. No sooner is Jesus born than Herod's fangs are bared, and he would seek the Lord. This is the life of the Son of God. But his end was death, as will be the end of every man, woman, boy, or girl who seeks to oppose the rule and the reign of Jesus Christ the Lord. My friend, listen. Either Christ will conquer you in grace, or he'll crush you in

39:29 - 40:18 Read in full sermon

Driving home: We will not have this man to reign over us.

Martin uses the stark dichotomy of Christ conquering in grace or crushing in judgment to illustrate the unavoidable and absolute nature of one's response to Jesus Christ.

of Luke 19, 14. We will not have this man to reign over us. Isn't that a description of some of you sitting here tonight? You see, the presence of Jesus always exposes the Herods for what they really are. No sooner is Jesus born than Herod's fangs are bared, and he would seek the Lord. This is the life of the Son of God. But his end was death, as will be the end of every man, woman, boy, or girl who seeks to oppose the rule and the reign of Jesus Christ the Lord. My friend, listen. Either Christ will conquer you in grace, or he'll crush you in

39:29 - 40:18 Read in full sermon

The point: If you have a working knowledge of the Scriptures but have not come to worship Christ, you risk joining the chief priests in their rejection.

Martin quotes the chief priests' cry, 'Crucify him!', to illustrate the progression from religious indifference to open denial and rejection of the Son of God.

My friend, it will only be a time, only a matter of time, if you do not join the Magi in worship. That you'll join the chief priests who say, liters of allows me to be wonderful, the true meaning of much more than I visit fold this growingico, I and everyone and all their descendants. Crucify him. Crucify him.

44:12 - 44:31 Read in full sermon