BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

MATTHEW 2:1-16

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

As far as being in time for the first Christmas the wise men were about 2 years late. But that didn’t let it stop them and it shouldn’t stop you. You can, like them, be a wise man by being better late than never. How?

 

I. Study the Scriptures [2:1-2, Daniel 9:25]

 

Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

Genesis 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

Numbers 24:17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth .

 

II. Give Time to your Soul’s Welfare [2:2, Lk. 12:16-21]

 

And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

 

III. Follow the Light that God Gives You [2:2]

 

Jn. 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

 

IV. Seek More Light [2:2, 7-9]

 

Rm. 1:21-22 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

 

V. Rejoice in God’s Leading [2:10, Romans 2:4]

 

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

 

VI. Recognize & Receive Christ [2:11]

 

Gold for the King who must be served, Frankincense for God Who deserves prayer & praise, Myrrh for the Saviour who pays for sin with His own life, Worship of God in the flesh.

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

 

VII. Obey God Rather than Man [2:8, 12, 16]

 

Saul of Tarsus came late but he came. Here’s what he said in 1 Cor. 15:1-10;

 

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.