We'd like to begin tonight's
service by looking at some Scripture, if you'd like to turn in your
Bibles, to the 28th Psalm. We'll read a couple of verses
from Psalms number 28. And I want to begin at verse
6. Psalms 28. Beginning at verse
6, we read these words. Blessed be the Lord, because
he hath heard the voice of my supplications, my pleadings,
my cries. Blessed be the Lord, because
he hath heard the voice of my supplications. The Lord is my
strength and my shield, my heart trusted in him, and I am helped. Therefore, my heart greatly rejoices,
and with my song will I praise Him. The Lord is their strength,
and He is the saving strength of His anointed. Save thy people,
and bless thine inheritance. Feed them also, and lift them
up forever. We'll begin with the handout,
and I want to begin reading from the Old Testament, from Micah
chapter 5, verse 2. Because what we're seeing in
the book of Matthew is we're seeing the fulfillment of Scripture
as we've looked at. Actually, I began to mention
that in a study tonight, but then I realized that was actually
a message I preached last Sunday, the fulfillment of Scriptures.
And that's what we're seeing here in Matthew, is the fulfillment
of God's Word, giving us the assurance, the assurance through
His Word that what He says shall come come to pass as He has said
it. I've titled tonight's study,
My Lord, because as I read through these words that we're going
to go through, over and over again, it comes to mind that
He has made Himself my Lord. He's always been my Lord. He's
the Lord of everything. But every one of us know there
was a day when we did not know Him as our Lord. Not until He
came to us in His love and revealed to us that love. So we read here
in our handout, the beginning, Micah 5 verse 2, but thou Bethlehem
Ephratah, thou, though thou be little among the thousands of
Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me, that is
to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been from old,
from everlasting. He shall be ruler in Israel. Well, again, he's ruler of everything,
but only until Until He comes to us and shines the light of
His Son in our hearts, we go about through this world thinking
we're the rulers of everything. We're the rulers of our little
world. We're gods, little gods, as it might be. That's what the
devil was talking about when Adam and Eve sinned. And he told
them, you'll be as gods. Your eyes will be opened. And
you'll see you'll be as gods. They did. They thought they were
gods at that point. Now look over at Matthew, if
you would. Turn over to Matthew chapter 2 and read with me verses
1 through 6. Now we looked closely at verses
1 and 2 last week, but I want to read them along with everything
again this week. Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem
of Judah in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came
wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, where is he that is born
king of the Jews? for we have seen his star in
the east and are come to worship him. When Herod, verse three,
when Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled,
and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all
chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded
of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him,
in Bethlehem of Judah, For thus it is written by the prophet,
that's what we just read there in Micah 5, 2, and thou Bethlehem
in the land of Judah art not the least among the princes of
Judah, for out of thee shall come a governor that shall rule
my people Israel. Now, in the handout, mid-page
we begin right there, We closed our time together in last week's
study, or the last study we were together, considering the irresistible
call of some unlikely characters. Remember that word wise doesn't
necessarily mean wisdom, as you and I see the word wise. It actually
comes from the word magi, M-A-G-I, or magos. which means magicians,
fortune tellers. Uncommon men is what we looked
at. Uncommon to the religious realms. And I wish to make one more point
before we go on in this text. We have in this passage a demonstration
of that which ought to make our hearts rejoice. In quoting from
the Old Testament, in verse six, those religious folks make a
statement of truth that brings great peace to God's people.
It says, for out of thee shall come a governor that shall rule
my people Israel. You see where I'm getting the
title, my Lord? He has made himself my Lord. He has made himself Lord to me. He has revealed himself as the
Lord of all things. and what peace that brings to
my soul. I can read the words of God and
say, that will be, because He's God. He rules it. When He says
to us in His, when He inspired Paul to write to the Romans in
Romans chapter 8 verse 28, we know that all things, we know
why, because He's God. He rules over everything. He's the Lord of all. He's my
Lord. Back going, continuing on in our handout. Our Heavenly
Father rules all things in providence to accomplish His purpose of
grace. That's what we'll read about
in Romans 8, 28 through 30. And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are the
called according to His purpose, for whom He did foreknow, He
also did predestinate. We see the Lord of everything
right here, moving all things according to His purpose. For
them He did foreknow, He did predestinate, to be conformed
to the image of His Son. What peace you and I have in
these words. There's a day coming, folks,
when we're going to be just like Him. And in His eyes, we're just
like Him now. We see ourselves in the flesh
still and see the sin that's within us, but God does not see
that sin anymore. That sin, every sin that you
and I have committed, will commit, has all been laid on His Son.
He's paid it all. He sees our sin no more as far
as the east is from the west. Is that not good news to you?
Oh, that blesses my heart. We're going to be conformed to
the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among
many brethren, moreover whom He did predestinate. Them He
also called, and whom He called, them He also justified, and whom
He justified, them He also glorified. Oh, the joy that we receive from
the words of God in giving us comfort that our Lord rules all
things. In Romans 11, verses 33 through
36, we read these words, Oh, the depth of the riches, both
of the wisdom and knowledge of God. Great is the mystery of
godliness, folks. Oh, the depth of the riches both
of wisdom and of knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His
judgments and His ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind
of the Lord? Or who hath been His counselor? Or who hath first given to Him,
and it shall be recompensed unto Him again? For of Him, and through
Him, and to Him are all things to whom be glory forever. He
caused the light to shine in the darkness. He made a star
to guide these chosen men to Christ the Savior. We read in
Revelation 1.20, the mystery of the seven stars which thou
sawest in my right hand and the seven golden candlesticks. The
seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven
candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. He moved
Caesar Augustus to make a decree concerning taxation. That's why
Joseph had to go to Bethlehem. They had to go back to their
hometown to pay their taxes. That was caused by Caesar Augustus.
He prevented Herod from following these men to Bethlehem. Herod
could have followed those men as they went following the star.
He provided what Joseph and Mary needed to flee to Egypt. Those
men came bearing gifts. Gold and what else was there? But there was gold and frankincense.
Here it is in verse 11. Frankincense and myrrh. These
are very wealthy things. This is how God provided Joseph
and Mary to leave where they were and go down to Egypt. They
were going to go to a foreign land. What were they going to
live on down there? These men brought? You know,
I was thinking as I was reading those words, there was a time
when Kathy and I, when the Lord first brought us here to rescue.
And some of you may already know this, but I'm gonna share it
with you again anyway. And I was driving my truck one day and
Kathy called me up just crying, just in tears. And she tried
to squeak out the words, you're not gonna believe this. We had
something that needed to get done for us to finish moving
into the residence here or something to that effect. There was something
that we needed some money for and we didn't have enough in
the general fund. And she said, a lady has shown
up with an envelope and it's got $1,000 cash in it. And she
goes, I just broke down in tears and I've been crying ever since
she left. She just came and said, I needed
to give this to somebody and he wanted you to have it. And
she turned around and walked away. We've never seen that lady
again. This is the works of God in providing for his people.
The same thing happened when this room flooded. You wouldn't
believe the monies that came in from people I didn't even
know. Some folks down in Louisiana, a group of people down in Louisiana
had heard that Rescue had been flooded out in the dining hall.
So they sent us a big old check. Everything was covered, and there
was still enough left over to put our new heater and our new
air conditioner in the room here. This is the way God works. He
rules everything. including the wicked, to make
things good for his people. He caused the light to shine.
He moved Caesar Augustus. He warned these men from the
east, back in our handout again, in a dream not to return to their
own country through Jerusalem. And as he cared for Joseph and
Mary, his servants and our Savior who came into the world as his
righteous servants, so God's servants in this world are the
objects of his special and unceasing care. All who are His are the
apple of His eye. You and I may safely cast all
of our care upon Him, for He careth for you, as it says in
1 Peter 5, 7. So let's move on now in our text.
Let's read verses 7 through 16 in our Bibles. Turn to your Bible
if you would, and beginning at verse 7, Then Herod, when he
had privilege, called the wise men and inquired of them diligently
what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem
and said, Go and search diligently for the young child, and when
ye have found him, bring me word again that I may come and worship
him also. When they had heard the king,
they departed. And lo, the star which they saw
in the east went before them till it came and stood over where
the young child was. When they saw the star, they
rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come
into the house, they saw the young child with Mary and his
mother and fell down and worshipped him. And when they had opened
their treasures, they presented unto him gifts, gold and frankincense
and myrrh. And being warned of God in a
dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into
their own country another way. And when they were departed,
behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream,
saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee
to Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word, for the Herod
will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he
took the young child and his mother by night, and departed
into Egypt. and was there until the death
of Herod that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord
by the prophet saying out of Egypt have I called my son. Then Herod when he saw that he
was mocked and the wise men was exceeding wrath when he was mocked
of the wise men, was exceeding wrath and sent forth and slew
all the children that were in Bethlehem and in all the coast
thereof from two years old and under according to the time which
he had diligently inquired of these wise men." Did you notice
something? I just noticed something. No,
let me stop what I was going to say there because I didn't
read the footnote on that. Never mind. So, back in our handout,
middle of page two. Folks, this too is of God's purpose. In Deuteronomy 32, 39, we read these words, see now
that I, even I, am he and there is no God with me. I kill and
I make alive. I wound, and I heal. Neither is there any that can
deliver out of my hand." Everything that happens, folks, is by the
permissive will of God. He either rules all that is,
or we are wasting our time in vanity. Verse 17 declares this,
Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by the Jeremiah prophet,
saying, And then it gives what the prophet prophesied of in
verse 18. In Ramah was there a voice heard,
lamentation. Now remember Ramah, that's where
King Herod was. Lamentation and weeping and great
mourning. When He slew all those children
out of His own wrath, what do you think was going on in the
land? Lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning. Rachel, the
wife of Jacob, weeping for her children, and would not be comforted
because they are not. Page 3. Brother Don Fortner wrote
these words concerning that. He says, from the beginning of
time, Satan has opposed his Creator. When God made known to His holy
angels His intention to save sinful men by the blood and righteousness
of Christ, and thus to exalt manhood to the place of the highest
dominion over all creation, so that even the angels would be
servants to chosen redeemed sinners, Lucifer said, no, I will not
be servant to man. I will be like the Most High.
And he led one third of the heavenly host into rebellion against God
and against the purpose of God. From the beginning of time, Satan
has been opposed to Christ. and has attempted to nullify
the purpose of God. And so it shall be until time
shall be no more. In the old serpent, the devil
is cast into the lake of fire. What a horrific scene we just
read. What a horrific scene we have
here in the attempt to destroy the Lord of all. Let me read
that verse again. Then Herod, when he saw, verse
16, it's in the handout. Then Herod, when he saw that
he was mocked, you know, I'm gonna stop there for just a minute.
I was thinking about that very thing, because isn't that what
we did? Isn't that what we do in making ourselves to be gods?
In thinking of ourselves as above God, are we not mocking Him? Is it not His wrath that cursed
this world for mocking Him? in the garden. I'm not trying
to make Herod a picture of God, but we see Christ where we see
a picture of Christ. Herod, when he saw that he was
mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wrath and sent forth and slew
all the children that were in Bethlehem. What a horrific scene
we have before us. and sent forth, and in all the
coast thereof, for two years old and under, according to the
time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men." But
folks, it's no less horrific than the day you and I live in
today. People are mercilessly killing
in pure hatred, mercilessly killing children because they just don't
want to have them. It's called abortion. mercilessly killing people all
around the globe. The world is filled with men
and women who worship other gods of their own imagination, belittling,
mocking the one true God. Again, attempting to destroy
the Lord of glory by raising themselves up, by glorifying
themselves. Men living according to what
they think is right, having no respect for the lives of others.
Death reigns in this world, folks. This is as much of God's doing
as anything that happens is of God. Yet some will spend an eternity
praising the Lord for His mercy to them, those who have seen
His mercy, knowing that they too were once ones who mocked
the Lord and raised up their fists against Him. God will deliver
a people from the curse of sin. Why and how will God be gracious
to some? by providing himself the just
for the unjust, sending his only begotten son to be our propitiation,
our atonement, our righteousness, our wisdom, our sanctification,
our justification, our redemption, our all in all. Page four. I quoted back on page one from
Romans 828, and we know that all things work together for
them that love God to them who are called according to his purpose. I ask you this question, do you
know? Do you know that all things are
for our good? Do you think Joseph and Mary
knew that everything that was going on in their life, being
chased out of Bethlehem, coming to Bethlehem and not having an
end to lay down, do you think they knew? If they were of God's
people, they knew, just like you and I do. They trust the
word of God. Do I know that the curse of this
world is for my good? I can tell you this, that if
there was no curse, Would I need a God to send a Savior to me? If there was no curse, would
I need God to send me a Savior? If there was no curse, would
I need the righteousness of God because I have none of my own?
If there was no curse, would I need the blood of the spotless
Lamb of God? If there was no curse, would
I need one to intercede to God on my behalf? I tell you, if
there was not for the curse, I would not know God's grace
to me, and neither would you. Everything. It says all things,
and we know that all things work together for good to them that
love God. That means everything, folks. You think you got trials going
on in your life? Imagine the folks whose Babies
were killed and slaughtered in this day. Was that for the good
of God's people? Absolutely it was. I know this. I know this, that
everyone for whom God has loved from before the foundation of
the world shall be with Him because of what His Son has done. Not
one shall be lost. Not one. And that includes babies. Herod stands before us back in
our handout as an example of the enmity of a man's heart against
God and his opposition to Christ and his cause. The Lord Jesus
came down from heaven to save poor sinners. What could be more
noble and beneficial? But as soon as he came into the
world, Satan had Herod in place and inspired his heart with the
barbaric cruelty to seek the young child to destroy him. Reprobate
interpreters of history tell us that Christianity has been
the cause of great cruelty and bloodshed. But if they were honest,
they would say it has not been Christianity, but man's opposition
to Christianity that has been the cause of great cruelty and
bloodshed. Wasn't the Lord Jesus, there
wasn't any reason the baby Jesus had given for anybody to kill
those children. It was the world that was against
what Christ represented, the sovereignty of God. Here are
three things that we must never forget or expect to change, page
five. The cross of Christ and the gospel
of God's free grace in him, are an offense and a stumbling block
to the unregenerate man. You'll never change that. And
you should never expect to change the world in that either. We
preach the gospel and pray the Lord will change it, but we know
that we have no authority or power in our word to do so. Listen
to 1 Corinthians 1, 21 through 24. For after that, in the wisdom
of God, the world by wisdom knew not God. It pleased God by the
foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews
require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom. But we preach
Christ crucified unto the Jews, a stumbling block, and unto the
Greeks, foolishness. But unto them which are called,
both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God and the wisdom
of God. While he was upon this earth,
our Savior said, they hated me without a cause. and nothing
has changed. The offense of the cross has
not ceased. Men do not object to Christ being a Savior. The
offense of the cross is that the gospel insists that Christ
is the only Savior. The only way to salvation is
through Him. Through His loving power and
election, through His loving power and salvation, it must
be through Christ. He is the way and the only way.
He is the truth. That's what they hate. That's
what the world hates. What did the Jews do after the
Lord said to them, you believe not because you're not my sheep.
My sheep hear my voice. And I give unto them eternal
life. He says, my father, No one is greater than my Father
and no one can pluck them out of my Father's hand. My Father
and I are one. What did they do when they heard
the truth of who Christ is and how people are saved? They took
up stones to stone Him. They took up stones to stone
Him. That's what happens. That's what the world does. We're
never going to change that. They hated Him without a cause. object Christ to be a partial
Savior, the offense of the cross is that gospel declares that
Christ is alone, is Savior alone. I wrote that backwards, sorry.
The gospel of God, back in our handout, mid-page, the gospel
we believe runs in direct opposition to the religious world in which
we live. The gospel of God's free and
sovereign grace in Christ is contrary to all the natural religious
sediments of all men. To all men by nature, to all
lost, unregenerate men, religious or irreligious, the cross of
Christ is an offense. It is not possible to make the
gospel palatable to the lost men. Every attempt to do so of
necessity involves compromise. That's what's happened to the
religious world that we live in. That's what has happened
to the so-called Christian churches. They've compromised the gospel
to make it more presentable. They want to have more souls.
We want to be soul winners. Well, how can we do that? We
get more people to come to church. How can we do that? If we feed
them every Sunday afternoon after church. They compromise and make
it more tasteful to men. They hear, they let it, they
tickle the ears. It is not possible to faithfully
preach the message of salvation by God's free and sovereign grace
through the merits of Christ's unatoning death and imputed righteousness
without offending those who reject and deny it. Secondly, the great,
powerful, influential men of this world, though they are almost
always religious in some way or another, are the foes, not
the friends, of righteousness. Josiahs are few. Herods are a
legion. Thirdly, the cause of Christ
does not depend upon and must never seek the power or the patronage
or the political figures of civil government. It is written, put
not your trust in princes. That's what it says in Psalms
146.3. And folks, it's as common today
as it has ever been throughout history for churches and religious
leaders to seek approval and authority of political leaders
by civil law. While we should, While we are
and should be happy to be free, this is top of page six, from
the fear of political persecution, believers ought to quietly submit
to civil authority and never seek to promote and build the
church or the kingdom of God by civil law. Look with me, if
you would, over Romans chapter 13. Turn over to Romans chapter
13. Mark your spot in Matthew. We're going to come back to it.
In Romans 13. Our Lord gives us some very wise instructions.
Romans 13, beginning at verse one, we read, let every soul
be subject unto the higher powers, for there is no power but of
God. Everyone that rules this country
has been put there by God, and that includes the man we have
there now. It'll include whoever he puts
there next year. No power but of God, the powers
that be are ordained of God. Verse two, whosoever therefore
resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God. And they
that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers
are not a terror to good works, but to evil, to the evil. Wilt
thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good,
and thou shalt have praise of the same. For he is the minister
of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is
evil, be afraid, for he beareth not the sword in vain. For he
is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that
doeth evil. Wherefore? Wherefore, verse 5,
ye must needs be subject not only for wrath, but also for
conscience sake for this cause. Pay ye tribute also, for they
are God's ministers attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their
dues tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to who custom
fear, to whom fear, honor to whom honor. Back in our handout. Second paragraph, we read, let
those whose God is weak and needy seek the laws and the swords
of men to give their God power. Do what they will, we are to
do everything within our power to lead a quiet and peaceful
life with all men. We read in 2 Timothy 2 verses
1 through 3, I exhort, therefore, that first of all supplications,
prayer, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,
for kings and for all that are in authority, that we may lead
a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty, for
this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.
In all that is recorded in these verses, we are again reminded
of the sovereign rule and the wondrous mystery of divine providence. Satan wanted the Christ child
destroyed, so he moved Herod with the rage of petty jealousy
to kill him. But God had other purposes and
designs which he used the wickedness of Herod to accomplish. In Psalm
7610, we read these words, So let me close, if you would, back
in our text in Matthew. verses 19 through 23. But when
Herod was dead, this is verse 19 of Matthew 2, when Herod was
dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph
in Egypt, saying, arise and take the young child and his mother
and go into the land of Israel, for they are dead, which sought
the young child's life. And he arose and took the young
child and his mother and came into the land of Israel. But
when he heard that Achilles did reign in Judah in the room of
his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither. Notwithstanding,
being warned of God and a dream, he turned aside into the parts
of Galilee and he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth. that it might be fulfilled which
is spoken of by the prophets, he shall be called a Nazarene."
What humiliation, back in our handout. Second paragraph from
the bottom. What humiliation surrounds the
birth of the Lord Jesus Christ? Born with no end to lay his head,
coming into this world and being sought after by some to kill
him from such a young age, does this not fulfill Scripture? He
was hated without cause? Then going down into Egypt only
to return into Nazareth? Can anything good come out of
Nazareth? Nazareth is a small town obscured
and despised in Galilee. No one lived in Nazareth except
those who could not afford to live anywhere else. Sounds like
South Sacramento to me. This is where the Son of God
chose to reside. Let us learn from his example.
When it comes to seeking great things, page 7, When it comes
to seeking great things for ourselves, we are warned in Jeremiah 45
verses 4 through 5, Thus shalt thou say unto him, The Lord saith
thus, Behold, that which I have built I will break down, and
that which I have planted I will pluck up. Even this whole land,
and seekest thou great things for thyself, seek them not. For behold, I will bring evil
upon all flesh, saith the Lord, but thy life will I give unto
thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest. It is not
nearly as important as people imagine to have property, position,
power, praise, and money. It is a very great sin to be
covetous and proud. But it is no sin to be poor,
as J.C. Ryle puts it, It matters not
so much what money we have and where we live as what we are
in the sight of God. Where are we going when we die?
Shall we live forever in heaven? These are the main things which
we should attend to. Don Fortner wrote these words.
He says, the fact is great wealth is a great danger to any man's
soul. Those who seek the riches of
this world know not what they seek. They are likely to fill
our hearts with pride and chain our affections to this world.
Our master said it is easier for a camel to go through the
eye of a needle than a rich man to enter into the kingdom of
God. He didn't say it was impossible. He just said it was harder. He also says, how hardy shall
they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God. Seek not
riches, but righteousness. Seek not money, but mercy. Seek not greatness, but grace. If I may add one last thing to
tonight's study before we close, it is that death is a great leveler. Herod was now dead, it says.
Death enters the palaces of kings just as it does the dens of paupers. That's another thing that Don
Fortner had wrote. None can resist its power, the
power of death. That murderer, the murderer of
helpless infants, was himself helpless before the Lord God
when the hour of his departure from this world had come. At
the hour appointed, we too shall die. After death, we shall stand
before God in judgment. After judgment, we shall spend
eternity somewhere, either in heaven or in hell. Where will
you spend eternity? Are you prepared to meet God?
Am I? The only way to be accepted with
the Holy Lord God is to be washed in Christ's precious blood and
robed in His perfect righteousness. For that, we must trust Him.
May God the Holy Spirit give us grace to believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ. He has made Himself to be my
Lord. Is He yours?