The Battle For The Throne | Rediscovering Christmas, Part 3
December 17, 2023 / Crosstown Alliance ChurchRediscovering Christmas, pt 3 – “The Battle for the Throne”
“No. Price too high.”
“No price too high.”
Some worship this newborn king…Others want to ensure he never reaches the throne
Matthew 2 (selected verses)
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wisemen from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of theJews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death ofHerod…16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 22 But whenJoseph heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.
“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?”
There is a battle for a throne
Luke 14:26
If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children andbrothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
Romans 8:7-8
For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law;indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
There is a “little King Herod” inside us all
Romans 10:11
“None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God.”
People tend to seek after things God gives, not God.
People tend to seek after God as they want him to be.
The reason why this newborn king needed to be born is because you and I wanted to be on the throne.
“Where is the true king?”
Either you’re going to be king, or Jesus is?
Your kingdom will eventually fall
“The magi were seeking the King; Herod was opposing the King; and the Jewish priests were ignoring the King. Even the Jewish leaders were a mere five miles away from Jesus’ birth place yet they showed no interest in the Messiah.” – Warren Wiersbe
Don’t miss the King!
Your changed heart still has the residue of sin.
There is still a little Herod inside of you that needs to be put to death.
Application:
Get off the throne and give God control
Spend time with the king in worship
Surround yourself with people who want to grow
Be intentional about prayer and accountability