“Abel Tasman sighted this group of three islands in 1643. The date was 6 January, the twelfth day after Christmas – called the Fest of Epiphany by the Christian church.
According to tradition, three kings went searching for the spiritual leader of the age. The Epiphany was when they found him – the newborn baby Jesus.”
The true story about the Visit of the Magi is found in the Bible in Matthew 2:1-12
Not long ago I read seven sermons explaining the twelve verses.
Matthew 2:1-12
(Isaiah 58:6-14)
INTR.: “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
TRUE FASTING:
IF YOU……
1. to loose the chains of injustice and
2. untie the cords of the yoke,
3. to set the oppressed free and
4. break every yoke?
5. Is it not to share your food with the hungry and
6. to provide the poor wanderer with shelter –
7. when you see the naked, to clothe him, and
8. not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
THEN……
1. … your light will break forth like the dawn, and
2. your healing will quickly appear;
3. then your righteousnes will go before you, and
4. the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
5. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
6. you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
END: The mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
Second Samuel 22:2,3
“The Lord is my rock, (1)
my fortress and (2)
my deliverer; (3)
my God is my rock,
in whom I take refuge, (4)
my shield and the horn (5)
of my salvation. (6)
He is my stronghold, (7)
my refuge and
my saviour — (8)
from violent men you save me.”
Second Samuel 22:29
“You are my lamp, O Lord;
the Lord turns my darkness into light.”
Have you ever started something and not finished it? I have! And that happened only lately. I think you have too.
Only the other day I received an E-mail which started like this: “Don’t start anything you can’t finish and always finish what you start.” The writer of the E-mail continues, “These words from my mother come to mind so often.”
And now listen to these words from the Bible, the word of the Living God. I read those words long ago and they have been a great encouragement for me already for a long time. Here they are: “,…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the DAY OF CHRIST JESUS.”
Are you not also glad, that the Lord began the good work in you and that you did not not do it and that he is carrying it on to completion? I am glad and thousand times glad!
The verse quoted above is actually Philippians 1:6. But read the verses three to six from the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Philippians 1:3-6.
In verse three of that portion of Scripture Paul is saying: “I thank my God every time I remember you.” Please note the underlined word remember.” We read of remembering something also in the letter to the Hebrews. Let us turn to Hebrews 13:7. There it says: ” Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” Another translation says “the outcome of their well-spent lives”. A German translation talks about the exit of their lives.
I take it that it means the ‘Final Outcome’ of their lives. The final outcome is important.
Do you remember now people who have led you and are leading you now? Do you remember now people who spoke the word of God to you and are speaking the word of God to you now? Some are with the Lord already of course, but others are still alive. I remember them. Some have been outstanding men of God.
There are many, but I can only mention a few:
Only a couple of days ago “uncle Ernie” came to my mind. He was one of the founders of the Bible College I went to. I am thinking about him now and I am greatly encouraged. He likes to tell everybody what the Lord has done for him. (Personal Evangelism) He came to see us while we lived in Kaikohe and I went with him to Cape Reinga.
Cape Reinga, the top of NZ
I remember also a preacher of the Baptist Church in Germany. He would have liked me to go to the Baptist Seminar in Hamburg/Germany – but I wanted to be a missionary.
A man of God from Scotland used to be in charge of the German WEC home base many years ago and it is actually through him that I went to Thailand as a missionary. He came to speak at our Bible College and he helped me to get into Thailand, where I worked for 13 years.
The fieldleader in Thailand was from the United States of America and he was like a father to me. I was single for a good number of years while in Thailand and he looked after me. I remember him saying , “If we put enough pressure on each other, we all go home eventually.” That was a very wise statement from him.
Many evangelists in Germany had a great impact on my life. I heard them over the radio and went to their meetings.
In 1980 we did more study at the BCNZ, and the principal at that time seemed to manage to get all the overseas speakers, who came to NZ, to come to the BCNZ for meetings. David Watson was one of them.
At one stage of my life I used to stay in London at a Mission HQ. That was a highlight of my life.
At the end of his life the apostle Paul was able to say: Second Timothy 4:7,8
— “I have fought the good fight,
— I have finished the race,
— I have kept the faith.
Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness,…”
Can you say that also?
Can I say that? I can! Why? I read Philippians 1:6 again and believe it. The Lord started the good work and HE will bring it to completion. That are mighty words in Philippians 1:6!
The Lord is not like us. We start things and do not finish them; but not the Lord, the creator of Heaven and Earth.
One chapter in the book: ” Your Preaching….. a Force or a Farce?” by J. Deane is called: “Architect or Muddler?”
The dictionary again: homeletics
the art of preaching or writing sermons.
Brief sermon outline: Hebrews 10:19-25
LET US…….
(Hebrews 10:19-25)
Intr.: Therefore, brothers…..
— since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place… and
— since we have a great priest over the house of God,…
A. LET US DRAW NEAR TO GOD WITH A SINCERE HEART IN FULL ASSURANCE OF FAITH, HAVING …
B. LET US HOLD UNSWERVINGLY TO THE HOPE WE PROFESS, …
C. LET US CONSIDER HOW WE MUST SPUR ONE ANOTHER ON TOWARD LOVE AND GOOD DEEDS.
D. LET US NOT GIVE UP MEETING TOGETHER, …
End: and all the more as you see the DAY approaching.
Sermon outline:
Hebrews 12:1-3
WINNERS NEVER QUIT AND QUITTERS NEVER WIN
Intr.: Therefore,………. a great cloud of witnesses,….
A. let us throw off 
— everything that hinders and
— the sin that so easily entangles, and
B. lET US RUN WITH PERSEVERANCE
— the RACE marked out for us.
First Corinthians 9:24; Galatians 2:2; Galatians 5:7; Philippians 2:16; Philippians 3:14; Second Timothy 4:7,8
C. Let us fix our eyes on JESUS,
( the author of our faith– the perfecter of our faith,)
— who for the joy set before him
endured the cross,
scorning the shame of the cross, and
— sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
— Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men,
End:
— so that you will not grow weary
— so that you will not lose heart.