The wise men followed the star they had seen in the east until it came over the place where Jesus was.
God directed them out by a dream.They had their instructions.
The Angel Choir sang. Then they left the shepherds. They had their announcement. The invitation to come and see came from the angels in the form of a choir. Shepherds Field today in the outskirts of Bethlehem.
The star, the angels, the dream were times of God speaking directly to hearts in supernatural ways.
We have to be careful. They are wonder filled and yet are not to be sought after. There are times when the LORD interupts our lives and does something unexplainable but that is not the normal ebb and flow of life. What happens after these exoeriences is what matters... The LORD is looking for obedience always.
He caught these men off guard. They were going about their work when God came to them in an unusual way. He does this from time to time to get our attention so we can be do works of service for Him. He comes to us to reveal something He wants us to do.
What we do after an extraordinary experience is all important.
When the Angels had left them...
1. Supernatural appearances are usually brief.
A few moments
Get our attention
Show us something ahead
The Angels in the sky that night over Bethlehem was spectacular. Wen it was over they listened to what the Angel of the LORD proclaimed.
When Jesus led Peter, James and John up Mount Hermon and was transfigured before them, Peter wanted to build three tabernacles. He wanted to keep the awesome and amazing experience going.
Mark 9:2-7 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with Him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There He was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for You, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He did not know what to say, they were so frightened. Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to Him!”
Again obedience, looking to what is to follow in the form of following the LORD is so important after He comes to us in a supernatural way. Mark 9:9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
2 Peter 1:16-18 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with Him on the sacred mountain.
See Peter never forgot the experience. He even referred to it years later as Jesus told the three He would. John also wrote about it. John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, Who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
2. Supernatural appearances are for a purpose.
General
Genesis 12:1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
Specific Giving instructions as to what to next.
Obedience is always appropriate.
Sometimes it is an interuption.
There is no way to follow Jesus without Him interfering with your life.
Sometimes we are inconvenienced.
When God's Hand is upon us it is always right to proceed.
Luke 2:15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” straightway NASB
3. Our Obedience is often tested by adversity.
Genesis 22:1-2 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”“Here I am,” he replied. Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”
For some reason our Haiti Trip next month was not coming together like it should. Kevin, Adly and I spoke last Sunday. I had been praying. Then this week it seemed like it was. Then the doors shut. We postedponed it to March- wisdom came from counsel. We are being tested. I am being tested. It is causing us to rely more on the LORD which is always good.
We are beginning to see why. This does not always happen
Gene Edwards - A Tale Of Three Kings
How strange, is it not, what suffering begets?
Psalms David wrote.
Spiritual Maturity.
A change in perspective.
This too will pass- James last nighgt after I spoke to him about my back pain.
4. The Adversity Makes Us Strong By Breaking Our Hearts.
Spiritual strength does not lie in the outward clothing of the power of God alone. It lies within the brokenness of spirit. It lies in taking disappointment well. It is with the crucible of life that character emerges. C.S. Lewis believed that it was not until a man was tortured that you found out the true character of the man.
How a an handles adversity alwasy shows the kind of man he is. God changes us by our daily walk with Him. During that walk there is the Valley of the Shadow of Death, there are time when we ask why are we downcast. There are times when we are in awe of God's ways because we do not understand.
Supernatural experiences are wonder filled. They are for purposes. After they occur we must follow Christ.
Acts 26:19 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.
Acts 26.1-23
Psalm 119:49 Remember Your word to your servant, for You have given me hope.
When God spoke to you, personally, when He put His Hand upon you, when He revealed Himself in a special way... could have been a long time ago. Expectation, Waiting. Let Him stir your heart this morning and follow Him.
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