A Bible-based family church in Elizabeth, South Australia

Consider the three gifts that the wise men gave to Jesus when he was a young child - and what they represent. A communion message from preacher, Peter Gregoric.

Note, these three gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. The wise men gave them to Jesus. The gifts are symbolic of Him as king, of the worship due to Him, and of His death on the cross.

Matthew 2:9-11 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. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary 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.

Herod sent these wise men to Jesus, to find where he was, and then to tell Herod where he was. Herod wanted to kill him so that he wouldn't become king. These wise men came and found Jesus. They gave Him these treasures, of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

These wise men sought the Lord. They sought Jesus. And for us to be truly wise – we ought to do the same thing, and seek after the Lord.

GOLD is a picture of Christ becoming King, and recognising him as a king. Herod said, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? In Psalm 72 we have a King - which is Jesus. Psalm 72 is about Christ and that gold was given unto him - Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son. It is talking about the king - the King's son. Psalms 72:15 And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised. Psalms 72:15 And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised.
These wise men recognise that Jesus is the king that is to come. During his first coming he didn't come to set up a kingdom in this world. At His first coming He was come as the Lamb of God, to die on the cross. But when He comes again during the Millennium He’s going to set up his kingdom.

Revelation 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Jesus is the king of kings. Do we yield to Him as king – for what He wants for us in our life?

FRANKINCENCE is the second gift that was given to Him. Frankincense is a fragrant gum resin that can be ground into powder and burnt to produce an odour - a sweet smelling odour. It's used to picture His worship. In the Old Testament in the temple frankincense was used when they would worship the Lord.

The wise men gave him these gifts, and then they fell down and worshipped Him.

The Lord told Moses of frankincense, in the context of worship, in Exodus 30:34 …Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight …and thou shalt make it a perfume…

Our Lord is worthy of our worship. He's worthy to be praised. And may we worship Him in the right way - in the way that He wants to be worshipped.

During his ministry Jesus never rebuked people when they came and they worshipped Him. Matthew 8:2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

Our Lord was willing to heal the leper. The Lord is willing for us to be saved, and to come unto him.

When Peter was walking on the water in the Sea of Galilee he saw Jesus, and he walked out to him. And he began to sink, and he said, Lord, save me. And immediately the Lord came and saved him.

MYRRH is the third gift. Myrrh is a picture of Christ’s death. Myrrh is a resin that's usually taken from the bark of trees. It's considered a luxury item - very valuable. Like an expensive perfume.

Mark 15:22-23 And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull. 23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.

When He was being crucified they tried to give our Lord this wine mingled with myrrh, but he refused to drink it.

When they took the body of the Lord down from the cross: John 19:38-39 And after this Joseph …came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. 39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. They had myrrh and aloes inside the linen cloth that they wrapped around His body, as they took Him to the tomb.

The gifts of the wise men foreshadowed Christ, as King, as due worship, and as witness of His saving death on the cross - all of this is part of His great plan for us - to be saved and redeemed by faith - through his death, burial, and resurrection.

How can I become a strong Christian - How can I grow my faith? Here’s three keys for spiritual maturity.

1. GROW UP

Some people stay in spiritual babyhood. God says, be no more children - stop being childish. God wants you to grow.

It’s sad to see a baby stop growing. That can happen spiritually.

How can we grow spiritually?

We need spiritual food. The word of God feeds us and sustains us. …as newborn babies desire the sincere milk of the word.

Get this milk – unadulterated and pure. It’s food to our soul. …blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly …but his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season. His leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

There’s a flourishing there, with leaves green and fruit flourishing. Like a healthy tree, God wants you to grow.

2. WISE UP

Be wise …be no more tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness …There's contrary winds that threaten to blow us of course.

Paul calls the Corinthians “babes in Christ”, still on baby food. They’re “carnal” - full of their own fleshly and selfish ways. They’re like big spiritual babies – still in nappies - still in their spiritual babyhood.

Our growth as a believer can be stunted. It's the Word that we need – and it’s practical. We apply it when the rubber hits the road. We're meant to be “doers of the Word”, not just hearing it, but applying it. Let’s put the Word of God into action in our daily lives, in our practical living, in our relationships.

Children can get caught easily up in crazy fads. They’ve just got to have this or that toy. Christians can get caught up in teachings that change like the wind. They run after whatever the latest band wagon is. Many are gullible and get tricked by deceivers and fakes.

The Word warns us against “false apostles, deceitful workers”; they try and sell some sensual, sensational experience. Many churches get conned with the latest shallow, spiritual craze, even witchcraft and mind control. Rather, be a lover of the truth old-fashioned truth. Ask, is it biblical? Is it sound doctrine? Is it the truth - that will save Hellbound sinners and spur the sleeping Christians to action?

Beware of a compromised, counterfeit, watered down gospel. There is a distinction between truth and error. There shall be false teachers among you who shall bring in damnable heresies… they shall make merchandise of you.

Paul says, Brethren, be not children in understanding …but in understanding be men.

Beware of the slick tricksters, the convincing smooth talkers. Paul; warns of savage wolves. There’s wolves in sheep's clothing. Look out for them! There's many flaky preachers.

3. JOIN UP
In Ephesians 4 Paul's talking how Christ is “the head, from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in love”.

The church is “the body of Christ”. We do the growing when we're together. When we get together we can encourage one another there's a mutual growing.

To be an effective, growing Christian we need to join up – in union with him; in our relationship with him. And, attached to the body – to one another. Spiritual maturity grows as we join up together.

With Christ as the head – He gives us direction and has authority. We draw our strength from Him. And He fits us all together and makes all the different parts work right.

Join up - as joined up Christians we've got a wonderful connection with the head, our Lord Jesus, and with each other. That's how we're going to grow. We're interdependent. He knits us together. We're connected.

As every separate part works properly - works like it should - it's a picture of a healthy body. We grow and function together. We can be more effective in our faith together.

Paul talks with the Colossians about how the Body of Christ functions, “with joints and bands, having nourishment ministered, and knit together” and there’s an “increase of God. Here’s when the body is going to grow.

We've got to be joined together.

Be where the Word is, so you can grow. We don't fly solo as believers - we're here for one another.
Be a constructive part of the body. There's a mutual benefit.

Move out of spiritual babyhood.

Be like that tree, that's planted by the rivers of water. There's going to be fruit and freshness there.
See the value of being joined - together - with your brothers and sisters. Let’s aim to help one another to grow.

Be a healthy, growing believer as part of a healthy, growing church, to the glory of God!

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Mister Luke Warm is super cool, casual, careless. He is coasting, comfortable, and confident. Yet deep down something is missing and he doesn't even get it. What is wrong? There's a heart problem. It can creep up on all of us.

Lukewarm Christianity is spiritual apathy. Mr Luke Warm is "neither cold not hot." He cares little for church attendance, for giving. There’s no zeal - like with King Joash – he was weak, and half hearted, and it cost him victory.

Are we serious about God’s call? Will we be a people who seek after God? David says: Psalms 40:8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. God looks at the heart. Will we cultivate a heart of worship? That vibrant, passionate faith? Or will lukewarmness creep into our lives?

The Lukewarm church was a spiritually sick church. Revelation 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

The Laodiceans were living just like the world, trusting in their own riches and comforts. They were blind to their need. “We have need of nothing!” They were prideful. Yet the Lord saw their true condition.

They lacked personal holiness. A lukewarm Christian allows the world’s ways, and worldly philosophies to guide their life. The Laodiceans were worldly - they neglected their soul.
The Lord tells them to get the gold refined in the fire.

Gold speaks of faith, tested and proven – not a superficial faith. 1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

The Laodiceans were “blind.” Spiritually blind. They lacked discernment. Our Lord urges them to apply the heavenly eye ointment!

A lukewarm Christian lacks a desire to spend time with the Lord, in prayer, worship, in the Bible, or in serving Him.

Lukewarmness speaks about the state of the heart. Some will pay lip service, yet their heart is not right. Mark 7:6 …This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

A Lukewarm Christian disobeys the Word of God. They are careless as to prayer, Bible study and fellowship. They rarely make a sacrifice in giving. They are lukewarm about the Scriptures, about soul-winning.

There’s a lack of zeal. An indifference toward the things of God, of their soul, and the souls of others.

Lukewarmness is a reproach. The world looks on and sees the lukewarm Christian, and the poor testimony! The lukewarm Christian shows their carelessness and their backsliding ways.

The lukewarm are often blind to their true condition.

The Laodiceans needed the garments of God’s righteousness. “White raiment” speaks of righteousness.

How sad, to have no fire, zeal or enthusiasm for the things of God.

Is Lukewarmness creeping in? Have we lost our passion for God? Are we drifting?

Lukewarmness can rob us of the joy, peace, and fulfillment that come from a vibrant relationship with God.

God wants our wholehearted devotion, not a half-heartedness.

What is the answer for lukewarmness?

Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
The good news is that there is hope for the lukewarm.

Notice, the Lord still loved them, even though their love for Him had grown cold. God allows churches to go through times of trial so that they might become what He wants them to become.

The Lord called on the church to repent of their pride and humble themselves before Him.
Repent. It means a Change of mind.

What are we to do with our sin of lukewarmness?

May we repent of it - and recommit our hearts toward God and the things of God.

An exhortation at the close of our family camp, about how the church is meant to function as "God's family". As the church at Philadelphia - of brotherly love. The saved are God's family - God's children, by faith. “Church is not something you go to - it's a family you belong to.”

Hebrews 13:1, Let brotherly love continue. God wants us to love each other - like brothers and sisters are meant to.

Fellowship is about sharing and relationships. As brothers and sisters, we’re building relationships, with Biblical love - a selfless, intentional love. There’s a bond, a closeness. There’s a relationship like with your own kin folk - that sense of belonging.

What are some of the building blocks that make families work?

The Bible tells us of “one anothers”.

Love one another - John 13:34, A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another as I have loved you; that ye also love one another. God's family is meant to be knit together in love; close knit. It's that glue that holds us together as a church family.

Brotherly love can be a powerful testimony of itself. How can we better love one another?

Serve one another. Galatians 5:13 …by love serve one another. How can we better serve one another? How can we make the church function better? Think of the servant-hearted love of our Lord, in John 13. He demonstrated love by taking the towel and washing dirty feet.

We’re meant to work together, to function together. We all have different roles and ways we can serve. Alike to families, we should look out for one another. When someone has a need; Colossians 3:12 tells of compassion – literally, bowels.

As we serve one another, it’s about putting others first. God commends humility. We're serving willingly, sacrificially – we are meant to help out and care. Show consideration - consider the needs of one another – as in Philippians 2:4, Look not every man on his own things, but every man on the things of others.

It's easy to get self-centered, and preoccupied with our own needs. “Others… Lord help me to live from day to day in such a self-forgetful way, that even when I kneel to pray, my prayer shall be for others. Others, Lord, yes others. Let this my motto be. Help me to live for others, that I may live like Thee."

We can so easily be self centered, yet God's family is about others. It's about loving one another, serving one another, caring for one another, praying for one another.

Pray for one another. James 5:16: Confess your faults one to another and pray one for another that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Let's be prayerful - a prayerful church.

Another “one another” is forgive one another. Ephesians 4:32, Be ye kind, one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. That's what helps families work. When someone may hurt us, or do wrong, or there is some difference, we can forgive one another. Let's not hold hurts, let It go. Forgive one another - show the heart of Christ. Be generous, be selfless. Forbear with one another - overlook their faults. Try to be generous and kind-hearted. Don't hold grudges.

Encourage one another. Hebrews 3:13, Exhort one another daily, while it is called Today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Find some kind words to say, some uplifting words generous words. Find some positive things to say. When you see someone downhearted, give them a lift. Consider one another. Are we considerate?

We can know an enjoyment of one another's fellowship. Fellowship is enjoying family time, as God's family. We all bring something when we come together. We get together and share. We're stronger together. It helps us to grow our faith, because we're growing together. We're all learning together.

Fellowship with one another. 1 John 1:7, If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin.

Fellowship is spending time with each other. We get together as God's family and worship together. Singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, teaching and admonishing one another. We’re making melody in our hearts to the Lord. We're all a symphony, with different instruments. We've all got different parts to play and there a sweet harmony.

Fellowship builds that cohesion, that connection. Any differences we have can be complementary - like a garment with a rich fabric has many different colours – it makes the pattern of the tapestry beautiful. We're brought together, as brothers and sisters in Christ, from every kindred, tongue, people, and nation. It's a foretaste of eternity.

God has brought us together - as an adopted family comes together and is made into one family.
John 1:12, As many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his name.

What a blessing! If you haven't already you too can join the family of God!

Join us for worship online. Let us know you are watching.

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