Unto Us (Part 3): The Three Gifts

Isaiah 6:9 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Matthew 2:10-11 When [the wise men] saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

1. Gold: Jesus is King

Why did they give gold? Practical answer: Because babies are expensive. Prophetic answer is because Jesus is King.

Philippians 2:8-11 being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus came the first time as the Suffering Servant, a child that was born, the Prince of Peace. Princes grow up to be kings. When He returns, the Son of God that was given will return as Conquering King.

Revelation 19:15-16 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron… And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

He is King over all things, but is He King of your heart and life today?

2. Frankincense: Jesus is High Priest

(Light Frankincense)

Why did they offer Jesus frankincense? Because He is our High Priest and Intercessor.

The incense was to be offered along with the sacrifices as a sweet smell unto the Lord.
Exodus 30:7 Aaron [the high priest] shall burn on it sweet incense every morning; when he tends the lamps, he shall burn incense on it.

Incense is prophetically speaking of prayer and intercession.

Revelation 5:8 The twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

God doesn’t just want sacrifice, He wants you to talk with Him, to have relationship.

The whole point of the sacrificial system is so that God could forgive sin as the priest stood as an intermediary, and intercessor between a holy God, and sinful people.

Hebrews 7:23-25 There were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He, Therefore [Jesus] is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Jesus is our High Priest, but have you come to Him, confessed your sin, and asked Him for forgiveness?

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

3. Myrrh: Jesus was Anointed to Die

(Light Myrrh)

Myrrh was used as an ingredient for the anointing oil.

Luke 4:18-19 “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”

He is the Anointed One whose anointing breaks every yoke of oppression, destroys the works of the enemy and gives power to those that are in Him.

Myrrh was also used in the embalming process of that day.

John 19:38-40 Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.

Jesus was born to die and then to conquer death and hell. His anointing breaks the power of sin and the enemy.
Jesus died and rose again so that you can live and have an abundant life of purpose, power, and anointing. Have you called on His name? Have you received His Holy Spirit and power in your life?

As we celebrate this Christmas, we are thanking God that Jesus was born to live the life we could never live, die the death that we deserve, raise again to give us life in Him, and intercedes for us and gives us His Holy Spirit so that we can be with Him today, and for eternity.

Unto us a child is born…

Now we have our children, the elementary and Jr High groups are going to come and bless us.