Grace Fellowship Church

1. Pastor/TeacherJim Rickard Grace Fellowship Church Christmas Eve 2011 www.GraceDoctrine.org

2. The gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.Mat 2:1-12

3. Num 24:17, “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; a star shall come forth from Jacob, a scepter shall rise from Israel.”

4. Isa 60:6, “A multitude of camels will cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba will come; they will bring gold and frankincense, and will bear good news of the praises of the LORD.”

5. Finding and following the will of God in faith rest: 1. They followed the light God gave them, “they followed the star.”

6. 2. They confirmed their steps by the Word of God, “where is He.”

7. 3. They obeyed God without question as He led them each step of the way, “warned not to return to Herod.”

8. Principle:Anyone who comes to Christ will go home another way, being a new creation in Christ, 2 Cor 5:17.

9. 1. Gold is the first gift mentioned in Mat 2.Gold is used for Christ representing His Deity. He is the God of all creation.

10. Gen 2:11-12, “The name of the first is Pishon; it flows around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12The gold of that land is good; the bdellium and the onyx stone are there.”

11. Bible history can be summarized by four gardens:

12. Bible history can be summarized by four gardens: 1. Eden, where sin entered.

13. Bible history can be summarized by four gardens: 1. Eden, where sin entered.2. Gethsemane, where Christ yielded to death.

14. Bible history can be summarized by four gardens: 3. Calvary, where He paid for our sins died and was buried, see John 19:41-42.

15. Bible history can be summarized by four gardens: 4. The heavenly “paradise garden”, the New Jerusalem, Rev 2:7 with 21:1ff.

16. Rev 21:18, “The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.”

17. Rev 21:21, “And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.”

18. Psa 148:5,“Let them praise the name of the LORD, for He commanded and they were created.”

19. Isa 7:14,“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.”

20. Rev 3:18,“I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich.” (Spiritually and in the eternal state.)

21. 2 Tim 2:20, “Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor.”

22. 2 Tim 2:21,“Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.”

23. 1 Peter 1:7, “So that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

24. 1 Cor 3:12,“Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, …

25. 1 Cor 3:13,“each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.”

26. 1 Cor 3:14,“If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.”

27. 2. The second gift was that of Frankincense. A fragrant spice that comes from a “tree”.

28. Ex 30:34, “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Take for yourself spices, stacte and onycha and galbanum, spices with pure frankincense; there shall be an equal part of each.” (5 the number of grace)

29. Ex 30:35,“With it you shall make incense, a perfume, the work of a perfumer, salted, pure, and holy.”

30. Ex 30:36, “You shall beat some of it very fine, and put part of it before the testimony (Ark of the Covenant) in the tent of meeting where I will meet with you; it shall be most holy to you.”

31. Isa 53:10, “But the LORD was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief; if He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.”

32. Ex 30:37,“The incense which you shall make, you shall not make in the same proportions for yourselves; it shall be holy to you for the LORD.”

33. Lev 2:1,“Now when anyone presents a grain offering as an offering to the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour, and he shall pour oil on it and put frankincense on it.”

34. Lev 2:2, “He shall then bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests; and shall take from it his handful of its fine flour and of its oil with all of its frankincense. And the priest shall offer it up in smoke as its memorial portion on the altar, an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to the LORD.”

35. Frankincense tells of the impeccable (perfect life) of Jesus Christ leading to the Cross, that was a sweet aroma to the Father, which also propitiated the Father upon His sacrifice.

36. 3. The third gift is that of Myrrh: A fragrant spice used for embalming upon burial of the dead.

37. John 19:39,“Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight.

38. John 19:40,“So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.”

39. Psa 45:8,“All Your garments are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.”

40. The first mention of Myrrh in Scripture, Gen 37:25, tells the story of Joseph and his brothers who plotted to put Joseph to death.

41. Gen 37:18,“When they saw him (Joseph) from a distance and before he came close to them, they plotted against him to put him to death.”

42. Gen 37:22,“Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, …. that he might rescue him out of their hands, to restore him to his father.”

43. Gen 37:24,“And they took him and threw him into the pit. Now the pit was empty, without any water in it.”

44. Mark 15:22-23,“Then they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. 23They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He did not take it.”

45. Song of Solomon:3:6, “What is this coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all scented powders of the merchant?”

46. 4:6, “Until the cool of the day when the shadows flee away, I will go my way to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense.”

47. 4:14, “Nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all the trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes, along with all the finest spices.”

48. 4:15, “You are a garden spring, a well of fresh water, and streams flowing from Lebanon.”

49. 4:16, “Awake, O north wind, and come, wind of the south; make my garden breathe out fragrance, let its spices be wafted abroad. May my beloved come into his garden and eat its choice fruits!”

50. Through Christ’s virgin birth, impeccable life, and death upon the Cross we are given access to an eternal garden, also signified by His resurrection, ascension and session.