Scripture Reference

Numbers 24: 17

Sermon Notes

The People of Israel Waited for God’s Righteous Reign – A Reign that Began at Christmas

1. Anticipating God’s Righteous Reign – Symbolized by a Star
   1. Balaam’s Prophecy of the Star & Scepter – a symbol of the Messiah
   2. Anticipating a King Like No Other
      1. Micah 5:2 – Born in Bethlehem, yet from of old
      2. Isaiah 9: 6-7 – God Himself, eternal, just, righteous, from Galilee
      3. Isaiah 11: 1-3 – Full of the Spirit and righteous
      4. No king had ever been remotely like t his, and so Israel waited eagerly
2. The Star Rises at Christmas
   1. The star rises after 1,400 years
   2. The magi follow the star, worship the newborn king (present tense, not future)
   3. God’s righteous reign began – formal coronation at the Resurrection – Ephesians 2: 20-23
3. God’s Righteous Reign Today
   1. The pagan magi acknowledged Christ’s reign
   2. One day, Christ’s reign will be visible throughout the restored Earth
   3. Until then, the key advent question is whether Christ reigns in our hearts and lives