Show us the way Matthew 2:1-10 The wise men, the star and the prophesy Mica 5:2-5 The prophecy that informed the wise men Luke 2: 8:15 The shepherds, the angels’ appearance and direction Luke 1:76-80 John’s father Zacharias’ prophesy about Jesus St Stephen’s 16 December 2018

At this time of year… We look back over the past year and assess how things have been.. We look at the present moment, enjoying shopping, lights and colours, resting from the rat-race, planning and enjoying families gathering…. We look toward the new year (only 2.5 weeks away!!) with our hopes, aspirations, plans, dreams and anxieties… We ask ourselves, should I continue next year, as I did this year? Are there things/activities/people/commitments I must let go of, and why? What must I take on new in my life, and why, and how? St Stephen’s 16 December 2018

In other words, we ask to be shown the way A voice speaks to us from the past A voice speaks to us in the present A voice speaks to us about the Way for all eternity St Stephen’s 16 December 2018

SHOW US THE WAY! A voice speaks to us from the past to direct us How did the wise men know about the Christ-child’s birth? A voice spoke to them from the past, the voice of Mica, thus the voice from the past and the sign in the present (the star in the east), showed them the way. Even John’s father, speaks into the future about his unborn son’s role in announcing the arrival of the Messiah later in life. Which voices speak to us from the past, and how? Firstly, all of Scripture, comes to us from the past it is a reliable source to show us the way how do you use this source? St Stephen’s 16 December 2018

SHOW US THE WAY! A voice speaks to us from the past to direct us Secondly, what we have learned that is useful to us now, from people who have gone before, such voices also come to us from the past 2Tim 1:5 Paul says to Timothy: ‘I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded, now lives in you also. When unsure, can you draw on what you learned from parents, friends, previous sermons, ministers, etc., who represent voices from your past? (Remember also, that what we say and do now, is also our legacy of guidance for someone in the future.) St Stephen’s 16 December 2018

SHOW US THE WAY! A voice speaks to in the present time to direct us The shepherds were just going about their business, when suddenly a choir of angels appeared to them…. Sometimes a voice comes to us in an unexpected way But the instructions about what to do and where to go, etc., is crisp and clear, as were those given to the shepherds We need to recognise this Voice St Stephen’s 16 December 2018

SHOW US THE WAY! A voice speaks to in the present time to direct us We need to get up and do it: ‘Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us’ We need to follow Him by faith, not by sight Paul, in 2 Cor 4 (v 18) and 2 Cor 5 (v 7) address this issue of living by faith and not by sight…the things we can see in the flesh is only temporal, but what is unseen are eternal. So we need to ask for God’s grace to improve our eyesight by faith and become less reliant on our physical sight and learn to lean less on only what we can see, touch feel, what we think we are sure of in our own humanness. St Stephen’s 16 December 2018

SHOW US THE WAY! A voice speaks to in the present time to direct us Isaiah 30:1-2 ‘ Woe to the rebellious children, says the Lord; who take counsel, but not of Me, and who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin, who walk to go down to Egypt, and have not asked My advice’… v15 For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: in returning and rest you shall be saved, in quietness and confidence, shall be your strength. But you would not…’ v18: Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; and therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you.. v21: ‘Your ears shall hear a word behind you saying: This is the way, walk in it. Whenever you turn to the right, or whenever you turn to the left…’ St Stephen’s 16 December 2018

SHOW US THE WAY! A voice speaks to in the present time to direct us V21: ‘Your ears shall hear a word behind you saying: This is the way, walk in it. Whenever you turn to the right, or whenever you turn to the left…’ How do we know this voice, this word, how do we detect it? Romans 8: 5; 16 – Those who are of the flesh, set their minds on things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the spirit. V16: For the Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. Jesus said: John 10:27 – My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me’ For the Christian, there is no doubt, as the sheep of Christ, as the children of God, we can know His voice, and we must follow it St Stephen’s 16 December 2018

SHOW US THE WAY! A voice speaks to us about the Way, for all eternity -Black line: you start out thinking you’ll quickly get to your goal, the centre, but then the path takes you away from centre - Red line: again you think you are now close to the centre -Blue line: you seem to wander very far away from your goal, the centre -Green line: finally after all your wanderings, the path leads you to the centre St Stephen’s 16 December 2018

SHOW US THE WAY! A voice speaks to us about the Way, for all eternity Trust the path How? How do I know the path trustworthy? If we live by faith, not by sight If we trust the path-maker, the Way, who is Jesus Jesus said (John 14:6): I am the Way, the truth and the life Who do you trust? Do you trust in yourself, and in your own sense of direction?, or self-accomplishment, of self-capability? What do look for when you are on the path? Do you look for set signposts, to know where every kink in the road is, where every obstacle may be, where every oasis is to be found, exactly where the destination is and how it will appear? St Stephen’s 16 December 2018

SHOW US THE WAY! A voice speaks to us about the Way, for all eternity Jesus is the WAY As we look forwarding and asking: Show us the way Let us change our question: Show us Jesus for Jesus is the Way If I have Jesus, if I hear his voice His word speaking behind me, saying ‘this is the way, walk in it’, if I have His Spirit testifying with my spirit that I am a child of God, then what else do I need, which additional assurances am I looking for as a Christian? St Stephen’s 16 December 2018

SHOW US THE WAY! A voice speaks to us about the Way, for all eternity My prayer for us all is to be granted to Grace to say: Show me the way, show me Jesus, and I have found the WAY!! And no matter what the way of life looks like for me, let me trust it, because I trust Him who IS THE WAY no matter what the outcome is of the path I am asked to tread, let me be granted the Grace to say with Paul: I am content in whatever circumstance I find myself in…because… for me to live is Christ, and for me to die is gain!! AMEN. St Stephen’s 16 December 2018