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As I started the New Testament this month, I had read a verse in Matthew that ministered to me deeply concerning the star that the Magi saw, and a few particular truths that jumped out at me this time through the Magi’s story.

{But I wanted to write this mornings briefing on “Excuses, Excuses, so many Excuses.” So I put the thought away, and said to myself that I would write on the subject of the star another day.  But just as the Lord always does in my life, He brought it to my remembrance through another brother yesterday morning.  And as soon as this brother mentioned it, I remembered the prompting on December 1^st to write upon this star.  So if the Lord is willing and His Spirit supplying, we will address these 3 classes of people in Luke 14 next week.}

Please notice that when Baalam prophesied in Numbers 23-24 concerning Israel, that his prophetic parables were really in essence concerning the Church.  Did not Steven call the Israelite children the “church in the wilderness”? Acts 7:38.  And the antitheses of this is when Paul in Galatians 6:16 calls the Church “Israel.”  These are two very beautiful truths that I encourage you to think about, pray about, and study out for yourself.

In Baalam’s first three prophetic parables, he brings out 3 most beautiful things concerning this “Church in the wilderness.” His first parable reveals that Israel is holy, Numbers 23:9 (with special emphasis on the word “alone” in the original Hebrew). His second parable reveals that Israel is perfect, Numbers 23:21 (and one bible commentator had this to say about the clause “He has not beheld iniquity in Jacob” : “This word was spoken not according to the human view, but according to the divine view.  In the sight of God, Israel is without fault.  He does not see them according to what they are in themselves but according to what they are in Christ.”) And Baalam’s third parable reveals that Israel is beautiful, Numbers 24:5 (with special emphasis on the word “goodly”).

But Baalam’s fourth parable brings out a very tender truth. Numbers 24:17 says, “I see Him, but not now: I behold Him, but not near. There shall come forth a Star out of Jacob.” So now we see that Baalam saw a Star in Jacob. Let’s fast-forward now to the Magi (whom I personally think were from Babylon. See Daniel 2:48.  But really no one knows for sure.  I lean towards them coming from Babylon because Daniel was made Chief over all the wise men of Babylon and Daniel being a man of the scriptures would have passed on to others the prophecies concerning the Christ, and they in turn would have passed them on to their children.  And also the wise men in Babylon were known for their astrology [study of the stars] and the Hebrew word for them is “chartummim” which means “sacred-scribes”, and this was a regular order among the Egyptians, and remember that Daniel was “Chief of the Magi”, and Philo said of them, “the Magi were men who gave themselves to the study of nature and contemplation of the Divine perfections, and who were worthy of being the counselors of kings.”).

The Magi from the East saw Christ’s star (Numbers 24:17).  But they made a terrible mistake by going to Jerusalem.  (But Jeremiah’s prophecy of the children being slain had to be fulfilled in Jeremiah 31:15, so we leave these particular things in the Lord’s hands). Meaning: could the slaughter have been avoided had they not wavered off course and God knowing they would wander off course predicted the demise of the infants? Or did this have to happen in His great plan for reasons unbeknownst to us? Psalm 131:1 says, “Neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things to high for me.” & Deut. 29:29 says, “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God.”) What happened when they decided to go to Jerusalem instead of going to Bethlehem?  Please notice that they lost sight of the star.

Pay very close attention to the following words of divine scripture, “When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen (past-tense) in the East went before them” Matthew 2:9. You see, they had seen the star, but they got their eyes off of it.  Why did they allow their eyes to get off of the star?  Because of religion.  Their human perception (and not their spiritual perception) and the enemy, satan, told them to go seek the answer from the religious people of the day.  I have news for you brothers and sisters: STAY AWAY FROM RELIGIOUS PEOPLE, for they will cause you to lose sight of the star in your life.  I’m not talking about the genuine brothers and sisters in the body of Christ, I’m talking about the religious ones that will steer you away from the life of God and real spiritual things because they’ve never tasted of them for themselves.  Religious people will steal God’s blessing from you, they will give you knowledge that they received right from the tree of knowledge of good and evil as to why you can’t do such-and-such.  Religious people will drag you down the same empty lifeless path they themselves are walking.  Break free!!! Let God be the “God of Limitlessness” to you.  Let God teach you the real truth of who you are in Christ.

Don’t let man deceive you.  Jesus said this over and over and over again to his disciples.  Paul said it, James said it, and John said it.  They all said it…”DON’T LET MAN DECEIVE YOU”.  I got news for you; you are who God says you are.  You need to say this to the devil, “It’s my ball, it’s my bat, it’s my backyard; and we play until I win.  When I was going through one of the deepest trials in my life and ministry and was surrounded by the enemy on every side; the Spirit of the Lord came upon me one night and I wrote this:

“I’m a full-grown man. I’ll take on all the issues of life as they come. I will not shrink back from correction or discipline. I will take whatever is coming to me in the form of punishment and correction. I am teachable, pliable, tractable, and a little child. I will always take the back seat at the synagogue so that others may receive more, hear more, and see more. I will choose to be the last in everything; for I truly am the least of all saints and have never deserved the first place. I will protect the innocent, and defend my family, and friends. I will always love the less fortunate. I will nurture every child as if they were my very own. I will not cower from confrontation, or adversity. I do not regret life, only my decisions that have hurt others. I deal with all situations with sobriety and courage, having compassion on others; but having no mercy on myself. I’m not afraid of anything that will come my way, as I will ultimately be the better for it. There are only two sentient beings I fear: God, and my flesh. I am a man who has loved, and a man who has suffered loss. But I am a man who has really lived. The theater of spiritual warfare is just another day at the office. I will not pass away quietly into the night. My heart will be heard; it’s a human right. I will speak my mind, but will listen and respect others’ opinions and thoughts. I have always been a man of deep compassion, conviction, and honor. I have missed the mark many times, but I will not give up. God is with me. He knows my frailties. Psalm 103:14 says, “He knows my frame, and remembers I am but dust.” He will have compassion and forbearance on me when no one else will. He will uphold me, when all others are kicking me after I’m down. He will believe in me, when no one else will; even when I fail to believe in myself. When I’m detested by others, He will hold me as the apple of His eye. I am a friend of God, a man after His own heart, even when my own heart has led me astray. He is touched with the feelings of my infirmities. I am His offspring, His heir, His rightful son. He uses people to correct and adjust me. He uses His Word to shed light upon my condition. I will humble myself under the mighty hand of God, and those He chooses to use: brother, sister, or child. I will not be condemned by any, but will be ashamed of myself. Life’s stumbling stones will turn into stepping-stones. I realize I am harder on myself than He is on me. He will never leave me nor forsake me when all others have or will. His hand is on my life, on my heart, on my experiences and circumstances. Nothing can or will separate me from His love. When I have failed Him, others, or myself; He will uphold me. He will make everything beautiful in His time. He will take all things that I’ve made wrong, and make them right. He will make a way when there seems to be no way, because He is the Way. In His eyes I am a man of self-worth, but in my own eyes I will remain a man of little worth. I will continue to live passionately and to love passionately. I will not look back, I will have no regrets when it’s all wrapped up and the scroll of my life has been rolled. I will always be a hopeless romantic towards God and towards His Son because the romancing One lives in me. I will not see this as a character flaw, for God is the greatest romantic in the universe. It is He who said, “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” I am who He says I am, regardless of my changing circumstances. I will never be sorry for who I am, because I am in His image and likeness. My personality and make-up are unique and have made me the man I am today. God’s fingerprint is all over me. I refuse to live or walk in any shadow or type of fear. God has shaped every part of me in my mothers’ womb. He is not ashamed of me. He is on my side, in my corner; He’s got my back. I’ve read the end of His book – I win. To my enemy I say, “it’s my ball, it’s my bat, it’s my backyard, and we play till I win.” I will advance His kingdom and His rule and dominion in the midst of all trials, and frustrations. His Word will prevail – I will prevail. I am a son and rightful heir to the throne with my Father. And of His kingdom, there shall be no end.”

Now notice something in verse 10 of Matthew 2.  “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.”  Can you see it brethren? The star reappeared.  They would not have rejoiced exceedingly after verse 2 if the star had been there all along. You see, the star will reappear when you get back on track again and began your journey of searching for this beautiful Child, this eternal King, and this everlasting Savior.  Hallelujah.  The Magi were wise in determining the time and the location of the star, yet they were foolish in leaving the direction the star was taking them.  You see, the star was actually moving as they were moving (notice the words, “and the star went before them, till it came and stood over…”)  The star is moving right now.  Can you see it? Follow the star until it leads you to this most beautiful One who is no longer in a manger, and is no longer on a cross.  But He is high and lifted up and He is seated at the right hand of the Majesty on High.

Let this Christ be your “Morning Star” this month.  Notice that in Revelation 2:28 He says, “And to him who overcomes…I will give him the morning star.” Just what is this “morning star”? Let’s read Revelation 22:16, “…I am the Root, and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”  Praise the Lord.  Jesus is the Morning Star.  So then what does the overcomer receive? He receives Christ.  The morning star is the star that appears the brightest just before the darkest hour before the dawn.  He is the star of the past, present, and future.  He is shining on you today in your darkest hour, in your cold and dark night.  Can you see Him shining? If not, you’ve gotten off the gospel path, the prayer path, the holy living path, or the straight and narrow path.  Repent and start heading towards Bethlehem again and you will see the star moving in your life again.

I love you all deeply.  And I’m here for you.  Remember this: no one gets left behind.  We’re in this together.  Arm in arm, hand in hand, heart in heart.

“Precious Heavenly Father, Christ’s Father, my Father, and our Father.  Bless the ones who have taken the time to read this.  Be a Star to them this month.  Show Yourself mighty in their behalf, yet do it for Your glory.  Please wait for the ones who may have wandered off to go find life’s answers elsewhere.  Show them the importance of Your word and in obeying Your voice.  Woo these ones Father by Your Spirit and by Your word.  Let Your Life and Light shine among them, to them, and in them.  Let them rejoice exceedingly for the Star.  Teach them what it really means to be an overcomer.  Let Christ be everything to them.  Fill them with Christ.  Amen”