Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship ChurchPastor/TeacherPastor/TeacherJim RickardJim Rickard

www.GraceDoctrine.orgwww.GraceDoctrine.org

Christmas Eve Christmas Eve 20112011

The gifts of The gifts of Gold, Frankincense Gold, Frankincense

and Myrrh.and Myrrh.

Mat 2:1-12Mat 2:1-12

Num 24:17, Num 24:17, “I see him, but not now; I “I see him, but not now; I

behold him, but not near; a behold him, but not near; a star shall come forth from star shall come forth from Jacob, a scepter shall rise Jacob, a scepter shall rise

from Israel.”from Israel.”

Isa 60:6, Isa 60:6, “A multitude of camels will “A multitude of camels will

cover you, the young camels of cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those Midian and Ephah; all those

from Sheba will come; they will from Sheba will come; they will bring gold and frankincense, and bring gold and frankincense, and

will bear good news of the will bear good news of the praises of the LORD.”praises of the LORD.”

Finding and following the Finding and following the will of God in faith rest: will of God in faith rest:

1. They followed the light 1. They followed the light God gave them, “they God gave them, “they

followed the star.”followed the star.”

2. They confirmed their steps 2. They confirmed their steps by the Word of God, by the Word of God,

“where is He.” “where is He.”

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

to return to Herod.”to return to Herod.”

Principle:Principle:Anyone who comes to Christ Anyone who comes to Christ will go home another way, will go home another way,

being a new creation in being a new creation in Christ, 2 Cor 5:17.Christ, 2 Cor 5:17.

1. Gold is the first gift 1. Gold is the first gift mentioned in Mat 2.mentioned in Mat 2.Gold is used for Christ Gold is used for Christ

representing His Deity. He is representing His Deity. He is the God of all creation.the God of all creation.

Gen 2:11-12, “The name of Gen 2:11-12, “The name of the first is Pishon; it flows the first is Pishon; it flows around the whole land of around the whole land of

Havilah, where there is gold. Havilah, where there is gold. 1212The gold of that land is The gold of that land is

good; the bdellium and the good; the bdellium and the onyx stone are there.” onyx stone are there.”

Bible history can be Bible history can be summarized by four gardens: summarized by four gardens:

Bible history can be Bible history can be summarized by four gardens: summarized by four gardens:

1. Eden, where sin entered.1. Eden, where sin entered.

Bible history can be Bible history can be summarized by four gardens: summarized by four gardens:

1. Eden, where sin entered.1. Eden, where sin entered.2. Gethsemane, where Christ 2. Gethsemane, where Christ

yielded to death.yielded to death.

Bible history can be Bible history can be summarized by four gardens: summarized by four gardens:

3. Calvary, where He paid for 3. Calvary, where He paid for our sins died and was buried, our sins died and was buried,

see John 19:41-42.see John 19:41-42.

Bible history can be Bible history can be summarized by four gardens: summarized by four gardens:

4. The heavenly “paradise 4. The heavenly “paradise garden”, the New Jerusalem, garden”, the New Jerusalem,

Rev 2:7 with 21:1ff.Rev 2:7 with 21:1ff.

Rev 21:18, Rev 21:18, “The material of the wall was “The material of the wall was jasper; and jasper; and the city was pure the city was pure

goldgold, like clear glass.”, like clear glass.”

Rev 21:21, Rev 21:21, “And the twelve gates were “And the twelve gates were

twelve pearls; each one of the twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure the street of the city was pure goldgold, like transparent glass.”, like transparent glass.”

Psa 148:5,Psa 148:5,“Let them praise the name of “Let them praise the name of

the LORD, for He the LORD, for He commanded and they were commanded and they were

created.”created.”

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

His name Immanuel.”His name Immanuel.”

Rev 3:18,Rev 3:18,“I advise you to buy from Me “I advise you to buy from Me

gold refined by fire so that gold refined by fire so that you may become rich.” you may become rich.”

(Spiritually and in (Spiritually and in the eternal state.)the eternal state.)

2 Tim 2:20,2 Tim 2:20, “Now in a large house there “Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of vessels, but also vessels of

wood and of earthenware, and wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to some to honor and some to

dishonor.”dishonor.”

2 Tim 2:21,2 Tim 2:21,“Therefore, if anyone “Therefore, if anyone

cleanses himself from these cleanses himself from these thingsthings, he will be a vessel for , he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the honor, sanctified, useful to the

Master, prepared for every Master, prepared for every good work.”good work.”

1 Peter 1:7, “So that the proof of 1 Peter 1:7, “So that the proof of your faith, your faith, beingbeing more precious more precious than gold which is perishable, than gold which is perishable,

even though tested by fire, may even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and be found to result in praise and

glory and honor at the glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”revelation of Jesus Christ.”

1 Cor 3:12,1 Cor 3:12,“Now if any man builds on “Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, the foundation with gold,

silver, precious stones, … silver, precious stones, …

1 Cor 3:13,1 Cor 3:13,“each man’s work will “each man’s work will

become evident; for the day become evident; for the day will show it because it is will show it because it is to beto be revealed with fire, and the fire revealed with fire, and the fire

itself will test the quality of itself will test the quality of each man’s work.” each man’s work.”

1 Cor 3:14,1 Cor 3:14,“If any man’s work which he “If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will has built on it remains, he will

receive a reward.”receive a reward.”

2. The second gift was that 2. The second gift was that of Frankincense. of Frankincense.

A fragrant spice that comes A fragrant spice that comes from a “tree”.from a “tree”.

Ex 30:34, “Then the LORD Ex 30:34, “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Take for said to Moses, “Take for

yourself spices, stacte and yourself spices, stacte and onycha and galbanum, spices onycha and galbanum, spices with pure frankincensewith pure frankincense; there ; there

shall be an equal part of each.” shall be an equal part of each.” ((5 the number of grace5 the number of grace))

Ex 30:35,Ex 30:35,“With it you shall make “With it you shall make

incense, a perfume, the work incense, a perfume, the work of a perfumer, salted, of a perfumer, salted, pure, pure,

andand holy holy.”.”

Ex 30:36, “Ex 30:36, “You shall beat You shall beat some of it very finesome of it very fine, and put , and put

part of it before the testimony part of it before the testimony ((Ark of the CovenantArk of the Covenant) in the ) in the tent of meeting tent of meeting where I will where I will meet with youmeet with you; ; it shall be it shall be

most holy to youmost holy to you.”.”

Isa 53:10, Isa 53:10, “But the LORD was pleased to “But the LORD was pleased to

crush Him, putting crush Him, putting HimHim to grief; if to grief; if He would render Himself He would render Himself asas a guilt a guilt offering, He will see offering, He will see HisHis offspring, offspring, He will prolong He will prolong HisHis days, and the days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will good pleasure of the LORD will

prosper in His hand.”prosper in His hand.”

Ex 30:37,Ex 30:37,“The incense which you shall “The incense which you shall make, you shall not make in make, you shall not make in

the same proportions for the same proportions for yourselves; yourselves; it shall be holy to it shall be holy to

you for the LORDyou for the LORD.”.”

Lev 2:1,Lev 2:1,“Now when anyone presents a “Now when anyone presents a grain offering as an offering grain offering as an offering to the LORD, his offering to the LORD, his offering

shall be of fine flour, and he shall be of fine flour, and he shall pour oil on it and put shall pour oil on it and put

frankincense on it.”frankincense on it.”

Lev 2:2, Lev 2:2, “He shall then bring it to Aaron’s sons “He shall then bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests; and shall take from it his the priests; and shall take from it his handful of its fine flour and of its oil handful of its fine flour and of its oil with all of its frankincense. And the with all of its frankincense. And the priest shall offer priest shall offer itit up in smoke up in smoke asas its its

memorial portion on the altar, an memorial portion on the altar, an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to offering by fire of a soothing aroma to

the LORD.”the LORD.”

Frankincense tells of the Frankincense tells of the impeccable (perfect life) of impeccable (perfect life) of Jesus Christ leading to the Jesus Christ leading to the

Cross, that was a sweet aroma Cross, that was a sweet aroma to the Father, which also to the Father, which also

propitiated the Father upon propitiated the Father upon His sacrifice. His sacrifice.

3. The third gift is that of 3. The third gift is that of Myrrh: Myrrh:

A fragrant spice used for A fragrant spice used for embalming upon burial of the embalming upon burial of the

dead.dead.

John 19:39,John 19:39,“Nicodemus, who had first “Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of came, bringing a mixture of

myrrh and aloes, about a myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds hundred pounds weightweight..

John 19:40,John 19:40,“So they took the body of “So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen Jesus and bound it in linen

wrappings with the spices, as wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the is the burial custom of the

Jews.”Jews.”

Psa 45:8,Psa 45:8,“All Your garments are “All Your garments are

fragrant withfragrant with myrrh and aloes myrrh and aloes andand cassia.” cassia.”

The first mention of Myrrh in The first mention of Myrrh in Scripture, Gen 37:25, tells the Scripture, Gen 37:25, tells the

story of Joseph and his story of Joseph and his brothers who plotted to put brothers who plotted to put

Joseph to death. Joseph to death.

Gen 37:18,Gen 37:18,“When they saw him (“When they saw him (JosephJoseph) ) from a distance and before he from a distance and before he

came close to them, they came close to them, they plotted against him to put him plotted against him to put him

to death.”to death.”

Gen 37:22,Gen 37:22,“Throw him into this pit that “Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, …. that is in the wilderness, …. that he might rescue him out of he might rescue him out of

their hands, to restore him to their hands, to restore him to his father.”his father.”

Gen 37:24,Gen 37:24,“And they took him and threw “And they took him and threw him into the pit. Now the pit him into the pit. Now the pit

was empty, was empty, without any water without any water in itin it.” .”

Mark 15:22-23,Mark 15:22-23,“Then they brought Him to “Then they brought Him to

the place Golgotha, which is the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. translated, Place of a Skull.

2323They tried to give Him wine They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He did mixed with myrrh; but He did

not take it.”not take it.”

Song of SolomonSong of Solomon::3:6, “What is this coming up 3:6, “What is this coming up

from the wilderness like from the wilderness like columns of smoke, perfumed columns of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with myrrh and frankincense, with all scented powders of with all scented powders of

the merchant?”the merchant?”

4:6, “Until the cool of the day 4:6, “Until the cool of the day when the shadows flee away, when the shadows flee away,

I will go my way to the I will go my way to the mountain of myrrh and to the mountain of myrrh and to the

hill of frankincense.”hill of frankincense.”

4:14, “Nard and saffron, 4:14, “Nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with calamus and cinnamon, with all the trees of frankincense, all the trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes, along with myrrh and aloes, along with

all the finest spices.” all the finest spices.”

4:15, “You are a garden 4:15, “You are a garden spring, a well of fresh water, spring, a well of fresh water,

and streams flowing from and streams flowing from Lebanon.”Lebanon.”

4:16, “Awake, O north 4:16, “Awake, O north wind, wind, aand come, nd come, wind ofwind of the south; the south; make my garden breathe out make my garden breathe out fragrance, lfragrance, let its spices be et its spices be wafted abroad. May my wafted abroad. May my

beloved come into his garden beloved come into his garden and eat its choice fruits!”and eat its choice fruits!”

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

and session. and session.

John 14:2,John 14:2,“In My Father’s house are “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it many dwelling places; if it

were not so, I would have told were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a you; for I go to prepare a

place for you.”place for you.”

CommunionCommunion

Grace OfferingGrace Offering

Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship ChurchSaturday, December 24, 2011Saturday, December 24, 2011

Tape # 11-145Tape # 11-145

The Significance of the Three Gifts The Significance of the Three Gifts from the Wise Men ~ Gold, Frankincense and from the Wise Men ~ Gold, Frankincense and

Myrrh Myrrh

Mat 2:1-12; Gen 2:11-12; Ex 30:34-37; John 19:39-40Mat 2:1-12; Gen 2:11-12; Ex 30:34-37; John 19:39-40  

James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2011James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2011