THE THREE MAGI

The stars sang on that holy night and the NIGHT WIND BLEW... While the shepherds watched the sheep, the wise Kings watched the stars. Placing ourselves inside the Scriptures allows us to look allegorically and also see beyond the first layers of the natural occasion. We can begin to realize that these same principles can happen within us. Hey, you can choose to worry about the Covid variant, Armageddon, and National Disasters or many other things -- OR... just flip the switch and focus on possibilities of your NOW. Where will you be when everyone else is claiming doom and gloom? God WILL GUIDE you. Even the very universe itself provided their directional guidance of the star that led the three wise men to the Savior of the world. These Wise Men came from the east for only ONE purpose... to WORSHIP HIM. They traveled together. 
 These Kings probably arrived when Jesus was about two or three years old. When the magi arrived at the house, Jesus is referred to as a "young Child" (Matt. 2:11). The Greek word used here is paidion (not brephos, translated as "baby" when referring to Jesus in Luke 2:12 and 16). That means that the Wise men worshiped Jesus in a house, not at the manager, as is commonly depicted. Vatican archives tell of the Syriac story (1,700 years old) about the original Magi, and this recently translated text says that these kings are descendants of Adam and Eve's third son, Seth. Tradition says that it was Caspar (Gaspar), a king from Tarsus (present day Southern Turkey) brought the gift of Gold. Melchior (from Persia) brought frankincense. The gift of Myrrh was given by Balthazar, a King from Saba (present day Yemen). Other legends give different names. 

 Strong tradition says that there were three, but since the Bible does not say how many Kings, we have no way of knowing. It's interesting that we know they gave three gifts. Also, it's clear that these gifts provided the financial means necessary to sustain Joseph, Mary and Jesus for a long and expensive journey into Egypt that would where they would stay for a considerable time. What is important is that theirs was a journey of trust; they heard and obeyed. They searched to find the Promise. Why? TO WORSHIP. 

 TODAY, let's see these THREE MEN TRAVELING TOGETHER to REPRESENT OUR THREE-FOLD NATURE - SPIRIT, SOUL, AND BODY. Each of these faucets of our humanity must unite and progress together on the journey of our life. One of the most important revelations a believer can have is the understanding that we were created by God with three distinct parts: spirit, soul, and body (1 Thess. 5:23). 
 According to the Bible, these three Kings came to worship! Our full nature must worship -- TOGETHER. Salvation is ongoing. It is not just spiritual! We also bring along our soul (our personality, conscience, mind, will, and emotions) and our body (our feelings, 5 senses, health, and needs of comfort). And our whole being must discover and worship the Savior. Even our intellect can praise Him. 

 Every day is another revelation. Praise and worship unwrap the swaddling clothes that covers our minds. Worship allows our body's renewal. The new creation (2 Cor. 5:17-18) moves together as we become aware of how to function in wholeness. The Christian life isn't a process of "getting something from God" -- it's a process of progressing in wholeness. It is a three-part journey of worship! 
 For the purpose of this article, each king represents a facet of our being that brings Gifts of Worship. But many believers have LOST the real purpose of worship. Worship is NOT music. Music is merely one vehicle to help us get into God's presence. Worship is clearly about the giving of yourself. Romans 12:1, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to OFFER YOUR BODIES AS LIVING SACRIFICES, HOLY AND PLEASING TO GOD--THIS IS YOUR SPIRITUAL ACT OF WORSHIP." The Message Translation says, "Take your everyday, ordinary life--your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life--and place it before God as an offering." 

 EVERYTHING YOU ARE AND EVERYTHING YOU DO IS WORSHIP. This year let's let us bring our prophetic gifts to the Lord. The greatest gift that we can offer to Jesus this season is the tribute of wholeness of our spirit, our soul, and our body. This is a chance to leave the past behind and let it only contribute to the strength you have now. Look in your ever-present now with abiding faith and allow what needs to be healed to be healed at last. A new and engaging future awaits. 

 The Gifts They Brought Had Spiritual Significance: 

 1. THE GIFT OF WORSHIP FROM YOUR SPIRIT IS GOLD. The word "gold" originates from the Sanskrit term meaning "to shine." It is a type of Divinity. GOLD IS THE SYMBOL OF KINGSHIP. When your spirit worships Jesus, it is as a gift of gold. It represents the acknowledgement of His Deity, and the acceptance of Him as King and Chief Apostle, Emmanuel -- God in the flesh. Release your human SPIRIT and offer worship of communion and peace -- of intimacy and presence to the King. And receive the infinite fullness and boundless abundance of all that God is. 

 2. THE GIFT OF WORSHIP FROM YOUR SOUL IS FRANKINCENSE which was a highly valued and rare commodity. FRANKINCENSE IS THE SYMBOL OF PRIESTHOOD. The Jewish people directly connected frankincense to the worship of God. The Altar of Incense continually burned with frankincense that gave off a sweet-smelling white smoke. This gift represents the aroma of Christ the Prophet, His Words, and His Message that is energy to your soul. It represents incense, perfume, prayer, sacrifice, and purification. Frankincense is thought to be a method of transfiguration. Burned frankincense is a physical vapor symbolic to His willingness to wholly give Himself up for YOU. Open the gate of your SOUL and offer up the pain of disappointment, grief, and tragedy in exchange for His LOVE. Allow woundedness, offense, forgiveness to become a vapor ... and find LIFE there waiting within. 

 3. THE GIFT OF WORSHIP FROM YOUR BODY IS MYRRH. The gift almost seems to convey the fact that Jesus was born to die and rise again. He identified with us in our pain and sorrow. This gift is the balm of the death of the God-man's body. MYRRH IS THE SYMBOL OF MOVING FROM DEATH TO RESURRECTION IN THIS LIFE. In worship, understand that your body is the dwelling place - the temple- of God. Open the access doorways of your Body and end death and defeat. Find LIFE, healing, and health. Allow wholeness in your senses and every portal gate into your BODY. Allow the LIFE of Christ to emerge from every pore! Awaken to the truth that you have been given LIFE - and live fully today! No matter what. When things seem too hard to bear, when you are in the crucible of personal pain, when you can no longer lift up your own head -- just know that His death conquered it all. Make it personal and give Him worship with everything that is in you. And... when you can no longer pray, KNOW that the Holy Spirit and Jesus Himself forever make intercession for you. His death and resurrection sees every tear and sorrow. You finally DISCOVER THAT OUT OF HIS DEATH HE BRINGS YOU HIS LIFE. 

 We see that the gifts of the wise men are SPIRIT, SOUL AND BODY, devoted to the service of humanity. To give oneself is in true worship is to imitate Christ, to follow in His steps. To fully worship with your spirit, soul, and body means to live in love and kindness being spiritual aware and conscious of LOVE in every arena of life. This year, let's commemorate Christmas with the spiritual meanings embedded with this personal application as we present our three gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh ... How wonderful it is to live, move, and breath in the wholeness that allows the fullness of Christ to be revealed. Upon seeing Him in our present NOW, our human spirit soars a little higher, our soul rejoices with greater soundness and increased faith, and our body sings at the wonder of Divine life dwelling within. I declare with apostolic and prophetic force that right now you be centered in the greatness of the I AM, the God Who is. That you find yourself in the very center of His Love. That you KNOW that you are a part of His great plan for NOW. It is time to rise up and worship with wholeness.