SERMON NOTES WITH APPLICATION - “AT THE RIGHT PLACE AND AT THE RIGHT TIME” PT II - Matthew 2:1-12 (MSG)
- Pastor William Mathis
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Series: SHINE
“AT THE RIGHT PLACE AND AT THE RIGHT TIME” (PT II)
Matthew 2:1–12 (The Message)
Theme: Hidden MannaFollows: “AT THE RIGHT PLACE AND AT THE RIGHT TIME” Pt. I
THE BIG IDEA
Being at the right place and the right time isn’t enough.You also need discernment, timing, and protection.
This text teaches us that how you move after God positions you determines whether the promise is preserved or stolen.
POINT 1 — POSITIONING FOR YOUR PROMISE IS CRITICAL (v. 1–6)
Where you are matters.
Everybody in the story — Herod, the scholars, the Magi — asks the same question:“Where?”
God had already settled it: Bethlehem.Not Nazareth. Not Jerusalem. Not the palace.A small, overlooked place with a big assignment.
Mary and Joseph didn’t choose Bethlehem — life moved them there.But God used inconvenience to fulfill destiny.
What this means:
You don’t stumble into promise — you’re positioned for it.
Why this matters for everybody:
Sometimes life relocates you, disrupts you, or exhausts you.That doesn’t mean you’re off track — it may mean you’re being aligned.
Practical Application:
Stop resisting inconvenient placement: God often hides big purpose in small places.
Don’t confuse comfort with calling: Bethlehem wasn’t easy — it was necessary.
Honor where you are: You can’t access the promise if you keep longing for another location.
Ask “Where is God working?” not just “Why am I here?”
Right place beats right preference every time.
POINT 2 — PROCEED ONLY WHEN PROMPTED BY THE SPIRIT (v. 7–10)
Movement requires discernment.
Herod had power, position, and religious language — but no truth.He pretended devotion while plotting destruction.
The Magi didn’t rush.They waited — and when the star moved again, they moved.
What this means:
Not every open door is God.Not every instruction with authority carries truth.
God’s guidance resumes when it’s time to move.
Why this matters:
Some people leave promise too early or enter danger too fast because they move without discernment.
Practical Application:
Don’t move just because someone with power says so: Even kings can lie.
Pay attention to spiritual cues: Peace, clarity, alignment matter.
Wait for the “star to move”: God doesn’t rush guidance — God reveals it.
Trust the light you’ve been given: The Magi followed what they saw, not what they assumed.
If God hasn’t prompted the move, don’t force it.
POINT 3 — POSSESS YOUR PROMISE AND GUARD IT (v. 11–12)
Arrival is not the end — protection is part of fulfillment.
They reach the house.They worship.They give their gifts.Then God warns them in a dream.
And they don’t argue.They change routes.
What this means:
Promise requires protection.
God doesn’t just bring you to purpose —God shows you how to leave safely with it intact.
Why this matters for everybody:
Not everyone who asks about your blessing is safe to update.Not every path you came in on is the one you should return on.
Practical Application:
Honor the moment: Worship before you strategize.
Offer your best: Give from value, not obligation.
Listen for warning: God still redirects people who pay attention.
Change routes when necessary: Growth sometimes requires secrecy and separation.
Protect what God gave you: Your peace, clarity, calling, and future matter.
You don’t owe access to people who intend harm.
THE HIDDEN MANNA — THE TAKEAWAY
Alignment brings you to the promise.Discernment tells you when to move.Wisdom teaches you how to protect what you’ve received.
You are not just at the right place and the right time —you are learning how to stay there without losing what God has given you.
And sometimes the most faithful move is taking another route home.
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