A Life Changing Gift
Notes
Transcript
9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
A LIFE CHANGING GIFT
WE ARE JUST OVER A WEEK AWAY FROM CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS DAY. A DAY WHERE WE COME TOGETHER WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND EXCHANGE GIFTS.
AT CHRISTMASTIME, WE OFTEN SEE THREE WISE MEN DEPICTED IN THE MANGER SCENE PRESENTING THEIR GIFTS TO THE BABY JESUS. WHILE THERE IS NOT DEFINITE PROOF THAT THERE WERE ONLY THREE OF THEM, ONLY THREE GIFTS WERE MENTIONED.
GIFTS ARE IMPORTANT, AND THE GIFTS GIVEN TO JESUS WERE ALSO IMPORTANT.
JESUS WAS GIVEN GOLD, INCENSE (OR FRANKINCENSE), AND MYRRH.
WE DON’T KNOW FOR SURE WHAT EACH OF THESE GIFTS REPRESENTED, BUT IT IS LIKELY THAT THESE PARTICULAR GIFTS WERE CHOSEN FOR A REASON.
ACCORDING TO TRADITION, GOLD WAS GIVEN TO THE INFANT KING AS A TOKEN OF HIS ROYALTY. FRANKINCENSE, A FRAGRANT INCENSE USED IN SACRIFICIAL OFFERINGS, WAS MEANT TO REPRESENT JESUS’ DEITY. MYRRH, A PERFUME OR OINTMENT, WAS A TOKEN OF HIS FUTURE SUFFERING.
MANY OF US HAVE BEEN SEARCHING AND SHOPPING FOR THE PERFECT GIFT TO BUY OUR FRIENDS, FAMILY MEMBERS AND LOVED ONES. SOME OF US HAVE BEEN RUNNING AROUND OR SEARCHING ONLINE…..EVER SINCE THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING KNOWN AS BLACK FRIDAY IN THE UNITED STATES, AND IT MARKS THE START OF THE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING SEASON…. A TIME WHEN STORES AND ONLINE SHOPPING SITES, HAVE BEEN PROMOTING THEIR SALES AND DISCOUNTS TO THE MASSES IN AN EFFORT TO GET YOU TO PURCHASE THAT PERFECT GIFT FOR CHRISTMAS FOR SOMEONE IN YOUR LIFE.
WE TRY TO FIND THAT “PERFECT GIFT.”
IT’S BEEN SAID THAT A GIFT MUST MEET THREE CRITERIA FOR IT TO BE CONSIDERED “PERFECT.”
NUMBER ONE, THE GIFT SHOULD REFLECT THE ONE WHO GIVES IT.
NUMBER TWO, THE GIFT SHOULD REFLECT KNOWLEDGE OF THE ONE WHO RECEIVES IT—IN OTHER WORDS, KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR NEEDS, DESIRES, TASTES, AND SO FORTH.
AND NUMBER THREE, THE GIFT SHOULD BE OF A NATURE AND QUALITY THAT WILL HOLD ITS VALUE AS TIME GOES ON.
IF I CAN BE REAL WITH YOU SAINTS, IT’S HARD FOR ME TO PICK OUT CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR SOME PEOPLE.
ESPECIALLY FOR SOMEONE YOU KNOW AND HAS SO MANY THINGS…..WE ALL HAVE THAT ONE PERSON IN OUR LIVES THAT STYMIES ALL OF OUR GIFT GIVING EFFORTS….
WHAT DO YOU GET SOMEONE THAT YOU BELIEVE HAS EVERYTHING?
I MEAN HOW MANY NECKTIES CAN YOU BUY FOR THAT PERSON?
HOW MANY CANDLES CAN YOU BUY? ANOTHER FRUITCAKE OR SOMETHING SWEET IS PROBABLY NOT A GOOD IDEA. DO I HAVE A WITNESS THIS MORNING?
IF I CAN BE TRANSPARENT FOR A MOMENT…..SOMETIMES IT’S HARD FOR ME TO PICK OUT A GIFT, SO I WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO PICK A GIFT SO I’M PRETTY MUCH FORCED INTO BUYING A GIFT……. IS THERE ANYONE LIKE THAT IN HERE THIS MORNING? IT CAN BE STRESSFUL TRYING TO PICK OUT THE PERFECT GIFT. TRUTH BE TOLD, I BELIEVE THAT THE GIFT CARD HAS REVOLUTIONIZED AND REMOVED THE STRESS OF PICKING OUT A GIFT.
IN A SURVEY CONDUCTED BY ONE POLL, WHEN IT COMES TO RECURRING GIFTS TO GIVE OR RECEIVE, GIFT CARD OR MONEY TOP THE CHARTS WITH OVER 45% OF THE GIFTS THAT ARE GIVEN OR RECEIVED.
MANY OF US IN HERE THIS MORNING WILL PROBABLY GIVE OR RECEIVE A GIFT CARD FOR CHRISTMAS. DO I HAVE A WITNESS?
SINCE I’VE BEEN TELLIN’ ALL MY BUSINESS ALL MORNING….I WILL TELL YOU THAT IF SOMEONE ASKS ME WHAT I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS, I WILL MORE THAN LIKELY TELL YOU A GIFT CARD. I TELL YOU THE REASON WHY….IT’S PRACTICAL, IT TAKES THE STRESS OFF THE PERSON GIVING THE GIFT AND LASTLY I CAN PURCHASE WHAT I LIKE. DO I HAVE SOMEONE?
NOW I KNOW THAT IT PROBABLY SEEMS LIKE IT’S A THOUGHTLESS GIFT, BUT I BELIEVE THAT IN THE US THE COMMERICIALISM OF CHRISTMAS HAVE OVERSHADOWED THE REAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS.
I BELIEVE THAT GOD THE FATHER GAVE US ALL A GIFT THAT IS TRANSFORMATIONAL…….AND LIFE CHANGING……
SOME OF THE PRESENTS UNDER YOUR TREE ARE LIFE-CHANGING. BUT WHAT THESE PRESENTS, THESE GADGETS ARE ABLE TO CHANGE ABOUT YOUR LIFE IS USUALLY LIMITED.
• THEY CAN’T AND DON’T CHANGE YOUR LIFE COMPLETELY
• THAT’S BECAUSE THEY CAN’T CHANGE YOU FROM THE INSIDE OUT
THE CHRISTMAS GIFT GOD GIVES, HOWEVER, DOES.
• NO NEED TO WORRY IF BATTERIES ARE INCLUDED OR NOT
• IT ISN’T LIMITED TO EXTERNAL CHANGE
• INSTEAD, IT HAS THE ABILITY TO CHANGE US FROM THE INSIDE OUT
• IT HAS THE ABILITY TO CHANGE EVERYTHING ABOUT US THROUGH AND THROUGH
GOD GAVE US THE BEST GIFT WE COULD EVER RECEIVE, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND HOLY OF GIFTS. WHETHER OR NOT HIS BIRTH IS ON DECEMBER 25, IT IS THE CELEBRATION OF THE MOST IMPORTANT GIFT WE HAVE EVER RECEIVED. CHRIST WAS SENT DOWN TO NOT ONLY GIVE US ETERNAL LIFE, BUT TO BRING US AN IMAGE OF WHO WE SHOULD BE. WE ARE TO WALK AS CHRIST HAS AND LIVE IN HIS EXAMPLE. THIS CHRISTMAS WE SHOULD REMEMBER THE GIFT OF GOD AND THE BLESSINGS HE HAS BROUGHT US. WE SHOULD REMEMBER CHRIST AND THE EXAMPLE WHICH HE SET.
JESUS IS THE SAVIOR, THE CHRIST. IN OTHER WORDS -
• HE IS THE ONE ANOINTED, CHOSEN, AND PROMISED BY GOD TO BE THE ONE WHO WOULD SAVE US FROM OUR SINS
• THE ONE WHO WOULD REPAIR OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FATHER AND DEAL A DEATH BLOW TO SATAN
• HE IS THE ONE THROUGH WHOM GOD WOULD MAKE THIS WORLD RIGHT AGAIN
JUST AS THE SHEPHERDS REJOICED THAT NIGHT SEEING THE FATHER’S CHRISTMAS GIFT, WE TOO SHOULD BE DRIVEN TO PRAISE AND GLORIFY GOD FOR SENDING JESUS. THAT’S BECAUSE JESUS IS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR WHO PROVIDES A NEW WAY OF LIFE.
THE GIFT OF GOD IN JESUS CHRIST IS A GIFT WE CELEBRATE AT CHRISTMASTIME BECAUSE WE RECEIVE THE GIFT OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE; EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US NO MATTER OUR CONDITION - AFFLICTION - OR DISPOSITION – EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US IS GOD’S BELOVED, MADE WORTHY.
NOT WORTHY BECAUSE OF OUR OWN GOODNESS, BUT WORTHY BECAUSE THE WORD MADE FLESH COMES JUST TO LOVE US, NO MATTER WHETHER SICK – HEALTHY - RICH – POOR - POWERFUL - MEEK.
WHAT IS EVEN MORE AMAZING ABOUT THIS LIFE CHANGING GIFT IS THAT –
• THE INFINITE - WHO BECAME AN INFANT
• THE CHANGELESS ONE - WHO BECAME A CHILD
• THE PREEMINENT ONE - WHO BECAME A MAN OF SORROWS,
• THAT THIS COULD REALLY HAPPEN, IS A WONDER, IS A MARVEL, IS STUNNING, AND IS BEYOND OUR WILDEST IMAGINATION!
ALL THE HOPES AND DREAMS OF A DYING WORLD WERE CRADLED IN BETHLEHEM’S MANGER ON THAT FIRST CHRISTMAS NIGHT.
• THOSE LITTLE HANDS THAT CLASPED THE STRAW IN HIS MANGER’S CRIB WERE SOON TO TOUCH AND OPEN BLINDED EYES - TO UNSTOP DEAF EARS - AND TO CLEANSE THE LEPERS
• THE COOING VOICE OF THE BABY JESUS WAS SOON TO BE LIFTED TO COMMAND DEMONS TO DEPART - TO CALM THE TROUBLED SEAS - TO TEACH MEN AND WOMEN THE WAY TO ETERNAL LIFE AND TO RAISE THE DEAD
• THOSE TINY FEET WERE SOON TO TAKE HIM TO THE SICK AND NEEDY AND FINALLY TO BE PIERCED ON THE CROSS OF CALVARY
BETHLEHEM’S MANGER BECAME THE LINK THAT BOUND A LOST AND DYING WORLD TO A LOVING, LIVING GOD.
THE BIBLE SAYS – IN ST. JOHN 1:14 “THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND MADE HIS DWELLING AMONG US . . .” BECAUSE OF THIS, WE SHOULD NO LONGER FEEL ALIENATED FROM GOD; JESUS UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE EXPERIENCE IN THE FLESH….THE TRIALS….THE TEMPTATIONS…THE TRAPS OF THIS WORLD…..…
CHRISTMAS MEANS THAT GOD IS INTERESTED IN THE AFFAIRS OF PEOPLE; THAT GOD LOVES US SO MUCH THAT HE WAS WILLING TO GIVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON.
THE BIBLE SAYS IT LIKE THIS IN ST. JOHN 3:16 “FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.”
CHRISTMAS IS A TIME OF JOY. HOWEVER, WE MUST ENSURE THAT IT IS NOT A PAGAN JOY GENERATED BY THE EXPECTATION OF EXCHANGING GIFTS OR ENGAGING IN REVELRY.
• THE REAL HAPPINESS OF CHRISTMAS IS IN THE FACT THAT CHRIST WAS BORN, THAT “. . . GOD WAS RECONCILING THE WORLD TO HIMSELF IN CHRIST . . .” II CORINTHIANS 5:19
AS YOU CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR WITH YOUR LOVED ONES AMIDST ALL THE GIFTS AND TRADITIONS, I CHALLENGE YOU TO VIEW CHRISTMAS FROM A DIFFERENT LENS.
• THINK OF CHRISTMAS AS GOD’S GIFT OF A NEW PROMISE TO US
• A PROMISE OF A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL!
• THOUGH 2023 HAS BEEN LONG AND CHALLENGING IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, I FEEL IT IS TIME TO RISE UP WITH SHOUTS OF VICTORY AND SHINE BRIGHT FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE
• THIS IS REFERENCED IN ISAIAH 60:1 WHERE IT DECLARES, “ARISE, SHINE, FOR YOUR LIGHT HAS COME, AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD RISES UPON YOU”
• I CANNOT HELP BUT BE OVERJOYED WHEN FOCUSING ON THE MANY WONDERFUL THINGS THAT GOD HAS DONE THIS YEAR, AND THE THINGS TO COME!
THE GIFT OF GOD WAS THE GIFT OF ALL GIFTS!
• THE SAVIOR!
• THE REDEEMER!
• THE DELIVERER!
WITHOUT THIS GIFT WE HAD NO HOPE. WE WERE DOOMED TO DIE IN OUR SIN, FOREVER SEPARATED FROM GOD.
NOW, WE CAN APPROACH HIM BOLDLY, CLOTHED IN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS THE SAVIOR.
• LET US GRATEFULLY AND HUMBLY RECEIVE THIS ETERNAL GIFT FROM GOD
• WE CAN SHOUT IN PRAISES AND THANKSGIVING DAILY
• THE SAVIOR HAS BEEN GIVEN FREELY TO THE WORLD
• A LIFE CHANGING GIFT
AT CHRISTMAS, WE CELEBRATE THE ALMIGHTY, GLORIOUS GOD BECAME A MAN, THAT WE MIGHT BEHOLD AND RECEIVE HIS GLORY.
GAZE AT – WITH REJOICING THAT DIVINE STEPPED OUT OF ETERNITY ONTO THIS WORLD OF SINFUL MEN.
EVERY CHRISTMAS IS A REMINDER OF GOD’S ETERNAL LOVE – FOR ME AND FOR YOU, AND FOR THE WHOLE WORLD.
CHRISTMAS PROVIDES A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO JOIN WITH GOD IN GIVING TO THE WORLD.
THE MOST PRECIOUS GIFTS WE CAN GIVE TO OUR FAMILY - OUR CHILDREN - OUR FRIENDS - EACH OTHER AND EVEN THOSE WHOM WE DO NOT KNOW, OUR ENEMIES, ARE THOSE GIFTS THAT LET OTHERS SHARE IN GOD’S GIFT – HIS SAVIOR - HIS GLORY - HIS PEACE - HIS BELOVED SON – SO THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVES SHALL NOT PERISH, BUT TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.
A LIFE CHANGING GIFT.
WE SURELY ARE NOT WORTHY OF RECEIVING ANY GIFT FROM OUR GREAT GOD.
• HE IS KING OF KINGS
• HE IS LORD OF LORDS
• HE IS MIGHTY
• HE IS POWERFUL
• HE IS WORTHY OF ALL PRAISE
WE, BY CONTRAST, ARE CONSIDERED LIKE FILTHY RAGS.
• WE ARE LOWLY
• WE ARE TRANSITORY — HERE TODAY AND GONE TOMORROW
• WE ARE INSIGNIFICANT, EXCEPT AS GOD GIVES SIGNIFICANCE UPON US
GOD CREATED EVERYTHING, HE GAVE LIFE AND BREATH TO EVERYTHING, AND HE SUSTAINS EVERYTHING, EVEN NOW.
WE LIVE AND BREATHE BY THE VERY WILL AND SUSTAINING POWER OF GOD.
HE CERTAINLY OWES US NO GIFT; IT IS WE THAT OWE OUR GOD OUR GIFT.
A GIFT BY DEFINITION IS ''SOMETHING BESTOWED [OR GIVEN] VOLUNTARILY AND WITHOUT COMPENSATION.''
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A GIFT, YOU BECOME MINDFUL THAT IT IS NOT THE INTENTION TO GET SOMETHING IN RETURN, BUT RATHER TO SEE THE JOY IT BRINGS TO THE RECEIVER.
EVEN THE WORD OF GOD TELLS US IN ACTS 20:35 ''...IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE, THAN TO RECEIVE.''
THE REAL MESSAGE OF CHRISTMAS IS NOT THE GIFTS THAT WE GIVE TO EACH OTHER. RATHER, IT IS A REMINDER OF THE LIFE CHANGING GIFT THAT GOD HAS GIVEN TO EACH OF US.
DURING EVERY CHRISTMAS SEASON, WE HEAR ONE WORD MORE THAN ANY OTHER.
IT’S “THE NAME OF JESUS.” IT’S “A GIFT”
• GOD HAS GIVEN THE WORLD THE GIFT THAT IS SO PERFECT NOTHING COMPARES
• MANY PEOPLE THINK THAT GIFT GIVING AT CHRISTMAS WAS STARTED BY THE WISE MEN WHEN THEY BROUGHT GIFTS TO THE BABY JESUS
• BUT IT WAS GOD WHO GAVE THE FIRST CHRISTMAS GIFT – A LIFE CHANGING GIFT
--I STILL DO ENJOY, THE MUSIC, THE DECORATIONS, AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT THE CHRISTMAS SEASON BRINGS
--BUT NOW I HAVE FOUND THAT THE BEST GIFT OF ALL WAS GIVEN TO ME IN THE BEGINNING — THAT OF JESUS CHRIST
--I AM ABLE TO CELEBRATE THIS TIME OF YEAR IN A MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT WAY…………
BECAUSE WE HAVE THE LIFE CHANGING GIFT.
--I PRAY WE HAVE ALL BEEN REMINDED ABOUT WHAT CHRISTMAS REALLY MEANS
--I PRAY WE HAVE ALL BEEN STRENGTHENED IN OUR FAITH, LOOKING TO THE LORD AS THE ONE WHO CASTS OUT FEAR, WHO BRINGS GREAT JOY AND PEACE THAT PASSES UNDERSTANDING, AND WHO CALLS US TO WORSHIP HIM AND TELL OTHERS ABOUT THE LIFE CHANGING GIFT OF SALVATION HE OFFERS IN CHRIST
--LISTEN…..LET ME REMIND YOU AS I MENTIONED EARLIER…..… THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS MAY BEST BE SUMMED UP WITH THESE WELL KNOWN WORDS FROM JOHN’S GOSPEL --
“FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE”
—HE IS THE LIFE CHANGING GIFT
HE IS …THE Lamb of God
THE Light of the World
Lion of the Tribe of Judah
Lily of the Valleys
HE IS THE Living Bread
THE Lord of the Harvest
HE IS THE Last Adam
THE Lifter of Mine Head
HE IS Lord God Almighty
Lord God Omnipotent
Lord Jesus Christ AND
Lord of the Dead and the Living
Lord of Glory
Lord of Lords
HE IS MY….…Lord and Savior