Advent (3)

Love

Introduction

It has been three weeks now going into the forth that we have been studying this season of Advent.

I asked each and every one of us for the past three week to be preparing ourself for the Christmas morning which will be here in just 3 days.

THE morning that we look back and remember that Jesus Christ was born.

Jesus’ Arrival is that specific event that the entire season of Advent leads us to…

The moment that Jesus was born and with Him came all the prophetic HOPE and the promise of a Messiah to redeem the people of God.

HOPE is a powerful thing, we learned about in week 1…the birth of Jesus is where all hope comes from.

PEACE is available through Jesus, the fulfillment of all our hope, that we learned in week 2.

And last week we read in Luke 2 and learned where Jesus brings with him. “good news of great joy”

He is the reason for the season and the reason that we can be filled with JOY in the midst of all the chaos of our lives.

This morning we get to look at what’s behind it all. The thing behind the HOPE, PEACE, and JOY…

Behind the gift of Jesus. That thing is called love… And it was love that caused God the Father to give His one and only Son so that we can be saved.

Main Teaching

Love is a very powerful thing… I would say that it is one of THE most powerful and beautiful things in the world.

All throughout the New Testament we see that the bible has a lot to say about that beautiful thing called love, but today I want to look back on the most often quoted verse of all time;

Read John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

We’ve heard this verse before, we have heard it quoted all the time at church and out, we have seen it displayed at sporting event signs, armbands, posters, and many here this morning can probably recite it from memory…

This one verse answers the question, “Why did God send Jesus?”

He did it because he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

That is what true love is. Not one person in here this morning would give your son to die so someone else could live.

Let’s look at another great verse here (1 John 4:10).

10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

God is the one who took the initiative towards us… He took the first step. He offered up the greatest gift the world has ever known, and our job is simply to just receive the free gift with joy.

Receive the Gift

Have a gift wrapped on stage with you as a prop. Use the gift to talk about the different ways people receive gifts. Highlight the sheer joy and excitement that we see young children display when receiving gifts contrasted with the way that we become more and more subdued as we get older… Maybe even complacent in the way we receive gifts from others… It’s just the same ole same ole or something like that.

If you’ve given your life to Jesus, do you remember how it felt when you first received the gift of salvation and forgiveness?

Were you overcome with joy? Everyone of us that are saved should really go back and reflect on that moment this holiday season, and remember then hope, joy, peace and love we felt.

So, if love was the motive behind the gift of Jesus. And if God took the initiative to give the gift, then what responsibility do we have to receive it?

I can promise you this morning that of all the gifts a person could ever receive in life, this is the greatest one.

This is the one that really matters the most… and if you’ve already received the gift of salvation, then this is the time to reflect on it and to consider the awesome love expressed by God in the giving of His Son…

Share the Love with Others

When we get a real nice gift for Christmas, we can’t wait to tell others about that gift we receive.

Ex claudia ring

This whole idea of giving and sharing with others is actually captured in the bible.

You’ve probably heard this verse before at some point, as it’s become a fairly common saying even outside of church life…

Read Acts 20:35

35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive

I love this verse in that it says, “The Lord Jesus himself said… it’s better to give than to receive…

So, it only makes sense that we would be overjoyed and excited about sharing and giving the love of God with others this Christmas.

“ You mean I Gotta tell others that Jesus loves them!” How is that supposed to fit in between Christmas parties, gifts for teachers, menu planning, house decorations, and everything else…

You know what, that is why we are here we are commanded and obligated to tell everyone about Jesus’ love.

I have said it many times if Jesus was done with you here on this earth you would be gone. If all he wanted to do is save you so you could get to heaven. The moment you got saved he would have took you then.

Take some time today, we’ve only got 3 days left before Christmas, so why don’t you make it a priority to share some love with someone else…

A neighbor, co-worker, family friend, contact on your phone, a stranger And it don’t have to be something massive and extravagant… Maybe it’s just to show care and compassion for another…

Even a small act of kindness would feel amazing on the receiving end of things.

What about celebration?

When I say the word, “celebration” what comes to mind? Is there a specific event or occasion that you immediately think about?

As you’re thinking, can you even imagine the celebration that must’ve occurred when the people in and around Bethlehem began to realize that the Messiah had been born?

This is exactly what happened in Luke 2:13-14.

Read Luke 2:13-14

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

This is the scene that happens immediately after the angel proclaims to the shepherds that he’s got “good news that will bring great joy to all the people.” (Luke 2:10)

An entire heavenly host appears at that announcement and a celebration takes place

What a picture for us today of HOW we should be celebrating Jesus’ birth. Christmas.

Jesus is the fulfillment of HOPE and the Prince of PEACE. Through Him we can experience a peace in ourselves that surpasses all human understanding.

He is the cause for great JOY… as we just read. And behind it all is the amazing, divine, redemptive LOVE of a God who would even give His only Son in order for us to be able to receive that free gift of salvation.

This is the good news… and it’s worthy of celebration.

Conclusion

As we wrap up this morning and when we meet back again on Christmas Eve Tuesday Night. Then it will then only be hours before we celebrate that day called Christmas when Jesus’ arrival took place.

In preparation for that day Christmas, I want to encourage you to Receive the Gift of Christmas with joy and thankfulness.

Make it a point to Share the Gift of love and forgiveness with others in your life. Neighbors, co-workers, family members, friends, strangers.

Remember It’s better to give than to receive, and I want you to experience how amazing it feels to give the gospel away this holiday season.

The greatest gift you could ever give anyone does not cost you anything but some love and time and that is to share the gospel message with them.

And finally, prepare your heart for a Proper Celebration. Christmas is a time to celebrate, to worship, to praise, and to thank God for all that He has done and will continue to do in our lives.

I look forward to seeing everyone this evening at 4:00 to go out and share some love and joy with some of our church family that can’t get out and be here like you can this morning. Then we will meet back here for hot chocolate, coffee and funnel cakes.

I also look forward to our candle light service Tuesday Christmas Eve at 5:30.