The Rejected Gift

Greetings, I hope you had an excellent Christmas time with your family and loved ones.

If you took part in the receiving and giving of gifts you will have an appreciation for the story we will begin with:

Long ago, there was a man who worked far from home. He walk early in the morning to get there, worked very hard, and walked home sore from all he had accomplished.

This he did day after day.

One day, after working extra hard, he began the walk home - but was stopped by a stranger.

The stranger had a container and offered it to the man as a gift.

He thanked the stranger and received the box. He did not look inside because he did not want to be rude. This was a heavy container but he put it on his shoulder and started toward home.

He was weary from work and the box was weighing on him.

“What did the stranger give me that is so heavy?”, he thought.

“Why am I lugging this home and don’t even know what is inside?”

After a while more, the man convinced himself to see if the gift was worth the trouble carrying it all the way home.

He stopped to take a look.

When he opened the box, he saw gold, gems, and jewelry. More than he had ever seen before.

He CLOSED the box quickly, hoisted it back on his shoulder and continued home.

Now, his pain seemed a little less. The box was less of a burden. There was a bit of joy to his journey.

He could not wait to get home and this gift that was such a burden - was now a joy.

What would have happened if the man rejected the gift?

Why do you think his walk changed once he had experienced the gift (even just a little)?

Was the burden lighter?

Was the cost to him less by knowing what was inside?

Christmas Gifts

We just celebrated Christmas.

If you take part in giving of gifts, you received a gift or more from family or friends.

But the gift was not yours when it was wrapped in the packaging.

It was not yours until you received the gift.

And even after you received it, you did not know what you had until you got beyond the wrapping and to the gift itself.

The techy gifts always have something that come with them. It is called the manual.

What is the point of a manual?

The point is so the receiver of the gift can understand the gift fully.

Only then can the recipient fully enjoy everything the gift was intended to do.

The Gift of Jesus

God gave us a gift, let’s look at John 3:16 together.

John 3:16 NKJV

16 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.

God gave His Son because He loves you and me soooo much!

This seems so simple for some of us, but we need to remember that sin separated mankind from having a direct relationship with God.

Without the gift of Jesus to come and die for us, we would not be saved from the consequence of sin, which is hell.

We needed this gift even before we ever knew it.

Who is the gift for?

The gift of Jesus is for whoever believes in Him!

Just like the gifts at Christmas, it is not yours yet.

When is the gift of Jesus yours?

The gift of Jesus is yours when you receive Him & experience Him.

CAUTION!

You must receive Jesus AS HE IS!

Just like the gift you received from a loved one, you cannot

Change the Gift in the package (You must accept Jesus for who He is)

Change the wrapping (You must accept Jesus as He is)

Write your own manual (You must recognize that Jesus makes the rules)

There are Christians today who are trying to make Jesus

less holy

more like the world

weak

But the Bible is the MANUAL!

Read the Manual

Written by God for you and me.

This manual declares some things to be true about the gift of Jesus.

If you don’t take time to open it and look,

You are like the man carrying the box but not knowing what is inside.

READ IT!!! LEARN IT!!! HIDE IT IN YOUR HEART!!!

The Bible calls Jesus:

Advocate

Almighty

Alpha and Omega (Beginning and the End)

Cornerstone

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father

Creator

Deliverer

Faithful Witness

God With Us

Mediator

Messiah

Redeemer

The Word

Way, Truth, and Life

The True Vine

He is our Source of Rest

He is our ever-present help in times of trouble

He is the builder of His Church

He is the protector of His Church

He is present in your past, in your present, and in your future

He is EVERYTHING YOU NEED!!!

I go to the rock of my salvation

I go to the stone that the builders rejected.

I run to the mountain and the mountain stands by me.

When the earth all around is sinking sand,

on Christ the SOLID ROCK I stand.

When I need a shelter, when I need a friend, I go to the rock.

The Rejected Gift

Why do we call Him the “Rejected Gift”?

Let’s see

I want us to get into the manual today and see how amazing this Jesus is.

Isaiah lived around 800 years before Jesus came.

He received this prophecy from God:

Isaiah 28:16 NKJV

16 Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily.

Let’s look at what Peter declares in 1 Peter about how Isaiah was talking about Jesus:

1 Peter 2:6 NKJV

6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”

This is Peter talking about those who receive Jesus. That they will not be put to shame because the Jesus was the stone that was rejected by the world but chosen by God.

Let’s go to Psalm 118:22

Psalm 118:22 NKJV

22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.

The psalmist prophesied about Jesus as the chief cornerstone who was rejected.

1 Peter 2:7 NKJV

7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,”

Isaiah 8:14 NKJV

14 He will be as a sanctuary, But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense To both the houses of Israel, As a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

The prophecy of Jesus in Isaiah

1 Peter 2:8 NKJV

8 and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

Jesus was despised and rejected by men.

Jesus is still rejected today.

Jesus is sometimes partially accepted to be Savior, but rejected as Lord.

Application

What will you do with the gift of Jesus?

Will you be like so many who have heard of Him as the Messiah who redeems us back to God - and reject Him?

Will you accept His blessings and salvation, but reject Him as Lord and Ruler of your life?

Would you bow your heads as we go before the Lord

****************

Perhaps some here have heard of the gift of God but never received Jesus.

If that is so, the Bible says today is the day for salvation. That is what Living Hope Church is all about.

This Living Hope in Jesus through His Birth, Perfect Life, Death, Burial, and Resurrection.

This is not a hope that is placed in created things, but in the Creator of everything.

Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. I believe you love me. I confess my sins before You. I ask you to forgive my sins, and cleanse me. I choose to follow You, as Lord of my life. In Your Holy Name, Amen.

2. Perhaps you received Jesus but you are trying to make Him fit your desires. Maybe He is too strict for you. Maybe He is pointing out things in your life that you don’t want to give up.

If that is you, you need to understand something:

Jesus is the Gift.

There are only two options:

Accept Him as He is, with Him as the King - and you are His servant, or

Reject Him and the eternal life He brings.

3. Lastly, you may have a relationship with Jesus. You have accepted Him as He is, but you desire to know Him more. You want to push away the distractions and experience Him fully.

We want to take time and open the altar for prayer. We would love to pray with you. We have no judgment against you.

John 3:17 NKJV

17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Let’s Pray together!