Jesus is the Gift

Merry Christmas! We are so glad to be gathered here to celebrate the extravagant gift of Jesus! Tonight and tomorrow I know that many will be receiving extravagant gifts. Gifts that you’ve hoped for, prayed for, written to Santa about receiving and this time of year is so exciting for many because of those extravagant gifts.

However, tonight is about the extravagant gift of Jesus! Hear me when I say this...

There is no other gift given that will ever be better than Jesus.

call ushers to the front

So tonight we bring our gifts of sacrifice of our time, talents and resources to honor our King with extravagant gifts.

So right now I want us to do that.

call ushers to the front

Earlier I told you about our connect and giving envelopes because we want to connect with you, but we also want to be obedient to God’s call to be generous. Because our God has been so generous with us.

Let me pray over this time of connection and offering.

Father God, we thank you, that you saw fit to be generous to us through the extravagant gift of Your Son Jesus Christ. We acknowledge that you show us, you teach us, and you command us to be generous, because you are generous.

Bless this offering and may it serve this community through the call you have placed on us to be the Bride of Christ—the local church. May it be pleasing to you for the work of making Christ known to many. We pray this in Jesus name…and God’s people said…Amen!

Devotion

While our ushers receiving your connection and offering envelopes, I want to share a devotional thought with you.

Introduction

We live in an age where we get information so fast that we feel so connected, so in know, that we almost consider ourselves cultural experts on what’s going on in the world. Social media allows us to catch news in real time, but it also makes it incredibly easy for false information (“fake news”) to spread.

It’s said in studies (on the internet) that fake news spreads faster than true news.

That’s not at all surprising, most people get their info now from social media without thinking about which traditional news outlets the stories come from. Instead we track “[gushing rumors],” or tweets involving any piece of information (texts, photos, links to articles) that insinuate to be true news.

Because most people get information from social media without thinking about which traditional news outlets the stories come from, didn’t just look at “fake news” published in full-article form. They instead tracked “[gushing rumors],” or the spread of tweets involving any piece of information (texts, photos, links to articles) that insinuated to be true news.

Here’s the dangerous thing: Our minds map information in many ways with many biases— the ways in which we process information other than thinking about it rationally—But here’s the danger in our ability to stray from truth...

1. The Old Testament points to the gift of Jesus ():

We remember the past as being better than it was, we will lie to ourselves and believe things more and more just bc of how often they’re repeated, and we let new events color our recollection of old memories, among other things.

But a lot of our love for lies comes from good old traditional bias or preferences. We just accept what we are being told because we believe the source in which we receive the information.

Tonight, I want to lay before you truth from the word of God concerning the Good News of Jesus (the Gospel) that comes from the true source, God’s Word.

I want you to consider tonight, as if you are hearing for the first time, so that with the brain God gave you. Like, you would process His truth.

Not a truth you heard from a preacher.

Not something you were told as a child by a well meaning family member

Not by something you read on Facebook

Not something you learned from a show you watched on television (that gave you information about who Jesus is and why he came).

Because believe it or not, some of what you think you know is wrong. It’s fake news about the greatest gift ever given by the Greatest God who has created all things and by His grace given us through the revelation of his Word the TRUE, GOOD NEWS of Jesus.

So let’s look at a few things in Scripture gives us that we can cling to and know why we can say with confidence that...

There is no other gift given that will ever be better than Jesus.

Exposition

1. The Old Testament points to the gift of Jesus ():

Over 700 years before Jesus was born in the book of Isaiah (chp 9) there is an extravagant prophecy about the coming Messiah…here’s what it says:

The first , over 700 years before Jesus was born in the book of Isaiah (chp 9) there is an extravagant prophecy about the coming Messiah…here’s what it says:

Isaiah 9:6–7 ESV

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

The first thing we need to know is that this is a gift that God gives us. And we can’t take this for granted because it sets EVERYTHING right. Isa. speaks about the “increase of His government.” We get a lot of “fake news” on the gov. But what must be understood in this Biblical truth is that, the best government we could ever imagine…pales in comparison to the government of our God…meaning Jesus has the Authority as the gift of God to set all things right! And that’s not for a “4 year or 8 year term”…it’s for all eternity.

2. The New Testament teaches us that Jesus is the gift from God ():

The second verse we need to look at is one that we can rush through especially as Christians. If you grew up here in the south especially (Bible belt country) you are saved because you drove by a church one time and know this next Scripture. That’s what you mind wants to convince you but, it must travel deeper. It must enter your heart.

): The second verse we need to look at is one that we can rush through especially as Christians. If you grew up here in the south especially (Bible belt country) you are saved because you drove by a church one time and know this next Scripture. That’s what you mind wants to convince you but, it must travel deeper. It must enter your heart.

So the second verse we need to look at is one that we can rush through especially as Christians. If you grew up here in the south especially (Bible belt country) you are saved because you drove by a church one time and know this next Scripture. That’s what you mind wants to convince you but, it must travel deeper. It must enter your heart.

John 3:16–17 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

So we must see God gave us Jesus as this gift to set everything right but that gift is given because of God’s love.

If you are here tonight and are wondering if God loves you…the answer is He does. God’s gift is motivated out of love. So that’s why I’m telling you...

There is no other gift given that will ever be better than Jesus.

So his gift changes everything, is motivated by love, and the Third verse from...

3. The New Testament teaches us why we need the gift of Jesus ()

Romans 6:23 ESV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It’s a gift that sets every thing right, it’s a gift motivated from the heart and love of God, and it’s a gift, a FREE gift, that effects our eternity. And it’s a gift we could never pay for ourselves of purchase on the behalf of someone else. It is a personal gift that is given to you by grace through faith from God.

You see tonight we are going to get gifts and give gifts and I am sure they will be awesome and they will make you happy they will cause you to hug and kiss and rejoice and celebrate together. And that will be an awesome experience and a great time to share with family and friends. But this is what I know…sooner or later those gifts get forgotten, or become outdated, our hearts become geared to the newest and the latest and greatest.

That’s why I can say with confidence...

There is no other gift given that will ever be better than Jesus.

I have three question for you based on the truth we discussed tonight.

Who is Jesus? Like who is He to you? Is it based on “fake news” or the truth of God’s Word?

What did Jesus do? Do you know? Is it based off of what you’ve heard or what you know in your heart through God’s Word?

Why does that matter?

You must be able to answer those questions. And the truth of why it matters. Because it does matter.

Romans 6:23 ESV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Rom

You see the truth is we are sinners. You are a sinner that is not fake news..

Romans 3:23 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

All means you and me.

It matters because through Jesus God sets everything right, out of his love for us, and it matters because when we put our faith in Jesus Christ we are moved from death (sin) what we have earned through our rebellion to LIFE (God’s free gift in Jesus).

I want to share one more verse, in case you are wondering how do I get out of this fake news thread running in my mind about what really matters, so I can receive the free gift of God, which is eternally life through Jesus Christ our Lord. This is how. I want you to read this Scripture then we are going to pray. If you want to receive the best gift ever given…ever…Jesus. All you have to do is begin a conversation with God in prayer and follow the instructions of this prayer. After I read this verse I’m going to pray…I’m not going to ask you to respond by raising your hand. I’m simply going to ask you to light a candle that represents that you who were once in darkness have been awakened to the truth…the GOOD NEWS…of Jesus, who is the light of life and light of men.

Romans 10:9 ESV

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Would you bow your heads and begin to pray through this simple instruction in order to receive the Gift of Jesus. And Know this as you bow and as we continue to celebrate the gift of Jesus.

There is no other gift given that will ever be better than Jesus. Because the Gift of Jesus is eternal…it lasts forever…and so do you with Him, doing exactly what we are going to continue doing now…giving Him our worship by glorying and praising His Holy Name.

Let’s pray...

Father God we thank you for your generous gift of Jesus. That you would step down from heaven to rescue us from sin and death. That you would come low and be born as a baby laid in a feeding trough. May the hearts of those who are breaking for you and your gift confess you and we confess you as Lord, believing that you are the Son of God, who He raised to Life on the 3rd day. May we let our light shine to represent that we too are alive in Him and that we are the light of the world reflecting His truth of rescuing grace to all mankind. We worship you and glorify you in this place. Amen.

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