Gifts from Above

Introduction

It is already November 15th. Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and you know what that means right? Christmas is only 40 days away! I’m assuming you’ve all started playing Christmas music already? Has anyone already changed their phone ringtone to “All I want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey? I know you’re out there, just admit it already. Are you going home quickly today to decorate the house and the yard? Nothing says have a Merry Christmas like over the top displays of cheer and fire-hazard level lighting amirite? More to the point, have you got all those important gifts bought yet, or are you planning a last minute trip to Wal-Mart at 3pm on Christmas Eve? There are a lot of you out there that loathe buying Christmas presents, and you’d rather just get everyone cash or gift cards. But I also know that there are some of you out there who speak the love language of gift giving, and one of the main things you love about Christmas time is picking out the perfect gifts for all the people in your life.

Good Gifters

If you’re a good gift buyer, like my wife, then you’ve probably already bought some gifts on your Christmas list.

We all know what it feels like to receive a truly thoughtful gift from someone.

My welcome home Dad gift.

This morning, we’re going to talk about the best gift giver of all time as we continue our series, “Still Grateful.”

Series Recap: Still Grateful

We started our series last week by looking at Habakkuk 3: Yet, I will praise the God of my salvation...

Now, to counting our blessings.

One of the best things we can do in this tough year is to think through all the good things that have happened in spite of the hardship. One opportunity we have in 2020 is to exercise a muscle that is often left to atrophy in our comfortable Western world: gratitude. Sure, we’ve had more than our fair share of disappointment, but we’ve also been the recipient of many good gifts, some of which we’ve celebrated, and some of which we’ve taken for granted. As we consider all the good gifts that God has given us, let’s turn to the Epistle of James and hear what he has to tell us about the wonderful gift-giver that is our God. We will be looking at James 1:16-18.

Context of James 1:16-18

James, the brother of Jesus, who is the leader of the church in Jerusalem.

Written to Jewish Christians throughout Palestine a couple of decades after Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Much more than Americans in 2020, the believers to whom James was writing had a lot of things to worry and stress about. They were constantly in danger of facing serious persecution for their beliefs, both from the Jews around them and the Romans who ruled over them. In that context, James encourages them to consider their tribulations as joy and to be careful about temptation that might creep up on them in a moment of weakness. He also has something to say about the God who gives us good and perfect gifts. Let’s pray together and then read to hear what the Holy Spirit has to say to us today through James’ testimony, and may we hear the spirit share this truth with us...

GOD IS GOOD TO HIS CHILDREN, AND THAT WILL NEVER CHANGE.

Text: James 1:16-18

Importance of Preceding Verses

Verses 13-15 are concerned about resisting and enduring temptation.

One key truth is that God doesn’t tempt. Verse 14 tells us that it is our own desire that entices us toward sin.

Verse 15 tells us that when desire conceives it gives birth to sin, and when sin is full grown brings forth death.

So our passage basically serves to, in part, remind the Christ follower that God doest not tempt, but instead he is the giver of good gifts.

Both verse 15 and verse 18 utilize a seldom used Greek word that describes giving birth.

As sin gives birth to death, God, through his Word (which is the Gospel) gives birth to us..

EVERY GOOD THING IS GOD’S GOOD THING.

All the good things you’ve experienced this year are from God.

The family you leaned on during the most intense part of the lockdown.

The seemingly unimportant hobbies or distractions that have taken your focus off of this year’s hardships.

The stimulus check we all got.

The community that we should be less likely to take for granted.

Toilet paper.

A peace that surpasses understanding.

From the Father of Lights, with whom there is no variation

If you need a reminder of God’s goodness, just look up...

The sun

The moon

The starts

Unlike the lights, God doesn’t change

GOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN GOOD. HE IS GOOD TODAY. HE WILL BE GOOD FOREVER.

The Greek connotes astronomical ideas.

We notice the movement of bodies in the universe even with the changing of shadows.

“GOD’S GOODNESS IS ALWAYS AT HIGH NOON.” - R. KENT HUGHES

Of His own will, he brought us forth, by the word of truth

In his goodness, God CHOSE us.

He birthed us.

Physically

Spiritually, through the Gospel

THERE IS NO GIFT MORE PERFECT THAN THAT OF SALVATION.

That we should be a kind of firstfruits.

The good that God is doing in and for us, will one day be done for all creation.

We are one of the good and perfect things that come from God.

GOD IS GOOD TO HIS CHILDREN, AND THAT WILL NEVER CHANGE...

Every good thing comes from God. Let us remember that as we finish a tough year. Every hug we share with a loved one, every Thanksgiving meal we share over laughter and conversation, every present we have the opportunity to give or receive, every time we crawl into a warm bed and drift off to sleep, every time we fill our grocery carts with goods with no thought about financial strain, every time we hear someone quote a Christmas movie accompanied with a chuckle, every time we have a moment in the midst of all the chaos to take a deep breath and relax, every act of kindness, every smile of warmth, every. good. gift. comes from God, the Father of Lights… who will never change. In a world of constantly evolving upheaval, may we take refuge in our unchangeable God, and the good gifts he gives, and gives, and gives. To help us focus on and embody that gratitude I am going to suggest a few action steps.

ACTION STEPS

1. MAKE A LIST OF ALL THE GOOD THINGS IN YOUR LIFE.

Think through every aspect of your life.

“INSTEAD OF COMPLAINING THAT GOD HAS HIDDEN HIMSELF, YOU WILL GIVE HIM THANKS FOR HAVING REVEALED SO MUCH OF HIMSELF.” - BLAISE PASCAL

2. PRAY A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

3. SHARE THAT LIST

With your family and friends

Publicly

Ask others what’s on their lists?

GOD IS GOOD TO HIS CHILDREN, AND THAT WILL NEVER CHANGE...

As we enter into a time of invitation and response, may you meditate on that truth. If there is anyone here who does not know our good God as Savior, I want to tell you about the greatest gift that has ever been given. God gave himself, through his son Jesus, so that you could be free of sin and death today, and live with him, along with all the saints, forever in eternity. If you want to know more about how to have this kind of saving relationship with Jesus, just come down here to the front while we are singing together in a few moments and we can discuss it. You can also wait until our service concludes. I will remain here at the front if you would like to come and talk to me then. But if God is calling you, please act.... For those of you who do have a saving relationship with Jesus, use this last song we sing together this morning as an opportunity to give thanks to God. Begin, mentally, to build a list of all the ways God has been good to you this year. And if the Holy Spirit moves upon you to do so, you may come down to the front, kneel here at these steps, and give thanks to God in that special posture. I will also be standing down here if you need to pray with me about this or any other issues. Whatever you do, use this time to hear God remind you of all the ways he loves you and provides for you, and then respond with the thanksgiving of praise. Let’s pray together one last time.