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GIFTS (A CHRISTMAS
SERMON)
When most people think of Christmas, usually they
sooner or later think about gifts. They think about getting and giving
gifts. They think about making lists up so that people will know what they
want. Children anxiously await Christmas to see if
they will get the gift that they have been wishing for.
Many of us use Christmas as a time to justify buying
a large gift for ourselves that we wouldn't have done at any other time of
the year. We see it as a time to reward ourselves. Much of this is due to
commercial advertisers, whom, we have allowed to distort our image of
Christmas.
Many of us to into debt at Christmas time, spending
way beyond our means, and then spend the next year paying it all off. For
these people, the joy of Christmas doesn't last all year!
But is this what Christmas is all about? Is this the
true meaning of Christmas? Isn't it supposed to be the time when we as Christians honorthe birth of
our Lord?
Actually, the idea of giving gifts at Christmas
doesn't come from advertisers. Only the distortion of it. They distorted it
to suit their own needs: financial needs.
WHAT IS A GIFT?
What is it's
definition? A gift is something that is given to someone else; something
that is bestowed on someone else; a gift is given: (a) gratis, or free of
charge; (b)
without cause - it cannot be earned;
(c) by the graceof another, just because
they wanted to.
It was God who gave the first gift at Christmas. He continues to give gifts every
Christmas. Unlike Santa's bag that
empties once a year, God's storehouse of gifts never has a backorder.
Theme: GIFTS
FROM GOD AT CHRISTMAS
I. SALVATION
GIVEN TO ALL MEN.
Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of
works, lest any man should boast."
A. The gift that God has given to all mankind is the
gift of salvation. He has made it available to all, just for the taking.
The problem is that mankind will not take it. If you
put a pot of money on a table with a sign which read, "free for the
asking," people would literally break their necks getting it. But
offer the salvation of God the same way, and it is ignored. Some day, men will regret very deeply that they had the
chance to take this gift, but refused. By then, unfortunately for them, it
will be too late.
B. This gift comes only through the grace of God: it
cannot be earned or worked for. (so no one can boast)
C. The unique thing about this gift is that He gave
it to those who hated Him, and were rebelling against Him. Think about this
for a moment: would you give a gift to someone who was driving nails
through your hands, or who killed your son?
What a true example of grace! What a true example of mercy!
Unmerited favor! No one deserves this salvation, but God gives it so freely
and willingly!
Luke 6:27-34
"But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to
them which hate you, 28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you. 29 And unto him that smiteth
thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.
30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of
him that taketh away thy goods ask them not
again. 31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye
also to them likewise. 32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank
have ye? for sinners also love those that love
them. 33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have
ye? for sinners also do even the same. 34 And if
ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much
again."
Theme: GIFTS
FROM GOD AT CHRISTMAS
I. SALVATION
GIVEN TO ALL MEN. EPHESIANS 2:8,9
II.
LEADERSHIP TO THE CHURCH.
Ephesians 4:11 "And he gave some, apostles; and
some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and
teachers;"
A. The gift that Christ has given to His Church is
leadership: men who have been endued with ministry gifts.
B. These gifts, or men, are to be used to help the
body of Christ mature. (vss. 12-16)
Theme: GIFTS
FROM GOD AT CHRISTMAS
I. SALVATION
GIVEN TO ALL MEN. EPHESIANS 2:8,9
II.
LEADERSHIP TO THE CHURCH. EPHESIANS 4:11
III. SPIRITUAL GIFTS TO INDIVIDUALS.
1 Corinthians 12:7 "But the manifestation of the
Spirit is given to every man to profit withal."
A. Each
believer is given the gift of the Holy Spirit when he or she believes. But
each individual believer is given his or her own separate gift: a
manifestation of the Spirit.
B. It is the
Spirit Himself who decides what gift He will bestow on each individual. No
one can claim a gift for himself, (and that is what is wrong today) he only
receives what the Spirit gives him.
Theme: GIFTS
FROM GOD AT CHRISTMAS
I. SALVATION
GIVEN TO ALL MEN. EPHESIANS 2:8,9
II.
LEADERSHIP TO THE CHURCH. EPHESIANS 4:11
III. SPIRITUAL GIFTS TO INDIVIDUALS. 1
CORINTHIANS 12:7
IV. EVERYDAY
GIFTS TO ALL PEOPLE
Ephesians 4:7-8 "But unto every one of us is
given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity
captive, and gave gifts unto men."
A. But we all
have been given other gifts as well, not just spiritual gifts. These
include:
1. Our wife or husband; 2. Our children and
grandchildren and families; 3. Our friends (especially the Christian ones).
4. Our homes, jobs, food, clothes, etc...
B. Let's remember that all good gifts, as James says, come
from the Father of lights. He daily showers them on us.
James 1:17 "Every good gift and every
perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with
whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."
Conclusion:
If you could ask Jesus for a special gift this year,
what would it be? To show how much
we appreciate what God has done for us, let's imitate God this year: Let's
give a gift of grace to someone who really needs it.
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