The greatest gift
2 Corinthians 9:15
Some thoughts and illustrations came from contributors from Sermoncentral.
Introduction-
This morning I say Merry Christmas! I don’t say happy holidays.
Like people that put Jesus in the same category as Santa Clause, great grandma’s fruitcake, and those that need a reason to wash down all their problems with a toxic beverage.
I say merry Christmas! celebrating the birth of my redeemer and savior Jesus Christ.
It is His day of remembrance.
It is his birthday.
We spend a lot of times choosing the right presents for each member.
Wrapping it just right, giving it to them at the perfect time.
I have to laugh because Becky and I did something that we have not done for a long time, not since our kids were growing up. We did not exchange gifts this year. We had some work that needed to be done on the house and decided that was going to be what we get each other. So when contractor finished putting up the gutters, we said merry Christmas to each other.
Just goes to show you that a gift doesn’t have to be wrapped pretty, it just has to be given with love and appreciation.
Breaks the rules of not buying something personal.
Doesn’t have to work for you, it works for us.
To us it was a good gift.
The Magi whom we looked at last night came and followed the star to that barn in Bethlehem. The word of God said that “they bowed down and worshiped the Christ child.”
They presented Him with their finest gifts.
Gold,
Frankincense
Myrrh.
The shepherds according to the Scriptures had an angel of the Lord appears, tells them that they would find the Christ child wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, to men on whom his favor rest.”
“Let’s go to Bethlehem, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
When the shepherds found the baby Jesus, they rejoiced and praised God for what had happened.
The Christmas story comes to a climax this morning as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
It is the greatest gift that has ever been given.
Rich or poor
No matter the color you are,
Where you live
What other gifts you have opened or will open later.
This is the greatest gift you have been given.
Our text this morning is one verse-
2 Corinthians 9:15. “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.”
Say that this morning to the Lord as your prayer.
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.” Amen.
Paul was writing to the Corinthian church about human gifts.
The church was gathering money for the poor.
He thanks them for their faithfulness and says
“He that sows sparingly should also reap sparingly, and he that sows bountifully shall reap bountifully.
Then he shifts his thoughts to God’s gift to us- Jesus.
And he cannot find words to describe it. He just says thanks for the unspeakable gift.”
What makes a gift special?
For me it is not the cost. It is that it was given in love, it takes time and energy to get it right. Maybe they made it for you. Maybe had to sacrifice to get it for you.
Joan Lunden once featured some indescribable gifts on TV
Jaguar 220 at a price tag of 587,000.
300,000 Gold toilet seat
18,000 Frisbee.
10,000 yo-yo
27,000 pair of sunglasses
28,000 pacifier.
These gifts stagger my mind because for me, there out of reach. But, if I had the money in hand, I would never buy any of those gifts.
None of those gifts say thanks be to God. They all say look at me, and what can I give you.
The ruler of the universe came to this world in a barn, a smelly barn, not as royalty, not with fanfare, but as the redeemer of mankind and went on to suffer great loss so that the plan of God would be fulfilled through him.
How do you describe Jesus?
What words would you use?
How do you describe a baby born of a virgin? Best I got is supernatural.
How do you describe God in the flesh?
How do you describe that which is spirit coming in the flesh?
Words are not adequate.
Amazing falls short.
Kool isn’t spiritual enough.
Mind boggling isn’t enough when you realize our minds fall short of the mind of God.
Do you understand all that? Me either.
It would be man’s attempt at describing the supernatural.
“Perfect in Godhead and perfect in manhood.”
The angels announced “Unto you this day is born this day in the city of David a savior which is Christ the Lord.”
I get that!
Why do we celebrate Christmas? Because Jesus came into this world to save us.
Our greatest need is a savior for our greatest debt- sin!
I get that! Thank you Jesus!
Grab this
Jesus had purpose for coming-
To save us- all those who call upon His name.”
Now listen to this verse-
“For it by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.
We give gifts because we need our loved ones to know how much we care.
We don’t give gifts to people we do not know.
“But God demonstrates His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
God didn’t send Jesus because he was obligated- but because He loved us.
The gift that God offers is of great value.
Many cannot see Jesus as a great gift. They see a nativity scene and a nice story that is told once a year.
They don’t see Jesus as a Savior. They see Him as a nice alternative one day when we get older.
Some look at Christianity as a set of rules instead of a relationship with Jesus.
“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field.”
The gift God offers is right here, but we walk by it so often, we don’t give it much thought any more.
“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3
Closing (take out wrapped gift) Don’t look at the gift wrapping job, but recognize today God’s gift to us.
Look at gift- we all like gifts!
For me to take advantage of this gift, I have to do a few things!
(1) Believe that the gift is mine- take the gift, recognize that your name is on the box.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Whosoever is you!
(2) Accept the gift- “That if we confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord! And believe in our heart that God raised him from the dead- you will be saved.”
“He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins.”
Accept the gift!
(3) Open the gift- See what a beautiful gift it is!
“For once you were in darkness, but now you are in the light.”
(4) Embrace the gift
Good gifts don’t get thrown to the side. They are embraced and kept close to our hearts.
(5) Share the gift.
Each person must make their own decision for Christ. We cannot make it for them. But we can share what God is doing and what God has done in our lives.
So they can experience the joy of the gift.
The Bible tells us that when we accept the gift of God we will never be the same.
To some that may seem a little scary.
Because you don’t handle change well.
Because you will not be in charge anymore.
God looked at a confused world 200 years ago and sent Jesus.
Today God looks at a world even more confused and says, the gift of Jesus has been given.
It is how I communicate my love for each of you.
Accept the gift of God- Jesus Christ. Don’t let it be another empty Christmas!
Altar Call.
