Intro:
When you RECEIVE a GIFT, what’s next? I mean, what are you going to do?
ILLUST: I remember the chorus of the song, “The Gift” by Collin Ray:
“All I WANT is to HOLD YOU FOREVER
All I NEED is you MORE EVERYDAY
You SAVED my HEART from being BROKEN APART
You GAVE your LOVE away and
I'm THANKFUL EVERYDAY, for the GIFT!”
I love to sing this song when I was drunk, especially when the season of Christmas is approaching. Now, I realized the REAL POINT of the song. I don’t know if the singer understood the real message of his piece. But for us, this chorus surely talks about the LOVE of God for you and me. It’s a love song, but it really pictures the LOVE of God and how we should be THANKFUL of His INDESCRIBABLE GIFT!
What more if we RECEIVE the GREATEST GIFT of ALL? It is a GIFT that the world can never provide! But before you RECEIVE this GIFT, are you WILLING to PAY the PRICE? It’s up to you! The PRICE is FREE! Absolutely, no hidden strings attached! Yes! It is PAID in FULL! Jesus PAID the PRICE!
Now, how can we RECEIVE it? Simple just BELIEVE! Yes BELIEVE the GOOD NEWS of Christ!
Listen to the GOOD NEWS so that you will BELIEVE! And you will RECEIVE the FREE GIFT of God for!
Here are the 4 top reasons why we G-I-V-E the “thanks” to God alone!
G – God GAVE HIMSELF for us!
I – “I SHOWED Myself,” declares the Lord!
V – Verified GOOD NEWS w/ Various miracles!
E – Encouraging WORD of God!
SCRIPTURE: Titus 2:11-14,
“For the GRACE of God that bringeth SALVATION hath APPEARED to ALL MEN, 12 Teaching us that, DENYING ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, RIGHTEOUS, and GODLY in this PRESENT WORLD; 13Looking for that BLESSED HOPE, and the GLORIOUS APPEARING of the GREAT God and our Savior Jesus Christ; 14Who GAVE HIMSELF for us, that he might REDEEM us from all iniquity, and PURIFY unto Himself a peculiar people, ZEALOUS of GOOD WORKS.”
I. God GAVE His ONE and ONLY SON! (vs. 14a)
John 3:16, “For God so LOVE the WORLD, that he GAVE His ONLY begotten Son, that whosoever BELIEVEth in him should NOT PERISH , but have Everlasting life.”
WORLD = MANKIND/ALL HUMANITY/HUMAN RACE……. “All men!”
Romans 5:12, “As by ONE MAN SIN ENTERED into the WORLD, and death by sin; and so death PASSED UPON ALL MEN, for that ALL HAVE SINNED.”
Imagine, “FAULT of ONE, FAULT of ALL!”
ILLUST: Imagine your company, SOMEONE (only ONE) made a MISTAKE, millions of money was lost! Then here comes the OWNER, saying, “Let us deduct from your monthly wage what was lost. No more Christmas BOMUS, ALL of you!” What will be the feeling of those who were innocent? Or in your classroom. Someone’s late (only ONE)! Your teacher has a bad day. Then the teacher says, “Ok, lets have a long quiz!” What if you belong to that class and you were so early. What would be your feeling?
Back to the Scripture, in vs. 11, “GRACE of God that bringeth SALVATION hath APPEARED to ALL MEN”
Romans 5:18, “Therefore as by the offence of ONE JUDGEMENT came upon ALL MEN to CONDEMNATION; even so by the RIGHTEOUSNESS of ONE the FREE GIFT came upon ALL MEN unto JUSTIFICATION of life.”
“All men!”
****Adam’s SIN brought CONDEMNATION unto ALL MEN!
The CONDEMNATION: War, Pain, Sorrow, Weeping, Gnashing of Teeth, Hatred, Disease, defeat, depression, Bondage, Slavery, Poverty, Fear, Worry, Doubt, LIFE WITHOUT a PURPOSE, etc…
****This are the consequences of Sin!
Romans 5:15, “But not as the offence, so also is the FREE GIFT. For if through the offence of one many be dead , MUCH MORE the GRACE of God, and the GIFT by GRACE, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath ABOUNDED UNTO MANY.”
“All men!”
In Christ, No ONE is EXCUSED! “Amen!”
****GRACE of God in Christ, ABOUNDED unto many!
What is the GIFT by GRACE?
Forgiveness of sins, peace, prosperity, joy, abundance, healing, BLESSINGS, etc…
Romans 5:17, “For if by ONE MAN's offence death reigned by ONE; MUCH MORE they which RECEIVE ABUNDANCE of GRACE and of the GIFT of RIGHTEOUSNESS shall REIGN in LIFE by ONE, Jesus Christ.”
“All men!”
“Amen!”
MUCH MORE! “GIFT of RIGHTEOUSNESS shall REIGN in LIFE!” Amen!
It is a GIFT. Given FREE for those who BELIEVE! It is ONLY by FAITH that makes us RIGHTEOUS!
ILLUST. – My TESTIMONY:
I grew up in a Christian Family. But in 2003, I entered the CHAOTIC world of COLLEGE, FULL of TEMPTATIONS. I spent 6 years without finishing my Engineering. It was 6 years having NO PEACE in my MIND and my SOUL! Always DRUNK! DROP OUT! Always worried about where to get money for my tuition fee. Because I spent the money that parents provided for my tuition fee. I wanted to QUIT alcohol and cigarette but I can’t. I was a SLAVE of the devil. I was in PRISON and under the DOMINION of darkness. My y life was DARK, CHAOTIC, USELESS, HOPELESS, WASTED, BUSTED and DISGUSTED. Without CHRIST, RULING in my LIFE, I was a “DEAD-FOOL”, I was in HELL! But now that I have ETERNAL LIFE, I will no longer REGRET from my PAST FAILURE (WASTED money, time and effort), no more FEAR for TODAY and no more WORRY about TOMORROW.
I needed a place to REST my SOUL! I needed DELIVERANCE from my BONDAGE. I needed someone to SAVE me from the hands of the devil. Indeed! I was SAVED! My CHAINS are GONE and was SET FREE!
“So if the Son sets you FREE, you will be FREE indeed.” (John 8:36)
—- FREE from BONDAGE (Old Sinful deeds)!
—- FREE to LOVE others, even our ENEMIES!
—- FREE from doubt, worry and fear for TODAY and TOMORROW!
—- FREE to WORSHIP and SERVE the Lord Jesus CHRIST!
—- FREE to declare that JESUS CHRIST is Lord!
—-FREE to TESTIFY about the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ!
Romans 1:16, “I am NOT ASHAMED of the GOSPEL of Christ: for it is the POWER of God unto SALVATION to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
“The POWER of God!” What SALVATION? For the Jew FISRT!
----FREEDOM from SLAVERY, BONDAGE, CAPTIVITY
---DELIVERANCE from DARKNESS, Healing, PEACE, PROSPERITY, etc…
ILLUST. – My TESTIMONY:
I remember my DARK and CHAOTIC life. One time, I and my friends stayed in a bar for almost one week, until we spent all our money! We continued to order drinks, but the owner noticed that we had no more money! So he told us to go home. But before we go home, we need to pay our bill. We had no money! The owner saw my cowboy boots, and it was good. He wanted me to leave my boots as our payment. I loved that boots! The problem was, my friends left me and went home! Then they told my dad about what was happened! There he was, he PAID our BILL and we went home! Yes! The owner allowed me to go out! Why? The Credit was PAID in FULL! When we arrived home, my cousin jokingly exclaimed, “WOW! The PRODIGAL SON is HOME AGAIN!” Remember, I grew up in a Christian Family.
Yes we are SET FREE from the POWER of sin! What can SET us FREE?
“NOTHING but the BLOOD of Jesus!” Amen! We are PURCHASED by the PRECIOUS BLOOD of Jesus!
PRAISE GOD! ALL GLORY to Him! Amen!
II. “I SHOWED Myself,” declares the Lord!
Romans 10:20, Using NLT.
Isaiah spoke boldly for God: "… I SHOWED MYSELF to those who WERE NOT ASKING for me."
We REJECTED and DESPISED Jesus before, but God SHOWED His UNCHANGING LOVE for us! Amen!
Romans 10:17,19, Using NLT,
“FAITH comes from LISTENEING to this MESSAGE of GOOD NEWS. -- the GOOD NEWS about Christ… God had said, "I will rouse your jealousy by blessing other nations. I will make you angry by BLESSING the foolish Gentiles."
In the Scripture, Vs. 11, “APPEARED to ALL MEN!”
The 3 FACTS about the GOOD NEWS:
“IT IS I!”
“IT IS WRITTEN!”
“IT IS FINISHED!”
Now there is NO MORE REASON why you don’t BELIEVE the GOOD NEWS!
“IT IS I!”
He GAVE the FREE GIFT for you and me! We don’t DESERVE the GIFT but God GAVE it to us who are UNQUALIFIED!
Jesus said in Matthew 14:27, “Be of good cheer; IT IS I; be not afraid
Using NLT: "It's all right," he said. "I am here! Don't be afraid."
The devil might come and say,
---You’re a sinner!
---You need to do this and that!
---You are weak! You’re not important
---You are nothing! You are useless! etc…
Why BELIEVE him? If the devil reminds you of you past, always remember, GOD LOVES YOU, even before you were born!
The GOOD NEWS is:
---You are BLESSED and cannot be cursed! You are VICTORIOUS! You are well able! You are Created to EXCEL! You are full of POTENTIALS! You are overflowing with CREATIVITY! You have COURAGE, STRENGTH and ABILITY!
---The favor of God surrounds you Wherever you go! Whatever You touch is going to PROSPER and SUCCEED! You are the Child of the Most High God! You have been Crowned with God's Glory and Honor! You can Do ALL THINGS through Jesus Christ!
Remember the Prodigal son?
He didn’t knew that his dad FORGAVE him, no matter what he had done! He was even REHEARSING of what he will say to his father! But it was his father RAN TORADS him and EMBRACED him and said, “I LOVE SON! You are so PRECIOUS!” What IF! If someone told him,
“Your father LOVES you, no matter You are FORGIVEN!” He must be BOLD and CONFIDENT enough!
Yes!
“IT IS WRITTEN!”
Romans 3:10, 23; “As it is written, There is NONE RIGHTEOUS, no, NOT ONE… For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
“And EVERYBODY is still a SINNER (1 John 1) WE CANNOT SAVE ourselves from the PUNISHMENT of SIN.
So the WORD was MADE FLESH to SHOW HIMSELF! To REVEAL our HUMAN SALVATION at the CROSS!
Jesus Christ DIED on the CROSS as our SUBSTITUTE and became a "SHOCK ABSORBER" of our PUNISHMENT (Rom. 3:25)
“IT IS FINISHED!”
Romans 3:22, 24, “Even the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that BELIEVE: for there is no difference… Being justified FREELY by HIS GRACE through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
Everything was PREPARED for you and me! IT IS FULLY BOOKED! Your ROBE of RIGHTEOUSNESS is already DONE (Isaiah 61:10)! Just WEAR it! There is NO REQUIREMENT! Just BELIEVE!
IT IS FINISHED! Amen!
LET’S CELEBRATE! CHEERS! Let’s have a VICTORY PARTY!
EXPRESSING THANKS IS BY SHOWING OBEDIENCE!
Romans 3:31 (NLT), “Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have FAITH do we TRULY FULFILL the law.”
And LOVE is the FRUIT of our FAITH! And as it is written, “LOVE for your NEIGHBOR will FULFILL ALL the REQUIREMENTS of the LAW!
“OBEDIENCE is not a REQUIREMENT for FORGIVENESS! Rather FORGIVENESS TEACHES us to OBEY!”
In the Scripture, vs. 12, “TEACHINGH us that, DENYING ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, RIGHTEOUSLY, and godly, in this PRESENT WORLD!”
Remember Abraham?
In Genesis 15, it shows that God BLESSED Abraham first and GAVE him HOPE by His PROMISES! God’s BLESSING caused Abraham to BELIEVE God! And God’s PROMISED caused Abraham to TRUST and OBEY God! For God is not a LIAR!
“When God DECLARES, CONSIDER it DONE!”
“IT IS FINISHED!” and so we GIVE GLORY to God FOREVER and EVER, Amen!
Back in the “CREATION WEEK”, Genesis 1:28! Look!
“God BLESSED them, and God SAID (COMMANDMENT) unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion…”
EXPERIENCING God’s LOVE and TASTING the FREE GIFT TEACHES us to become an EXAMPLE, a ROLE MODEL or a “LIGHT IN THE MIDST OF DARKNESS!” Amen! In short, “LOVE for others even our enemies, MOTIVATES us to EVANGELIZE!”
So now,
“GO! Bear and YIELD FRUITS of the HOLY SPIRIT! MULTIPLY! MAKE DISCIPLES! FILL the EARTH with God’s WORD! SUBDUE it and have DOMINION over EVIL POWERS and KINGDOMS!
III. VALID FAITH!
Hebrews 2:4 (NLT), “God verified the message by signs and wonders and various miracles and by giving GIFTS of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose to do so.”
Witnessing VARIOUS MIRACLES gives us VALID FAITH!
The MIRACLES performed by God during the time of EXODUS is our VISUAL AID!
Goshen- “LIGHT in the MIDST of DARKNESS!”
Exodus-
-----God is in CONTROL. He is SOVEREIGN!
-----God is our PROVIDER! Etc… there are many implications of the VARIOUS MIRACLES during the Exodus!
The MIRACLES during the exodus “Pictures our SALVATION!” God always REMINDED Israel about how He BROUGHT out from SLAVERY, POVERTY, BONDAGE, etc…
The SAME MANNER we should be a LIVING TESTIMONY and WITNESS of Christ! A TESTIMONY on how we OVERCAME the Devil because of the FINISHED WORK of Jesus Christ at the CROSS! On how God RESCUED us from DARKNESS! On How God BLESSED us! Amen!
What about the HEALINGS performed by Jesus?
-----The MUTE speak: They can share their TESTIMONY and PREACH God’s Word!
-----The LAME walk: They can “WALK by FAITH”
----- The DEAF hear: They can UNDERSTAND the WORD of God!
----- The BLIND see: They can SEE God’s Glory and His KINGDOM (Full of LOVE, GENEROUSITY, PEACE, UNITY, HARMONY, etc…)
----- Leprosy: They are now CONFIDENT show themselves and GIVE thanks to God!
And so much more!
Yes! We are now a LIVING TESTIMONY of God’s FAITHFULNESS and God’s GRACE through CHRIST and the TRUTH about CHRIST!
The TRUTH is, “IT IS FINISHED!” Still doubt? “IT IS WRITTEN!” “When God DECLARES, CONSIDER it DONE!” (Isaiah 46:10)
VALID FAITH is when we BELIEVE the WORD of TRUTH!
Ephesians 1:13-14, “In whom ye also TRUSTED, after that ye HEARD the WORD of TRUTH, the GOSPEL of your SALVATION: in whom also after that ye BELIEVED, ye were SEALED with that HOLY SPIRIT of PROMISE, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the PURCHASED POSSESSION, unto the PARISE OF HIS GLORY.” Amen!
And we know that, we are SEALED by the HOLY SPIRIT of PROMISE the moment we BELIEVE the GOOD NEWS! Amen!
The HOLY SPIRIT TEACHES us to DO GOOD! And learn yield the FRUITS of the HOLY SPIRIT!
The HOLY SPIRIT was given as our HELPER!
For IT IS WRITTEN, “IT IS NOT GOO FOR A MAN TO BE ALONE!”
Ephesians 1:12 “That we should be to the PRAISE OF HIS GLORY!”
The KNOWLEDGE of the TRUTH shall SET US FREE!
—- FREE from the POWER of SIN!
—- FREE from BONDAGE (Old Sinful deeds)!
—- FREE to LOVE others, even our ENEMIES!
—- FREE from doubt, worry and fear for TODAY and TOMORROW!
—- FREE to WORSHIP and SERVE the Lord Jesus CHRIST!
—- FREE to declare that JESUS CHRIST is Lord!
—-FREE to TESTIFY about the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ!
We are NOW A CITIZEN of HEAVEN! We should LEARN to LIVE like we are in HEAVEN! What is HEAVEN like? No DARKNESS at all! FULL of LOVE, PEACE, FILLED with God’s GLORY, FULL of THANKSGIVING etc..
Back in the Scripture, vs. 14 “REDEEM us from ALL INIQUITY, and PURIFY unto himself a peculiar people, ZEALOUS for GOOD WORKS!”
IV. Encouraging WORD of God!
Hebrews 12:5 (NLT), “Have you entirely forgotten the ENCOURAGING God spoke to you, His CHILDREN? He said, "My child, don't ignore it when the Lord DISCIPLINES you, and don't be discouraged when He CORRECTS you.”
"God is at work for your OWN BENEFIT, as long as you remain FAITHFUL to our Lord Jesus Christ, even in times of UNWANTED SITUATIONS & UNDESIRABLE THINGS."
So whenever we EXPERIENCE UNWANTED SITAUTIONS don’t be DISCOURAGED! Whenever we FACE UNDESIRABLE THINGS, don’t IGNORE it!
“For our God is a CONSUMING FIRE.” (Hebrew 12:29)!
Daniel 12:10 (NLT), “Many will be PURIFIED, CLEANSED, and REFINED by these TRIALS… Blessed is he that WAITeth”
We need to PASS through the “REFINER’S FIRE” to REMOVE UNNECESSARY THINGS that HINDERS us in GIVING THANKS to God! Such as, PRIDE and SELFISHNESS!
And the WORD of God is LIKE FIRE! It’s not a coincidence that Jesus CHRIST, Himself, will COME LIKE FIRE! To REBUKE our WORLDLY FLESH! To BURN our FLESH! To Get rid of pride, envy, jealousy, selfish ambition, lust, etc…
So don’t be DISCOURAGED if you are being CORRECTED by the SERMONS of your Pastor!
1 Thessalonians 5:18, “In everything GIVE THANKS: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
Titus 2:13, “Looking for that BLESSED HOPE, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;”
Revelations 22:12, “And, behold , I come quickly; and MY REWARD is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”
ILLUST: The season of Christmas is Approaching!
We will again hear the song, “SANTA CLAUS is COMING to TOWN!” See! The World is WAITING for SANTA CLAUS. But Santa Claus only GIVE PERISHABLE GOODS!”
What is the BENEFIT of KEEPING our EYES on Jesus Christ the Lord?
Isaiah 40:30, “But they that WAIT upon the LORD shall RENEW THEIR STRENGTH; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run , and not be weary ; and they shall walk , and not faint .
ILLUST: Imagine yourself FLYING HIGH like an eagle! Eagles have SHARP, FOCUSED and CLEAR VISION! The HIGHER they FLY, the WIDER the VISION. In CHRIST, we will FLY with wings as eagles. “The STRONGER the STORM, the HIGHER we FLY!” A VISION is a MOTIVATION or INSPIRATION; it directs our DECISIONS towards our DESTINY! A God-given VISION is IRREVOCABLE.
Even when oceans rise, thunder rolls, earthquake comes, we will not be SHAKEN! Even when TRIALS COME, UNWANTED SITAUTIONS, UNDESIRABLE THINGS and DISCOURAGEMENT and STORM comes, we will RISE UP LIKE EAGLES! We will RENEW our STRENGTH! Amen!
ILLUST: Imagine a CATAPULT: The LOAD is LOWERED ‘til it reaches the LIMIT. When the LIMIT is REACHED, the LOAD is released. “Everything has a LIMITATION and God will not allow HEAVY LOADS (Burdens & Obstacles) that is beyond our ABILITY or CAPACITY.” The HEAVIER the LOAD, the farther and HIGHER we ACHIEVE.
Philippianse 2:13-15,18, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His GOOD PLEASURE. Do all things WITHOUT MURMURINGS and DISPUTINGS. That ye may be BLAMELESS and HARMLESS, the sons of God, WITHOUT REBUKE, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye SHINE as LIGHTS IN THE WORLD; Holding forth the WORD of LIFE;… For the same cause also do ye JOY, and REJOICE with me!”
CONCLUSION:
Revelations 1:5-6, “And from Jesus Christ, who is the FAITHFUL WITNESS, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that LOVED US, and WASHED US from our sins in His OWN BLOOD, And hath made us KINGS and PRIESTS unto God and his Father; to Him be GLORY and DOMINION FOREVER ever. Amen.”
Our GREAT MISSION in this world is to establish the SOVEREIGN KINGDOM of God!" To DOMINATE this CHAOTIC world and to RULE over evil powers, authorities and kingdoms of this world. There will be a GREAT outpouring of LOVE, BLESSINGS, UNITY, PEACE and PROSPERITY when God is GLORIFIED! Your God-given GIFTS or TASK (Talents, Abilities, Skills and Knack) will be ignited when the FAVOR and GRACIOUS HAND of God will manifest.
Then, you will be COMMISSIONED to MULTIPLY and SUBDUE the world, to accomplish the Will of God, applying Biblical PRINCIPLE, WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE in the GOVERNMENT of man. Until God will PROMOTE you UP to your PERSONAL CALLING in the KINGDOM of God.
So that, RIGHTEOUSNESS and HOLINESS shall RULE in this world and everyone will BOW and HONOR our LORD and KING, Jesus CHRIST, over all NATIONS and KINGDOMS for all ETERNITY. You will have the AUTHORITY to have DOMINION over Satan, the Devil! When this happens, Satan will BOW DOWN before Jesus CHRIST! Amen!
