The story is told ... Years ago, ... there was a very wealthy man who, ... with his devoted young son, ... shared a passion ... for collecting fine art.
Together ... they traveled around the world, ... adding only the finest art treasures ... to their collection.
Priceless works ... by Picasso, ... Van Gogh, ... Monet and many others adorned ... the walls of the family estate.
The widowed father looked on with satisfaction ...as his only child ... also became ... an experienced ... collector of the arts.
But the day came ... when war engulfed the nation, ... and the young man left ... to serve his country.
After only a few short weeks, ... his father received a telegram from the army ...informing him ... that his beloved son ... had been killed ... while carrying a fellow soldier ... to a medic.
On Christmas morning ... a knock came at the door of the old man's home, ... and as he opened the door, ... he was greeted by a soldier ... with a large package ... in his hand.
He introduced himself to the man ... by saying, "I was a friend ... of your son.
I was the one ... he was rescuing ... when he died.
May I come in for a few moments? ...... I have something ... to show you." (Pause)
"I'm an artist," ... said the soldier, ... "and I want to give you ... this."
As the old man unwrapped the package, ... the paper gave way ... to reveal a portrait ... of his son.
Though the art critics ... would never consider the work ... a piece of genius.
The painting did feature the young man's face ... in striking detail, ... and seemed to capture his personality.
The following spring, ... the old man became ill ...and passed away.
The art world ... was ... in anticipation!
According to the will of the old man, ... all of the art works ... were to be auctioned.
The day soon arrived, ... and art collectors from around the world ... gathered to bid on some of the world's most spectacular ... paintings.
The auction began with a painting ... that was not on any ... of the museum's list.
It was the painting ... of the man's son.
The auctioneer asked for an opening bid.
The room was silent.
"Who will open the bidding with $100?" he asked."
Minutes passed with not a sound from those ... who came to buy.
From the back of the room someone callously called out, ... "Who cares about that painting?
It's just a picture of his son.
Forget it ... and go on ... to the important art works."
There were other voices ... which echoed in agreement.
But the auctioneer replied, ... "No, ... No ... we must sell this one first.
Now ...Who will take the son?
Finally, ... a friend of the old man spoke.
"I knew the boy, ... so I'd like to have it.
I will bid the $100."
"I have a bid for $100," called the auctioneer.
"Will anyone go higher?"
After a long silence, ... the auctioneer said, "Going once. Going twice.
Gone." ... And The gavel fell.
Cheers filled the room, ... and someone was heard to say, ... "Now we can get on with it!"
But the auctioneer looked at the audience and announced ... the auction is over.
Stunned ... disbelief quieted the room.
Someone spoke up and asked, ... "What do you mean it's over?
We didn't come here ... for a picture ... of some old guy's son.
What about all of these paintings?
There is millions of dollars' worth of art here!
We demand that you explain ... what's going on!"
The auctioneer replied, ... "It's very simple.
According to the will of the father, ...whoever takes the son ... receives everything."
Whoever takes the Sob revives ... Everything! (Pause)
And Beloved ... That is the essence ... of the story of Christmas Season and of the Gospel: ... Whoever takes the Son ... receives everything.
And the Scriptures proclaim it Hear God's Word: BIBLE "God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son ... has life; ... he who does not have the Son of God ... (Slow) does not have life" END (1 John 5:11-12).
The one who has the Son ... receives everything ... the one who has the Son ... receives it all.
But what exactly is included ... in the ... "All"?
O' Beloved ... I would suggest ... that the season of Advent ... points ... Points us to a new life in Christ.
(1 Finger) Advent ... gives us a picture of ... what God is like.
The coming of Christ ... gives us a Living picture ... of God.
The coming of Christ ... puts a face on God.
And we hear it in these words ... from the letter to the Believers gathered in Colossi, BIBLE "He (Jesus) ... is the image ... of the invisible God, ... the firstborn over all creation. ...... For by him all things ... were created: ... things in heaven ... and on earth, ... visible ...and invisible" END (Colossians 1:15-16).
This is what is meant by ... the incarnation.
God came to earth ... wrapped ... wrapped in ... human form.
The God of heaven ... came to live ... among us ... that we might ... know him.
He came to serve ... not to be served.
He came to die ... that we might be forgiven.
He rose from the dead ... so that those who look to him for salvation ... may also ... be raised.
He promised ... his return ... so that eternal hope ... (touch chest) would burn ... in our hearts.
Beloved ... Jesus opened ... the doors ... of heaven.
He is Emmanuel ... Emmanuel ... God with us.
And Jesus ... is seeking ... a relationship with ... you.
For he sees the worth ... in you. (Long Pause)
Some of you ... may have seen the program ... "The Antique Road Show".
Often times on the program... someone comes ... who has paid a few dollars ... for an item at a garage sale ... asking for an evaluation ... of its worth.
Then comes the look of surprise ... or even shock when they are told ...the items value ... the item's worth. (Long Pause)
When I picture that, ... I cannot help but think ... ...of how God moves ... in the lives of people ... who are not seen ... as very valuable ... by the world.
Yet our Lord places ... a very high value ... on their soul.
Jesus over and over again ...Takes The sinful ... the sick, ... the poor, ... the weak ... and pulls them out of the mire ... and transforms them ... into a ...treasure.
And as followers of Christ ... we are called ... to be like him.
We are called to yield ... to the transforming power ...of the Holy Spirit ... who abides ... in our very being.
We are Christ's ... image bearers. (Pause)
So ... How can we not help ... but to extend grace to others?
For his grace ... was showered upon us ... upon you ...and upon me.
We cannot help but forgive ... because ... we each have been forgiven ... so very much.
We are a people of reconciliation ... a people of grace.
We give of ourselves ... because Jesus has given ... to us.
We live .... because he has given us eternal life.
O' Beloved ... He is ... Emmanuel. REPEAT
He is ... God with us. (Pause)
(1 Finger) So ... Advent ... gives us a picture ... of what God ... is like.
(2 Fingers) And Secondly, Advent promises ... new life.
There is new life ... eternal life ... for those who have confessed Jesus as Lord and Savior ... that believe he was raised ... from the dead.
The Apostle Paul told the believers ... the believers gathered in Corinth ... that if they were in Christ ... they would become.... a new ... creation.
The old will be ... gone.
The new ... will have ... come.
Is that ... how you would describe ... your life?
The old is gone ... the new ... has come.
Or ... is there little difference ... between the old you ......and the current Holy Spirit filled Christian" You?
In today's New Testament Reading .... Paul clearly saw this change among the believers gathered in the Corinth:
Hear God's Word BIBLE " I give thanks to my God always for you ... because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge-- even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you-- so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end..." END (1 Corinthians 1:4-8)
(Slow) So ... How can we have assurance ... that this new creation ... has transpired within us?
You will know ... because the Spirit of God will produce in you ...... His own life. A New ... Life
And this New life is described ... in God's Word.
BIBLE22 ... the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things ... there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature ... with its passions ... and desires. END (Galatians 5:22-24)
If the Spirit of God is at home in you, ... the first evidence ... will be a new life ... with the DNA of God ... the fruit of the Spirit ... flowing through you .... flowing through you .... to ... others.
The Scriptures are clear ... and share with us a warning ... to examine if we have falling away from the new life ... in Christ.
Hear God's Word: BIBLE 9 "Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother or sister is still in the darkness." END (1 John 2:9)
Beloved. ... I am pleading with you ... to yield to the Holy Spirit, ...... To be right with God.
If we claim .... we are in the light, .... that we have received the Holy Spirit, .... yet do not love, .... we are in the darkness ... and we are simply deceiving ... ourselves.
Christ came ... to not only cleanse our hearts, ... but to ... change our hearts.
We are called to yield ... and be conformed ... into his likeness ... into his character ... each day... every day.
Beloved ... Heaven is our true home. We have the hope ... of heaven.
As the hymn states: ... "Christ has opened Paradise, ... Al-le-lu-ia!"
If Jesus Christ had not come, ... there would be no hope.
There would be no eternal life.
Nothing to anticipate, ... except the closing of the casket ... and the coldness of the grave.
Yet for those who are in Christ ... the expectation of a new life in Christ ... is known ... and is promised ... but is unwrapped .... until we yield ourselves ... to be conformed ... into his image.
So, what is it like ... to know that something is yours ... even though you are waiting ... to fully experience it? (Long Pause)
Well when I was young boy ... I did a lot of snooping at Christmas time, ... trying to find my gifts ... and figure out ... what was in the wrapped packages ... which my Mother ... tried to hide.
One year ... I discovered a large package ... with my name on it.
I knew in my heart ... it was Fort Apache.
Finally, I was going to be able to build ... Fort Apache.
One shake of that box ... revealed the unmistakable sound ... of all the pieces.
And I could make out the Big F in Fort ... and the big A in Apache ... through the wrapping Paper.
When Mom wasn't around, ... I would go and feel the package, ... shake it a little bit, ... and pretend in my mind ... that I was a great Calvary officer ... in the Fort.
I was already enjoying the pleasures ... of a future event; ... namely, ... the unwrapping.
It had my name on it.
I knew what it was."
It was mine, ... but it would not be handed over to me ... until ...Christmas morning.
And Then ... I would see with my eyes ... what before I had only seen ... with my heart. (Pause)
The Scriptures are so Clear: BIBLE For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. END (1 Corinthians 13:12)
O' Beloved ... Advent and Christmas point us to Christ ... who has given us ... the gift ... of heaven.
And In a way ... it is still wrapped or partially wrapped on this side of eternity.
Yet for those who are in Christ ... the package ... has our name on it.
We know what awaits us.
It is ours.
But we longingly wait for the day ... when we will enjoy the gift of heaven ... in all of its unwrapped wonder.
Praise God ... You and I ... are a new creation in Christ Jesus.
Yield ... Allow the Holy Spirit ... to transform you into the Image of Jesus.
Allow the fruit of the Spirit to permeate your very being ... and flow like a river from your soul.
A New ... Life
You are Children ... of the Most High ... You are Children ...of the Light.
And His name is called ...Emmanuel!
(Sing)Emmanuel, Emmanuel,
His name is called Emmanuel.
God with us, revealed in us,
His name is called Emmanuel.
O' Beloved ... (Slow) "Whoever ... Whoever takes the son... receives ... everything."
Amen & Amen!
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