Sunday December 23, 2001
Pastor----Mike Davis
SPECIAL GIFTS FROM GOD
Ephesians 4:7-8
7 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.
When we think about the time of year we are in today---naturaly we think about Christmas.
We most of the time think the same things about Christmas year after year. (and there is nothing wrong with that)
Here is where we always go in our mind: [St Luke chapter 2]
1. And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Ceasar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
2. (And this taxing was first made when Cy-re’ni-us was governor of Syria.)
3. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Naz’a-reth, into Ju-dae’a, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5. To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
The Bible says in Matthew in the second chapter that the wise men brought treasures to The Son of God----gifts, gold and frankincense, and myrrh.
Those gifts were being given to the GREATEST gift that had ever been given.
For Christians, Jesus is the central figure of the Bible.
He was the fulfillment of God’s promises made through the Old Testament prophets; the good news that he brought mankind was God’s offer of a new covenant of salvation.
Jesus was called the Christ, which in Hebrew meant Messiah, which meant "God’s anointed one."
And so, not only was he the babe in the manger, but he was the "Anointed One."
Now we are starting to see that he was a whole lot more than just an ordinary baby boy.
For thirty years he lived his life much like anyone else---of course we know there were some differences.
At twelve years of age he seemed to know more about the scrolls than anyone around him.
We don’t know that much about him from about that age until he was around thirty years old.
His first cousin, John the Baptist, was doing some preaching and baptizing a quite a lot of people wherever he traveled and he told about one that would come after him that would be powerful.
Don’t you know he must have been surprised the day Jesus came walking down that dusty road, walked out into the river , and said, "Baptize me."
John the Baptist felt just like we do when Jesus shows up----No one had to tell him that it was The Anointed One.
He could feel it in his presence.
And so the Bible says He suffered him to be baptized----only to get the surprise of his life.
The Spirit of Almighty God sat upon him in the form of a dove and God Himself said, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."
I want you to know that when he came up out of that river, He had more power upon him than most would ever dream.
He began the mission that He came to do.
He started preaching and teaching like never before.---Why?---Because he was now full to the max with the Holy Ghost and power like never or no one before.
He was the most presious gift that had ever been given----but all wrapped up in that package was gifts to come like the world had never experienced in such a magnitude.
Can you just stop, think about, and realize what it was really like for the next three years?
Our Cannan King covered about everything and every subject that we could ever deal with in this short life we live here on this earth.
I mean, would we have ever excepted Him to show up at a wedding, where they would run out of wine, and then turn water pots full of water into wine.
Why would He do that?----Could it be for his love for mankind and His desire to prove to them as well as us that He possesed the power to meet every need that could ever arise in our life?
He just wasn’t too big to be involved in the small issues of our lives. (Glory to God!)
He will come into whatever part of our life that we invite Him into----wheather a big thing or a little one.
His mother said,"Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it."
That still holds true for us today because not only is Jesus the same yesterday, today, and forever----But the words of this book that we call the Bible are the same yesterday, today, and forever.
He is there for you for the little things----call upon Him----do whatever He says.
Sometimes we think what we hear is not Him speaking because we can’t imagine some of the things that He might tell us to do.
The servants at the wedding didn’t undersdand either, but because they did what He said, they were able to witness His first miracle.
Some of you may still be waiting on your first miracle----call upon Him, believe what He says and then do it and receive from Him.
He can’t minister to us if we won’t allow Him to.
After many years of putting up with the things of the devil that have made you uncomfortable, some of you are just now finding out that if you will be faithful in the little things, He will show up for you in the big ones.
During this three years of His life people from every culture, and every walk of life were delivered, healed, and set free from bondage of every kind.
I want to remind you this morning that:
At His word:
The blind couldn’t stay blind.
The lame didn’t remain cripple.
The deaf began to hear.
Lepors were made whole.
Demon spirits had to leave.
We can’t even really imagine what it was like for Him to walk into a room where someone lay dead and say----GET UP!
After the brother of Mary and Martha had been in the grave for four days He walked out into that cemetary and shouted Lazaras come forth.
He didn’t lay in there and argue with the Lord----When Jesus spoke, it started a little comotion inside that tomb.
The people outside could hear a little comotion, a little rattling going on, something that sounded like noise, probably some snorting while he was trying to get that wrapping from around his mouth.
Then, Glory to God, he came hobbling out of that grave in obedience to the words of his Lord and Jesus said loose him and let him go.
Listen to what God is saying to us today----we need to be obedient to the word of the Lord to us so we can begin to make some noise for the ones outside to hear.
There needs to be a lot of setting free going on in our churches and our lives in the hour we are living in.
I think God is saying that Jesus is stepping into the cemetaries of the dead churches in 2002 and shouting to those in the graves of unbelief, unfaithful, disobedient, unruly, and uncaring to come out, be loosed and set free.
He is listening for a noise.
We are going to have to start making some noise for Him and His cause so we can hear a soon coming noise----the shout of the archangel.
Come on somebody----make some noise for the Lord----Give Him some praise----He is the greatest gift of all.
People never dreamed 2000 years ago that He could or would do all the maracioulous things that He did.
Millions today don’t believe that He can.
All it takes is a little faith and a believing heart and He can call you out of whatever grave of sickness, depression, dissapointment, or bondage you are in this morning.
The desciples had no idea that He could come to them in their storms.
Come on----the waters around you don’t have to drown you----the storm you are in don’t have to tear down everything you have.
He’s still the One who walks on the water and calms the storms.
He has never changed and He never will.
What a gift God gave us that lowly night in Bethlehem----But what host of wonderful things was all wrapped up in Him that He would share with anyone who would allow Him to.
The world had been changed like never before when He came----but let us understand that it is going to soon change like we could never imagine.
God is regiving us the gift of His Son soon and very soon.
Just as God said to us in His word, I believe He is saying again in this special season----Let everyone that has ears to hear, hear what I am going to say to the Churches.
Many didn’t accept my gift 2000 years ago and have missed it forever.
But there are millions that could still accept the greatest of all gifts.
He is speaking to churches that will hear Him this morning all over the world that time is getting short.
Listen to God today, get serious with Him.
The things that you think you can’t do without in this world today are not what is important.
It is time for us to commit ourselves to God like never before.
He is passing out tickets to the greatest flight that has ever left this earths atmosphere even as I speak.
This flight will be the safest from danger of terrorists or any other kind of trouble that has ever been.----SAFE IN THE ARMS OF JESUS!
The desciples, Apostles, Christians, family, and friends never expected to see their Lord and Saviour mocked, beaten, crucified, and placed in a tomb.
They were lost now without Him and didn’t know what to do or even think anymore.
To the point that they didn’t even believe it when they were told that He had risen, just like He had told them he would, and was alive again.
Can you imagine that now He was back and they all were just beginning to feel good again and then up on Mount Olivet He just began to assend from their sight until He was gone again.
But we have comfort from the angel who said, "Be not afraid, in like manner as you have seen Him go, He will come again."
The Lord had already told them as well as us that if He left to go prepare a place for us that He would come again and receive us unto Himself that where He is we shall be also.
What a promise----What a Saviour----What a mighty God we serve!
The rest of the package that was given to us is this----He said we would do the same things He did until He would come for us.
What did He mean?
Just what He said----By the same power that was in Him we could see the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, the demon possessed set free, and the dead live again.
It all goes back to the first of His miracles----whatever He saith unto you, do it.
I hear the blowing of the wind, I hear a rustle in the mulberry bush.
I am starting to hear that spiritual language more than before.
Church, The King of Kings, The Lord of Lords is saddling up to ride and He has fire in His eyes!
And He is asking all today all over the world----Will you hear me, will you live for me----WILL YOU RIDE WITH ME?
The greatest gift of all time is about to be given again!
He’s coming with the shout of an archangel----let’s believe Him----let’s watch the eastern sky----and let’s shout and make noise in this dead world of a grave until He hears us,looses us and sets us free.
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