A Priceless Gift

A Priceless Gift

Griffith Baptist Church – 12/14/08

A.M. Service

Text: Matthew 2:1-12

Key verse: Matthew 2:11 - And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

Premise: God gave a priceless gift in His Son, Jesus Christ, and whatever we give back will pale in comparison to that. It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.

The Introduction

After being away on business, a man thought it would be nice to bring his wife a little gift. “How about some perfume?” he asked the cosmetics clerk. She showed him a bottle costing $50.00. “That’s a bit much,” he said, so she returned with a smaller bottle for $30.00. “That’s still quite a bit,” he complained. Growing annoyed, the clerk brought out a tiny $15.00 bottle. “You know,” he said, “What I mean is that I’d like to see something really cheap.” The clerk handed him a mirror.

We’re coming into the season of Christmas

We decorate our trees and sometimes get to smell the cookies baking in the oven

We see family that we haven’t seen for a while.

We sing Christmas songs and carols.

Above all, we give gifts.

What is gift giving all about anyway?

o Giving something special to those we love

o The element of mystery – gift in pretty wrapping

o It is a time to share

Discuss the Magi and their long journey.

o They came to worship

o They came to bring gifts

Isaiah 9:6 - For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: . . .

Who is this gift God has given us and what can we give to God this Christmas and always?

Body

1. God’s Gift to Us

A. He gave a Star (2)

i. A light to guide

a. Zacharias said of Christ - Luke 1:79 - To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

b. Man is forever in darkness but Christ sheds light on sin and the promise of salvation

ii. A light of hope

a. A little over a month before he died, the famous atheist Jean-Paul Sartre declared that he so strongly resisted feelings of despair that he would say to himself, “I know I shall die in hope.” Then in profound sadness, he would add, “But hope needs a foundation.” Our Daily Bread, April 17, 1995

b. 1 Timothy 1:1 – Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Savior, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;

c. Hope that never dies

d. Hope that is constant

e. Hope that is certain

B. He gave a Sovereign (6)

i. To rule in our hearts

a. The heart is what produces our real character and ultimately our actions

b. For Christ to govern our lives He needs to govern our hearts first

c. Look at the heart as it pertains to salvation – Romans 10:9-10 - 9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

ii. To rule His church

a. If Christ is not the head of His church, the church will crumble

b. He has absolute control and power of His church (Eph. 5:23-32)

c. Sad to say, to many times, His church lets other things rule them.

• A complaining spirit

• Unloving, ungracious attitudes

• Selfishness

iii. To rule His coming kingdom

a. Every battle is a step in the plan of God for the ultimate victory that is Christ’s

b. He is the declared winner even before the war is over

c. It may look like He’s losing sometimes, but looks can be deceiving

d. Isaiah 25:8 – He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.

e. 1 Corinthians 15:57 – But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

f. He will win the battle of the ages and no one can stop Him

g. THIS IS OUR GOD!

C. He gave a Savior (11)

i. To save us from our sins

a. Revelation 1:5 – 5And 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,