Our Gift Has Arrived (Christmas Eve 2013)

Our Gift Has Arrived

December 24, 2013

Christmas Eve Sermonette (6 minutes)

A Picking out just the right Christmas gift for our family, friends can be a little difficult.

1 Picking out just “any old” gift is easy.

a To get just the right one, perfect one takes some paying attention, picking up on what the ones we love need.

b The best gifts will not be put aside or left in the box.

aa The best gifts are unwrapped, taken out of the box and used.

bb The best gifts have a purpose and used for a very, very long time.

2 In Isaiah 9.6-7, God tells us “I’m going to send you a gift you need . . . one you will use.”

a Isaiah 9:6-7 (NASB) 6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.

b When God promised that “a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us,” this was not a last-minute gift idea.

aa He knew exactly what we needed before we were ever born.

bb Before creation He knew the perfect gift to send you & me.

c He knew we needed a Healer, Wise King, Peace-maker, Savior.

aa John 3:16 (NASB) 16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Romans 6:23 (NASB) 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

bb He has given us a gift that will be useful to us for all of eternity.

cc What an incredibly thoughtful gift from the best dad in the universe.

B Sadly, much of the world have not received the gift that God spent so much on for them to have.

1 It did not arrive in a beautifully decorated box with shiny wrapping paper with a big bow.

a Instead, this gift is found in “a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger.” Luke 2.12 NASB

b He wasn’t delivered to a palace, government officials, or to the movers & shakers.

aa It’s a big deal that God created us in His image but it’s also a big deal that God came to us like one of us.

bb He came as an ordinary baby, delivered the way every baby had been born since the dawn of time.

2 There are people who reject this powerful gift from God… but not because it wasn’t the kind of gift they needed… or would really want if they took time to understand it.

a The problem is not with God’s gift… the problem is that many people are distracted by things of this world that appear bigger, more attractive, more appealing to them.

b IL.

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Respectfully,

Mike Fogerson