INTRODUCTION
„X SLIDE #1
„X Tomorrow morning there will be children waking up at 5:00 a.m., there will be paper flying all around the living room. People will be jumping up and down with excitement over their new gifts.
„X It will be a fun time.
„X I want you to take a moment to think about the best gift you ever received for Christmas.
„X Think of the joy you felt over receiving the gift you had your heart set on. What a great feeling.
„X Now, I want you to think about that wonderful gift you received again. How long did it bring you that same joy? How long was it before you set it aside and no longer play with it?
„X What do you hope to get for Christmas?
„X Today we are going to take a look at the best gift.
„X This gift was spoken of over 700 years before it came through the prophet Isaiah.
„X There was a lot of turmoil going on in the nation during the time that Isaiah spoke of the coming gift. It would be a gift that would change everything!
„X This gift is the real reason we can celebrate the season. Tomorrow is not a ¡§happy holiday¡¨ day, it is Christmas. Even with all the commercialism that has clouded the true meaning of the season, let us examine the best gift we can receive so that we can appreciate the Christmas holiday.
„X SLIDE #2
„X Isaiah 9:6 - 7 (NASB) 6For 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. 7There 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.
„X Let us look at the best gift we can receive!
„X SLIDE #3
SERMON
I. THE GIFT WAS GIVEN TO US.
„X One thing that makes a gift great is the fact that it is given to us. When someone gives us something, it usually makes the gift special to us.
„X When we look at Isaiah 9:6, we see some things in reference to the gift.
„X SLIDE #4
1. The gift was born to us.
„X This gift is special because the gift was designed for each one of us; it was specially made for us.
„X When the Angels announced the birth of Jesus in Luke 2:11 we have the same language that is used in the Isaiah passage.
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„X Luke 2:11 (NASB) 11for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
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2. The gift was meant to be given to us.
„X There are a lot of gifts that are not meant to be shared, but this gift is to be shared by all.
„X Jesus is a gift that we are to try to give to everyone.
„X Too many people try to earn what God wants to give to you through the gift of His Son Jesus.
„X Have you ever accidentally opened a gift meant for another? With Jesus, that will never happen because the gift of Jesus was meant to be given to all.
„X How many of us would reject a gift from someone who loves us? Sometimes we are embarrassed or feel bad that someone we love spent so much to get us a gift.
„X God loves you more than you can ever know, He wants you to have the gift of Jesus.
„X Some would say that Christmas is not about giving and receiving gifts, well, it really is about gifts, just not IPODS and flat-screen televisions. It is about God giving us the gift of His Son.
„X SLIDE #7
3. This gift is the most personal gifts we can receive.
„X Do you know that the gift of Jesus is the most personal gift you will ever receive?
„X I believe most people (females) like to receive a gift that is personal, a gift where the giver put some thought into getting the gift.
„X Nothing like getting a pair of socks for Christmas.
„X When this gift of God¡¦s Son was given to us, God had YOU on His mind the whole time.
„X COMMERCIAL ABOUT BIRTHDAY CARDS AT CONVENIENCE STORE.
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II. THE GIFT HAS SPECIAL FUNCTIONS.
„X Have you ever received a gift and you wondered what its function was?
„X Have you ever got one of those fantastic infomercial gifts that more or less did nothing?
„X Maybe you got an exercise machine/clothing hanging rack.
„X In our passage, we see that the gift that was given to us from God has many special functions.
„X SLIDE #9
1. He is your King.
„X Verse 6 tells us the government will rest on His shoulders.
„X This tells us that Jesus, your gift is King, with the rights and privileges, and responsibilities that come with the position.
„X A Kings job in part it to take care of the well-being of His subjects and to provide protection for harm.
„X When Jesus is your king, He provides, protects and cares for you.
„X There is no ruler or authority higher than Him.
„X The nation of Israel started its¡¦ decline in part when the nation decided it no longer wanted to be ruled by God, they wanted a glorious king to lead them out into battle.
„X In your life, when you decide that you do not want Jesus to be your king, you too will go down the path of destruction.
„X Jesus is the best gift because He is the best king.
„X SLIDE #10
2. He is your Wonderful Counselor.
„X His counsel is wonderful because it will always lead you down the right path. ALWAYS! God¡¦s way is always the best way for you to go.
„X How far do you think you will go in life without a wonderful counselor?
„X Proverbs 3:5-6 is a wonderful example of what Jesus can do for you as a wonderful counselor.
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„X Proverbs 3:5 - 6 (NASB) 5Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
„X It is so good to have a wonderful counselor at our disposal.
„X In the context of the passage, wonderful counselor denotes one who is able to devise military strategy.
„X When we are going to do battle in the world, we need a good strategy in order to be successful.
„X SLIDE #12
3. He is your Mighty God.
„X When you are going through the struggles of life, it is so good to know that you have a mighty God on your side!
„X He is a champion in battle. He is the all mighty one! Not just some wimpy God, but a mighty God, strong in battle.
„X Think about the confidence this can give to you as you deal with the trials and temptations of life.
„X SLIDE #13
4. He is your Eternal Father.
„X Our earthly fathers will all eventually die, our eternal gift will never die.
„X John 3:16 reminds us that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life.
„X If the Father is eternal, the children will be eternal also!
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5. He is your Prince of Peace.
„X He is the way that we can be at peace with God. He is the one who shields us from the wrath that we really deserve for our sins.
„X He is the way to peace and harmony in a confused chaotic world.
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III. THE GIFT WILL KEEP GIVING.
„X How many gifts do you receive that never go out of style? How many gifts do you receive that you will be able to use 40 years down the road?
„X How many gifts do you receive that have unlimited potential?
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1. There is no end to what the gift can do.
„X There is no end to the increase of His rule! There is no limit on what He can do with you and for you.
„X God can take the most insignificant person and do great things with them. God can take the most messed up life and make something beautiful out of it.
„X God can take the most trying circumstances and make something wonderful!
„X When the kingdom on earth is over, He will rule for eternity.
„X This wonderful gift will never wear out!
„X SLIDE #17
2. Justice and righteousness will rule.
„X There will come a time when all that is wrong in the world will no longer be a issue.
„X There will come a time when all the injustices will be taken care of.
„X Jesus will maintain righteousness, as His rule will conform to God¡¦s holy character and demands.
CONCLUSION
„X Think of all the gifts you have given and received throughout your life, when it is all said and done, which ones will really matter?
„X Christmas is about a gift, the gift God gave to mankind when His Son.
„X Have you received the best gift ever? If you have, have you shared that wonderful gift with others?
„X As you open your gifts tomorrow, think about the gift God has given to you. Do not leave that gift under the tree!
