SEVEN DIVINE GIFTS TO MEN
In this outline sermon I am listing seven of the divine gifts given from God to us, the church. It will make us know more than ever before that we are dependant upon God for all the good gifts. They come from the devil. Though we do not get into stating that while every good and perfect gift comes from God, it is redundant that the devil is the author of all that is stolen, killed and destroyed in our lives according to John 10:10 (AMP) The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). The purpose of this sermon is to make know more of the love of God toward all people.
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from
above, and cometh down from the Father of lights,
with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of
turning.
"God sent a gift one Christmas morn, a wondrous gift, a precious gift.
God sent a gift one Christmas morn by peasant maid and craftsman hand.
God sent a gift one Christmas morn and wrapped it up in swaddling clothes, For me, He did.
Yes, for me He did. God sent a gift one Christmas morn and wrapped it up
in swaddling clothes. For me."
I. JESUS CHRIST is the greatest gift to the world, church, you and me.
John 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest
the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee,
Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him,
and he would have given thee living water. .
A. The world does not know this great gift.
(Isa 45:5 KJV) I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
(Jer 4:22 KJV) For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
(John 8:19 KJV) Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.
B. Jesus, the gift of God, overcame hell death and the grave.
1. Because He lives we can live also.
2. Because He overcame hell, death and the grave we will all at His second coming.
C. Jesus is that ’Indescribable gift.’
2 Cor 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
D. Every thing we receive from the Father comes through HIM.
Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Celsus was the first great skeptic. He once asked, "What has Jesus given to the world that that no one else has given?" Someone answered, "Himself!" Yes, that’s Jesus’ magnificent, stunning gift to the world. He gave himself! He gave himself not only in submission upon the cross but also in power in the resurrection.
II. The second great gift from God is the HOLY SPIRIT.
Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of
the Holy Ghost. .
Act 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. .
A. The Holy Spirit now lives in the whole Church.
1. Not for sale. You cannot buy the Holy Spirit; He is a gift to you.
Act 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee,
because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be
purchased with money.
a. There are groups that think they can buy their way into heaven.
b. The only way is Jesus and we much be born again of the Spirit.
B. The Holy Spirit is for all races and people.
Act 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were
astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that
on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the
Holy Ghost.
1. The Jewish church in Jerusalem thought the Holy Sprit was only for them.
Act 11:17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he
did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ;
what was I, that I could withstand God?
a. Peter was shocked.
b. There are some Christians think that their group is the only group that will make heaven. Will they ever be surprised on that day?
III. SPIRITUAL GIFTS come from God as a gift.
Rom 1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you
some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;
A. Spiritual gifts are given to us that we might be established in the Word and Work of God.
B. It is to keep us from ignorance and helps us know the Word and Will of God.
1Cor 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would
not have you ignorant.
C. Spiritual gifts are also given to help us lead people to Christ.
1Cor 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man
speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus
accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the
Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
Rick Warren said, "God gave me a gift, not for me but for you, and God gave you a gift, not for you but for me. If you don’t use your gift, you’re depriving me; if I don’t use my gift, I’m robbing you."
D. All spiritual gifts are by the same spirit.
1Cor 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
IV. SALVATION is the gift of God Himself.
(Romans chapter 5 is a sermon in itself)
Rom 5:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift.
For if through the offence of one many be dead, much
more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which
is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
Rom 5:16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift:
for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the
free gift is of many offences unto justification.
Rom 5:17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one;
much more they which receive abundance of grace and
of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by
one, Jesus Christ.) .
Rom 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon
all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness
of one the free gift came upon all men unto
justification of life. .
Rom 5:19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made
sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be
made righteous. .
Rom 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might
abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more
abound:
Rom 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might
grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life
by Jesus Christ our Lord. .
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not
of yourselves: it is the gift of God: .
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
A. I cannot add anything better than God’s own Word. Salvation is the gift of God Himself.
V. ETERNAL LIFE is a gift from God.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is
eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
A. Because He lives we can live also.
(John 14:19 KJV) Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
VI. DIVINE CALL (We are all called to this Walk)
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of
God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,
holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable
service. .
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may
prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect,
will of God.
A. We need to walk the walk of holiness.
1. Why? Because He is holy and He calls us to follow Him
(Luke 18:22 KJV) Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
2. I have often wonder what would have happened to this young man had he done so.
a. Think of God’s Kingdom Principle of giving!
VII. MINISTERS of the gospel are gifts to the Church.
Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he
led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and
some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
A. Note that these gifts were given for the church to mature.
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of
the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man,
unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of
Christ:
B. God’s ministers are a gift to you as a believer.
1. He or she is to help perfect you.
2. For the work of the ministry.
3. For your edification.
4. To bring you into unity of the faith.
5. To help you know more about Jesus.
6. To try to perfect you.
7. To help you be more like Jesus so you can be a spiritual fruit bearer
"God controls all that happens in His world, every meal, every pleasure, every possession, every bit of sun, every night’s sleep, every moment of health and safety, everything that sustains and enriches life, is a divine gift. And how abundant these gifts are!"
LIFE IS A GIFT, NOT A RIGHT
Lord, help me remember that it is only by your power
and will that I am even alive;
and I can do nothing without you.
You breathed your breath of life in me and allowed
this speck of ’dust in the wind’ to exist.
You are the moving of my limbs, the beating
of my heart, the breath in my lungs.
Without you, I am just a body - dead - nothing.
You are this life.
John 3:16
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