THE GIFTS THAT JESUS GIVES...
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I. IF I WERE SANTA CLAUS?
YOU CAN GIVE AND NOT LOVE,
BUT YOU CAN NEVER LOVE WITHOUT GIVING!
IT IS NEVER THE VALUE OF THE GIFT --- IT IS ALWAYS THE VALUE OF THE GIVER!
A. LET US UNDERSTAND ONE WORD BEFORE WE READ TODAY.
PENURY: (PEN-u-ry) Oppressive lack of resources.
Extreme poverty.
To have needs with no means to care for the need.
Luke 21:1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
B. Years ago I was sitting in front of our local Wal-Mart. There was a Marine’s Box --- TOYS FOR TOTS.
I saw this huge Lincoln Continental pull up to the closet size box and a little girl and a little boy jumped out of the big expensive car and dropped some toys in there for the poor children of the community.
After dropping in their presents they jumped back into the car and drove away.
I went over to the box to look at what they had dropped in...
The boy threw a very rusty Tonka truck with three wheels on it.
The girl had placed an old raggedy doll that had magic marker drawn all over the doll baby. The dolls hair had been pulled out in several spots. The doll had no
clothes to cover the magic marker marks.
C. I sat back down on the bench.
I pondered WHAT WOULD I DO IF I WERE SANTA CLAUS?
I quickly decided what I would do.
IF I WERE SANTA, I WOULD WRAP THAT OLD RUSTY TRUCK AND THAT OLD UGLY DOLL AND I WOULD GO CRAWL DOWN THEIR CHIMNEY AND GIVE THEM FOR THEIR CHRISTMAS WHAT THEY SEEMED TO THINK WOULD MAKE SOME POOR CHILD TO BE HAPPY ON CHRISTMAS DAY?
D. Right after that a little old lady came out, she had two presents. They were exactly alike, one she was giving to her granddaughter, and the other
she was placing in the box for a poor girl?
E. This Granny just smiled as she talked with me. She told me of one Christmas in the early 1930’s that she had nothing for Christmas, and that she could not make a big difference for every child, but SHE COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR ONE.
F. I FELT LIKE I HAD BEEN WITH JESUS WHEN JESUS OBSERVED THE POOR LADY DROPPED IN HER TWO MITES.
G. YOUR GIFT MAY SPEAK VOLUMES ABOUT YOU?
One year when I was in the seventh grade, my Dad bought my older brother and I bows and arrows.
Dad was interested in going deer hunting that year.
II. GOD SO LOVED --- THAT HE GAVE.
GOD LOOKED AROUND HEAVEN, AND JESUS SAID, HERE FATHER, I WILL GO.
GOD GAVE THE BEST GIFT IN ALL OF HEAVEN.
A. In March of 1976 I stood in the hospital at Middlesboro, KY. and saw my son for the first time. He was so cute. I counted his fingers and toes. I told him he was going to play
the guitar. I felt a NEW KIND OF LOVE THAT I HAD NEVER KNOWN IN MY LIFE.
B. I can give my life for others, but I would defend until death the life of my son.
If he needed blood, I would gladly give him every drop that flows through me.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
C. God knew the reception that his son would receive.
Luke 2:7 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.
D. God knew about a barn in Jerusalem, GOD KNEW THERE WOULD BE NO ROOM FOR JESUS IN THE INN.
E. Jesus knew streets of gold. Jesus had never seen a tear? Jesus had never been to a funeral.
F. Jesus would trade everything for dusty roads, to be mocked and despised of men.
G. JESUS WALKED UP A LITTLE HILL OUTSIDE THE CAMP, TO DIE, TO BE SPIT UPON, TO BE MOCKED --- IF YOU ARE REALLY THE SON OF GOD???
H. THREE CROSSES THAT DAY:
1. One died in sin.
2. One died to sin.
3. One died FOR SIN!
III. GOD LOVES YOU SO MUCH HE GRANTS YOU A FREEWILL, YOU ARE A SUM TOTAL OF YOUR DAILY CHOICES.
A. The officers in a prison were walking a man to the death room. He would be executed in a few minutes for the crimes he had committed.
A reporter asked him: DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY?
He turned and said: I AM WHAT I AM BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT I CHOSE TO BE!
Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and
my house, we will serve the Lord.
B. Sure you decided what kind of clothes you would wear today. You even picked out your shoes, but what kind of MOOD DID YOU PICK?
Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 68:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm or Song of David. Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.
C. How will you spend your time, talent, and energy?
Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
D. HOW SAD TO WAKE UP ONE DAY AN OLD PERSON FINDING OUT YOU WASTED YOUR LIFE CHASING RAINBOWS?
IV. ONE OF THE SWEETEST GIFTS JESUS GIVES IS THE SUCCESS AFTER FAILURE.
YOU MAY FAIL BUT YOU CAN GET UP AND TRY AGAIN.
A. GOD GRANTS PARDONS AND HAS AMAZING GRACE FOR US.
Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
IF GOD REMOVED SIN FROM NORTH TO SOUTH, YOU TRAVEL SO FAR NORTH AND YOU ARE GOING SOUTH. YOU CAN TRAVEL EAST FOREVER AND STILL BE TRAVELING EAST.
B. GOD WAS MERCIFUL, HE MADE TIME IN 24 HOUR INTERVALS.
If you mess up today, God will give you A NEW DAY, and you can try again.
C. On January 1, 1968 I made a stupid 16 year old mistake. It was more than a mistake, I sinned. My Dad was a successful pastor and had taught me right from wrong.
I knew better, but I sinned that day.
When I got home that night, I bowed my head and was very sorry for Jan. 1, 1968.
I cried and I asked Jesus to forgive me.
That Sunday morning I sat down my guitar and went to the altar and repented.
Every time our enemy reminded me how bad I was I would cry and repent.
Later that summer we moved to Springfield, Illinois.
I remember going to the altar and begging God to forgive me.
In 1970 we moved to Middlesboro, KY. and I started college. Later that year I married Linda.
I had been to classes and came home to our little apartment.
I laid down to take a nap. I remember Jan. 1, 1968.
My heart was broken. I got on my knees and repented and laid back down.
I cried myself to sleep for breaking Jesus’ heart.
I later was awakened and Jesus was standing right in front of me.
I bowed my head in shame and said Jesus I know I broke your heart, PLEASE FORGIVE ME.
Jesus had the Book of Life in his hand, he pulled it down and started looking.
I saw 1953, 1954, 1957 and he turned through the pages.
He started slowing down and he stopped on JANUARY 1, 1968.
Jesus stroked his beard, and said: HUUUUMMM?
I bowed my head and Jesus turned the Book down for me to see, and January 1, 1968 was as WHITE AS SNOW.
There was NO SIN RECORDED THERE! NONE!
I knew it was so, because I wrote it down in my Bible of all things.
What had haunted me for 2 years was gone.
FOREVER FORGIVEN!
D. I asked Jesus: IF YOU FORGAVE ME WHY DID YOU LEAVE THIS PAINFUL MEMORY FOR ME?
Jesus told me: IF I REMOVED THIS MEMORY YOU WOULD DO IT AGAIN.
BUT YOU ARE FORGIVEN, GO ON AND DO BETTER.
E. DAVID REALLY MESSED UP HIS LIFE, YOU KNOW ALL ABOUT IT.
BUT BECAUSE HE MESSED UP HE WROTE THE GREATEST CHAPTER IN THE BIBLE CONCERNING SIN AND FORGIVENESS.
Psalm 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
F. GOD TURNS MESSES INTO MESSAGES!
HE CAN TURN GREAT TESTS INTO GREATER TESTIMONIES.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
G. DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF --- BY THE WAY IT IS ALL SMALL STUFF.
H. MY friend Tony says:
DON’T SWEAT PETTY THINGS!
DON’T PET SWEATY THINGS!
V. JESUS OFFERS THE GIFT OF COMMUNION.
JESUS FRIENDS WERE TIRED, THEY HAD BEEN FISHING, JESUS ASKED THEM:
DO YOU HAVE ANY MEAT? THEY ANSWERED --- NO!
JESUS HAD AN INVITATION COME AND EAT WITH ME.
FRIENDS ARE ALWAYS CLOSER COMING TO THE TABLE TOGETHER.
A. I never had a chance to sit down and eat with Jesus and His friends.
John 21:12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
B. Jesus brake the bread, took the cup, and blessed them...
BUT JESUS SAID I AM GOING TO WAIT UNTIL THE CHURCH OF THE AGES CAN EAT WITH ME.
Matthew 26:29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.
C. THERE IS COMING A DAY, WE SHALL ALL BE TOGETHER AND COME AND DINE WITH OUR SAVIOUR AND LORD.
Rev. 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
VI. NOW LET US TURN THE TABLE, WHAT ARE YOU GIVING JESUS?
2 Cor. 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
A. Many use Jesus like a spare tire, they only get Him out when they have a flat.
Jesus works best as a STEERING WHEEL.
B. The little boy gave his biscuit and small fishes.
Mary gave her alabaster box.
David gave his sling.
Martha cooked and cleaned.
Dorcas, or Tabitha sewed with her needle.
C. Give on purpose not by accident, plan your giving.
Be a faithful giver to those you love!
Give the TOWEL OF SERVANTHOOD.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Help me? Pass it on?
