#3 THE GIFTS THAT GOD GIVES:
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Sometimes we don’t thank God as we should for His love and giving! God gives, so let us give.
Today I make a choice to give you a blessing. I have a limited ability with words. Wisdom has always been one step farther than my reach. But a wonderful God has given me His Word. I love the Bible. I believe God’s word is for us. I often hold my Bible and kiss it. Not only am I blessed to own a Bible, I have been blessed to have teachers to help me understand God’s love.
I have learned every miracle begins with a problem. The bigger the problem, the bigger the miracle.
This blessing I pray for you today is not mine. It was given by God to Moses. Moses gave the blessing to his brother Aaron. Aaron gave the blessing to his sons. The sons gave it to the Bible.I give it to you. Hope you accept!
Numbers 6: 22 ---27.
THE LORD BLESS THEE AND KEEP THEE!
THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE TO SHINE UPON THEE!
MAY THE LORD BE GRACIOUS TO THEE!
THE LORD LIFT HIS COUNTENANCE UPON THEE!
MAY THE LORD GIVE YOU HIS PEACE!
Then there is a promise: If you will bless then I the Lord God will bless them! I speak this blessing for you and yours. I believe this blessing! I accept this blessing for us!
WE SHALL MAKE THE CHOICE TO BE BLESSED. We are too blessed to be depressed. We take too lightly God’s blessings. God’s blessings are a gold mine, stake them, claim them, walk in them!
There is a literary tool called repetition.
If you want to make your point, say something more than once.
Matthew 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
I. GOD GIVES LIFE, GOD GIVES ABUNDANT LIFE.
DON’T PRIORITIZE YOUR SCHEDULE.
SCHEDULE YOUR PRIORITIES.
YOUR LIFE IS HAMMERED OUT ON THE ANVIL OF PEOPLE’S EXPECTATIONS.
A. One of man’s greatest sins is THAT HE LEARNS TO THINK THAT HE HAS TOMORROW.
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
B. Thinking you have tomorrow causes PROCRASTINATION and NEGLECTING THE IMPORTANT THINGS.
C. Life has a way of not appreciating the important things. WE grow indifference, apathy, cold hearts, hard hearts.
Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
D. I have told you often times what I WOULD DO IF I WERE A DOCTOR.
When a new patient came in to see me, I would run some tests, and then I would tell the patient THEY HAD A TERMINAL DISEASE AND THEIR DAYS WERE NUMBERED.
Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
E. THEN I WOULD TELL MY NEW PATIENT -- I WAS ONLY JOKING -- BUT LET US GET SERIOUS ABOUT LIFE.
F. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU HONESTLY THOUGHT, TODAY WAS YOUR LAST DAY?
Aren’t there shorter graves in the cemetery than you are?
G. Yes, God gives human life, but God has a great gift:
BORN ONCE DIE TWICE!
BORN TWICE -- DIE ONCE!
II. GOD HAS A GIFT OF A PREPARED PLACE FOR A PREPARED PEOPLE. ARE YOU LIVING SO THE MINISTER CAN TELL THE TRUTH AT YOUR FUNERAL?
A. ONLY WHAT IS DONE FOR CHRIST WILL LAST!
Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
B. Invest wisely in the things that have eternal value.
III. LET US START WITH THE BEST GIFT OF ALL TIME.
THE GIVING OF A SON.
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
A. When somebody that we love passes from mortal to immortality, we do not give them -- THEY ARE TAKEN…
We would ask for one more Christmas, one more birthday, one more week together. I never gave my Mom on August 23, 1998 -- SHE WAS TAKEN.
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.
B. In March 1976 I learned a new deep lesson about God. I stood with my wife and looked at our new born son. He was so little and cute. I stood and looked for hours at my son. Then I was broken hearted, I REALIZED GOD GAVE HIS ONLY SON. I COULD GIVE YOU ME! BUT NEVER COULD I GIVE MY SON-- OH WHAT LOVE FOR THE FATHER TO GIVE HIS SON.
John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
C. GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, YOU -- THAT HE GAVE HEAVEN’S BEST.
That gift has never been exceeded. The wise men gave gold, frankincense, myrrh.
IV. GOD DOES NOT GIVE FEAR, FEAR HAS TORMENT…LOVE CAST OUT FEAR. BUT GOD DOES GIVE THE GIFTS OF POWER, LOVE AND A SOUND MIND.
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
2 Tim. 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
A. THE GIFT OF POWER:
THE SOURCE OF ENERGY, TO DO WORK,
Effective, the ability to act, to wield force, strength, might
Authority legally or spiritually or physically.
To possess control.
B. THE GIFT OF LOVE:
God is love.
Strong affection, attraction, admiration.
Enthusiasm, zeal, unselfish loyal concern, inspired.
Tender, kind, to thrive.
C. THE GIFT OF A SOUND MIND:
SANE! Free from injury or disease, solid, firm, deep, undisturbed.
Not crazy, whole, total, complete.
Good feelings, thoughts, thinks, wills, and perceives.
Good mental capabilities.
MOOD, DISPOSITION.
To pay attention or give heed.
V. JESUS GIVES US THE SWEET COMFORT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD.
A. We believe that Jesus needed to go away, to return to the Father.
B. Jesus knew we would need a teacher, a guide, and someone to lead us when we faced danger and when we faced danger the Spirit would hide us.
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
C. THE COMFORTER WILL TEACH US TRUTH.
Truth will set us free.
John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
D. Jesus left to send the Comforter.
We know Jesus made it to heaven because the COMFORTER HAS COME!
John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
This is part #3 of a 4 part lesson!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
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