Summary: This morning, I want to look at God’s tree of provision. Today let’s look at God’s provisional Christmas tree and at the most valuable gift ever allocated to mankind.

This morning, I want to look at God’s tree of provision. Many will gather around the Christmas tree and tear open gifts from their loved ones. Today let’s go back and look at the God’s Christmas tree and look at the most valuable gift ever allocated to mankind: The GIFT OF ETERNAL VALUE- THE CROSS (GOD’S CHRISTMAS TREE).

- “For believers in Jesus Christ, the cross means the storm of God’s judgment against sin is behind us. By His death and resurrection, Christ has broken the power of sin, and ahead of us is the hope of Heaven” (Billy Graham)

WE FIND IN 1 PETER 2:24: GOD’S CHRISTMAS TREE

I Peter 2:24- (n) Who his own self [Jesus] bare [to carry as a sacrifice] our sins in his own body on the tree [the cross], that we [notice the paradoxes here]: (1) being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: (2) by whose stripes [wounds] ye were healed.

(n) Let’s look at this tree and see what gifts God has given to us this morning keeping in mind that these gifts were not a product of a quick Christmas sale but purchased through the agonizing pain and precious blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

(n) WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD

Romans 5:1- Therefore being justified by faith, we have (presently) peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

- We are no longer God’s enemies but objects of His favor… Did you realize we were once enemies of God? (Colossians 1:21)

- Many think the root of all our problems in today’s world are political, economical, etc; but it is simply that the world is at enmity (a deep rooted hatred) with God.

- Jesus is the PRINCE OF PEACE- Isaiah 9:6- For unto us a child is born, unto us a

son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be

called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince

of Peace.

(n) WE HAVE ACCESS TO GOD

RM 5:2- By whom also we have access [to describe a person who gave someone

else admittance to see the king] by faith into this grace wherein we stand,

and rejoice in hope (expectation) of the glory of God.

- “THE ACCESS OF A SON” Dale was one of my childhood friends. His dad ran the projectors in one of the local movie theatres. If I went to that theatre without Dale I paid full admission and had to sit on the main floor with everyone else. If I went with Dale, I got in free and got to sit up in the projection booth. Through Dale I had access to his father and all the same privileges of his son. In the same way WE HAVE THE SAME ACCESS TO THE FATHER AS CHRIST HAS. God will not turn us away. He will never refuse us entrance. He will never make us pay. We have unlimited, free access - any time, for whatever reason - to God the Father. Jesus walks us in and says, "Dad, my brother - or sister - here wants to talk with you." And God will give us His undivided attention! Ref: Contributor: Curry Pickkaart. Sermon Central Sermon Illustrations/Access. The Access Of A Son. https://sermoncentral.com/sermon-illustrations/80622/the-access-of-a-son-by-curry-pikkaart. December 18, 24.

(n) WE HAVE HOPE

Titus 2:13- Looking for that blessed hope [expectation of good in Greek word, elpis; uncertainty in English word: hope], and the glorious appearing of the great

God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

John 14:3- And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. HE’S COMING BACK!

-- What a gift! We see so many abandoned, unloved and delusional around us today. God gives us and can give them an enduring and everlasting hope.

(n) WE ARE LOVED

Romans 5:5- And hope maketh not ashamed [to be put to shame]; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

- It is the Lord Jesus that is the great master of love: It is His school (His own church) that is the school of love. His disciples are the disciples of love, and His family must be the family of love. (Matthew Henry).

(n) WE ARE INDWELT WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

Romans 5:5- …The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who is

given unto us.

- "Is shed abroad" is in the Greek text the perfect tense of ekcheo, "to pour out," which Denney translates, "has poured in, and still floods our hearts." Ref: Wuest, Kenneth S. Wuest Word Studies in the Greek New Testament (3 Vols). Romans, Chapter 5:3 (Eerdmans. BD of May 26, 2001) Olive Tree Edition.

Ephesians 1:13- In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,

- “God gives the Holy Spirit as a down payment of His commitment to someday give all the other things He has promised.” Ref: Towns, Elmer. Theology for Today: Pneumatology. F. Sealing. Belmont: Wadsworth, 2002, 300.

(n) WE HAVE DELIVERENCE FROM GOD’S WRATH

Romans 5:9- “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath (indignation) through him.”

- “One preacher described it as if you and I were standing a short hundred yards away from a dam of water ten thousand miles high and ten thousand miles wide. All of a sudden the dam was breached, and a torrential flood of water came crashing toward us. Right before it reached our feet, the ground in front of us opened up and swallowed it all. At the cross, Christ drank the full cup of the wrath of God, and when he had downed the last drop, he turned the cup over and cried out, “It is finished.” Ref: Platt, David. Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream. Colorado Springs: Multnomah Books, 2010. 36

(n) WE HAVE JOY

Galatians 5:22-23: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

(n) - “The joy of the saints in heaven is comprised in this: Jesus chose us, loved us, bought us, cleansed us, robed us, kept us, glorified us: we are here entirely through the Lord Jesus. Each one of these thoughts shall be to them like a cluster of the grapes of Eshcol.” Ref: Spurgeon, Charles H. Spurgeon’s Morning by Morning. The Lamb is the light thereof (Revelation 21:23) – August 3 Morning Devotional. http://www.ewordtoday.com/spurgeon/0803am.htm

CONCLUSION:

Folks it’s Christmas time once again. But what does Christmas truly mean to you! Is Christmas centered around Jesus or something else?

-God has provided us with gifts of eternal worth.

1. Peace with God

2. Access to God

3. Hope

4. Love

5. The Holy Spirit

6. Deliverance From Wrath

7. Joy

Do you know of this Savior of provision who hung and bled on the tree for you and me? I truly hope so! If you do not, you can this morning!

When I say do you know him; I don’t mean “do you know of Him.” No, I mean do you know Him? Is He your Lord today?

WAYS OF KNOWING

Historically- It touches the mind but not the heart!

By Reading About Them - still we do not really know them!

By Meeting Them but this is still only as an acquaintance

Personally- By NAME and NATURE: Intimately… This IS HOW we must know God!

CHALLENGE: If you know Him personally, rejoice in these wonderful gifts (that you possess). If you do not know God personally? You can through the Scriptures and the person of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ… Won’t you come to know Him personally this morning?