4 CHRISTMAS GIFTS YOU DON’T HAVE TO WAIT TO OPEN
Matthew 2:11
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: WHEN JOSEPH WENT ROGUE
1. The Director of the Christmas play was nervous when she cast Jimmy, the middle-school class clown, as Joseph in the Christmas Pageant.
2. Her fears were realized when Jimmy decided to do a little improvisation by pulling out his cell phone in the pageant’s opening scene.
3. The astonished Director, who was narrating, whispered, “What are you doing with your phone?”
4. Jimmy smiled and replied, “This year I’m phoning that inn to make a reservation!”
B. THESIS
1. The idea of giving gifts on Christmas originated with the wise men presenting gifts to Jesus, but it’s become something different – us giving presents to ourselves!
2. There are some crazy gifts on the market this Christmas: Turf Sandals, Earwax Candle Kit, Burrito Blanket, Snail Mucus Cream, Bacon Bandages, 3D T-Rex Sweater, bag of Edible Insects, Shocking Potato Game, Pimple Popping Toy, etc.
3. There may be some gift you don’t like or need. So what do we do with these gifts? A Survey found:
31%: Keep it
30%: Hide it
13%: Toss it
12%: Give it away
6%: Return it
4. Retail workers tell you that following Christmas, stores are flooded with people not satisfied with their gifts & come to return them.
5. What do we REALLY want for Christmas? I’m going to tell you about “4 CHRISTMAS GIFTS” GOD wants to give you this Christmas & better... “YOU DON’T HAVE TO WAIT TO OPEN” them!”
I. 4 GIFTS YOU CAN OPEN NOW!
A. FIRST, GOD’S LOVE
1. Love is not something that you can buy at the store, but everyone in the world wants it. They’d rather have love than all the other things they’ll get this Christmas.
2. The best kind of love has no conditions and never changes. It’s extremely rare on earth, but not rare in heaven.
3. The Bible tells us, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” John 3:16.
4. God says, “I have loved you with an EVERLASTING LOVE; I have drawn you with loving-kindness” Jer. 31:3. That means God has always loved YOU!
5. Rom. 5:8 tells us the immensity of God’s love, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
6. GOD OFFERS YOU THAT KIND OF LOVE THIS CHRISTMAS. The reason Jesus came was so that you could know how much God loves you!
B. SECOND GIFT: GOOD HEALTH
1. When Adam & Eve sinned, sickness & death entered the world. But when God’s Son came, He paid the price – not only for our sins, but for our sicknesses as well.
2. Matt. 8:16-17 & Isa. 53:4-5 make clear that Jesus atoned for our sicknesses. Healing is available by faith in His Word & work.
3. Many times the Bible says that Jesus healed them all (Matt. 4:23; 9:35; 12:15; 14;14; 14:34-36; Luke 6:17-19). Jesus is still healing the sick. He’s the same, yesterday, today, and forever!
4. Many people would gladly give up all their Christmas presents if they could have their health improved. Why don’t you ask God for this gift this Christmas? It’s already paid for!
C. THIRD GIFT: FORGIVENESS
1. Forgiveness is freedom from past guilt. Jesus came to this earth so you and I could be forgiven.
2. God says, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool” Isa. 1:18. God tells us, “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you” Isa. 44:22. God will “cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” Mic. 7:19.
3. You can be forgiven of your sins and put in right relationship to God this Christmas, even today! “The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin” 1 John 1:7.
4. The angel who spoke to Joseph said, “…you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins”. Mt. 1:21
5. Jesus IS OUR FORGIVENESS! He frees from our past. We are justified; “just as if I’d” never sinned at all.
6. This Christmas, why don’t you receive the gift of forgiveness. God says that “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.
D. FOURTH GIFT: HAPPINESS
1. A WSJ poll [2023] found that the happiest people in America are those who most value religious belief/ THEY ARE PEOPLE OF FAITH.* They are much happier than the average population.
2. Why? Because God gives us PEACE. Once we’re forgiven (and in right relationship to God) there is no longer conflict between us and God. 2ndly, God puts HIS JOY inside us so that we can feel that joy even when things around us aren’t going well. Neh. 8:10 says, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”
3. David, who walked closely with God, said, “In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” Ps. 16:11.
4. You can open God’s gift of happiness, and don’t even have to wait until Christmas day to open it!
https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&biw=&bih=&q=Poll%3A+America%E2%80%99s+Happiest+People+Say+%E2%80%98Belief+in+God+Is+Important%E2%80%99&iflsig=AOw8s4IAAAAAaTyKImQYK2VCdg7VWy_b7xaCdZbJvwKy&gbv=2&oq=Poll%3A+America%E2%80%99s+Happiest+People+Say+%E2%80%98Belief+in+God+Is+Important%E2%80%99&gs_l=heirloom-hp.12...3439.34447.0.36486.132.85.0.0.0.58.171.8178.29j45.74.0....0...1.1j2.34.heirloom-hp..124.8.605.A--hhyPWwzU
II. SO WHAT’S CHRISTMAS ALL ABOUT?
A. IT’S NOT...
1. the number of shopping days left
2. planning elaborate family dinners
3. whether there are gifts under the tree
4. or whether there is any tree at all.
B. THE REAL CHRISTMAS IS...
1. God has come down as the Baby of Bethlehem;
2. Salvation has Dawned;
3. The Lamb of God has come to take away the sins of the world…Jn. 1:29
4. The Light of the World has come to disperse our darkness Jn. 8:12.
5. The Prince of Peace Banishes Fear, Isa. 9:6
6. The Resurrection & Life has Defeated Death Jn. 11:25
7. Emmanuel has come, He’s “God with Us!” Mt. 1:23. “He whom the Son sets free is free indeed”.
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION
1. Paul Harvey once told the story of a man who sat pondering the meaning of Christmas on Christmas Eve. “Why would an all-powerful God want to become a man? And even if He did, why would He choose to be born in an animal stall? No way! The whole thing is absurd! I’m sure that if God really wanted to come down to earth, He would’ve chosen some other way.”
2. Suddenly, the man heard a strange sound outside...a thudding sound, then another… against his window. He went to look & found a flock of birds huddled outside miserably on the snow.
3. They were seeking shelter from the storm. Occasionally, one of them would fly toward the warmth & light of his window & injure themselves.
4. Quickly he opened the barn doors and turned on a light so the birds would know the way into the barn. But the birds didn’t come in. Then he made a trail of breadcrumbs leading to the lighted doorway of the barn. But to his dismay, the birds continued to helplessly flap around in the freezing snow. He tried to catch them but could not.
5. Then he thought, “If only I could communicate with them; if only I could become a bird & go among them & speak their language, then I could show them the way to safety and life!”
6. At that moment the church bells began to ring. He stood listening to the bells ringing the glad tidings of Christmas. Awareness dawned. A tear began to course down his cheek and he slowly nodded and then knelt in the snow to pray; “Lord, now I understand the true meaning of Christmas; thank you for coming to show us the way to safety and life!” [Adapted]
B. THE CALL
1. This Christmas, God offers us His love, healing, forgiveness, and inner joy. We need to receive these gifts! There’s no better time than today!
2. Jesus says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and [fellowship] with him, and he with Me” Rev. 3:20.
3. It’s Jesus’ birthday coming up! But He wants to give YOU a present – of healing & salvation. Will you receive it? Let’s pray!
