Last week we dealt with the prophetic aspect of Christmas
+ And I hope we have a better appreciation for how amazing that is
+ For God to give so many specific prophecies about His coming Messiah
+ And for every single one which has already been fulfilled to be 100 % accurate
And how wonderful and special it was too
+ Since I truly believe God was just so excited about this plan of salvation which He had devised
+ And He so very much longed to see it come to pass
+ That He wanted to repeatedly emphasize Messiah was coming
+ And finally! Finally when He came
+ God could allow the angels of Heaven to cry out that great Good News
+ Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Well, I don’t suppose it takes anyone by surprise that this week we are looking at another aspect of Christmas = The aspect of "gifts"
+ In our special offering we already re-iterated the very famous point = John 3:16
+ As well as the equally famous Biblical principle
+ 1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.
+ And so we respond to God’s gift by receiving Him
+ And hopefully giving back with all our heart = Soul = Mind = Strength
+ And responding to God’s gift by giving our selves back to Him
+ That’s what I want to speak about today
What do you expect when you give a gift?
+ You expect that gift to be received = Appreciated = Hope it’s a blessing
+ And you expect the gift to be used in way intended
+ A few years ago I gave my wife a new coat for Christmas
+ She needed one = I wanted her to have a nice coat
+ Look nice = keep her warm and dry
+ I wasn’t 100 % sure if she was going to like it
+ But if she did = I fully expected her to wear it = And she did (Amen!)
What if she hadn’t? = What if she put it in closet and never took it out again?
+ I would wonder what’s the problem
+ Doesn’t fit? = Don’t like color, style? = Defective?
+ Identify the problem = Correct it = Why?
+ Because in giving a gift I really want to be a blessing
+ And I will know I have been if the gift is received with joy = AND USED
Well, now = John 3:16a = Jesus is God’s gift to us
+ And = John 3:16b = Clearly His intention for that gift to be received with joy
+ Clearly God wants to bless humanity
+ But just HOW / WHEN / WHERE is that gift supposed to be used?
At the end of our text for today = Col. 1:15-17
+ One of the classic places in Scripture you would use to show Jesus is the gift God intended = How? = Why?
+ (Hearkening back to last week) = Prophetically = Is. 7.14 = Is. 9:6-7
+ Now consider our text = [15] = "Who" from "In whom" [14]
+ From "his dear Son" [13] = Who’s Son? = [12]
+ Really the God of the OT = And the Lord Jesus Christ? = [1.1-2 / 3-4]
Now notice something with me = [17] ends with period
+ End of a sentence = Notice where that sentence BEGINS = [9]
+ One whole long thought that ends with Jehovah Jesus
+ What I want to suggest is that this passage helps us understand HOW / WHEN / WHERE / ETC the Gift of God is supposed to be used by us
+ Let’s spend a few moments examining the text and see for ourselves
[9] "For the cause we also" = What cause? = Already saw in [1-4]
+ What Paul discusses in his salutation and opening paragraph
+ He rejoices in the salvation the Colossians have found [4]
+ And are enjoying [5-8]
+ And isn’t that where we’ve stated we begin, also?
+ God’s given a Gift = His Son = Receiving Him is Salvation
All right = So what do we do with the Gift of God once we’re saved?
+ I believe God tells us through Paul = [9]
+ Once we’re saved God desires us to "be filled...his will" = Why?
First = So that we will know how to represent Him to the lost = "in all wisdom"
+ And how to interact with other Christians = "and spiritual understanding"
+ Then = "That...pleasing" [10] = So our walk = Conversation = Deportment
+ The way we live for others to see = Will be "worthy of the Lord"
+ Something that is suitable to Him = That which is appropriate for Him
+ That which He would do = So we should do
+ And = "being fruitful in every good work"
+ Not just letting others see the Lord reflected in our life
+ But bringing the Lord into their life by doing good things for / to them
"and increasing...God" = Not just knowing His Will = Knowing Him
+ And getting to know Him more and more each day
+ Really only 1 way I know of to accomplish both of these goals = 2 Tim. 3:10-17
And what will be the practical benefit / Blessing / Application of all this?
+ [11] = Inner strength = For? = "unto all patience and longsuffering"
+ Isn’t that the same thing? = Yes and no
+ "Patience" is needed when situations and circumstances threaten to weaken us
+ That’s why = Rom. 5:3-5
+ EG: Your job ends but the bills continue
+ EG: When the furnace and the car and the dog all die on the same day
+ EG: Or worse = Facing the death of a loved one
+ "Longsuffering" is needed when people threaten to weaken us
+ That’s why = "longsuffering with joyfulness"
+ When people threaten to weaken us we still have to maintain our testimony and reflection of Christ to them = Eph. 4:1-3
+ EG: When the World rejects your efforts to witness
+ EG: Or worse = The boss or co-workers ride you BECAUSE you are a Christian
+ EG: Or worse = When a loved one rejects us because we’ve been born again
Which is why = [9] "filled" = [10] "increasing" = SO [11] "strengthened...power"
+ Now when we do all that we’ll be demonstrating to God = Applied Christianity!
+ Yes = Received your Gift = Blessed by it = Using it the way intended
+ But the impact on us won’t stop there = We will [12a]
+ Why? = [12b] = Why? = [13a] = Why? = [13b] = Why? = [14]
+ Which will only improve and increase our influence for Him
+ In this life = And the life to come
INVITATION
+ Have you received the Gift of God?
+ No? = Would you like to? = (Here’s how = NOW!)
+ Yes? = Have you discovered these wonderful blessings? (SAY AMEN!)
+ Have you demonstrated to God that you have?
+ [9] Filled? = Wisdom to lost? = Spir. understanding to saved?
+ Or "Pray for me for that, Pastor"
+ [10] Walking worthy? = Reflecting Christ in you, hope of glory?
+ Matt. 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven?
+ Studying to show yourself approved to God?
+ A workman that needeth not to be ashamed?
+ Rightly dividing the Word of Truth?
+ Or "Pray for me for that, Pastor"
+ Drawing upon that knowledge so that when circumstances / situations of life
+ Or people in your life threaten to weaken you
+ You are strengthened with all might?
+ Or "Pray for me for that, Pastor"
+ Giving thanks o God? = [12] Inheritance!
+ [13] Deliverance! = [14] Redemption! = Forgiveness of sins!
+ Or "Pray for me for that, Pastor"
