ACTS 5:29-33 “THE DECORATED TREE”
A) Every year at Christmas time, we always decorate a tree!
* We put on it all kinds of decorations! * One special ball we put up together!
* When we get through decorating the tree, we plug in the lights and behold, a decorated tree!
B) There was another tree that was decorated over 2000 years ago!
* This tree was decorated by God Himself! * He’s the One Who put the ornaments on!
* How was it decorated? * Let me give you 3 things .......
(1) IT WAS DECORATED WITH LOVE! * John 3:16 “For God so loved the world .......”
A) God’s love for mankind is just unexplainable!
* There is no more wonderful announcement in all of the Word of God than what we read in this
verse! * Think of it ... God is love and pure righteousness!
* Yet, He could love a world that hated Him!
* He loved a world that hated His Son, a world that demanded the death of His Son!
* They nailed Him to a cross and mocked Him while He died!
B) The fact that God truly loves is shocking to many!
* Some wonder and even question how God could possibly love the murderer ... Wife beater ...
* Child abuser ... Prostitute ... Thief ... Even the most vilest person on earth, but He does!
* 1 Tim.1:15 “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came ...”
* God loves every man, not just the ones who love Him! * Rom.5:8 “But God commendeth ...”
C) The word “commendeth” means, to show, to prove, to demonstrate!
* God wants man to know His love ... He wants to reach everyone in the world with His love!
* So God decorated the tree with love ... A sacrificial love ... We didn’t deserve His love!
(2) IT WAS DECORATED WITH MERCY! * I praise the Lord for His mercy today!
* Eph.2:4 “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,”
A) The Greek word means, “feelings of pity, compassion, affection, and kindness.”
* World-book dictionary says, “more kindness than justice requires, kindness beyond what can
be claimed or expected.”
* Webster says, “Compassion shown to an offender, a blessing resulting from divine favor or
compassion.” * Notice Paul says that God is rich in mercy!
B) The best demonstration of God’s mercy is found in Luke 23:39-43, the thief on the cross!
* Titus 3:5 “ ... but according to his mercy he saved us.”
* James 5:11 “ ... the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”
* In Psalm 136, there are 26 verses that end with, “For his mercy endureth forever.”
* The word “endureth” means to last ... So God will always be merciful to me!
* Thank God, the tree was decorated with mercy!
(3) IT WAS DECORATED WITH GRACE! * The word grace is found 170 times in the Bible!
* Webster’s dictionary says, “Unmerited help given to people by God.”
A) Eph.2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of .......”
* Not a one of us in this building today deserved God’s grace!
* God gives us grace because He loves us and He chooses to give us grace!
* We need His grace everyday ... We can’t live without it!
B) One day a while back, a man, his heart heavy with grief, was walking in the woods.
* As he thought about his life this day, he knew many things were not right.
* He thought about those who had lied about him back when he had a job.
* His thoughts turned to those who had stolen his things and cheated him.
* He remembered family that had passed on.
* His mind turned to the illness he had that no one could cure.
C) His very soul was filled with anger, resentment and frustration.
* Standing there this day, searching for answers he could not find, knowing all else had failed him,
he knelt at the base of an old oak tree to seek the One he knew would always be there!
* And with tears in his eyes, he prayed, “Lord, You have done wonderful things for me in this life.
You have told me to do many things for you, and I happily obeyed.”
* “Today, you have told me to forgive, and I am sad, Lord, because I can’t.”
* “I don’t know how ... It is not fair Lord ... I didn’t deserve these wrongs that were done against
me and I shouldn’t have to forgive.”
* “As perfect as your way is Lord, this one thing I cannot do, for I don’t know how to forgive.”
* “My anger is so deep Lord, I fear I may not hear you, but I pray that you teach me to do this one
thing I cannot do - Teach me To Forgive.”
D)As he knelt there in the quiet shade of that old oak tree, he felt something fall onto his
shoulder. * He opened his eyes .......
* And out of the corner of one eye, he saw something red on his shirt.
* He could not turn to see what it was because where the oak tree had been was a large square
piece of wood in the ground.
* He raised his head and saw two feet held to the wood with a large spike through them.
* He raised his head more, and tears came to his eyes as he saw Jesus hanging on a cross.
* He saw spikes in His hands, a gash in His side, a torn and battered body, deep thorns sunk into
His head. * And finally he saw the suffering and pain on His precious face.
E) As their eyes met, the man’s tears turned to sobbing, and Jesus began to speak!
* “Have you ever told a lie,” He asked? * The man answered, “Yes Lord.”
* “Have you ever been given too much change and kept it?”
* The man answered, “Yes Lord.” * And the man sobbed more and more.
* “Have you ever taken something from work that wasn’t yours,” Jesus asked?
* And the man answered, “Yes Lord.”
F) “Have you ever sworn, using my Father’s name in vain?” * The man answered, “Yes Lord,”
* As Jesus asked many more times, “Have you ever,” the man’s crying became uncontrollable, for
he could only answer, “Yes Lord.”
* Then Jesus turned His head from one side to the other, and the man felt something fall on his
other shoulder. * He looked and saw that it was the blood of Jesus.
* When he looked back up, his eyes met those of Jesus, and there was a look of love the man had
never seen or known before.
G) Jesus said, “I didn’t deserve this either, but I forgive you.” * Good Statement!
* It may be hard to see how you’re going to get through something, but you will by God’s grace!
* 2 Cor.12:9 “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made ...”
* If God brings you to it - He will bring you through it!
CLOSE
A) There are always gifts under the Christmas tree!
* There is a gift under this tree too ... It’s the gift of Salvation!
* There are some folk that are hard to shop for because you don’t know what to get them!
* But with God the perfect gift was given!
* The greatest gift that you can give this Christmas season is to share with people the real meaning
of Christmas! * Christmas is not about gifts or decorations ... It’s about Jesus Christ!
* The greatest gift that you can receive this Christmas, was given over 2000 years ago when God
gave you His Son, Jesus!
B) Now, my question to you is, “Have you received this gift from God?”
* If you can’t find Christmas in your heart, you’ll never find it under the tree!
