What Does God Want for Christmas?
December 19, 2004
Matthew 1:18-2:11
Text: Read Matthew 1:18-2:11
Note: From the first Christmas, we find the exchanging of gifts. We find God giving His only Son and the three wise men giving gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Intro: Christmas is still a time for exchanging gifts and most of us will give and receive a gift this year. What do you want for Christmas? If you could have anything what would you choose? Some of us will receive gifts we need, some will receive gifts we want, some will receive gifts we like, some will receive gifts that fit, and then some of us will receive gifts that will require us to stand in a long line the after Christmas to exchange it for something we want!
Whatever the instance, amidst the tinsel and wrapping paper, we must not allow the gifts of people to distract us from the real gift of Christmas – the love of God. Let’s all unwrap the greatest gift of all – Jesus.
Story: Last week a member shared a story I want to share w/ you – Jerry’s Story.
Trans: We can be like this child at time which prompted me to ask – What would God like for Christmas? After all, some 2k yrs ago, God gave us what we needed.
I What Did God Give Us for Christmas?
Trans: God gave us so many gifts for Christmas we could be here for hours. This AM I’m going to pull an Oprah, and share a few of my favorite things.
A His Love (Heart)
Note: Central to the nature of God is that He is holy which demands justice, yet in responding to His creation he pursues us w/ a relentless and amazing love.
Verse: For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son… Jn 3:16
God demonstrated His love for you and me… Rm. 5:8
Note: The love is God is most vividly represented in the manger when God stepped into flesh to seek and to save His lost and sinful creation.
Verse: Think of yourselves the way Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status w/ God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what – not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death – and the worst kind of death at that – crucifixion. Ph. 2:5-8
Note: It was love that sent Jesus from heaven to earth and love that allowed Him to be nailed Him to a cross to provide a way for love to enter into our lives.
Trans: It was God’s love that provided us w/ a second gift – His gift of forgiveness.
B His Forgiveness (Cross)
Verse: God demonstrated His love for you and me in this way, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Rm. 5:8
Note: Forgiveness is simply wiping the slate clean. Our sin was washed away. It’s relieving a debt incurred paying for it in full. In becoming a man, Jesus provided atonement for sin that could relieve our debt and wash our stain of sin.
Verse: In Him we have redemption through His blood the forgiveness of sin. Ep. 1:7
Note: In Him – Jesus is the only means of forgiveness. There is no other way.
Verse: There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved. Acts4:12
Trans: In providing forgiveness and salvation, Jesus rescued us from the penalty, power, and pain of sin and has brought us into a relationship w/ God.
He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Col. 1:13-14
Note: In Christ, forgiveness is available to all men. There is no sin that can’t be forgiven and there is no person who cannot have His grace and forgiveness – if they will simply receive God’s love gift of grace.
C His Promise (Bible)
Note: In giving us His love and forgiveness, Jesus gave us another gift – His Promise.
Note: He promises He’ll never leave us or forsake us. He promises to give us the H.S. to guide, comfort, and convict us. He promises to provide the strength we need to endure temptation and a way of escape when things are beyond what we’re able to bear. He promises to give us everything we need to live a life that will honor Him. He promises that one day He’ll return for us.
Note: B/c His word is true – we can trust Him w/ all of our hearts – which leads to another promise – If we trust Him, leaning not on our own understanding, but in all of our ways acknowledging Him, he will direct our paths. Pr. 3:5f
D His Purpose (Compass)
Trans: His promise leads to yet another one of my favorite things – His Purpose. In giving us his love that provides forgiveness securing his promises we find that God gives each of us a divine purpose.
Note: We’re not here to take up space and suck up air… God has a plan for each of our lives – a plan to prosper and not to harm a plan to give us a hope and a future. But let’s be clear – it is His plan and not our own.
Note: Let me make this as simple as I can make it. God’s purpose for your life and mine is that in everything we say and do it glorifies Him. The purpose of our lives is to relate and honor God.
Insert: We all have a higher purpose we serve every day. When you go to work, you go to serve someone else’s purpose. If you go to work and serve your own purpose, you’ll get fired. And you’ll get fired from every subsequent job until you learn that you serve at the pleasure of your boss.
Trans: Thankfully God doesn’t fire His children, but He doesn’t tolerate our shenanigans either. He calls and expects us to serve His Kingdom and righteousness in our daily lives – nothing more and nothing less.
E His Life (Stone)
Insert: All of this was made possible by one particular gift – His life. Jesus came to earth for one purpose – to give His life as a ransom for men.
Verse: Just as the Son of Man didn’t come to be served, but to serve and give His life a ransom for many. Mt. 20:28
Verse: For there is one God and mediator b/w God and man, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself – a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time. 1 Tm. 2:6
Note: God gave the gift of His only begotten Son who gave His life to give us life.
Insert: On Easter Sunday AM when Mary and Mary Magdalene arrived at the tomb the stone was rolled away and Jesus had resurrected from the grave having conquered death and the grave, having made atonement for sin.
Trans: He gave all this to you, the question is, what will you give Him in return?
II What Does God Want For Christmas?
A Your Love
Verse: Love the Lord your God w/ all your heart, mind, soul, and spirit. Mt. 23
Note: God desires your mind’s attention, heart’s affection, and life’s ambition. He desires that we worship him w/ all of our being placing Him on the throne of our lives – giving Him first place in everything.
B Your Surrender
Verse: If any man desires to follow me he must deny (surrender) himself, take up his cross and follow me. Lk. 9:23
Note: He wants you to surrender your will into His will. He doesn’t just want to be your Savior He wants to be your Lord. He wants to call the shots and guide your life, but that can never happen until we stop fighting and give in.
D Your Trust
Verse: Trust the Lord w/ all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding, but in all of your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your steps.
Note: As we surrender, we’ll begin to trust God for who He is and what he’s done. He has promised so much and is waiting to pour out His blessings into our lives. Faith is the key – believing even when you can’t see it.
Verse: Now w/out faith it’s impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe He exists and rewards those who seek Him. Hb. 11:6
C Your Obedience
Verse: For this is what love for God is – that we obey His commands. 1 Jn. 5:3
Note: Faith always manifests or shows itself in obedience. They go hand-in-hand. In fact, if you love someone you will trust them, and if you trust someone you will obey their requests.
Insert: Jesus says it plainly – if you love God you will obey all of His commands.
E Your Service
Note: He wants your life to count for something other than yourself. He wants your life to impact the life of another for His glory.
Note: You love, surrender, trust, obedience and service are captured in one place – your heart.
Insert: What will you give the King this Christmas? Will you give Him you heart?
Insert: One Solitary Life
Insert: Jesus gave His life for you – He only wants your heart in return!
