Has the Grinch stole your Christmas?
Matthew 1:18-21
We all have probably seen the Jim Carey version or the original, “How the Grinch stole Christmas”. We all know that he attempted to do so by taking all the presents. He thought by doing so, he could stop Christmas. And in just one more day we will be opening our presents. But I imagine that there will some presents opened today, if not already. But I read the other day about the real top 10 Christmas wishes.
10) A new SUV that would fit in my stocking
9) Two words: Batteries Included
8) No Payments until 2050
7) To Get Christmas Cards out by Easter
6) To complete Christmas shopping at the dollar store
5) Gifts shipped on December 23 will arrive on time
4) To find a string of lights that work
3) No Assembly Required
2) The kids would say, “Hey, let’s sleep in.”
1) A note that says, “Paid in Full”
But what about the gifts God gives to you, the ones not under the tree. A few weeks ago we began by looking at how to prepare our hearts for Christmas. Then we went to talking about putting His name on your list, talking about the different things that we can give Him for Christmas. So we will talk about why we should do all of the above. Because of what He wants to give us, we should do everything we can in our power to please Him, because He ultimately gave the greatest gift of all.
But we have someone far much more wicked than any Grince. His name is Satan. And he wants to steal the gifts that God gives to us. So this morning I want to talk about the things that God gives us with His gifts in order to make sure the Grince does not steal our Christmas or any of the gifts God gives us.
The first gift and the most important one is…
The gift of Salvation
John 3:16-17 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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
This is the most important and the greatest gift. It is important that everyone have the opportunity to receive this gift. Unlike many things you receive, it is an eternal gift. Most things we receive will either brake and we get rid of it, or we lose it, or give it away. But this gift is eternal.
There are two things about it to make it eternal. One is that we will live forever in the presence of God, “Eternal life”. Notice where I said we would live forever. Some have the impression that those who have been saved, when they die will go to Heaven to be with God and those who are not saved will simply die.
We all will live forever. Where we live will be a matter of choice. And the choice that I pray that you will make is that you accept Him as your personal Savior. And there is one way to do that. It is not by living a good life and being a good person. It is not about how much money you give; you can’t buy your way to heaven.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me”.
So we receive eternal life. Then the second thing that makes it eternal is that you can never loss it. You didn’t do anything to earn it and you cannot do anything to loss it after you have truly accepted it.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a GIFT of God, not of works, least anyone should boast.
I know some people who believe that you can lose your salvation. How, they believe you do is by continual sinning. Well, continual being good does not get you saved so how can continual sin make you loose it. And who determines which one of the sins that you commit after your saved breaks the camels back. When do you cross the line and lose your salvation. It is a gift. Not like any other gift; it is undeserving. We didn’t do anything to deserve it and we cannot do anything to lose it.
The next gift and the rest of the gifts have to do with gifts that you receive after you receive the first and most important one, salvation, is…
The gift of joy
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
Once we receive Christ was can always have something to be joyful over, because we have the joy of our salvation. That is why you sometimes see someone who is going through a tough time and they still have a joy about them. If you have Jesus Christ you have all you need.
James 2:4-5 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
But unlike the first gift, this one is not eternal. Do you have the joy of your salvation or has the Grinch Satan stolen it? I’ve seen some people who have. I’ve been to churches and seen people who if they smiled their face would probably crack. You would think that Jesus is still dead and they are attending His funeral.
Now I’m not saying that church needs to be a comedy zone. But on the other hand there is nothing wrong with expression joy in a church or anywhere else. I don’t mind if you don’t laugh at my jokes or I don’t mind if you laugh at me. But if you are a Christian you have plenty to be joyful about.
It does not matter how bad or what kind of a day you’re having. Remember the words in Psalm 118:24 This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Rejoice and be glad in it. Everyday is a gift from God. You could always have the alternative. You could not have the day to rejoice in. You could die and then rejoice somewhere else.
Remember the joy you had when you received Jesus in your heart? Do you still have that joy? David after his sin severed his relationship with God says this in Psalm 51:12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation.
His sin never caused him to lose his salvation, just the joy of it.
We have to understand the importance of this joy. Others, those without Christ, are watching you. You may be the only Jesus that they will see. And if you do nothing but complain and look like you’ve lost your best friend then you are not going to be very appealing to anyone else to enter into a relationship with Him.
The next gift we will talk about is…
The Gift of Peace
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Now we are not talking about the peace, meaning the absence of war. If you read the bible we know that will never happen until the tribulation. The peace that God gives us is the peace that means that we longer have anything that we need to worry about. We have no fears. Jesus is in control of all circumstances.
Now this is not to say that we have peace because we will no longer have any problems. You will probably have more. But you have peace because you no longer have to have to worry about your problems. You turn them over to God.
Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
The use of the guard implies a military term. The peace of God is used to battle against the external corrupting influences and keeps you focused on God and His truth.
I guess Matthew probably sums it up better than anyone else.
Matthew 6:31-34 Therefore do not worry saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we wear?” For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
The final gift that I want to talk about is…
The gift of power
Acts 1:8 But you shall receive the power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
You have been empowered to do the will of God. Think of it as you would a high-speed car. One with over 300 hp. One with all the gadgets to be able to do things you have never imagined. The problem is that many of us never get the car out of the garage.
We have the power to do whatever God wants us to do. We just have to be willing to let Him use us. We are meant to serve Him, that is our purpose here on earth.
So will you accept these gifts that God has given you. Will you accept His salvation that He provided for you with His own life? Will you accept the joy that comes with it? Will you not let things distract you by worrying needlessly over things to which you have no control and resting in the peace that only God can give? Then will you use the power that He provides to do His will?
