The Greatest Gift

The greatest Gift/ your present or His Presence

Sunday Morning John 1:1-1:14

Prayer-

Introduction-

As we gather for this special service… because I think it is special when Christmas falls on a Sunday. I know it is a inconvenience but I THINK THE INCONVENIENCE IS WORTH IT!

This has been quite a year hasn’t it?

The times we are a living in are changing.

What was normal has become abnormal and what was not heard of has become the new normal.

We certainly need Jesus and we need Him now more than ever!

This world, country. State, community, most families are at unrest.

We are doing life but we are not doing life very well.

During the time of Jesus birth the world was at unrest.

He came when there was political unrest, social unrest, and high taxes.

What had been normal to them was in their rearview mirror.

Any one feel like what was comforting and normal seems like it is in the rearview mirror instead of out front of you?

Like you have passed it bye and everything in front of you are roads that you are not familiar with? Jesus understood that, he made provisions for that.

Turn with me to the gospel Book of John

John 1:1-14 Read from Bible

Jesus the light of mankind was coming

He would be the light and He would be what is needed for a world that has sunk so low.

The God who created everything, the God who was before time would leave heaven so that a cruel and wicked mankind could again experience the presence of God.

Let’s this sink into your Spirit

Jesus is the word- so everywhere you see the word …word in this passage, replace it with the word Jesus and you will better understand this verse-

In the beginning was Jesus. Jesus was with God and Jesus was God. Jesus was in the beginning, before time began and everything was created by him and for Him. In Him is life and the light that shines in Him defeats darkness and darkness will not overcome the light of Jesus.

(14) The word (Jesus) became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

Jesus became flesh and came to this earth

(12) To all who receive Him, who believe in His name…He gave the right (privilege) to become a child of God.

The title of the message is “The greatest Gift/ your present or His Presence

How do you see Jesus?

Is He your savior?

Is He Lord over your life? Do you seek His wisdom in decisions that affect your life?

This light that came from heaven exposes darkness and darkness does not want to be exposed. Where light is there cannot be darkness because light will make darkness flee.

Jesus the light, who exposes darkness makes things known done in the dark.

what is hiding in the dark does not like light.

I want you to think about a few things:

Remember the birth of Christ- What it truly means.

It means there is a new sheriff in the world.

You preparing for Christmas- why we do what we do at this time of year.

Are you seeking Him?

Why? To get your stress level to where it needs to be so that you are not running around like a person who has just drank 10 cups of coffee and 10- 5 hour power boast drinks.

I want you to think about presence … not boxes or bags or gifts

Presence…a relationship with the Lord. Being in His Presence”

Allowing Jesus in your life

Christmas is a time of giving.

It is a time that we remember and want to thank those who have been a part of our lives.

It is a time of shopping.

Notice ever since the Magi came to see the Christ-child people have been giving gifts- most of the time exchanging gifts.

It has become a little more complicated than when the wise men from the East brought their finest gifts.

Just an observation- (Bare with me) they didn’t bring a bag full of numerous gifts.

The bag that never seems to empty.

They each brought their finest gift to give to the Christ child.

They did not have to worry about returns and standing in long lines.

Their gift was their best to the Christ child.

The recorded words here was not focused on what they brought each other, it was on what they brought to Christ.

The most important gift we have ever been given was Jesus.

It is one most times not opened, or not opened first.

The one that has eternal value and wont rust, break, or get outdated.

That baby Jesus who would fulfill all prophecy.

Jesus the one who could forgive our sins and could give us the gift of eternal life.