The Perfect Gift

12/13/2009

The perfect Gift

John 3:16-21

Introduction

This morning, how do you follow last week’s service? People coming to Christ, several dedicating their lives back to the Lord.

You can’t top that - that is my prayer every week.

What you can do is pray that again God shows up and touches people’s hearts as they are open to what the Lord has for the.

John 3:16-21

That is by far the Christmas verse.

God gave the Ultimate Gift

No re-gifting necessary.

No searching for a cheap gift and then buy several of them to give to several friends.

God loved so much , He gave His son Jesus Chris t

That we might have the greatest gift-Eternal life

“God did not send him to condemn the world, but to save then world.”

God’s gift was not for show, everybody look what I bought.

It was a practical gift that would be the gift that keeps on giving.

He goes on to say- Here’s the verdict.

The judge of heaven has made a decision on the case of sin.

I have sent the light of the world , a world that loves darkness.

Those that reject the light (the gift) will be exposed for who they are.

Those that except the gift will come into the light and the world will see what God has done in their life.

In the beginning of Christmas as we know it was Mark Chapter one. John the Baptist preparing the way for the coming gift of God. A gift so great that John says he is not worthy of tying his shoes.

The word advent means “the arrival of something”.

To the world, it is the arrival of a celebration to get “something” material gifts, a Christmas work party.

To those that understand the birth of Christ, it is the arrival of the Christ Child. It is the Incarnation. The arrival of God in human form.

If the definition of advent is the arrival of something, what are you hoping to arrive this Christmas?

To some, it will be new DVD’s, maybe a xbox 360, maybe your gift won’t even fit under the tree. Your wanting a Porsche 911 Turbo with leather seats and a 10 disk cd player.

For most, there will be toys broken by New Years, and most wanted gifts forgotten by Valentine’s day.

To Apostle John, the greatest gift we need is the Christ Child, who grew to be our savior.

The gift the whole world needed then is the same gift needed today.

The giver of the greatest gift- God

T you cannot buy this gift- though some have tried.

T you cannot exchange this gift- some have tried.

T you cannot ignore this gift- though some have tried.

TThe giver of the gift- God

TThe reason foe the gift- Love

Some of us give gifts because it is the right thing to do. We really don’t want to. Let me just buy something, so we can exchange boxes.

Some of us buy gifts, maybe expensive, maybe not. But they are given in love. It is a expression of our feelings for that person.

That is what God did.

On that first Christmas, he gave the world the greatest gift out of love.

Illustration:

Like that Folgers coffee commercial. When the brother comes back from Africa and the sister greets him at the door. They smell the rich aroma of coffee and the brother hands his sister a gift. She takes the bow off the gift and places it on her brother. She says that he is her gift this year.

Because of God’s love- God says that I’m your gift.

It is the ultimate gift I can give you. It is the most sacrificial.

Giver of the gift- God.

Reason for the gift- Love.

Recipient of the gift- you and me (the world) if they accept.

God offers the gift to the world.

“Whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”

God promises (which you can take to the bank) that if you believe in the gift, accept the gift, that we would not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 14:1-4

“Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it weren’t so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”

Pure love

Advent- the arrival of something- Jesus Christ has come.

Advent- preparing for Jesus. Jesus telling us that He has gone to prepare a place for us. Where I am, you may be also. Pure love, the perfect gift