Unwrapping The Very Best Gift

- McDonalds’ Espresso cup “Unwrap a Little JoY’

- At what moment does Christmas comes into focus?

- The pinnacle point of your Christmas?

• Is it shopping?

• Is it the lights?

• Is it the music?

• Is it seeing children in the Christmas program?

• Is it trimming the tree?

• Is it the Christmas dinner?

- The first reaction to Christmas -- FEAR

Top Five Fears Today

1. Heights/Flying

2. Public Speaking

3. Dark

4. Intimacy (Commitment, Failure)

5. Death

Fear Today Reported by CNN health

Teenagers Ages 15-18

1. AIDS

2. Being raped

3. Not being able to breathe

4. Being threatened with a gun

5. Fear of dying

1. The "Fear Not" Of Salvation

Luke 2:10–11 (AV)

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

2. The "Fear Not" Of The Impossibilities

Luke 1:30 (AV)

30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

Luke 1:35 (AV)

35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Luke 1:37 (AV)

37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.

3. The "Fear Not" Of Unanswered Prayer:

Luke 1:13 (AV)

13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

4. The "Fear Not" Of Immediate Obedience

Matthew 1:20 (AV)

20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Matthew 1:24 (AV)

24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

Unwrapping the Very Best Gift

It was the coming of Jesus that brought the best gift of all

2 Corinthians 9:15 (AV)

15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

NIV, NKJV, ESV, NET – indescribable

‎‎GNB

Let us thank God for his priceless gift!

The Message

Thank God for this gift, his gift. No language can praise it enough!

It’s Indescribable Value

Romans 8:32 (AV)

32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Rom 6:23

… the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord

1 John 5:11–12 (AV)

11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

- Paul had an overwhelming desire to know Christ

Philippians 3:10 (AV)

10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection….

- Elmer Towns says that the bible has over 700 names of Jesus

OT gives help to what this gift would be like

• Immanuel— Isaiah 7:14, Mt 1:23

• Counselor— Isaiah 9:6, 1 Cor 1:30

• Saviour – Isaiah 60:16, Mt 1:21

• Helper— Psalm 115:9-11, Jn 16:33

• Messiah— Daniel 9:25, Mt 1:1

• Judge— Ecclesiastes 12:14, John 5:22

• Shepherd – Ps 23, Jn 10:11

• Fountain – Zech 13:1, Jn 4. Jn 7:38

- At Israel’s lowest point being dragged into captivity

- Jeremiah gives these encouraging words

- Jer. 33:3 - Call upon me & I will answer thee …

- Jesus born in darkness to give us light