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God’s Gift
Text: 2 Corinthians 9:15
I realize the verse says his UNSPEAKABLE gift, but we will do our best to speak on it this morning. Paul is overwhelmed after speaking about the generosity of the saints, he is reminded of the incomprehensible generosity of God Almighty.
A gift begins with a very generous giver
- James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
- John 3:16 – God so loved the world that He GAVE. But it is also personal.
There must be an occasion to give
- Maybe it’s a holiday like Christmas or birthdays.
- Or maybe the gift is given to meet some need. (This is your case and mine.)
The occasion often determines the recipient
- If it’s a birthday party then you know who the recipient is.
- If it’s Christmas then the recipients are family and maybe some friends.
- If there is an immediate need then that determines who will be the recipient.
All gifts have a cost
- Galatians 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
- Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
- 1 Timothy 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
- Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
- To get a better understanding of your sin, take a look at the price Jesus Christ had to pay for it.
Gifts are packaged and wrapped
- I remember wrapping Christmas gifts in Comic strips when I was a kid cause I thought it was fun. I remember giving a huge gift to my mom one Christmas. She opened it and inside was a smaller box. She opened the smaller box and inside was another smaller box.
- Philippians 2:8, made of no reputation – born of a virgin, what complications arise?! Just an unwed mother.
- 1 John 1:1-4 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
The gift is used or neglected
- Accepted and put to use
- Ephesians 2:8-9
- 1 Peter 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
- Wasted
- Maybe you’ve neglected God’s gift because you didn’t know Jesus Christ was being offered.
- Maybe you’ve neglected God’s gift because you didn’t know you needed the gift – if you didn’t need it, it wouldn’t have cost so much
- Maybe you’ve neglected God’s gift because you didn’t know how to receive the gift.
- Maybe you’ve neglected God’s gift because you’re caught up in your own world and righteousness and your sin are of less concern to you than finding pleasures in this life.
- If you want to really hurt someone, just take the gift that they’ve given you and ignore or abuse or show contempt for it. When someone says, I just don’t understand how a loving God would send anyone to Hell. Let me reason with you. The Father sent His only begotten Son as a gift to die for your sin when you had no hope. After Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, God made the offer of eternal life and a clearing of sin for anyone who would accept the offer. Now when you show contempt or neglect for this unspeakable gift, can you understand how angry that makes God the Father?
