Messages
from the Bible
A Sermon by Dr. Neil Chadwick
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the
heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." - James 1:17
We have just come through the holiday season when gifts have been given and
received. By the way, did you ever notice that often when we ask questions
about Christmas giving, we ask, "What did you 'get' for Christmas?" It is
seldom, if ever, that we might hear, "What did you 'give' for Christmas?" But
then let's also remember that giving should not be limited to the time of year
when everyone else is doing it, and at least some of our giving is done out of
obligation or social pressure. Let's make an effort to be giving people all year.
It may interest you to realize that in the Bible there are over 1,800 references to
giving. Certainly that many references should alert us to the fact that this is a
very important subject. But no, this is not a message about giving to the
church. We've already had our annual message on tithing. What we're focusing
on here is what it is that God has given to us.
Let's pretend that you are taking a quiz this morning. (The high schoolers groan
in one accord, having just completed their exam schedule.) On this quiz there is
one question, "What has God given to you?" I'm sure you could compile a long
list. But let's focus on how the Bible answers this question for us.
I. A great many items come to mind.
First and foremost, God has given us JESUS.
"God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son" - John 3:16
The Old Testament makes it clear that God gave to His people THE LAND.
Sometimes I think it's a shame that we have forsaken this understanding,
and believe that we actually own the land.
"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread." - Psalms 37:25
"When God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to
enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work--this is a gift of God." -
Ecclesiastes 5:19
On this the anniversary week of the legalization of abortion, it is well that we
be reminded of this basic truth. Job understood this when he was faced with
the multiple losses engineered by Satan. He declared, "The LORD gave and
the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." (Job
1:21) Any person who truly believes in God the creator must accept Him, and
Him alone as the One who both gives and takes away life. While taking our
stand against what we believe to be the murderous taking of unborn life, we
must at the same time be careful to express Christian love and acceptance
toward those who have participated in abortion some time in their past. Let
me ask you, "How would you treat a person sitting next to you in church if
you were to discover that they, man or woman, had been involved in
abortion?"
"God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." 1 John 5:11
This was Paul's experience - he understood that he was not a minister by his
own choosing. That's why he writes, "I became a servant of this gospel by
the gift of God's grace." - Ephesians 3:7
"It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be
evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people
for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up." Ephesians
4:11, 12
And please notice, this was no different from what was written in the Old
Testament religion: "I have given the Levites as gifts to Aaron and his sons
to do the work at the Tent of Meeting on behalf of the Israelites." - Numbers
8:19
A NEW HEART
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the
gift of God" - Ephesians 2:8
James taught us to pray for this gift: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask
of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be
given him." - James 1:5
"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,
may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him
better." Ephesians 1:17
"Make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend
yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your
adversaries will be able to resist or contradict." Luke 21:14,15 (Stephen was
a prime example, a man full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.)
"The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word
that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear
to listen like one being taught." - Isaiah 50:4
And Jesus made this promise to His disciples, "Behold, I give unto you
power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the
enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." - Luke 10:19
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth,
give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." - John
14:27
"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest." - Matthew 11:28
"We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has
given to those who obey him." - Acts 5:32
It was Peter again who was present when "...on the Gentiles also was poured
out the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 10:45
Paul also made this clear:
"God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has
given us." - Romans 5:5
"God . . . has given us the Spirit as a deposit (earnest), guaranteeing what is
to come. - 2 Corinthians 5:5
But one of the most encouraging promises comes from Jesus Himself,
"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your
children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to
those who ask him!" - Luke 11:13
"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with
you forever." - John 14:16
We have learned that a great many gifts have been given, all that remains is for
us to receive, accept, what has been given.
This reminds me of the question Paul asked of the Ephesian 12 when he first
met them "Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?"
And this is what he may have in mind when he wrote to Timothy:
"Neglect not the gift that is in thee." - Timothy 4:14; and
". . . stir up the gift of God." - 2 Timothy 1:6
Gifts From Above
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"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given" - Isaiah 9:6
When we receive Jesus, we also receive THE KINGDOM.
"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you
the kingdom." - Luke 12:32
But along with Him, we have also been given His COMMANDS.
"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another." - John
13:34
We also have been given THE BIBLE.
"All scripture is given" - 2 Timothy 3:16
II. But also consider these very practical gifts from God:
"Praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you." -
Deuteronomy 8:10
FOOD.
"God said, 'I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth
and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food'".-
Genesis 1:29
God has also given to us the RESULTS OF OUR LABOR, along with ability to enjoy
them.
"Every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the
gift of God." - Ecclesiastes 3:13
Most of the time we are also blessed with God's gift of CHILDREN.
Jacob understood this with he met his brother Esau who asked him about
the people who were with him. Jacob answered, "They are the children God
has graciously given your servant." - Genesis 33:5
More fundamentally, we know that God has given us our very LIFE.
It was the young man Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite who said: "The Spirit of
God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life." - Job 33:4
In addition to natural life, and more importantly, He has also given us ETERNAL LIFE.
"The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." - Romans 6:23
It's also important to remember that God has also gifted us, the church, with
MINISTERS.
This was God's message through His prophet Jeremiah, "I will give you
shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and
understanding." (Jeremiah 3:15)
III. There are many gifts of a spiritual nature that have been given to us. We
quickly think of the "Spiritual Gifts", but we should also notice these special
gifts:
"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I
will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of
flesh." - Ezekiel 36:26
LIVING WATR, i.e. SALVATION
"If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would
have asked him and he would have given you living water." - John 4:10
WISDOM
Daniel recognized this gift when he prayed, "I thank thee, and praise thee, O
thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might. - Daniel 2:23
RIGHTEOUSNESS
"...those who receive God's gift of righteousness [will] reign in life through
the one man, Jesus Christ." - Romans 5:17
POWER
"God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a
sound mind. - 2 Timothy 1:7
PEACE
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of
peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." - Jeremiah 29:11 .
IV. Above all these, the one gift that we want to acknowledge, receive with
thanksgiving, and put into use every day, is the gift of the THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Peter spoke forth the promise on the Day of Pentecost,
"You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." - .Acts 2:38
Conclusion:
So the question has changed from "What did you get for Christmas?" to "What
did you get from Christ?"
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