The most used word in this season is the word "gift". And you've all been out frantically searching for gifts, finding the right gift at the right price. Where did all that come from anyway? The tradition of gift giving began because God gave you a gift at the very first Christmas. God has a gift for you and His gift is Jesus Christ. It's a person. these next few days, let's talk about the gifts of Christmas.
Listen to the key verse this morning - Romans 6:23 (NIV) "... the GIFT of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." Don’t miss that this year. Christmas is not about a new car – it’s not about the perfect gift, it’s about Jesus Christ. Have you ever received a gift inside of a gift? My son-in-law,Matt did that for Kelsey, our daughter – gave her a Christmas ornament an inside was the engagement ring he used to propose to her. A gift within a gift.
When you get the gift of Jesus Christ, there are gifts within Jesus Christ. Three gifts. When you accept the gift of Christ -- what do you get? There's a package deal. This Christmas accept God's gift of a New Life, God's gift of hope and God's gift of peace. This Christmas, will you …
#1. ACCEPT GOD'S GIFT OF A NEW LIFE?
The angel said, "I bring you the most joyful news ever announced." Man, is that a proclamation or what? The most joyful news ever. What is that news? That you can have a new life when you receive Jesus Christ. Folks, that is the message of the bible, that is the message of the gospels – that is the message of Christmas – the good news, the best news. You can have a new life through Jesus Christ!
The Bible is very clear about this – listen to2 Corinthians 5:17 (LB) says “When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun!”
This is the story of John Baker.
I was raised in a Christian home in the Midwestern town of Collinsville, Illinois, population 10,000. I had a so-called “normal” childhood, whatever that is. My parents were members of a small Baptist church pastored by a very young Gordon MacDonald. I asked Christ into my heart at age thirteen. In high school I was class president and lettered in basketball, baseball, and track. I felt called into ministry at age sixteen and applied to several Christian universities. Up to this point, everything sounds normal—almost boring.
But I had a problem: I had to be the best in everything. Deep down inside I never felt good enough for my parents, my teammates, my girlfriends, or anyone. If I wasn’t good enough for them, I wondered how I could ever be good enough for God. I must have missed the Sunday sermons on God’s mercy and Jesus’ unconditional love and undeserved and unearnable grace. I was a walking, talking paradox—a combination of the lowest possible self-esteem and the world’s largest ego. Believe me, that’s not a very comfortable feeling inside. The best way that I can describe the feeling is a burning emptiness—a hole—right in the gut.
After high school I went to the University of Missouri. When I packed for my freshman year, I took my nonexistent self-esteem with me. I joined a fraternity and soon discovered the solution—or what I believed to be the solution—for my life’s pain: alcohol. It worked! I fit in! For the first time in my life I felt like I belonged.
In 1970 I graduated from college, joined the Air Force, and was chosen to be a pilot. I attended Officers’ Training School, and in ninety days learned to act like an officer and drink like a gentleman. I continued to abuse alcohol, viewing it as a cure for my pain, certainly not a sin!
After the service I joined Scott Paper Company. I earned my MBA degree at night school . I was promoted eight times in the first eleven years of my business career. I was the vice president of sales and marketing for two large consumer food manufacturers. I had reached all my life’s career and financial objectives and goals by the time I was thirty! Along with all this business success, however, came several relocations. Moving every two years made it difficult for us to establish a home church, but as my drinking continued, that became less and less important to me. I knew that if I died I was saved, but my Christianity was not reflected in my lifestyle, business practices, and priorities.
Still, I thought my life appeared normal to casual observers. I was a leader in my church’s Awana ministry for youth. I thought nothing of leaving work early to stop by a bar before the Wednesday night meeting so I could relax and relate better to the kids. Didn’t everybody do that? I was also my son’s Little League coach for five years, but I always stopped by the pizza joint with my assistant coach for a few pitchers of beer after every game. Again, didn’t everybody? Talk about insanity!
Slowly I became more and more uncomfortable with the lifestyle I was leading. I faced a major decision. I had a choice: do it my way—continue drinking and living by the world’s standards—or surrender, repent, and do it God’s way. My life was out of control. I had created my own hell on earth! On an October morning, I was in Salt Lake City on a business trip when I woke up and knew I couldn’t take another drink. But I also knew that I couldn’t live without one! I had finally hit my bottom. I was dying physically, emotionally, mentally, and most important, spiritually. That morning, I decided to give Jesus Christ my life. I decided to stop living life my way. On that cold October morning, God gave me a new life.
Today my life with Christ is an endless hope: my life without Him was a hopeless end! My own willpower left me empty and broken, but with God’s power working in me, I have beaten back the addiction of Alcohol. God has healed my marriage and God has changed my life and stated when I acknowledged I could not do life on my own.
Have you given your life to Jesus Christ? Have you received His gift of eternal life and a NEW life?
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