WEBVTT 1 00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:11.320 Now, the whole purpose of Christmas is summed up in 2 00:00:11.400 --> 00:00:13.960 the most famous verse in the Bible. It's a verse 3 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:17.559 that we've all heard many times. John three, verse sixteen, 4 00:00:18.120 --> 00:00:24.280 and it says this God so loved the world that 5 00:00:24.399 --> 00:00:29.480 he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him 6 00:00:29.839 --> 00:00:34.320 should not perish, but have everlasting life. That's the whole 7 00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:37.799 purpose of Christmas. God so loved the world. By the way, 8 00:00:37.840 --> 00:00:40.159 it all starts with love that he gave. You can 9 00:00:40.280 --> 00:00:43.840 give without loving, but you cannot love without giving. God 10 00:00:43.960 --> 00:00:46.479 so loved the world that he gave the very first 11 00:00:46.520 --> 00:00:49.240 Christmas gift. The whole reason that we give gifts at 12 00:00:49.320 --> 00:00:54.799 Christmas is because God started this whole tradition by giving 13 00:00:54.799 --> 00:00:57.560 the first Christmas gift. And the first Christmas gift was 14 00:00:57.600 --> 00:00:59.000 God's gift of his son to you. 15 00:01:00.159 --> 00:01:01.119 It's the first gift. 16 00:01:01.600 --> 00:01:04.319 It's the most expensive gift you'll ever get, and it's 17 00:01:04.319 --> 00:01:08.480 the greatest gift you're ever going to receive. Now, follow 18 00:01:08.560 --> 00:01:12.079 the logic of the Bible. Romans Chapter eight says this 19 00:01:12.200 --> 00:01:17.920 on your outline. Since God did not spare his own son, 20 00:01:18.359 --> 00:01:22.480 but he gave him up for us all, then can 21 00:01:22.519 --> 00:01:28.200 we not expect that with him God will freely give 22 00:01:28.319 --> 00:01:33.599 us all his gifts. He says, If God so loved 23 00:01:33.680 --> 00:01:36.040 us so much that he gave his only son, can 24 00:01:36.079 --> 00:01:39.439 we not expect him to give us freely all his 25 00:01:39.680 --> 00:01:43.519 other gifts. Circle the phrase with him. Notice with him. 26 00:01:43.680 --> 00:01:46.840 With God's gift of Jesus, you get many other gifts 27 00:01:46.840 --> 00:01:50.159 at the same time. Have you ever received a gift 28 00:01:50.159 --> 00:01:51.959 inside of a gift? Sure you have, you know. You 29 00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:54.439 get a box, You open it up, there's a box inside. 30 00:01:54.439 --> 00:01:55.959 You open it up. There's a box inside that. 31 00:01:56.000 --> 00:01:59.040 You open up, there's a box inside that, and inside 32 00:01:59.079 --> 00:02:03.599 one gift is a bunch of other little gifts. At Christmas, 33 00:02:03.599 --> 00:02:07.239 God's gift to you is Jesus Christ. That's the big gift. 34 00:02:07.280 --> 00:02:10.879 That's the big box that God gives you. God so 35 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:13.800 loved you that he gave his only son to die 36 00:02:13.840 --> 00:02:17.240 for you. That's the big gift. But inside the big 37 00:02:17.280 --> 00:02:21.400 box are many other smaller gifts. I want you to 38 00:02:21.439 --> 00:02:24.400 write this down in your outline. All of God's gifts 39 00:02:24.719 --> 00:02:29.159 are wrapped in Jesus. And when you get Jesus, you 40 00:02:29.240 --> 00:02:32.000 get all the other gifts that He wants to give you. 41 00:02:32.319 --> 00:02:34.159 I once did a study of this, and I made 42 00:02:34.159 --> 00:02:36.039 a list of all the gifts that God wants to 43 00:02:36.039 --> 00:02:39.479 give you because of Jesus, and in the New Testament 44 00:02:39.520 --> 00:02:43.080 they're over fifty, over fifty. In fact, the word gift 45 00:02:43.080 --> 00:02:46.120 in gifts is you sixty six times in the New Testament. 46 00:02:46.120 --> 00:02:48.879 It's one of the major themes of the Bible today. 47 00:02:49.599 --> 00:02:53.039 I want us to just look at four four of 48 00:02:53.080 --> 00:02:56.680 the Christmas gifts God wants to give you when you 49 00:02:56.719 --> 00:03:01.240 receive the big gift of Jesus Christ. Now you've heard 50 00:03:01.240 --> 00:03:06.639 people say the phrase the spirit of Christmas is what giving. Yeah, 51 00:03:06.680 --> 00:03:09.919 the spirit of Christmas is giving. Well, I don't want 52 00:03:09.960 --> 00:03:14.879 to shock you, but that's wrong. It's wrong. The spirit 53 00:03:14.919 --> 00:03:18.719 of Christmas is not giving. Yes, giving is a subset, 54 00:03:19.199 --> 00:03:22.240 it's an application, but the spirit of Christmas is not 55 00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:26.759 actually giving. The spirit of Christmas is actually receiving God's 56 00:03:26.759 --> 00:03:30.840 gift to you. You don't have anything to give until 57 00:03:30.919 --> 00:03:34.360 you've been given what God gave to you, the very 58 00:03:34.400 --> 00:03:38.080 first Christmas gift. Christmas is all about receiving God's gifts 59 00:03:38.080 --> 00:03:40.479 to you. So let's get right into it. Four things 60 00:03:40.479 --> 00:03:43.719 God wants to give you this Christmas. Number one, when 61 00:03:43.759 --> 00:03:46.800 I accept Jesus Christ, the big gift God. So loved 62 00:03:46.840 --> 00:03:49.599 me that he gave his son. When I accept the 63 00:03:49.639 --> 00:03:53.560 big gift, God gives me number one a new identity. 64 00:03:54.319 --> 00:04:00.599 He gives me a new identity. Let me ask you 65 00:04:00.599 --> 00:04:04.080 a very personal question. Where do you get your identity. 66 00:04:05.319 --> 00:04:06.919 On? Who you think you are? 67 00:04:07.360 --> 00:04:09.599 On? What do you base who you think you are? 68 00:04:10.120 --> 00:04:12.520 Most people get their identity from one to three things, 69 00:04:12.800 --> 00:04:16.839 from their work, from their relationships, or from things from work. 70 00:04:17.000 --> 00:04:18.959 You say to my people, who are you? What are you? 71 00:04:19.319 --> 00:04:22.680 They'll say, I'm an accountant, I'm a plumber, I'm a 72 00:04:22.680 --> 00:04:24.079 truck driver, I'm a homemaker. 73 00:04:24.199 --> 00:04:24.600 Whatever. 74 00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:27.439 No, that's what you do. That's not who you are. 75 00:04:28.040 --> 00:04:31.120 That's not your identity. Some people try to get their 76 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:34.800 identity from relationships. I'm a mom, I'm a mother, I'm 77 00:04:34.800 --> 00:04:38.600 a dad, I'm a father, I'm a husband, I'm an uncle, 78 00:04:39.199 --> 00:04:43.000 i'm a grandparent, I'm a boss. Some people try to 79 00:04:43.000 --> 00:04:45.959 find their identity through what they have. This is my house, 80 00:04:47.120 --> 00:04:50.079 this is my bank account. These are the things that 81 00:04:50.160 --> 00:04:53.720 I collect and I find my identity and my hobby. 82 00:04:54.120 --> 00:04:57.279 Let me give you some very important advice. As a 83 00:04:57.319 --> 00:05:01.800 pastor who loves you and who cares about you, never, 84 00:05:02.600 --> 00:05:08.759 never ever, ever base your identity on something you can lose. 85 00:05:10.680 --> 00:05:12.839 Never, if you build. 86 00:05:12.519 --> 00:05:15.399 Your identity on something that can be taken from you, 87 00:05:15.399 --> 00:05:16.279 you're going to lose. 88 00:05:16.800 --> 00:05:21.439 It's not your true identity. What am I saying. 89 00:05:21.519 --> 00:05:24.720 The only thing that cannot be taken away from you 90 00:05:25.279 --> 00:05:30.160 is this God's unconditional love for you. And so if 91 00:05:30.199 --> 00:05:32.720 you want to have your true identity and your new 92 00:05:32.759 --> 00:05:36.120 identity and your permanent identity, you must receive it from 93 00:05:36.160 --> 00:05:38.480 God and build it on the fact that you are 94 00:05:38.560 --> 00:05:42.000 loved by God unconditionally, and nobody can take that from you. 95 00:05:43.800 --> 00:05:48.720 Here's what the Bible says Tewod Corinthians chapter five. When 96 00:05:48.759 --> 00:05:52.240 someone accepts Christ, that's the big gift. I accept the 97 00:05:52.279 --> 00:05:54.720 big gift. God so loved the world that he gave 98 00:05:54.800 --> 00:05:59.279 his son. When someone accepts Christ, he becomes a brand 99 00:05:59.319 --> 00:06:02.959 new person. And inside circle that brand new person, new identity, 100 00:06:03.199 --> 00:06:06.879 he's not the same anymore. A new life has begun. 101 00:06:07.199 --> 00:06:10.600 Jesus called it being born again. He said, it's like 102 00:06:10.600 --> 00:06:12.680 getting a fresh start. It's like starting over. It's like 103 00:06:12.920 --> 00:06:15.480 not turn over new leaf. You get a whole new life. 104 00:06:15.720 --> 00:06:16.079 He says. 105 00:06:16.120 --> 00:06:19.720 When you accept the big gift of Christmas, God's love 106 00:06:19.800 --> 00:06:22.720 for you, God's son. He says, you get a whole 107 00:06:22.720 --> 00:06:25.199 new idea. And what does it mean. Does that mean 108 00:06:25.240 --> 00:06:29.279 that now you're perfect, That now you never sin, that now. 109 00:06:29.160 --> 00:06:30.439 You never struggle. Of course not. 110 00:06:31.160 --> 00:06:33.360 That doesn't mean that at all. It just means you're 111 00:06:33.399 --> 00:06:37.519 not identified with your sin. You're not identified with your struggle, 112 00:06:37.720 --> 00:06:41.040 You're not identified with your past. You have a new identity. 113 00:06:41.240 --> 00:06:44.480 I'm a child of God. You need to get your 114 00:06:44.519 --> 00:06:48.279 id from God. Here's what Jesus said in John chapter eight. 115 00:06:49.279 --> 00:06:53.600 He said, if you follow my words, you will know 116 00:06:53.720 --> 00:06:56.439 the truth, and the truth will what. 117 00:06:57.759 --> 00:06:58.680 Set you free. 118 00:06:58.800 --> 00:07:02.079 Everybody in America knows the last part of that phrase, 119 00:07:02.319 --> 00:07:06.800 the truth will set you free. Almost nobody in America 120 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:09.639 knows the first part of the sentence, which says, if 121 00:07:09.879 --> 00:07:13.839 you listen to me, says Jesus, if you follow my words, 122 00:07:14.079 --> 00:07:16.160 then you're gonna know the truth, and then the truth 123 00:07:16.199 --> 00:07:16.839 will such you're free. 124 00:07:16.959 --> 00:07:17.199 Truth. 125 00:07:17.240 --> 00:07:19.759 You're not gonna learn truth from television. You're not gonna 126 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:23.480 learn truth from magazines. You're gonna learn truth from your friends. 127 00:07:23.519 --> 00:07:27.160 They don't know the truth about you. God knows the 128 00:07:27.240 --> 00:07:33.720 truth about you. Romans twelve, verse two. Let God transform 129 00:07:33.800 --> 00:07:38.360 you by changing you into a new person. Let God 130 00:07:38.439 --> 00:07:42.000 transform you into new person by changing the way you think. 131 00:07:42.040 --> 00:07:44.600 It starts by the way you see yourself. You've got 132 00:07:44.600 --> 00:07:47.759 to get a new id, a true id, a permanent idea. 133 00:07:47.879 --> 00:07:52.160 Then you'll know what God wants you to do his good, 134 00:07:52.600 --> 00:07:56.160 pleasing and perfect will for your life. God has a 135 00:07:56.199 --> 00:07:59.920 purpose for your life. It's good, it's pleasing, and it's perfect. 136 00:08:00.279 --> 00:08:03.240 God has a plan for your life. It's good, it's pleasing, 137 00:08:03.319 --> 00:08:06.279 and it's perfect. God has a will for your life. 138 00:08:06.360 --> 00:08:09.560 It's good, it's pleasing. That means you'll enjoy it, and 139 00:08:09.600 --> 00:08:12.439 it's perfect. It fits you. It's custom made. But you're 140 00:08:12.480 --> 00:08:15.000 not gonna know it until you get a new idea. 141 00:08:15.680 --> 00:08:19.040 And that comes in the big package of Jesus Christ. 142 00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:22.800 So the first thing I need for transformation is the truth, 143 00:08:23.160 --> 00:08:25.680 a new identity. But then I need more than that. 144 00:08:25.759 --> 00:08:29.000 I need power to change. And that's the second gift 145 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:31.279 God asks for you, and that is God gives me 146 00:08:31.319 --> 00:08:35.679 a new ability, not just a new identity. God gives 147 00:08:35.720 --> 00:08:39.559 me a new ability. He gives me a new power, 148 00:08:39.759 --> 00:08:43.679 a new energy, a new strength, a new capacity. See, 149 00:08:43.720 --> 00:08:46.759 I'm not just depending on willpower anymore to change. You 150 00:08:46.799 --> 00:08:49.039 have tried to change things in your life so many 151 00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:52.120 times and it doesn't work. And you have set New 152 00:08:52.200 --> 00:08:54.960 Year's gold and they last about a week, maybe a month, 153 00:08:55.000 --> 00:08:56.120 may at the most three months. 154 00:08:56.120 --> 00:08:58.559 Why Because willpower doesn't work. 155 00:09:00.559 --> 00:09:03.159 You eventually get tired of doing what you're trying to 156 00:09:03.159 --> 00:09:05.600 do and you give up. You don't need willpower, you 157 00:09:05.639 --> 00:09:08.879 need God power. And God says, I'm going to give 158 00:09:08.919 --> 00:09:12.200 you a new ability, and it's a new ability inside 159 00:09:12.200 --> 00:09:14.919 of you. I'm going to not just be around you. 160 00:09:15.000 --> 00:09:18.240 I'm going to put my spirit inside you. Look at 161 00:09:18.240 --> 00:09:22.399 this verse. The Bible says in Romans chapter five, God 162 00:09:22.440 --> 00:09:25.080 has poured out his love. Notice it's all about love. 163 00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:28.960 God has poured out his love into our hearts by 164 00:09:29.080 --> 00:09:35.120 means of the Holy Spirit, who is God's gift to you. 165 00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:38.240 Circle God's gift to you. God's Spirit is his second gift. 166 00:09:38.399 --> 00:09:40.759 He says, I'm not only going to help you. I'm 167 00:09:40.799 --> 00:09:42.480 not only going to be around you. I'm not only 168 00:09:42.519 --> 00:09:43.879 going to be with you. I'm not going to be 169 00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:46.879 working on you. I'm going to be working in you. 170 00:09:47.559 --> 00:09:50.759 I'm going to put my spirit inside of you. That's 171 00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:54.320 what happens when you receive the gift of God's Christmas 172 00:09:54.320 --> 00:09:57.080 gift Jesus Christ. I'm going to put God's spirit in you. 173 00:09:57.519 --> 00:10:00.480 The next verse says this in the Bible. Now now 174 00:10:00.480 --> 00:10:03.279 that you have God's spirit in you, Now God works 175 00:10:03.919 --> 00:10:06.000 in you, not just with you, for you and around you. 176 00:10:06.279 --> 00:10:10.639 In you by giving you both the desire and the 177 00:10:10.679 --> 00:10:15.039 ability to fulfill is good purpose for you. You know 178 00:10:15.080 --> 00:10:17.919 what the problem is with you and with me. We 179 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:21.039 know the right things to do. We know the changes 180 00:10:21.080 --> 00:10:22.519 we want to make in our lives. We know how 181 00:10:22.559 --> 00:10:24.320 we'd like to be different at the end of this year. 182 00:10:24.600 --> 00:10:28.200 We have the desire to improve our lives. Everybody does 183 00:10:28.440 --> 00:10:30.080 has a desire to improve their lives. 184 00:10:30.200 --> 00:10:32.919 We have the desire, we don't have the ability. 185 00:10:34.159 --> 00:10:35.960 And yet God says, I'm going to give you the 186 00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:39.279 desire and the ability to do my purpose for your life. 187 00:10:39.480 --> 00:10:41.519 And how am I going to get it by putting 188 00:10:41.519 --> 00:10:42.679 my spirit inside of you. 189 00:10:44.200 --> 00:10:45.840 Love is what changes us. 190 00:10:46.840 --> 00:10:49.080 And the more I'm filled with God's love, the more 191 00:10:49.120 --> 00:10:51.799 power I have to change. Look at the next verse 192 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:54.399 two Timothy one to seven. For God does not give 193 00:10:54.480 --> 00:10:57.320 us a spirit of fear, but instead he fills us 194 00:10:57.320 --> 00:11:00.440 with power and love and self discipline and circle. 195 00:11:00.480 --> 00:11:03.519 Those three things. Power, love, and self discipline. 196 00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:06.200 Would you like more power yes, more love yes, more 197 00:11:06.240 --> 00:11:08.879 self discipline yes. Then you need to get God's spirit 198 00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:11.840 in your life inside you, God says, I don't fill 199 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:13.879 you with a spirit of fear. I give you the 200 00:11:13.919 --> 00:11:25.759 three ingredients you have to have to transform your life. Hi, 201 00:11:25.840 --> 00:11:28.559 this is Rick, and thanks for joining me today. You 202 00:11:28.600 --> 00:11:30.799 know this month on Daily Hope we're offering to send 203 00:11:30.799 --> 00:11:33.919 you a special copy of my book called The Purpose 204 00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:36.399 of Christmas. I wrote this book to help you come 205 00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:39.320 to a deeper understanding of God's love for you by 206 00:11:39.360 --> 00:11:42.799 explaining the three purposes of Christmas that were announced by 207 00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:45.919 the Angel at the birth of Jesus. The Angel announced 208 00:11:45.919 --> 00:11:48.559 the time of celebration. I bring you good news of 209 00:11:48.600 --> 00:11:52.120 great joy, salvation for unto you is born this day 210 00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:54.639 in the City of David, a savior who is Christ 211 00:11:54.679 --> 00:11:58.720 the Lord, and reconciliation, Peace on earth, goodwill toward men. 212 00:11:59.240 --> 00:12:02.399 Daily Hope is one percent listeners supported ministry. So if 213 00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:04.720 you can help us continue to spread the good news 214 00:12:04.879 --> 00:12:07.799 through this broadcast, I'd appreciate any gift. 215 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:08.240 That you can send. 216 00:12:08.679 --> 00:12:11.039 I'll send you the hard back edition of this book, 217 00:12:11.399 --> 00:12:14.480 The Purpose of Christmas does our special thank you for 218 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:16.720 your gift to support the Daily Hope Ministry. 219 00:12:18.080 --> 00:12:20.200 When you give a gift today, your gift will be 220 00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:22.600 doubled by the matching grant up to one hundred thousand 221 00:12:22.639 --> 00:12:25.200 dollars and will send you the purpose Driven Christmas to 222 00:12:25.240 --> 00:12:25.960 say thanks. 223 00:12:28.519 --> 00:12:30.799 If you want to change your life this next year, 224 00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:36.039 you're gonna need truth. That's a new identity about you. 225 00:12:36.039 --> 00:12:39.360 You're gonna need power. That's a new ability that God 226 00:12:39.399 --> 00:12:41.679 gives you, and you're gonna need The third thing is 227 00:12:41.720 --> 00:12:45.000 you're gonna need support. That's love. You're gonna need love, 228 00:12:45.200 --> 00:12:47.600 love and support. And so that's the third gift God 229 00:12:47.639 --> 00:12:49.679 gives you. God says, I want to give you a 230 00:12:49.720 --> 00:12:51.799 new identity, a new ability, a number three. 231 00:12:51.919 --> 00:12:53.840 I want to give you a new community. 232 00:12:55.039 --> 00:12:57.919 This is the third gift wrapped up in the big 233 00:12:57.960 --> 00:13:02.240 box of Jesus community. God says, I'm going to give 234 00:13:02.279 --> 00:13:05.799 you a family, a spiritual family to support you in 235 00:13:05.919 --> 00:13:08.200 doing the right thing. You see, you weren't meant to 236 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:11.879 go through life all alone. You never were. You were 237 00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:14.320 meant to know God, and you were meant to have 238 00:13:14.360 --> 00:13:17.440 a family around you that supports you. We always change 239 00:13:17.440 --> 00:13:20.240 better in a group than we do on our own. 240 00:13:20.240 --> 00:13:23.039 So why most diets and most personal self health plans 241 00:13:23.080 --> 00:13:24.919 don't work because it's all about you and you. 242 00:13:24.840 --> 00:13:26.799 Don't have any spiritual family to support you. 243 00:13:27.879 --> 00:13:30.399 The Bible says God created an entire universe because he 244 00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:34.080 wanted a family. Look at this verse Ephesians, chapter one. 245 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:37.320 The Bible says, because of his love. Remember, it all 246 00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:40.360 comes back to God's love. God so loved that he 247 00:13:40.440 --> 00:13:45.360 gave because of his love. God's unchanging plan has always 248 00:13:45.480 --> 00:13:50.399 been to adopt us into his own family by bringing 249 00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:54.840 us to himself through Jesus Christ. God says, I don't 250 00:13:54.840 --> 00:13:56.679 want you to just believe in me. I want you 251 00:13:56.720 --> 00:14:00.759 to belong to my family. I I'm going to say 252 00:14:00.759 --> 00:14:02.120 it again. If you don't get anything else, I say, 253 00:14:02.159 --> 00:14:05.120 I get this. It's not just enough to believe in Jesus. 254 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:09.320 You need to belong to his family because you need 255 00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:09.960 that support. 256 00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:12.559 Now. Is everybody in the family of God? 257 00:14:12.759 --> 00:14:16.440 No, not everybody is in the family You've got to 258 00:14:16.440 --> 00:14:19.720 be adopted into it. Is everybody a child of God? No, 259 00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:23.720 not everybody is a child. Everybody is loved by God. 260 00:14:23.879 --> 00:14:26.879 God has never made a person he doesn't love. Everybody 261 00:14:26.919 --> 00:14:29.200 is created by God. God has never made a person 262 00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:31.879 he doesn't have a plan for God does memory in person. 263 00:14:31.919 --> 00:14:34.279 He doesn't want in heaven. God has never made a person. 264 00:14:34.440 --> 00:14:37.039 Jesus didn't die for God has never made a person. 265 00:14:37.159 --> 00:14:40.399 He doesn't want to know him personally. But the only 266 00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:43.440 way you get in God's family is by choosing. It's 267 00:14:43.720 --> 00:14:47.919 a decision. See when I was born physically, I automatically 268 00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:50.200 became a part of the human race. I didn't get 269 00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:52.360 a choice when I was born. I became a part 270 00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:54.720 of the human race. But I didn't become a part 271 00:14:54.720 --> 00:14:57.759 of a family until somebody chose to take me home 272 00:14:57.759 --> 00:14:58.559 from the hospital. 273 00:15:00.039 --> 00:15:00.919 Then I became a part of it. 274 00:15:01.240 --> 00:15:04.960 Somebody made a choice. I want that kid. God says, 275 00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:07.039 I want you and my family. Then you've got to 276 00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:10.639 choose to be in his family. And God says, I'm 277 00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:13.480 going to give you not just identity new identity, not 278 00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:15.720 just a new ability. I'm going to give you a 279 00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:20.440 new community, a family around you to help you change. 280 00:15:20.600 --> 00:15:22.639 What is that family. We'll look at what the Bible 281 00:15:22.679 --> 00:15:27.559 says Fir Timothy chapter three. That family is the Church 282 00:15:28.120 --> 00:15:33.320 of the Living God, the support and foundation of the 283 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:34.000 Truth Circle. 284 00:15:34.039 --> 00:15:35.039 Support and foundation. 285 00:15:35.559 --> 00:15:39.919 You need support, and you need a foundation for your life. 286 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:41.960 If you don't have a foundation for. 287 00:15:41.919 --> 00:15:44.559 Your life, and you don't have the spiritual support of 288 00:15:44.600 --> 00:15:47.279 a family, you are not going to become what God 289 00:15:47.320 --> 00:15:52.360 wants you to be. Next verse a different spiritual gift. 290 00:15:52.440 --> 00:15:55.279 There's that word gift again. A different spiritual gift is 291 00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:59.279 given to each of us in God's family so we 292 00:15:59.320 --> 00:16:04.080 can help each other for the common good. In other words, 293 00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:07.000 I have some gifts and abilities and talents. They help you. 294 00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:09.320 You have gifts and abilities, talents. They help the person 295 00:16:09.320 --> 00:16:11.600 next to you. They have some gifts and abilities talents 296 00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:13.960 that help me, And on and on. We help each other. 297 00:16:14.200 --> 00:16:17.039 That's what the family's for. That's what the community is for. 298 00:16:18.559 --> 00:16:22.559 The Bible says in Galatians three. In Christ family, there 299 00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:27.840 are no divisions. In other words, no distinctions, no distinctions 300 00:16:27.840 --> 00:16:33.519 between Jew and non Jew, or between slave and free, 301 00:16:34.120 --> 00:16:39.519 or between male and female. Instead, we're all equal in 302 00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:44.679 a common relationship with Jesus Christ. God didn't come to 303 00:16:44.759 --> 00:16:46.960 give you a religion at Christmas. He came to give 304 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:52.360 you a relationship to Jesus Christ, one of love. Now 305 00:16:52.519 --> 00:16:55.440 there's one other gift that's wrapped up in the big gift. 306 00:16:55.720 --> 00:16:58.440 There's this gift of Jesus, God so loved the world 307 00:16:58.480 --> 00:17:02.200 that he gave the first Christmas gift gave his son 308 00:17:02.360 --> 00:17:05.480 and wrapped up in the big box is a new identity, 309 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:10.400 a new ability, and a new community. But there's one more, 310 00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:13.079 and this one's going to outlast everything. It is a 311 00:17:13.119 --> 00:17:17.359 new destiny. God gives me when I accept Jesus Christ 312 00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:22.920 in my life, a new destiny. Now, this gift means 313 00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:26.119 the most to me out of all of them. And 314 00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:30.759 the Bible says this first Peter, God has reserved for 315 00:17:30.839 --> 00:17:35.559 his children the priceless gift. There's that word, the priceless 316 00:17:35.599 --> 00:17:40.519 gift of eternal life. It is kept in heaven for you, 317 00:17:41.359 --> 00:17:45.799 pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 318 00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:50.440 And in Romans chapter six we're told this, the free 319 00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:54.119 gift of God is eternal life. 320 00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:55.559 That's the new destiny. 321 00:17:55.880 --> 00:18:01.200 Eternal life to Christ, Jesus our Lord, in the package 322 00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:04.480 of Jesus, the free gift. You don't earn your way 323 00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:06.599 to heaven. You don't buy your way to heaven. You 324 00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:08.880 don't bribe your way to heaven. You don't bargain your 325 00:18:08.920 --> 00:18:10.799 way to heaven. You're never going to be good enough 326 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:13.400 to get into heaven. You can't talk your way into heaven. 327 00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:16.839 It's simply a free gift. When you receive the big gift, 328 00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:21.920 it's inside, it's part of the package. Look at what 329 00:18:22.039 --> 00:18:24.599 Jesus has to say about this the next verse here 330 00:18:24.599 --> 00:18:30.559 on the screen, Matthew seven to eleven. If you, though 331 00:18:30.599 --> 00:18:35.119 imperfect and sinful, know how to give good gifts to 332 00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:41.119 your children, how much more will your father in heaven 333 00:18:41.400 --> 00:18:44.960 give good gifts to those who ask him. Everything in 334 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:47.160 your life is a gift from God. The air you breathe, 335 00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:51.359 the son, your brain, your own life. Everything you have 336 00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:53.680 is a gift from God. But there are some gifts 337 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:56.759 you have to ask for. And you say, I want 338 00:18:56.839 --> 00:19:02.680 Jesus Christ in my life. Summarize God says, I sent 339 00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:06.359 the first Christmas gift, my son to die for you 340 00:19:06.599 --> 00:19:08.519 so you could go to heaven. And I'm going to 341 00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:10.480 give you a new identity. I'm going to give you 342 00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:13.039 a new ability to change the things you want to change. 343 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:15.359 I'm going to give you a new community called my 344 00:19:15.480 --> 00:19:18.519 church family to support you through life. And I'm going 345 00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:22.480 to give you a new destiny in eternity. Who else 346 00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:23.200 you're going to get that? 347 00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:25.319 Nowhere? 348 00:19:25.960 --> 00:19:28.599 Nowhere else That's why I called it the greatest gifts 349 00:19:28.680 --> 00:19:32.480 you'll ever receive. Now, what do I do with these 350 00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:38.599 gifts of Jesus Christ. I humbly and I gratefully accept them. 351 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:41.400 The Bible says this, Look at this verse. Thanks be 352 00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:45.680 to God for his indescribable gift. There is no better 353 00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:48.240 gift than what I just talked about. And here's the offer. 354 00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:53.400 The Bible says this. It makes no difference who you 355 00:19:53.480 --> 00:19:57.119 are or where you're from. If you want God and 356 00:19:57.160 --> 00:20:01.359 you're ready to do as he says, the door is open. 357 00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:03.839 He just got asked. 358 00:20:04.440 --> 00:20:07.559 Can you imagine somebody giving you a million dollar gift 359 00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:12.599 and you never open it? That would be stupid. But 360 00:20:12.680 --> 00:20:14.519 I know a lot of people who God's given this 361 00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:18.200 gift you. They've never opened the package. And what's crazy 362 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:24.279 is they celebrate Christmas. How is it possible to celebrate 363 00:20:24.359 --> 00:20:27.480 Christmas year after year after year after year after year 364 00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:29.400 after year your entire life. 365 00:20:29.079 --> 00:20:34.440 And never open the gift. Hello, what do you think? 366 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:35.759 It's all about? 367 00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:40.640 God so loved that he gave his son for you. 368 00:20:40.640 --> 00:20:43.359 You need to open the gift. You need to receive 369 00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:48.839 the gift. This gift is for you. Ephesians, chapter three 370 00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:57.119 says this, I pray, I pray that Christ will be 371 00:20:57.200 --> 00:21:02.640 more and more at home in your hearts as you 372 00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:10.119 trust him. May your roots go down deep into the 373 00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:13.920 soil of God's marvelous love. 374 00:21:16.279 --> 00:21:17.400 And I pray. 375 00:21:18.680 --> 00:21:21.759 That you will be able to feel, not just know, 376 00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:30.480 you'll be able to feel and understand how long, how wide, 377 00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:40.799 how deep, how high God's love for you really is. 378 00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:48.920 And you experience this love for yourself. That's my prayer 379 00:21:48.920 --> 00:21:55.039 for you, though it is so great you'll never fully 380 00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:58.720 understand it. That's bower heads. 381 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:06.279 This is your moment. Before you were born. 382 00:22:06.359 --> 00:22:08.319 God knew that you would be at this point in 383 00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:10.960 this day hearing this, so he could say this to you. 384 00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:14.640 You matter to me, and I've offered you this gift. 385 00:22:14.880 --> 00:22:18.359 God so loved the world, God so loved you that 386 00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:21.160 he gave a son, and in his son are a 387 00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:24.839 new ability and a new identity, and a new community 388 00:22:25.039 --> 00:22:30.440 and a new destiny. Would you pray this prayer, just 389 00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:33.759 say it that the words really don't matter. What matters 390 00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:35.880 You have to have the right attitude. And the right 391 00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:39.880 attitude is you must be humble. You must humble yourself 392 00:22:40.039 --> 00:22:42.319 before God. God is God, and. 393 00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:42.680 You're not. 394 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:47.519 And you need to put away pride and arrogance and 395 00:22:47.640 --> 00:22:52.039 say this just in your heart. Dear God, Dear Jesus Christ, 396 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:57.920 thank you for the Christmas gift of yourself. Thank you 397 00:22:57.960 --> 00:23:01.160 that you love me so much came to die for me. 398 00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:07.279 I don't understand it all, but today I'm saying yes 399 00:23:07.319 --> 00:23:12.960 to you. I receive the Christmas gift of Jesus, and 400 00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:16.200 I want my roots to go deep into your love. 401 00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:22.240