How To Give A Gift To Jesus

Message

Series:  Topical-Holiday / Christmas

How to Give a Gift to Jesus

John 12:1-8

INTRODUCTION

A.   The Purpose of Gifts

B.    The Problem with Gifts

C.   The Preciousness of Gifts

Mary’s giving was characterized…

1A  By Opportunity 

    

2A  By Activity

3A  By Creativity

4A  By Spontaneity

5A  By Gallantry

What Are You Counting On?

God saves believers by imputing to them the merit of Christ's perfect righteousness - not in any sense because of their own righteousness. God accepts believers in Christ. He declares them perfectly righteous because of Christ. Their sins have been imputed to Christ, who has paid the full penalty. His righteousness is now imputed to them, and they receive the full merit for it.

Dr. John F. MacArthur,Pastor

Grace Community Church

Thank God for Friends

I love friends. Sometimes I have found that the friendship has actually run in one direction – me to them. But God is so good to give us friends.

I just reconnected with a friend I haven’t seen since 1978-1979. We had a good chat on the phone last night.

Thomas Brooks is the author of one of my favorite quotes about friends:

“Let those be thy choicest companions who have made Christ their chief companion.”

Faith

Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times.

Martin Luther

Paul Crouch Died

Paul Crouch died.  We were on vacation and didn't hear a thing about it. It wasn't until we returned home and I happened to see a short piece on the internet. The notice of his death caused me to stop and think for a moment.

My response was, "Wow, Paul Crouch died!" First, let me say I was not surprised that he died. The bible says all men will die and then comes a judgment. (Hebrews 9:27) Second, it is not because I have any interest, affiliation, affection, or connection to Paul Crouch.

See, my first thought was, "Where is he?" "Did he make it?" "Where will he spend eternity?" Why did I think of such things? Simply because if there were a "poster-child" for Matthew 7:21-23, I believe it would be Paul Crouch.

He was a false teacher. He was a  heretic. He preached a false gospel. I do not believe that Mr. Crouch really knew the gospel of Christ and the New Testament. I believe Crouch regularly said, "Lord, Lord!' But I do not believe he knew the Lord. Let me say, I do not know his heart or anyone's heart. I am not a judge of or for redemption. But I do know how to observe fruit and I do know how to recognize, mark, and avoid a heretic. (Romans 16:17)

What is my point? It certainly is not to cast more pain in the direction of the Crouches at this time. However, I think we can learn four things from his (life) and death.

First - Not everyone who claims to be a believer, preacher or miracle worker is truly such. Matthew made that clear - prophesying, casting out demons, and doing wonders or miracles does not justify nor demonstrate justification.

Second - it behooves us to study diligently the doctrine of salvation and to understand it as God gave it. Eternal life is to know God, the one true and living God. (The Gospel of John)

Third - it should grieve us tremendously when the Enemy is able to deceive and trap in darkness a precious soul. If in fact God never redeemed Paul Crouch in spite of his hideous doctrine, my heart is heavy with sorrow for his soul, Christ's glory, and his family.

Fourth - Life is short and it is fragile. It needs to be handled with prayer. The apostle Paul exhorted the Corinthians to examine themselves in order to be sure that they were actually believers. They were to examine the evidence and be "convicted" by it that they were of the faith. 

How about you? Do you really know Him? Has God converted your soul? Are you counting on your race, your ritual, your religion, or your results for eternal redemption. Turn from your idols to the living and true God/

Thanksgiving Trip

We had a wonderful get-away for the Thanksgiving Holiday. We decided to spend this Thanksgiving with my Mom and Dad in Modesto, CA.

We left Tuesday morning around 7:45 AM. We

arrived in Redding, CA around 5:00 PM just as it went dark. We choose to stay at a Motel 6 on Hilltop near the Redding Mall.

That was a big mistake! Bed was harder than a rock, next to the stairs (people went up and down all night), no microwave-coffe pot-refrigerator in the room. Horrible night. At 3:00 AM unable to sleep, both of us decided to shower, dress and just hit the road.

Arrived in San Jose, CA at Irene's mom around 9:00 AM Wednesday. Irene took her mom shopping and spent time with her. We had meat-ball soup - yes it was very good. Had two helpings! We left for Modesto around 3:00 PM.

It was 90 miles from Irene's mom's door to my folks door, 1 hour 30 minutes according to googlemaps.

Yeah, right! Didn't take Turkey day travel into consideration. Took 4.5 hours to drive 90 miles. Yes, you read it right.

Checked into Days Inn in

Modesto just down the Blvd from my folks. Fantastic room! Great place.

We had a wonderful visit with my folks Wednesday evening and all day Thursday. We followed through on our plans to have Thanksgiving at Sizzlers. Their Turkey Day

Special ($11.95) was excellent!

Left Modesto Friday morning around 7:30 AM. Drove to Medford, OR and checked into the Ramada. Another fantastic room. Another good night. Irene and I decided however that we liked

the Days Inn better than the Ramada of Medford.

Easy drive home! Arrived in Longview about 1:00 PM. Unpacked and jammied up the rest of the day and hit the sack early.

Even with the horrible night at Redding's Motel 6 and the four hour, 90 mile drive it was a fantastic trip. Our Father truly blessed us!

It's A Wonderful Lie"

Happy 82nd Birthday to my Dad, 

Glenn F. Metcalf of Modesto, CA!