Profiles of Christmas!
Christmas First and Best!
Luke 2:1-7 – The First and Best Gift is Given!
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Romans 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
Luke 2:21-24 –Jesus! The First and Best Given Back!
It’s The Principle of First Fruits! And it’s found in the Old Testament:
Exodus 13:1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses saying Consecrate to Me all the first born, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both and and beat; It is mine!
Exodus 34:19 The First offspring from every womb belongs to Me, and all your make live stock, the first offspring from cattle and sheep.
God Gave His First:
He is the firstborn of many brethren, He is the Head of the Church, He is the Son Of God: (Matthew 26:63), Son of the Father: (2 John 1:3)
Son Of The Most High: (Luke 1:32), Only Begotten God: (John 1:18)
Firstborn: (Hebrews 1:6), Firstborn Of All Creation: (Colossians 1:15) He is the Chief Cornerstone, the Master, the First and Last, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. When You have the first you will have the Last!
The Firstborn from the dead, the Head of the Body, the Head of All things, He is First Place! He is God’s First!
Malachi 3:8-12: Giving Our First!
Out of Faith and Obedience!
To Meet the Needs of the Kingdom!
To Demonstrate the Love of Christ!
To Glorify God!
To Receive the Blessings of God!
So, we give like God Gives! And we Give our Best and We Give our first!
God Gives His Best: Isaiah 9:1-6
Malachi 1:6: Giving One’s Best!
Our Best Words, Our Best Attitude, Our Best Offering, Our Best Nature, Our Best Effort!
For God’s Glory! 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God!
For God’s Name! Colossians 3:17 Whatever you do in word or deed do all I the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father!
For the Lord Himself! Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,
Ananias and Sapphira We Do Not Hold Back! Acts 5:1-11
Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”
2 Corinthians 9:6 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully
It’s Christmas! Give Your First and Best!
How Do We Give! 2 Corinthians 9:6-14
Sow Bountifully! (Life, Time, Gifts and Resources) 6
Sow With Purpose! What We’ve Purposed in Our Hearts! 7
Out of Faith and Obedience!
To Meet the Need
To Demonstrate Love
To Glorify God!
Sow, Not Grudgingly – Not with greediness, covetousness.
Not Under Compulsion!
Not under compulsion – forced giving! necessity, imposed either by the external condition of things, or by the law of duty, regard to one’s advantage, custom, argument: calamity, distress, straits: Luke 21:23
Sow Cheerfully! With Hilarity!
Sow With Expectation of Return! Verse 10
What You Give Returns With Abundance! Especially Spiritual Riches 8-10
What You Give Produces Thanksgiving! 11-13
What You Give Spurs Prayer! 14
What You Give Advances the Kingdom of God! 13-14
0 Comments