Isaiah 9:1-7 (NIV) Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past He humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future He will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan — The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before You as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, You have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
Luke 2:8-18 (NIV) And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring YOU good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born TO YOU; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign TO YOU: YOU will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
1. Great gifts meet
and fulfill
.
Psalm 139:1 (NIV) O LORD, You have searched me and You know me.
Psalm 44:21b (NIV) …He knows the secrets of the heart.
Jeremiah 12:3a (NIV) Yet You know me, O LORD; You see me and test my thoughts about You…
Matthew 6:8b (NIV) …For your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
Luke 12:6-7 (NIV) Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
John 4:13-19 (NIV) Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that You are a prophet.”
John 4:28-29 (NIV) Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”
John 4:39 (NIV) Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”
2. Great gifts
you to the giver.
Romans 5:1-2a (NIV) Therefore, since we have been justified [given the gift of justification] through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand…
1 John 4:19 (NIV) We love because He first loved us. [He gave us the gift of love which caused us to fall in love with Him.]
Matthew 28:20b (NIV) ..And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Hebrews 13:5b-6 (NIV) …God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
3. Great gifts
to both, the giver and the receiver.
Luke 2:10 (NIV) But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”
Acts 13:52 (NIV) And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Luke 15:10 (NIV) In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
4. Gifts require a
.
John 1:12 (NKJV) But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.
2 Corinthians 9:15 (NIV) Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
2 Corinthians 6:1-2 (NIV) As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For He says, “In the time of My favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
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