WEBVTT

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 Go ahead and take your Bibles this morning to 2 Corinthians chapter 9, 2 Corinthians chapter 9 this morning.

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!

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 The greatest gift of all time.

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 And, you know, we actually, when it comes to gifts and giving, you know, we naturally do love to receive gifts.

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 There's something that it does mentally to us when you receive something.

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 It's something that we enjoy.

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 You know, gifts remind us of something very important.

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 It's because when somebody gives you a gift, it reminds you that you're valued and that you're cared for.

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 You know, that somebody's concerned about you.

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 And, you know, God's gift to us is the same thing.

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 It revealed that God is concerned about you.

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 You know, the reality and the need of giving, you know.

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 And as Jesus said, you know, it's more blessed to give than to receive.

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 You know, He declared this because God is in the giving business.

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 You know, the gift is great, but God is in the giving business.

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 And He gives so much to us as we look and consider throughout time because God is a great giver.

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 You know, we can learn a lot about giving from Him.

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 Matter of fact, we cannot understand giving if we don't understand God's concept of giving.

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 He's the initiator of it.

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 God was a giver from the very beginning.

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 If you think about all the things throughout time, you know, God gave Adam and Eve a piece of skin from an innocent animal to replace the fig leaves and to cover their shame.

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 You know, God gave Noah a plan for the ark that would provide the saving of his household.

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 And God gave Abraham a promise concerning his seed that we celebrate even today.

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 You know, you think about how He gave Sarah a precious child in her old age.

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 He gave Isaac a ram to take his place on the sacrificial altar there at Mount Moriah.

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 You know, God gave Jacob 12 sons who were becoming the leaders of the tribes of Israel.

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 And He gave Joseph a minister in Egypt that he might save the people.

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 I mean, you think about the different items.

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 You know, God gave the Israelites possession of a land.

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 And He gave kings to preside over His people and prophets to plead with His people.

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 And He gave Scripture to tell us about His gift that was yet to come, who would come and deliver and to save.

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 And God gave an announcement by the angels that Jesus was born.

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 You know, He gave a sign to the wise men, a star to lead them to the young Jesus there.

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 And God gave Joseph the patience to understand the circumstances surrounding the child.

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 You know, God gave Jesus the place of sinners on the cross to bear our sin.

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 You know, when we think about all the things that God gives.

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 Giving is a continual thing.

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 And God understands both the importance of giving and the gift itself.

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 You know, because the idea of giving is good, but the gift that you give is important.

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 You know, here a few weeks ago, we had our gift white elephant gift exchange.

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 And some of you may not have appreciated what you went home with.

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 It was a gift, but it may not have been exactly what you wanted.

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 You know, when we understand that gifts carry a context with them.

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 And you have gifts that you've been given throughout the years that you remember.

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 You know, how many remember gifts from a kid when you were a little kid?

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 You know, something that stuck with you.

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 You know, and things that you might have or keep over the years because they had substance or they had importance to that gift.

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 But we know also there was other gifts that were just kind of passed by.

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 But you know, the Bible speaks about a gift.

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 And we're going to look here this morning.

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 If you found 2 Corinthians, let's stand together here for just a...

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 We'll read one verse here this morning.

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 And we'll pray and we'll get into the message and talk a little bit about this precious gift that we celebrate.

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 Verse 15 says this, thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

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 Let's pray.

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 Heavenly Father, as we just come before you this morning, Lord, we just thank you just for the gift that you've given to us.

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 Lord, pray just have your hand upon each heart, each life here today.

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 Lord, for all that you've given to us.

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 Lord, help us to always be mindful of it.

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 Lord, let's consider the importance of it.

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 But Lord, also just the blessing of it to us.

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 And Lord, we pray just meet with each one in a mighty way, Lord, as we just spend time together with you today.

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 And Lord, we just give you all the praise in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 May be seated.

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 You know, a very simple verse here.

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 You know, thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

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 You know, consider that reality.

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 It's a gift.

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 An unspeakable gift.

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 You know, it's a gift.

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 That's the greatest gift that's ever been given.

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 It's a gift beyond our comprehension, really.

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 I mean, we can understand the basics of salvation, but the more you study it, the deeper it becomes.

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 You know, to understand the complexity that God provided in this gift.

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 You know, so we need to understand what makes a great gift.

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 You know, I think God describes to us what makes a great gift.

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 And one is, the first thing is, is a gift that's remembered.

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 You know, when you remember the gift, it means it was something of significance.

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 It's something that was there.

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 You know, I remember as a child, you have different gifts that you were given, you know.

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 Some, when we received gifts, some of them you might have appreciated, but the duration wasn't very long, you know.

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 Some of you might have grown up in the era when you, at Christmas time, it was the mid-year, school year refresh.

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 You get the underwear and socks.

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 You know, and that was all, you could guarantee that was one of the gifts you were going to get, you know.

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 And, or you had gifts that were throughout, you know.

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 You maybe have a tradition of giving PJs, you know.

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 And all those things of everybody running around in matching clothes.

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 You know, you always have those type things that go on, you know.

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 They might have been appreciated, but the duration of them were pretty short-lived.

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 You know, they didn't have a remembrance to them.

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 And, you know, when we receive a gift, something that makes a great gift is one that's remembered.

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 You know, think about 2,000 plus years have gone by and we still remember the gift that God gave.

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 That's a gift that's remembered.

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 You know, we find in Luke chapter 2, it tells us this,

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 as she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in his swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger

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 because there was no room for them in the end.

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 You know, when you consider that Mary placed that precious gift in the manger that day,

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 it wasn't without, it was without much fanfare.

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 I mean, sometimes at Christmas we think about, you know, Christmas programs and Christmas pageants.

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 I mean, and all the different things you've seen over the years.

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 And you think about, you know, all the things that's going on.

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 Oftentimes we think it all happened at the same time.

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 You know, when Mary gave birth to Jesus and laid him in that manger,

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 it was a pretty solemn evening.

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 It was pretty quiet.

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 It was kind of a serious dynamic if you want to be truthful about it.

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 As she would lay him there, there was no parades.

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 There was no flashing lights.

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 There was nothing that would have told anybody much at the moment of what was taking place.

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 Just a couple of young kids there taking care of a gift that was carefully placed in a manger.

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 You know, I doubt Mary and Joseph understood what was taking place all fully.

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 I mean, we have trouble comprehending it today.

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 I can't imagine them trying to process all that was taking place.

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 That what was happening that night would be something that would be remembered

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 because of the substance of God's gift.

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 God's gift was one that was to be remembered.

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 It's definitely a great gift is one that's remembered.

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 One that we recall.

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 One that we keep in mind.

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 But you know, another element we find of a great gift is that it's useful.

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 It has a purpose behind it.

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 You know, it has some substance with it.

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 And we've all received gifts that are not essential or useful.

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 You know, sometimes we'll receive a gag gift or you get something that sits around or you have.

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 I mean, you probably all have stuff in storage.

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 Well, somebody gave it to me, so I want to keep it.

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 Say, preacher, now you're meddling.

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 It's like, you know, we have these different gifts.

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 You know, they're not essential or useful.

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 Or then you become grandparents and then your fridge is filled full of wonderful gifts.

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 You know, scribbled artwork.

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 They're precious, but they're not necessarily useful.

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 They're valuable, but not useful, you might say.

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 You know, we might have got a silly gift that caused us to laugh.

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 And, you know, when we're reminded of those things.

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 You know, we're reminded that though the idea of gifts is important in what God gives to us.

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 Gifts that are going to be useful are good gifts.

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 James tells us this in James 1.17.

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 He says,

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 You know, that perfect gift comes down from God.

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 The one, those gifts that are essential and they're useful.

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 But the most useful gift that God gave was himself.

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 When we consider what God gave that day and what Jesus was preparing to do.

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 Because he sent a gift.

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 You know, oftentimes today, I think in culture, we get caught up in the fact that there was a babe in a manger.

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 But, you know, that gift didn't come to stay a babe.

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 That gift didn't come to just grow up and to be an example.

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 That gift was given because it was useful.

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 It was beneficial.

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 It was very beneficial for us.

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 You know, you think about what Jesus said in Luke chapter 5 in verse 32.

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 I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.

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 You know, that's usefulness.

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 Jesus said, I didn't just come for the sake of it.

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 I came to be useful, to be purposeful in what was accomplished.

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 You know, later on in Luke chapter 24, verse 47, it says,

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 And repentance and remission of sin should be preached in his name among all nations beginning at Jerusalem.

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 You know, the gift that God gave that night was a useful gift.

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 It was a gift that's going to be beneficial.

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 It's still beneficial for us today.

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 You know, it's not only, it was useful not only to call sinners to repentance,

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 but to provide for that sinner to be made clean.

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 You know, oftentimes we don't, we forget the importance of the usefulness of the gift.

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 It wasn't just to let us know that we're a sinner, but that that sin was taken care of.

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 That God provided a way for us.

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 And God brought those things in line that we might be saved.

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 You know, Hebrews chapter 10 tells us this,

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 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever,

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 sat down on the right hand of God.

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 You know, it was a useful gift.

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 It served a purpose, a very direct purpose for us.

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 You know, it wasn't only useful in the call and the sacrifice,

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 it provided a way for us to be reconciled.

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 You know, that word reconciliation.

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 You know, think over in Colossians chapter 1.

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 Colossians chapter 1, we find that the reconciliation was part of that gift,

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 a means to be restored to God.

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 That restoration is very critical in what was provided.

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 It was not only useful in just a substance, but in reconciling us together.

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 It says, and you who were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works,

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 yet now hath he reconciled.

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 You know, that word reconciled means bring together.

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 You know, one of the things that we celebrate at Christmas is people come together.

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 You know what God did?

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 He set forth to bring us to Him.

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 To bring us together, to be able to once again have fellowship with Him.

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 This great gift is remarkable in that it was remembered.

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 It's a great gift because it was useful.

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 You know, those are two very important things of a gift.

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 But you know, another important thing about a gift is timeliness.

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 Timeliness.

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 You know, timeliness.

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 Timing is critical in many things in life.

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 You know, when we understand that good timing keeps things flowing smoothly.

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 You know, there's all sorts of areas.

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 We understand timing.

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 You know, we realize that timing of a good joke, you know,

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 if you don't get your timing right when you're telling a joke,

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 it just ruins the whole thing.

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 You know, if you miss those things of timing, you know,

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 but things are important on timing, arriving at the right time.

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 You know, nowadays if you go to the airport and you don't arrive at the right time,

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 you're in trouble.

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 You know, you miss the plane or you miss where you ought to be.

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 You know, when it comes to just nature itself,

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 knowing when to plant at the right time or to harvest at the right time.

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 You know, sometimes it involves just asking at the right time

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 because timing is what keeps things in sync.

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 It helps things to move and to flow at the right means

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 and the right sequence of events.

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 And oftentimes we forget the importance of God's timing.

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 This gift is important because it was exactly on time.

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 It was at the exact moment that it could accomplish completely

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 what God sent forth His Son to do.

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 You know, look over to Galatians chapter 4 for a moment.

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 You know, you see here in Galatians chapter 4,

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 it's a verse that, you know, we often speak of

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 and you hear oftentimes, but you know,

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 I want you to consider the timing of this.

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 It says,

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 but when the fullness of time was come,

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 God set forth His Son made of a woman made under the law

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 to redeem them that were under the law

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 that they might receive the adoption of sons.

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 I want you to understand that when God sent forth Jesus,

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 it was at the right exact time.

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 You know, when you begin to study history,

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 the world was, the stage of the world was set

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 to perfectly accomplish what God had set forth.

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 When you see how God allowed things to come into play,

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 that timing was absolutely perfect

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 because God had set up a means to get the gospel

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 throughout the known world,

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 throughout the world so people could hear.

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 Because many times in history, as you understand,

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 that sometimes division and conflict keep people

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 from being able to move or to communicate.

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 You know, when Jesus came forth,

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 it was a time of peace.

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 Historically, it's called the Pax Romana.

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 It's Roman peace, almost 200 years

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 of general peace throughout the region.

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 And you say, well, why is that important?

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 You know what?

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 It allowed for commerce.

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 It allowed for interactions.

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 It allowed people to freely move.

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 Ideas were exchanged.

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 And you know what?

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 It opened the door for the gospel to go forth.

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 It provided a way, Roman roads,

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 for the messengers to walk upon.

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 It had a common language because of that.

00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:10.059
 It had a common business language

00:17:10.059 --> 00:17:12.700
 that people could communicate with one another.

00:17:13.180 --> 00:17:15.360
 God's timing is impeccable.

00:17:16.279 --> 00:17:19.220
 It says in the fullness of time was coming.

00:17:19.279 --> 00:17:21.680
 In other words, God said at this moment

00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:25.380
 is the perfect moment that Jesus was to be born.

00:17:26.420 --> 00:17:29.360
 He put those things in place very carefully.

00:17:29.500 --> 00:17:31.160
 You know, we oftentimes don't consider

00:17:31.160 --> 00:17:35.460
 how God allows even wicked men to be used of him.

00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:37.039
 You know, oftentimes we think of Caesar,

00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:40.259
 you know, and you think about the cruelty of the Romans.

00:17:40.259 --> 00:17:41.140
 But you know what?

00:17:41.140 --> 00:17:44.500
 God allowed them to set some things in place

00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:47.280
 and allowed them to continue.

00:17:47.500 --> 00:17:49.440
 One of the quaint things of history

00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:52.360
 is the Romans had some rules

00:17:52.360 --> 00:17:55.040
 that played into things,

00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:56.580
 but Jews had an exception.

00:17:58.020 --> 00:18:00.080
 The Jews were the only ones

00:18:00.080 --> 00:18:03.259
 who didn't have to openly offer sacrifices to Caesar.

00:18:04.980 --> 00:18:06.840
 They had given them an exception

00:18:06.840 --> 00:18:09.040
 throughout the Roman Empire.

00:18:09.040 --> 00:18:10.940
 You say, preacher, why is that important?

00:18:10.940 --> 00:18:16.840
 It's important because when the message of Jesus began to spread,

00:18:16.940 --> 00:18:19.140
 you know what the Romans didn't look at as a new religion?

00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:21.120
 They just looked at it as a branch of Judaism.

00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:22.820
 What did it do?

00:18:22.860 --> 00:18:24.259
 It gave protection of law,

00:18:24.500 --> 00:18:26.340
 that it might be spread and move forth.

00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:29.660
 It's amazing as you begin to study God's timing,

00:18:30.180 --> 00:18:33.259
 the things that God had in place.

00:18:33.259 --> 00:18:36.160
 It wasn't just random.

00:18:36.160 --> 00:18:39.920
 God just put his finger on a moment in time

00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:42.500
 and said, I'm going to send Jesus Christ.

00:18:42.619 --> 00:18:43.779
 Ah, about there.

00:18:44.579 --> 00:18:46.460
 I want you to understand, that wasn't what happened.

00:18:46.579 --> 00:18:50.119
 God had this timing planned out perfectly.

00:18:50.119 --> 00:18:56.000
 His timing is an amazing thing when it comes to the birth of Christ.

00:18:56.699 --> 00:19:01.359
 It was at that perfect moment when everything was in place.

00:19:01.919 --> 00:19:04.639
 His coming was a strategic timing,

00:19:05.139 --> 00:19:07.099
 providentially set by God.

00:19:07.219 --> 00:19:12.319
 His coming was not one day before or behind the appointed time.

00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:16.759
 You know, when we understand that God had this timed out perfectly.

00:19:17.319 --> 00:19:20.259
 When you think about in the hearts of the people,

00:19:20.700 --> 00:19:22.779
 God's law had done its work.

00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:24.799
 It had shown that men are sinners.

00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:28.460
 You know, when you understand the gospel was built

00:19:28.460 --> 00:19:32.259
 upon the truth of the law of God.

00:19:33.059 --> 00:19:35.799
 You know, the law is our schoolmaster, Paul tells us.

00:19:36.259 --> 00:19:39.519
 It reveals to us that we're sinners that need to be saved.

00:19:39.519 --> 00:19:42.859
 When we understand that the law had been,

00:19:43.099 --> 00:19:47.400
 the picture had been set forth in the law of all the sacrifices

00:19:47.400 --> 00:19:48.859
 that pointed to Christ.

00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:52.220
 Those things were ingrained within the people

00:19:52.220 --> 00:19:56.519
 to understand what was taking place in regards to it

00:19:56.519 --> 00:19:57.720
 and the need for it.

00:19:57.940 --> 00:20:01.879
 You know, when we understand that the world fully knew

00:20:01.879 --> 00:20:05.000
 that it couldn't keep and had proved it could not keep

00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:06.839
 the standard God had set.

00:20:06.839 --> 00:20:09.619
 of God's standard of holiness.

00:20:11.439 --> 00:20:14.859
 God set forth these things at this right moment.

00:20:15.619 --> 00:20:18.959
 When we understand that the world was full of people

00:20:18.959 --> 00:20:22.939
 spiritually famished and the worship of self and pleasure

00:20:22.939 --> 00:20:25.980
 and false gods and philosophical ethics

00:20:25.980 --> 00:20:29.439
 that served no longer seemed useful.

00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:31.859
 His timing was there.

00:20:32.019 --> 00:20:34.500
 And you know, that's the important part about a gift

00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:35.920
 is timing.

00:20:38.140 --> 00:20:39.519
 God's gift to us

00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:43.599
 of His Son was at the perfect time.

00:20:45.160 --> 00:20:46.680
 It was set forth.

00:20:47.299 --> 00:20:48.700
 It's a gift that's remembered.

00:20:48.900 --> 00:20:50.039
 It's a gift that's useful.

00:20:51.079 --> 00:20:52.779
 It's a gift that's timely.

00:20:53.099 --> 00:20:54.200
 But I want you to understand,

00:20:54.359 --> 00:20:56.220
 God's gift goes above and beyond

00:20:56.220 --> 00:20:58.720
 because it does something few gifts could ever do

00:20:58.720 --> 00:21:01.660
 and none can do to this magnitude

00:21:01.660 --> 00:21:02.880
 and that's life-changing.

00:21:04.660 --> 00:21:08.240
 It's a gift that changes somebody's life.

00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:10.100
 You know, oftentimes today,

00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:11.100
 you'll hear people say,

00:21:11.160 --> 00:21:12.640
 you know, well, that was a life,

00:21:12.740 --> 00:21:13.860
 something life-changing

00:21:13.860 --> 00:21:15.759
 that happened in their life.

00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:17.279
 You know, or they talk about

00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:19.880
 life-changing amounts of money

00:21:19.880 --> 00:21:22.079
 that somebody might inherit or to win.

00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:24.319
 You know, that's going to change their life.

00:21:24.400 --> 00:21:24.740
 You know what?

00:21:24.940 --> 00:21:26.440
 It might alter their life,

00:21:26.440 --> 00:21:28.500
 but I don't believe it changes their life

00:21:28.500 --> 00:21:30.500
 because the gospel does something

00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:32.759
 nothing else of this world can do.

00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:35.340
 It changes an individual.

00:21:35.880 --> 00:21:37.140
 It's life-changing.

00:21:38.620 --> 00:21:41.799
 You know, a few gifts will change your life

00:21:41.799 --> 00:21:43.960
 and most just alter the day

00:21:43.960 --> 00:21:45.100
 or the weeks after

00:21:45.100 --> 00:21:46.940
 but soon fade away.

00:21:48.180 --> 00:21:48.900
 But, you know, consider,

00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:51.100
 look over to 2 Corinthians chapter 5.

00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:53.360
 2 Corinthians chapter 5,

00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:56.219
 we find that the gift that God gives

00:21:56.219 --> 00:21:57.399
 is something unique

00:21:57.399 --> 00:21:59.459
 and that because he says this,

00:21:59.539 --> 00:22:01.339
 you're no longer who you were,

00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:04.439
 you are now different.

00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:06.500
 Not just your circumstances,

00:22:07.439 --> 00:22:09.979
 not just the situation of life,

00:22:10.339 --> 00:22:12.319
 but when you call upon him as Savior,

00:22:12.599 --> 00:22:14.459
 you are different.

00:22:15.319 --> 00:22:16.319
 Look what it says here.

00:22:16.419 --> 00:22:18.019
 Therefore, if any man be in Christ,

00:22:18.119 --> 00:22:18.679
 he is what?

00:22:18.680 --> 00:22:21.240
 A new creature.

00:22:22.140 --> 00:22:23.640
 Old things are passed away.

00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:25.980
 Behold, all things are become what?

00:22:27.160 --> 00:22:27.560
 New.

00:22:29.380 --> 00:22:31.420
 You know, I call that a life-changing gift.

00:22:32.600 --> 00:22:34.019
 You know, when you think about the change

00:22:34.019 --> 00:22:35.640
 that happens, you know,

00:22:36.060 --> 00:22:37.440
 Ephesians chapter 4,

00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:39.560
 look over to Ephesians 4 and verse 24.

00:22:39.720 --> 00:22:40.980
 The Bible tells us this.

00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:43.200
 It says very clearly that you put on

00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:46.060
 the new man after which God is created

00:22:46.059 --> 00:22:49.559
 in righteousness and true holiness.

00:22:50.639 --> 00:22:53.159
 There's a change that takes place,

00:22:53.639 --> 00:22:56.500
 a change that transforms us

00:22:56.500 --> 00:22:58.079
 from a lost sinner

00:22:58.079 --> 00:22:59.740
 to one that is redeemed,

00:22:59.819 --> 00:23:00.960
 a child of God.

00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:02.700
 It changes men and women

00:23:02.700 --> 00:23:04.079
 from an enemy of God

00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:05.359
 to a friend of God.

00:23:05.799 --> 00:23:07.339
 It changes the direction

00:23:07.339 --> 00:23:09.539
 of not only our present,

00:23:09.740 --> 00:23:11.519
 but changes direction of our future.

00:23:12.779 --> 00:23:14.440
 It changes what's ahead.

00:23:14.440 --> 00:23:16.900
 You know, think about

00:23:16.900 --> 00:23:18.120
 what the Scripture tells us.

00:23:18.160 --> 00:23:19.620
 Let's go to Romans chapter 5

00:23:19.620 --> 00:23:20.200
 for a moment.

00:23:20.519 --> 00:23:21.660
 Romans chapter 5,

00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:22.980
 look down in verse 15.

00:23:23.980 --> 00:23:24.860
 It says this,

00:23:24.940 --> 00:23:26.320
 but not as the offense,

00:23:26.860 --> 00:23:29.100
 so also is the free gift,

00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:31.299
 that though the offense of one,

00:23:31.420 --> 00:23:32.740
 many be dead,

00:23:32.860 --> 00:23:34.380
 much more the grace of God,

00:23:34.440 --> 00:23:35.680
 that the gift by grace,

00:23:36.100 --> 00:23:37.340
 which by one man,

00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:38.299
 Jesus Christ,

00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:39.880
 had abounded unto many.

00:23:40.640 --> 00:23:42.580
 And not as it was by one man

00:23:42.580 --> 00:23:43.240
 that sinned,

00:23:43.240 --> 00:23:44.200
 so is the gift.

00:23:44.740 --> 00:23:46.519
 For the judgment was by one

00:23:46.519 --> 00:23:47.859
 to condemnation,

00:23:47.960 --> 00:23:48.819
 but the free gift

00:23:48.819 --> 00:23:50.259
 is of many offenses

00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:51.259
 unto justification.

00:23:52.519 --> 00:23:54.519
 For if by one man's offense

00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:55.839
 death reigned by one,

00:23:55.920 --> 00:23:57.620
 much more which receive

00:23:57.620 --> 00:23:58.759
 abundance of grace

00:23:58.759 --> 00:24:00.059
 and the gift of righteousness

00:24:00.059 --> 00:24:02.559
 shall reign in life

00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:05.620
 by one Jesus Christ.

00:24:06.220 --> 00:24:06.599
 Therefore,

00:24:06.779 --> 00:24:08.559
 as by the offense of one judgment

00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:09.799
 came upon all men

00:24:09.799 --> 00:24:10.740
 to condemnation,

00:24:11.259 --> 00:24:12.759
 even so by righteousness

00:24:12.759 --> 00:24:13.419
 of one,

00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:14.159
 the free gift

00:24:14.159 --> 00:24:15.259
 came upon all men

00:24:15.259 --> 00:24:16.740
 under the justification

00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:18.480
 of life.

00:24:19.119 --> 00:24:19.319
 You know,

00:24:19.639 --> 00:24:20.799
 think about the change,

00:24:21.159 --> 00:24:21.980
 the new life,

00:24:22.139 --> 00:24:23.379
 you've moved from death

00:24:23.379 --> 00:24:24.700
 to life.

00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:28.039
 The gift of eternal life,

00:24:28.139 --> 00:24:30.339
 the gift of God's righteousness

00:24:30.339 --> 00:24:31.680
 placed upon us.

00:24:31.879 --> 00:24:33.379
 The things that take place,

00:24:33.380 --> 00:24:35.280
 God's gift to us

00:24:35.280 --> 00:24:37.220
 is a wonderful gift.

00:24:37.500 --> 00:24:39.360
 It's a life-changing gift.

00:24:39.440 --> 00:24:41.180
 It's a gift by grace,

00:24:41.300 --> 00:24:42.820
 God's unmerited favor.

00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:43.720
 You know,

00:24:43.740 --> 00:24:44.420
 when you understand

00:24:44.420 --> 00:24:45.740
 what God gave to us,

00:24:45.800 --> 00:24:47.280
 what He offered to us

00:24:47.280 --> 00:24:48.920
 is a life-changing gift.

00:24:49.540 --> 00:24:51.340
 A gift that alters everything,

00:24:51.460 --> 00:24:53.280
 a gift unto justification,

00:24:53.780 --> 00:24:53.940
 you know,

00:24:53.980 --> 00:24:55.420
 that remission of sins,

00:24:55.880 --> 00:24:58.800
 that being absolved from guilt.

00:24:59.100 --> 00:24:59.640
 In other words,

00:24:59.680 --> 00:25:00.680
 you're no longer guilty,

00:25:00.680 --> 00:25:01.860
 but you've been pardoned.

00:25:01.960 --> 00:25:02.920
 That's life-changing.

00:25:05.080 --> 00:25:05.400
 You know,

00:25:05.480 --> 00:25:06.360
 the last few years,

00:25:06.519 --> 00:25:07.880
 pardons have made the news a lot.

00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:08.340
 You know what?

00:25:08.440 --> 00:25:09.840
 Pardons change somebody's life.

00:25:10.080 --> 00:25:10.720
 There's no doubt

00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:12.740
 a pardon changes somebody's life.

00:25:12.820 --> 00:25:14.480
 It alters everything.

00:25:15.320 --> 00:25:16.980
 It changes what they can do,

00:25:17.080 --> 00:25:17.980
 where they can go.

00:25:18.759 --> 00:25:20.360
 It changes their liberty.

00:25:20.620 --> 00:25:22.620
 It changes all sorts of elements

00:25:22.620 --> 00:25:23.480
 about their life.

00:25:23.560 --> 00:25:25.380
 It flips their life upside down.

00:25:27.080 --> 00:25:28.600
 That's an earthly pardon.

00:25:28.600 --> 00:25:30.240
 A heavenly pardon

00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:31.099
 is even greater.

00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:32.559
 It far exceeds,

00:25:32.700 --> 00:25:34.019
 but it gives us that picture

00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:35.720
 of what Christ has done.

00:25:35.819 --> 00:25:36.680
 We're justified,

00:25:37.259 --> 00:25:38.799
 but we're not just justified,

00:25:39.079 --> 00:25:40.000
 we're made righteous.

00:25:41.019 --> 00:25:41.460
 In other words,

00:25:41.539 --> 00:25:41.960
 God says,

00:25:42.059 --> 00:25:43.620
 I don't just take care of the problem,

00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:46.180
 I put something better in its place.

00:25:48.099 --> 00:25:49.480
 That's His righteousness.

00:25:50.599 --> 00:25:53.279
 That's the conformity of us

00:25:53.279 --> 00:25:54.980
 to Him being made right

00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:56.920
 in the sight of God.

00:25:56.920 --> 00:25:59.380
 When God looks at one that is saved,

00:25:59.480 --> 00:26:01.180
 He no longer sees our sin.

00:26:01.500 --> 00:26:02.840
 He sees His Son.

00:26:04.279 --> 00:26:05.740
 Because the Bible tells us

00:26:05.740 --> 00:26:07.680
 that we put on His righteousness,

00:26:08.420 --> 00:26:10.279
 not our own.

00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:12.740
 That's a picture that changes everything.

00:26:14.860 --> 00:26:16.259
 You know, a gift is just that.

00:26:16.300 --> 00:26:17.300
 A gift is remembered,

00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:18.039
 it's useful,

00:26:18.160 --> 00:26:18.720
 it's timing,

00:26:18.820 --> 00:26:19.680
 it's life-changing.

00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:21.860
 But you know,

00:26:21.920 --> 00:26:22.740
 one important thing

00:26:22.740 --> 00:26:23.720
 about a great gift

00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:26.039
 is it's lasting.

00:26:28.200 --> 00:26:28.640
 Lasting.

00:26:28.740 --> 00:26:30.019
 A gift that is great

00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:30.880
 will last.

00:26:31.900 --> 00:26:32.140
 You know,

00:26:32.180 --> 00:26:33.019
 not every gift

00:26:33.019 --> 00:26:34.019
 lasts a long time.

00:26:35.019 --> 00:26:35.279
 You know?

00:26:36.080 --> 00:26:37.240
 Some gifts are great

00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:37.820
 for the moment,

00:26:37.960 --> 00:26:38.220
 you know?

00:26:39.460 --> 00:26:40.320
 One of the great things

00:26:40.320 --> 00:26:40.960
 you can give

00:26:40.960 --> 00:26:41.340
 is, you know,

00:26:41.400 --> 00:26:42.660
 like dark chocolate bars.

00:26:42.980 --> 00:26:43.160
 You know?

00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:44.880
 You enjoy it,

00:26:44.900 --> 00:26:45.500
 it's great.

00:26:46.800 --> 00:26:47.840
 The problem is

00:26:47.840 --> 00:26:49.700
 they're not very lasting.

00:26:51.220 --> 00:26:51.779
 You know?

00:26:52.100 --> 00:26:53.400
 If you get them for Christmas,

00:26:53.540 --> 00:26:54.500
 they might make the week.

00:26:55.380 --> 00:26:56.320
 Great gift,

00:26:56.540 --> 00:26:57.700
 but not much duration.

00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:00.220
 You know,

00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:01.380
 a gift can be great,

00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:02.300
 it can be enjoyable,

00:27:02.540 --> 00:27:03.880
 but if it misses the duration,

00:27:05.180 --> 00:27:06.320
 God's gift to us

00:27:06.320 --> 00:27:07.940
 is one that's lasting.

00:27:08.640 --> 00:27:10.000
 The Bible calls it

00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:10.799
 everlasting

00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:12.220
 and eternal.

00:27:13.600 --> 00:27:13.860
 You know,

00:27:13.900 --> 00:27:14.519
 consider what

00:27:14.519 --> 00:27:16.500
 John 3.36 tells us.

00:27:16.920 --> 00:27:17.240
 It says,

00:27:17.360 --> 00:27:18.100
 He that believeth

00:27:18.100 --> 00:27:18.700
 on the Son

00:27:18.700 --> 00:27:19.340
 hath what?

00:27:20.420 --> 00:27:20.860
 Everlasting

00:27:20.860 --> 00:27:22.480
 life.

00:27:23.720 --> 00:27:25.100
 It has a duration

00:27:25.100 --> 00:27:25.779
 to it.

00:27:26.380 --> 00:27:26.580
 You know,

00:27:26.600 --> 00:27:27.400
 when we see here,

00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:28.380
 he tells us this,

00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:29.580
 that he that believeth

00:27:29.580 --> 00:27:30.240
 not the Son

00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:31.100
 shall not see life,

00:27:31.140 --> 00:27:32.500
 but the wrath of God

00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:33.720
 abideth on him.

00:27:34.120 --> 00:27:35.220
 I want you to understand

00:27:35.220 --> 00:27:36.720
 that if you don't

00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:37.360
 call upon

00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:38.759
 and accept God's

00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:39.500
 free gift,

00:27:39.659 --> 00:27:40.439
 God's wrath

00:27:40.439 --> 00:27:42.139
 is also permanently abiding

00:27:42.139 --> 00:27:43.639
 because it's life changing,

00:27:43.819 --> 00:27:44.619
 but it's lasting.

00:27:46.479 --> 00:27:47.839
 John chapter 5

00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:48.639
 tells us this

00:27:48.639 --> 00:27:49.619
 in verse 24.

00:27:50.459 --> 00:27:51.319
 The Bible says,

00:27:51.439 --> 00:27:52.039
 Verily, verily,

00:27:52.099 --> 00:27:52.799
 I say unto you,

00:27:52.839 --> 00:27:54.039
 he that heareth my word

00:27:54.039 --> 00:27:55.000
 and believeth on him

00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:55.599
 that sent me

00:27:55.599 --> 00:27:56.579
 hath what?

00:27:57.379 --> 00:27:57.899
 Everlasting

00:27:57.899 --> 00:27:59.919
 life.

00:28:01.119 --> 00:28:02.379
 And shall not come

00:28:02.379 --> 00:28:04.179
 into condemnation,

00:28:04.299 --> 00:28:05.059
 but is passed

00:28:05.059 --> 00:28:05.919
 from death

00:28:05.919 --> 00:28:07.240
 unto life.

00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:09.899
 1 John chapter 5

00:28:09.899 --> 00:28:10.719
 tells us this

00:28:10.719 --> 00:28:11.519
 in verse 12.

00:28:11.699 --> 00:28:11.859
 It says,

00:28:11.979 --> 00:28:12.699
 He that hath the Son

00:28:12.699 --> 00:28:13.319
 hath life,

00:28:13.759 --> 00:28:14.639
 and he that hath not

00:28:14.639 --> 00:28:15.359
 the Son of God

00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:16.199
 hath not life.

00:28:16.299 --> 00:28:17.000
 These things have I

00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:18.039
 written unto you

00:28:18.039 --> 00:28:19.500
 that believe on the name

00:28:19.500 --> 00:28:20.339
 of the Son of God

00:28:20.339 --> 00:28:21.639
 that ye may know

00:28:21.639 --> 00:28:22.599
 that ye have

00:28:22.599 --> 00:28:22.939
 what?

00:28:23.899 --> 00:28:24.299
 Eternal

00:28:24.299 --> 00:28:25.899
 life.

00:28:26.899 --> 00:28:27.859
 That you can know

00:28:27.859 --> 00:28:28.659
 that you have it

00:28:28.659 --> 00:28:29.500
 that you may believe

00:28:29.500 --> 00:28:30.179
 on the name

00:28:30.179 --> 00:28:31.839
 of the Son of God.

00:28:31.839 --> 00:28:34.980
 God's gift

00:28:34.980 --> 00:28:35.980
 is a great gift.

00:28:36.740 --> 00:28:37.619
 It's a gift

00:28:37.619 --> 00:28:39.980
 that you have to do

00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:40.619
 something with

00:28:40.619 --> 00:28:41.799
 because like any gift,

00:28:42.740 --> 00:28:44.099
 it's not a gift

00:28:44.099 --> 00:28:45.699
 that just can sit there

00:28:45.699 --> 00:28:46.399
 and look pretty.

00:28:48.179 --> 00:28:49.339
 It always amazes me

00:28:49.339 --> 00:28:50.259
 when you go sometimes

00:28:50.259 --> 00:28:50.980
 you'll see people

00:28:50.980 --> 00:28:52.779
 they'll wrap empty boxes

00:28:52.779 --> 00:28:53.720
 so they have plenty

00:28:53.720 --> 00:28:54.959
 of gifts looking around.

00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:55.279
 you know,

00:28:55.340 --> 00:28:56.319
 but they're not gifts

00:28:56.319 --> 00:28:57.100
 of substance.

00:28:58.120 --> 00:28:59.039
 They're not gifts

00:28:59.039 --> 00:29:00.259
 that'll ever be received.

00:29:00.920 --> 00:29:01.740
 They're not gifts

00:29:01.740 --> 00:29:02.340
 that are ever going

00:29:02.340 --> 00:29:03.600
 to be enjoyed.

00:29:03.840 --> 00:29:04.840
 When we understand

00:29:04.840 --> 00:29:06.000
 that God has

00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:07.079
 the greatest gift,

00:29:07.380 --> 00:29:07.720
 but you know,

00:29:07.779 --> 00:29:08.519
 sometimes people

00:29:08.519 --> 00:29:09.180
 are going to choose

00:29:09.180 --> 00:29:10.500
 to ignore God's gift.

00:29:12.160 --> 00:29:12.380
 You know,

00:29:12.400 --> 00:29:13.100
 when somebody goes

00:29:13.100 --> 00:29:14.019
 to give you a gift,

00:29:14.120 --> 00:29:14.779
 you have a choice

00:29:14.779 --> 00:29:15.319
 of what you're going

00:29:15.319 --> 00:29:15.799
 to do with it.

00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:16.940
 You can take it

00:29:16.940 --> 00:29:19.279
 or you can leave it.

00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:22.779
 A gift is by nature

00:29:22.779 --> 00:29:24.400
 has that option

00:29:24.400 --> 00:29:25.259
 you know,

00:29:25.380 --> 00:29:26.300
 you can ignore it,

00:29:26.320 --> 00:29:27.240
 you can reject it.

00:29:27.340 --> 00:29:27.480
 You know,

00:29:27.500 --> 00:29:28.080
 even today

00:29:28.080 --> 00:29:28.920
 when it comes

00:29:28.920 --> 00:29:29.960
 to the greatest gift

00:29:29.960 --> 00:29:30.580
 ever given,

00:29:30.700 --> 00:29:32.019
 you find that many mock it.

00:29:33.400 --> 00:29:34.920
 They try to downplay

00:29:34.920 --> 00:29:35.980
 the greatest gift

00:29:35.980 --> 00:29:36.920
 that God has ever

00:29:36.920 --> 00:29:37.780
 given to us.

00:29:38.980 --> 00:29:40.360
 The greatest gift

00:29:40.360 --> 00:29:41.120
 that was given

00:29:41.120 --> 00:29:42.519
 for us.

00:29:42.820 --> 00:29:42.960
 You know,

00:29:43.000 --> 00:29:43.759
 oftentimes I think

00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:44.220
 we forget

00:29:44.220 --> 00:29:45.040
 how great a gift

00:29:45.040 --> 00:29:45.800
 God has given.

00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:48.120
 The greatest gift

00:29:48.120 --> 00:29:49.060
 that was ever given

00:29:49.060 --> 00:29:49.759
 for you

00:29:49.759 --> 00:29:51.280
 and for me.

00:29:52.460 --> 00:29:52.880
 You know,

00:29:52.920 --> 00:29:53.340
 what are we going

00:29:53.340 --> 00:29:53.860
 to do with

00:29:53.859 --> 00:29:54.879
 the greatest gift

00:29:54.879 --> 00:29:55.799
 that God has given?

00:29:57.799 --> 00:29:58.639
 Because all of us

00:29:58.639 --> 00:29:59.299
 have a choice.

00:30:01.199 --> 00:30:01.919
 How are we going

00:30:01.919 --> 00:30:02.559
 to respond

00:30:02.559 --> 00:30:03.699
 to the things

00:30:03.699 --> 00:30:06.319
 that God has given?

00:30:07.479 --> 00:30:08.439
 Especially the greatest

00:30:08.439 --> 00:30:09.679
 gift He's ever given

00:30:09.679 --> 00:30:12.459
 because that gift

00:30:12.459 --> 00:30:13.639
 was given for you.

00:30:13.819 --> 00:30:14.339
 It was given

00:30:14.339 --> 00:30:15.099
 specifically

00:30:15.099 --> 00:30:17.199
 for me

00:30:17.199 --> 00:30:18.639
 and for you.

00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:20.980
 this gift

00:30:20.980 --> 00:30:21.620
 is one that's

00:30:21.620 --> 00:30:22.060
 remembered

00:30:22.060 --> 00:30:22.980
 without a doubt

00:30:22.980 --> 00:30:23.680
 is the greatest

00:30:23.680 --> 00:30:24.720
 gift ever given.

00:30:26.420 --> 00:30:27.420
 It's lasted

00:30:27.420 --> 00:30:28.300
 a duration.

00:30:28.800 --> 00:30:29.500
 It was promised

00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:30.560
 and it was revealed.

00:30:31.660 --> 00:30:32.600
 Without a doubt

00:30:32.600 --> 00:30:33.920
 was the greatest gift

00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:35.560
 that the world

00:30:35.560 --> 00:30:36.300
 has ever known.

00:30:36.580 --> 00:30:37.820
 We know it was useful

00:30:37.820 --> 00:30:40.280
 because it had

00:30:40.280 --> 00:30:40.980
 the power

00:30:40.980 --> 00:30:43.020
 to remove

00:30:43.019 --> 00:30:44.359
 the guilt

00:30:44.359 --> 00:30:45.819
 of sin.

00:30:45.980 --> 00:30:46.519
 It was a very

00:30:46.519 --> 00:30:48.079
 useful gift.

00:30:48.180 --> 00:30:49.200
 It had a purpose

00:30:49.200 --> 00:30:50.660
 behind it.

00:30:51.859 --> 00:30:52.960
 We know it was

00:30:52.960 --> 00:30:53.480
 timely.

00:30:53.839 --> 00:30:54.700
 It was timely

00:30:54.700 --> 00:30:55.139
 then.

00:30:56.519 --> 00:30:57.420
 But you know what?

00:30:57.440 --> 00:30:58.599
 It's timely today

00:30:58.599 --> 00:30:59.639
 because it's just

00:30:59.639 --> 00:31:00.339
 as pertinent

00:31:00.339 --> 00:31:01.139
 as important

00:31:01.139 --> 00:31:01.740
 today

00:31:01.740 --> 00:31:04.660
 as it ever was.

00:31:04.660 --> 00:31:07.140
 What's somebody

00:31:07.140 --> 00:31:07.640
 going to do

00:31:07.640 --> 00:31:08.080
 with it?

00:31:08.180 --> 00:31:08.940
 Because what you

00:31:08.940 --> 00:31:09.540
 do with it

00:31:09.540 --> 00:31:10.240
 is important.

00:31:11.680 --> 00:31:12.860
 Because the time

00:31:12.860 --> 00:31:13.580
 we need it

00:31:13.580 --> 00:31:15.000
 is right now.

00:31:15.940 --> 00:31:16.640
 Because we need

00:31:16.640 --> 00:31:17.360
 to understand

00:31:17.360 --> 00:31:18.660
 that it's life changing.

00:31:19.080 --> 00:31:19.340
 You know think

00:31:19.340 --> 00:31:20.360
 about the lives

00:31:20.360 --> 00:31:21.100
 that have been

00:31:21.100 --> 00:31:21.860
 transformed

00:31:21.860 --> 00:31:24.800
 by God's gift.

00:31:25.080 --> 00:31:25.500
 The people

00:31:25.500 --> 00:31:25.940
 who have been

00:31:25.940 --> 00:31:26.560
 changed

00:31:26.560 --> 00:31:27.540
 at destinations

00:31:27.540 --> 00:31:29.480
 of eternity

00:31:29.480 --> 00:31:30.420
 have been changed.

00:31:30.519 --> 00:31:31.540
 Things of this life

00:31:31.540 --> 00:31:32.240
 have been changed.

00:31:32.700 --> 00:31:33.460
 Families have been

00:31:33.460 --> 00:31:34.040
 transformed.

00:31:34.660 --> 00:31:35.540
 Lives have been

00:31:35.540 --> 00:31:37.440
 made anew

00:31:37.440 --> 00:31:38.900
 and a promise

00:31:38.900 --> 00:31:41.279
 of a great future.

00:31:41.420 --> 00:31:41.980
 We know it's

00:31:41.980 --> 00:31:42.880
 a great gift

00:31:42.880 --> 00:31:45.420
 because of the

00:31:45.420 --> 00:31:46.380
 lasting nature

00:31:46.380 --> 00:31:47.920
 of God's gift.

00:31:48.220 --> 00:31:48.900
 You know this morning

00:31:48.900 --> 00:31:49.440
 I'm just going to

00:31:49.440 --> 00:31:50.100
 ask you a simple

00:31:50.100 --> 00:31:50.560
 question.

00:31:50.720 --> 00:31:51.420
 What have you done

00:31:51.420 --> 00:31:53.380
 with God's

00:31:53.380 --> 00:31:54.080
 greatest gift?

00:31:56.100 --> 00:31:56.840
 God's gift

00:31:56.840 --> 00:31:57.640
 that He gives

00:31:57.640 --> 00:31:58.759
 freely.

00:31:59.120 --> 00:31:59.519
 You know as we

00:31:59.519 --> 00:32:00.240
 think back to

00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:00.860
 where we started

00:32:00.860 --> 00:32:01.300
 out

00:32:01.300 --> 00:32:03.380
 look back there

00:32:03.380 --> 00:32:04.279
 to 2 Corinthians

00:32:04.279 --> 00:32:05.139
 chapter 9

00:32:05.139 --> 00:32:05.720
 look there

00:32:05.720 --> 00:32:07.279
 at verse 15

00:32:07.279 --> 00:32:07.720
 I want you

00:32:07.720 --> 00:32:08.619
 to consider that.

00:32:09.819 --> 00:32:10.599
 Thanks be unto

00:32:10.599 --> 00:32:11.539
 God for His

00:32:11.539 --> 00:32:12.440
 unspeakable

00:32:12.440 --> 00:32:13.980
 gift.

00:32:14.160 --> 00:32:14.660
 What have you

00:32:14.660 --> 00:32:15.539
 done with God's

00:32:15.539 --> 00:32:15.839
 gift?

00:32:16.099 --> 00:32:16.639
 Have you called

00:32:16.639 --> 00:32:17.259
 upon Him?

00:32:17.500 --> 00:32:17.879
 You know this

00:32:17.879 --> 00:32:18.660
 morning if you

00:32:18.660 --> 00:32:19.139
 know you're

00:32:19.139 --> 00:32:19.839
 saved what have

00:32:19.839 --> 00:32:20.500
 you done with it?

00:32:20.700 --> 00:32:21.440
 Are you appreciative

00:32:21.440 --> 00:32:22.500
 of God's gift?

00:32:22.759 --> 00:32:23.519
 The most precious

00:32:23.519 --> 00:32:24.399
 gift He could ever

00:32:24.399 --> 00:32:24.759
 give.

00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:25.619
 A gift that was

00:32:25.619 --> 00:32:26.639
 right on time

00:32:26.640 --> 00:32:28.360
 for you.

00:32:30.200 --> 00:32:31.300
 A life changing

00:32:31.300 --> 00:32:31.780
 gift.

00:32:32.040 --> 00:32:32.580
 A gift that

00:32:32.580 --> 00:32:34.100
 lasts for

00:32:34.100 --> 00:32:34.580
 eternity.

00:32:36.060 --> 00:32:36.820
 As heads are

00:32:36.820 --> 00:32:37.460
 bowed and eyes

00:32:37.460 --> 00:32:38.120
 are closed this

00:32:38.120 --> 00:32:38.400
 morning.

00:32:40.160 --> 00:32:41.140
 What about you

00:32:41.140 --> 00:32:41.600
 today?

00:32:41.800 --> 00:32:42.080
 I want to

00:32:42.080 --> 00:32:42.620
 encourage you to

00:32:42.620 --> 00:32:43.220
 take a moment

00:32:43.220 --> 00:32:44.100
 just to consider

00:32:44.100 --> 00:32:47.200
 God's unspeakable

00:32:47.200 --> 00:32:49.000
 gift that He's

00:32:49.000 --> 00:32:49.280
 given.

00:32:49.560 --> 00:32:49.960
 Maybe you just

00:32:49.960 --> 00:32:50.420
 need to take a

00:32:50.420 --> 00:32:50.980
 moment and say

00:32:50.980 --> 00:32:51.980
 thank you for

00:32:51.980 --> 00:32:52.620
 what God has

00:32:52.620 --> 00:32:53.060
 provided.

00:32:53.059 --> 00:32:55.460
 Maybe you're

00:32:55.460 --> 00:32:56.099
 here today and

00:32:56.099 --> 00:32:56.619
 don't know for

00:32:56.619 --> 00:32:57.539
 sure where you

00:32:57.539 --> 00:32:57.960
 would spend

00:32:57.960 --> 00:32:58.899
 eternity if you

00:32:58.899 --> 00:32:59.700
 don't understand

00:32:59.700 --> 00:33:00.460
 the gift that

00:33:00.460 --> 00:33:01.139
 God's given.

00:33:01.700 --> 00:33:02.299
 If you haven't

00:33:02.299 --> 00:33:03.359
 received God's

00:33:03.359 --> 00:33:04.500
 gift of salvation,

00:33:05.659 --> 00:33:06.379
 eternal life,

00:33:06.440 --> 00:33:07.079
 what about you

00:33:07.079 --> 00:33:07.519
 today?

00:33:07.799 --> 00:33:08.700
 No greater day

00:33:08.700 --> 00:33:10.000
 than today to be

00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:12.019
 thankful for God's

00:33:12.019 --> 00:33:12.960
 unspeakable gift.

00:33:13.779 --> 00:33:14.440
 Heavenly Fathers,

00:33:14.539 --> 00:33:15.259
 we come before you

00:33:15.259 --> 00:33:15.740
 this morning,

00:33:15.839 --> 00:33:16.279
 Lord, we just

00:33:16.279 --> 00:33:16.839
 thank you and

00:33:16.839 --> 00:33:17.460
 praise you for

00:33:17.460 --> 00:33:18.099
 the day, for the

00:33:18.099 --> 00:33:18.639
 opportunity.

00:33:19.480 --> 00:33:20.179
 Lord, as we meet

00:33:20.179 --> 00:33:20.960
 together here,

00:33:21.099 --> 00:33:21.759
 Lord, just be

00:33:21.759 --> 00:33:22.220
 thankful.

00:33:23.059 --> 00:33:23.879
 For the gift

00:33:23.879 --> 00:33:24.339
 that you've

00:33:24.339 --> 00:33:24.980
 given, a gift

00:33:24.980 --> 00:33:26.200
 that is really

00:33:26.200 --> 00:33:27.519
 incomprehensible to

00:33:27.519 --> 00:33:28.279
 us as we don't

00:33:28.279 --> 00:33:29.319
 fully understand

00:33:29.319 --> 00:33:31.339
 all that took

00:33:31.339 --> 00:33:33.419
 place and what

00:33:33.419 --> 00:33:34.200
 you have provided,

00:33:34.440 --> 00:33:34.839
 Lord, but we

00:33:34.839 --> 00:33:35.839
 understand that you

00:33:35.839 --> 00:33:39.220
 made it simple to

00:33:39.220 --> 00:33:41.159
 understand what the

00:33:41.159 --> 00:33:42.319
 need was and what

00:33:42.319 --> 00:33:43.319
 you supplied, what

00:33:43.319 --> 00:33:44.240
 you took care of.

00:33:44.440 --> 00:33:45.139
 Lord, I pray just

00:33:45.139 --> 00:33:45.859
 work upon each

00:33:45.859 --> 00:33:46.700
 heart, each life

00:33:46.700 --> 00:33:47.460
 here today that we

00:33:47.460 --> 00:33:48.240
 might not leave

00:33:48.240 --> 00:33:51.460
 here unthankful for

00:33:51.460 --> 00:33:52.559
 the unspeakable gift

00:33:52.559 --> 00:33:53.039
 that you've given

00:33:53.039 --> 00:33:53.619
 to us.

00:33:54.879 --> 00:33:55.559
 Lord, as we take

00:33:55.559 --> 00:33:56.399
 a moment just to

00:33:56.399 --> 00:33:57.079
 consider these

00:33:57.079 --> 00:33:58.259
 things before you,

00:33:59.279 --> 00:34:00.000
 Lord, we ask it

00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:00.819
 all in your precious

00:34:00.819 --> 00:34:01.279
 name.

00:34:02.240 --> 00:34:02.519
 Amen.

00:34:02.740 --> 00:34:03.440
 As piano plays,

00:34:03.500 --> 00:34:04.179
 what about you?

00:34:04.180 --> 00:34:25.480
 as

00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


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00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


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00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


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00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


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00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


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00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


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00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


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00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.480


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