The Gift By Pastor Dan Kennedy © August 6, 2017 www.pastorkennedy.com “Gifts” are spoken of throughout Scripture. Abraham’s servant, Eliezer of Damascus, brought all sorts of gifts with him when seeking a bride for Abraham’s son, Isaac. (Gen. 24:10-31)  Jacob sent gifts before meeting Esau, after a long and bitter road. (Gen. 32)  A gift can be given to pacify anger… Proverbs 21:14 14 A gift given in secret soothes anger… Why do we enjoy birthday parties?  What makes Christmas so exciting for many people who celebrate it in the world?  God recently gave the church a gift of His protection!  There are many “gifts” in life, but the most profound Gift is from God!  We often refer to God’s Great Gift when we share “The Roman’s Road” – a method of presenting Salvation with others. “The Roman’s Road” A: All Have Sinned  Romans 3:23 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, The Wages of Sin: Death; The Gift of God: Eternal Life Romans 6:23 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. B: Belief and Confession of our Faith The Savior, Jesus Christ  Romans 10:9–10 9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Romans 10:13 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” John 3:16 16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. C: New Creation: New Birth Transformation in our Daily Walk as a Christian  2 Corinthians 5:17 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! Romans 12:1–2 1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. John 3:3 3 In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” The Gift Romans 6:23 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The Gift from God is Free - Without a need or ability to Earn it Ephesians 2:8–9 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. The Gift of God is Eternal Life The result of God’s Gift of Eternal Life is the antithesis; the radically converse opposite to the outcome of the wages of sin, which is “death!” “You will not surely die,” Satan deceptively told Eve, but the very moment their disobedience was culminated by partaking of the forbidden fruit, Death Began, Adam and Eve died spiritually – and they knew it: they were naked and ashamed. It was only a matter of time until they died physically. In the meantime, because of their representative disobedience, the whole of the human race following them was plunged into the curse and despair of sin and death. Why Do We Need This Gift? God’s Justice is Required for any who are given Eternal Life, because God is Holy and we are not. When You Receive God’s Free Gift of Eternal Life, if you were able to open it up, what would you find inside? “Inside” the gift is what allows God’s Justice to be honorably fulfilled so we can be given Eternal Life? What does Romans 5:16 reveal to be an underlying element within the Free Gift? It is what God allows, so Justice is honorably fulfilled so we can be given Eternal Life. Jesus Christ’s Sacrifice brought Justification, allowing us to be given God’s Free Gift Romans 5:16-17 Judgment followed one sin (Adam’s) and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17For if, by the trespass of the one man (Adam), death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Justification, though, was not free. It cost God an astronomical amount: The Sacrifice of His Son. God’s Free Gift brings Justification We Receive the Gift by Faith – (“Faith” believes and accepts God’s Promises)  Justification through the Sacrificial, Redeeming Blood of Jesus, brings Peace with God!  Romans 5:1 5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ… Peace with God brings Eternal Life!  “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:15 God’s Free Gift brings those Born into His Family: “New Spiritual Birth” “Transformation” “Empowerment” “Eternal Life!” God’s Gift of Eternal Life Brings “New Spiritual Birth,” with Life Transformation and Empowerment by the power of His Holy Spirit, to Serve God, for His Glory Titus 3:5–6 5 He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior… Acts 2 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” The Overarching Unity of the Spirit God desires for those who have received God’s Free Gift: One Body, One Spirit, One Hope Ephesians 4:3–7 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, One God and Father of all: With Many Individual Parts of Grace as apportioned by Christ. Other Gifts God Gives to those in this world and to His Children The Gifts of God’s Creation  The Gifts of Spouse and Family  The Gifts of Fellowship with those who Love God  Etc., etc., etc….  God also gives Individual Spiritual Gifts to His Children There are three basic passages in the New Testament speaking of special gifts God gives to those in His Body, so that His Body will function in Spiritual unity. The Gifts of Spiritual Purpose  The Gifts of Spiritual Empowerment  The Gifts of Spiritual Position  The Gifts of Spiritual Purpose Romans 12:3–8 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. Prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith  (It is wise to remember that the Holy Spirit who transforms, indwells, empowers, and guides each believer in Christ today, had not come in the Old Testament as He did, following Christ’s death and resurrection, at Pentecost. Because of this God empowered Old Testament Prophets to have a key ministry for the spiritual direction of those in Israel. Prophecy was also key for those in the Early Church, especially before the New Testament was fully written and the Old and New Testaments - [the Bible we have today], was available to any who could read and afford a copy of God’s Word. Prophecy, in God’s Name, by God’s standards must be 100% accurate...if not, that prophet is considered to be a false prophet and their prophecies to be avoided (Deut. 18:20-22; 13:1-5). Let those speaking in God’s Name, and those listening, understand. This is why “rightly dividing the Word of Truth” - through the Scripture available to us [2 Tim. 2:15], is a priority for theologically sound pastors and Bible teachers to preach and teach today, instead of preferably seeking a prophetic word elsewhere. All prophetic messages are subject to and must be under the authority of, and not contradictory to God’s Word - the Bible. [see Deut. 13:1-5])  Serving, let him serve  Teaching, let him teach  Encouraging, let him encourage  Giving: Contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously;  Leadership, let him govern diligently;  Showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.  The Gifts of Spiritual Empowerment 1 Corinthians 12:4–11 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom,  To another the message of knowledge,  To another faith by the same Spirit,  To another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,  To another miraculous powers,  To another prophecy,  To another distinguishing between spirits,  To another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and  To still another the interpretation of tongues.  Acts 2:7–11 (The Original “Speaking in Tongues” at Pentecost) 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking (in multiple languages) Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 1 Corinthians 12:27, 28–31 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles?  Are all prophets?  Are all teachers?  Do all work miracles?  30 Do all have gifts of healing?  Do all speak in tongues?  Do all interpret?  31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way. What is the “most excellent” way? “Love” - God and Others (Deut. 6:5; Luke 10:27) 1 Corinthians 13:1 (et. al.) 1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal… The Gifts of Spiritual Position Ephesians 4:11–13 8 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.” … 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Some to be apostles,  Some to be prophets,  Some to be evangelists, and  Some to be pastors and teachers,  To prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may become mature and built up…attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. God has given amazing gifts to each member of His Body, beginning with His Indescribable Gift of Christ! Conclusion The Gift of God is Eternal Life Romans 6:23 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Jesus Christ’s Sacrifice brought Justification, allowing us to be given God’s Free Gift Romans 5:16 Judgment followed one sin (Adam’s) and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. Justification before The Holy God, is only by Faith, through the Sacrificial, Redeeming Blood of Jesus Christ. This alone brings Peace with God! Romans 5:1 5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ… God’s Free Gift brings those Born into His Family: “New Spiritual Birth”, “Transformation”, “Empowerment”, and “Eternal Life!” The Overarching Unity of the Spirit God desires for those who have received God’s Free Gift: One Body, One Spirit, One Hope; One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, One God and Father of all: With Many Individual Parts of Grace as apportioned by Christ: One Body, Many Members. Other Gifts God Gives to those in this world and to His Children The Gifts of God’s Creation  The Gifts of Spouse and Family  The Gifts of Fellowship with those who Love God  Etc., etc., etc….  God also gives Individual Spiritual Gifts to His Children There are three basic passages in the New Testament speaking of special gifts God gives to those in His Body, so that His Children will function in Spiritual unity. The Gifts of Spiritual Purpose  The Gifts of Spiritual Empowerment  The Gifts of Spiritual Position  “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:15