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SERMON: 3 gifts, 3 Barriers, 3 Temptations
Preach Wed 12-20-2000
College Heights Baptist Church - by Rev. Rickey Honea TH. M.
(1 Cor 12:1 KJV) Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
(1 Cor 12:31 KJV) But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.
(1 Cor 14:12 KJV) Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that
ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
I. 3 gifts given at the birth of Christ, Gold - Frankincense - Myrrh
(Mat 2:11 KJV) And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
God has given us many gifts today:
Gift of Salvation - Lost now redeemed for Glory
Gift of Son-ship -
( Adoption) John chapter 1 Child of the Devil now a child of God
Gift of Servitude -
it is a gift for God to give us the right attitude about serving others and Him
Gift of His presence in us:
The God Head: Even the presence of God comes in three's
God the Father
God the Son
God the Holy Ghost ( Holy Spirit )
(Heb 2:4 KJV) God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
To have the presence of God in us,
on us, around us today is the greatest gift of all. As Jesus was led
by the Spirit so should we be led today:
(Luke 4:1 KJV) And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
(Rom 8:14 KJV) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
(John 16:13 KJV) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
II. With the gifts comes the barriers
Mary - the birth, no room, had to travel from afar, no comfort, hard times
The shepherds and the wise men had to travel from afar, leave their jobs to seek a savior
Religious barriers, National barriers, Fleshly barriers, Spiritual barriers - Political barriers
Supernatural barriers -- Good verses Evil
Now that we are saved, we are faced with three more barriers:
Matthew 4:18-21
1) Our Vocation Keeps Us From Him ( Matt. 4:18) " "for they were fishermen"
Jesus took fishermen and turned them into travelers, teachers, wise men and apostles.
He can do the same with any profession, Doctor, Lawyer, Politician, Policeman, Postal worker, etc…
2) Our Independence and Pride keep us from Him (Matt. 4: 19)
"and he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
We like to lead, not follow
We like to go before, not after anyone else
Jesus asks us to take a place BEHIND Him
And then He proclaims He wants to "MAKE US" .. to be what He wants us to be
He wants us to produce results of catching men with the Gospel - the Good News.
3) Our Worldly ties keep us from Him ( Matt. 4:19 )
"And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed Him."
The boat represented their TREASURE - their INVESTMENT - their SECURITY
The father represented their earthly FAMILY and RELATIONSHIPS
Jesus revealed to them ETERNAL TREASURE and ETERNAL FAMILY
III. With the gifts, comes the barriers, with the barriers comes the Temptations
Matthew 4:3-11
1) The Temptation to Comfort Himself ( Matt 4:3)
"If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread."
The body of Jesus cried out" put me first --- Our fleshly natures cry the same.
2) The Temptation to be powerful ( Matt. 4:5)
"Then the devil taketh Him up into the holy city, and setteth Him on a pinnacle of the temple."
Spectacle, proof that He is of God, miracle and wonder,
If we will only follow Satan's guide, we are promised great crowds, great followings.
2) The Temptation to FORGET OUR MISSION ( Matt 4: 8 )
"Again, the devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them."
The beauty of the work, the order, power and glory of the world is often intoxicating. Jesus had to remember what His purpose was,
To do the will of the Father,
To Seek And To Save That Which Is Lost
To Die in our place
To Rise again as the first of many who will rise from death
To establish his Kingdom
To assemble His family into eternity
To destroy His enemies, the Devil, Death, and Sin
We too get caught up in the beauty of the world, but we must remember what our purpose is.
To glorify Him
To Love Him
To Serve Him
To be with Him Forever and Forever
To bring others to Him
Invitation -
Today God has given us so many gifts, Salvation, Son-ship, Servitude,
Himself.
Today we face the barriers of our vocation, our independence, our pride
our worldly ties
Today we find ourselves tempted to stay in our comfort zones
Today we are tempted to have power that is like the end of the rainbow -
so close yet never in our reach
Today we need to remember our mission -
To be like Him, To love like He loved, To Serve our Father like He served
our Father.
To fulfill our mission they way Christ fulfilled His
To win the lost at all costs
To look forward to that day when we shall see God in all of His glory
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Heaven - WOW what a day that will be.
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