Lighthouse Baptist Church
and Christian Academy

A) Gifts are sometimes given to win someone over or buy their support.

Then he defeated Moab, and the Moabites became David's servants, and brought tribute.

1 Chronicles 18:2

B) A gift is often an expression of affection or honor.

And on going into the house, they saw the Child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then opening their treasure bags, they presented to Him gifts - gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Matthew 2:11

• Graduation
• Anniversary
• Christmas

C) Gifts are sometimes given as a way of greeting someone before an important meeting.

These gifts are usually meant to manipulate the events or gain some other advantage.

But they were not like their father (Samuel). They were dishonest and accepted bribes to give unfair decisions.

1 Samuel 8:3

How much stress are you experiencing trying to find the perfect gift for everyone on your shopping list?

A) How do you feel when you do not get the gift you wanted?

(Lonely, unimportant, discouraged, frustrated, disappointed, annoyed, confused, puzzled)

There was once a man who prayed almost daily for a very special gift from God. He had begun to pray for this gift when he was a young man and now he was old and soon his life would be over. He had been praying for 50 or 60 years - but with no results. Yet he felt that God had promised him to see the answer to his prayer before he died.

How would you feel if this happened to you?

This story is not made up; you can see the record of it in Luke's Gospel 2:25-32.

Now there was a man named Simeon who lived in Jerusalem. He was a righteous man and very devout. He was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he eagerly expected the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Messiah. That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, "Lord, now I can die in peace! As you promised me, I have seen the Savior you have given to all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!"

Luke 2:25-32

Simeon finally got what he expected from God.

Do you expect anything from God?

What do you expect?

• Financial help?
• Help to make your marriage better?
• Help communicating with your teenage son or daughter who does not think you're relevant anymore?

How will you feel if you don't get what you expect?

• You may want a diamond necklace - you may not get it.
• You may want a new gun or a new set of golf clubs - you may not get it.
• You may want a new I-pod - you may not get it.

What are you going to do if you don't get what you want?

Let's look at what Simeon did.

• He kept going to the temple.
• He kept trusting God.
• He never stopped expecting that God would grant his request.

God knows the gift you need today - a personal relationship with His Son, Jesus.

Jesus said "all who believe me and accept me, I give the right to become children of God."

I assume some of you have already accepted Jesus and become God's children.

What are you doing with God's gift?

How should God's gift benefit your life?

• It will give your life meaning.

People try many different things in an attempt to add meaning to their life. They may turn to sports, their job, or countless other ways in an attempt to gain what they perceive as significance. They mistake significance for meaning. We were made to have meaning.

Without God, life has no purpose.
Without purpose, life has no meaning.
Without meaning, life has no significance or hope.

• It will simplify your life.

In today's fast paced world, we all need to slow down and "smell the roses." Knowing God's purpose for your life, defines what you do as well as what you don't do. There are many good activities in which we could become involved.

Knowing your purpose in life helps you allocate your valuable time as well as your resources. Purpose helps you eliminate some activities which may be good - but not necessary - thus simplifying your life.

• It will give focus to your life.

Knowing God's purpose for you life helps you concentrate your effort and energy on what's important. Without focus, you keep changing directions. You keep thinking maybe a new job; another church or a new relationship will fill the void and settle the uneasiness and confusion in your heart.

• It will motivate your life.

Purpose produces passion. Passion energizes your life and gives you inspiration. For the first time in my life, I'm doing something that I feel is God's purpose for my life and it energizes my life. Knowing and doing God's purpose for your life will produce the same results.

• It will prepare you for eternity.

You were put on earth to prepare for eternity. Many people spend the entire lives creating a lasting legacy. They want to be remembered when they're gone. When you die, it doesn't matter what other people think or remember. What's important is what God says.

Now that you know what the 5 benefits are of having God's gift, you can expect immediate results and not have to wait as Simeon did.

Here's what you need to do to receive this gift.

1. God wants you to accept His gift.

If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised him from death, you will be saved. For it is by our faith that we are put right with God; it is by our confession that we are saved.

Romans 10:9-10

2. Intensify your relationship with God.

• Read your Bible daily.
• During the day, meditate on the scripture you have read.
• Slow your pace and spend some quiet time with God.

Psalm 46:10a says "Be still, and know that I [am] God." God will reveal Himself to us as we uncluttered our mind and spend some quiet time with Him.

3. Focus on greater intimacy with God.

• God will not adjust His schedule to fit yours, you must adjust yours.
• You need to spend time with Him if you are going to get intimate with Him. You have to get to know Him.
• We need to conform to His way, His standard if we are to put on a Godlike character.

4. Talk with God daily.

• Be open.
• Be honest.
• Tell Him your innermost thoughts. He will not be surprised or offended. Remember King David and God called him a man after His own heart.

Conclusion

Now that you know God has a gift for you and you understand the benefits of the gift and hopefully you're ready to receive his free gift of eternal life, pray with me

Dear God, I want your free gift today, please come into my heart, forgive me of all the things I've done wrong. I accept and believe in you and ask you to save my soul and now give me eternal life. In Jesus name.

Everyone else pray out loud with me, God without you I have no meaning or purpose in my life. Today, I want Jesus to give my life meaning, simplify my life, give my life focus and motivate my passion and prepare me for eternity. In Jesus name.