Day 4 Coming Alive at Christmas: God’s GIFT

So I had another post scheduled for today, but I wanted to write this one because it goes along perfectly with yesterday’s post.

To review: yesterday I reminded us how our God is a God of details. Glory.  The Christmas story is a perfect example of that!  I love it!
Well Saturday night I heard an incredible sermon by Pastor Brad Brinson of Two Rivers Knoxville.
I have been blessed to be going there to attend their Saturday night services

And yes it must be good because I drive from Chattanooga to Knoxville on Saturdays to hear it!

I just want to share something I had actually never thought of or heard preached before.  Brad was discussing how you get excited about the more elaborately wrapped gifts at Christmas –right– because you assume the better the gift is wrapped the better the gift.

Now just a side not about gift wrapping. That may not be true in our family. We have known to keep it pretty well ugly and simple.  Duct taped.. rubbermaid containers… looks like a 5 year old wrapped it but really it was your 25 year old daughter ha!  And I once worked at a gift shop that fired me from gift wrapping after the first week.. haha.. they were smart.

But it is true the most elaborately wrapped the gift the more you think is going to be in that box!

Pastor Brad did such an awesome job illustrating this in a way I had never thought of before.. I had to share it with you.

Starting in Isaiah Jesus was wrapped in prophecy.  written 740 years before the gift of Jesus was given.  324 declarations of prophecy.

He deserved being wrapped up in all that anticipation, all that prophecy.
It’s true what 2 Corinthians 9:15 says thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift.

Not only that but God’s gift was given at a perfect time (again this is all from sermon.. can’t take credit)
Galatians 4:4 at the fullness of time

At the time Jesus came for the first time there was :  The presence of the common language (Greek), ability for messengers to travel sharing the good news of His coming (Roman built roads) and it was during the Pax Romana time so it was safe to travel.

The promise met the right season
I am so glad that God is a God who keeps promises.

He promises from Genesis to Malachi that He would come. and in Matthew He did!

The promise met the right season.
So what promises has the Lord given you?
Are you willing to wait for the right season?

check the sermon out…. http://vimeo.com/54731640 or if that doesn’t work go to first sermon in rethinking christmas series at www.tworiverschurch.org