R1147 Christmas Gifts

We all need some encouragement and will find it today in the Bible to a screeching of Dr. Don Wilton and a message on gifts in actuality a message called Christmas gifts.

I'm not sure where you are but I haven't even started Christmas shopping yet.

I know that's tragic to say. Maybe some of you already finished had that done months ago ready right in the middle of it. Either way, today's message from Dr. Wilson call Christmas gifts is going to give you a new perspective on the giving of gifts we open the word together. Another were available for you to pray with you and for you both keyboard keyboard on our website@tewonline.org that's DEW online.org or phone number 866899 Word 866-899-9673 now Dr. Don Wilton got up on the cross and took upon himself the son of the world. And then he went to across gave his life took upon himself my sin. Yours was buried by the power of God was raised so that all those who believe in his name might know that they know that they know that they know one day when you will not want to die or if Jesus were to come back first. Yep, that we going to go and spend more time and all eternity in the presence of the Lord Jesus. Do you know this, Jesus. This Christ of Christmas or is this just another holiday you see this holiday is a very special day because it's about Jesus and I want to invite you today to give your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is what happened in those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. This was the first census that took place while quiet. Renee us was governor of Syria and everyone went to his own town to register. And so Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and to the lien of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn son.

She wrapped him in swaddling cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was not found no room for them in the end you just imagine this incredible event and people began to hear the good news. Some of those people were the shepherds listen to what happened to them and there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night and angel of the Lord appeared to them suddenly in the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were terrified.

But the angel said to them, do not be afraid because I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord. This will be assigned to you. You will find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger and suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest and on earth peace toward man upon whom the favor of God's grace.

When the angels had left him and going to heaven, the shepherds said to one another. Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that is happened which the Lord has told us about and so they hurried off and they found Mary and Joseph and the baby was lying in the manger. And when they had seen him. They sprayed the word concerning what had been told them about this child and the ship and said, but Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart and the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they've heard and seen, which were just as they had been told and guess what happened the word began to spread and in Matthew's gospel we read about 3 million Bible calls them wisemen. They were people who studied the stars. They were very learned how to read to you just in Matthew chapter 2 and from verse nine because they did something that I just love the Christmas time. Look what happened here with these three wise men. The Bible says after they had heard the king, they went on their way and the star they had seen in the East went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was when they saw the star they were overjoyed and on coming to the house, they saw the child with these mother Mary and they bowed down and they worshiped him, and then boys and go. Did you know what they did this. This is not my favorite time at Christmas. Look what they did the Bible say is then open their treasures and they presented Jesus with gifts of gold and incense and of amazing that when Jesus was born, gifts were exchanged. You know I love Christmas time because it's just absolutely my favorite time I've prior this all kinds of things that that that I want to get my wife you notching. She gave me for Christmas.

She gave me a new after winter is not just kidding. If she did, what is that thing that you watching on television all the time when Trish printed printers printers interests. She said I needed to really pick up my general knowledge and so I'm kidding you. She didn't do that I need to disable this right now. Didn't get a new after printers are promised, I didn't get one of those all right now let's just see here I I get all kinds of things for Christmas and and I love that many find out who got something for Christmas here today who would like to tell me what you got for Christmas. You tell me what you got for Christmas. What was that again just dance that's part of winter's interests. That is wonderful sweet on all right you tell us what you got for Christmas past a pair of students that means you going to be much taller than your daddy which is a good thing.

What you do with the now what you never do with students is walk around them on the edge of the lake you know that is what would happen if you did the following absolutely youthful right into the middle of the light. All right, let's see. Roger Brown numbers for Christmas brown boots. I love that that is very precious so someone with some pink cowboy boots on, excuse me cowgirl boots on wetware all day where they know they somewhere here. Someone's got them then they all love those you got it. Just quick to get over here coming coming through coming through hold that for me, there goes another but okay now but who else wants to tell me what you got for Christmas electric scooter. I think that is more fun than you can imagine. I think that's very fun. I'm so happy you got an electric scooter's iPod touch you and I need to teach me how to do that. One of these days and what did you get know why you didn't. You got an electric all right boys and go check you where is Mr. Steve I lost him again. You know what I love to do at Christmas time. I love to sing Christmas carols together. You know to be able to sing Christmas carols and then all the things that we do the beautiful lights in the Christmas trees. But you know I think it's so wonderful to bring special gifts to the Lord Jesus. I think that's wonderful and you and I wish I could go to all of you and also all of you what you got for Christmas because I know that it's been a very special morning and the whole day is going to be like this. It's going to be very, very special. In fact I brought some gifts along that I really so I want to have a look here, would you help me open this one here and let's see what what I might have in this. Okay, let's lift off the lid all sitdown boys and go to this all 001. I love that you think I could put them in my chair from probably one right. He could just sit there and my knees on. We got another one here. Can you help me let's open this year and see what we brought in this we go to get we gotta get this out. We got and I thought I had met in Cairo with those right yeah boys and girls open this everybody what everybody wants every you are not believe what I've got to all right to get this thing this or I listen to everybody listen, this is a PlayStation number three on love, put that your next teddy one that I want to open and that is see anything.

What you see what you see everybody sit down okay. Don't throw anymore and throw anymore here I come here I come. Okay, what you see when you look in the eye see anything what I'm doing wrong all ER but it when I turn this around, I see myself, you know, boys and girls.

You know that is the absolute best Christmas present you can get to Jesus ourselves that Andrew, you know, boys and girls the most wonderful thing about Christmas is that God gave his only son. He gave himself. And when Jesus came he gave himself and he was born in Ham's mind and the Bible says that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that believes in him will never die, but will have eternal life and will live with Jesus in heaven for ever and for ever and boys and girls all watch me here is what Jesus wants from you and from me. He wants one thing he wants us to give a bow soon and I couldn't get a better Christmas present than a big mirror because when I look in the mirror I see exactly what it is that the Lord Jesus wants you see there's a lot of things that I can give to God.

All I can give them maybe some of my money I can give you my motorcar. I can give them my time and then just make me happy when I think of all the people who give time to serve Jesus and I think that is one and we can give them gifts and we can give them linkages and we can give them the way we sing and we can give them love. But what he wants from us. The basketball base. This gift that we could give is out there listening to Dr. Don Wilton. Our teachers are on The Encouraging Word will be back in just a moment with the rest of today's message for Dr. Don wants me to remind you we are here for you.

This is not just a presentation of these messages it's opportunity to begin a conversation that the Lord is stirring your hearts even now to wait to the end to make an adjustment course correction. Oh how we'd love to pray with you through that particular direction change. We also like to maybe put some resources in your hands like the daily Encouraging Word Bible guide will help you grow on a daily basis in your faith. It's free for the asking.

It's a little quarterly booklet we send out every three months you can get your copy by calling us right now at 866899 Word 866-899-9673 or email us at online@tewonline.org that's TEW online.org now back today's message Christmas gifts with Dr. Don Wilton summarize what the Lord Jesus wants us to do is to give our hearts to him. If you give in your heart to Jesus. That is the most wonderful thing in all the world is to give your heart and your life to the Lord Jesus is nothing greater than that my friends are. I know that you would agree with me Christmases just such a lovely time of the year. It really is. You know folks are. I grew up overseas, long way from here fact, when we were growing up.

Christmas was in the middle of summer. I do know what a cold wintry Christmas was all about where I do up in Africa.

You know on Christmas day. We used to have cold meats and salads for lunch and course I grew up with old boys and and you know on Christmas day. Most of the time. The first thing we do is open our presents and and and and in my house my my mommy and daddy they would Christmas presents in a pillowcase and and in the middle of the night Santa would, no, because he always ate the cookies and them things that we left for him and then we wake up early in the morning and we would see all of us little boys on the end of Albanians were pillowcases and boys.

Santa had brought us some things I was an apprentice and it wasn't Xbox but I tell you what it was, you know what I remember getting. I remember getting a wonderful bicycle.

I remember that bicycle and we get a fishing rod and we get things that boys like to have an and all kinds of things like that and then we would run through and wake up mommy and daddy because we wanted to show them to what we had gotten for Christmas and it was very very and I have wonderful memories of being at the beach and going swimming in the sea on Christmas afternoon off to. We'd been to church. We always went to church on Christmas Day and was very special.

But you know we just sang about we just talked about it the greatest gift you can give is your heart. Today I want to challenge you and invite you to give your heart the spirit of God is speaking to you my friend. Guess what happens when Jesus went to the cross.

He took upon himself our sin he was buried, and with him was buried. All Allison for all time and for all eternity.

For those that are willing to repent of this and trust Jesus as Savior. That's what the angel said the angel said he is Christ the Savior. He's the Messiah he's the one who's come to deliver you from your sin greatest rescue mission ever was. What God did for us in Christ, then when Jesus went back into heaven, he seemed to spirit and the spirit of God is the one who reviews God to you and tells you you you're a sinner when you respond you responding to the spirit of God is knocking at your hearts, and when you respond when you recognize that your son condemned to die. But Jesus came and was born so that you and I can have life when you willing to repent of this Bible says that if you confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be safe, I want to invite you to give your heart to Jesus. Your life will never be the same again.

God have a wonderful rest of the day together. I certainly am. I can't wait.

But before we go. We got some important business to take care of standing head and I are going to be some of my closest friends. They got a common if you given your life to Christ and all ask you to come today. Jesus said if we can face him publicly before man you confess us publicly before the father which is in heaven, but we deny him publicly. He will deny us) in the hangar at the Jamison service I'm lost Robert Hargrove to Cosby. Wonderful to have Robert and Gracie of this week visiting us from Covington, Louisiana serves that wonderful First Baptist Church in Covington. Yep, you can respond listening online today. Right now we're about to go off. Maybe you're sitting in that bunker in Afghanistan. Maybe you're on a ship some way in the Pacific Ocean.

We hear from you all the time might hearing that blessing hello my dear seated in the dining room right now. There's all you and you just about to have the most wonderful Christmas lunch together. I love you so much, but nothing like Jesus I want you to give your life to Christ. I invite you to trust Jesus as Savior. Mary Mary Mary Christmas boundaries did indeed is all about Jesus.

Merry Christmas.

Yes even early in the month were continuing to share the love of Christ in unique ways because this season of the year. Christmas is one of the opportunities where some of your friends some of your neighbors some your family members with people you work with to go to school with work out with involvement in other areas. These people are more open to talk about Christmas than ever before. You and I would not miss out on the opportunity to share our faith, we wonderful resources on our website TW online.org that might just be conversation starters for your prayer cards Dave Encouraging Word Bible guy again all those are on our website TW online.org and write out a special ring for my pastor, Dr. Don you know every single time I get up and have the privilege of being able to share God's word with you. I pray for you and awesome God to allow me to see my spiritual because I know how much God loves just want you to know that it lacked that you would allow us to put together your life is important to important first of all to the Lord Jesus every step of every day.

But it's also important to me because I'm part of your family.

We are part of the family of God to God's grace. You my friend. Thank you for letting me pray for you.

I just love the opportunity comes for you can just hear from a pastor's heart, get your listing The Encouraging Word Dr. Don Wilton and right now during the month of December we have a wonderful source: the spirit of God hears Liz with all the year like your friend. You want to encourage you to make Jesus everyday life.

Trust your gift at $30 and encouraging the spirit of God within you a beautiful 52 week leather bound emotional interest leaders including Dr. Welton, you will find blessing and blessings as you read Scripture verses daily devotions and prayers.

You will receive some and spiritual songs, instrumental music by gifted pianist and Louisiana college president, Dr. Rick Collins today at 86699, where he will make great Christmas get some encouragement to you for your continued partnership very happy new year to you here The Encouraging Word please know there's more information on our website and at the other end of 866899 Nunnally about that particular resource. The spirit of God and the other things that grow inside my pastor like me is God calling that's exciting thing that questions prematurely take a moment here are pastor's heart, you know, these are such special times so my friend, you know, this ministry goes on with us all the time prayer and through you giving. We know that you are 100% engaged as we are sharing with our searching. That's what this is all about. We need Jesus. God is great and I love you today. Thank God for you, pray for you regardless constant you want to give us a call. 866-899-WORD 9673 is the number the call.

We have resources with those of you given your life to Christ to rededicate your heart, 86689996730 m online TW online.org