Gifts From God, Life Itself

 Life. You ARE Alive.

Hello, welcome today. Here they come. Are you ready? Ah yes, the Holiday season. Time to start looking forward to all the gifts "Santa" is going to bring you. Time for kids to dream dreams, and parents to try to afford and find in time. Even devout children of God get caught up in all the craziness. But have you ever stopped to think for a second, What gifts God gives His Children? What gifts God has given you?

For a few years, we did a "Gift Series" here at TAG. If you want, you can feel free to check them out. I was planning on bringing that back this year, but I feel that we need to do something a little different this year. This year we will only look at two. Yup. Just two gifts that we receive from our Father in Heaven. The sad thing is? Sometimes we fail to even recognize them.

Can you guess the number two most important and most valuable gift you received from your Father in Heaven? I know once we get into this, some of you may disagree. But it really is the number 2. What is it? Your existence. You. You are alive. You exist. Your very existence is the second greatest gift you have ever received.

There is a passage in the Word, that took me some time to fully get. But I have made it my own. It is one hundred percent true. Simply put "I am what I am." Why? God made me this way.

"But by the grace of God, I am what I am:" 1 Corinthians 15:10

We read this is Palms

"Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments." Psalm 119:73

And here is Psalm 139:13-17

"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows them very well.

My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!"

God tells us

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you," Jeremiah 1:5 

Jesus tells us that we should never fear. Not only does God love us, as His Children,

"Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows." Luke 12:7

Think about that for a second. God "hast possessed your reins: thou hast covered you in your Mother's womb." "Your substance was not hidden from God when you were made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. God's eyes did see your substance, yet being unperfect; and in God's book all your members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them."

You are you. Why? Because God made you, you. You are as tall as you are. You are male or female. Yes, you are male or female. God does not make mistakes. You are black or white. You have blonde hair, or brown, or red. God made you who you are. You were "fashioned" as God saw fit. He even took the time to number the hairs on your head. There is only one of you, and God knows EVERYTHING about you. He loves you.

In Romans, we find the five steps of an anointed life.

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified." Romans 8:28-31

Again, God,

1 "For those whom He foreknew," He knew you before you were even conceived.  He wrote your members in His Book. You were fashioned, or formed, the way God chose you to be.

2 "He also predestined," He set up a plan and a purpose for you to accept Jesus's sacrifice and be called into the family of God. He has plans for you.

3 "And those whom He predestined He also called," This is where you come in. God calls you. You are reading this for a reason. You accepted the invitation to go to Church with family or friends this or past holiday season for a reason. You clicked on that TV preacher while surfing for something to watch, for a reason. God is calling you.

He does not care what you think. He does not care what you have done. He does not care about what others may or may not think of you. He is calling YOU. The same eyes that looked into Matthew's sitting at the Table of Customs, Peter on the fishing boat, and Saul on the road to Damascus, are looking into your eyes right now, saying "Follow me." What is your answer? Yes, or No?

If you say No. Nothing will change. There will be no hail of fire and brimstone falling down on your head. No demons will be slithering up through the ground to suck you into Hell. Truth is, things will go on for you pretty much as normal. You will either fail or succeed in your life. You will still be the choices you make. However, there is a big difference at the end of your time here on earth. You will find that all you heard is true when you are standing before God Himself. Then it is too late.

Now, if you say Yes? Then,

4 "and those whom He called He also justified," Meaning,

"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him." Romans 8:15-17

Which is the last step.

5 "them He also glorified."God will glorify you in the end.

"But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." Matthew 24:13

And 

"And He said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life." Luke 18:29-30

You see, Jesus knows that some will turn away when you become a child of God. Jesus even so much as told us that we would be downright hated by some. Even those we love may turn their backs when we start talking about God. Why?

"If the world hates you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you." John 15:18

Never care what others think of you. Only care what your Father thinks of you. People come and go. God is there, always.

Let's say that God puts it into your heart to be a business owner. You may have many people telling you, "You can't do that." Or a singer. "You can't do that. You are not good enough." Or a person with their own radio show. "Who do you think you are?" Better yet, what if God calls you to Preach? Then you may see those you love turning their backs on you a lot quicker. Truth is, the world loves its own. It HATES anything that is not.

Think about Moses, Jonah, Jeremiah, and Ananias, just to name a few. These were reluctant servants of God. They themselves did not think they would be able to do it. Forget about others. They themselves didn't think they were God's right choice. Ultimately, they were obedient, and everything worked out as God planned. Whatever it is, that God tells you to do. Just do it. Be you. Let others worry about themselves.

God created you the way you are, and He gave you certain gifts, to accomplish the plans He has for you and your life. If you do not know what those plans are, may I suggest that you ask Him? Pray about it. read His Word. Ask Him to show you what He created you for. There is a plan and purpose. You are not here by accident or happenstance. You are not an oops.

Just your very existence is the second most important gift God can ever give you. Wait? The second? Yup. See, God gave everyone that has ever walked this earth, this same gift. He created man in His own image. The next breath you take is because of God's will. His love. But this is NOT the most important. What is? Join us next time and find out.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

If you want to tell me, comment, questions, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!