ISAIAH 9:6-7 RECIEVE THE GIFT OF GOD2005 Teaching by Jerry B Simmons

Teaching Transcript: Isaiah 9:6-7 Recieve The Gift Of God

You are listening to FerventWord, an online Bible study ministry with teachings and tools to help you grow deeper in your relationship with God. The following message was taught by Jerry Simmons in 2005. Isaiah chapter 9, verse 6. It says this,

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Here as we spend a few moments in the Word on this Christmas day, we step back several thousand years and

to the birth of Christ. Two thousand years ago, give or take a few, he was born. He was born to a virgin. His mother was named Mary. Joseph, his stepfather, was married to her, but they were only betrothed at the time, and they got married, and of course you know the story, and

There is a census that takes place. They go to Bethlehem, the city of David, to be registered there for the census. And it's there that the duration of her pregnancy is over. And she has baby Jesus there in a stable, in a manger. There was no room for them in the inn. He came very humbly, without reputation, without any reputation.

He made himself as a servant, as one of us, though he is the King of kings and Lord of lords. At the time of Isaiah's writing, it's about 700 years before that.

He is writing to the nation of Israel and there's some problems going on in Israel. The nation is really falling apart. The Assyrians are coming in and beginning to conquer much of their territory, starting with the area of Galilee up in the north. And as it's being conquered, people are losing hope because now their country, their cities, their home, it's being devoured by this other nation.

And Isaiah brings a message of comfort for them to take joy even in the midst of this time. Even in the midst of these attacks and these problems. He brings them this message here in Isaiah 9.6 and says, look, here is the reason why you can still have joy even though it seems like everything is falling apart. It's not over. God's not done. For unto us.

a child is born unto us a son is given and the government will be upon his shoulder and his name will be called wonderful counselor mighty God everlasting father prince of peace it's a message of comfort from Isaiah to the people of Israel that they might take joy and remember the Lord and stay focused on him even in the midst of the chaos now as we look at this verse on this side of the birth of Christ

We know who this verse is talking about. We know that it's speaking to us of Jesus Christ. And we know that he is the greatest gift that has ever been given, Jesus Christ. If anybody knows that here in this room, would you just agree with me and say amen? He is the greatest gift. And this Christmas, I want to remind you about how great this gift of God is.

I have here a present. It's a present I bought for my wife from Big Lots. No, I'm just kidding. No, just kidding. It's a present. It's meant to remind us of the present that God has given to us. What is this present? Well, we know that it's Jesus Christ.

But there's a need for us to take it beyond, well, I know that it's Jesus. I know what's inside. And there's a need for us to take the next step and to actually receive that gift. To take that gift. It can sit here all day. I still haven't received it until I take it into my arms, open it up, and experience what is inside. Jesus Christ is the same way. He was given to us by God.

But we need to receive him. And this morning, in Isaiah chapter 9, verse 6, we find nine reasons to receive this wonderful gift of God. Nine reasons to receive this gift of God. Reason number one. It's found right there in the beginning of the verse. He says, for unto us. Unto who?

Unto us, he says, a child is born. Last night we were at my wife's grandmother's house as we were celebrating Christmas there with her family. And they have the thing that they always do, their tradition, is they have the kids all there in the living room and they stack up all their presents around them and then they give them one at a time. And so you watch each child open their gift and then the next one gets their gift and then the next one. And you just keep going around. And

As I was watching, there's a young girl. Her name is Viviana. And she's, I think, three or four years old. I could be wrong. But every time it would come to her and the guy passing out the presents, he would say, this one is for Viviana. And you would see her face. I mean, it would just...

light up like you would not believe. And she was sitting down, but she would jump a couple feet in the air, clap her hands, and just smile from ear to ear. She was so excited. Every time her name was called, it was her turn, and she got to open a present. So excited when that present was addressed, was given to her. This present, what Isaiah is talking about, he says it's unto us. It's unto us. Now,

There could be in this box the greatest present in the world, the thing that you've always wanted. But, you know, if it's not addressed to you, it's not very exciting, right? I mean, well, okay, well, good for you. But it's not very exciting for me, for you to get the thing I've always wanted, right? You remember that when you were a kid? I don't know if you ever had that. It seemed like your cousin always got the thing that you wanted, right? And your parents usually bought it for him and just made you real frustrated. Right?

When I was young, my mom would be able to go Christmas shopping for me while I was with her because she would just tell me, we were shopping for someone, oh, this is for Derek, or this is for your cousin, or this is for someone else. Okay, so it's not exciting. I don't pay attention. And then at Christmas morning, I'm surprised. Hey, you lied to me. But, you know, I think that's the freedom that parents experience, right? You can do that. Christmas is the exception to all of the lies about bearing false witness, right? All the rules.

The gift that God has for us is the greatest gift ever.

It's the greatest gift ever. And we'll get to see that even more as we go along. But the important thing to note at this point, point number one, reason number one to receive this gift is it's addressed to us. Receive this gift because it's for you. It's not for them or for someone else or for only the special people. It's for you, each and every one of you in this room. This gift of Jesus Christ is for you.

So receive it. Receive the gift that God has given for you. Reason number two, as we read along in the verse, for unto us a child is born. The second reason that we should receive this gift of God is

is that God's gift is a child. God's gift is a child. Now, it says a child is born, and I would ask you, what is so great about a child being born? What's so fantastic about it? Now, to a parent, to a close relative, when a child is born, it is very exciting. It's reason for great joy. But for everyone else, it's as simple as that. A child is born. It happens all the time.

Do you know how many babies are born into this world each day? About 375,000 babies are born each day. That's 137 million per year. So to the rest of the world, your baby is born and to you it's the greatest thing in the world. But for everybody else, it's like, well, that's nice. I'm very happy for you. I can appreciate your feelings. But for me, that's not very important. That's not a big deal.

It happens all the time. In February, we celebrate a holiday called President's Day, which is a holiday for two presidents celebrating the birthdays of two presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Now, I was always pondering this this last week. I was wondering, why do we celebrate their birthdays?

Was there something extraordinary about their births? Was there anything that just really stood out about their births? Anybody know anything about the births of Abraham Lincoln or George Washington? We don't know much at all, but we celebrate their birthdays. Why do we celebrate their birthdays?

Not because of the child that was born, but of the men that they became, the impact that they had upon our country. And so we find reason, we find cause to pick those out of all the 375,000 others that was born on their days. We take note of that and we say that's going to be a holiday. We're going to set aside time to remember those men for what they did on their birthdays. The same thing is true with Jesus Christ.

Christmas is the day that we have chosen to celebrate the birth of Christ. However, his birth was far greater. His birth was extraordinary. It wasn't a normal birth because his mom was a virgin. Anybody tries to get away with that today, it's not going to work, okay? His mom was a virgin. She had never had any type of relationship with a man. She was not married, yet she was.

Gave birth to Jesus Christ miraculously by the work of God. And he grew up to become the greatest man that ever walked the face of the earth. If he was not the savior of the world, we would not be celebrating Christmas. If he was not the king of kings and lord of lords, we would not be celebrating Christmas. If he was not the savior.

then we would not be celebrating. If he had not been crucified, we would not be celebrating. If he had not resurrected, we would not be celebrating. If he had not ascended, we would not be celebrating. The whole point of Christmas, yes, he was born, but we celebrate it not because of that birth that took place, but because of the death, the resurrection and ascension that took place that proves to us that we can have eternal life in him. We have redemption, forgiveness, salvation.

Peace and joy through him. Unto us, this child is born, Jesus Christ. Unto us, it's for us.

That he came and that he died on that cross. A child is born. It's a reference to us of the humanity of Jesus Christ. And that's important because he had to become a human, just like you and me, so that he would be able to experience life as we experience it, experience pain and turmoil and temptation, experience death on the cross, that he could pay for our sins.

When you ask people about Jesus, some might say, well, yeah, I believe that he existed. I believe he was a good man, a good teacher. I believe he was, you know, a prophet. I believe he did great works. And the list goes on and on. But think about it for a moment with me. If Jesus never taught anything, if he never spoke a word, we could still celebrate Christmas. If he never did any miracle,

Never healed anybody, never touched the lame, blind. If he never did any of those great things that we read about, we could still celebrate Christmas. Jesus came not to teach and to do great works. That was part of why he came. But his purpose was to come to die for us, to provide for us eternal life.

All of those other things, yes, they're great because that's the God that we serve. He has compassion on us and heals us and touches us and teaches us. But he came, he was born there in that manger. He was there not to come and teach some great parables that we could all remember and reflect on and go, hmm, that's interesting. That's a Tom Leach move right there, huh? Hmm, that's interesting. He came to die on the cross for us.

And so unto us a child is born. The second reason to receive this gift is that it's a child given for us to die for our sins, that we might find redemption and reconciliation with Christ. That's why we celebrate Christmas. He became a child to die for us. Now, how many of your gifts this Christmas, whether you gave them or received them, were better than a child being born? Oh, this is the greatest gift. A child was born unto us.

not their children or not someone for them. He was born unto us, for us, for you and for me. Reason number three, that we should receive the gift of God. He goes on and he says, for unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. The third reason that we should receive this gift of God is that God's gift is his son.

God's gift is his son. A child is born. That spoke to us of Jesus's humanity. But a son is given speaks to us about his deity. He was already God's son before he was ever born. He was already the son of God before the world's existed. So John 1 1 says in the beginning was the word. The word was with God and the word was God.

Jesus Christ, being the Word, was with God in the beginning and is God. It speaks to us of his deity. He has always existed, always been the Son of God.

Even before he was born. Even though he would always existed and always been the son of God, God still sent him. And that's what makes it so special that God sent his only son to die. That's what John 3.16 tells us. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. The son was born. The son was given.

The child was born to Mary and Joseph and unto us who receive him. And the son was given by God to you and I. He let him go.

He gave him to us to die for us, to take care of our sin. He became a man. He became a child. He put on flesh. That's what John 1.14 says. The word became flesh and dwelt among us. He has always existed. He is the Son. He is God, King of kings and Lord of lords. God gave him to us as a man to die, to pay for our sins.

To redeem us. To restore us. To give us life. And not just any kind of life, but abundant life. Life overflowing. Wonderful, joyful, incredible life. Jesus Christ is God. The Bible proves it over and over again. And if you don't believe me, then I would encourage you. Join us in two weeks.

We start our Sunday evening home Bible studies through the book of John. And John tells us over and over, proves to us over and over, that Jesus Christ is God. He's not just a good man, not just a good teacher. He is God. How many of your gifts, given or received this Christmas, were better than giving the Son of God? It's the greatest gift. Reason number four.

Why should we receive this gift that God has given to us? Well, the fourth reason is that God's gift has all authority.

Verse 6 goes on to say, the government will be upon his shoulder. And Jesus, after he had died and resurrected, he was with his disciples about to be ascended to the Father. And he tells them, I have all authority. It's in Matthew 28, 18. And Jesus came and spoke to them saying, all authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

He has all authority. Now, this is a great reason to receive the gift of God, because you know he has all authority. Ultimately, he wins.

He's the one who's going to come and establish his kingdom. He's going to come and rule for a thousand years before we go to spend eternity with him. He's on the winning side. So receive the gift of God because you want to be on the winning side. You want to be on the one who has the authority. You want to be on the one who is the rightful heir of the throne of this world. He is the king of kings. He is the Lord of lords. He is all powerful. He is on the throne and he's been given to us.

What a wonderful gift God has given to us. What a wonderful, amazing, precious gift that you and I have the option to receive. The question is, will you receive this gift? Will you take it into your arms? Will you open it and experience what is inside? It's a great gift. As we continue on, reason number five, you'll see.

The fifth reason why we should receive the gift of God is God's gift is wonderful. Verse 6 says, and his name will be called wonderful. His name will be called wonderful. What does that mean, that his name will be called wonderful? It's an interesting word, this word wonderful. It's used a few times in the Old Testament. Most of the references are to what God did before.

The miracles he performed for the children of Israel and taking them through the wilderness experience. Remember when Moses led the people out of Egypt and they come across the Red Sea. There's a sea before them. There's mountains on either side. And now Pharaoh is coming behind them. And God does a great work in that he parts the Red Sea and the children of Israel walk across. And as the Egyptians try to follow them,

The water comes back and closes over them and wipes out the entire Egyptian army. After that event occurred, in Exodus chapter 15, Moses, proclaiming his praise to the Lord, he says, Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? Who is like a God like this, who does wondrous, miraculous things?

Deeds and acts of deliverance. The wonder of God, the wonders of God, the wonderfulness of God speaks to us of the miraculous things he does to deliver us. His name shall be called wonderful. God wants to do great and wonderful things in your life. Beginning with, if you have not received it already, the saving of your soul from eternal judgment.

And all you must do to receive the great and wonderful things that God has for you is to receive them. He's given everything that we need in the person of Jesus Christ. And all we need to do is receive this gift that he's given to us. Experience, know, worship this gift that he's given to us. How many of your gifts, given or received this Christmas...

can be called wonderful in light of this word. Oh man, I just love this sweater. Thank you so much for this sweater. It saved my life. Delivered me from sin and death. Kept me out of hell because you gave me that sweater. No, I don't think so, right? None of our gifts really compare to the wonderfulness of God.

Amazing, this gift that God has given to us. Reason number six. Why should I receive this gift of God? Well, as we go on, his name shall be called Wonderful, but also Counselor. God's gift is a Counselor.

What is a counselor? A counselor, of course, is one who advises, one who gives counsel, one you consult for wisdom and understanding. Now, whether you like to admit it or not, we all need counsel and we all receive counsel.

And so it's important that we take note of where we are receiving counsel from and that we receive counsel from a good counselor. Well, he is the counselor. Jesus Christ is. He's been given to us to counsel us. The Lord was really speaking to me about this about two weeks ago, I think it was, when we were at the youth winter camp.

Because we were studying Psalm chapter 1 and in verse 1 it says, Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly. And as I was meditating on that and wondering, what does that mean to us, Lord, that we don't walk in the counsel of the ungodly? Essentially it's this. He's saying, you are blessed if you do not listen to, take in, receive,

The counsel of the ungodly. And as I shared this with the youth, let me share and challenge you with this. That means that you are blessed. Blessed are you if you do not listen to Dr. Phil, Dr. Laura, Oprah Winfrey, any other talk show, any other counselor, anybody else that produces truths, produces things that are not godly, that live lives that are not godly.

Anybody who lives an ungodly life, blessed are you if you do not receive or walk in their counsel. That's heavy. That's amazing to me. We need to pay attention. Where are we receiving counsel from? Because I'm blessed.

If I don't receive counsel from those who are not godly. Jesus Christ is the greatest counselor. He's the one I need to receive counsel from. He's the one I need to be listening to. His words are life. John chapter 6 verse 63, Jesus himself said it. He said, it is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit and they are life.

You want life? Listen to Jesus' words. Walk in his counsel and not in the counsel of this world. 2 Peter 1.3, one of my favorite verses. His divine power has given to us everything that we need, all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us.

It's through the knowledge of him. It's through, again, receiving, experiencing, learning, knowing, understanding this gift that he's given to us. We must receive it. We must receive it. We must walk in it. We must receive his words of life. Reason number seven.

God's gift is the mighty God. His gift is the mighty God. Why should I receive this gift of God? Well, because his gift is the mighty God. Now, as we look at the counsel of the ungodly versus the counsel of God, we know God to be all knowing. He has all wisdom and all knowledge. And so his counsel, of course, is going to be the best counsel.

He knows the future. He doesn't have to predict it or think about it or guess what it's going to be. He knows it. And so the counsel that he gives to us, it's the best. It's the right counsel. We need to receive it because he is the mighty God. Now, as I think about that, what is the best I can give for Christmas in the area of counsel? Well, I can give books or, you know, like an eight ball and just, well, you need some counsel, just shake it up. Whenever you're in a tough spot, it'll tell you what to do. No, he's the greatest counselor ever.

Because he's the mighty God. He has all wisdom. And so God's gift is the mighty God. What does that mean, mighty God? It speaks to us of his power. We already saw that he has all authority, but we also need to know that he has all power.

He's almighty. He's all-powerful. Another testament to us of the deity of Jesus Christ. He is God. He is all-powerful. He is the mighty God. That's what was given to us there in a manger 2,000 years ago. The mighty God was given to die for us, to live this life, to take care of our sins. What can God do that you cannot? The list goes on, right?

Looks like Santa's naughty list. I mean, it just keeps going on and on, roll after roll. God is all powerful. He can do all things. He can do everything and I can do nothing outside of Christ. Matthew chapter 19, verse 26. Jesus told his disciples with men, salvation is impossible. But with God, all things are possible.

Paul the Apostle in Philippians 4.13, a familiar verse to many of us, says, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. He received the gift. He received the mighty God. And he said, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me because he is all powerful. Last week as we...

We're beginning the service I shared with you out of Isaiah chapter 40, where it says in verse 29 that he gives power to the weak and to those who have no might, he increases strength. The mighty God is who was given there 2,000 years ago. Do you ever need power or strength? Listen, he is the mighty God. God gave him for you.

So that you could receive power, strength. So that God could be a part of your life to carry you through the things that face you. The mighty God. Receive the gift that God has given for you. Receive all of the power and strength that you need to do what God has called you to do. What's the best we can do in the area of power? Well, we could give maybe like a membership to Bally's, right? Yeah.

Maybe a workout gym or something. Maybe some Red Bull here. There's all the strength and power you need right here. That'll get you through whatever you need to get through. No, his power is not like that. His power is not artificial. It's genuine. He supernaturally empowers us to do the things he has laid before us. How many of your gifts, given or received this Christmas, compare to the mighty God?

I hope you would say none because it's the greatest gift that has ever been given. Reason number eight to receive this gift of God. God's gift is the everlasting father. The everlasting father. That's what it says. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, the mighty God, everlasting father. What does that mean to us that he's given to us the everlasting father?

Philip, one of Jesus's disciples, as Jesus was in John chapter 14 talking about what was to come and he was going to go away and prepare a place and come back and the disciples were all confused. He's preparing for the cross and Philip says, you know what, Jesus, just show us the father and that will be enough for us. That will be sufficient. We'll be able to get along with that.

And Jesus in John chapter 14 verse 9 says, Have I been with you so long and yet you have not known me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. So how can you say, show us the Father? God in giving us his Son was also giving us himself.

Because the Father and the Son are one. Jesus said, I and the Father are one. In John chapter 10 verse 30, they cannot be separated. If you have one, if you've received one, you've received the other. So in giving us Jesus, he gave us himself, the everlasting Father, the Father of the fatherless, the King of kings and Lord of lords. First John chapter 2 verse 23 says, whoever denies the Son does not have the Father himself.

He who acknowledges the Son has the Father. 1 John 4.15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him and he in God. It's a package deal. You receive the gift that he gave in his Son, Jesus Christ. Not only is his name wonderful and counselor and mighty God, but also everlasting Father. And that he has given us himself.

We get to abide in God and He abides in us as we receive the gift that He has given to us. He is the everlasting Father. What is the best that we can do in giving at Christmas time? We can be a temporary father for as long as we have breath on this earth. We can give fatherly advice.

But we cannot compare to the everlasting Father. His protection and provision and love that he pours out for us. Great gift that God has given to us. The ninth reason why we should receive. This is the final one. Why should I receive the gift of God? Reason number nine. God's gift is the Prince of Peace. The Prince of Peace. You know, there's a lot of talk about peace today.

In Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel, everywhere. The entire world is talking about peace. And they look everywhere for peace. Well, maybe we need to have this person come in and do the negotiations, or this person come in and... They look everywhere except for the Prince of Peace. And I can tell you, all peace negotiations will fail.

They will fail. There will not be peace in the world until the world looks to the Prince of Peace, who is Jesus Christ. He is the one who can provide peace. No one else can. Everyone else, all they can do is temporarily put band-aids on things until the sin comes out and blows up and causes more trouble, more war, more turmoil. So even though

The world does not receive him. He is the Prince of Peace. Whether the world looks to him or not and receives the peace that he has to offer or not, he's still the Prince of Peace. Whether you receive this gift or not, he's still called Wonderful and Counselor and Mighty God and Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace. But the wonderful news is, even though the world hasn't received this gift, and that's why there's no peace, even though the world hasn't, you and I can because it's unto us.

This gift was given. We can receive the Prince of Peace. And when we do, He will bring peace into our lives. He is able to give you peace within. Peace that passes all understanding. Peace through all that you might experience. Peace through all that might burden your heart and be heavy upon your heart. He's able to give you peace. Not just peace within in the sense of inner quietness, but peace with God.

Which is really most of our problems boiled down to our peace with God. Right relationship with God. He's the Prince of Peace. And that He has brought, when we were at enmity, we were enemies of God, He's brought peace into our relationship. Made reconciliation. And now we have full access relationship with God. Intimacy with God through the work of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. What is the best that we can give? Well, you can...

Maybe get some peaceful sounds from nature, some water brooks or waves crashing on the shore. We can't give peace. You'll still hear the sirens. You'll still experience the things. But the peace that passes all understanding, the peace that comes from the Prince of Peace. Jesus said, as he was about to leave his disciples, he says, Peace I leave with you, but not as the world gives. His peace is supernatural.

It's spiritual. His peace is what you are thirsting for. The peace with God. Peace within. Jesus gives us true peace that comes from having our sins forgiven and right standing with God. True peace only comes from relationship with God. You can't have peace outside of Christ. Outside of receiving this gift. Now, this Christmas, as we look at Isaiah 9.6,

I want to remind you to receive this gift that God has given to you. And of course, the gift is Jesus Christ. Through him, he offers to you forgiveness, eternal life, joy, peace, wonderful. He's the counselor, the mighty God, everlasting father. Everything you need found in the person of Jesus Christ. Many of you in this room, you have received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

But this message is still for you and for me. Because as I shared at the beginning, Christmas has snuck up on us this year. I've heard many share that same experience. It doesn't feel like Christmas. But in this time and in the busyness, let's take some moments to receive the gift of God. And remember what it is that we're to be celebrating today.

Who it is that we're to be worshiping. Who it is that we have received. Because even though we know, yes, I received, I believed, I confessed the name of Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I want to remind you to receive the gift of God. Not just what happened at the cross, but all that he has for your life. Because he has so much more than just salvation. Although that is great, and if that was it, that would be enough.

But he has so much more that he wants to pour into your life and into my life. His gift is unto us. And we need to receive it. Now there's some here in this room that have not received Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. You might be listening to this and you've never been born again. You might not even know what that means. But you know there's something special about this season. Something about Christ. And here it is. Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ.

The Son of God was given to us by God. He became a man, though He is God. And He lived 33 years. Died on the cross for us. But He didn't stay in the grave. He was resurrected. And He walked for another 40 days on the earth.

showing himself to his disciples, proving to everyone that he is alive, that God had resurrected him. And then he ascended to the Father. His resurrection authenticates his message because he said it was going to happen ahead of time. He is the Son of God. He is the Savior of the world. That's what the angels pronounced to Mary and to the shepherds. Call his name Jesus because he's going to save people from their sins.

The angels told the shepherds, Hey, this day is born in the city of Bethlehem a Savior who is Christ the Lord. He's given to us a Savior. And if you're here this morning and you have never received Jesus Christ as your Savior,

I want to invite you to do that in a moment. Receive the gift. Now, how do you receive this gift? We understand, okay, here's the reasons why I'm supposed to receive it. Because it's for us. It's for me. It's addressed to me. It's a gift that God has given to me. His gift is a child. He became a man for us. His gift is a son. He is God. His gift...

has all authority and all power. His gift is wonderful. His gift is a counselor. His gift is the mighty God. His gift is the everlasting Father. And His gift is the Prince of Peace. Great reasons to receive the gift of God, far greater than any gift that you or I could give or receive. How do I receive that gift? Very simply, in John 3, 16, again, for God so loved the world that He gave...

as a gift, His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. How do you receive this gift? Simply by believing in Jesus Christ, confessing Him as Lord. And He will come into your life and give you new life. He'll give you spiritual life, relationship with God. And you'll be able to say, Oh man, He's wonderful. He's my counselor. He's the mighty God. He's my everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

God wants to be real to you and in your life. For those who are here and are Christians, let me encourage you again. Receive the gift of God. Yes, you've received it. But as we celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ, I challenge you to really meditate on this. Receive the gift of God. It's very easy for us to forget that He is wonderful. It's very easy for us to forget that He is the Counselor.

And we go for others, for direction, instruction, for guidance. It's very easy for us to forget that He's the mighty God. And we rely upon other things for strength. It's easy for us to forget that He's the everlasting Father. Or that He's the Prince of Peace. It's easy for us. We remember the birth, we remember the cross. But remember the relationship.

Because, as I mentioned earlier, Abraham, Lincoln, George Washington, why do we celebrate their birthdays? Not because of that baby that was born, but because of the man they became.

And as we celebrate Christmas, celebrate it. Wonderful. It's awesome. Celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. But celebrate it for more than just that baby in the manger. Celebrate it for the man he became. And that was the man, Jesus, to die for us, that we might have relationship with God. And so I encourage you, receive the gift of God by having relationship with God and spending time with God today and tomorrow and the next day. Receive the gift of God. Spend time with him.

How do you receive a gift? Well, it's very easy. I take it and I unwrap it. And I don't know if I want to unwrap this because I spent a lot of time. Don't do that to Jesus, okay? I'll just leave it there. You receive it by taking it, opening it up, grabbing hold of what's inside and experiencing it. And that's what Jesus wants you to do with him today. To say, wow, this wonderful gift of God. And so take a moment.

And open it up. And say, yes, Jesus, I receive. I receive your salvation. I receive, God, this gift that you've given to me. Right relationship with you. And spend time with him. Open up the word of God. And read. Open up your mouth. And share with him. And speak to him. How do you receive the gift of God? It's by believing. But believing is more than just a head knowledge. I accept it. Check. That fact is accepted.

It's then I take it the next step. He came to have relationship with me. So I'm going to have relationship with him. And I'm going to set aside some time, especially today on his birthday, to spend a few moments with him. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, Lord, the gift that you've given to us and your son is far greater than we can even grasp. So Lord, forgive us. Lord, if we've not regarded your gift highly enough,

And I pray that this Christmas, this day, this afternoon, would be a day to remember you, to dwell with you, to have relationship with you, to remember that you were born, but more than that, the reason why you were born, that we would spend time in relationship with you. And God, I pray for those who have never received you as their Savior and Lord. I thank you, God, that you make it so easy for us that we simply just believe and confess with our mouth that you are Lord.

If that's you this morning and you would like to receive Jesus Christ, you can easily do so. Just follow along with me in your heart and you can pray this prayer after you. Lord Jesus, I believe that you sent your Son. I believe that I cannot make it into heaven on my own, but you sent your Son to pay for my sins and to open the way for me to have relationship with you, for me to receive eternal life. Thank you for your gift.

So, Lord, I receive it. You are Lord. You are God. Come into my life. Make me born again. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. Amen. Lord, I pray for the rest of us as well. That we would spend time with you. That we would worship you. And that this Christmas would be so special, Lord, because you're here with us. And that's the greatest gift that could ever be given. Your presence.

Your love, your joy, you're wonderful, your counselor, you're the mighty God, you're the everlasting Father, and you're the Prince of Peace. Be a part of our lives. Lord, may we make you a bigger part of ours. In Jesus' name we pray. We pray you have been blessed by this Bible teaching. The power of God to change a life is found in the daily reading of His Word. Visit ferventword.com to find more teachings and Bible study resources.