The Vineyard Church of North Grand Rapids, MI

Here at Vineyard North we've been talking for several weeks about gifts we can give to our family members, our neighbors, and people in distress. Believe it or not, all traditions have roots, and holiday gift giving has its roots in the birth of Jesus Christ, an event that took place over 2000 years ago. On the first Christmas, God sent his son Jesus into the world, not to condemn anyone, but to provide the gift of new life. Jesus birth was God's gift to us. And, several wise men responded by giving Jesus gifts of their own-gifts fit for a king. So, Christmas has become synonymous with gift-giving, gift cards . . . and gift returns.

This evening I want to talk briefly with you about receiving a gift-about receiving God's gift, Jesus Christ. Every year family members, friends, and neighbors come to holiday gatherings like this one and have a good time, but leave empty-handed. Some people are afraid to reach out to God and receive his gift. God understands that. That's why, when Jesus was born, God sent an angel to the shepherds and, the angel declared,

"Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy"

It's OK to be honest. The very idea of God can bring up some scary images and disturbing thoughts. For many, the very idea of God seems too much like an abusive father or a controlling mother, or a mean teacher or a distant supervisor-an intimidating authority figure. Have you ever considered why Jesus entered our world as a baby? Why he was born in a stable to a common young girl?

Probably to reduce the intimidation factor, to communicate that he's approachable, that he didn't come to punish us or to overpower us, but to surprise us with new possibilities for our lives. He came as a baby so that we'd know that we have the power to ignore him, reject him, walk away from him. We all have the power and the freedom to receive or to reject God's Christmas gift. Surprising as it may seem, God sent Jesus into the world as a baby so that we could know that God has made himself vulnerable to our attitudes and opinions, our prejudices and decisions. We're in control of our decisions.

What's to receive tonight? Jesus and real happiness. Everyone wants to be happy. God wants you to be happy. The angel said to the shepherds,

"I bring you good news of great joy"

It might surprise you, but God is a happy guy. He enjoys his life, and he enjoys spreading the happiness around among his friends. One of the famous musicians of the Bible, King David, wrote a song with this line, "you fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand".

The problem with happiness and pleasure is that it's got a short shelf life. Our circumstances are like roller coasters, rocketing us into 6 g's of happiness one moment and then slamming us into hard corners of frustration and disappointment the next. There are no sure-fire guarantees of lasting happiness in this life-not in marriage and family, health and career, relationships and leisure pursuits.

The happiness God offers is lasting, because he is eternal. Everyone's life is hard. No one escapes disappointment and loss. That's life. I'm 52 and I haven't met anyone who has found lasting happiness in this life. But, Jesus offers a relationship and a life, a purpose and a mission that consistently pumps joy into our hearts.

What's to receive tonight? Jesus and happiness. But that's not all. If our greatest need had been information, God might have sent a teacher. If our greatest need had been technology, God might have sent an engineer. If our greatest need had been money, God might have sent an economist or an entrepreneur. But, our greatest needs are forgiveness and freedom. The two categories of stress and anxiety that wake us up at night are almost always related to forgiveness for our failures and freedom to live a great life. Talk to people about what is not working in their lives and you'll hear some basic themes. If feel stuck. I feel trapped. I feel lost. So God sent his Son to be our Savior. The angel went on to say,

"I bring you good news of great joy . . . today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you.

What's to receive tonight? Jesus and hope. Jesus came into our world as a baby to offer himself as a Savior-someone who offers to rescue us from guilt and regret, from self-destructive life patterns (even addictions), to provide a meaningful purpose in life. Forgiveness, freedom, and fulfillment-that's what a Savior can provide . . . if you invite him into your life . . . like a gift.

It's been a while since I've been swimming, but lifeguards are saviors of a sort. Lifeguards are taught to follow an unusual rescue process. They quickly swim out to a person who is in distress, but they stay slightly out of reach, treading water, trying to get the person in distress to relax. If a life guard swims right up to a person in a panic who believes they are about to die, that person will grab onto the life guard in a thrashing death grip that will sink them both. So, the lifeguard will wait until the swimmer in distress is at the very point of exhaustion, of giving up. That's when the lifeguard, the savior will reach out to pull their head above water and swim them into safety.

It's like that with Jesus. As long as we're trying to work things out for ourselves . . . as long as we keep swearing that we're OK . . . as long as we keep trying to figure things out for ourselves . . . as long as we keep working to turn over a new leaf . . . . as long as we keep thrashing around trying to make our lives work . . . Jesus waits. "If you're sure that you're the captain of your own fate, that you can work it out, that you don't need any help, I'll just watch you. But, I'm here. My eyes are on you. And, I'm ready to reach out to you, when you're ready to give up, when you're ready to relax and admit, "I need a higher power in my life". I'm here. I'm ready to risk my life for yours.

Some of you have brought a boat load of cynicism with you into the room tonight. You expect 2008 to be just as bad as 2007, maybe worse. You've spent the past year trying to save your marriage, save your career, save what little pride you have left. There is hope for you. Are you ready to receive God's gift of hope? It's wrapped up in Jesus.

What's to receive tonight? Jesus and Happiness, Jesus and Hope, Jesus and Peace.

The angels who celebrated Jesus' birth declared this,

"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests"

Jesus came into the world to provide mankind with peace with God-the peace of knowing that God is for you and with you every step of the way. When men and women open their hearts to receive peace with God, Jesus fills their hearts with the peace of God-a steadiness inside that doesn't depend on circumstances outside. People who have peace with God and know the peace of God, have a much easier time living in peace with other people at home, at school, at work. People who are filled with God's peace become forgivers and bridge-builders, a people who help bring peace into a world filled with bitterness and conflict.

If you decide to receive Jesus as a gift in your life tonight, he'll provide you with happiness, with hope, and with peace. You won't regret it. But, you've got to decide to reach out of the gift and receive it.

Let's imagine for a moment that you decide to shop for a special gift for me. Unfortunately, it turns out that it's harder to find this gift than you expected, and it's more costly than you anticipated. But, you buy it for me anyway, and give it to me after a meeting like this. You're hoping that I take the gift in hand, unwrap it, and explode with gratitude. But, I just do what I'm expected to do. I smile, act really appreciative, tell you ‘thanks' and hand it to my wife, as I leave the building. You'd probably wish that I had opened it right there so that you could see my reaction and I could know how much you cared about me. But, evidently I had a lot of other things on my mind.

Now imagine that a year goes by and we get together and you ask me about the gift. And I say, "Oh my gosh. That's right. I know exactly where it is. Life has been soooo busy, and I got soooo many other gifts last year, and I've been so busy distracted, that I just never got around to opening it. I'm sure it's still around the house somewhere. I'll look for it. But, isten, I don't want you to feel bad. I know that care about me and you want the best for me. I got that. Thanks for everything. I'll see you later.

If I treated you and your costly gift this way, you'd probably feel hurt. Because you put so much of your heart into the gift, you might even be heartbroken. You'd also think, Ray, isn't as bright as I thought. All he had to do was to stop, take the gift in his hands, and unwrap it. You'd probably be feeling just a little like God feels tonight.

This Christmas, I'm urging you to accept the gift of God's Son, Jesus. Take Jesus into your heart. You'll be happy you did. You'll find hope. You'll experience peace. Only you can make the decision to receive Jesus into your life. God's greatest gift is your for the taking tonight.

Most people make the decision in prayer: "Jesus, come into my life. I've believed in you; now I'm deciding to receive you as my Savior. Forgiveness, freedom, fulfillment . . . I need it all. As much as I know how, I'm deciding to trust my life to you, to let you in to my heart to get to know the real me, and to change me into the man or woman you created me to be. Thank you. Merry Christmas to you too".

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