Our indescribable gift

Bikers Church Cape Town

Our indescribable gift Pastor George Lehman 25 December – the day or date is not important? What is important is that it did happen. Psalm 118:22-24 - 22The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; 23the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad. My scripture this morning is 2 Corinthians 9:15 (NIV). It’s a short verse – only 8 words long. Paul says: “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” [Maar God sy dank vir sy onuitspreeklike gawe] Most of us have survived the shopping experience. Choosing Christmas gifts for those special people in our lives. Let me ask you: “have you ever received an “indescribable gift?” I thought about this - what kind of gift would it have to be, to be called “indescribable”? If you opened it, what would you say? Wow, it’s beautiful, something you always wanted. Whatever the gift, what would make it an indescribable gift? There are many life tales of great gifts given to people: Mark Shuttleworth gave each one of his employees R1 Million. When he sold his company Joan Linden, a radio show host, featured some gift ideas: $300 000 for a gold and silver toilet seat inlaid with precious stones (R5.7 Million). “You could be King of your Castle on this seat”. $18 000 frisbee (R342000) $10 000 Yo-yo (R190000) $12 000 mouse trap (R228000) $27 000 pair of sunglasses (R513000) and then for grand parentsto buy for the new baby - $28 000 dummy (R532 000) boats and cars valued at billions of rand. I think these gifts stagger our imagination – don’t they? But all these human gifts are very describable by someone. Paul at first talking about gifts in the passage of scripture in 2 Cor 9 – he is discussing human gifts. He commends them for their eagerness to help and for their generosity for giving so abundantly. If you sow sparingly, you will reap sparingly. If you sow generously, you will reap generously. The attention then goes to God’s gift of sending Jesus. Paul has no words to describe this. All he says is: “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.” A gift beyond description. So many people, poets, musicians, painters and sculptors have tried to bring tribute and express this indescribable gift the person Jesus, the gift of God’s love. Why does Paul call Jesus “INDESCRIBABLE”? I think there are at least 4 reasons I’m not trying to describe it, because I can’t. But I want to stir your heart to focus afresh on “God’s gift to you”. #1 Because of His nature How do you describe Jesus? What words would you choose? How do you describe God in flesh – reaching out to the hurting masses of humanity and being the 100% cure? John 10:10 (AMP) – The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). “God’s love is not logical. It is unimaginable that God descended in His Son to bring salvation to ungrateful people. Jesus became what we are in order to make us what He is.” Isaiah said: He will be called Emmanuel (God with us); Paul said: We can’t describe the “indescribable” gift The sms making its rounds lately reads as follows: He had no servants – yet they called Him MASTER No degrees – yet they called Him TEACHER No medicine – yet they called Him HEALER No army – yet the King’s FEARED Him He won no military battles – yet He CONQUERED the world He committed no crime – yet they CRUCIFIED Him He was buried – yet He ROSE AND LIVES TODAY! The birth of Jesus brought God to man, BUT it took the cross of Jesus Christ to bring man to God. He is indescribable! #2 Because of His purpose in coming to earth What is the Christmas celebration [Kersfees vieringe] about after all? Not decorated trees, not presents, not holidays, not some overweight dude wearing red either. OUR GREATEST NEED: for HIS coming If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist; If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist; If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; The Answer is: Our greatest needwas forgiveness, so God sent us a Saviour – to bring hope to a lost, sinful world. God’s gift is indescribable! #3 Because of the grace by which Jesus is given We buy gifts for people we know – like our wife and kids because it’s kind of the right thing to do. Normally if people give us a gift, we feel obliged to give one back. We feel we must help the needy, the poor, because we have an obligation to them. This is what makes God so special – He doesn’t owe us anything, in fact: Romans 5:8 (NIV) - But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. We deserved the WORST, but we got the BEST. A gift is not a gift if you pay for it – it’s free by GRACE. Lastly, it’s indescribable! #4 Because of His overwhelming [oorweldigende] effect on us The gifts you got for Christmas may be wonderful and you may be very thankful, BUT tomorrow you will still be the same – it will not change you. The Bible teaches that when we accept Jesus Christ, “The indescribable gift”, we can NEVER be the same again. Our sins are forgiven and forgotten. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) - “We’re a brand-new person.” Let us thank God for this season as we celebrate “His indescribable gift”, JESUS, to a lost world. He became like us– that we might become like Him. He was rejected– that we might be accepted. He was condemned– that we might be forgiven. He was punished– that we might be pardoned. He suffered– that we might be strengthened. He was whipped– that we might be healed. He was hated– that we might be loved. He was crucified– that we might be justified. He was tortured– that we might be comforted. He died– that we might live. He went to hell– that we might go to Heaven. He endured what we deserved– that we might enjoy what only He deserves.