No Surprise

Greeneville Seventh-day Adventist Church: And it's that time of year, whether you like it or not, society's focusing on shopping for that special gift, right? Or making that special gift. And you may be wondering, you know, I know the men haven't started shopping yet. You know, it's not Christmas Eve. But you may be wondering what gift to give that special someone. And never fear, because the pen of inspiration shares some great Christmas gift ideas. Sister White recommends gifts that focus on the gift of Jesus. As we've been studying the book of Matthew, most lately the Sermon on the Mount, we have the sense that we need to be there for each other. Do unto others like we talked about last Sabbath. Taking care of those created in God's image. So she emphasizes giving to those in need. That's what our offering was about today. Providing for the poor. She also focuses on gifts for the ministries of Christ's church. Thank you for bridged the gap. She talks about giving to missionaries who do not have the luxuries that we enjoy every day. Just be informed on how you do that before you do that. When we moved to Kenya. We left many dear friends in our church and we told them, don't send us any packages because in Kenya, when it arrives at the post office, you have to pay for it again. The complete value of what they think that package is worth. And one couple didn't hear those instructions and we were so grateful to hear that a large box had arrived with our Thanksgiving dinner in it. Of course, it was already the new year. after the New Yearaways, before we even heard it was in the post office. We don't know even when it arrived. And we appreciated the gift so much, but we went to the post office to pick it up. And not only were they charging us for the value of the contents, which they deemed to be $70, they charged us for the rent in the post office for where the box took up space. So it came close to $100 and we said, Enjoy the Thanksgiving meal that was sent to you from the United States. I hope you like vegetarian turkey. ⁓ our friends totally understood when we told them. said, we couldn't afford to pick it up. So when you give to the missionaries, find out how to do that. ⁓ Make it so that they actually receive that gift. Ellen White does, she does not leave out our family and our friends. She says, it is right to bestow upon one another tokens of love and remembrance if we do not forget God, our best friend. We should make our gifts such as would prove a real benefit to the receiver. I would recommend such books as will be an aid in understanding the word of God or that will increase our love for its precepts. Provide something to be read during those long winter evenings. We like surprises, We like to surprise those we love and we like to receive a surprise usually. Something unexpected. But I learned early in life that my mother was not easy to surprise. I remember my brother and his wife came over and they brought a box about this long and about eight inches on either side and they said it there and they said, okay, don't open until Christmas. And my mother walked over to it and lifted one end and she said, thanks for the lava lamp. And the little shocked look on their face was an indication she guessed right. We don't know how she guessed that. She'd never had one before and she hasn't had one since. But she guessed. How did she know? How did she avoid being surprised? She knew her son. She knew his wife. She knew them too well to be surprised. The greatest gift ever given was and is the gift of Jesus. Unfortunately, for most of the people on this earth, it was a huge surprise. Why? Because those created in his image did not recognize him, because they didn't know him. Or they thought they knew him, but they found out they were. This gift from God was never meant to be a surprise. In fact, it should have been the most planned for reception of a gift in human history. Humanity had 4,000 years to figure it out, 4,000 years to prepare to receive this gift. The sanctuary service that they were still observing pointed to it. The first announcement of the gift happened in Genesis 315 which says, and I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed. He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel." Then throughout the Old Testament, descriptions of the gift were given and they were all fulfilled only in one man, and that's Jesus. We knew that Jesus was to be Jewish in descent, therefore was the seed of Abraham. In Genesis 22, 18, we are told that through Abraham's offspring, all nations of the earth shall be blessed. We also know that he is from the line of Jacob, Abraham's grandson, because Balaam said in Numbers 24, 17, I see him, but not now. I behold him, but not near. A star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise. of Israel. From Isaiah 11, 1, and 2 we know that he was from the line of Jesse, the father of King David. It says, there shall come forth a rod from the stem of Jesse and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him. And then in Isaiah 53 we find a whole chapter describing his mission and his suffering and death. The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. From Jeremiah 23, five and six, we know that he's from the line of King David. Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, that I will raise to David a branch of righteousness. A king shall reign and prosper and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In his days, Judah will be saved and Israel will dwell safely. Now this is his name by which he will be called, the Lord our righteousness. Reaffirming that Jesus is from the line of King David, we have this prophecy from 2 Samuel 7, 12 and 13, which was actually spoken by Samuel to King David. When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you who will come from your body and will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house in my name and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. Now this is talking about Solomon building the temple and later the offspring of Jesus, sorry, the offspring Jesus reigning for eternity. From the prophecy of Malachi 5-2, we know he was born into the tribe of Judah in the region of Ephratheth in the town of Bethlehem, where it says, but you, Bethlehem, Ephratheth, though you are little among thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to me the one to be ruler in Israel, whose going forth are from old, from everlasting. From Isaiah 14, we know that he was born from a virgin. Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Emmanuel. Emmanuel means God with us. It indicates the divinity of Jesus the Messiah. That Jesus would be worshipped by shepherds from the desert and foreign kings would present gifts to him as also revealed Psalm 72, 9 and 11. Those who dwell in the wilderness will bow before him and his enemies will lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and the Isles will bring presents. The kings of Sheba and Seba will offer gifts. Yea, all the kings shall fall down before him. All nations shall serve. When Jesus was born, King Herod slaughtered many of the children in an attempt to kill him. This is predicted in Jeremiah 31, 15. Thus says the Lord, a voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted for her children because they are no In response to this attempt on the life of Jesus, Joseph is warmed in a dream to take Jesus to Egypt where they stayed until Herod died. And this was all predicted as well. Hosea 11.1, when Israel was a child, I loved him. And out of Egypt, I called my son. So does this sound like a surprise? It's all pointing to the event, when it would happen, where it would happen, how it would happen, what it would mean. And many more other prophecies can be found throughout the Old Testament. But now turn to the New Testament, the book of John, chapter five. John chapter 5. This week, I was over at the school and one of the high schoolers asked me a question. He said, why didn't they recognize him when he came? And why didn't they know that was the Messiah? I well, it had to do with pride. had to, you well, ugh. Wait a minute, that's not, we haven't been preaching that kind of a mission and he's proven us wrong so we've got to say it's not him. We'll look bad since we're wrong. Another reason is, wait a minute, will I lose my position if I acknowledge him? sad, how selfish, will I not be able to be tops anymore, will I have to let somebody else have the high ground? And I thought about it more after I answered the question. said, wait a minute. Are we not the same way, possibly? Are we in danger of missing the second coming for the same reasons they missed the first? Because in the first coming, they were hoping for somebody to take care of them in a way that was not intended. I want him to come and take care of the Romans so we can all be happy. And while I say, how many times have I not prayed, Lord, I hate this situation I'm in. I wish you were here. That's the same thing. What's the difference? I should know God well enough. I should know his son well enough to say, Lord, when you come, help me recognize you because I know you, I know you. and I love you and I want your coming to bring you glory not me relief. Come at the best time and help us to be ready. In John chapter 5 verse 39 Jesus says, search the scriptures for in them you think you have eternal life and these are they which testify of me. But you are not willing to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive honor from men, but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. I have come in my Father's name and you do not receive me." The coming of the Messiah was not supposed to be a surprise. It was supposed to be a welcoming time. But it was a surprise. Did they not know the scriptures? Oh, they knew the scriptures. Remember, Herod? Where was he to be born? The wise man, oh yeah, he was supposed to be born in Bethlehem. They knew, that's why the babies were killed in Bethlehem. They knew the scriptures. They just did not know the scripture giver and did not recognize him even though the picture of him from prophecy was in high resolution. Just as the scriptures testified of Jesus and his first coming, they also testify of Jesus and his second coming. Turn to 1 Thessalonians chapter 5. 1 Thessalonians chapter five, verse one. But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say peace and safety, then sudden destruction comes upon them as labor pains on a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep as others do, but let us watch and be sober." What's he saying here? You have no need to be surprised. Yeah, it's going come as a thief to a lot of people, just like the first coming did. But you are of the light. You know I'm coming. Keep your eyes open. So how do we avoid being surprised? By knowing Him too well to be surprised. By understanding what the Scriptures testify about Him. By accepting the gift that was offered at His first coming. This communion service is a reminder of the gift we have accepted in humility. It points back to his sacrifice. It points forward as a reminder of his soon coming where those who truly love him will not be surprised. Matthew 26 says this, and as they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to the disciples and said, take and eat. This is my body. And then he took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying, drink from it, all of you. For this is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." See, it points to that banqueting day that we are looking forward to. Jesus says I give you these reminders now So that you will not forget so that you will not be surprised That's why we have our communion service so that we can remember the sacrifice of the first coming and look forward to the Banqueting table when we can eat this with our Lord when he can once again Drink the fruit of the vine which I know he loves and he wants us to be there with him to drink it with him And to be there, pride can't exist. We have to have humility. So we're also reminded that that is part of the service. That's why we have a foot washing service, to remind us that we are to be humble before one another and before God so that we can enter in through that straight and narrow gate. So at this time, we will have our foot washing service. The children can go to the kindergarten room for the children's story. And we have a room over this direction for the men and another room for the women. Let's divide up at this time. If you'd like to stay here for some reason, please feel welcome to do that as well.

John 5 · chapter mention John 5:39 1 Thessalonians 5 · chapter mention