Unwrap Eternal - Kingdom Gifts

Thanks for checking out the Anchor Faith Message podcast

from St. Augustine, FL.

Now enjoy this message. Merry Christmas Eve.

It's Christmas Eve going into Christmas.

You know, I was raised in church.

My mother, when she got pregnant with my sister, had just

recently been born again and so didn't know a whole lot

concerning the scripture or God for that matter.

She just knew she was born of God.

And you know, when we're growing in the things of God, you know,

the Bible calls us babes in Christ.

That means, you know, we're needing to develop, mature.

We don't know everything and we'll never know everything.

Don't get me wrong, but there's an infancy in Christ and then

there's a maturity in Christ. And a person mature in Christ

knows how to pray. A person in mature in Christ

don't know how to pray. And a lot of times God will help

us along the way because he wants to teach us.

How to pray? Amen.

And so my mom made a statement, said Lord.

If you'd give me a healthy child, I'm going to follow you.

Now she's negotiating. Couple of things is you don't

need to negotiate with God, just need to know what his word

means. Amen.

But my our heavenly Father, such a good father, he was letting

her know it is my will for you to have healthy children.

And so when my sister was born, because she was going to church,

she said I'll raise my children in church.

And so she came out healthy. And from there they were going

to church. Well, three years later I came

and man, we were in church and that's what we did.

And if we didn't go to church on Sunday, something was wrong.

I said something was wrong. Now my father wasn't a person

who went to church. He stayed at the house.

He was honestly mad at God because of some childhood

things. And it took him, you know, to

the end of his life to come around.

And But he only came around because he had a wife who prayed

and he had children who prayed and who lived in front of him.

The word of God. Amen.

Don't be waiting around thinking you going to be all right till

the end. Hallelujah.

But in his case, it was. And I remember one particular

Sunday, I decided I wanted to stay home with Dad, you know,

And I couldn't just say, hey, mom, I want to stay home.

And my dad was wise enough to never go against God with Mom,

so he wouldn't say, well, this. And my son, he can stay home

with me if he wants. To.

He didn't do that, didn't play that card, so I had to play the

sick card. Because if you were sick.

You know, you could stay home. So I was complaining, Mom, I

don't feel good. I don't feel like going today,

like many people, you know, I don't feel like going today.

Right. You know, So we fake a cough,

right? I wasn't Ferris Bueller yet, you

know, I wasn't at that level of of manipulation for those who

know who that is. But, you know, I just did a

little cough, you know, moping around, and my mom had some

wisdom. She had.

She heard the Holy Ghost and she said, now Earl Wayne, she called

me Earl Wayne. She said, Earl Wayne, if you're

too sick to go to school, church, then you understand this

afternoon you're going to be too sick to go outside and play.

Well, I find myself instantly healed.

It was a miracle in the house that day and I made it to church

and lo and behold, I got to play that afternoon.

Amen. But we did have quite a few

traditions in my home growing up.

You know, there were things we did, things that I didn't carry

over necessarily as I became a husband and a father.

Some things I did a little different than my parents.

But let me just say it this way. I don't know how much worldly

traditions you have this weekend.

And, you know, they're worldly because they're not in the

Bible. But I want you to know, you do

have a filter. It's called the word of God.

And because of that, you know, there's certain things that we

do during this time. There's certain things that we

recognize. There's certain individuals we

recognize, you know, and we didn't keep our allegiance to

them because they weren't real people, right?

But they're in a world where people don't have the filter we

have. It's actually quite problematic

because they're raised to trust in someone that doesn't exist,

only to find out later they weren't real.

And then when we try to tell them about Jesus, that can

become a problem. Amen.

So, but in the keeping of traditions, you know, my my

parents were good about keeping the best presence until we went

to bed. You understand what I'm saying?

It was those gifts that showed up under our Christmas tree

after we were asleep. All right.

Now, my mom had a plethora of gifts, you know, and the gifts

that were under the tree starting around, you know, the

middle of December, were the necessity ones.

You understand? The underwear to socks.

OK, we're talking pajamas, some kind of clothes.

I remember the granimals back in the day.

How many remember the granimals back in the day, you know, And

so they would still have the tags on.

So I know how they match. This is why I'm problematic now.

I have a hard time going into Marshalls.

I was there yesterday and I went through and I went to my wife.

She said, you find anything? I said no, there's nothing from

me here. We left with six shirts.

Now, if they had granimals for adults, I'd be all right.

I say, if it's not on a mannequin, honey, it's very

problematic for me. I just can't see how it comes

together. Are you hearing me?

So, you know, if we go to the mall where there's a mannequin,

I'm like, I could wear that now I can wear it if I look like the

mannequin. Amen.

Some of y'all need to say get a mannequin.

That's my size. So I know what it's going to

look like when it's on there. Because even the mannequins are

liars. Have you noticed them that

they'll have their shirts all bunched up in the back?

Now who walks around with a little clip in the back of their

shirt like that? I'll do it through the day.

It looks good here. But now I get around back and

like that shirt was too big for you so but they would put the

best ones out, right? Because you know whenever we

woke up, you know, the whole deal was is you're supposed to

let mom and dad know. There was 1 Christmas.

My sister and I had attained to a layer of maturity.

What do I mean by that is we were thinking about others

besides ourself. And so we woke up and it

traditionally it went this way. Kim wakes me up.

I don't wake up first. She wakes me up.

So she wakes me up and she says it's time, right, It's time.

And so we get over there and she goes, Now let's be quiet and

let's don't wake up mom and. Dad, this year, let's let them

sleep in. Man, aren't we good kids.

So it was the quietest unwrapping of presents ever.

But we were taking on down, bro. We were like, screaming at each

other quietly, right? It's called Whisper yelling

what? I got next one, right?

And so all of a sudden my mom woke up and she comes in and

finds the majority of the gifts open and she hits the light.

What are you doing? We're like, it's like we're

caught. They had my name on it.

I didn't steal a thing, right? I didn't steal a thing.

They had my name on it. We're like, well, we were going

to let you sleep in and I'll never forget my mom, she says.

Don't y'all understand that the greatest gift for your dad and I

is to see your face when you open the gift?

So I was like, we'll wrap them again.

I'll unwrap them. I'll fake this thing, no

problem. Because I am the unwrapping gift

guy like you little basket people here.

I'm not a big fan of y'all. Y'all need redemption.

I mean, who? How fun is this?

But man, when you start tearing that thing down, I mean, be the

one, like that one guy was talking about this.

I'm. I mean, I'm just bringing a

little humor because I'm going to bring some good stuff here.

I think it was Tim Hawkins. What's his?

Is that What's the? Comedian.

Is that his name? Tim Hawkins.

He was talking about getting a doll for his daughter for

Christmas. Well, you know how they strap

them down, He said. They must have got this from the

state penitentiary that the prisoner was like, if I can't

get out, they. Ain't getting out.

You know, 'cause if you've done that, you're like, how many

rubber bands and zip ties do we got to do the whole Barbie on

this piece of paper right now, right?

And so, you know, I'm the God, you wrap it up.

I've got a few people that give me gifts that have gifts within

gifts and I just keep unwrapping because I like that.

It's like an adventure. What's on the inside?

I want to unwrap some things. Well, with that being said,

Second Corinthians chapter 4, we're going to look at verse 18,

2 Corinthians 4 · chapter mention

Second Corinthians chapter 4, verse 18.

2 Corinthians 4:18

We could quote it because we've done it so many times, as you

know, but it bears repeating. And to get our eyes on it.

And 2nd Corinthians chapter 418. It says why we look not at the

things which are seen, but at the things which are what not

seen. For the things which are seen

are temporal, In other word is temporary.

But the things which are not seen or what they're eternal,

they're eternal. Now you as know as well as I do

that there are a lot of gifts that you buy for your children

or for people that you know they don't want, right?

They're just stuffers. They just make it seem like they

got more. Come on.

I mean, what's the reason for a stocking stuffer?

Can anyone remember anything you got in your stocking as a child?

OK, Kohl's, that would be a shock and you probably remember

that, OK? But most don't remember, OK, And

it do you remember every year what you got in your stocking.

That means they put the same thing in there every year if you

do. No, I mean, typically, you know,

we don't, right? It's probably candy.

At least that's what my mom did. She put candy in mine and it was

gone. It was temporary, right?

It was usually gone that day, you know?

And then I passed it the next day.

So it was completely away from me.

I mean, even last 24 hours, right?

I mean, that gift's gone. It was temporary and it

definitely didn't do my body. Any good?

All that sugar? Hallelujah.

All right. But there are other gifts as

well. You would have it and they play

for a little bit and then disregard it, throw it away.

It's almost like a disposable. Gift, right?

You know Kid loves it, thinks it's awesome.

Throw it to the side. Bam, going to the next one.

Because usually we're building up to the gift, right?

The one. That they were asking, you know,

typically, OK, which one do you want?

What's your big gift? Right.

And that's the one I remember one year when I got my BMX bike,

that was the gift. And that was easy to spot when I

came in, All right. And I rode that thing.

I rode that thing for years. It had at least three or four

different paint jobs because my dad was a painter, OK, He did,

you know, residential. He didn't do vehicles.

Although we could tap into that. And so I would strip that bike

down, man. I would sand it.

I would paint it. It had different colors, man.

I would run that thing. That bike was really awesome.

Had mag wheels on it, bro. They were bad.

And so and I was fast and I would jump things and I would

ride to school because back in the day you could ride to school

without subject of, you know, bad stuff.

So it was totally different life back then.

But it's still temporary. I said they're temporary.

But I want to talk to you about some gifts today that are

eternal. I said that are eternal.

And the thing about our eternal gifts is that unlike my jacket

that I'm wearing right now and you know, someone could buy me a

shirt that I could wear for multiple years as long as I

don't grow out of it one way or the other or it doesn't tear or

something. It's still a temporary item, but

the eternal things are not seen but yet they're always available

if we just know how to gain access to them.

And what's awesome about these gifts, as these gifts are new

every day. I said they don't wear out,

they're awesome. OK so with that being said, in

Romans chapter 6 verse 23 it says it this way for the wages

Romans 6:23

of sin is death, but the free gift of God is what?

Eternal life? In Christ Jesus our Lord, so the

gift of God is eternal. Life.

Now, it's important for us to understand about eternal,

because all of us are eternal. You know, this is one of the

things that, you know, we say, but a lot of times people aren't

actually equating what's being said because we say now if you

accept Jesus as Lord, you'll have eternal life.

And so at that point they say, OK, I'll live forever, But what

they don't understand is they're actually going to live forever

already. It's the quality of their

eternity that's at stake. OK, so based upon the definition

of what we know is life, right? A breathing of consciousness.

OK, you know, so we say that, you know, a lot of times people

don't really grasp what we're talking about because all beings

are eternal. Some are already eternally dead,

meaning they're separated from God.

But they exist. And that's why there's troubles

and trials and issues within their lives that they can't seem

to get a hold of and a handle on.

And no matter how they try to find something else to supply,

suppress, or to conquer, overcome the feelings of guilt,

shame and different things like that, all these euphoric

opportunities that they have, that they they live here, but

the next day they're way down here.

You know, they have these seasons of up and down

constantly in their lives. Nothing comes to satisfy.

Affection. Well, when you're separated from

God eternally, then you understand there's nothing that

satisfies 'cause. Even the temporary fixes of

alcohol relationships and different things of that nature,

you know, they're just. Temporary We unwrap women, we

unwrap men, we unwrap jobs, and we find that they do not

satisfy. Because we are in death still,

and it keeps us separated from the things that are God.

But those who've called on the name of Jesus, they're already

live in eternity. They already have life now.

Now we still have a touch to things that are separated from

God, 'cause we're not present with Him, but as.

Far as our existence, we are eternal with God in life, and we

can tap into that life today. And when we go through trials

and tribulation, there are gifts we can unwrap perpetually that

came with the tree of Jesus. Amen.

It's called the cross. It came through the cross that

we can go unwrap these things anytime in remembrance so that

we can tap into the life side or or the God life now and

forevermore. So James 127 says every good

thing given and get and every perfect gift is from above,

coming down from the Father of lies from.

Whom? There is no variation or the OR

shifting shadow. See, each gift is given to add

something to you, not take it away.

God's gifts is actually to help aid.

You. They're there for you now.

I'll be honest with you. Some gifts that I have used more

or what Pastor Lynette Hagan thought were trinkets because

she's really good at giving gifts.

And anytime we do something as a regional director and we're

connected with a meeting, whether I'm a speaker at camp

meeting or or call to arms or whether I'm doing something you

know with the third year pastors group or we go to a regional

directors meeting, Pastor Lynette gives gifts and a lot of

times she ends up giving these multi tool gifts that have

Rhema's logo on it. And I have used those things

even though they are not leather men or Gerber's, but they seem

to find themselves necessary at various times of my life that I

can just go grab that little trinket tool and it does what I

need it to do. Are you hearing me?

Well, you understand, when it comes to God, God's gifts are

always being added to us if we just go find it.

And utilize it. Are you hearing me?

We must always appreciate the gifts of our king.

We must not treat his gifts with little value once we assume the

one the the newness wears off. But you know when you stay in

the word, you'll realize it gets it's new.

His mercies are what, new every morning?

So that means that any of God's gifts, when we are exercising

them, when we are unwrapping them and utilizing them, they're

brand new. They are of new quality.

They don't break down. Or you hear what I'm saying?

Y'all doing all right this morning because I said I'll be

done by early, we'd be done by three today and we're going to

be all right. I told that to some first time

guests and they kind of went shocked.

Everybody who knew me laughed. Seriously, though, we'll be done

earlier than three. OK, So with that being said,

let's talk about the first gift you receive, and it's called the

gift of grace. Come on, aren't you glad for the

gift of grace now, There are multiple gifts of grace.

There's not one. So do not think there's just

one. There's a saving grace.

There's a sanctifying grace. There's a serving grace.

There's a sharing grace. There's a strengthening grace.

Jesus Christ did not need unmerited favor because Jesus

Christ never failed. Yet the Bible says he was full

of grace. So you cannot define grace as

unmerited favor. We got something we didn't

deserve. Tell me what Jesus didn't

deserve besides the cross. But it says when he was a child,

he grew in grace and favor with men.

He was full of grace. What grace was he operating in?

It was the gift of empowering grace.

It was strengthening grace. It was the grace that caused him

to look at temptation and say not here, not on me.

I'm not going to fail. I'm not going to give in to

that. Unlike my first brother Adam, I

will not yield to this deal. I will stay faithful with the

Lord. And it was God's gift of grace

that he unwrapped each time. And caused him to conquer the

the devil, his temptations, his flesh, and ultimately, the

world. Hallelujah.

Aren't you glad? So we can see this grace in

Ephesians 47 says. But to each one of us grace was

given. As Christ apportioned it, He

gave us grace. First Corinthians 14 says it

this way. I always thank God for you

because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.

Grace is a gift, and I'm thankful for the gift.

Which means in 2024 there's going to be more grace for me to

unwrap, for me to be able to function and operate in.

I mean, I had some grace functioning in 2023, but it's

nothing like the grace that I have for 2024.

Amen. That I, grace can continue to

abound in our lives. Why?

And it never gets old. Because when I need grace, it is

there for me. Hallelujah.

It is a gift from God. Well, because grace was able to

be given, and I could access that grace through faith.

Faith is what unwraps these presents, right?

I mean, think about it. Isn't unwrapping gifts faith

anyway, Because all of us, as children or even as adults, we

get a box. You know, because again, unlock

a bag. It's a little more difficult.

OK, give me your. Bag.

Yeah, Alex. Give me this bag right here.

This is so sweet. Look at this, right?

I mean, it's a little less violent because I'm afraid

whatever's in is fixing to bust out of the bottom.

It'd be like that would be embarrassing, though.

I can't fill it. I'm going to guess it's a

candle. It's going to be my guess.

Got some weight to it, right? I mean, that's what you do in a

bag. But now if this was a box, is

that a box there? No.

OK, you got one. Give me that.

One. Yeah, here we go.

Now we talking. Is this fragile?

OK. All right.

You know how it was, you were like.

You're trying to figure this out.

I'm thinking some kind of apparel is up in this thing.

I don't know. Wait a minute.

That's different. Could be a boot.

Please tell me you didn't get cowboy.

Boots in here, man. I mean, we might have to burn.

This one if these are cowboy boots.

Right, we shake it up. Now here's the thing.

Can I see what's in this box? Is there something in this box?

How do you know? You don't know?

You haven't even touched it yet. It could be.

Air in the box, but based upon it, have a little weight and

you're feeling something. You're assuming it's something.

And here's the thing. You begin to imagine, based upon

what you've said you've wanted, of whether that item based upon

weight and how you're feeling that might fit the description.

So you begin to imagine something before you even see

it. But if you're going to exercise

enjoying whatever it is. Because I've already received

it. I can walk around the rest of my

life like this. What you got?

I got a gift. Well, what is it?

It's an awesome thing. Well, what is it now?

Let's say it is a pair of boots, right.

And and I got caught, you know, in a snowstorm when my flip

flops on and then I'm, you know, I'm starting to get frostbite.

And they're like what you got in the box?

I don't know. It's a gift.

It was given to me and I'm so thankful for it.

Come on, you're hearing what I'm.

Saying what good is the gift if you don't exercise and get it

out and put it on? You got to put it on.

And this thing could be my salvation of my toes here.

But I'm not getting delivered. I'm called out to God.

Oh Lord God, please save me from the snow.

He's like, bro, open up the box. I got your boots right, and it

really is a lot of times. Thank you.

That's simple. But because we don't exercise

our faith to be able to receive the gifts that God have for us.

Oh, Lord, help us, Lord. Like, unwrap the grace in your

life. Lord, please deliver me from the

devil. Unwrap the grace in your life,

because I've done everything I can already to I've whipped him

and stripped him of his power. You need to stand up as a child

of God and speak to him operating the grace.

Are you hearing me? OK, the next.

Gift is because of grace. Faith opens it up as the gift of

salvation. You know this, John 410 Jesus

answered and said to her, He said, If you knew the gift of

God, and who it, and who it and. And who it is who says to you?

Give me a drink. You would have asked him.

And he would have given you what?

Living a world? Didn't know that he was a gift?

Didn't know he was wrapped up in a bow?

Didn't know he could get unwrapped.

Are you hearing me? You know what it says in

Ephesians chapter 2, verse 8. For by grace you have been saved

Ephesians 2:8

through faith. It is not of yourself.

It is what the gift of God. So we receive salvation.

When we called on Jesus Christ to be Lord of our lives, what

did he do? He He evicted the spirit in you

that was dead and did not know him, and put a new spirit inside

your body. Then move the Holy Ghost inside

your suit as well where he could bear witness with your spirit.

You were a child of the king. You are royalty.

You're part of the royal family right now, I said, right now.

Glory to God. So you were saved from all of

your transgression, all of your sin, every wrong you've ever

done against God, against his crown, against his Kingdom in

rebellion, total forgiveness, and you've become the

righteousness of God in Christ, which is the next.

Gift. It is the gift of righteousness.

In Romans chapter 10, verses 9 and 10, it says it this way,

Romans 10:9

that if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe

in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be

saved. For with the heart a person

believes resulting in righteousness.

That's right, standing with God. Or we can say it this way, right

standing with the governing authority.

And who is our governing authority?

It is Jesus Christ, our Lord. Lord is not a religious word.

It means supreme and authority. Jesus Christ, or the Word of

God, is the supreme authority of my life.

And when I was born again, my spirit was made in the likeness

of the King of Christ himself so that I would be made right with

God and have the ability to hear God again.

I'm in right relationship with God, and now I can grow, learn,

develop, and have all that God wants for me because I'm now in

his household. Hallelujah.

And so righteousness is accredited to us.

Look, when it says in Romans 5 verses 15 and 17, he says.

Romans 5:15

But the gift of God is not like the transgression, OK, for by

the transgression of one many died.

Much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the

one man, Jesus Christ, abound. To many the gift is not like

that which came through the one who sinned.

For the One hand the judgment arose from 1 transgression,

resulting condemnation, but on the other hand, the free gift

arose from many transgression, resulting in justification, 4 If

by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one.

Much more, those who receive the abundance of grace and of the

gift of righteousness will reign in life through the one Jesus

Christ. Now when you begin to reign in

life, you're reigning. Now this is not raining.

Once you get to heaven, you have the capacity to reign in the

earth because Jesus said, oh, now that you're in the family

when you pray, pray this way. Our Father.

Whose Father? Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be your name. Your Kingdom come, Your will be

done on earth as it is in heaven.

And as a child of God, you can have God's will done in your

life while you're still walking on this planet.

Amen. Because you've been made

righteous. Now it's your assignment to

maintain your righteousness. For the Bible tells us to

practice righteousness. And here's the problem is that

we have a grace gift given to us that's eternal.

That means every day it's like you get to go to the tree and

unwrap a whole nother free, brand new present of grace,

right? I mean, think about it now then

this is how God is. But our little minds can't

handle this. That's like you getting your

brand new vehicle, brand new. You go out not a mile on it.

I mean, you know what it smells like when it's brand new?

I mean, the factory dropped it off.

Now, Danny, they've only turned it on to make sure it was

working. And then they brought it to your

house, full tank. You get in that thing, you're

like woo and you drive around, come Home Park that thing and

the factory picks it up and takes it.

The next morning another brand new 10 miles full tank of gas,

whatever miles you run that day or the only miles you'll ever

run on that thing because the next day another brand new

vehicle shows up. I said another brand new vehicle

shows up. I mean, can you?

You'd be like and and and it's, it can be a different one,

another one, a better one. Right.

You know, I'm going to, I'm going to put in for SUV

tomorrow, Tomorrow. You know what?

I'll take a Porsche. I think I'll get that Aston

Martin tomorrow. You know what I'm feeling a

little. You know, practical.

I'm going to get a VW. You know, I need to go off

roads. I need to get me a gladiator and

I want the thing decked out. No.

Miles, you said, Well, that would be lavish.

You know what? That's what Grace.

Is. That's what salvation is.

That's what righteousness is. You can't wear it out.

You can't put mileage on the stuff and tear it up.

It's like, it's every day. Here's a brand new set.

It's brand new out-of-the-box. Here you go.

I mean, you're not like, oh, I don't want to overuse God's

grace. He's like, son, I've got an

eternal supply of this stuff. I got an eternal supply of

saving you out of all your trouble.

Salvation can come to your house on multiple levels.

Listen, I can keep you in the top performance of

righteousness, where you're living every day in the

righteousness of God, in Christ. Jesus.

I don't think I would ever get tired of opening up something

brand new at all. Now the world's taught us that

that's wrong. And again, if that's all you

were pursuing or natural things, well, that is wrong.

But when our Heavenly Father's giving out eternal gifts, it's

not wrong. He's not saying.

Well, just rub that grace off. It'll be good enough today.

I know. You're right.

This is a little dirty there. Just rub it off.

No. He's like my stuff's brand new.

I said my stuff's brand new. Top of the line doesn't break

down. Guaranteed.

Got a warranty? Forever.

Are you hearing me? Which brings me then to the next

gift. And this gift here is amazing.

It's called the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Are you hearing me? It's the gift of the Holy Spirit

1st. And then we'll go into some of

his gifts. OK, the gifts of this spirit.

Let's talk about the gift of the Holy Ghost first.

First you get the Holy Ghost in and then you have him come upon.

In Acts chapter 2 verse 38, it said Peter said to them repent.

Acts 2:38

And each of you. Be baptized in the name of the

Father or the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of

your sin, and you'll receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

We know the Bible says that we call on the name of the Lord.

We're brand new. We become a new creature in

Christ Jesus, the old past way. Behold, all things become new.

We become the temple of the Holy Ghost, Luke 1113 says.

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your

children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give the

Holy Spirit to those who ask of Him?

But we also know that this gift of the Holy Spirit has power

that comes with it, because in John chapter 21 Jesus was with

John 21 · chapter mention

his disciples after his death, burial, and resurrection.

He walks through a wall and he says to them receive ye.

The Holy Spirit in the Bible says he blew on them and they

received the Holy Ghost, which means they got the Holy Ghost

within all of those in the room that day were.

Born again, Jesus saw the salvation of man.

But then he tells that group. Now you hold on and wait until

the promise of the Father, because the Holy Ghost has got

another gift he's going to bring.

And it's called power. Because I want to give you

power. Not only do I want to bear

witness with your spirit that you're a child of God, but I

want to empower you. I want to give you power.

I want to give you power from on high so that when you're

witnessing and you're being an ambassador for me and you're

representing my Kingdom, you bring the power with you.

Are you hearing me? In Acts chapter 10 verse 45 to

Acts 10:45–46

46, it says all the uncircumcised believers who came

with Peter were amazed because the gift of the Holy Spirit have

been poured out on the Gentiles also, for they were hearing say

hearing they were hearing them speaking with.

Tongues and exalting God, Are you hearing me?

They They heard what they received on the day of

Pentecost. The power of God fell upon them

on the day of power of Pentecost.

They begin to speak in other tongues, which is just the

language of the Kingdom. OK, 'cause I have multiple

nationalities in this service right now.

I could have people jump up and speak to me in Spanish, speak to

me and Albanian, speak to me in some other languages, and none

of us would be running around going crazy.

Don't you know that the God of all tongues knows how to give a

tongue to his children? That may be unknown to us and

unfruitful to our minds, but it is from the Holy Ghost and our

Father nonetheless. And we know what it's saying,

even though we do not know what word for word because it says

he. When we pray in that language,

we're praying out the perfect will of God.

Are you hearing me? And here's an awesome thing.

The devil sure don't know what you're saying either.

Amen. Acts Chapter 11, verse 17 says,

Acts 11:17

therefore, if God gave to them the same gift as he gave to us,

Also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I

could stand in God's way? Now here's the thing with the

Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit himself brings

his own gifts. That's like unwrapping a

present. And when you unwrap it, there's

more presence. I said there's more presence.

You unwrap one, there's a present that you can see in it,

but then within it there's more. And so First Corinthians chapter

1 Corinthians 12 · chapter mention

12 verse one says this. Now concerning spiritual gifts.

Brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.

And this is Paul talking to the church because this is what's

crazy. People out like these gifts

aren't around anymore. Paul was never part of the

original apostles ever. But Paul was not the only

apostle out there after the original apostles.

There were many. If you read the Bible, actually

we're called apostles well beyond the original 12.

So the office of the Apostle is still in play today.

Not only that, when Peter first priest and people were speaking

in other tongues on the day of Pentecost, he said this gift is

for you and for all who are far off as many as the Father is

calling to himself. Will our people being called by

the Father today or people being born again today?

If people can be born again today, then they can be baptized

in the Spirit today as well. And when Paul's talking to a

church at Corinth, which by all rights was a Gentile church, and

these people had been in some gross idolatry, they were

functioning in the gifts without having the understanding of what

they were doing. And Paul being the apostle and

the church age gave instruction by the Spirit how these gifts

were to be conducted within the church services.

He goes on to say that there are 9 of.

Them in verse four of First Corinthians 12 he said, Now

there are a variety of gifts, but the same Spirit, and there

are a variety of ministries, and the same Lord.

There are a variety of effects, but the same God who works all

things and all person, but each one is given the manifestation

of the Spirit for the common. Good for to One is given the

Word of Wisdom through the spirit, to another the Word of

Knowledge according to the same spirit, to another faith, by the

same spirit, to another. Gifts of healing.

Well, you open up gifts of healing.

You get a whole bunch of other gifts.

Then we get into verse 10, To another the affecting of

miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing of

spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another

the interpretation of tongues. But each one and the same spirit

works all these things, distributing to each one

individually, just as he wills. Amen.

So here are 9 gifts that come with the Holy Ghost.

And when the Holy Ghost unwraps gifts of the Spirit, they are

multiple in that which may be when he's moving in the realm of

healing, he can have gifts that heal cancer, tuberculosis,

diabetes. You know, any element, any

disease those gifts can get in an operation.

These are gifts that are beyond just a simple laying on of hands

that a believer can do to the sick.

Are you hearing me? Because there are some cases

that requires the gifts to get in play.

And here's the thing God saying to us, there's not a case that I

cannot conquer. Are you hearing me?

Because when we are exercising the gifts, when we continue to

draw on these eternal. Gifts Again, when you receive

the baptism of the Spirit, that gift, are you opening it daily?

Are you participating in it daily?

In fact, Jude said concerning that gift.

He said you need to stir your up your most holy faith praying in

the Spirit, which means it's a gift you should unwrap every day

and you should function in Amen. You don't want to discredit any

one of these gifts, because do you remember what your life was

before you had? Any of these gifts?

Now there's another gift that the Lord gives.

It's called ministry gifts called Ministry gifts.

In Ephesians chapter 4, verse eight, it says it this way.

Ephesians 4 · chapter mention

Therefore it says when he ascended on high, he led captive

a host of captives and he gave what gifts to man.

Now this word here will go to another gift that I'll talk

about here in a minute 'cause it's not limited to ministry

gifts because when he said he gave gifts to men, he gave

everybody a gift. I said everybody is a gift.

But when we get to the 11th verse, he tells us of the of the

gifts that are very specific that he begins to outlaw.

Then he said he gave some as meaning, some gifts as apostles,

prophets, pastors, teachers, right and evangelists.

Those are very specific gifts for.

The equipment of the Saints for the building up of the body.

You should come wrap Unwrap me every service.

Are you hearing me? Now again, if I am that gift

under Christ's tree, that's like, Oh yeah, I'll get to that

one later, then you don't get the benefit of that gift.

Hey man, you don't get the benefit of that gift, any gift.

We don't unwrap, we don't get the benefit of that gift, and

it's eternal life associated with it.

So you should have the expectation.

Cause again, you know how your kids and grandkids are going to

be tomorrow or even later today? If today's that day that you're

going to let them into those gifts, they're going to be like

sitting already just waiting for you to say go and then they

going to tear off into that thing with great anticipate.

In fact, they're talking. About it, right?

When we go open them, when we go open those gifts, when we go

open those, listen to the expectation in them, right.

I mean, did did you have that same expectation, Man, I can't

wait to get to church today and unwrap pastor or I can't wait to

unwrap that gift. What is in that gift today?

What is he going to say today? What is God going to say through

that gift? I can't wait for that thing to

come. Now again, if you don't have

that, well, our church is great. Amen.

I had this thought today. I thought, yeah, that's.

I'm sure that's true, I said. Why is?

It sometimes I can get stuff like this and then other times

it's like, man, where are we going?

He said. The Lord said to me, He said,

expectation, and you think, well, that's you, that's your

problem, is it? Because when there's an

expectation of people waiting on what God's going to say.

Through you, then, you make a demand on God to give me

something. But if you don't have an

expectation, you just like I don't know what they'll say,

we'll find out when we get there and don't have any expectation.

Well then I'm like what we going to say?

Cause ain't nobody expected nothing today, 'cause if you

expect. Nothing.

I can be a nice gift wrapped. Oh, you don't?

Want to hear this? They're called display gifts.

They just put it on display. You want me to be a display

gift? 'Cause I don't want to be

unwrapped and be empty. What you got today?

Nothing. I got nothing.

How come? What's wrong with you, Pastor?

What's wrong with you? You pulling on me or something,

'cause I mean, I got enough for me all week.

I got my answers. God answered my problems.

I went to the Word. I found my stuff.

I'm growing. I'm doing something.

But we're talking about the pastor gift for you to equip

you. What do you need?

But if I'm just the same old voice.

Right. And I I mean, I try to, you

know, decorate myself differently every service,

right. I mean, good thing for YouTube

and we film. I can go.

What did I wear a couple Sundays ago?

Not going to wear that outfit. You know, put on a new present.

Amen. All right, Ephesians, chapter 3,

Ephesians 3 · chapter mention

verse seven says, of which I. Was made a minister according to

the gift of God's grace, which was given to me to the working

of his power. The last gift I'll talk about.

And there's other gifts we could talk about today, but for the

sake of Tom, I'm not going to give you These are just eternal

ones you can tap into all the time.

Because you know what? You need to look at your kids

today. You need to be honest and your

grandkids. And when they're saying who got

us this gift today, Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the ultimate gift giver.

That's who gave you this gift because of how good he is to us.

Are you hearing what I'm saying? That's just how good he is to

us, right? And you need to say, but listen,

they're gifts that we have from him that we can unwrap all the

time, just can't see them. But they are exist nonetheless.

And they're more real than this box I'm handing you right now.

It's more real, you know, than this bag I'm giving you right

now. It's more real.

And you know what? It'd be ready tomorrow.

It'd be ready the next day. And don't you ever think that

it's old, It's common. It's nothing.

No, it's the greatest gift ever. How can people, when they get

the revelation that they need Jesus as Lord all of a sudden

say His name with disdain, treat it as?

Common determine when we want to listen to Him and when we don't.

Because when we first encountered him and our death

and our guilt and our shame, we're like, man, I need Jesus

and we were so thankful for him. And then what happens?

What happens a month from then? Six months, Year.

Two years? Why has it become so common that

all of a sudden he's no different than that gift you

can't remember when you were a child.

He's become that gift that you can't hardly even remember.

Oh, yeah, I remember that one. That was so fun.

I remember that. No, because here's the thing.

This last gift I'm talking about is so amazing because of the

gift he is. It's called the gift of

assignment. It's why you were born.

This is what's so amazing about when.

Christ, God gave his Son to us and we unwrapped him.

Jesus popped up and says unwrap this, no you.

Didn't get it. The minute you unwrap Jesus

Christ and he was revealed, you became your Lord.

He is hand holding a present, he said.

Son, daughter, unwrap this, unwrap this.

What's that, Jesus? It's you.

It's you. It's why you were born.

It's it's it's who you were before you were in your mother's

womb. It was before the foundations of

the world. Oh, I just want you to unwrap

this. I want to walk with you and help

you unwrap you the rest of your life.

First, Peter 410 says for each one has received a special gift,

employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold

grace of God, Romans 11/29 said For the gifts and the calling of

God are irrevocable. Many have unwrapped Jesus and he

says unwrap this. And they're like, no, unwrap it,

No, I'm just satisfied that I'm going to go to heaven when I

die. Unwrap the Listen.

You don't have no idea how awesome this is.

You and me. If you won't under unwrap this

thing right here, I've got to I can't accept your gift.

I'm not worth. Listen, I just made you worthy.

And I want you to unwrap the gift.

Because it's not just about you coming to heaven.

I need you to know why you're here.

I need to know you didn't know why I saved you, why you're born

of me, why you walk with me, why you can talk with me while

you're in my Kingdom. You need to unwrap this gift of

assignment. Because if you don't.

Unwrap it. The things that are coming

against you as a gift are still coming, but what you need to

overcome is in the box. I need you to unwrap it and you

won't falter when they come. Romans chapter 12, verse six

Romans 12 · chapter mention

says it this way. Since we have gifts that differ

according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise

them accordingly. If prophecy, which is it?

Goes on to a list there, but we are to exercise them

accordingly. You know what I love about us in

the body of Christ is that we're different.

I don't want to be you. You don't be me.

I don't want to be you. You be you.

You're an awesome gift from God. God had a plan and purpose for

your life when you made Jesus the Lord of your life.

He's like, this is all that you were ever destined to be.

And you could say, well, my gosh, man, I'm 72 right now.

How can I ever be me at 72? You know what?

God can do something that everyone says you can't get.

The world says it all the time. Time is a gift.

Once you spend it can't get it back.

That's a lie. Because Jesus Christ can't even

redeem the time. He can redeem the time.

He can buy back all of those wasted years and cram what he

had for you for your whole life into the sliver of what's left.

But you got to unwrap you. What we don't understand is that

all we want to do is unwrap Jesus.

And Jesus is saying, I want to unwrap you.

I want to unwrap you. I want everything that I ever

destined you to be. I want it to come out.

And This is why we're afraid of Jesus.

Because we're really afraid of finding out who we really are.

Because honestly, if Jesus is not Lord of your life, what you

think you are is a lie. Your father, the devil, has kept

you in bondage. He don't want you to discover

yourself. He don't want you to know the

real you. And you think when you're coming

to Jesus, you're coming because of how not good you are, how

horrible you are. And yeah, you've done some

really rough stuff underneath the father you're with.

But he says I'll take you away from that, Daddy.

I'll bring you to my I'll adopt you into my house.

I'll make you my child. I'll strip your past.

It won't even exist anymore. And then if you.

Will receive me as your gift. Then I'm going to ask you to be

my gift. And I'm going to.

I'm going to show you who you are always destined to be.

And Africa is not where we're all destined to go.

So please do not think God's going to call you to the mission

field. Let me tell you, there have been

more missionaries in Africa. It has been missionary well

over. I mean, when God's called in

today, he's actually not sending most people to Africa just to

let you know, OK And he there's plenty to do right here in Saint

Augustine and plenty to do. And your family?

There's plenty to do with your job.

I mean, let's just work on that one.

And let's not be concerned. Most of you are never going to

be called to the fivefold ministry anyway.

You're going to be called as a St. and you're going to do the

things of God, as I was talking to win when he was at the house

the other he said. Pastor Earl, thank you for your

gift, for all that you and your wife do appreciate.

He goes, I love what I do. I pick up people older in life

before they transition and I'm able to take them to their

doctor's appointment and I get to spend time with them and I

take care of them and I get to share with them.

And here he is on a bus route where he's taking people that

may be coming off coming out of the domain of darkness into the

Kingdom of He is right there, frontline.

Handling those in these crucial times of their life, I can't get

there but together because but what we do in the body he is

hands on with someone's life and unwrapping his gift and sharing

with them the Kingdom, showing compassion and joy and mercy

every day, pouring out the the, the fruits of the spirit in

their life. And that work is so amazing, So

amazing because he let God unwrap him.

I said do this and do that and do this and say this to this

person and you got it in in you to do this and I'll strengthen

your body so you can do that. Are you hearing me?

Listen, there are a lot of eternal gifts that we should

unwrap daily. Not only us, but we need to

remind our children because the gifts we give, they're

temporary. With His gifts are eternal.

Let's pray. Thank you so much for listening

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