Sermon

Christmas - Great Gift: Enjoy The Gift

December 28, 2014 Carrigaline Baptist Church - Sermons

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John chapter 14 verse 15 to 31 that's on page 182 in the Red Church Bible.

John 14:15–31
Jesus promises the Holy Spirit verse 15 if you love me you will obey what I command and I will
ask the Father and he will give you another counselor to be with you forever the spirit
of truth the world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him but you will know
him for he lives with you and will be in you I will not leave you as orphans I will come to you
before long the world will not see me anymore but you will see me because I live you also live
on that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I am in you
whoever has my commands and obeys them he is the one who loves me he who loves me will be loved by
my Father and I too will love him and show myself to him then Judas not Judas Iscariot said but Lord
why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world Jesus replied if anyone loves me he
will obey my teaching my Father will love him and he will come to him and make our home with him he
who does not love me will not obey my teaching these words you hear are not my own they belong
to my Father who sent me all this I have spoken while still with you but the counselor the Holy
Spirit whom the Father will send in my name will teach you all things and will remind you of everything
I have said to you peace I leave you my peace I give you I do not give to you as the world gives
do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid you heard me say I am going away and I am
coming back to you if you loved me you would be glad that I am going to the Father for the Father
is greater than I I have told you now before it happens so that when it happens you will believe
I will not speak with you much longer for the Prince of this world is coming he has no hold on me
but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me
come now let us leave
thanks so much Lucy
well this morning we're picking up on a theme that we've been looking at together over the last few weeks
looking at the gift that God had promised the promised of a new heaven and a new earth
how that gift was initially spoiled when we looked at the fall
and how Jesus came to restore that and to make it possible for us to enjoy that but what about now
well this morning we are going to see how we can enjoy the gift forever
so this morning what I want to do is I want to give you the perfect gift
a gift that you can enjoy forever
because it is a gift that lasts forever
a gift you can enjoy forever
because it is a gift that lasts forever
before we look at it we're going to pray
and ask for God's help as we do this now
so let's pray
Father we are thankful for all that you do give to us
you are a generous
good and kind Father
one who does not withhold
all that is good and right
and best for us
but you give good gifts
and we pray and we ask that you would help us to see
comprehend
and experience
the gift you have come to give
we pray for your Holy Spirit
that we may not only understand your word
but that it also would change us
transform us
and help us to live
as your people
we ask this in Jesus name
Amen
so I want to give you the perfect gift
a gift that you can enjoy forever
because it lasts forever
three big things we're going to look at
first the promise gift
if you go back to John's Gospel chapter 1
that's where we're going to start
keep your finger in John 14
but we will be back in John 14 very quickly
John's Gospel opens up with this wonderful announcement
of the coming of Jesus Christ into the world
verse 1 says
in the beginning
so before the world was created
before time as we know it began
in the beginning
was the word
and the word was with God
and the word was God
and then look what happens
in verse 14
the word
became flesh
and made his dwelling
among us
it's a spectacular
awesome
statement
the word
becoming flesh
Jesus Christ
who is God
the creator God
who was there
in the beginning
takes on humanity
and comes into
our broken world
Jesus
Jesus
literally
moves into
our neighbourhood
he moves into
our street
as it were
he comes to make
his home
among us
to deal with the chaos
and disorder
that we see
all around us
as we've been thinking
over these last couple of weeks
Jesus came
into the world
to reverse
the effects
of sin
in our lives
and undo
the consequences
of the curse
in our world
he came to renew
and restore
God
moved in
so as Jesus
began to forgive
people their sins
as he began to
heal the sick
he was giving us
a picture
a glimpse
of the new creation
the world
that he will
one day
bring about
and how people
like you and me
can be
a part of it
a world
without suffering
a world
without sin
that is what
he has promised
to us
and it all comes
to us
through
Jesus Christ
the God man
who moved
into the world
for us
and that's
what we have
to look forward
to
so look at
John's gospel
chapter 14
and verse 1
John's gospel
chapter 14
verse 1
so at
John 1
we have the
theme of
Jesus moving
into our
home if you
like into
the world
and this is
what it says
here chapter 14
verse 1
do not let
your hearts
be troubled
trust in God
trust also
in me
in my
father's house
are many
rooms
if it were
not so
I would have
told you
and I am
going there
to prepare
a place
for you
and if I
go and
prepare a
place for
you
I will
come back
and take
you
to be
with me
that you
also may
be
where
I am
Jesus
moved
into our
broken
home
so that
we can
go and
be with
him
in his
perfect
home
he moves
in with
us
so that
we can
move in
with him
for
eternity
this is
what it's
about
this is
what he
came to
do
and we
look at
that and
we go
that is
amazing
that's
great
but what
about
now
who's
going to
help us
today
who's
going to
be with
us
as we
continue
to live
in a
sin
cursed
broken
and
disordered
world
because
each one
of us
have stories
to tell
even
perhaps
of the
last few
days
of when
life has
been hard
difficult
painful
where we've
experienced
struggles
so we're
not home
yet
so who's
going to
be helping
us
right now
as we
continue
to live
in this
broken
world
well
Jesus
made a
promise
he made
a promise
to his
disciples
and
it's a
promise
to you
and I
so
verse 16
chapter 14
verse 16
he says
I will
ask
Jesus
says
I will
ask
the
father
and
he
will
give
you
another
counsellor
to be
with you
forever
well
who's
this
counsellor
well look
down at
verse 26
the
counsellor
is the
Holy
Spirit
the
counsellor
is the
Holy
Spirit
this
is
God's
gift
to you
and I
the
Holy
Spirit
is a
gift
that has
been
requested
by
Jesus
Jesus
is
saying
I
want
to
give
the
gift
of
the
Holy
Spirit
and the
Father
gives
the
gift
to
his
children
it's
not a
gift
that we
can
earn
or deserve
he's
not
someone
that we
can
manipulate
or try
and trick
or cajole
in some
kind of
way
the
Spirit
is a
generous
gift
from
God
to
his
children
to
his
disciples
so I
know
Christmas
is over
but the
gifts
keep
on
coming
it's
like
Christmas
lasts
forever
yes
God
has
moved
into
the
world
yes
we
will
move
into
his
home
but
God
is
moving
into
our
lives
to
be
with
us
forever
so
the
gift
is
promised
second
this
gift
is
to
be
experienced
because
the
Holy
Spirit
is
not
just
an
idea
or
a
thought
he
is
a
living
person
he
is
to
be
known
and
he
is
to
be
experienced
within
our
lives
so
who
is
he
well
we
read
in
verse
16
don't
we
that
he
is
another
counsellor
another
counsellor
simply
means
that
he
is
one
just
like
Jesus
not
different
not
someone
else
not
something
else
but
another
one
just
like
Jesus
look
what
Jesus
says
about
himself
back
in
verse
6
well
known
verse
Jesus
says
I
am
the
way
and
the
truth
and
the
life
Jesus
says
I
am
the
truth
now
look
at
verse
17
what
does
it
say
at
the
beginning
of
verse
17
it
says
that
the
spirit
talks
about
the
spirit
of
truth
so
is
Jesus
the
truth
or
is
the
spirit
the
truth
which
one
is
right
well
the
answer
is
yes
isn't
it
the
answer
is
yes
because
the
spirit
is
truth
Jesus
is
the
truth
because
the
spirit
is
the
spirit
of
Jesus
it's
it's
the
same
person
we
often
think
of
Jesus
if
he
were
here
maybe
you
dream
about
it
or
think
about
it
I
certainly
do
if
Jesus
were
here
right
now
sitting
there
in
the
seat
physically
sitting
there
we'd
be
better
off
what
would
it
be
like
if
Jesus
was
sitting
there
right
now
with
the
point
is
Jesus
is
here
by
his
spirit
he
is
here
by
his
spirit
the
only
difference
is
we
can't
see
him
but
he's
here
look
at
verse
17
he's
the
spirit
of
truth
the
world
cannot
accept
him
because
it
neither
sees
him
or
knows
him
but
you
know
him
because
he
lives
with
you
the
spirit
is
with
us
the
spirit
of
Jesus
is
with
us
which
brings
us
on
to
the
fact
that
he
is
with
you
verse
16
let's
read
verse
16
again
he
says
I
will
ask
you
ask
the
father
he
will
give
you
another
counsellor
to
be
with
you
you
know
when
Jesus
walked
this
earth
when
he
was
with
his
disciples
he
could
eat
with
them
drink
with
them
talk
with
them
go
down
the
road
with
them
but
if
James
and
John
all of
a sudden
decided
and said
look
we're
off
fishing
today
then
Jesus
would
no longer
be
with
them
because
Jesus
couldn't
be in
two
places
at
once
that
was
part
of
the
limitations
Jesus
had
as
he
walked
on
the
earth
but
now
that
he
has
given
us
the
gift
of
his
Holy
Spirit
that
means
he
can
be
with
all
of
his
disciples
all
of
the
time
wherever
we
are
he's
not
limited
to
one
particular
place
or
time
he
is
with
us
all
of
the
time
look
at
verse
18
he
says
to
us
I
will
not
leave
you
as
orphans
I
will
come
to
you
an
orphan
is
somebody
without
a
parent
without
the
loving
protecting
care
of
a
mum
or
a
dad
and
Jesus
is
saying
I
won't
let
you
be
like
that
you
will
never
ever
be
on
your
own
you
will
never
be
abandoned
you'll
never
be
without
me
wherever
you
are
and
whatever
you
do
I
will
be
present
with
you
you
see
Christmas
does
last
forever
Christmas
isn't
just
confined
to
one
time
of
Jesus
coming
down
for
that
period
that's
it
I
will
be
with
you
forever
Christmas
continues
and
it
gets
even
better
look
at
verse
23
Jesus
replied
if
anyone
loves
me
he
will
obey
my
teaching
my
father
will
love
him
and
we
will
come
to
him
and
make
our
home
with
him
isn't
that
incredible
we
God
father
son
and
holy
spirit
we
will
come
and
make
our
home
with
you
God
who
made
the
universe
who
made
you
and
me
moves
into
our
lives
he
takes
up
residence
in
our
lives
remember
what we
read at
the beginning
of John's
gospel
the word
became
flesh
and made
his dwelling
among us
he moved
into the
home of
this world
but it
goes a step
further
doesn't
it
he moves
into
our
lives
we
mightn't
have the
physical
Jesus
living
among
us
but we
do
have the
presence
of
Jesus
living
in
us
and
through
this
act
through
this
promise
God
is
saying
to
his
people
you
know
what
I
can't
get
close
enough
to
you
because
I
care
for
you
because
I
love
you
so
much
I
want
to
get
as
close
as
possible
to
you
the
final
act
of
a
Christian
marriage
is
to
move
in
with
your
spouse
it's
a sign
of
commitment
a sign
of
loyalty
a sign
of
faithfulness
I
dedicate
my
life
I'm
going
to
move
in
with
you
you
are
saying
to
your
spouse
as
you
move
in
together
that
I
love
you
I
care
for
you
but
God
is
doing
that
he
is
committed
to
us
in
that
covenantal
marriage
that
faithful
commitment
and
loyalty
to
his
children
to
those
who
trust
him
I
love
you
I
care
for
you
I
move
into
you
in
your
life
to
be
with
you
look
at
the
end
of
verse
17
again
he
says
you
know
him
for
he
lives
with
you
and
will
be
in
you
Christmas
lasts
forever
because
he is
in us
as we
move on
in verse
16
let's read
it again
I will
ask the
father and
he will
give you
another
counselor
to be
with
you
forever
Jesus
Jesus'
physical
presence
when
he
lived
on
this
earth
was
for
33
years
he
was
born
he
lived
he
died
but
now
Jesus
sends
his
spirit
that
means
there
will
never
be
a
time
when
he
is
not
with
us
there
will
never
be
a
time
when
he
is
not
with
us
look
at
verse
19
Jesus
says
before
long
the
world
will
not
see
me
anymore
but
you
will
see
me
because
I
live
you
also
will
live
now
Jesus
is
saying
look
before
long
Jesus
knows
that
his
death
and
resurrection
are
about
to
happen
that's
very
very
close
and
he
says
when
that
happens
he
says
the
world
will
no
longer
see
him
now
whenever
John
the writer
here
of this
gospel
speaks
about
the
world
he
is
talking
about
people
of
the
world
races
languages
different
nations
people
who are
sinful
people
who are
separated
from
God
people
who need
rescued
by
God
so
we
read
in
John
3
16
God
so
loved
the
world
it's
not
the
physical
world
it's
the
people
of
the
world
that
God
loves
he
loves
the
guilty
he
loves
rebels
he
comes
to
save
us
and
change
us
and
now
here
in
verse
19
he's
saying
the
world
will
no
longer
see
him
meaning
those
who
have
rejected
Jesus
those
who
have
refused
Jesus
will
not
see
him
but
because the
spirit
is in
us
even
today
there's a
sense in
which we
see him
we know
him
we can
enjoy
him
even
death
won't break
the unity
that we
have with
Jesus
because our
death means
that we
will see
him
face to
face
for all
eternity
the world
will not
because they
don't know
him
but because
we have
the spirit
the spirit
is there
to remind
us
that we
will
and that
we have
him in
our lives
so we
have been
given this
promise of
an amazing
gift
another
counselor
Jesus
himself
by his
spirit
with you
wherever
you go
whatever
circumstances
you face
in life
whatever
troubles
or struggles
you may
go through
he is
with you
forever
well all
that is
great
what can
we expect
the spirit
to do
in our
lives
well the
gift of
the spirit
is to be
enjoyed
our
relationship
with God
is to be
enjoyed
because the
spirit is
not just
an idea
or a thought
he is a
person
and as
a person
he is
actively
at work
in our
lives
and his
work is
to be
experienced
and his
work is
to be
enjoyed
so I
want to
give you
three
very quick
applications
if you
like
three things
that you
can take
away
three gifts
that you
can enjoy
that the
holy spirit
will work
in your
life
here's
the first
one
to know
Jesus
better
what a
great gift
to know
Jesus
better
that's what
the spirit
does he
helps us
to know
him better
look at
verse 17
we read
this a
moment ago
we learned
there that
he is the
spirit
of truth
now what
does it
mean that
he's the
spirit
of truth
well have
a look
at chapter
15
verse 26
John 15

John 15:26
verse 26
he says
there
when the
counsellor
comes
whom I
will send
to you
from the
father
the
spirit
of truth
who goes
out from
the father
he will
testify
about
me
or look
at chapter
16
and verse
13
but when
he the
spirit
of truth
comes
he will
guide you
into
all
truth
he will
not speak
on his
own
he will
speak
only
what
he hears
and he
will
tell you
what
is yet
to come
so the
spirit
of truth
is the
spirit
who speaks
the truth
about
Jesus
he testifies
about
Jesus
so that
we can
know
Jesus
better
you see
the birth
of Jesus
is only
the beginning
of the
story
there's
so much
more
that we
can know
and learn
and
experience
about
Jesus
and so
as we
read
God's
words
for the
spirit
is the
author
of God's
words
as we
read it
the spirit
enables us
to understand
and to
clearly see
who Jesus
is
so that
we can
know him
better
I can
pick up
this word
this bible
and read
it
and it
has no
effect
on my
life
whatsoever
but what
the spirit
does
is the
spirit
takes
that word
and helps
us to
see
Jesus
for who
he is
so that
we may
know
him
better
so that's
the first
gift
that we
get
and that
we receive
from the
spirit
we know
Jesus
better
the second
gift
that we
can take
away
is that
he will
help us
to obey
Jesus
he enables
us to
obey
Jesus
do you
struggle
to obey
I do
it's
hard
but he
will help
us to
obey
look at
verse
chapter 14
verse 15
chapter 14
verse 15
he says
if you
love me
you will
obey
what I
command
verse 21
whoever
has my
commands
and
obeys
them
he is
the one
who loves
me
or verse
23
Jesus
replied
if anyone
loves me
he will
obey
my teaching
my goodness
all this
talk of
obeying
that's
hard
now that
doesn't mean
that we
first have
to obey
that if I
build up
enough
obedience
points
God is
going to
give us
his spirit
so I've
obeyed well
this week
therefore that
I have the
spirit this
week but I
disobeyed badly
today therefore
I don't have the
spirit
that's not
right
he's talking
here to
people who
have the
spirit
and the
sign and
the evidence
that the
spirit is at
work within
our lives
is
obedience
how do I
know if the
spirit is
living within
me
because I
will obey
and the
spirit enables
us not only
to understand
God's word
he enables
us and
equips us
and helps
us to
obey
because in
and of
myself I
cannot obey
I cannot
deal with
the sin in
my life on
my own
I need the
power of the
Holy Spirit
to say no
to sin
and yes
to Jesus
and he
gives us
that gift
the gift of
the spirit
to know
Jesus
and to
obey
Jesus
so that's
the second
gift that
we can
take away
that we
can have
and enjoy
and the
third one
is this
the gift
of being
loved by
Jesus
yes
Jesus
loves us
but do we
experience
that love
in our
lives
his love
will never
change
his love
is constant
but there's
a difference
between
knowing
and experiencing
because the
spirit
deepens
God's
love
for us
look at
verse 21
he says
whoever has
my commands
and obeys
them
he is the
one who
loves me
he who
loves me
will be
loved by
my father
he will
be loved
by my
father
and I
too
will love
him
and show
myself
to him
you see
as the
spirit
helps us
to know
Jesus
better
as the
spirit
enables us
to obey
Jesus'
commands
so we
know
and experience
the deep
love
of God
he who
loves
me
will be
loved
by my
father
and I
too
will
love
him
you see
there's a
cycle
that's
happening
here
the more
we love
God
the more
we obey
him
and the
more we
obey
him
the more
we experience
and know
his love
it's only
within the
dynamic
of an
obedient
and growing
relationship
that we
know and
experience
and feel
his love
and the
spirit is
there to
deepen that
love
to grow
that love
within us
so that's
not just a
concept out
there
but a
reality
in here
so three
amazing gifts
that we
can enjoy
to know
Jesus better
we all know
Jesus
it's not a
test
it's not
an exam
to see
how much
we know
intellectually
but to
know Jesus
who he is
what he's
done
what he's
come to
do
what he
does in
your life
we can
know more
and he's
saying I'm
here to
help you
know more
and we all
struggle to
obey him
to walk
in his
way
but he
says I'll
give you
the gift
so that
you can
follow my
way
and enable
you to
say yes
to me
and he
gives us
that gift
so that we
might love
him more
and experience
his love
deeper
within our
lives
Christmas
lasts forever
because God
has not only
moved into
the world
he's not only
preparing a
home which
we will move
into
but he has
moved into
the home
of our
hearts
Christmas
lasts
forever
forever
and it
is to
be enjoyed
forever
let's
pray
father we
thank you
for the
gift of
your
spirit
requested
by the
Lord
Jesus
and given
by
generous
caring
and loving
father
the spirit
of Jesus
in our
hearts
in our
lives
when we
when we
trust you
we thank you
so much
and we
pray for
his work
in our
life
as we
read your
word
that we
would know
Jesus
better
that we
would see
who he
is
and that
in the
coming year
we will
know him
better
we ask
for your
holy spirit
so that
you would
enable us
to obey
you
not to
obey
what the
world
has to
say
not to
obey
what our
own
hearts
desires
are
but to
obey
you
for we
know that
everything
that you
have for
us is
right
and best
and good
and we
ask also
for your
holy spirit
so that we
may know
and experience
your love
father help
us
we are
needy
people
we cannot
live life
as you
call us
to on
our own
we
we
thank you
for these
gifts
and for
all that
you have
done
for us
in
Jesus name
amen
I
and
what
I