Grace World Outreach Church
The Cost Of Christmas
Pastor Daniel K Norris
Locations & Times
Grace World Outreach Church
20366 Cortez Blvd, Brooksville, FL 34601, USA
Sunday 10:00 AM
Greetings from Grace World
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If you have a prayer request, you can send that to us here at https://www.graceworldag.org/prayer-requests
Every week we place these request on the altar of the church and our entire team lifts up each request by name.
We'd love to hear from you and be a friend. Connect with us online at
http://www.graceworldag.org
https://www.facebook.com/graceworldag
https://www.instagram.com/graceworldag
The Cost Of Christmas
Home For The Holidays
Matthew 2:1–12 (ESV)
2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
What do we know about the wisemen?
* They studied the stars
* They knew the prophesies
* They were from the East
* They presented Jesus with three gifts: Gold, Myrrh, and Frankincense
* They were not there the night Christ was born
What we can learn from these wisemen is that they diligently sought for Jesus until they found Him.
3 Truths For the Holidays
# 1 COMING TO CHRIST HAS NEVER BEEN CONVENIENT
There was nothing convenient about that first Christmas.
* It wasn’t convenient for Jesus
* It wasn’t convenient for Mary
* It wasn’t convenient for Joseph
Luke 2:6–7 (ESV)
6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
The word would be better translated “guest room” or “house”. Joseph comes to Bethlehem because it is his family hometown, yet no one was willing to open a room in their home.
A religious mindset is cruel
* It wasn’t convenient for the Shepherds
* It wasn’t convenient for the wisemen
When you are inconvenienced, remember the first Christmas was not convenient either.
The question is… Are you willing to be inconvenienced so that others can be comforted?
Inconveniences is a great exposer of flesh.
* Let go of your need to control
* See the selfishness
* Open the gift of repentance
* Search out the good
2. COMING TO CHRIST WILL NEVER BE CHEAP
The wisemen did not enter the home of Jesus empty handed.
"No one is to appear before me empty-handed" (Exodus 23:15 NIV)
The first gift we are told the wise men brought to the home was that of Gold
The magi’s gifts were not a demonstration of wealth – they conveyed deep meaning. The gold represents Jesus’ kingship.
Daniel 7:13-14
As the visions during the night continued, I saw coming with the clouds of heaven One like a son of man. When he reached the Ancient of Days and was presented before him, He received dominion, splendor, and kingship; all nations, peoples and tongues will serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, his kingship, one that shall not be destroyed.
Five Unique Properties of Gold
1) Purity
2) Pliable
3) Perseverance (indestructible)
4) Perdurable (imperishable)
5) Precious (intrinsic value)
Lessons from the Gift Of God
If we want to experience his purity then we must surrender to his fire
If we want to be pliable in his hands then we must be willing to be broken
If we wish to persevere to the end we must embrace the trails, tests and tribulations
If we wish to be incorruptible we must let his holiness work in us
If we desire true prosperity we must give our life in exchange for his
3. COMING HOME TO CHRIST IS WORTH THE COST
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
(Mt 2:3–4).
No one in the city had searched out Jesus.
So often we miss what is truly precious and take for granted what is close to us
Revelation 3:17–20 (ESV)
17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
The Blessings Of His Gold
* You will be prosperous
* You will be covered
* You will clearly see
* You are welcomed Home
Home For The Holidays
Matthew 2:1–12 (ESV)
2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
What do we know about the wisemen?
* They studied the stars
* They knew the prophesies
* They were from the East
* They presented Jesus with three gifts: Gold, Myrrh, and Frankincense
* They were not there the night Christ was born
What we can learn from these wisemen is that they diligently sought for Jesus until they found Him.
3 Truths For the Holidays
# 1 COMING TO CHRIST HAS NEVER BEEN CONVENIENT
There was nothing convenient about that first Christmas.
* It wasn’t convenient for Jesus
* It wasn’t convenient for Mary
* It wasn’t convenient for Joseph
Luke 2:6–7 (ESV)
6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
The word would be better translated “guest room” or “house”. Joseph comes to Bethlehem because it is his family hometown, yet no one was willing to open a room in their home.
A religious mindset is cruel
* It wasn’t convenient for the Shepherds
* It wasn’t convenient for the wisemen
When you are inconvenienced, remember the first Christmas was not convenient either.
The question is… Are you willing to be inconvenienced so that others can be comforted?
Inconveniences is a great exposer of flesh.
* Let go of your need to control
* See the selfishness
* Open the gift of repentance
* Search out the good
2. COMING TO CHRIST WILL NEVER BE CHEAP
The wisemen did not enter the home of Jesus empty handed.
"No one is to appear before me empty-handed" (Exodus 23:15 NIV)
The first gift we are told the wise men brought to the home was that of Gold
The magi’s gifts were not a demonstration of wealth – they conveyed deep meaning. The gold represents Jesus’ kingship.
Daniel 7:13-14
As the visions during the night continued, I saw coming with the clouds of heaven One like a son of man. When he reached the Ancient of Days and was presented before him, He received dominion, splendor, and kingship; all nations, peoples and tongues will serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, his kingship, one that shall not be destroyed.
Five Unique Properties of Gold
1) Purity
2) Pliable
3) Perseverance (indestructible)
4) Perdurable (imperishable)
5) Precious (intrinsic value)
Lessons from the Gift Of God
If we want to experience his purity then we must surrender to his fire
If we want to be pliable in his hands then we must be willing to be broken
If we wish to persevere to the end we must embrace the trails, tests and tribulations
If we wish to be incorruptible we must let his holiness work in us
If we desire true prosperity we must give our life in exchange for his
3. COMING HOME TO CHRIST IS WORTH THE COST
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
(Mt 2:3–4).
No one in the city had searched out Jesus.
So often we miss what is truly precious and take for granted what is close to us
Revelation 3:17–20 (ESV)
17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
The Blessings Of His Gold
* You will be prosperous
* You will be covered
* You will clearly see
* You are welcomed Home
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