The Book of Gifts
by Chris Cumming
I watched a most remarkable movie the other day with the title, “The
Ultimate Gift” with James Garner, Lee Meriwether and Abigail Breslin.
It is the story of one Howard ‘Red’ Stevens who has died and left a
videotaped will. Mr. Stevens is a billionaire, having made his money in
oil and real estate over the span of his life. Seems that much of the
family is dysfunctional and/or extremely self-serving and downright
greedy. Red’s favorite in the family is his grandson, Jason who, like
many the family has just drifted through life without any real direction
or values.
This all changes when Red sets Jason on a journey to receive a number of
gifts [12 to be exact] on his way to the ultimate gift of his
inheritance. Each task he has set before him is the gift. What I found
remarkable about all this was that each gift was biblical. Each was
something God has given each of you. He has recorded these gifts in the
Bible, which for this sermon can be called the Book of Gifts.
We are going to briefly explore each of the 12 gifts mentioned in the
movie plus two more which are truly the Ultimate Gifts.
My purpose today is to show you the 14 gifts God is giving us as
recorded in His “Book of Gifts.”
First I want to establish that God is a gift giver.
All through the Bible you will see God giving us gifts. I looked up the
phrase, “God giveth” and found 58 verses. There are 14 verses for “gift
of God.” There are scores of promises of God. Whole books have been
written on that subject.
John 10:10
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I
am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more
abundantly.
John 16:23-24
23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto
you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing
in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Gift #1: Work
Proverbs 10:4
He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the
diligent maketh rich.
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour
is not in vain in the Lord.
Ephesians 4:28
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working
with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him
that needeth.
Gift #2: Money
Ecclesiastes 5:19
Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given
him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his
labour; this is the gift of God.
The commentary says…
Which include the whole of a man's substance; all his estate, personal
and real; and all his goods and possessions, movable and immovable, as
gold, silver, cattle, fields, and farms; which are all the gift of God,
by whatsoever means they may be acquired or possessed. ~John Gill
The commentary for the phrase, “This is the gift of God says:
his is the gift of God - to have such power over his substance, and not
be a slave to it, and to enjoy the fruits of his labour, in a cheerful
and comfortable manner; this is as much the gift of God as riches
themselves ~John Gill
Deuteronomy 8:17-18 – speaking to the children of Israel
going into the Promised land
17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath
gotten me this wealth.
18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth
thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he
sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
Gift #3: Friends
The word “friend” in its various forms appears more than 100 times in
the Bible. God says much about the subject.
One of the first gifts God gave man was a friend. Genesis 2:18 says, It
is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet
for him; in this case, a matrimonial companion.
What is the best gift of friendship that we could have? Of course,
Jesus Christ willing to give and share His friendship with us.
John 15:14
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
What does God say about the benefits of friends?
Proverbs 27:17
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his
friend.
Proverbs 27:6
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are
deceitful.
The John Gill says:
Faithful are the wounds of a friend,.... That is, friendly reproofs;
which, though they may be severe, at least thought so, and may grieve
and wound, and cause pain and uneasiness for the present, yet,
proceeding from a spirit of love, faithfulness, and integrity, and
designed for the good of the person reproved, ought to be kindly
received;
Gift #4: Learning
Proverbs 1:5
A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of
understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
And what gift do we have to get this learning?
John 17:17
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
1 Timothy 2:4
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the
truth.
Isaiah 11:9 a gift coming our way for mankind in the future
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth
shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
Gift #5: Problems
Acts 14:22
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in
the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the
kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 10:13
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God
is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are
able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye
may be able to bear it.
2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the
Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by
the Spirit of the Lord.
Gift #6: Family
God created the family and He has divine purposed for it.
Genesis 2:24 --God created the family
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave
unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Matthew 19:4-6 --God created marriage and sex
4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which
made them at the beginning made them male and female,
5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and
shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God
hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Genesis 1:28 --God created and gives man offspring
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply,
and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish
of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing
that moveth upon the earth.
Gift #7: Laughter
Job 8:20-21 –does God give us laughter?
20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help
the evil doers:
21 Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.
Genesis 21:5-6 -a specific example of this gift given
5 And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto
him.
6 And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will
laugh with me.
Luke 6:21 -laughter as a blessing
Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye
that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
Psalm 126:2 -Cyrus frees the Jews from captivity so they can
build the Temple again
Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing:
then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for
them.
Gift #8: Dreams
Proverbs 29:18 --The Word of God makes us to dream
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the
law, happy is he.
Acts 2:17
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out
of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall
prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall
dream dreams:
Joel 2:28
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon
all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men
shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
Some quotes on dreaming:
“Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.”
“Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith
and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and
dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.”
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
Gift #9: Giving
1 John 3:17
But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and
shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of
God in him?
This verse shows us that all of these gifts come from and/or originate
in Love
When God gives you a gift, He often gives you a promise if you use it.
Luke 6:38
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and
shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For
with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you
again.
Proverbs 19:17
He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he
hath given will he pay him again.
Gift #10: Gratitude
Where does this gift of Gratitude originate?
Colossians 2:6-7
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in
him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have
been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Colossians 3:15 ...notice the tagline on this verse
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are
called in one body; and be ye thankful.
When we show praise [another word for gratitude-World English
Dictionary], what are we doing? And, what does God say we will be
shown?
Psalm 50:23
Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his
conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.
Now, could there just be a verse from our recent studies in the Letters
of Paul that speaks to an application of our gratitude?
1 Timothy 2:1
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.
Gift #11: A Day
John 16:23
And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
The meaning of the phrase, "in that day" means the day after Jesus
Christ's resurrection and ascension. What this really means is that
from the day of your calling, every day has been a gift compared to what
it would have been in the world. So each day you wake up, you have a
new gift from God...today. Maybe this is why today is called the
"present."
Luke 6:22-23
22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall
separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out
your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is
great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the
prophets.
The commentary...
When they should be hated, discarded, reproached, and anathematized: and
leap for joy; as if the greatest honour and happiness imaginable had
been conferred on them. ~John Gill
Zechariah 14:9 ...speaking of after the return of Christ
And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there
be one LORD, and his name one.
Gift #12: Love
John 13:34
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have
loved you, that ye also love one another.
You know what this means, don't you? The commandments are also gifts.
Love is a commandment and the commandments are love. Romans 13:10 says
that love is the fulfilling of the Law.
Now where did this gift of love come from?
1 John 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that
loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
How did God use the gift of love before He gave it to us as a gift to
use?
1 John 4:11
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
Why do we love God?
1 John 4:19
We love him, because he first loved us.
Gift #13: Salvation
1 John 3:17
But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and
shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of
God in him?
Who is the author of this gift of salvation?
Hebrews 5:9
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto
all them that obey him;
We know that salvation is a gift of God but how is your specific
salvation created?
1 Peter 1:9
Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
What power do we need to create this Salvation? And, once again, where does it
come from?
1 Peter 1:5
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be
revealed in the last time.
The strength is from God and salvation is created in faith or the Salvation
Process.
Let us look at this another way from the scripture: Are we appointed to obtain
this gift of salvation? If so, by whom?
1 Thessalonians 5:9
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord
Jesus Christ,
Notice now how Salvation is tied to the Law
Psalm 119: 166
LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.
Psalm 119:174
I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight.
Now what is the opposite of verse 166?
Psalm 119:155
Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.
Finally for this gift, some shouted words from Revelation:
Revelation 12:10 ...first part of verse
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength,
and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ:
Gift #14…The Ultimate Gift: Eternal life
Where do read of Eternal Life being a gift?
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus
Christ our Lord.
John 10:28 says
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall
any man pluck them out of my hand.
We learned that our specific Salvation was created in the Salvation Process. Is
this also how we obtain Eternal Life?
Romans 2:7
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and
immortality, eternal life:
Besides being a gift, is it a promise?
1 John 2:25
And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
When was this promise made?
Titus 1:2
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world
began;
How does this gift work?
John 5:24
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him
that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but
is passed from death unto life.
So this has been a brief look at 14 gifts from God. Just how could we say what
all these gifts mean to us and what do they mean to God? Maybe this could best
be answered by the words of Eleanor Powell, the famous dancer seen more than
once with Fred Astaire in the movies:
What we are is God's gift [s] to us. What we become is our gift to God.
~Eleanor Powell
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Note: See Eleanor Powell dancing with Fred Astaire here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWW6QeeVzDc