Sermon Tone Analysis

UNWRAPPING THE GIFTS OF CHRISTMAS SERMON SERIES

THE GIFT OF NO-LIMIT LIVING

Sermon 1

(1 Corinthians 1:3-9)

I had a person tell me how much God was blessing his life.

How things were going so well with him and his family.

Then he capped off the conversation by saying, "I guess I better get ready; something bad is bound to happen before too long."

Many people live their lives as if that statement were true.

They feel uncomfortable if they experience too much success.

They believe that the scales of life have a way of balancing out our experiences.

If things are on the upswing today, they are certain that it won't be long before the pendulum moves the other direction and evens the score.

The problem with thinking this way is that we tend to view life in terms of limitations:

There is only so much joy we can experience,

only so much love we can have in a relationship,

only so much mercy we can obtain before we reach our limit and have to wait for something bad to come along and balance the scales.

Have you ever known anyone like that?

Today we are beginning a series of messages related to Christmas.

I’ve titled This series of sermons “Unwrapping the Gifts of Christmas”.

As we examine the birth of Christ and all that it means to us, we see that Christmas truly is an incredible gift.

It threw the scales of life out of balance forever, and if we'll just allow ourselves to enjoy this gift that has been given to us, we will experience life without limits.

Jesus spoke a lot about living without limits.

He was constantly challenging His listeners to stretch beyond their old way of thinking and embrace a new and living way.

He promised that His followers would experience a fullness of life that few could imagine.

Listen to the kind of no-limit lifestyle he promised:

I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly (John 10:10)

He who believes in me...from his innermost being shall flow rivers of living of water.

(John 7:38)

And all things you ask in prayer believing, you shall receive.

(Matthew 21:22)

You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.

(John 8:32)

He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life (John 8:12)

Jesus promised the best for His followers.

He never pretended that life would always be easy, but He gave us His word that life with Him would be wonderful.

He promised us life without limits.

Because of Jesus

Because of the gift of Christmas we can have it all.Today,

We're going to look at a passage of scripture that teaches the principle of no-limit living, and tells us about everything that is ours in Christ.

READ (1 Corinthians 1:3-9)

Paul uses a phrase that’s hard to ignore.

He tells us that we have been "made rich" by Christ.

There are three ways in which Christ makes it possible for us to experience life without limits.

First of all, we have been given...

I. UNLIMITED RESOURCES

(1 Corinthians 1:7) Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.

Later in this letter, Paul discusses the spiritual gifts in detail.

The truth of the matter was that the Corinthians had been abusing some of the gifts, and Paul had to correct them.

At this point, however, he rejoices with them that they have spiritual gifts, because gifts of the Spirit are the sign of the presence of God.

Paul says, Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

(1 Corinthians 12:7)

Every person in the body of Christ has been given a spiritual gift.

In fact, we are not limited to one gift-we are given as many gifts as we need in order to do God's will in our lives.

Whatever God calls us to do, He equips us to do.

When a person is committed to doing God's will, They don't have to wonder if they have what it takes to do it-God makes available the unlimited resources of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

We have been given every spiritual gift; we have all that we need.

This also applies to churches.

When a congregation dedicates itself to doing the work that God has called the church to do, they don't have to wonder if they have the right kind of leaders, or the right kind of staff, or the right kind of people-God has already given them every spiritual gift they'll need.

There is no reason for a Christian or a church not to succeed in their Christian duties.

They have been equipped with the Unlimited Resources of God's Gifts and Grace.

A lady once told me, “Our church can't grow!” “We don't have what it takes to grow!” “We don't have the right leaders!”

This lady failed to take into consideration that we have everything we need in God to succeed.

She failed to realize the leadership of the Holy Spirit or the gifts that the Spirit given to the Church.

After talking with her for a while it was obvious to me why she said those things.

She had no vision or desire to work with or cooperate with the leadership of the church.

Her and several other people in her little group did not want to grow if that meant change.

Let me say again we have unlimited resources for the job if we desire (sun night) to do the job.

(Eph 2:3) we all formerly lived in the desires of our flesh, doing the will of the flesh and of the mind, and we were children of wrath by nature, as also the rest of them were.

(Psalm 37:4) Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

When Paul says "you've been blessed with every spiritual gift" he is saying that God gives us the ability--to rise to the occasion when the situation demands.

Remember the saying, "Where God Guides, He Always Provides."

When He calls us to a task, He also equips us to do it.

This eliminates any limitations we might think we have in life.

In Christ, we have been given unlimited resources.

Whatever we need to do, we can do, because God's resources are available to us.

Before moving on let me give you one more scripture from Paul:

(Ephesians 1:3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

We have been blessed with ALL Spiritual Blessings.

We need to start using what God has given us for the glory of God and the benefit of His kingdom.

We are a blessed people.

The second principle of "no-limit living" is that we have been given...

II.

UNLIMITED STRENGTH

(1 Corinthians 12:8) He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We spend to much time arguing this doctrine (OSAS) rather then relying upon the strength that God will give us if we will trust Him.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

When we spend too much time arguing this doctrine we miss a central part of the Christian life.

The point is not "How much sin can I get away with and still be a Christian?"

Don't get me wrong.

I do not believe nor will I ever believe that people can continue to live deliberately, willfully and continuously in sin and call themselves Christians.

I like what Adrian Rodgers say's, “If your religion doesn't change you then you need to change your religion.

The point I want to make is that Jesus can keep us from sin, and keep us strong and faithful to Him until the end.

It is through God's Mighty power that we are able to stand.

Most of us are more aware of our ability to fall than we are of God's ability to keep us strong.

This lack of faith in God's strength is what is preventing many of us from doing more with our lives.

What causes most people who are in poor physical shape to remain that way?

What prevents most alcoholics from getting sober?

What prevents smokers from kicking the habit?

What keeps people from starting a daily devotional time, or getting involved in a Bible study group?

It is the belief that says "I can not permanently change my habits.

No doubt they've tried in the past and didn't sucseed.