The Greatest Gift

Seeking the Greatest Gift Sermon
Pastor Brandon Korter
Bellingham, Washington Seventh-Day Adventist Church

We see terrible things around us. Families are broken, weather woes, people losing jobs and incomes. Jesus gives us a choice. Follow Him and make sacrifice so we receive the greatest gift. Choices shape our life and destiny. We all face different issues. The disciples had to make choices.

Luke 22:14-18
Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper
14 When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. 15 Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
17 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

Jesus took all the world’s shame and guilt and went to the cross and sacrificed His LIfe for our sins. Is the sacrifice of Jesus in vain today? What will we do with Jesus sacrifice?

Some people reject the Gift of Salvation. Some people don’t want to walk with Jesus. What is our choice to be? Jesus is waiting to eat and drink with us. He wants to save us. He is waiting for us. You are precious to Jesus. We are here ( Sabbath Communion Service ) to be forgiven of our sin-to start over with our Savior. It is easier to be saved than lost.

The Holy Spirit comes to people over and over again. When Jesus comes the second time, it will be our fault for not accepting Jesus. Daily seek and cooperate Jesus. the Holy Spirit will move in your life. We will want and seek to study His Word in the Bible. We will love righteousness and hate sin.

Ephesians 4:24-32
Put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Do Not Grieve the Spirit
25 Therefore, putting away lying, “ Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. 26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Are we willing to take God seriously? If we refuse to yield to the Holy Spirit, we are in danger of grieving the Holy Spirit. Don’t be discouraged if we sin.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Luke 11:13
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 Him!
Jesus will answer your prayers.

Psalms 51:9-12
9 Hide Your face from my sins,
         And blot out all my iniquities.
        
 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
         And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence,
         And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
        
 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
         And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

This Psalm is David turning his heart back to God! With Jesus, anything is possible. If Jesus can save David, he can save you! Let Him! If you have been slipping away from God, there are two steps to get right again:
1) Confess your sins
2) Receive the Holy Spirit

Psalms 103:8-13
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious,
          Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
  9 He will not always strive with us,
          Nor will He keep His anger forever.
  10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
          Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
         
  11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
          So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
  12 As far as the east is from the west,
          So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
  13 As a father pities his children,
         So the LORD pities those who fear Him.

This is what the cross is all about. The greatest gift is His Pardon. If you will come to the Cross today-through Jesus we are worthy and made righteous.


Don’t let the Devil keep you away from Jesus!

0 comments… add one

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Next post:

Previous post: