Becoming the Gift This Christmas

You can't take it with you. That's what I want you to understand today as we talk about becoming the gift. During the Christmas holiday season, we have a tendency to really focus on ourselves and be really selfish. But what I want you to focus on this year is not the presents you receive, but His presence you already have.

I don't want you to focus on the gifts under the tree. I want you to focus on the gift that hung on the tree. I want you to change your focus and not be about you, I want you to become the gift this Christmas.

The Gift That Reflects God's Heart

John 3:16 tells us, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believeth upon him shall not perish but have everlasting life." A gift is a reflection of how you feel about a person. When Jesus laid his life down and God orchestrated it, it was a reflection of how He felt about us.

Romans 8:32 says, "He who did not spare his own son but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also freely give us all things?" God is saying, if I'm willing to give Jesus for you, what makes you believe I won't take care of everything else? Jesus was the first fruit offering. Jesus was indicative of how God felt about you.

You were in a pit on the way to hell, and Jesus said, "I'll take your spot. I'll do your time for you." That's love.

The Alabaster Box: Giving Without Expectation

In Mark chapter 14, we find a powerful story. While Jesus was in Bethany as a guest at the home of Simon the leper, a woman came with an alabaster vial, a very costly and precious perfume of pure nard. She broke the vial and poured it on His head. This perfume was worth a year's wages, sealed with wax, and meant to be opened only once and then exhausted completely.

She came with this very expensive oil, preparing to give her year's worth of labor and let it go with no expectation of getting it back.

See, oftentimes in the Christmas season we give to get. You know it's true, you get stressed out because you didn't plan to give them a gift, they gave you a gift, and now you have to go figure out a gift. You feel obligated, guilt-ridden to give something in return.

But this woman had no expectation of getting anything. Free will giving. Just giving because Jesus gave her so much, and it wasn't tangible things. This is the kind of sacrifice God is calling us to, giving without strings attached.

Going All In: My Story of Radical Obedience

I like watching poker shows on TV. Every now and then a person will get a good hand and they'll say "I'm all in," and they put all their chips in the middle of the table. I tell you today, believers, there's going to be a time in your life with God where you're going to have to be all in.

So many times in the faith walk, we've all been through seasons of lukewarmness, half in, half out. Sometimes you feel like it, sometimes you don't. Sometimes you're full of faith, and sometimes you're full of doubt. But at a certain point in time in your life, you're going to have to go all in.

Let me tell you my story. It was January, and I'd been wrestling with a word that God had given me. I was flying to LA with eight speaking engagements lined up at five thousand dollars each. That month I was going to make forty thousand dollars, and this was over eighteen years ago.

When I landed in LA, everywhere I was supposed to speak was on fire, so everyone canceled. I was sitting at Red Robin with my business partner, and he said, "Bro, I think God is telling you to get off the ship." I told him I thought God was calling me to start a church, but I really didn't want to do it.

So I told God, "Here's the deal, once I save a million dollars, I'll start the church."

Then came fire, bankruptcy, and foreclosure. God was saying obey.

When God Won't Step In Until You Step Out

At a gathering in July 2008, a man came up to me and said, "God has told you to step down, but you have not moved. God will not step in until you step out."

At that time, I had five properties, an S-class Mercedes, and was making forty to fifty thousand dollars a month. I said, "Lord, you can't afford me." I know some of you are judging me, but you've said the same thing when God tells you to do something.

From January to July, when I signed the company over to my partner, I did not work. I stayed home and prayed. Around June, the bill collectors started calling. My wife said, "It doesn't take God that long to talk to you. You need to move now, brother." But I said, "I'm not sure. I'm not sure."

Finally, when we had no money, my mother said, "Jomo, I believe in you." The deposit for the building was eight hundred dollars, and she wrote a check. And I stepped out.

God said to start with two services. The first service, I preached by myself to empty chairs. Then at 9:45, we had thirteen people. Thirteen people.

I would have never seen it, but I had to go all in. No parachute. All in.

And you will never see all God has for you until you take that leap.

Your Turn to Push

The Bible says, "Eyes have not seen, ears have not heard, neither has entered into the heart of man all the things that I have prepared." Ephesians 3:20 says, "Now unto him who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all you may ask or think, according to the power that worketh in you."

I ask you today: What has God told you to do? What move do you have to make? What business has He spoken to you about? You're pregnant with a promise, so you're going to be uncomfortable until your birthday. God is saying push. Push! You're too close now. Push.

Whose life can you impact this Christmas? How can you shift your focus? Maybe you don't have money, but do you have a story? The Book of Revelation says we're overcomers by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. Somebody needs to hear about your Jesus. Somebody needs to hear about your God.

In this Christmas season, why don't you be the mouthpiece for Jesus? That's Merry Christmas. Glory to God.

Reflection Questions

1. What has God been calling you to do that you've been resisting?
2. Are you giving this Christmas season with expectations, or freely like the woman with the alabaster box?
3. What does "going all in" look like for your specific situation?
4. How can you become the gift to someone else this season?

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