Gifts to Give Yourself
INTRODUCTION.
A. When we think about gift giving, we generally think about what we give to other people. Sometimes we think about what gifts we would like to receive. However, have you ever considered giving yourself a gift?
B. I am not talking about season tickets to watch the OU football games. I am not talking about that new computer, the new car, that necklace or diamond ring, or that dog you have not received from other people. I am talking about gifts much precious and only gifts that you can give yourself.
C. With this lesson, we will examine six gifts that you should always be giving yourself.
D. Let us being with the gift of faith.
I. THE GIFT OF FAITH.
A. Faith is translated from the Greek word pistis {pis’-tis} which means, “1) conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it . . . 2) fidelity, faithfulness” (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon)
B. Jesus’ disciples petitioned the Lord to increase their faith. (Luke 17:5) We, too, must seek to have our faith increased.
C. Faith, however, is a choice. We must seek after faith through study of God’s word. (Romans 10:17)
D. Once we have the knowledge of God’s word, we must then seek to exercise that word within our lives. That is faith in action.
1. Hebrews 11 contains many examples of men, who through faith, obeyed God. (Hebrews 11:1-6ff)
2. James explained that faith without works is dead. (James 2:14-17)
E. What better gift is there to begin with than faith in God?
II. THE GIFT OF SELF-CONTROL.
A. A person says, “I have faith. What’s next?” Another gift to give yourself is the gift of self-control.
B. Self-control (temperance, KJV) is translated from the Greek word egkrateia {eng-krat’-i-ah} which means, “1) self-control (the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, esp. his sensual appetites)” (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon) The word means literally what it says: Self-control is to control one’s self.
C. Self-control is listed as part of the fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-24)
D. Self-control is listed as one of the seven virtues that is to be added to your faith. (II Peter 1:5-7)
E. With self-control, you can control yourself not to sin, but to serve God faithfully.
1. Paul told the brethren in Rome to present their “members as instruments of righteousness to God.” (Romans 6:12-14)
2. This can only be accomplished through you controlling yourself at all times.
III. THE GIFT OF BROTHERLY LOVE.
A. Another excellent gift to give yourself is the gift of brotherly love.
B. Our love is to be in deed and in truth. (I John 3:18)
C. Our love should never do harm to a brother or sister. (Romans 13:10)
D. Our love must be without hypocrisy. (Romans 12:9-10)
E. Our love is to follow the pattern established in I Corinthians 13:4-8a.
1. Love suffers long and is kind. (vs 4)
2. Love does not envy. (vs 4)
3. Love does not parade itself, is not puffed up. (vs 4)
4. Love does not behave rudely. (vs 5)
5. Love does not seek its own. (vs 5)
6. Love is not provoked, thinks no evil. (vs 5)
7. Love does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. (vs 6)
8. Love bears all things. (vs 7)
9. Love believes all things. (vs 7)
10. Love hopes all things. (vs 7)
11. Love endures all things. (vs 7)
12. Love never fails. (vs 8a)
IV. THE GIFT OF LONGSUFFERING.
A. Once the gift of brotherly love is in place, then the gift of longsuffering will follow.
B. Longsuffering is translated from the Greek word makrothumia {mak-roth-oo-mee’-ah} which means, “1) patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance 2) patience, forbearance, longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs.” (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon)
C. Longsuffering is a part of the fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23)
D. Longsuffering is part of the walk of a Christian’s life. (Ephesians 4:1-3)
E. Since we are the elect of God, we are to be longsuffering. (Colossians 3:12-13)
F. While it is true that we are to be longsuffering in our service to the Lord, it is also just as true that we be longsuffering toward our fellow brethren in Christ.
V. THE GIFT OF FORGIVING.
A. Following in the footsteps of love and longsuffering is the gift of forgiveness.
B. When a brother or sister repents, forgiveness is required. (Luke 17:1-4)
1. Jesus said that if your brother repents, you are to forgive him.
a. Repents - metanoeo {met-an-o-eh’-o} - “1) to change one’s mind, i.e. to repent 2) to change one’s mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins” (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon)
b. Forgive - aphiemi {af-ee’-ay-mee} “1) to send away . . . 1c)to let go, let alone, let be . . .1d) to let go, give up a debt, forgive, to remit 1e) to give up, keep no longer . . .” (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon)
2. Admitting to a sin is not the same as repenting of the sin. I may admit my guilt to a sin, but unless I change my mind and my actions away from the sin, then I have not repented.
3. Telling a person that you have forgiven them without practicing that forgiveness is not true forgiveness. When we forgive a person, we let go of what they did. We no longer hold their sin against them.
4. Jesus also said that if the same brother sins against you seven times in a day and repents seven times, then you are to forgive him seven times.
C. Jesus makes it clear that if I am unwilling to forgive someone who sins against me, then God will be unwilling to forgive me of my sins against Him. (Matthew 6:14-15)
VI. THE GIFT OF ENDURANCE (PATIENCE).
A. The last gift that we will discuss this morning is the gift of endurance or patience.
B. Patience is translated from the Greek word hupomone {hoop-om-on-ay’} which means, “1) steadfastness, constancy, endurance . . . 2) a patient, steadfast waiting for 3) a patient enduring, sustaining, perseverance” (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon)
C. Paul told Timothy to follow after patience and to fight the good fight of faith. (I Timothy 6:11-12)
D. We are to add patience to our faith. (II Peter 1:5-8)
E. If we let patience have its place in our lives, then we will be perfect or complete. (James 1:2-4)
F. With the gift of patience or endurance, then we will never give up on serving the Lord. We will remain strong. We will remain sure. We will enter into Heaven.
CONCLUSION.
A. Have you given yourself the following gifts?
1. The gift of FAITH.
2. The gift of SELF-CONTROL.
3. The gift of BROTHERLY LOVE.
4. The gift of LONGSUFFERING.
5. The gift of FORGIVING.
6. The gift of ENDURANCE.
B. While there are many other “gifts” that you must give yourself, these are just a few to help you get started.
C. If you are not a Christian, then accept God’s gift of salvation by answering the Gospel’s call to salvation today.
1. Begin with believing in Jesus. (John 3:16; Mark 16:15-16)
2. Repent of your sins. (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38)
3. Confess your belief in Jesus Christ. (Romans 10:9-10)
4. Obey Jesus’ command to be baptized. (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:3-4)
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Gifts to Give Yourself - December 29, 2002 - File #: 1209 - Growth
by John M. Duvall -- Lawton, OK