Why don't you turn with me in your Bibles to Luke chapter 2. Now we're not going to go into the initial part of it, which many of you may consider the Christmas story. And I really believe all the Word of God is the Christmas story. We have been told from the very beginning that God would send forth a Redeemer. Even Job mentions that, that my Redeemer liveth. And Job would have been the first writer in our Bible. and he already knew the truth, that the Redeemer already lived, and in the latter earth he shall stand. Today, I really want to get across one point to you, and it's really directed more toward the Christians. I understand that when we have some type of a service around one of the holidays, it's very often we'll get visitors from the community, and we will and always will strive to present the gospel. But I really believe my main duty is to strengthen the believer so that we all do the work of the ministry and we edify the body of Christ. And so basically every message that I preach is going to have the major element being that toward a Christian. And I really believe in Christianity, for many Christians, we're going to give gifts, but we're sadly not going to give the gospel, the greatest gift of all. And so I think sometimes in Christianity, we've been satisfied with just saying, Jesus is the reason for the season. And while it's poetic, and while it's catchy, it's not enough. It's not enough just to simply just put that tag on there as a Christian and say, well, he's the reason for the season and go on and living our lives. And I really believe as Christians, we need to understand that God has chosen us as children to take the gospel into the world, to present the gospel clearly to whosoever will and let them come. And so today I want to speak to you about giving gifts without giving the gospel. Sadly, that's happening too much in Christianity today. We're giving gifts and not giving the gospel. Let's talk about that this morning. Let's begin with a word of prayer. Dear Father, we come to you in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, and we are grateful for all that we've already understood from your word. The opportunities that you've given us to understand where this child would be born, to what would be his character, to what would be his purpose in coming. And Father, we now have the opportunity to hear just a portion of this and just to understand a portion a little bit better. And Father, I am so grateful for you sending your Son. You so loved the world that you gave your only begotten Son. Father, he so loved the world that he willingly laid down his life on the cross of Calvary. They didn't take it from him. He laid it down. So Father, I just pray that that greatest gift of all that we as Christians have received we'd be willing to take and give to someone else. The presentation of the gospel to a lost and dying world, what an opportunity for us. And maybe no greater season, we've got really three main seasons, which we've just got a little bit of an extra opportunity to present the gospel a little bit more on the minds of people. And so may we as Christians Use this opportunity to present Jesus Christ to those that are around us. We pray all this in Jesus' name. Amen. The beautiful story of the gospel really, as I would state it earlier, starts way before the New Testament and has been just sprinkled throughout the entire Old Testament. We knew that a Redeemer was coming. We even knew where he would be born. But all the facts and all the details, we didn't know. And as we read further and further into the gospel, the more we understand, especially as we get into the New Testament Scriptures. So as Christians, we have an understanding of this message. We have an understanding of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who was going to come and die on the cross of Calvary for our sins. As you get into Luke chapter one, and we're not gonna go there, but as you get into Luke chapter one, the announcement comes to Mary, the announcement concerning that she would bring forth a child, and they would call his name Jesus. The understanding there is Jehovah is salvation, capitals, all J-E-S-U-S, all in capitals, and this is Jehovah's salvation. As you get into Matthew chapter one, what happens immediately after that is the angel now going to Joseph, presenting even more details. In fact, this will be Emmanuel, this will be God with us. And so we begin to put together those details, and next Sunday, or next year on Christmas, it's the message I will be preaching then. There is something truly in a name. But this information all gives us a greater understanding of what his purpose was for coming. And so first of all, I want us to look at this. It's a gift for all people. Because after the early part of Luke chapter two, when it's announced that the taxation was gone and this brought Joseph and Mary into Bethlehem, there begins to unfold then even a deeper story. And I wanna pick it up, beginning in verse number seven. I'm gonna go ahead and read through the part of the birth. I really wanna get to verses 10 and following there. But it says, and she brought forth her firstborn son, wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger. Going down to verse number eight, and there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. Now I'm getting into verse number 10, notice this. And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. So this coming, as Pastor Seth has already mentioned, in fact, referred to some verses I'll look at in just a minute, this isn't just for the Jews, this is not just for the Gentiles, this is for all people, this is for all nations, this is for all nationalities. It's for all people individually. In fact, he goes on to say to these shepherds, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. Again, here's that deliverer. I'll talk a little bit about that in just a moment. So I think for unto you doesn't actually just mean just for you shepherds, but I think he's really talking about for the Jews, for the Gentiles, for mankind. So Jesus Christ coming in the form of a babe, in the form of man as taught to us in Philippians chapter two and other passages of scripture, he came unto his own and his own received him not, I understand. But I also understand that opportunity and that offer has been made to all people and the understanding from the very beginning was that Jesus Christ had come for the world. This is a gift not just for us, this is a gift for the world. In fact, as Anna and Simeon would begin to kind of unwrap this package, so to speak. He began to announce the expectation, come thou long expected Jesus. What a wonderful song that we would sing. So drop down, if you would, with me to verse number 25. And let's just look a little bit deeper into this. I don't want to go too long with this, but at the same time, I think it brings valuable information. It was after the child was born, of course, and now he's taken for dedication to the temple. And behold, verse 25, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. And the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Ghost was upon him. You're going to notice throughout this story, the moving, the working, the impact of the Holy Ghost of the Holy Spirit. There is nothing taking place that is guided by the influence of the Holy Spirit. And so here is a man who's just and devout. Here's a man who's looking for the consolation of Israel, who's looking for the Messiah to be born. And the Holy Ghost was upon this man. Here's a devout man worshiping God, truly a believer. And it was revealed unto him by, notice again, revealed to him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. The idea was this, you're not going to see death until you see God's Messiah that was sent to die on the cross of Calvary for our sins. And again, I think Pastor Seth stated it very well. This was a birth that had attached to it very closely a death. because that birth was for the purpose of death, so that he might die on the cross of Calvary for our sins. And so the Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that you're not going to die before you have the opportunity to see the Lord's Christ. This is the Lord's Messiah that was coming to redeem Israel and to redeem all mankind. In Psalm 2, it would say, the king of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed, against his Messiah. So God's Messiah was what Simeon had long anticipated and waited to see. So notice in verse 27, and he came and by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in Christ Jesus to do for him after the custom of the law. So notice again, the working of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is just guiding all things. Now this is a great point to understand as well. Because the Holy Spirit guided all the details and events for his death as well. But this event is a major event. The Holy Spirit is part of this. This announcement is major for us to understand. And so the Holy Spirit, again, mentioned for the third verse in a row, is orchestrating, as it were. Maybe you've gone to see an orchestra at some point. There's a conductor up there. Well, the Holy Spirit is the conductor. And all of a sudden, all the pieces are assembling together, that this is coming about exactly the way God wanted it to be. So here's Simeon brought by the Holy Spirit into the temple, and all of a sudden, here come the parents of the Lord Jesus Christ, bringing him in for the dedication that needed to take place in the temple. All of this orchestrated by the Holy Spirit. Then took he him. Can you imagine that moment? I look out across here. Maybe it's a moment like David recently had a couple times with a couple grandchildren, granddaughters being born the first time he got to hold them. Or maybe I look over here and Pastor Terry has a man again with a little John recently born and you get that first chance to hold him. And here's Simeon. And he has the opportunity to hold into his hands. Not just a baby, but the baby that he anticipated, the baby his people longed for and needed. And for the very first time, he had the opportunity to hold into his hands the Messiah. I'm not sure how many tears were shed as each of these gentlemen held the grandchild, but I am sure there were tears shed that day. As Simeon holds within his hands the Christ child, the Lord's anointed, one he had been reading about, one he had been anticipating, it now was being held in his arms and he took him up in his arms and he blessed God and said, Lord, now let us now thy servant depart in peace according to thy word. Now it's okay, Lord. Take me home. In fact, that's all he wanted now. Now that the Christ child and the fulfillment of what the Holy Spirit had promised, that opportunity for him to see the Lord's anointed, now as I've had this opportunity, there's nothing more for me to do. There's nothing more for me to accomplish. It's now my time, if you would, Lord. Now that I've gotten to see this blessed child, would you now just take me home? So what a moment here in the temple, maybe one of the greatest days ever in the temple. For mine eyes, now look at this description, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation. You know, you don't look for a deliverer unless you know you're captive. You're not looking for somebody to rescue you unless you know you're abandoned or in distress. But Simeon knew that Israel needed a deliverer. Simeon knew that Israel needed a king. Simeon knew that Israel needed the Messiah. And Simeon knew why he was coming. Simeon knew that he wasn't just going to be put on a throne and made a masterpiece to worship here on earth. Simeon knew that he was coming unto his own. Simeon knew that he was coming for those that needed a physician. Simeon knew those that were going through life and struggling with it, that that is why he came. And he says, here is your salvation. I think it's wonderful. We looked at it a couple of weeks ago at Psalm 51 as David had confessed his sin that he had committed. And in one portion of Scripture, he says, restore unto me the joy of thy salvation. And he recognized that the salvation, the deliverance that we have would not be possible if it were not for God and God foreseeing our need. God seeing that we'd be captive in our sin, and God seeing that we would need a deliverer that would rescue us and deliver us from this world, that God would give us his salvation, but later on, David would talk about my salvation. Isn't it wonderful that God's salvation is available for each of us to take hold of? It's a free gift, and it's for all people. There's not a people group nor a person that God would withhold this gift from purposely. But He's given for all. And for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. And so we have to understand that he is the reason for the coming. In fact, he's gonna go on and talk about this in verses 31 and 32, which now is prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel. And so he makes it clear again, it's for all people. Just as the angel had announced to the shepherds, so Simeon already knows this is what we've all needed. Dear friend, I wonder, do you know your need? Do you understand your need for salvation? Do you understand your need for a deliverer? The reality is sometimes people get caught up in what the world has to offer, and they don't see their own need. The reality is sometimes wealth comes or fortune comes or just life seems to go well and for some people they just never see that they really have a need for a deliverer because they've never looked beyond this life to what the next life may be. And so again, dear friend, let me remind you that there is not just this world, there is another world yet to come. And the Bible describes it in a new heaven and a new earth. And so dear friend, I want to encourage you. Every one of us came into this world without any decision being made on our part, but we won't enter into the next world without a personal decision. And we choose where we'll spend eternity. And you say, well, I would never choose to go to hell, but we have, some have chosen to reject God's plan. And let me say it better than that. Some have rejected to reject, some have chosen to reject God's person, His Son, Jesus Christ. So dear friend, the only way that we could enter into that relationship with God, an eternal home called heaven, is through Jesus Christ the Lord. And again, here's Simeon that knows the gospel. He didn't need a whole New Testament to understand the gospel. He took the Old Testament and understood the message of Jesus Christ and of salvation. He knew what he was coming for. He knew who was coming. He knew it was for all people. And he knew this was for the salvation of mankind. So it was a gift for all people. It's so eloquent how he laid it out. Do you know, I thought about, sometimes around Christmas, you just wanna think, for those who do the gift giving and all, you're like, wow, what's a perfect gift? What is a perfect gift I can get for them? Do you know there's no other gift that is even remotely appropriate for all people? There's actually none. There is nothing in the world that you could find to give to everyone and everyone would need it. This is the only gift, Jesus Christ, that is needed by everyone. This is the only one that's appropriate to offer to everyone. This is the perfect gift given by God for the world. Now not all want it, not all will receive it, but it is needed by everyone. So let's move into the second part. Let's go back a little earlier again in Luke chapter two. Let's pick it up around verse number 15. Because there's a second idea, it's a gift to be given. It's not only a gift to be received or a gift for all people, this is a gift to be given. I'm not talking about regifting. By the way, I'm kind of offended that some of you are taking my gifts and I'm using them as a white elephant gift the following year. What's up with that? Have you ever found that to happen? You know, you give a gift one year and you find it on a white elephant gift table the next year. You thought that was a perfect gift to give them. I'm not talking about this idea of regifting, but I'm actually talking about so much that we are thrilled with the gift that we have been given that we want to make sure that others know it's a gift that they can also receive. It's a gift that you can give without losing it yourself. It's not something you say, oh, I really love this and I wanna keep it, but I also wanna give it to my daughter and I'm gonna give it to her for her to enjoy. This is a gift that you can continually keep yourself, but yet give to someone else. And this is a gift already stated that everybody needs. So as Christians, again, breaking from the tradition of saying he's the reason for the season, which I'm okay with you saying, but that's not enough, friend. When these shepherds, and these aren't the theologians, these aren't the prophets, these aren't the priests, These are shepherds. I'm not belittling them, but I'm not saying, well, this is their duty. That's what they're supposed to do. I've told this story before, but I'll tell it again. It's been a while. I was going door to door in our community and talking. I met up with a couple in Reamstown, and they told me where they'd go to church. And I said, oh, I'm familiar with that church. I said, I almost drive by it every day. And I said, you know, I've actually lived in the community 20 years. I said, I live within a half mile of your church. And I said, you know, no one from your church has ever come to talk to me about my soul. You know what their response was? Yeah, I don't know what the pastor does all week. You know, what do they see? And by that statement, they're thinking, that's his job, not mine. Well, I enlightened them that day. They didn't expect me to knock on their door. Well, yeah, I'm a pastor too, but I don't expect just pastors to do this. And I began to talk to them, and I think they actually ended up feeling guilty as I walked away. Anyway, I didn't mind that at all. They should feel guilty. Because if they're a Christian and not sharing the gospel, you should feel guilty about it, correct? Yeah, I'll look around until I see enough heads nodding to go on, okay? But the reality was, the shepherds are gonna go, and we're gonna see this, the shepherds are gonna go see their Christ child, and they said, we gotta tell everybody about this. Has there ever been that moment in your life? I gotta tell others about what Jesus Christ has done for me. I've gotta tell everybody about this free offer of salvation. So let's look at the story beginning in verse number 15 of Luke chapter 2. And so, if this is a gift for all people, then everybody ought to know that it's a gift available for them, right? As Christians, we ought to make sure people know. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and a babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying that was told them concerning this child. And I'm gonna just stop reading there for the sake of time. And so once they had seen the Christ child, once they had seen the Savior that had come into the world, once they had seen this one that Simeon is later going to announce is for all people and for their salvation, these shepherds are gonna say, you know what? Let's go tell everybody about this. And so the message began to be told, starting with just some shepherds. And so the message ought to be told by us, God's children. So the message of Jesus Christ being for all people, to being a deliverer from their sin, to being their salvation, As Christians. They ought to be hearing it first. From us. Do you think it ever happens that? Someone would hear the message of the gospel and say, well, wait a second, my neighbors are Christian. They never told me this. I don't know if this could be true, because I think my neighbors were great neighbors. Why wouldn't they have told me? I have a relative that's a Christian. They never told me about this. I've got a coworker. I know he goes to church every week. I know she goes to church. She goes to a lady's Bible study every month. She says that she's a Christian. If this is really true, why wouldn't she have told me this? Again, as Christians, I believe there's a great responsibility that lays upon us, those who have received the gift, to let the world know that Jesus Christ has come to die on the cross of Calvary for the sins of the world. And whosoever will, let him come. The Magners just gave a great update in Sunday School and challenged us briefly at the end. It was a great challenge. There are people in Mexico City that need to hear the message of the gospel. They're willing to take their life and leave their family. And I'm not bragging on them because this is some great sacrifice because God's sacrifice for them is far greater than their sacrifice for Him. but willing to leave and willing to go learn a language just so they can tell people what Jesus Christ has done for them. There's no other reason for them to go. They're going to do other things. They're going to present other things. They're going to minister in other ways. But there's only one reason to pull up stakes in Pennsylvania and move to Mexico City and as to present the gospel of Jesus Christ. You say, yeah, because they're missionaries. and you're an ambassador for Christ. And every one of us, beyond saying he's the reason for the season, ought to be able to simply take God's word and present Christ to the world. And the great truth, and the encouraging truth is this, it doesn't matter who you talk to, They all need it. They may not all receive it, but this one thing you know, they all need it. These shepherds were given such great news that Christ was born for all people. And once they had the opportunity to see Him, they said, it's time to tell the world. And dear friend, the same is true for you and for me. It's time to tell the world. Let's pray. Our dear, gracious heavenly father. You have given us so many opportunities in life to share the gospel. And every one of us has failed at least some of those opportunities. Doesn't matter what age. We've got some young people sitting here that could still take the message of the gospel to a friend their age, or maybe through a tract, or John and Romans to someone older than them. We have teens that could share the gospel. They were willing and glad to receive the gift, like so many of us, willing and glad to receive the gift, but all of a sudden we become really shy about sharing it. We become really private and personal about sharing it. And Lord, I just want you to work in our hearts. Joy to the world, the Lord has come. And so Father, may we just take the simplicity of this story and just the simplicity of some events that happened around the birth of Christ and the joy that was there. And may we just, we're not trying to make anything new out of it. We're not trying to make really even a day of it. We're trying to make a life of this. This is just one opportunity that we have to take and share the gospel with a lost and dying world.