THE GIFT AND THE GIVER

GREETINGS! Maupay nga pasko! Paskong-pasko tayo ngayon.

Kun may nagreet ha imo hin, “Merry Christmas!” “Pasko” Ano it karuyag sidngon?

REGALO???!!!

Let me ask you. For you what is Christmas? Ano it pasko para ha imo.
Christmas is a time to….
Christmas is a time to give special gifts.

If you agree with this statement, raise your hand. Kung naagree ka, meaning, this is
what you do. Mahilig ka maghatag hin regalo during Christmas. Sugad ka hini…

Powerpoint on a girl and boy thinking what gift to give this Christmas.

They are thinking in advance what to give pagtuntong pa lang ng December.

Tanungin mo ulit katabi mo, “Ganyan ka ba talaga?”

Mabuti na yong nagtatanong! Kasi… baka ito talaga ang totoo para sa yo.

Christmas is a time to….

Christmas is a time to receive more special gifts.

Sugad ka hini…

Powerpoint on a girl and boy wishing to receive more special gifts this Christmas.
(Ano daw la it regalo ni Papa?… Ano daw la it regalo ni Mama?.. Sana tagan ako hin
bag-o nga model hin cell phone..)

If you are more concerned about what to receive on Christmas season rather than on
what and how you can give, you are like this person. And if you are like this person, you are
like monkeys, always asking for banana! Tanungin mo katabi mo, “Are you a monkey?” “Do
you want banana?”

Among all seasons and celebrations, it is during Christmas season that we give more gifts.
Why does people think of gifts during Christmas? Why is this so? Ikaw, nagpakiana ka na ba
hin sugad hini, “Kay-ano pag Christmas regalo it nahuhunahunaan hin tawo.” Christmas,
Regalo. Parehas na la it meaning! Some people say, “Hi Santa Claus asya an nagpauso hin
regalo!.” Siring liwat ni Mama magbutang hin medyas ha may purtahan because Santa Claus
will put a gift in it. Some people say, “It has been the tradition all over the world! Pagkamay-
ada ko buot asya na ito, an akon na namat-an!” Anyway, during Christmas time that we are
reminded of something very important in which we will be learning tonight.
Our topic tonight will not really dwell on whether you are a giver or a taker but will focus
about the Gift and the Giver.

Title: The Gift and the Giver

Let me ask you…

What kind of gift do you want to receive?

Some people would say, “Ok la bisan ano nga regalo.” Siring pa nira, “Basta tagan
la!” But most of us really want to receive gifts that are special. Kamo, gusto niyo special na
gift? Of course! Ok…

Outside from the beauty of the gift,

We often define special gifts as one that was...
- heartily given

Sabi nila, “Bisan ano basta from the heart!” Makita ngani nga napiritan la, diri naton
naaappreciate. But gifts that were cheerfully given, coupled with love, no matter how cheap
it was, they bring gladness to our hearts, making the gift so special to us.

To some people special gift means expensive gift.

- expensive

Diri ba, when you receive an expensive gift, natatouch ka? Usually when someone
gives you a gift, you say, “Thank you.” Pero kun mahal an gift, diri ka la makausa kun
magpasalamat. You say, “Grabee! Salamat…Kabuutan nimo hin duro! Salamat ha. Basta
Salamat baya… As in, “Thank you…” Pero kon baratuhon la. Pagkarawat, “Thank you.” But
really, it is almost true to all of us that we feel special when someone gives us gifts that are
expensive labi na gud kun cannot afford kita pagpalit hito nga item. The most expensive gift
that I received was this watch that I am wearing. Though I can afford to buy this, I was very
glad because I am not willing to buy this kind of watch with my own money.

To most of us special gift means gifts that were sacrificially given.

- sacrificially given

How do you feel when you receive a gift that is sacrificially given to you?

Many of us like especially made hand crafted gifts. We feel so special when we
receive gift nga diri pinalit but were made by the giver or diri ngani gifts that are not only
costly in terms of money but was sacrificial in terms of time and effort. Di ba?

Some other people often define special gifts as one that was...
- timely given

Siring pa nira, “Thank you… You’re just on time!” haha! Joke!

 Some of us treat a gift as special gift when it was given timely. Meaning, the gift was
exactly what the person need at that time. It was like an answered prayer. Natabo na ito ha
iyo?

We often define special gifts as...

- heartily given
- expensive
- sacrificially given
- timely given

And let me say this, in general, we have the tendency to put our value with the gift that we
receive. Do you agree? What I mean is… When we’re given a special gift, we also feel
special. Right?

Pero when somebody gives us a gift that does not match with our “worth” or identity we are
disappointed. Asya?
Example:
Mayakan ka, “Hhmnn, kacheap hini nga regalo. Baratuhon man la ini. Ano it hunahuna niya
ha akon? CHEAP???!”

“Mas maupay an hatag ha iya nga regalo kaysa akon.” Nauba kita, feeling na naton diri kita
espesyal?” Asya ka?

You see, we intend to measure our self worth with the gift that we receive.

Let me ask you. At this moment, do you feel special? Do you consider yourself special?

Tonight’s message is telling you that you are special. You are so special to God.

Do you think God has a special gift to you? YES!

The Bible talks about a gift.

In Romans 6:23
23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

According to this verse, what is the gift?

Gift: ETERNAL LIFE

For whom is the gift? FOR US!

Who is the Giver of this gift? GOD!

So, this gift is for you and me, from God. Right? And what kind of gift is this.
Eternal Life is a gift that was…
- heartily given

John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life.

1 John 4:9
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that
we might live through him.

Love was the motivating factor of the Giver of this gift. He gave because he loved. O di ba,
FROM THE HEART!

Eternal Life is a gift that was…

- sacrificially given

How do we know that it was sacrificial?

Let us read these verses. It is Jesus prayer.

Luke 22:42, 44
42
"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

In other words, he is saying, “Father, if you are willing nga diri ako magsakripisyo ha cross,
himoa.” Meaning, Jesus knew that going to the cross will be very hard, very humiliating!
And the Father knows all about this, it is going to be painful for his Son and painful for him
too. You see the GIVER of the GIFT is not only the Father, but Jesus as well.

And look at Jesus’ condition.

44
And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood
falling to the ground.

What kind of gift did God offered?

Sacrificial, isn’t it?

Jesus gave what was not easy to give.

Eternal Life is a gift that is…

- very costly

Not only that what God gave was physically and emotionally sacrificial, it was very
costly that no one can ever give it. The gift was so valuable.
 Think of something that seems impossible for you. Maybe going to the United States
is impossible for you at this time. But someday this can be possible for you. You do better in
school now, later get a high paying job, be engaged in business. Then it becomes possible for
you. Kun gusto mo shortcut, “Mag-asawa ka na la hin Amerikano!” PERO JOKE LA!

But you know? God’s gift of eternal life is unique. Let us go back to Roman 6:23.

Romans 6:23
23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Pakianhi imo sapit, “Kapatid nagkasala ka na? Ano an baton? Mayda nagsiring nga
waray pa???…

Know and realize! The penalty (kabayaran) for our sin is death. Death here means
eternal separation from God. We all know God is in heaven, meaning the gift of eternal life
would be in heaven, death here means life forever in hell.

Death - eternal separation from God

- life forever in hell.

Friends, if you can just labor hard to be able to go to U.S. or tour around the world, not so
with going to heaven. How then can a person go to heaven? Do good deeds? Pero ngatanan
nakasala. No one is sinless. You know, bisan ano nga imo pagtinirok mo han imo good
deeds, you can’t earn your way to heaven. No amount han aton mag-upay nga mga kinaiya
would be worthy enough for us to enter heaven. Because it is our sin that is making it
impossible for us. That is why eternal life or going to heaven is a gift. A GIFT!

How valuable is the Father’s gift? Very costly!

Eternal Life is a gift that is…

- very costly

How costly? Why costly?

God gave what is impossible for us to get.

That makes the gift so unique! If you have this gift already, you must be very special because
this gift is very costly.

And look who’s the GIVER!

Think for a moment for someone whom you give high regard, a person whom you admire
and respect. He/She could be your favorite teacher, a leader or a president of your
organization, or could be a kilala who is not close to you but you admire and give high
regard.
Nakahunahuna na kam? Imagine… that person in your mind would give you a special gift, a
gift that is costly and was heartily given to you. And never before that person give you a gift.
How would you feel? MapapaWOW ka seguro no?!!!

But the GIVER of this gift is far more admirable than anybody else.

Who is the GIVER? The LORD!!! Who is HE??

PS 89:6
For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD?
Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings?
ISA 40:18
To whom, then, will you compare God?
What image will you compare him to?

1Tim 6:5
God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is
immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To
him be honor and might forever. Amen.

Think about this.

The GIFT is costly and the GIVER of the gift is the greatest of all, the King of kings and the
Lord of lords.

My question for you is, “Have you received this gift already?”

Maybe your answer is, “I don’t know! How can I know?”

Well, let us check.

After your life here on earth, do you know where you’re going? If your answer is no,
then you don’t have the gift yet.
If you were to die today, are you sure you’re going to heaven? If your answer is No or
you said yes but only 99% or less sure, then you don’t have the gift yet.

What was the gift again???

God’s gift for you is ETERNAL LIFE, life in heaven.

What is this eternal life again? A GIFT! Do you work for a gift? No! What do you do when
someone offers you a gift? RECEIVE IT!

But you will say, “I am not worthy to receive it.” If you have this mentality of receiving a
gift, it means that you are selective in giving gifts.

You are like a person who say, “Ini hiya, taga-uma man la. Baratuhon la it angay ini ha iya.”
“Adi hiya riko, makaarawod, kinahanglan marahalon it ihatag.”
 We get gift to match the standard of living of the one we want to give.

God’s way of giving a gift is not like this. God gives gift to match our level of need. Our
need is to be rescued from eternal punishment in hell. Our need was a Savior. He gave
eternal life as a gift.

The gift is for you, for me, from God.

Yes the gift is costly but he doesn’t count who you are and what you have been through for
you to benefit in His gift giving. As a matter of fact, nobody is worthy to receive it.

John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in
him shall not perish but have eternal life.

God is not requiring you to be perfect first. What he is asking of you is that you believe or
trust in His promise to give you this gift of eternal life regardless of where you are now and
what you do. That is how much special you are to Him.

I want you to bow heads this time. Just close your eyes as I continue to talk to you. Think for
a moment about your life.

Maybe this Christmas you are so expectant about what gift to receive. And even at this
moment you are kind of frustrated because it seems like nobody would give you a gift.
Nobody is willing to give what you desire this Christmas. Or maybe you feel insecure
because you really never felt special, never before. None of your family members made you
feel special. None of your dreams have come true yet. I want you to realize tonight, that you
are special, God’s gift for you is nothing compares with any other gifts. Just like what Mrs.
Romualdez said, none of those fame and riches gave meaning to her life. Only when she
trusted in Jesus for her eternal salvation that her life begun to have meaning.

If you have come to realize tonight that you aren’t sure you’re going to heaven when you die,
this gift is timely for you. God is like saying to you tonight, “Receive my gift, trust in me. I
am your Savior. I will give you what no one can give. I have endured the pain on the cross
because you mean so much to me. You are so special to me.” If God’s Word is speaking to
your heart and you want to respond to God’s invitation to you tonight to receive the gift, I
want you to raise your hand. Don’t hesitate. Show to God your hands. Your coming here is
part of God’s plan for you to have this opportunity to receive this gift. God knows that you
need this gift. And realize, nobody else can offer you this gift. Come on, don’t be shy. Raise
your hand. Take a step of faith. Raise your hand and say, “Lord I need a Savior, and that is
YOU, the GIVER of this gift.” Come on. Respond to Him.

God is happy to see your hands. Somebody will come to you and would invite you to talk
with you. Pls. go with that person, they will ask how you feel and think about your response.

PRAYER: Be forever grateful. Be reminded the no one born of God continues to sin.