“What God Wants For Christmas!” John 17:24-26

What to Get That Person Who Has Everything … Something They Really Want! https://www.vat19.com/item/worlds-largest-gummy-bear?adid=gbase&gclid=Cj0KEQiA4eqyBRDUh7Omv9vCtsoBEiQAspfs8iS1vxlbfsdWOuD08ZEidMTfkgJUIgulP-v_FSPF-tIaAtoY8P8HAQ = 1,400 regular gummy bears, 33,000 calories

So…Giving to the Lord? What Does He Really Want? Need? Doesn’t need any THING … John 1:3…since He CREATED EVERYTHING!  Anything we can give Him is SOMETHING He created! And, He is sovereign: He lacks nothing! There is absolutely nothing that happens in the universe that is outside of God’s influence and authority. As King of kings and Lord of lords, God has no limitations.

Detailing His Sovereignty … God is above all things and before all things. He is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end. He is immortal, and He is present everywhere so that everyone can know Him (Revelation 21:6). God knows all things past, present, and future. There is no limit to His knowledge, for God knows everything completely before it even happens (Romans 11:33).

So “What God Wants” Discovered in What He WILLS To Be Done! “Father, I desire that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am, in order that they may behold My glory…” (John 17:24). AND “…that the love wherewith Thou didst love Me may be in them, and I in them…” (17:26). “And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two” (Mk. 6:7)

So Where Can We Find Jesus? (Hint: Easier Than Where’s Waldo?)

So Where Is He?? “Where 2 or 3 or more are gathered in My name… (Matthew 18:20). “to the extent you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it unto Me…” (Matthew 25:40). “in My Father’s house… I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2) - eternal home!

Hearts That Recognize, And Give Him First Place! We know the end of the story! “Every knee shall bow… and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Phil. 2:10-11). Jesus points out the GREATEST commandment: Matthew 22:37-39

What He Wants: He Desires YOU to Surrender to His Will But for now, while we await His return… “why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). “He who has My commandments and keeps them, He it is who loves Me…” (John 14:21). Why? “created in Christ Jesus for good works which He prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them…” (Ephesians 2:10).

But I Cannot Do That! It’s Not in Me! Precisely the point! Salvation is not only about eternal homes … Its about being transformed in the here and now! God graciously supplies: * His calling over us * His Word to direct our paths * The power of His Spirit with in order to obey! Key: nothing less than death to SELF.

His Desires Extend Beyond Your Salvation “you shall be My witnesses… Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, uttermost parts of the earth…” (Acts 1:8) “Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Your possession” (Psalm 2:8) A passion for all that is lost… (Luke 19:10). * inherent value + * recovery price PAID!