1. The Season for GIVING Jesus gave the gifts at ASCENSION (not at His birth) that we may be stewards of them IN THIS PRESENT AGE. GOAL: Can we make a SPECIAL EFFORT THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON to INITIATE THE SPIRITUAL GIFT RECEIVING AND GIVING NOW?

2. The Season for GIVING The ROUTINE Christmas gift cycle for the GIVER: 1.Decide on the gifts What do I think would bless them? What do I envision for them? What did they ask for? What are they envisioning for themselves? 2.Pay the price and deliver them THIS IS GOD’S PART!

3. The Season for GIVING The ROUTINE Christmas gift cycle for the RECEIVER: Anticipation of the day to open them –DESIRE –HOPE –ANXIOUS –THE EXCITING PART OF THE UNKNOWN GOOD THING Opening day! –DISCOVERING THE GIFT –IDENTIFYING THE GIFT –INITIAL GRATITUDE

4. The Season for GIVING The ROUTINE Christmas gift cycle for the RECEIVER: Experiencing them for the first time –BABY STEPS –CONTEMPLATING IT –LEARNING IT –READING THE INSTRUCTIONS –PIECING IT TOGETHER –TAKING OWNERSHIP Showing gratitude (THANK YOU!!) –CONTEMPLATION –GREATER DEPTH OF GRATITUDE

5. The Season for GIVING The ROUTINE Christmas gift cycle for the RECEIVER: Continuing to use them, DEMONSTRATING GENUINE… –APPRECIATION BY YOUR CONTINUED USE –INCREASING YOUR SKILL IN YOUR GIFT –KEEPING IT ACTIVE, NOT CHOOSING TO SET IT ON THE SHELF THIS IS OUR PART!

6. The Season for GIVING The ROUTINE Christmas gift cycle for the RECEIVER: Continuing to use them, DEMONSTRATING GENUINE… –APPRECIATION BY YOUR CONTINUED USE –INCREASING YOUR SKILL IN YOUR GIFT –KEEPING IT ACTIVE, NOT CHOOSING TO SET IT ON THE SHELF THIS IS OUR PART!

7. The Season for GIVING for the GIVER: 1.Decide on the gifts What do I think would bless them? What do I envision for them? What did they ask for? What are they envisioning for themselves? 2.Pay the price and deliver them THIS IS GOD’S PART! for the RECEIVER: 1.Anticipation of the day to open them 2.Opening day! 3.Experiencing them for the first time 4.Showing gratitude (THANK YOU!!) 5.Continuing to use them, DEMONSTRATING GENUINE… THIS IS OUR PART!

8. The Season for GIVING Heb 4:1 (NKJ) Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.

9. The Season for GIVING 3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: "So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest,' " although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. NOT OUR WORKS WERE FINISHED, BUT HIS WORKS

10. The Season for GIVING 4 For He has spoken in a certain place of the SEVENTH day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all His works"; 5 and again in this place: "They shall not enter My rest." 6 Since therefore IT REMAINS THAT SOME MUST ENTER IT, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, 7 again He designates a certain day, saying in David, "TODAY," after such a long time, as it has been said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts." TODAY!

11. The Season for GIVING 8 For if Joshua (that is, the conclusion of what Moses had begun—entering into that rest of the promised land) had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remains (NOW!—PRESENT TNESE! ) therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself ALSO CEASED FROM HIS WORKS AS GOD DID FROM HIS. HAVE I CEASED FROM HIS WORKS AS GOD DID FROM HIS?

12. The Season for GIVING 11 Let us therefore be diligent (NOW—present tense!) to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account I MUST GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF MYSELF WHETHER I ENTER INTO THAT REST!

13. The Season for GIVING 14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession it’s a HOW THING —an IDENTITY (A WHO!) AND NOT A TIME THING— IT’S NOT OUR WORKS, BUT OUR FAITH THAT GOD IS PLEASED WITH THAT PROVIDES OUR REST, OUR SECURITY!

14. The Season for GIVING 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

15. The Season for GIVING 8 For if Joshua (that is, the conclusion of what Moses had begun—entering into that rest of the promised land) had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remains (NOW!—PRESENT TNESE! ) therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself ALSO CEASED FROM HIS WORKS AS GOD DID FROM HIS. HAVE I CEASED FROM HIS WORKS AS GOD DID FROM HIS? 11 Let us therefore be diligent (NOW—present tense!) to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account I MUST GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF MYSELF WHETHER I ENTER INTO THAT REST! 14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession it’s a HOW THING —an IDENTITY (A WHO!) AND NOT A TIME THING— IT’S NOT OUR WORKS, BUT OUR FAITH THAT GOD IS PLEASED WITH THAT PROVIDES OUR REST, OUR SECURITY! 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.