And He Gave Gifts unto Men

 

And He Gave Gifts unto Men

Did you ever receive a gift but it wasn't what you really wanted, and so you were not grateful? You may have been polite and thanked the person, but it was not valuable to you. Some gifts that come from the heart are more precious than expensive presents. Hand made items given to you by your children are valued keepsakes.

God has given us His best gift and that was his only begotten son. Jesus also is the bearer of Valuable gifts.

We are approaching the celebration of Christmas. It is the time we acknowledge the birth of Jesus our King. Yes, our King was born in a stable and laid in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes while angels sang Glory to God in the Highest and peace on earth and to all men. It was a holy night when God presented His gift to the world.

Shepherds came to worship Him as they were led to the stable by a bright and shining star. Sometime later, “Wise men from the East also following a star; came to present to the child, gifts, expensive treasures of significant value and prophetic importance. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh are gifts worthy of a king. Gold is symbolic of Christ’s deity as King, frankincense represents His purity as Priest of God, and myrrh is suggestive of His anointed work as a Prophet and of His sacrificial death.

Reading from Ephesians 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

The next verses explain: 4:9 In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Jesus went into Paradise as he told the repentant thief on the cross; “This day you shall be with me in Paradise.” When Jesus died, he descended into what was then Paradise.

While Jesus was there in Abraham's bosom, with the Old Testament saints, Jesus preached to them; telling them that he was the messiah and had accomplished for them a GIFT of eternal life in heaven as he was now completing all that he had been assigned to do. He was fulfilling prophesy from the Old Testament and promises made in the garden to Adam and Eve.

Jesus defeated death, by raising from the dead after three days. He showed himself to many, for 40 days. Then on a mountain with about 400 believers; he ascended into heaven according to verse 8 he led captivity captive; by bringing those captive in Paradise with him to heaven.

The angels declared to those who watched Jesus going up into heaven in a cloud. “Do not fear, because this same Jesus will come again in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven.

The disciples and a large group then went to Jerusalem to pray in an upper room for the Holy Spirit to come as Jesus had instructed them to do.

When the Holy Spirit was poured out, on the day of Pentecost, there was included spiritual gifts. Continuing to read from Ephesians 4: 11-13 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head - Christ.

I won't define each gift God gave to the Church body, but they are persons; apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers; set apart for the work of the ministry and as such, each is to be appreciated, respected, and honored as leaders laboring together with Christ and the Holy Spirit.  

Jesus was not through giving gifts, and for those who ask, he has made available to all believers the gift of the Holy Spirit and the ability to move in the Gifts of the Holy Spirit which are outlined in 2 Corinthians chapter 12:7-12

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the Word of Wisdom through the Spirit, to another the Word of Knowledge through the same Spirit,  to another (special) Faith by the same Spirit, to another Gifts of Healings by the same Spirit,  to another the Working of Miracles, to another Prophecy, to another Discerning of spirits, to another Different kinds of tongues, to another the Interpretation of Tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

These gifts are available for the asking, and are necessary to equip you with power and an anointing for your ministry as you give your testimony to others. Do not neglect the gifts, because they are so very important, and God desires you to have His gifts – the ones that you need and desire. The Holy Spirit gifts will be extremely beneficial as you intercede in prayer over our city, our State and our Nation.

Paul encouraged us; Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by the Holy Spirit. 1 Timothy 4:14

Jesus gave gifts for all of us. Romans 3:24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

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

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Matthew 7:11 If you then, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven, give good things to those who ask him!