Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Matthew 7:9-11

During this Christmas season many people give each other gifts. You probably buy someone you love a gift to try and show them you appreciate or a sign of gratitude. Typically when you buy someone you care about a gift , you want to get them something they will actually enjoy or appreciate

Jesus teaches us here how our Heavenly Father wants to do the same for us. When you sit down in a restaurant typically they put out a basket of bread. How would you feel if they put out a basket of rocks? You probably would be surprised, maybe even insulted. This is what Jesus is teaching us, our Heavenly Father wants a relationship with us, not a dictatorship

Now lets not get this wrong, this is not promoting prosperity gospel. Jesus is not saying God wants us to be rich or have lots of material things. Because true gifts from God are eternal and not temporal like this world. God has given us the ultimate gift of Grace through our Lord Jesus Christ!  God has given us the gift of his written word (The Bible), God has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit (That lives inside of us), most importantly God gave us the gift of his only begotten Son Jesus Christ!

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17

Anything good in this world is a Gift from God. Love is a gift from God, Hope is a Gift from God, Compassion is a gift from God, Life itself is a gift from God. Ect

Many things that we take for granted are gifts from God. Give thanks to God everyday, for He loves you and created these things to share with you as his Child Amen!

And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Revelation 22:1-2

As we conclude our series on The Tree. First we saw that a Tree in the Garden of Eden is where Sin entered into the world putting us under the curse of death. Second we saw that a Tree on the hill at Calvary brought our salvation as Jesus Christ paid for the wages of our sins. Third, we saw that the Tree is representation of the Church, as the unbelieving branches are broken off and those who do accept Christ are grafted into the root Jesus Christ.

Today we take a look at how in the New Heavens and Earth, that is Gods eternal Kingdom to come, there will be a Tree of Life. This Tree will provide “the healing for all nations” Just as the Garden of Eden, God will provide perfect food for our new immortal bodies in His eternal Kingdom

And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine. Ezekiel 47:12

The Prophet Ezekiel reveals that same thing, God will provide Trees of Life that will produce new fruit every month and will provide healing for everyone!

So the next time you look at the Christmas Tree or gaze at any tree, remember God and everything that he has provided and done for us. Most importantly remember Jesus Christ, who by his sacrifice on The Tree and the shedding of his blood, we may inherit eternal life Amen!

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. Hebrews 2:9

When we think about Christmas, when we think about Christ being born. We envision the night sky being filled with angels , singing and glorifying the birth of our Messiah. Think about this, the very angels that Jesus Christ himself created are now glorifying His birth

This is a strange concept to grasp and understand. The Creator becoming the creation, but he did this to pay the price for our sins. As it is written, Jesus lowered himself below the angels. The Lord of Lords took a step down and became human to pay the wages of our sins.

So while Christmas is a joyful time because the Christ has come! Its also a sorrowful time, because of our disobedience Jesus had to become us and die for us. Its wonderful to know we have a Creator who loves us enough to do this, but its sad to think Jesus had to do this.

So while Christmas begins at the manger, we know it eventually goes to the cross Jesus mission was to set the captives free from sin and death. And of course the mission was complete when he rose from the grave after 3 days, defeating every stronghold against us.

Hopefully we can reflect on this and know, Jesus is so worthy to be worshipped and praised! Amen!

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 1 Peter 2:24

As we move through the Christmas season, we are using the Christmas Tree as a symbol of where our salvation came from. In the first part, we read the Sin was actually entered into the world from Tree. And today we’ll see that salvation actually came from a Tree through Jesus Christ!

The Apostle Peter is actually quoting the prophet Isaiah here (Isaiah 53) Jesus bore the penalty for our sins and made us righteous before God. Now the first thing you will say is, “Jesus died on a cross and not a tree” Yes the Apostle Peter is using the symbolism of a Tree to the cross. Why? Lets have the Apostle Paul give further explanation

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: Galatians 3:13

Here Paul is using the refernence of Tree to the cross also, why? Well because he is quoting the Torah (Deuteronomy 21:23) “Anyone who is cursed by God is hung on a Tree”. Think about that, Jesus the Son of God, became cursed to redeem us before the Father God.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 3:23

The Bible clearly tells us we are all sinners. Because of this we are all under the curse of sin. But because Jesus paid our penalty on The Tree, we can be justified before God. However we need to repent and receive Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior.

Tomorrow were going to take a look how The Tree is also representative of The Church!

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Genesis 2:17

During the Christmas season, most people have a Christmas Tree in their homes or most towns have decorated a tree for the season. When we look at this tree, we typically see the ornaments that might have traditional value or the presents under the tree. But today I want us to look at the Christmas tree in a different light. Lets look at it metaphorically instead of traditionally.

A tree is where sin entered into the world. When God created Adam and Eve, they were immortal and sinless. However there was one tree that had the knowledge of Good and Evil, and God warned them to stay away from this tree. However due to their disobedience and persuasiveness by Satan, they partook from this forbidden Tree which would have extreme consequences.

But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. Genesis 3:3-5

Eve knew about the consequences of the Tree, however she was still allowed Satan to persuade her to partake of it. “You surely wont die” said Satan. This same lie is still being told today. Many people in this world still disobey God and say “its Ok to Sin we wont die”. This is a lie straight from Hell

Next notice Satan entices Eve that she will become “Godlike” if she partakes from the forbidden Tree. This is also the same agenda today. People blindly believe they will become like gods if they follow after their lusts. If they have enough money , power, and influence they can control the world! Our egos and selfishness often lead to our own demise

However as Sin entered into the world from a Tree, Tomorrow we’ll take a look how salvation also came from a Tree through Jesus Christ! Amen!