Watch “The Ultimate Present is His Presence” Jentezen Franklin, host of Kingdom Connection & Pastor of Free Chapel.
the following program is sponsored by
friends and partners of Kingdom
connection
well we want to wish you a Merry
Christmas thank you for watching the
program today I believe this message is
really going to speak to you and I’m so
glad to have my wife we normally have
all of our kids we’ve got five kids but
they’re all over the place and we
couldn’t get them together but I hope
that you have a wonderful Christmas and
we appreciate you and love you merry
Christmas everyone let this message
speak to your heart so I want to talk to
you for just a moment you know I noticed
that just in the last 10 years or so
there’s something that’s been unique
this happened and it’s called sanitizer
Jail
hand sanitizer have you noticed that
everywhere you go it’s like in the
hospitals I love that by the way in the
lobbies that got hand sanitizer you go
into stores and and they have hand
sanitizer as a matter of fact I brought
some with me especially when you come to
a big place like this you need to carry
your own bottle in your hand it’s Santa
I’m curious in this you’re in God’s
house so you better not lie how many of
you have some of this on you right now
let me see your hand
look at that that’s a lot of sanitizer
and and and the deal with sanitizer is
it is it’s supposed to kill the germs so
that you don’t get infected with the
disease and it gets all in you and so if
you use the sanitizer it will it’ll kill
the germs and I want to talk to you
today because I think what has happened
is we have kind of sanitized Christmas
where we’ve killed the Jesus germs and
nobody really catches the real spirit of
Christmas and what it’s all about which
is not reindeer and presents and gifts
and all of that which is fun all of
that’s beautiful and celebrate it and
enjoy it but we don’t need to sanitize
Christmas and kill the Jesus that it’s
all about that’s what he he is our
message
the ultimate present this is the big
point I want to make the ultimate
present is the presence of Jesus that is
the ultimate present and I want to draw
a quick little contrast between Santa
and the Savior I almost feel silly
preaching the sermon to you deep
theological people but this is me and I
have to keep it simple so so I want to I
want to draw quick and give you four
quick points that that because here’s
what I want you to understand
Sanna ology says the Gospel according to
Santa says that if you’re nice you get
good gifts if you’re naughty you get bad
gifts and the first contrast that I want
to draw is Santa’s presence are based on
behavior but the Savior’s presence is
based on grace it’s a big difference if
you’re good Santa says you get presents
if you’re bad you get a bag of switches
you get in other words what you earn and
what you deserve but Jesus does not give
his presence because Santa gives
presents but the Savior gives his
presence which is the best gift and
Jesus does not give his presence based
on behavior he gives it based on grace
somebody said well I’ve been good but
what you’ve got to understand is good
isn’t good enough but God is God enough
and that’s the message of Christmas
Romans chapter 3 and verse 33 said all
have sinned and fallen short of the
glory of God we all fall short Isaiah
said all of our righteousness all of our
goodness is like offering God filthy
rags and you don’t want to know the
reference if you read that text the
filthy rags what it’s referring to as a
matter
fact the Apostle Paul said when I put
all of my achievements and offer them to
God they are as dung that was the word
he used poop I remember when my children
were small and Charisse and I were
trying to potty train the kids and you
bring the little potty in and every time
they use it it’s a huge celebration and
and when they would use it one of the
girls would use it we they would
Charisse would say come come come
and we would all gather around and she
would stand up and we would all I can
remember the girls saying daddy daddy
aren’t you proud of me I pooped do you
know how ridiculous it is when you say
to our Heavenly Father
Heavenly Father aren’t you proud of me
look how good I’ve been in God says yeah
it’s filthy rags it’s it’s unclean
but when you understand that what he
does is his his presence is not based on
our behavior it’s based on his grace
the second thing I want you to see is
santa santa’s presents are limited but
the Savior’s presence is unlimited this
is as good as it’s gonna get so you
might as well get with my little Santa
calls message so here it goes
Santa’s presents are limited but the
Savior’s presence is unlimited because
Santa you know he lives in the North
Pole with elves and reindeers and mrs.
Claus and and he comes one day out of
the year because his presents are
limited and he gives you what he’s gonna
give you one day if you’ve deserved it
and you earn it and you’re good and then
he’s boats back to the North Pole and he
doesn’t come back his presence they are
they are limited but the Savior’s
presence is unlimited
he is Immanuel he is God with us the
word became flesh and dwelt among us
he’s with us that’s the message of
Christmas
you know the politicians every year when
they run they use a strategy called the
identification strategy and the bottom
line on it is this is is they try to
identify with the average voter and so
what they will do is they will pull up
in a motorcade all these limousines or
whatever and the politician will slip
out of his pinstripe expensive suit and
take his tie off and roll his
shirtsleeve he’ll put on some safety
goggles and a hard hat and he’ll walk
through the factory and he’ll act like
he really is an illusion of
identification but he’ll pretend like
he’s interested and he’ll stand there as
a photo-op and all an amazing thing is
the people in the factory yes he’s one
of us he’s one of us he understands us
and as soon as the photo
poses over he boats out to the car he
doesn’t give up his law degree he
doesn’t give up his suite he doesn’t
give up all of his titles and his fame
and his fortune he puts his pinstripe
back on and he goes to the next place
it’s over it was an illusion of
identification but we have a savior who
came down from the galaxies through the
Stars and he did not present an illusion
of identification with us but he was
born in a manger and he lived for thirty
years and he never preached a sermon and
he never healed a person he never sung a
song he worked as a carpenter with his
hands he laid foundations he framed
houses he built things he dealt with
delinquent accounts he worked he he did
yard work he worked for thirty years he
lived it was not an illusion of
identification he knew and went through
everything that we are experiencing he
experienced it and then the last three
years of his life
he was despised and rejected and
betrayed and spit upon and crucified it
wasn’t an illusion of identification
that’s the message of Christmas is that
Jesus absolutely understands us and you
may be listening to me right now and you
may be sitting there you may be
streaming live and you may say you just
don’t understand relationally this
Christmas my life is falling apart I’m
facing the holiday alone my spouse is
left to be or my family’s in shambles my
kids on drugs I’m in trouble I feel like
giving up and no one understands and I
want to add two words to your sentence
except Jesus oh but I’m under pressure
and financially I don’t know what I’m
gonna do and I’m worried about my future
and I’m worried about my finances and
I’m worried about my family I just feel
I’m struggling with this addiction I’m
dealing with this depression I have so
much anger and
I you just don’t understand I’m living a
lie basically and no one understands and
I just want to add two words except
Jesus he is touched with the feeling of
our infirmities and the message of
Christmas is Jesus lived righteously he
died sacrificially and he rose by de
leeuw and he offers his presence as your
present for Christmas and he says I am
Emmanuel I will never leave you I will
never forsake you I’ll be with you when
everyone else gives up on you I’ll hold
your hand everybody take a praise break
if you don’t talking about your Jesus
right now the third thing the third
contrast between Santa and the Savior is
Santa’s presence or what we want but the
Savior’s presence is what we need you
know we all have and it it lists that’s
it you know it represents that that gift
that I’m then if I could just get that
you’re it maybe a computer for Christmas
yeah you’re it maybe a coat or shoes or
the latest gadget and now I want you to
think back in your life to your first it
in life once I get it oh if I can just
get it then I’ll have it in my life and
I oh I wouldn’t probably ever want
anything else again you first it was it
a house if I could get that house in
that neighborhood oh if I could get that
car if I could get that job if I could
get that man if I could get that that
that woman if I could get that girl and
I hate to bust your balloon but once you
get it is that in
I live in that neighborhood is that him
I’m here is that here I’ve got all the
money is that here I’m making more is
that it is that it it isn’t it it loses
its shine
Santa’s presence or what we want but the
Savior’s presence is what we need
because what our families really need is
his presence his presence that heals his
presence that forgives his presence that
drives unforgiveness and bitterness and
hatred and anger out in my prayer this
Christmas somewhere that we stop the
busyness and we understand that the real
present is his presence and there’s
nothing like the presence of Jesus and
he’s here right now would you welcome
him with your praise somebody somebody
show the value of his presence in your
life with a praise come on come on come
on I know it’s Christmas service and but
but we ought to get emotional this time
of the year Jesus Emmanuel he’s with me
and it’s not based on my performance
it’s based on His grace the last point
is Santa’s presents are under the tree
but the Savior’s presence was on a tree
the wages of sin is death but the gift
of God is eternal life Jesus hung on a
tree the ultimate gift his blood his
body the communion set that you hold in
your hand his cross represents his
presence in your life I want to say
something big listen big now the blood
of Jesus can power wash your soul the
blood of Jesus can power wash your
guilty conscience the blood of Jesus can
power wash your guilt and your shame and
your condemnation the blood of Jesus can
power wash your addictions and set you
free and so many times will get it wrong
last point I will make is this the
message of Christmas is Jesus was the
initiator of our love relationship
because we get it backwards I think men
ought to be men I think if there’s gonna
be a relationship in the natural the guy
ought to initiate it
our girls when they were growing up we
would tell them they would say he’s so
cute should I should a face book him
should I talk I should attack
simcha to calling no you just sit there
and look beautiful and make him sweat
because a real man will initiate the
relationship a real man is the one who
pursues when when I met sharise and we
went out on our first date we we weren’t
you know I just met her one time and it
was real quick and then then there was
this other time when when I knew I
probably won’t see this girl again
so you know you know how you kind of
feel like you think they like you but
you’re not sure they like you and and I
was only I was on it I was like I may
not be back here so I’m going for it and
she was standing around with a bunch of
her friends and I was standing there and
they were all talking and I think it’s
about a restaurant or something well I
like this I like I like pizza I like
this I like that I like this and I just
looked right in the middle of all of it
didn’t know her and look right in her
beautiful brown eyes and I said I like
you
that was my opening line
and just like the wise man she was
starstruck she I had her I like just try
that I like you just walk up to a girl
guy come on be the initiator if you like
some girl woke up to her drink I’m
talking to you walk up to her say hi I’m
Drake anybody ever tell you you look
like Amy Grant I don’t know come up with
something y’all don’t even know who Amy
Grant is Farrah Fawcett whatever I don’t
know Jesus she’s going to what does I
say listen what’s interesting what’s
interesting is this the church is called
the bride and Jesus is called the groom
but we get it backwards we think we’re
the initiators of the love relationship
god I’m trying real hard and if I do
this and if I don’t do that you’ll love
me ain’t God God if I’m perfect you’ll
love me and God I’m really trying to do
good so you’ll love me I’m really really
I want it I want to text you I want to
call you oh oh please please please help
me please take me please you don’t even
understand the message of Christmas the
message of Christmas is he was the
initiator of your love relationship and
all you have to do is sit there look
beautiful because he came down from the
galaxies through the stars and wrapped
himself in flesh to initiate to chase
you to find his bride and you are his
bride and he has pursued you all of your
life even when you weren’t living for
him he was standing there he was there
all the time he would never give up on
you loving you pursuing you still
wanting you even when you had other
lovers he said I still love you
first John puts it this way we love him
everybody read that we love him because
he first loved us
Oh get happy right there I don’t have to
earn his love he already initiated it
well that’ll set you free and here’s the
deal
so holiness in your life is a response
to what he initiated I’m sure we live
wholly sure there are things we don’t do
but it’s not because of a list of rules
it’s my response to the one who’s chased
me in one minute my faith is a response
it’s not something I work trying to get
him to love me it’s a response to his
love dying on a cross
my my my standards and we all need
standards but it’s not what’s a makes
him love me because you’re good some
days and some days you really mess up
the boy feel ever get the fact that
Christmas is a message that he he’s the
one who who loved me first that’ll set
you free
and I’m saved by grace not by works but
because I love him I want to please him
and be like him and that’s the message
of Christmas every head bowed and every
eye closed normally we call people down
front we don’t have time to do that and
I’m fixing it we’re fixing to have
communion boy I really feel this deep in
my heart that people have been running
and backsliders are here and lost people
are here and people who’ve never made a
commitment to Jesus and something’s
major missing in your life and God
brought you to this Christmas service so
that you might know that God so loved
the world that He gave His presence for
your present and you can be forgiven and
the only thing he wants from you for
Christmas is the only thing that you can
give him that he can’t give himself and
that’s your sin
give him your sin for Christmas that’s
what he wants from you if you’re in this
room today and you want Jesus Christ to
be your Savior he never comes where he’s
not invited and you must invite it I
won’t embarrass you I won’t humiliate
you I’m gonna pray with you right where
you are in a moment we’re gonna have
communion it’s gonna power wash you
praise God power wash your family how
many of you like for the blood of Jesus
to power wash your family all the
bitterness get out all the hurt get out
all nothing but healing and love there
pray this prayer if you mean business
and you want to get right with God every
Christian in this room bow your head and
begin to pray I mean pray earnestly
because their souls in this room pastor
pray for me today I want to get washed
in the blood I realize he loves me
and it’s not based on performance he
loves me pray for me if that’s you you
want to get right with God boldly raise
your hand right where you’re standing on
see it hands hands hands hands hands
beautiful raise it high and unashamed
all over this room all over this room
raise it high up in the balcony they’re
being raised up there there there there
keep it up just keep it up another
moment about all over this room I want
you to look and if you see someone with
their hand raised gently put your hand
on their shoulder they’re all around you
they’re all around you it’s beautiful
all the way up in the balcony whole rows
so great is so great if you’re in
overflow
there’s pasture they raise your hand if
you’re streaming live just raise your
hand Jesus will see it anyone else
all right let’s pray this prayer
together say Lord Jesus I give you my
life I believe you lived a righteous
life sinless I believe you died a
sacrificial death and I believe you rose
vitally you rose from the dead so that I
could have new life so I receive you you
chased me when I was running from you
but now I receive the ultimate gift I
receive your presence for my present and
I receive Emanuel he lives in me he goes
with me from this day forward in Jesus
name and Jesus said this bread
represents my body take the piece of
bread and would you stand to your feet
please all over the room
this bread represents my body which is
broken for you take eat this do in
remembrance of me and I speak healing
and health over every person’s body
under the sound of my voice we rebuke
sickness in the name of Jesus let health
power wash our bodies with the blood of
Jesus and healing power take eat this do
in remembrance of me
in this cup is my blood which is shed
for the remission of sins
everybody say Jesus power wash my life
power wash my family my body my mind my
sins my past in Jesus name
take drink this do in remembrance of me
start your year off on the right path
seeking God’s best in 2016 join Pastor
Jentezen Franklin and thousands of
people from around the world for our
annual 21-day fast beginning January 3rd
2016 this month we have prepared two
special resources that will encourage
you throughout your journey of prayer
and fasting and help you pray the Lord’s
Prayer like never before with your gift
of any amount we will send you the
brand-new CD recording by Jensen
Franklin praying the Lord’s Prayer this
powerful prayer CD will inspire and lead
you deeper into God’s presence as you
fast and pray and with your best gift of
$45 or more you may request the Lord’s
Prayer kit this kit includes jetson
Franklin’s prayer CD a beautiful display
of the Lord’s Prayer dr. mark Rutland
new book 21 seconds to change your world
as well as his inspired teaching on the
Lord’s Prayer recorded live at free
chapel commit the new year to God
through prayer and fasting and watch
your faith go to the next level as you
become devoted to the moment kingdom
connection is a soul winning ministry
that is reaching the world through
broadcasting expansion into new church
campuses and global acts of compassion
by using the technology of today to
fulfill the Great Commission we are able
to connect with countless people and
reach hundreds of thousands of lives our
broadcasts connect with people all
around the world
say that the messages speak directly to
them our ministry exists to help build a
connection for strengthening your faith
and living out your god-given purpose
and our missions and relief work helps
connect you to desperate situations
showing the love of Christ through
global acts of compassion we feel the
time is right and God is leading us to
grow and that only happens when you
partner with us through connection
partnership for as little as $1 a day
you’ll be helping us reach further than
we ever have before
for more information on how you can be a
part of the ministry and enjoy exclusive
partner benefits go online or call eight
eight eight three three nine zero zero
or nine for more information we can’t do
everything but together we can do
something amazing
life is real vivid alive beating
breathing it happens behind closed doors
and out in front there’s joy there’s
laughter
and chaos
lifelong friendships are forged love is
found moments cherished and never
forgotten
life is a gift and together we are real
family
real friends
real people
experiencing real life
three Chaplin
this program has been brought to you by
the friends and partners of Jenson
Franklin media ministries for more
information on this broadcast or for
additional resources go online at Jensen
Franklin dot o-r-g