Focus: The Gift Of God

Text: Jh.4:10

"Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the GIFT OF GOD…"

Jesus Christ is not one of God's many gifts to us; He is the Gift of God. He is the gift that generates all other gifts. All other gifts come with Him. Paul says, "Wherefore he saith, When HE ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and GAVE GIFTS unto men" (Eph.4:8). Christ is the gift of gifts and the giver of gifts.

Christ and the Holy Spirit are Gifts of the Father. Christ was given to us at Calvary, and the Holy Spirit was given to us at Pentecost. We have the Spirit of the Father - "God is a Spirit." In Hebrews he is presented as the "God of the spirits of all flesh," as "the Father of spirits" and as "the Father of lights" (Num.16:22; 27:16; Heb.12:9; Jam.1:17). We have the Spirit of Christ. We also have the Holy Spirit, known in Revelation as "the seven Spirits of God." They are present and operative in our lives even now. 

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit come into our lives with gifts upon gifts. Concerning the Father, James tells us that "every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights…" (Jam.1:17). The Holy Spirit comes into our lives with His own gifts - the diverse gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit. Christ is the anointed one of God. He comes into our lives with His anointing and graces. John tells us that "of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace." He tells us that "grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." With the coming of Jesus Christ into our lives, the fountain of grace has been opened, for out of our belly flows rivers of fresh and flowing streams. 

We have in us the spring of grace and the supply of the Spirit. All these graces and blessings are made possible by the Gift of God in us, Jesus Christ.

Christ, according to Paul, is "the unspeakable gift of God," and from Him flows God's unspeakable joy (2Cor.9:15; 1Pet.1:8). He is the "heavenly gift" of Hebrews 6:4.

All the gifts God has for us are connected to Christ. Christ is the key to understanding the Scriptures. The Scriptures speak of Jesus and are meaningless without Him. He is the Gift of God that makes all other gifts enjoyable. The whole essence and significance of the Scripture lies in encountering Christ. The Scripture remains a closed book until Christ comes into focus. Even the seemingly boring parts of Scripture come alive and sparkle once we bring Christ into the picture. In Him all Scriptures connect. I repeat, He is the key to understanding every part of it.

Christ is the word of God, the water of life, the bread of life, the life of God, the light of the world, and the gift of all gifts.

Paul tells us, "He that spared not his OWN SON, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not WITH HIM ALSO FREELY GIVE US ALL THINGS?" (Rom.8:32). God gives us all other gifts with Him and through Him. Christ is the starting point, the center point, and the end or focal point of the Christian faith.

In Christ we connect to "the unsearchable riches of Christ," "the riches of his goodness," "the riches of his glory," "the riches of grace," "the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints," "the exceeding riches of his grace," "his riches in glory by Christ Jesus," "all riches of the full assurance of understanding," "the riches of the glory of this mystery," the "greater riches" of Christ, and the "true riches" of God. I believe it is in view of these riches and the issues being addressed within the context of Romans 9-11, that the Apostle Paul exclaims, "O the DEPTH OF THE RICHES both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" (Rom.11:33).

Explore and enjoy Christ. He is more than enough for you. He is full of tender mercies and limitless blessings. His love for you is deep, high, wide, and long. You access and appropriate Him by faith. Enjoy Christ. Appreciate and adore Him - the Gift of all gifts.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter