The Gifts of the Festival of Offerings:Genesis 4:1–5; Mark 12:41–44; 2 Corinthians 9:5–8 , Sermon by Father.Mungamuri Devadasu

 

Sermon . The Gifts of the Festival of Offerings
Genesis 4:1–5; Mark 12:41–44; 2 Corinthians 9:5–8

Dear ones who have gathered to observe the Festival of the Harvest, the Festival of Contributions, the Festival of Offerings, and the Festival of Gifts—may the joy of this celebration fill your hearts! This festival, known by various names such as the Harvest Festival, the Offering Festival, the Contribution Festival, and the Thanksgiving Festival, should be observed in a manner worthy of each of those names. I urge you to open your hearts and listen with thoughtful attention as I speak words meant to guide us into the meaning of this celebration.

May glory be to the Triune God, may salvation be ours, may there be growth in the Kingdom of God, and may the kingdom of Satan be destroyed. On this festive day, two celebrations take place—one belongs to us, the other to God.

1.      The first is our celebration, a festival we keep with joy and gladness.

2.     The second is God’s celebration, which takes place in heaven when we offer our gifts to Him with gratitude and joy. Even before we were born, God provided everything for us. After our birth, He continues to provide for us daily. The celebration God holds is in response to His own continuous giving.

When we return a portion of those gifts to Him with a grateful heart, it becomes a mutual celebration—ours and God's together. Every day that we receive air, sunlight, warmth, and water from Him is a day of celebration. But when we recognize and acknowledge this truth, that is when the celebration becomes meaningful. So then, however many such festivals or divine remembrances you celebrate, may you remember them all with thankfulness and reverence.

In the beginning, God gave us two great gifts even before we were born—gifts we continue to enjoy daily, though we did not ask for them and have not returned them:

1.      The heavens

2.     The earth.
The sky and the earth are divine gifts from God. From the sky, we receive sunlight and rain; from the earth, we receive fruit-bearing trees and crops. Therefore, we must offer thanksgiving to God for both of these gifts. In fact, during this season, we ought to express even greater gratitude.

The second gift is also from God—greater than the first two. It is the Bible, the book containing God’s words. This sacred Scripture is itself a divine gift. It even teaches us about the heavens and the earth. Though people had some awareness of creation before reading the Bible, only through Scripture do we come to understand the full details of these gifts. So the question is: which is the greater gift—the heavens and the earth, or the Bible that teaches us about them? Clearly, the Bible is the greater gift.

The third gift—greater than both the heavens and the earth and even greater than the Bible—is a gift unlike any other. God, in His abundant mercy, gave us a gift beyond measure. Although this is an old message, on the occasion of this Festival of Gifts and Offerings, I declare it anew. Of all the gifts God has given, the third one is the greatest: God Himself became human and became our gift. Since He became a gift to us, He surpasses all other gifts.

We cannot fully comprehend the value of this gift, the human mind cannot fully grasp the depth of this mystery: God became man, and gave Himself as a gift to us. This is the true meaning of Christmas. Remembering that, we now observe this Festival of Gifts, the Festival of Offerings, and the Festival of Thanksgiving.

The Fourth Gift:  The fourth gift that we receive from God is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The third gift was the Son—Jesus Christ, given to us. But the fourth gift is the Holy Spirit, sent after Jesus ascended into heaven. This is the Festival of the Holy Spirit—the gift given by the Spirit. After the Lord Jesus ascended, 120 people gathered in the upper room and prayed for the Holy Spirit, and He was poured out upon them. That event marks the fourth gift. Through this gift, many more gifts and blessings flow into the believer’s life, and they are part of our spiritual experience:

1. Speaking in tongues,
2. Interpretation of tongues,
3. Healing of the sick.

These and many other spiritual gifts come through the fourth gift. How abundant these are! Those who remember these four gifts with gratitude and offer their gifts in return are the ones who truly celebrate the Festival of Gifts.

The Fifth Gift: This is a gift yet to be given. Think about what it might be! Not just these five, but there are still more gifts that we must become aware of. Though we have not yet received this one, we eagerly wait for it. This is the gift of ascension. It will be given to those who are prepared for the second coming of Christ. On that day, the Lord will appear in the mid-sky and attract those who are ready unto Himself.

There are many who have received the previous four gifts. But among them, only some will receive this fifth gift—not all. Preparing to receive this fifth and final gift is not easy.

1.      Being delivered from sin,

2.     Receiving salvation (which is difficult),

3.     Being prepared to go with the Lord—
These three are very difficult.

So what happens to those who are left behind? Even if they do not go in the rapture, since they have received salvation, they will die and go to eternal rest. Some, unable to endure while waiting for the gift of ascension, will pass away.

Beloved ones who have already experienced so many of God’s gifts, just as you were prepared for the first four gifts, be prepared also for the fifth gift. If you are hearing these words but have not yet joined those who are prepared, then you are not yet ready. If you still hesitate and wonder, “Will I come?” “Can I be ready?”, then you may not receive the fifth gift, the gift of ascension—and that is a great loss.

He said, “I come quickly.” Only those who believe and prepare, saying “I will be ready,” will go with Him at His coming. If the first four gifts He gave are true, why would the fifth gift be any less true? Those who believe so, and prepare, will surely partake in the second coming. Now, who else can give gifts greater than these? No one. We ourselves cannot give such gifts; we do not have the power to give them. But if you praise Him from your heart for the first four gifts, it is as though you have received them—those gifts will be counted as yours. So then, offer your thanksgiving gifts for all these five divine gifts. Even though He has not yet given the fifth gift, if, as Mark 11:24 says, you believe that what is not yet seen is as if it already is, and give in faith, both you and the Lord will rejoice.

Blessing: Assuredly! This blessing will continue until the day of the Lord’s coming. Therefore, along with the gifts already given, and in anticipation of all the blessings that will yet be given through these gifts, offer your offerings with thanksgiving. May God grant you the grace to give in such a manner. Amen.

This message was preached by Father Devadasu Ayyagaru on March 8, 1959, at Bethel House.