25th Dec 2025; Greatest Gift, Given In Love. By PBC associate Pastor, Rev. Dr. Simon Mwangi

What if Christmas is less about what we bring and more about what we receive? We open John 3:14–18 and trace a clear arc: love that moves first, promises that hold firm, and the kind of life you cannot manufacture. Together we look at Mary and the surprising reach of divine favour, the way prophecy meets reality in Bethlehem, and how Jesus reframes religion into a living relationship. Along the way, we share vivid stories of unexpected gifts and practical moments of faith that make hope feel near, not theoretical.

We talk frankly about rejection and delay, naming how love breaks old cycles and how God’s word remains reliable when the clock says otherwise. If Christ is the Yes to every promise, then prayer becomes bold and patient at once. We explore the difference between attending rituals and encountering life, using Nicodemus as a mirror for modern spirituality. Eternal life shows up as clarity in the fog, courage in pressure, and renewal for dreams that felt buried. We speak life over dry bones and remember that even tombs can turn into doorways when Jesus calls our name.

This conversation is for anyone who needs a fresh start, a firm promise, or a breath of life. Expect a warm, grounded tone, scripture you can hold onto, and invitations that lead to action: to believe, to receive, and to walk forward into the new year with favour. If this encouraged you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review telling us where you’re asking God for renewal next.

Transcript

Reading John 3:14–18

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Now we have a great passage that we're going to read, and I'll ask us to stand. We are reading from John chapter 3, verse 14 to verse 18, just a few verses, and then I share the Christmas message. John chapter 3, from verse 14 to verse 18. This is what the Bible says. Then in verse 16, there is a verse I want us to read together. Verse 16, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank you for the reading of the scriptures. And thank you that we have a chance to listen and hear your word proclaimed today. I pray that you may visit us at this altar and God that you speak to each one of us. Lord, let this message of Christmas come through. In Jesus' name we pray. And we all say, Amen. We may have our seats. Once again, Karibuni Sana, the visitors who are here for the first time, we thank God you're here. Those who are visiting from other churches, Karibuni Sana, those who are visiting the country, you are from the diaspora, you are visiting here in Kenya, and you are with us also, Karibuni. All guests, welcome, even the ones who are following online. The title of the message is The Greatest Gift Ever Given. The Greatest Gift Ever Given. And it is from John chapter 3, from verse 14 to verse 18. I just read, the greatest gift ever given. And under the title, The Greatest Gift Ever Given, there are three areas we shall consider a gift motivated by love. Number two, a gift fulfilling prophecy, and number three, a gift imparting life. Let me just repeat once again the title: The Greatest Gift Ever Given. John chapter 3, verse 14 to verse 18. A gift motivated by love, a gift fulfilling prophecy, and a gift imparting life. I believe we shall see it on the screen in just a moment. That outline I just shared. I want to say that Christmas is not a celebration of human achievement. Christmas is the unveiling of God's grace. It is actually the unveiling of God's grace. That is what Christmas is all about. No human being would have given us Christmas. And of course, there were so many, many years before Jesus Christ. And no human enterprise, no human being, no human power was able to give us Christmas. But eventually, God in his mercy and love gives us Christmas. And I therefore define Christmas as the greatest gift ever given. At the core of Christmas, of course, is Christ. And so when we talk about Christmas, we are talking about Christ. And therefore it's a gift of our Lord Jesus Christ. In 2 Corinthians 9, verse 15, Paul talks about God's indescribable gift. 2 Corinthians chapter 9 and verse 15. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift. That is what Paul presents to us when he's trying to think about God and his giving and his love and his mercy. At the center of it is a very special gift. And he says, This is God's indescribable gift. There is no better gift that you could ever give yourself except to accept Jesus in your life and allow him to be Lord of your life. It is the greatest gift you can ever give. I don't know whether this Christmas you have given a gift to somebody or whether you have received any gift from somebody. If you haven't given, I pray God endorses you to give a gift. And if you haven't received, I pray that you receive and you receive a nice gift. Yesterday when I got home, I found a goat in my compound tied to a rope and a tree. And I was told that this goat in my compound is a Christmas gift from members of this church, a family from this church, God put put it in their heart to set apart a goat, get somebody to drive it all the way to my house, to my address, and leave it there. And so as I drove into my compound, lo and behold, to my right was a goat in waiting. Hallelujah! A Christmas gift. One time I came through this door here, and that time we the pastors would go stand at the door, and people would come and greet us as people would leave the sanctuary. And I remember a small group came on the queue and they were carrying jugucaranga. Those are groundnuts, put inside a conical, some conical paper. Groundnuts roasted inside a conical container. And of course, because there were people moving, there were many people coming across. I wondered why, you know, they're giving me this, and uh, it made the line stop. And they told me this is your Christmas gift, per se. And I said, okay, thank you. They are not moving. They say, open it. I saw groundnuts inside, and they said, start eating. Remember, there are people behind me, you know, and people are getting a little irritated and agitated. Why have these ones stopped? And they are giving Pastor a conical paper container carrying groundnuts. And of course, we started picking. I said, okay, you also pick the groundnuts. But inside that conical container, paper container for groundnuts, was a key. And of course, I could tell it's the key of a car. And they said, Pastor, we have chosen to give you a Christmas gift this year, and we are giving you a new car. Hallelujah! A new car. And they told me, turn around, look at the parking lot, and there was a car there, a Mazda V6. You know, a V6 engine, very powerful car, dark in color. And of course, the whole line stopped now. I had to proceed to where the car was, and the car was unveiled. Hallelujah. I want to say that we receive all kinds of gifts, but God, in his heart and his mind, has chosen to give us the greatest gift ever given. And this gift is motivated, first of all, by love. And this love is unconditional love. Unconditional love. God's unconditional love. Now, as we celebrate this season of Christmas, there is a lady who received this love, and it's a love that is driven by favor. Today I pray, may the rivers of God's favor come in your direction. May God embrace you with divine favor. And this lady is a lady called Mary. We all know her. She was a very ordinary lady and schooled, not from a rich family, not from a big town, but somehow God bypasses palatial homes, and he also bypasses priestly homes, and chooses to connect with this lady called Mary. And today I say, May the favor of God locate you. This kind of favor is motivated by God's unconditional love, by God's love. In Luke chapter 1, from verse 26, the Bible says, In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, Greetings, you are highly favored. Under line 28, greetings, say to her, you are highly favored. The intro had to start there. You are highly favored because God's unmerited works enter through a gate called God's favor. And what you need is favor. What you need as you prepare for the year 2026 is a fresh visitation, impartation of divine favor. And that is why this Christmas of 2025, one of the things I'm praying for all of us, even as we leave this service shortly, and those who are following online is reverse of favor, because God's works are capsulated inside divine favor. And so the angel who is a messenger says, Greetings, you who are highly favored, the Lord is with you. And I speak to somebody here and I say, You are highly favored. The Lord is with you. Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary. Now you have found favor with God. I am speaking to somebody calling out your name. You are John, you are Esther. Put your name there. If you have children, call your names right the names of your children right now. Begin, you're speaking something prophetic, something so powerful. Mary, the angel, articulates the name. My name is Simon, and I'm saying that name. I'm saying the names of all my children, and I have two grandchildren. Hallelujah. Yeah, this is the moment. Today, from this altar, rivers of favor are being commissioned. Mary, you have found favor with God. And I said to you, calling out your name, you have done what? Found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son. This is what favor does. And you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever. His kingdom will never end. How will this be? Favor is powerful. In fact, you feel you don't deserve. You almost get confused when favor, and especially divine favor, shows at your door, and God is saying, I am going to do one, two, three, four. And I hear God in his favor, begin to speak to your destiny, begin to speak to your tomorrow, begin to paint a picture with words as far as your life is concerned, and begin to see, say things that will blow your mind. So she says, How will this be? Mary asked the angel, since I'm a virgin. The angel answered, God has no problem sorting things out. The angel answered, The Holy Spirit will come to you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth, your relative, is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive amazing miracles, Christmas time, is in her sixth month. Now, verse 37. We have it on the screen, verse 37. It says, For no word from God will ever fail. I want us to read that together, verse 37. Let's read it together. For no word from God will ever fail. The greatest gift ever given was not motivated by human goodness, human merit, or human action. It was driven and motivated by love flowing through God's favor. You may be here today feeling like uh you don't deserve, but God from his end, he is saying you deserve. And that is why John 3.16, dividing it into three parts. The first part of John 3.16 says, For God so loved the world. That is part A. A gift motivated by love. What kind of love? So loved. For God so loved me. For God so loved, and you can put your name there. And this favor that Mary is now enjoying has come simply because of God's love and God's unconditional love. Let me say this: love is breaking cycles of rejection, and love is restoring what was disqualified. And if there is any spirit of rejection in anybody's life here and also following the service online around the world, by this love that comes from God and this Christmas, may that spirit of rejection be broken in Jesus' name. I declare you accepted. I declare you lovable. I decree and declare that God has located you with his favor just as you are. Mary was a young girl. I mean, like I said earlier, not schooled, coming from a small town, but God's favor flowing through his love. We'll find Mary, we'll find you, and we'll find those who are far in the diaspora. Those people in the diaspora, some of you are in Europe, it's a bit cold, or Canada, some of those countries or the US, some parts are very cold. I want to say God's favor is finding you right where you are. May the love of God embrace you. Uh, God makes us uh makes a difference. And so the favor of God falling on Mary, the works of God begin to happen through Mary, an ordinary vessel, and eventually something that will change the world coming through Mary. Any home, any home can be transformed. It doesn't matter how much behind you feel on the queue, God is able to locate you by his favor and bring you forward. And so as we prepare for the year 2027 through this Christmas, I see God doing works of favor in the year 2027. In fact, I see him doing it before, right now, beginning now. I'm commissioning something. Hallelujah. Beginning now, beginning to I'm seeing God doing works of favor. If you do not have a job, may I declare 2026, God is giving you a job bigger than you've ever imagined. Is somebody receiving? Yes, yes, let's give a hand to the Lord. Hallelujah. If if you are doing a startup business, maybe your business is so small, there's so much competition, and you don't see how it is going to break through and navigate within the economic context that we are in today. I decree and declare the favor of God, the same favor that was in the first Christmas, finding Mary will find you in your business place, and God will cause that business to grow and expand in the name of Jesus. When I went to Australia, I went to Sydney, and then I later went to Townsville, Queensland, and I visited with a Kenyan family, and I know they are following this service in Townsville, Queensland. And I'm telling you, that family, I knew them here in Kenya. I knew what they went through. They were living here in Kenore. And one time auctioneers went to their house. It was a Wednesday prayer service, and you know, they went and found home some people with guns, and it was very, very scary for them. They were living in a very small place. And you know, here we say, get yourself a passport. God is making a way for you. And they listened and they did it. And later, of course, God opened a door, they went to Australia and they're in Townsville, Queensland. I know they wouldn't mind me saying their names, David Davies, and uh, and the wife Shalen, and some of the family members are probably here. And they came from Keno all the way to Townsville, Queensland, Australia. And kumba, the favor of God and the blessing of God was waiting for them there. Let me tell you, me, I saw and I witnessed. They have been there for a couple of years. They started a small business. Right now, that business is employing over a hundred people from 10 different nations. They are from here, they are from this church. Davis and Shalen. And when I got to Queensland, they paid my ticket from Sydney all the way to Queensland. I missed my flight. I missed my flight first time. I think they paid again, moved to another place. I missed the flight the second time. But they say, Percy, you must get here. But the third time, I caught my flight through Adelaide. And you know, when I got to the airport, I was received like a king. Flowers, you know, a whole group there. And then I was taken to, I haven't ridden in a car like that. A limousine. I was carried from that airport to a very nice home by this couple. And they say, Pastor, you have blessed us. Now we are blessing you. Favor located us. And I think you saw some pictures eating Yamachoma with Kenyans in their place. And let me tell you saying, young generation, I said earlier in the year, 15 million shillings will be pocket change. I want to believe young people you are receiving in Jesus' name. Glory to his name. Young people are rising. Mary was a young girl. All she needed was divine favor. It doesn't matter your family. Some of you are feeling like you come from a difficult family, it's all very complicated. You don't know how it's gonna you're gonna move forward. But uh, God is saying, all you need is God's love flowing through his favor. You don't have to merit a thing, divine favor coming your way. And Pastor Regan, you know, we kept saying in this church one day helicopters will come, they will land in this church, and these young people will buy them. Hallelujah. I'm prophesying, eh? They will be taking us, we are a missionary church. We want to plant churches. We want to win souls all over Nairobi and all over Africa. And we are praying for the nations to come to Christ. And we prophesied here. We said helicopters will land. Take missionaries, take them quickly to the mission fields, bring others to bring testimonies back here. And you know, I think it was the other Monday. The other Monday, the first helicopter landed here, didn't it? It landed here. It actually landed here in the field here. And I remember walking into that helicopter and entering the helicopter. And but afterwards, those things were put, you know, those uh cambas, what do you call them? Yes, those belts were put on me. And JJ, you remember you you were following, you came in Lakina Faith, and and Pastor Nick. And we all got into that helicopter. And then within no time, here from here, it was powered by the captain. And suddenly we were airborne. We were airborne. We were airborne. And within a few minutes, we were landing in Makueni County. There, it waited for us until we finished. Then we got back into the helicopter. Oh, hallelujah. Let's give a hand to the Lord. Our God is faithful. Our God is faithful. And then we came back this way. And it took us a very short time to go to the mission field and to get back here. And so the season of helicopters is commissioned already in Jesus' name. Hallelujah. A gift motivated by love. Divine favor commissioned today. Rivers of favor coming in your direction. And doesn't matter where you are right now, God will lift you from the ashes and He'll make you somebody. Reynolds we were talking. Where is Reynold Christie? He was around. Yeah, he's here. Reynold Christie were talking in my office before this. And we're sharing some story. How God has done something in your life and lifted you from nowhere and your family, you know? And he has done something big and something wonderful. I won't tell you what I think we'll share it some days to come. But he was in my office before the service and we were celebrating what the Lord has done. Now, this man, the Lord has really favored him. Let's appreciate that. God has favored. Thank you. May I have your seat. Reynold Christi. This is the nature of God. He doesn't discriminate based on where you come from. No, Mary is found and located. But secondly, a gift-fulfilling prophecy. The greatest gift ever given. This is a gift-fulfilling prophecy. The second thing that makes this gift great, not only the love dimension and favor, but also that it unveils or fulfills prophecy. A prophetic word was spoken many years ago, and on Christmas Day, it was being fulfilled. I am saying here today, every promise of God regarding your destiny is going to be fulfilled. Is somebody connecting? Every promise of God concerning you shall be fulfilled. In fact, let me hasten and say, it's being fulfilled now. Receive it in Jesus' name. Every promise, a gift fulfilling prophecy. In Matthew chapter 2, Matthew chapter 2, there's an interesting story there from verse 1. After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him. When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed because he thought another king is coming to usurp his office. And all Jerusalem with him. In Bethlehem, in Judea, they replied, For this is what the prophet, this is what the prophet has written. But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah. For out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel. Then Herod called the Majah secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I may go and worship him. After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen, when it rose, went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. And this is what we call spirit-led joy. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary and bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and marr. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. That is Matthew chapter 2, verse 1 to verse 12. A gift-fulfilling prophecy. So the birth of Jesus was not happenstance. It was not just anything that happened. It's something that had been spoken about a long time before he was actually born. And we had subsequent seasons before Jesus was born, where prophets came up and got glimpses of Jesus. They just got a little glimpse and they would speak and prophesy. Micah is one of those, you know, in the Old Testament. And he got a glimpse in Micah chapter 5 and verse 2. And others would come, see it from a different dimension, the redemptive dimension, the healing dimension, the suffering dimension, and they would see Jesus, and including his birth, for a long time. But eventually, the day of breakthrough, the day of fulfillment actually came. And so Mary received the word. Mary carried the baby Jesus. And eventually Jesus was born. When Jesus was born, was that was a fulfillment of prophecy. And that is to say, therefore, 2 Corinthians 1 verse 20, every promise of God, all the promises of God are yes and amen in Christ Jesus. 2 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 20. The fact that Jesus was born, I can now depend on this word of God. I can rely on its every proclamation. Because the proclamations of the Old Testament find their consummation in Christ. You know? But the full release of the word finds its consummation in our time today. And that's why a preacher can preach and say, be healed in Jesus' name, be restored in Jesus' name, be saved right now. You know, because everything was waiting for Jesus. And Jesus was eventually fulfilled. I mean, uh born and a fulfillment of prophecy. May I say this very boldly from this altar, Isaiah 55, verse 11. Isaiah 55 and verse 11. That when God's word goes forth, so is my word that goes out from my mouth. It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. So God's word is, you can take it to the bank. Yeah, God's word. You know, faith in God's word. We just believe in what God has said. Faith is a vehicle, the word is a currency, and that's how God transacts. And he speaks a word, and then he expects that man will believe it. So when the word comes forth, it never returns void. So when I speak a word of healing, for example, Isaiah 53, verse 4 and 5, the scripture says he suffered for us. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering. Yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him and afflicted, but he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. Now that last part says, by his wounds we are healed. When God says that, who is the beneficiary of this healing? Is it the angels? It's supposed to be human beings. So why don't you receive your healing in Jesus' name? Because the Bible is saying, by his wounds we are healed. He took up my death on the cross. And for that reason, therefore, this word of healing can find its place in my life, and it can actually be realized in my life. And so I speak to somebody here today. You are feeling unwell mentally, emotionally, physically, or whichever way I speak to you and say, I say, based on the word of God, which never returns void, be healed in Jesus' name. You are following the service online, wherever you may be, probably in a hospital, or maybe a relative of yours is not feeling well. I release a word from this altar, be healed. And so the gift, the great gift of God, carries many other gifts. And so, when, and that's why it is great. When the gift comes, then it also brings many other gifts: spiritual gifts, material gifts, and many other kinds of gifts. And to have Jesus is to have everything. In fact, in Romans chapter 8, verse 32, the Bible says, if he gave us Jesus, won't he give us all things together with him? He who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? This is what God wants to do. He's not a mean God. Christmas reminds us that he will give us all things, and that is why in John 3.16, the second part, for God so loved the world, the second part, he gave his only son, his only begotten son. That's the second part. He gave his only begotten son. God will not uh withhold anything, and I am praying that the God who is able to supply beyond our asking, Ephesians 3.20. God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we can ask or even imagine. I am praying that this God, this Christmas, comes through for you. And I want to declare that you walk in the overflow. I am a firm believer that God wants us to walk in the overflow. And if there is a need in your life, may God meet you at the point of your need. In fact, may God outstrip your wildest expectations. I don't know what expectations you have, but this is a special altar and a special Christmas that is speaking to the speak the spirit of lack and want and need, and saying, May God's full word be accomplished in you, and may you walk in the overflow. God gave us his son, he will give us everything else. Matthew 6 33 says, Seek fast the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you. Numbers 23, verse 19. God is not man that he should lie, or a son of man that he should repent. Has he said, will he not do it? Has he spoken, will he not fulfill it? I believe in a mighty God, I believe in an able God, and he who fulfilled his word and gave us his son, Jesus. And it is now clear throughout history, from AD BC to AD, before Christ, after Christ. It is a known fact around the world that the coming of Jesus and the birth of Jesus shifted paradigms and even shifted seasons. And now we make reference on our calendars to after Christ, A.D. Ano, Ano Domino, something like that. Yes, after Christ. There was before Christ. He is the pivot of history. And God gave us an fulfilled prophecy. So whoever says Jesus was never born, I refer you to the calendar of the world. And I pray that God will lift your faith to know that there is one who was born and he has anchored history. And not only did he anchor history, he continues to anchor it. And destiny is about him. It is his story. His story is his story, and destiny is about him. He is the beginning and he is the end. He is the middle. His name is Jesus. And he alone is the fulfillment of prophecy. Therefore, God keeps his word. You can take his word to the to the bank and you can trust God. I encourage young people, young people of our continent, read this Bible, trust God, and you trust man, or even trust yourself. Just read this word. Jesus was truly born, and he was born as a human being. Pastor Regan, you quoted a verse in John chapter 1, verse 14. And the word became flesh and dwelt among us. John chapter 1, verse 14. Full of grace and truth. We have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son of God. John chapter 1 and verse 14. And that is about the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. He became a human being, he was born in a manger, and that was the biggest miracle that ever gave happened. And so the guest, the greatest gift is a fulfillment of prophecy. Finally, a gift imparting life. This gift is great because more than the other gifts we get we give we give, this one gives life. In John 3 16, the last part now, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, second part. The last part, yeah, so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. This is a gift that imparts life, and that life is called eternal life. The quality and length, eternal life, longevity of life, and the quality of life. If you're looking for life, I don't know where you're looking for for it. And people have tried to look for life. Let me tell you, you won't be the first. People have tried 50 years ago, 100 years ago, they came into the world stage. They tried to look for life in all kinds of ways. And uh certain generations mistook them to be very successful because of the clothes they wore, the cars they drove, the places they went to. And uh, we would say they are living the life. I don't know where you are trying to find life. Even yesterday, the day before, and some people say, Oh, my life is boring because I don't have this or I don't have that. I don't know your definition of life and where you are looking for life. But I put it to us based on John 3:16, that the greatest gift ever given is a gift imparting life. In fact, Jesus speaking about himself in John 14, verse 6, he said, I am the way, I am the truth, and I am the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Where have you been looking for life? I put uh I put it to us that this life is found in Jesus. A man called Nicodemus, and that is the context of John chapter 3, those verses I've just been reading. A man looked called Nicodemus tried to find life in religion. He was a Pharisee, and some people try to find life in just church attendance, being baptized, you know, just being religious. Life is more than religion, life is a person, life is not a ritual, life is a relationship. Life draws from and emanates from a plug-in, and it's a relational experience. That is what life, you cannot have life unless it's given to you. So you have to plug into the right place to receive the right kind of life. And if you're looking for eternal life, longevity of life, high quality life, there is a place to plug your life. And so there's a man called Nicodemus. He's so religious, but he's not happy. He has not found life, even in religion. Tried to follow the law meticulously, but the law never, never really gave him life. This eternal life you're talking about. In John chapter 3, verse 1. Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus, who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, Rabbi, we know that you're a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him. Jesus replied, Verily, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. He was starting a religious diatribe or a theological kind of discussion. Jesus cut him short because he saw this guy has been trying finding life in the things he's trying to tell him to tell me, but he has not found life. I better quickly introduce him to a new premise where he would find life. So verse 3 again, Jesus replied, Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. How can someone be born when they are old? Nicodemus asked. Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother's womb to be born. Jesus answered, Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and spirit. Listen to verse 6. Flesh gives birth to flesh. When you are born physically into this world, flesh gives back birth to flesh. But spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, you must be born again. The wind blows wherever it pleases, you hear it, it sounds, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the spirit. How can this be? Nicodemus asked. And Jesus goes on to tell him, You are Israel's teacher and you don't understand these things. Let me put it to us that there is only one gift that is life imparting, talking about eternal life. There is only one gift, and this is the greatest gift ever given. This is a gift given by the Father, and that is the gift of his son, his only begotten Son, and who came, dwelt among us, and then he taught, and then he was crucified, shed his blood, and then he died, and then he was buried, and then on the third day he rose from the dead, and today he is alive, sitting at the right hand side of the Father. That is the place to go. If and when you're looking for life, there is a gift that imparts eternal life, and it's only one gift. In 1 John chapter 5, verse 11 and verse 12, the Bible says, and this is the testimony that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his son. Whoever has the Son of God has life. Whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. So even when they appear like they have life and they are grooving, they are grooving, they appear like they are having life. It's a lie of the devil. They do not have life. Life, eternal life, is found in only one, and his name is Jesus. So I speak life over barren situations in Jesus' name. I speak life over delayed promises in Jesus' name. I speak life over every wilderness in Jesus' name. The life you're looking for, whatever life that is, comes through Jesus. And there is a valley of dry bones where in Ezekiel 37 verse 5, breath comes. Ezekiel 37 verse 5. And it comes to these dry bones that have now gathered together. And because of that, Ezekiel 37 verse 5, this is what the sovereign Lord says to these bones. I'll make breath enter you, and you'll come to life. At this altar of today, I am speaking life in Jesus' name. And I'm speaking life into every situation of our lives. And those who are following online also, I'm speaking life into your situation. I don't know which situation in your life needs life. And I don't know how you are thinking in terms of sorting out that issue of life deficit or a struggle, lack of life. I am speaking in Jesus' name because I know where this life comes from. That this life comes over to every one of your situations. Jesus said, as I close John 11, verse 25, I am the resurrection and I am the life. That's what Jesus said. At that time, Lazarus was dead, as dead as a doodoo, inside the grave, wrapped in those clothes, grave clothes. But Jesus shows up in that particular equation. Mary and mother, they are lamenting, they are mourning, but they are not seeing this one as the giver of life. And they are saying, if you had come some earlier, you know, because it was now four days later, our brother would not have died. Jesus had to make a profound statement to Mary and Mother and the group that was there. And he said, Remember, I tell you, I am the resurrection and I am the life. And Jesus went to that grave. Jesus coming to your situation that looks so grave-like, you know. But today he's coming alive in Jesus' name. Hallelujah. And he spoke, called Lazarus with a loud voice. And he said, Lazarus, it's the word of life. He spoke the word of life. Lazarus. It penetrated through the grave door, inside the grave, into the whole fabric of the life of this gentleman. Just like in the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37, where Ezekiel is told to prophesy to dry bones, Jesus is standing at the grave of Lazarus and is speaking, and his word is piercing and going right in. And suddenly the dynamic of life begins to function inside Lazarus and he comes back to life. And Lazarus, the grave clothes are actually removed. He's back to life. There is nothing that God cannot raise. He did it a long time ago in Lazarus' grave. He himself rose from the dead. He is here in the 21st century, and God is doing a work of life-giving. So this eternal life comes from him. If you're here, you've never received Jesus as Lord and Savior. I encourage you to receive a Christmas gift, the greatest gift ever given. Receive Jesus. Receive Him. Receive Him. You know, the gift is not to be looked at. The gift is to be received. The gift is to be unwrapped. The gift is you ask the gift for yourself. And today, today, today, if you receive this gift, the greatest gift ever given, I want to tell you many other gifts: salvation, deliverance, healing, restoration, spiritual gifts, your life will start afresh. In fact, you're going to get a new beginning. 2 Corinthians 5:17, upstairs, you know what it says? If anyone is in Christ, he is what? A new creation. The oldest gone. Behold, the new has come. The new has come. When you receive this gift, some life dynamic happens and you get into a new a new start. Or you may be here and you walked astray at some point. This gift is so refreshing. The name Jesus is calling you back, calling you back to where you strayed from. And Jesus is able to hold you by the hand and shepherd you further. And so as we prepare for 2026, I am asking for rivers of divine favor. I'm asking that God's prophecy regarding your destiny be fulfilled. And I'm also asking an impartation of life, fresh life, new life. This Christmas is a Christmas like none other. Because you are walking out of here with favor, you are walking out of here with prophecy fulfilled, and you're walking out of here with new life. It is time for me to pray. And I want us to trust God together. Nicodemus, when he came and met Jesus, he got more than he had but gained for. He came for a ritualistic experience of Christ. He came for religion. But Jesus gave him John 3:16. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. And we know, Pastor Regan, Nicodemus actually encountered Christ. Because at some point, the grave times we see him showing up. And he probably probably threw out the religious garb, which was just external canzu. They used to wear like canzus, long flowing clothes, you know, disguising like religion. But Jesus at one point called them whitewashed tombs. You wash the outside of the cup, but the inside is a grave. At one point in Matthew 24, he said it. Yeah, you are like whitewashed tombs. That's what religion does. It deceives you, it just deceives you. It is a deception. The only way, receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. And here today, this Christmas, you know, there could be somebody who is saying, Pastor, I want to receive this great gift, the greatest of all gifts. I know after this I'll have Yamachoma, and I want us to have Yamachoma and really have some nice places. If you are like me, I like going to Olepolos, which is Kiserian, Konabaridi, Alafu Unateremka to Az Magadiuko. You know, if you are like me, you do things like that. But more than that, even with that, you can accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. You can receive this gift. And this altar is offering you a gift, which was given a long time the first Christmas, and Jesus is now alive. If you're here upstairs, downstairs, listening to this preacher, or maybe even online, and you would like to give, to receive this gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, quality of life, longevity of life. If you're here, would you just raise your hand? I want to see that hand. Anybody? Let me see any hand? Anyone saying I want to receive this gift? Don't be shy. Don't be shy. Yes. Did I see a hand somewhere? Don't be shy. Anyone? Anyone? And you're saying, Pastor, I would like to receive this gift. I throw the offer a second time. Hallelujah. I throw the offer. There's a hand. Okay, there's one hand here. Yes. God bless you. God bless you. I'm throwing the offer a second time. Where is that other hand? Up here? Yes, there's another hand. Where is it? Yeah, here. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. I see right here. Oh, wonderful. This young man, God bless. That's that's powerful. That's very powerful. I offered the second time. What about the third time? There's a gift, the best gift you can ever. Yes, there's another hand right here. Receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior. This is wonderful. Pastor Regan, you've noted. I think we have one upstairs, one here, one there. Was there anybody here? In this area here. This is gonna change. Yes, there's a hand. There's another hand right here. This is gonna change somebody's life forever, forever, forever. You'll never be the same again. You remember this Christmas. It shall be your spiritual birthday. Can you imagine? Having your spiritual birthday on Christmas Day 2025. We thank God. Those who have raised their hand, I want to pray with you. Just stand where you are, just where you are. You don't you don't have to come here. You just stand up. Thank you, my sister. Yeah, yeah. And I thank God for these bold ones. There was a there was a hand around here. There was a hand here. Yeah, we really bless the Lord. Yes, right here. God bless you. This is wonderful. Let's give a big hand to the Lord and appreciate. Appreciate all these ones who have who are receiving Christ. Bless another hand. God is faithful. This is very, very exciting. While you're still standing, let's all close our eyes. I want to lead you in a prayer, a short prayer. Just where you are, where you're standing, you can pray after me, just where you are. And if there is somebody else who was afraid or shy, following online, you can also pray this prayer. Say, Lord Jesus, I thank you for dying on the cross for me. Lord Jesus, thank you for shedding your blood, Lord Jesus. Today I believe in what you did on the cross, and I ask that my sins are washed away by your blood forever. I also ask that your life becomes my life. That Jesus, you give me eternal life. From today, the old is gone, the new has come. I am a new creation, I am under new management, I am saved, I am born again, my future is bright. Holy Spirit, now come upon my life, guide me in this new life. My God, I will serve you and live for you all the days of my life. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and we all say a better amen. Let's do a better amen. So, Pastor Regan, I think you have noted, you can have your seats. Thank you very much. Those who stood. Ah, Pastor Regan is saying he's just here. Yes, I know it's easy for you to find him. Pastor Regan, do you want them right now? I'm a later. Yeah, after the service, come. Pastor Regan is going to be here. Please touch base because we would love to uh follow up with you. Now, the second prayer that I'm praying is the prayer I said, the river, the river, the river of favor. Secondly, the fulfillment of prophecy regarding your destiny, and and number three, the injection of new life within your business, within everything you do, that wilderness, the life of God, that deadness, that struggle broken. There are three things: divine favor, God's word regarding you and your destiny fulfilled. And number three, life. As I pray this prayer, I'm trusting God by faith that God will move through those avenues because I have preached and they become the avenues within which this prayer is flowing. And if you desire this kind of prayer, would you stand? Those who are trusting God for this kind of prayer, the love, the favor, the fulfillment of prophecy, and also the life that comes from God. We bless the Lord. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah. Our God is powerful, our God is able. I I just urge you, I urge you, I sense in my spirit that somebody needs to lift their hands to God as a sign of surrender and saying, God, only you can make this difference in my life. Somebody needs to lift their hands to God. You're following the service online. I encourage you, don't be afraid of anybody. It is you and your life. Wherever you are, maybe even a restaurant or a hotel, wherever you might be. I know some of you are on holiday in Mombasa and other parts of this country. You are outside the country. This is about you and your destiny. You can lift your hands as an act of faith, but also surrender of your destiny to God. Almighty God, now we have lifted our hands as a sacrifice of faith to you. And we have done so because Psalm 121 says, I lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. We are a congregation of faith. We are believers. Lord, we know where our strength comes from. And this act of raising our hands, this Christmas of 2025, is an act of plugging our lives into your life. And as the word has come, my God, it's also hands of receiving the greatest gift ever given. And therefore, we are plugging in, but we are also receiving. May they now experience your favor. The same way Mary, the mother of Jesus, who was a nobody, but favor located her. And because of that favor, she became a somebody. May divine favor locate you right now. May you connect with divine favor. And because of divine favor coming your way, coming the way of your family, coming in the way of all the things you do, then the works of favor may they manifest. The same way they manifested in the life of Esther, the queen. Esther chapter 2, verse 17. It was the favor of the king that changed everything about Esther. It is divine favor that changed everything about Mary. It is divine favor flowing through his love, unconditional love. You don't have to merit a thing that will change your destiny. I say your destiny is changing, beginning now in Jesus' name. In the year 2025, 2026, you're going to see the hand of God because of divine favor. The same way Mary saw the hand of God, you will see the hand of God in your life. You will remember this sermon. You will see the hand of God, I declare, in Jesus' name. My God, I also pray regarding fulfillment of prophecy. There are people who have gone through delays, and these delays have been so painful. They have been long in coming, the promises and the miracles. My God, the hour of fulfillment of prophecy is here because Jesus, you epitomize the fulfillment of prophecy. And I take authority as a servant of God in Jesus' name, collapsing time and asking acceleration and asking that fulfillment of prophecy regarding somebody's destiny, a word over your life, be realized now, immediately, in Jesus' name. As you leave this place, you're going to see God completing what he had started and God fulfilling what he had said he would actually do regarding you and regarding everything concerning your life, every delay broken and every obstacle removed, because there is no more delay anymore. God is coming through. Prophecy is being fulfilled. Jesus has been born. That's the reality. Therefore, your hour of breakthrough is here. But finally, there is life that is coming, and this life takes away every deadness, every wilderness. Just like in the valley of dry bones, somebody has been depressed. I break the spirit of depression in Jesus' name. You have been feeling low. May the life of God engulf you, may God encourage you somehow. May life come in like a flood in your life and in your situation. This eternal life I'm talking about. This life of God, the same way Lazarus came from the dead. I see something rising from the dead because the life of God is coming over your life. The life of God is coming over your life. The life of God is coming over your life. You don't have to merit that which was gone and finished and dead. You had given up. Life is Coming back, God is doing something fresh, and God is doing something new. Don't you see it? Don't you perceive it? Now receive it. And therefore, Lord, I steal this prayer in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And we all say, Let's give a mighty hand clap to God. Glory to God. Glory to God. Glory to God. Somebody here has been going through some oppression. Demonic oppression. Hallelujah. I break that spirit of oppression right now over your life in Jesus' name. May you be released. May you be freed. May those chains be broken right now. In Jesus' name. There is a gift coming to you. And this is life. I want to say you shall enjoy life. You are free from that prison. You have been in a prison for some time. And those doors have looked very strong and heavy. You have tried to get out in your own strength, and you haven't. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God is saying that prison is now open, that place is now broken. It is now free. Walk out, walk out, walk out. In Jesus' name, you are free. You are free. Our God is able. Hallelujah. These coming days you're we are going into beginning tomorrow, all the way to Sunday and uh into the new year. I decree and declare our days of victory. Every one of them will count. You are blessed today. You are blessed tomorrow. You are blessed. Is it on Saturday? No, yeah, on Saturday. You are blessed on Sunday. You are blessed into the new year. May you be a carrier of the blessings of God, and may these blessings accompany you on a daily basis. And I dare say the devil can do nothing about it. When you go out there, say, I am blessed, and I'm blessed in a way, the curse is broken. Go out saying that, go telling everybody, tell the nations, and this is because Jesus was born, Jesus is alive, and therefore the gates of blessings have been opened, and we are blessed. You are blessed with every blessing in the spiritual realms. Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 3. You are blessed with the blessings of Deuteronomy 28, verse 1 to 13. There are 15 of them. Go and study them. Those are your blessings. And therefore, let me say the priestly blessing to all of us. We can raise our hands. The Lord bless you, the Lord keep you, the Lord cause his face to shine upon you. The Lord be gracious to you. The Lord turn his face toward you. The Lord give you peace. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And we all say, Shalom. Merry Christmas.