I'm Confused

MAKE ROOM

(Pull out and drive home the “why?”)

Goal: Increase and enhance the “disciple” in us!

How do we do this?

By Increasing the capacity of knowledge, wisdom and daily emulation of the Master (Jesus).

The only way we can do this is by

diving into factual knowledge of Jesus’ life and ministry

Asking for true understanding of how he moved and why he moved the way he did

For similar reasons, behave as he did

Me Must not the mistake of thinking that because we are doing what Jesus did as discipleship if we are not doing it for the same reasons! (the why always matters)

We are plagued by an increase of externally driven aspects of a larger desired goal. From the beginning of existence, God has desired

A replica of himself

A place to fellowship

A relationship with his replica

It was his desire to have a replication of his power, authority and dominion,

It was his desire to have a relationship with the work of his hands

It was his desire to have a place to fellowship as a means to establish true relationship. Why? Because relationship without fellowship is merely acquaintanceship!

Acquaintanceship- a person whom one knows but who is not a particularly close friend. I know of you, we have some commonalities (means of affiliation), but we are not together.

In order to increase capacity or “Make Room”, we must remove some obstacles both naturally and spiritually to consider ourselves progressive. We must remove

Our confusion concerning Gods will

The triggers of Guilt and Shame

Feelings of being Overwhelmed

Being Full of Societal norms and Godlessness

(Foundational Text)

Matthew 1:19–20 KJV 1900

19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

I’m Confused

If we are to commit to expanding our capacity for Christ why not start where his family started. We are experiencing a time of mental conflict, for Joseph, Jesus’ natural father. He is engaged to a young Mary and though they are considerably married they have not yet consummated their union. Joseph is here, having not a record of doing anything incorrect concerning his vows to his bride to be, stuck. Why?

He is torn between doing the lawfully acceptable act and the moralistically acceptable act. It is poetically prophetic that Jesus, who’s ministry ultimately causes us to become more Kingdom and less Legalistic, 1st affects the man who would raise him before Jesus himself was born. Joseph is married to a woman who is already pregnant, with another’s child. Now this is a big deal, because this is not as if he decided to marry her and she was already pregnant when they met, this was HIS girl already. So he is confused.

How could his fiance, betray him?

What does this mean about him?

What do I do about it?

How do you feel when, what is supposed to be right, looks wrong?

Joseph, the bible describes him, is a just man. While we can assume that him being just is known prior to the recorded events, this description of Joseph comes only in relation to the fact that Joseph was attempting to figure out a solution to cover Mary. See Joseph was well within is legal rights to divorce Mary, because she had conceivably broken their vows in order for her to be pregnant. Yet, according to this knowledge Jewish costume, on discovery of this matter could cause Mary, for the act of adultery to be stoned to death. So, here in is the act that allows Matthew to affix the word Just to describe the man known as Joseph. He’s got every legal right to divorce his fiance and expose her for her lewd act of betrayal, yet he is contemplating on how to handle the situation discreetly.

Have you ever been confused about why, you always have to be the bigger person?

Not so much have to be but why is there always something about you that don’t even want to see the people that have wronged you to do bad or get the punishment that they deserve?

Have you ever covered the for the person that hurt you?

(I’m Confused)

While he is thinking on these things, because he is described as just not

fine

tall

chocolate or vanilla

in shape

rich

poor

He is just, when you may not be right, he’ll cover you, when things don’t go his way, he’ll still stand to do what is right, when all hell breaks loose in his life, he’ll try to figure out the graceful solution. He is just! And because he is just he’s trying to cover, and while he is thinking on how to do right by Mary, an Angel comes.

Matthew 1:20 KJV 1900

20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Now Joseph in his state or frustrating confusion has some confusing clarity. The angel of the Lord tells him, to take Mary and go forward in with his marital vows because though she is pregnant, it’s by the Holy spirit. So not only is my assumption right, God is involved? (I’m confused) You mean to tell me the hurt I felt about this, and the turmoil I may have felt, and my almost needing to cover her, God was always involved? (I’m confused)

Now there is a new expectation, God I understand, this child to be born is yours great! According to the bible Joseph isn’t like us. He operates differently, he heard the angel received the instructions and then woke up and obeyed. Joseph’s encounter with the Angel lasted 4 verses, our questions for the angel would’ve probably filled up the rest of the Gospel of Matthew.

But what about what others will think?

My friends and my family, they’ll know this child is not mine, how will I pull this off?

Matthew 1:24

Matthew 1:24 KJV 1900

24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

Often times in God we will walk through seasons of our lives where we are confused, not that God has created confusion because of the many things God has authored confusion is not one of them. Yet we will be confused and confusion can lead to personal turmoil and frustration. We will not always understand what God is trying to do with and through us in the beginning but if our heart is right and our hands are willing, God will provide clarity. That’s why Paul said

2 Corinthians 4:8–10 KJV 1900

8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

Confusion last but only a moment,

Abraham was confused but followed the direction of the Lord and established a people

Moses was confused but obeyed and staged an exodus

Job was confused but listened and got double for his trouble

Joseph was confused but headed the angel and raised and protected our savior

Paul was confused & blind, but walked by faith and wrote 51% of the New testament

You want to know how to rid yourself of confusion about God’s involvement in your life, get aligned with his word! It’s not enough to be around his word, you’ve got to listen to it, obey it, let his word marinate on the inside, and manifest on the outside! Jesus removes confusion!

John 15:1–5 (KJV 1900)

1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.