Sermon 1 (3)
God WITH Us • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Was the Birth of JC a Gift?
Was the Birth of JC a Gift?
To us easy yes.
But was that the case for Mary and Joseph?
Matthew 1:18-19
Matthew 1:18–19 (NIV)
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
The arrival of Jesus brought with it more Trials and Tribulation for Joseph.
Trial of public ridicule
Even Jesus ridiculed: In John 8 some religious teachers are arguing with Jesus and they say to him, “We aren’t illegitimate children” which seems to be a dig against Jesus and this is 30 some years after His birth.
Trial of character
Trial of Death (being threatened via King Herod (matthew 2))
Jesus’ arrival made Joseph’s life more difficult; and it was in the midst of this Trial, this Pivotal moment that God spoke to Him.
Matthew 1:20–21 (NIV)
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
God speaks to us in our hardship.
God may not tell us why, but He will tell us how to respond.
Joseph’s trust in God is now on Trial.
He has to choose to Trust that God has a great gift for him in the midst of trial.
Do we believe God has a good gift for us in the midst of adversity?
Our trust for God is displayed by our obedience to Him
Matthew 1:22–25 (NIV)
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Joseph chose to trust God in the midst of his trial. HOW DO WE KNOW? HE OBEYED!
Some of us think if God appeared in a dream we’d obey Him. He gave us a written word and we don’t obey Him.
What was it, that Joseph believed to be true about God that allowed him to endure this trial?
Matthew 1:21
Matthew 1:21 (NIV)
21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:23 (NIV)
23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
James 1:2–4 (NIV)
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Alt intro
Alt intro
if wanna open with a question, could say: “Have you ever wondered why following Jesus has led to more hardship? Why God would allow hard things to happen to someone who is faithfully following Jesus?
I had this question often. Healed, dedicated life to God, and found myself depressed and alone.
I am sure joseph also asked this question.
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Intro
Intro
Christmas is here, but that doesn’t mean happiness is here.
Hope, certainly, but happiness only on occasion.
It was Christmas time, the first time i contemplated taking my life
It was Christmas time, the first time I lost a loved one.
Christmas can be filled with trials, even when we know the one from whom hope is found. This is certianly true for us and it was certainly true for Joseph
Joseph faced many trials associated with Christmas, more speciically, the birth of Christ.
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.
#1 Trial: Trial of betrayal/unmet expectation.
Have you ever had something happen that you weren’t expecting?
It says Mary became pregnant BEFORE they had came together.
Joseph was met with unment expectations.
Unmet expectations always lead to dissapointment.
How do you respond when dissapointed?
Not only was he sad she was pregnant, even moreso he must have felt betrayed.
Have you ever found yourself in a trial because someone betrayed your trust?
How did you respond? Did you try to get even?
Joseph didn’t. He intended to divorce her in a God-honoring way.
#2 Trial: Trial of Trust
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.
Joseph chose to trust God even when it was difficult and displayed His trust in obedience
Do you trust God despite being betrayed and let down?
Sometimes we say it’s easier to obey God if He would appear to us in a dream. But is that true? We’ve been given the Word fo God and still struggle to obey.
#3 Trial of endurance
Not only that but, Joseph endured this trial
25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Joseph endured the pregnancy in purity.
Joseph also endured the pregnancy with integrity. Took all the ridicoul from friends and family.
Not only did Joseph honor God for 10+ months.
Joseph also honored God throughout Jesus’ childhood.
Jesus woulda likely been ridiculoed as well.
What is it about God’s character that allows us to endure?
He is Savior
21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Jesus: is Yeshua, Joshua Jehovah, The Lord of Salvation
2. He is with us - Immanuel
23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
Conclusion:
So like Jospeh, although being a follow of Jesus may make life more difficult, it always makes life more endurable and more joyful.
Joseph’s son wrote:
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Alternate intro
Alternate intro
Give example story - maybe getting cut from team, marrying a diff girl, timing of Isaiah’s birth, carree plan, etc (so many options.)
Have you ever had a plan that was diff than the Lord?
If so, how do we navigate life when it doesn’t proceed as expected?
We continue in Matthew 1.
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Joseph’s faithfulness to God
Joseph’s faithfulness to God
19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
“faithful to the law” why? Was he faithful to the law because he was religious like the pharisees? Or was it because of his faith in God?
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.
b/c his relationship with God.
But his obedience was far from easy.
Joseph was faithful even when his plan didn’t align with God’s.
Joseph was faithful even when his plan didn’t align with God’s.
He planned to marry mary and consumate the marriage - he didn’t plan on an unexpected pregnancy
He then planned to divorce her quietly.
His plan was diff than God’s!
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Joseph gives us a great model for how to respond.
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.
