Joseph the Great

Matthew 1:18–25 NKJV

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” 24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.

Introduction:

over the last few months I have been struggling.

I have been struggling with the chaos the passes for the work of the Holy Spirit for several weeks now.

The reason for this struggle is that I see we have the hand of God, but we have no desire for the heart of God.

What do I mean?

We want the power of God to open blind eyes.

To make the lame walk.

To cause the def to hear.

We want the power of God to raise the dead.

We want the power of God to cleans the leper.

We want the power of God to cast out the devil.

We want the power of God to increase oil.

We don’t seem to care much about Christlikeness.

Grace is the buzzword of the day while Holiness is a profanity.

I want the power of God to open blind eyes.

To make the lame walk.

To cause the def to hear.

I want the power of God to raise the dead.

I want the power of God to cleans the leper.

I want the power of God to cast out the devil.

I want the power of God to increase oil.

I don’t seem to care much about Christlikeness.

I hope that holiness in my character to be the platform for His grace.

I want to people to see the power of God to drive back the darkness in me and I want to be able to say to the lame walk, the blind see, the deaf hear, I want to see the Leper, cleansed, the bound freed, those in bondage loosed.

I want to pray for your prodigal and mine and see them come home.

I want your unsaved husband to be a leader in this church.

i want to see your wavering wife become a wise woman in the Lord able to instruct others.

Before I see any of that in my ministry, i need to see it in myself.

1.The humiliation.

(Matthew 1:18)

Matthew 1:18 NKJV

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.

Mary was considered legally guilty of adultery.

(Deuteronomy 22:21)

Deuteronomy 22:21 NKJV

21 then they shall bring out the young woman to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones, because she has done a disgraceful thing in Israel, to play the harlot in her father’s house. So you shall put away the evil from among you.

Joseph would have been scandalized himself.

If he where to put her away quietly how many people would assume that Joseph was the one in the wrong?

Just by putting her away quietly, is he ruining his opportunity

2. The Humility in the Heartache.

(Matthew 1:20)

Matthew 1:19 NKJV

19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.

(Matthew 6:15)

Matthew 6:15 NKJV

15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

(Micah 6:8)

Micah 6:8 NKJV

8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?

Was it Josephs love for Mary? Was he concerned for the child he did not realized was the Christ or was it just his godly character.

here it what I learned from this, in a weeks study christian character and its development puts us in places that we would otherwise not be available for.

3. We are not waiting on God for Christian character, Rather, He is waiting on us.

(1 Timothy 4:7)

1 Timothy 4:7–11 NKJV

7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. 10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 11 These things command and teach.

The character of Christ as it plays out to the people is how we truly see the grace of God.

as we die to self- we learn the power of the Holy Spirit and then we see ourselves growing more Christlike.

As we grow closer to the Lord we carry Him into the dark world.

We can do so much more for the hurting we are just ministering as the Holy leads us.