For Such a Time

Big Idea:

Obedience to God in his kingdom agenda may be initially uncomfortable but will produce the greatest fruit in our lives.

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:

We are looking at the life of the king as he ushers in the kingdom of God.

He is the king the Messiah. The annointed and promised of God.

The people of Israel knew and had looked for the Messiah to come:

They championed the scriptures that defined him as a champion of justice

They gave less attention to the scriptures that also define him as a suffering servant

Hermeneutical Bridge: Often it is the case that man interprets the scripture that highlights the things he likes and overlooks the scriptures that may overlook that narrative that we would like to present. They had read into scriptures what they would like to see. We call this type of interpretation eisegesis.

Eisegesis

Eisegesis is to read into the scriptures. It causes us to see what we want to see. It creates a blindside. We will see as we traverse through these scriptures that Pharisees and others will miss the messiah right in front of them because they saw in the scriptures what they want to see.

Hermeneutical Bridge:

We can see that often into today’s world. Many give a part of Jesus thy want to see but ignore the holistic view of who he is. They see the Jesus of Grace, They ignore the Jesus of Truth.

John 1:14 NKJV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:17 NKJV

17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Scripture Interpretation is important especially when we begin to apply God’s truth to our lives. For many have used the phrase “I want God to use me”. And while it is very true that following Christ and being used by Father God will end in ultimate victory, It does not come without challenges. There are sometimes questions and difficulties with the part we are asked to play in God’s kingdom.

I. Mary’s plight

Explain Betrothal and the consequences of breaking it

Deuteronomy 22:16–21 NKJV

16 And the young woman’s father shall say to the elders, ‘I gave my daughter to this man as wife, and he detests her. 17 Now he has charged her with shameful conduct, saying, “I found your daughter was not a virgin,” and yet these are the evidences of my daughter’s virginity.’ And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city. 18 Then the elders of that city shall take that man and punish him; 19 and they shall fine him one hundred shekels of silver and give them to the father of the young woman, because he has brought a bad name on a virgin of Israel. And she shall be his wife; he cannot divorce her all his days. 20 “But if the thing is true, and evidences of virginity are not found for the young woman, 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.

Mary is an innocent woman who has gained the favor of God. God will use her as the final link to the promised seed of Genesis 3:15. But as aligned in the scriptures above being pregnant before you are married comes with a potentially high price.

She faced death

She faced ostracism

But yet with joy she received the plan and the will of the Lord for her life! She would bear a child conceived of the Holy Spirit. There would be no curruption by the seed of Adam.

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’s belief moved her to action. The potency of our beliefs is weighed how willing we are to sacrifice for those beliefs.

Power Question:

How do we respond when it seems that what God is asking us to do is frankly uncomfortable?

The truth is when we gain Christ we may loose friends and family

Matthew 10:34–36 NKJV

34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’

In kingdom living we are not always called to comfort. But we are called to obedience. In our text Joseph and Mary receive messages at different times. But their obedience pulls them into KINGDOM ALIGNMENT.

FOR OUR MARRIED COUPLES: Make sure your personal agenda is aligned with God’s Kingdom Agenda.

FOR OUR YOUNG COUPLES: Make sure your personal agenda is aligned with God’s Kingdom Agenda

FOR OUR SINGLES: Make sure your personal agenda is aligned with God’s Kingdom Agenda

FOR EVERYONE WHO CAN HEAR MY VOICE: Make sure your personal agenda is aligned with God’s Kingdom Agenda.

Let’s be clear. What was asked of Mary was unique and specific to her. However, there may come a time that God’s Plan’s interrupt your Plans!

Power Principle:

There may come a time that God’s Plan’s interrupt your Plans! And that’s Ok!

Philippians 3:10–11 NKJV

10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

II. Joseph’s Dilemma

Jospeh was determined to do right despite public shame

He honored Mary’s virginity in obedience to God

Joseph still raised his family to worship (yearly at the temple) and passed his trades and traditions onto his Son