Welcome

Announcements

Main Text: Matt.1:18-25

Intro:

Have you ever gone through a moment of anguish when a dream of yours turned into a nightmare?

The dream could have been a business, a trip, a house, a job, a relationship, etc.

I believe we all have!

Have you ever asked yourself "Why?"

Have you ever said or thought as you look at the shattered remains of your plans and dreams – “that can’t be from God?”

All of us have!

When a dream turns into a nightmare, we tend to ask why? …

This morning, I want to show you a better alternative than asking "Why?"

The Christmas story will show us what should we do when a dream become a nightmare.

Problems and nightmares are inevitable. Many of them are not invited, they simply show up at your door. What should you do?

I want to draw your attention to an unsung hero of Christmas who presents us with a better alternative. Trust.

Every year during this time, we hear a lot about the various Christmas characters. People like Mary, the shepherds, the wise men (who only appeared a few years later!)… …angels, Elizabeth, Zechariah……

However, one of the main characters in the Christmas story is treated only as an extra. I'm talking about Joseph, Husband of Mary and adoptive father of Jesus.

In Christmas plays. He appears but brings no gifts, sings no songs and makes no speeches. He just stands there, watching the scene unfold around him.

But I'm convinced that what happened in his life can help you and me deal with shattered dreams.

Problems patiently endured will work towards our spiritual improvement. They harm us only when we resist them or endure them grudgingly.

I want to preach on the topic:

When a dream becomes a nightmare.

Nightmares often are not invited, they simply show up at your door - vs.18

Matthew 1:18 NLT

18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph.

A. It was a time of excitement -

Mary and Joseph were engaged…

B. It was a time of expectation -

The Bible tells us that this happened "before the marriage took place."

Surely, they were both counting down the days until they could be together and live together as husband and wife.

C. It was a time of shame and dishonor -

During this period of engagement, both the bride and groom were expected to remain physically pure for the other spouse.

Unlike today, this was a time when both men and women were expected to enter marriage as pure virgins.

But it was during this period that Joseph discovered that his fiancée was pregnant.

This would have been a source of great shame and dishonor for Mary and Joseph, as well as their respective families.

It seemed like every dream José had for the future had been shattered by this devastating news.

(Application: Isn't that just how life is sometimes?

We make all our plans for the future and prepare things the way we want them to be,

we plan that vacation…

send out college application…

write the perfect business plan…

hire the best candidate for job…

we eat well/exercise…

then one event or another happens and we see our hopes, our plans and our dreams crumble around us!

When these things happen, we are heartbroken because they are unexpected and even unwanted.

…. We are often blind to the fact that God is working behind the scenes.

It was God who slighted altered Joseph's plans/dreams!

In times like this this God will show up and say to you…

Jeremiah 29:11 “11 For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

This may be difficult to understand, but that's how it works.

The Bible is clear on this point!

Our God works His will in our lives in ways we cannot begin to understand, Isa. 55:8-9

Isaiah 55:8–9 NLT

8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

His plans for us are rarely what we plan for ourselves, Job 1-2.

However, His plans are always the best, even when they hurt us deeply, Rom 8:28; 2Co 4:15-17.

We may not like it when the Lord alters our dreams, but when all is said and done, we will see that His plan was the perfect plan all along!

Nightmares endured with patience will contribute to our spiritual improvement.

They only harm us when we resist them or endure them grudgingly.

(Illustration: Joseph the son of Jacob -

He had a prominent place in his father's house, at the age of 17 he was betrayed by his own brothers, beaten and thrown at the bottom of a cistern, and sold as a slave, he went to Potiphar's house and from there to prison.

In the end, he ended up in a place of power.

This would never have happened if God hadn't first changed his dreams!

Joseph had some qualities that positioned him for something big that God was doing in those days.

II. OBEDIENCE and FAITH- vs.19

Matthew 1:19 NLT

19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

“Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man”

This simply means that he was blameless before the Law (obedient) and that he walked by faith in the Lord.

He was already a righteous man before these events occurred!

and what he had in his heart came to the surface at the time of his trial.

Three things you should consider when in difficulty:

A. Circumstances reveal character

(Application: The moments when life goes wrong from our point of view are the moments when we can know our true selves.

Because what we are in the worst moments is what we really are in our hearts!

Example from Job 1:20-22. What Job was at his worst revealed what was always in his heart!

And this God already knew about Job before the calamities arrived, Job 1:8.

Anyone can be happy when life is a dream, but it is necessary to have a life of obedience & faith to praise and serve even when life becomes a nightmare.

The way you react in times of crisis reveals the depth of your commitment to God and His will).

B. Choices reveal character -

Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. - Mat.1:19

When everything is revealed, José is left with only three options.

He may publicly dishonor Mary because of what he considers to be her immorality.

This choice could possibly lead to her death according to the Law, Deut. 22:13-21.

He can divorce her quietly and simply move in a different direction with his life.

Let her deal with this situation alone.

He can marry her and raise the child as his own.

This last option would rarely have been chosen by a Jewish man.

(Application: For Joseph, none of the options seemed attractive, but he had to choose one of them.

Life often presents us with choices that are not very attractive to our human nature.

Our duty in these moments is to listen to God's voice and seek to do the one thing He wants us to do in our situation).

C. Compassion reveals character

(Joseph) did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. - Mat.1:19

This was not an easy decision to make, but it was one that was in Maria's best interests.

Instead of making a public example of her and perhaps even causing her death, José decides to deal with it with grace.

Even though he was sure she had been unfaithful, he still loves her and wants to do the right thing by her.

(Note: This says a lot about Joseph! As I said, the way we react in a time of crisis reveals a lot about the depth of our walk with God.

The way we react to those who have hurt us is also an indicator of the depth of our spiritual walk.

If we can learn anything from Joseph's example, it is that we should never allow the hurt others inflict on us to cause us to retaliate in an effort to hurt them in return.

We need to deal with the people around us who hurt us with compassion.

In fact, the Lord Jesus told us to go beyond that! He said we should forgive those who have offended us.

Matt.18:21-35 - "Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven…

Luke 17:1-5 - Jesus told his disciples: “It is inevitable that things will happen that cause people to stumble, but woe to the person through whom they happen.

"If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4 If he sins against you seven times in a day, and comes back to you seven times and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."

5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”

This is also the command of the Spirit of God through the Apostle Paul, Eph. 4:32

Ephesians 4:32 NLT

32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Joseph had some qualities that positioned him for something big that God was doing in those days.

III. God’s Provision comes at the RIGHT TIME - vs.20-23

Matthew 1:20–23 NLT

20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: 23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’ ”

(Application: I think it's interesting to note here that the Lord did not send Joseph the answer to the direction he was looking for until he had made a decision on his own.

Sometimes the Lord allows us to exhaust all of our human reasoning before giving us divine insight into the situation we are facing in life.)

While these thoughts troubled Joseph's mind, the Lord sent an angel to speak to him in a dream.

“the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.”

The angel brought Joseph a word of explanation, exaltation and joy.

The answer helped Joseph understand the origin of the child his bride carried in her womb.

The answer helped him understand that that dream that had turned into a nightmare in his heart and mind was, in fact, a miraculous work of God.

Often our point of view works against us!

(Application:

Most of the time we approach life as if we were watching a parade on the sidewalk. All you can see of the parade is the part that is passing directly in front of you at any given moment. You have a memory of what has already passed, but you have no idea what is coming. You just have to wait for the parade to reach you.

However, if you stood on top of a grandstand, you could see the parade in its entirety.

You could see the beginning, the middle and the end, all at the same time. There would be no surprises!

Well, isn't life like that for us? All we can really see is the part that is playing before our eyes in the present moment.

We have a vague memory of what happened before, but we have no idea what's to come.

However, God is above all of this. For Him, there are no surprises!

He knows the end from the beginning.

The best thing we can learn to do is simply trust Him to bring the best into our lives, day after day.

Even when our dreams become nightmares and our hopes are dashed on the rocks of reality, we need to trust in the truth that our Father is still in control and that He will care for His children!

Despite what you and I may sometimes think, God knows what's best for us!

God's Provision Always Goes Beyond Our Expectations

Matthew 1:21 NLT

21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Joseph receives details of a miracle that much of the world has yet to discover: God entered this world through the womb of a virgin!

Joseph is told that Mary will have a son and that this son will be called Jesus.

He is also told that this son will be the Savior of his people - of the Jews. This is quite a revelation!

In a few words, Joseph understand clearly that this child is not an ordinary baby.

He is, in fact, the Son of God. His name will reflect this, as the name Jesus means "Jehovah is Salvation."

His life will reflect this because He will be responsible for the salvation of the lost.

this will be accomplished through His death on the cross, His resurrection from the dead, and His ascension back to heaven.

(Joseph doesn't know all the details yet, but he simply believes that this child is a divine provision for the sins of the world)

(Application: Never forget that it is from the wreckage of our greatest sorrows that God has often built for us the greatest of victories!

Just because the path is dark, don't forget to hold His hand. He may lead you through some desolate places, but He will never abandon you in any of them, Psalm 23:4 “4 Even when I walk through a valley of darkness and death, I will fear no danger, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff protect me.”

Wherever His path takes you, you can count on His provisions. 2 Cor. 12:9; Heb. 13:5; Phil. 4:19.

IV. Action in Faith!

Matthew 1:24–25 NLT

24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

A. José's quick reaction -

Once Joseph understands what is happening in his life, he responds with faith.

He goes and receives Mary as his legitimate wife.

His reaction is one of pure faith.

He still doesn't know how things will turn out, but he knows that God is working and that is enough for Joseph.

José's decision must have shocked the entire community.

Everyone probably assumed that Joseph and Mary couldn't wait for the wedding.

He was willing to bear the shame of Mary's pregnancy because he knew it was God's work.

(Note: True faith does not shy away from God's call just because others don't understand. True faith hears the voice of the Lord and simply does as it is commanded.)

(Note: True faith willingly sets aside its own desires to do God's will.

Many times, God's call on our lives will be difficult to accept and fulfill, but faith does not seek the easiest path.

Faith knows that God has already examined the path and knows where He wants His servants to be. Faith says: "Here I am, send me!" Isa. 6:8).

José is saying the following: "I had my whole life planned out! Maria and I were going to get married and live together for many years.

We would have many children and we would be very happy. Then I found out she was pregnant.

I knew the baby wasn't mine, but I didn't know who it was.

I was hurt! All my plans and dreams were destroyed.

But then the Lord showed me that He had a better plan for my life!

He called me to be the Stepfather of the Messiah!

What I thought was a great tragedy was actually the greatest blessing of my life!"

(Note: If you understand nothing else from this message, please understand this: What you think is the worst thing that has ever happened to you often turns out to be your greatest blessing!

I think the difference between those who experience God's best in life's tragedies and those who don't comes down to two words: faith & obedience.

Some people simply don't trust God with anything, and as a result, they are always defeated and never able to overcome their circumstances.

Others trust Him, knowing that He knows what is best.

These people experience God's best, even in the most difficult moments of life imaginable.

Conclusion:

Have you ever had a dream that turned into a nightmare before your eyes?

We've all had it, at one time or another. Most of us will face this again before life is over.

I would just like to ask you this question:

When your dreams turn into nightmares, what do you do about it?

Some people try to fix it themselves. Friend, this won't work! You will only make the situation worse.

Some people just give up. That won't work either, because whether you participate or not, life goes on.

Still others become angry at God and their fellow human beings and try to make others pay for their own injuries.

This attitude is not good at all! The only person you really hurt is yourself.

Of course, there are a precious few who can pick up the pieces of their broken dreams, lay them at the feet of the Lord, and say:

"Lord, I don't understand why this happened to me. I never wanted this, but it happened anyway.

I stand here before you now to ask for your help. Even if I can't see it, I know the You have something better for me than I planned for myself.

Please give me grace to believe it and faith to see it.”

These are the people who will walk in victory, even in the midst of their worst nightmare.

What type of person are you?

What are you doing with your broken dreams?

I invite you to bring your life to Jesus, with all the mess.

Let Him have it and do with it what He wants to do with it.

He has something better planned for you, the way to receive it is to respond to Him in faith.

If your dreams are in pieces around you right now and have turned into nightmares, please take them to Jesus and let Him transform them into a source of glory and joy. Regardless of what has happened in your life, you can take it to Jesus right now.