003-Prepare to Meet the Savior

Joseph is an interesting Bible character for the simple reason that he plays a very significant role in the life of Jesus, but then he passes off the scene and is not mentioned beyond Jesus’ boyhood ().

Sunday Morning, December 11, 2005

Pastor Brandon Cox

Joseph is an interesting Bible character for the simple reason that he plays a very significant role in the life of Jesus, but then he passes off the scene and is not mentioned beyond Jesus’ boyhood ().

life of Jesus, but then he passes off the scene and is not mentioned beyond Jesus’ boyhood ().

Tradition has it that Joseph died before Jesus began His earthly ministry.

Tradition has it that Joseph died before Jesus began His earthly ministry.

Matthew 1:18–25 CSB

18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19 So her husband Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. 20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her 25 but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus.

Joseph was a very good man as can be seen from the story at hand. He had more than likely been

Joseph was a very good man as can be seen from the story at hand. He had more than likely been brought up learning the traditions of Israel and the belief in a coming Messiah. He had heard the prophecies before.

Joseph was a very good man as can be seen from the story at hand. He had more than likely been brought up learning the traditions of Israel and the belief in a coming Messiah. He had heard the prophecies before.

brought up learning the traditions of Israel and the belief in a coming Messiah. He had heard the

prophecies before.

A lot of you today are very much like Joseph. You’ve heard about religion all your life but you have yet to personally meet the Savior. What God said to Joseph, He is saying to you as well.

to personally meet the Savior. What God said to Joseph, He is saying to you as well.

1. God is at work in your life.

1. God is at work in your life.

I don’t believe for a second that Joseph and Mary became the earthly parents of Jesus by accident. They were chosen for this task.

accident. They were chosen for this task. We are not given insight into exactly why God chose

Matthew 1:19–20 CSB

19 So her husband Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. 20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

Matt 1:19-We are not given insight into exactly why God chose them but we know that God had selected them and had so arranged the timing of their lives (and of the world for that matter) that Jesus would come at the perfect time and to the perfect place.

them but we know that God had selected them and had so arranged the timing of their lives (and

BUT AFTER HE HAD CONSIDERED THESE THINGS!!!!! WHAT DID HE CONSIDERED? Divorce....

Why Am I makinga big deal about this? Because as we say life happened for Joseph right…

Everything is going smooth than POW! Life Happens....

Imagine being young… Being engaged ready to marry the girl you dreamed of and all of the sudden you learn she is pregnant....

It would be easy for him to look to blame God… To think that God had forgotten him...

Look at

of the world for that matter) that Jesus would come at the perfect time and to the perfect place.

Galatians 4:4 CSB

4 When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

we know that God had selected them and had so arranged the timing of their lives (and of the world for that matter) that Jesus would come at the perfect time and to the perfect place.

we know that God had selected them and had so arranged the timing of their lives (and of the world for that matter) that Jesus would come at the perfect time and to the perfect place.

the rest of the verse.... An angel appeared to Him

God has been at work in your life as well. He knew you before you were ever thought about by your parents. He so arranged things today that you could be here in this place, hearing the gospel with an opportunity to meet the Savior.

God has been at work in your life as well. He knew you before you were ever thought about by

Matthew 1:20 CSB

20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

your parents. He so arranged things today that you could be here in this place, hearing the

God has been at work in your life as well. He knew you before you were ever thought about by your parents. He so arranged things today that you could be here in this place, hearing the gospel with an opportunity to meet the Savior.

gospel with an opportunity to meet the Savior.

God is always at work in, around, and through us. We can either sleep through His activity or respond to what He is doing. I hope you’ll want to be involved with what God is doing today.

respond to what He is doing. I hope you’ll want to be involved with what God is doing today.

2. God is providing you a Savior.

Joseph learned two vital truths about Jesus that day that each of us must learn as well…

A. Jesus is the incarnate God.

“Verse 20 - of the Holy Ghost

“of the Holy Ghost… God with us.”

Jesus is both fully God and fully man. He possessed all of the qualities of a human being physically, emotionally, and intellectually yet was above the possibility of sin, having been born to a virgin and not having received an earthly father’s sin nature. He knows how to be human.

Matthew 1:23 CSB

23 See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.”

physically, emotionally, and intellectually yet was above the possibility of sin, having

been born to a virgin and not having received an earthly father’s sin nature. He knows

Jesus is both fully God and fully man. He possessed all of the qualities of a human being physically, emotionally, and intellectually yet was above the possibility of sin, having been born to a virgin and not having received an earthly father’s sin nature. He knows how to be human.

how to be human.

He also possessed every attribute of God from His omnipotence to His omniscience. How did He limit Himself to a time and place and from knowing everything? He never ceased to possess these qualities, but temporarily limited His ability to access them. He never ceases to be God.

did He limit Himself to a time and place and from knowing everything? He never ceased

Philippians 2:5–11 CSB

5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

to possess these qualities, but temporarily limited His ability to access them. He never

ceases to be God.

B. Jesus is the heaven-sent Savior.

See

B. Jesus is the heaven-sent Savior.

1. Jesus came with a mission.

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Luke 19:10 CSB

10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”

–

Jesus came to glorify God by completing the work that God had given Him to do.

Jesus came to glorify God by completing the work that God had given Him to do. What was that work? An earthly ministry of preaching salvation, ending in the death that would accomplish salvation. Jesus was all about the redemption of mankind.

What was that work? An earthly ministry of preaching salvation, ending in the

death that would accomplish salvation. Jesus was all about the redemption of

mankind.

2. Jesus has given us a great commission.

John 20:21 CSB

21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.”

“As the Father hath sent me, even so sent I you.” –

Not only has Jesus come to seek and to save lost mankind, He has also commissioned all of His people to go and tell others of His saving power.

Not only has Jesus come to seek and to save lost mankind, He has also

commissioned all of His people to go and tell others of His saving power.

3. God is inviting you to respond to His gift.

3. God is inviting you to respond to His gift.

Joseph had a choice in the matter. God had given him clear instructions to go ahead and marry Mary, but Joseph had to decide to obey.

Matthew 1:24 CSB

24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her

Mary, but Joseph had to decide to obey. Imagine all that Joseph would have missed had he said

Imagine all that Joseph would have missed had he said “no.”

“no.” What happens if you say “no?” God has given you this opportunity and has ordered your

Imagine all that Joseph would have missed had he said “no.” What happens if you say “no?” God has given you this opportunity and has ordered your life to bring you to a moment of decision about Christ, but what if you say “no?”

life to bring you to a moment of decision about Christ, but what if you say “no?”

What happens if you say “no?” God has given you this opportunity and has ordered your life to bring you to a moment of decision about Christ, but what if you say “no?”

“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” –

2 Thessalonians 1:8–9 CSB

8 when he takes vengeance with flaming fire on those who don’t know God and on those who don’t obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lord’s presence and from his glorious strength

(

not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” –

Revelation 20:14–15 CSB

14 Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

But Jesus came to offer you eternal life if you’ll only respond with “yes.”

But Jesus came to offer you eternal life if you’ll only respond with “yes.”

But Jesus came to offer you eternal life if you’ll only respond with “yes.”

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might

John 10:10 CSB

10 A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.

have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” –