Part 4: Three Dreams, Total Faith

The Christmas miracle is here. And we have been studying the Christmas story and specifically those places where the Angels show up in the story. So I've been taking some time to talk about them and just to unpack who are they? What are they? What do they do get into seeing an angel appeared to Joseph and the Book of Matthew would love to see you here on Tuesday night, and I should be a fun evening and I hopefully you make that part of your your family Christmas just to be here on Tuesday night 6 p.m. And then also some of the training that's coming for connections and for Life groups. I would love to we want to pour into you and help you grow. So so Be sure to take advantage of each of those things. Put this morning and then and then we'll look at one appeared to Joseph on a handful of different occasions and we'll look at Joseph's response, which is pretty phenomenal to how we ought to respond to God. Let me pray for Jesus and for the grace you give us in him and I've heard that before of prayer and we sing it often but it's so true part Jesus from you and from your crase. We're wasting our time and we have no hope so things Holy Spirit. I pray today that as we look at your word and does he think about who you are and what you've done you might change as you might give us Faith Like Joseph demonstrates and I helped us to believe you and Obey you I pray against the enemy as servants their works of facts about holy spirit with you come in power and teach outs and seeing Jess by Your Word Make us more like Jesus in his name. We pray. Amen.

Angels for the last few weeks and has like some mystical Celestial thing that in some ways they are mystical. We don't know a lot of God we talked about that and they're created their spirits and angels and heavenly host jobs Army. And in that Army is rank-and-file and Order.

After Jesus was crucified and buried who rolled away the stone the huge stone that it took a few buff Roman soldiers to put in place. an angel who battles the dragon in Revelation and binds him and Angel are powerful, but they're not they're not got infection in Revelation chapter 2021. I believe I don't have it written down but John season angel in the

That's why I worship Jesus. And so we've seen that they're powerful, but they're not God. In fact the doctor about and Hebrews the Angels worshipping Jesus that we sang about who would become our Messiah or savior. I just do what they're told and their Worship in their worship.

Also seen that some angels have fallen from grace and they have rebelled against God and send and it in fact Jesus said that hell is actually prepared first off for Satan and the Fallen Angels.

The thing is offer Redemption to the angel. So we talked about the fact that they long to look into Humanity.

I'm good. I hope your razor handle can always that it's not we should probably talk.

Jesus comes he lives a perfect life and the penalty for me to spend eternity under God's Wrath but Jesus never sinned never deserve that penalty yet. He takes it on and the cross and that's what Redemption made available to us. Do you know that that Redemption has never made available and is never made available to Angels who rebelled against God and a fallen Satan in a third of the Heavenly Host rebelled against God that's where demons come from and they reveled in Pride but God never offered a way for them to be redeemed in other words to be made right with him. And so they long to see what God is up to in saving us in case you're wondering if I'm telling you the truth. He says for surely it's not angels that got help but he does help The Offspring of Abraham.

If you turn to him and then the Angels remind us we saw last week and over the shepherd's out in the field. They see all the Angels show up the worship baby. Jesus remind us that the spiritual world is very very real that what we don't see is in fact, very real. And we shouldn't ignore it. We should be aware of of that realm and of angels, but at the same time we shouldn't obsess over it because of all the sudden you thought I was going to get weird now. Here we go. Well if I would continue to obsess on those things and yeah, you're right, but it is true. But nowhere in scripture. We ever commanded to seek out angels to worship angels to call for Angels. None of those things show up anywhere in scripture where not to do those things. We should be aware Hebrews tells us to pay attention. You might entertain an angel unaware when you serve someone. But we should never seek that out and the same on the Demonic side. We should never seek out evil forces. Or or demonic things we should keep our eyes on Jesus and live the life. He's put in front of us and honor him and all things while being aware that those other that other realm is very real and act.

husband-to-be Joseph It appears to him in and guides him and carries out God's plan in the end in really offers protection to him. I think there's times one of the things Angels Do by God's grace as he gives them. I think there's probably times where we've been protected by angels and have no idea that it's happened. That's what God uses and he used to reach out to this young guy named Joseph and Joseph a text and see it a handful of times with Josef demonstrates total Faith total faith. I mean, this guy is late teens is probably how old he was demonstrates incredible fill in the blanks in our faith is blank and you're like a Josh I know exactly what goes in that black. I got you. I got you and I would say if that's you know know I got you. I got you. It means you're believing God's word. The first piece of biblical faith is believing God's work when it comes to us.

We believe is true and trust and patience in in a hole for the fruits of Faith. They they they show themselves in the confidence. We feel and believe in what God has said, but if you're like, how do I put my faith in Jesus? Will it it starts with what God has said about him and believing God's word and the second piece to this is not just to believe it just a mental assent. But then that Ascent what's my heart goes from there and it's in the way I live my life. So it's not just leaving it is acting on it, and it's not working.

Biblical faith is believing God's word and acting upon a different applications depending on where we're at in life. And what God has told us to do in his words and then she got no matter how I feel. How many years do you like to go on stage when you read something like yeah, I know how to do that. But you know what? I don't want to. Anybody else feel that there are times where we're God's calling us to do something and we just we don't want to do it. If you're a parent you have kids you see this with your kids all the time. They just don't want to do it. What was God's children that it wasn't biblical faith is believing his word and acting upon it even when I don't want to. But why would I do that as part of our definition of this because God promises a good result. See when I trust him I go somewhere. I don't want to go when I do what I want to do and I trust in his prompt. He promises a good results. It is now hear this. This is not me saying that like you believe God's word and act on it and he's going to put $100,000 in your bank account. Good resolve not saying that good result.

Because God promises in Romans trial he doesn't waste anything but in the matter because he promised is a good result. He wants me and then last but not least maybe this just this little addendum how many of God's promises does he keep pop quiz

So here's what we're going to do. We're going to look at Joseph when the angel comes to Joseph and Matthew chapter 1 and we're going in Chapter 2. We're going to see Joseph live this out on multiple occasions. He believes God takes it at face value. What is told no matter how he probably felt really told how he felt other than one occasion, but I'm guessing there's some there's some raw feelings there for him and circumstances because God promised a good result and we're going to see Matthew actually in the way that he writes. He loves to bring up prophecy and how Jesus fulfills prophecy.

We got three rounds this morning already. They're starting in verse 18. Now we're going to watch Joseph Joseph exercise at this type of faith. Birth birth of Jesus Christ took place at this way. What is Mother Mary have been betrothed to Joseph before they came together? She was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. I mentioned last week that are one of the last two weeks of being betrothed to Joseph your translation. Maybe it says engaged maybe it says pledged promised some translations have those days because if you were betrothed to be married you would get betrothed and then there would be a full year before the marriage is consummated before the husband would live with his parents. The future wife for leave it with her parents and then he would come and get her after a year and their faithfulness in there.

And so being betrothed then to brakes. Actually was equal to divorce and adultery and there were consequences for breaking that betrothal. So it's more than engagement.

The fact that mirrors Jesus right hand he saves us but we're not fully Sadie says I'm going to go prepare a place for you and I'm going to come back and get you to bring you to be with me. And that's kind of what the husband and that's the idea came together. She was found to be with child.

If you're Joseph. You're engaged to be married. And I'm by the way Joseph probably hasn't seen Mary in a few months cuz we read last week that she went to live with her relative Elizabeth for at least a few months until Lizabeth gave birth to her son John and then she came home. And your Joseph and your bride-to-be you find out she's pregnant after being away for a few months. What's going through your mind?

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if you want a glimpse and now Joseph Fields, imagine that situation and and maybe some of you have with lived through that and you can relate to Joseph in a deep way. Think about this from a few perspectives. We talked about Joseph's already. What about the community they lived in small town?

four maybe five hundred people at the most Call best live in small towns, most of us here. Unless you're visiting this weekend and how you know how news spreads through a small town. Imagine one. That's MO. And what that would have been like?

She's pregnant from the Holy Spirit. You are Mary cuz that happens in 01. how about I how about Mary's parents? How do you think they saw?

These are real people. disappointed embarrassed

about Mary's dad. That's the other daughter.

Do you think he just wanted to kill Joseph? You think anybody believe them?

Joseph didn't even believe Mary when she was found to be with child out. I wonder if he just noticed physically we don't know when she was found to be a child. Since her husband Joseph being a just man. Unwilling to put her to shame he resolved to divorce her quietly.

It made a decision and in Josefina, just man. I wish we knew more about him because there's a lot to learn from the little bit we do read about him in the in his face and his Justice is compassion towards Mary. I mean it in terms of what

What they would have been following from the Old Testament that time I mean Mary could have been put on public trial and if they would have taken it to the full extent. She could have been stoned publicly to

and Joseph would have had every right to do that.

But he doesn't does he? He's just like he feels like a to be just he had to divorce her. That's that's just that's right. He couldn't coordinate the Old Testament. Like I couldn't marry her now because if she was the files and was no longer pure. He also clearly had some compassion to where he was gracious to and he didn't want to embarrass her or make it any worse than it needed to be. So he chose to divorce her quietly and there was a provision for him to do that with just do it misses and send her on her way. Crazy considered these things whatever is 20 behold an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream.

Joseph in a dream when you have dreams about different things.

Or an interaction maybe God would reveal an angel to you. I don't know anybody that's happened to but the Bible certainly doesn't say that God wouldn't do that. The thing you check it against always is God's word. Like if you have a dream to Rob Costco and take all the money and move to Florida. I don't think he always check it. According to God's word. I'm not saying it doesn't happen I'm saying it's probably not normative for sure. But if he does always check it according to God's word because s t mus to disguise himself as an angel of life and he would seek to deceive you and me check it. According to God's word as he considered these things. Did Joseph son of David do not fear to take Mary as your wife. Other words don't shrink back from it. You don't need to divorce her because that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. Tell Joseph is he considered these things. I imagine he had prayed about it. Did you pray about things as you're considering things before the Lord spend time before him in prayer waiting on him Joseph I think dead. I guess so many tears even. And it says 21 then the angel design that she will bear a son when I told the name of this Angel by the way, we're just as an angel. Maybe it's Gabriel if it's another Angel we don't know. But she married will bear a son and you shall call his name Jesus Jesus is the grief transliteration of the Hebrew word Joshua which would have been Jesus means the Lord save us is this word? That means hail Zeus. They they don't understand Greek. And so it's it's not it's a transliteration of somebody had asked me that one time. So that's why bring that up the transliteration of Joshua to Jesus into the Greek and means the Lord say

his people from their sins

Joseph naming him officially accepted Jesus as his child that the father would have named the Sun. So he's adopting in it when he died when he ends up doing this and Matthew 22 and 23 prophecy.

Behold the Virgin shall conceive and bear a son and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which means god with us.

Some funky breeding. Let's just kind of look at our definition of Faith again. Faith is believing God's word. What was God's word to Joseph? Joseph take Mary as your wife You don't need to be afraid what she's telling you is true.

And then to act upon it will look at it next 24. When Joseph woke from sleep, he did is the Angel of the Lord commanded him. He took his wife, but he knew her not until she gave birth to a son and he called his name Jesus. What's the third part believe in God's word and acting upon it no matter what? Anybody had some strong feelings in obeying the Lord. Joseph had to have

feelings of betrayal feelings as now dealing with everybody in my small town and everything. They're going to say about me and they probably dealt with that. for their entire life together

Why because God promises a good result. He promised it and he kept his promise that promise was that that Jesus would be born that he would save his people from their sins and that's exactly what he ends up doing. But in the moment.

Did Joseph demonstrates true total biblical faith?

clear round 1 There's only one here before we go on and we'll move a little quicker through the other two, but whatever is 25, it says the Joseph knew her not until she had given birth to a son Mari actually remained a virgin not just through the birth of Jesus but perpetually into the future, but the texture wouldn't support that it says that Joseph didn't sleep with her until he did having a brothers and sisters and two of his brother. So half-brothers half-sister two of them James and Jude wrote books of the Bible. If you have ever wondered.

The three wise men right and they come to Herod the King on the ruler over that area of Judea and it was incredibly insecure some would argue. It is an is an angel and see a star and follow it to that to Jerusalem the first talk to Herod and then to Bethlehem to find the newborn Jesus based on his response that this doesn't happen while they're in the manger like while Jesus is still a baby lying in the hay like they'll show up at once but just based on what we end up reading. Not for sure. That's just putting two and two together, but I think that's most likely because what happens Hair It Is insecurity since

he's okay. Why don't you want to find them once you come back and tell me so I can go worship him too and these guys from the East not knowing maybe some of Harrods history that he just would would murder people who ever were a threat to his throne. And so they go they find Jesus and they're warned in a dream to leave a different direction and when Herod finds out about this, he's Furious. And that he makes a proclamation that all the children ages 2 and under all the boys. Excuse me around Bethlehem where to be put to death.

Steinway

be put to death right young child toddler running around. How Wicked this man was. and so it's with that decree haven't been made that the angel shows up here in round 2 to Joseph looking chapter 2 verse 13 now when they Departed Clear the wise man. Is he speaking of there when they had departed in the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream again in a dream to him. And he said rise. Take the child and his mother flee to Egypt and remain there until I tell you for hair it is about to search for the child to destroy him.

There's God's word to him, right? That's part 1. I believe that we're going to see that true because look at what he does he acts on it was a verse 14 and so he Joseph and departed to Egypt. And he remained there until the death of Herod.

I'm not sure what all the circumstances are here surrounding this but but if Jesus is a toddler by this time, there's a good chance that maybe there's another one either on the way or has recently been born to Mary and Joseph but there's somebody coming for the child's life. You got to get up and go and he gets up and he goes Wednesday go. finite I want comfortable my all of that have been member believe in God's word acting upon it no matter how I feel. Joseph had a long day working the day before. And I'm swinging a hammer. I don't feel like doing this hard. I'm exhausted. Mary's going to kill me if I get her up and try to move her again like what I mean. Think about all day. I don't know but what might have been and that Joseph does it. For sure. It's by night. So it isn't convenient. But like we had the dream woke everybody up in here we go. They depart at the Egypt in it wouldn't have been an easy Journey.

Could have been rough Terrain. I walking and riding a camel. Any remains there they remained there where they knew no one. I told her I'd had died. Did you see that no matter how he probably felt he's a normal guy. I think he would have had some of the same emotions. We would if we were in that spot.

He doesn't die. They don't lose their baby boy gift. I called my son. Out of Egypt. I called my son.

Actually a Jesus that identifies with the Israelites and their Journey that we studied this summer of leaving Egypt and he's over and over. He's identifying with us Emmanuel God With Us. But there's around to did you see it or am I making it up there to do it? verses 19 through 23 Euler appeared to him

how long they were in Egypt could have been a few months might have been a number of years but says Rise take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel. So now it's time to go back for those who thought the child life or dead. Rose and took the child and his mother. Excuse me, verse 21 and Eros took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. The acts on it, but when he heard that are coleus was raining over Judea. A new hair is in the sky was even more ruthless in place of his father here and he was afraid to go there.

It what does he do? He goes no matter how I felt then you could argue that right here in verse 22. We have a bonus round. We might have a bonus round here because look at those after he was afraid Joseph been warned in a dream which likely implies again the angel appears to him in a dream. He believes that he withdrew and instead of going to Bethlehem in the South goes north to the district of Galilee where Mary's family would have been and first 23 they went and they lived in a city called Nazareth.

Believe God's word he acted on it. No matter how I might have felt. Compromise is a good result. What was a good result? Again, they made it safely. The child didn't die. They weren't hurt. I got keeps all of his promises Matthew reminds us again here. So that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled that he would be called a Nazarene.

Joseph's life Joseph. We don't read much of that in that he was clearly an incredible and of obedience to the Lord.

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to go that again. I'll grab this.

He believe God's word acted on it. No matter how I felt cuz God promised a good result that. Keeps all his promises. What time does as we close this morning? Let's just unpack that and think through that may be individually. Faith is believing God's word.

What do you need to believe God's word today?

What is it that's in front of you or before you and maybe you read it and his word and go. And I hope that's true, but I don't know.

What do you need to believe him?

In what have you refuse to trust?

Which is to just take him at his word?

If you're facing something big in your life. Maybe you're just waiting this whole Jesus thing.

You need to believe upon the Lord Jesus and be saved.

How about acting on it? Believe it in your head, but it's something that you ought to be doing that you cannot be doing that you're refusing to do that.

Did you even send it to a mentally but you've never put it into action?

Maybe there's some send you need to let go of today. unretentive

Maybe you've been hurt. And that you need to forgive someone.

Crave You need to apologize to someone we act upon what's true. What God's word tells you.

No matter how you feel.

you might be incredibly afraid to trust God through the you might feel angry and bitter and you're holding onto and I don't want to let that go because then what?

No matter how you feel.

I think we all probably have some things coming to our mind right where we need to believe that's where we need to act on it. No matter how we feel there. There's risk and we're afraid to move forward. There's doubts or scared to let go of

And we should do it friends because God promised is a good result.

I believe his promises. You know what that do, you know his promises. We've been in this word reading it meditate on it thinking about it. It's hard to believe promises. You don't know.

Getting his word.

Give me this word read that spend time in prayer with them believe that.

in Jesus name he keeps every promise he makes everyone affecting John chapter 3 maybe you're on the fence of believing. This will Jesus in John chapter 3 verse 34 John says that those who put their trust in Jesus. They they put their seal to the list that God is true. They got God proves himself to be true. He keeps all of his promises.

Hitman Are we as a face of Joseph? Let me pray. We're going to sing then about God's faithfulness and goodness as we close father. Thank you for Jesus. Thanks.

We have opportunity that trust you to believe you to step out in faith and act on things that are harder that are inserted knowing that that you you promised good things to us when we do it is sometimes a good thing doesn't happen right away. Sometimes it's a good thing that we would desire isn't the one that you have in mind. But what we do know is your faithful and true and in the end you keep your promises.

What faith is laying hold of him being confident of that which we cannot see but what you declare to be true? I pray for you too and here today Jesus that they would they would trust you. They would believe you and thank you for the example of guys like Joseph and other men and women all throughout scripture believe in your word acting upon it even in the face of so many other difficulties. So that we too might be able to obey 40. Thank you for Jesus. We pray all of this through him. MN