Joseph's Decision

made with Proclaim

Matt Haywood

Bethlehem Baptist Church

5 Weeks of Christmas • Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago • Presented 3 years ago • 35:24

Matthew 1:18–25

0 ratings

· 57 views

We are going to begin our Christmas series by looking at a figure in the Christmas story that is a little mysterious. We are going to look at Joseph this morning and the decision that he had to make. Now, Joseph is famous. he’s the earthly father of Jesus and he’s featured in all of our nativity sets, but we really don’t know much about him. In fact, did you know that we really don’t know for sure if he was a carpenter, though he probably was! We assume he was because Jesus was, but the text doesn’t actually say this. We only know that he was poor and of the lineage of David. He was a righteous man as we will see, but that is about all we know. However, we do know he had a tough job raising the Son of God. You talk about high pressure. He also had a tough decision to make. Some of you here may have some tough decisions going on in your life, and I hope Joseph can be an example to you this morning of how to follow God’s will for your life.

Files

Notes

Transcript

Sermon Tone Analysis

Emotion

Language

Social

View more →

Introduction:

Matthew 1:18–25 ESV

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

1. Joseph Believed God (vv.18-20)

If Joseph had given no thought to what Mary told him, and considered her character that he knew, he would have immediately had her stoned or publicly shamed

Joseph did not want to do this. This reveals the character of Joseph. It also reveals that he was thinking about what Mary said.

Joseph would need the help of the angel, but ultimately he would come to believe the unbelievable.

Illustration:

Application:

The gospel itself sounds unbelievable, yet it is true.

Will you believe it? Will you trust Jesus?

What has God asked you to do that sounds unbelievable? Will you believe what God has shown you in the Word?

2. Joseph Trusted God (vv. 20-23)

There is no way for Joseph to possibly have understood what was happening. This was a miracle

Joseph did not have the full plan details of what God was going to do. He just had to live day by day trusting God.

Joseph made a difficult decision to trust God and face the criticism of the people by doing what he was told to do

3. Joseph Obeyed God (vv.24-25)

The Bible doesn’t say much about Joseph. A lot of speculation exists over this

What we know of Joseph is that he feared God and obeyed Him

Joseph obeyed in the little things. These added up to major things, ultimately teaching and shaping Jesus as He was a young child

From the text we are left with Joseph’s obedience in the small things

Those little things mattered and mad a huge difference

Application:

Will you be faithful in the tiny things in order that God might be glorified?

Related Media

Related Sermons