Thinking Through Christmas
Thinking Through Christmas • Sermon • Submitted
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· 4 viewsWe focus a lot this time of year on Mary and on Jesus. We have talked about Mary's miraculous conception. We talk about the birth of the king in Jesus. As well we should. However, I believe one of the most overlooked characters in the Christmas story is Joseph. This series leading up to Christmas Eve will focus on how to think like Jospeh did during this time.
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Week One, Faith
Week One, Faith
I am hoping this series will help us to think through Christmas from a more biblical perspective. I am hoping it will help us to live it out in front of our community in a way that displays a difference between believers and non-believers.
Believers are going to stand out from the world.
19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
One issue we face is that we are still trying to make the world love us. I think that is one reason our faith is less than clear.
If faith is a major factor in our walk with the Lord, then we should expect a fake faith to be present as well. Satan would seek to subvert our true faith with something far less than that faith. So, as we think about faith, let’s remember that all faith is not biblical faith. Some faith is just worldly faith, which, like worldly sorrow, is no help to us in our lost state.
Let’s start with a portion of the Christmas story and then go from there.
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.
Mary is often considered in the stories we read of faith and Christmas. However, I am going to focus on Joseph for this series. I want us to understand how easy it would have been for him to follow the world, or the law, in the way he handled Mary and her pregnancy.
How different from the world’s view of faith is Joseph’s faith here?
Joseph believed in spite of feelings
Joseph believed in spite of feelings
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
Your feelings will lie to you.
The world would tell you that if you feel it, it is your truth. Don’t you believe that.
Consistency of thought
Joseph believed in spite of his feelings.
Joseph believed in spite of status
Joseph believed in spite of status
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Remember the genealogies from a few verses earlier in Matthew?
Lineage mattered a tremendous amount.
Ask yourself this, if you were Joseph, how would you feel knowing your name did not actually belong in Jesus’ lineage?
34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.
35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.
36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you.
38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”
39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did,
40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did.
41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.”
41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
41 No, you are imitating your real father.” They replied, “We aren’t illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father.”
The stigma remained even to this moment in Jesus’ life. That means it remained in Jospeh’s life as well.
Joseph’s faith lasted in spite of status.
Joseph believed on only the Word of God
Joseph believed on only the Word of God
24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife,
Despite everything that would have culturally told Joseph to turn his back, he chose to obey.
How much of a challenge does it take for your faith to depart you?
How much of a challenge does it take for your faith to depart you?
Do you view faith like the world?
Do you view faith like the world?
Do you follow faith only as long as you feel like it?
Do you follow faith only as long as you feel like it?
Are you willing to risk status to follow God?
Are you willing to risk status to follow God?
Do you believe the word of God?
Do you believe the word of God?
If you do, make it know that you do.
If you do, make it know that you do.