Christmas message - UNEXPECTED

 

UNEXPECTED!

Matthew 1:16-25

With Christmas nearly upon us this year, I have chosen to look at the first advent of our Lord Jesus Christ and in particular the life of Joseph, the earthly father of our Lord and Savior. 

The first advent came unexpectedly to everyone, especially to the young couple, Joseph and Mary, who had become betrothed to each other from the tribe of Judah on their father’s lineages. It doesn’t say how long the betroval had been, or if it had been arranged years before, only that it was established according to the laws of God.  So here is where we will begin the text for this lesson.  “Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah…This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph, her husband, was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.” (NIV)

The young couple were both from the line of Judah. Joseph and Mary were both from the lineage of David. “Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.” (Matt.1:16) Mary was also from the lineage of Levi through her mother, Elizabeth’s cousin, mother of John the Baptist. 

The unexpected came on a calm night, nothing out of the ordinary. The shepherds were working, the town of Nazareth was asleep after a productive day in their small agricultural town. But that changed in a moment of time, for God came with a fulfillment of His promise to the nation of Israel, but not as the nation perceived or understood. Mary asleep in her parents home was awakened by the angel Gabriel with not just a message of hope, but with the presence of God the Holy Spirit as well. While Mary had been sleeping, God had conceived in her the baby that would become the king of Kings, Lord of Lords who was the Son of God, the promised Messiah. The conception was like no other, for it was of God. The awakened Mary accepted the Word from God of the miraculous and the glorious in humility. 

It was at a later point in time that Matthew records that Joseph also was awakened by the angel of the Lord because of the fact of Mary’s pregnancy. It doesn’t tell us how long Mary was pregnant before Joseph’s understanding, but Joseph being a righteous man had a duty according to the Law of God to fulfill. Joseph hadn’t laid with Mary, for he held faithful to the law. Because Joseph loved Mary, he had planned quietly to divorce her respectfully, not expose her to public disgrace.

Application - Wow, when God says that His ways are higher than our, He wasn’t kidding. I don’t know about you, but I have had a few unexpected acts of God come without a single clue of His plan. For  example, the day I was saved, I had told my wife that I wasn’t ever coming back to church, I had other plans for my Sunday mornings. It was that very Sunday, God used an elderly lady who shared her testimony of God’s intervention in her life. It was with her testimony that God set the hook, sort of speaking, in my heart and soul. She didn’t know that she was about to land a human fish. I went forth not realizing what God was about to do, I just needed what this lady had in her life. God poured his peace in me that filled me from my toes to the tip of my head. He received me as His child, as I was born again. He took two thirds of my vocabulary away that morning and made me a new creation. I have never been the same old man again. Hallelujah!

God has many unexpected things planned and purposed according to His appointed times. Joseph and Mary, as all the world today, has no idea the wondrous and glorious gift that God has for each of us through His Son.  “So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.” (Eph. 1:6-11 NLT)

 God desires to seek all men to come to repentance and salvation through His Son, Jesus the Christ. For that is why He sent Him, even as a baby in a little town of no importance, to awaken the humble and to meet all who would seek Him for salvation. Let's be like Joseph and Mary and say “yes” to God’s unexpected plan for our lives.

Next, Joseph was awakened in a dream by the angel of the Lord with a new revelation of the pregnancy and now the baby would literally change everything in his life in a moment of time. So let's read the next portion of the text. “But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.”

One can only imagine the response of Joseph to the dream, and probably the testimony from Mary about the miraculous conception of the Holy Spirit and her unexpected pregnancy. But God could read every thought in Joseph’s mind, and the angel’s words to not to be afraid gave some indication to Joseph’s emotional and mental state at that moment. And then the realization brought it home like a hammer that he would be a father, not just any father, but father to the Son of God. the Messiah. The revelation and memory jog of the prophetic scriptures from Torah class or from the reading of scripture in synagogue came alive. Isaiah the prophet had foretold that the birth of Christ, a baby boy, would be born to a virgin, and He was called Immanuel (God with us). “the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).” (Isa. 7:14 NLT)

The angel gave Joseph the responsibility and privilege to name Him Jesus, Yesuha in Hebrew, meaning Savior, the Lord is my salvation.

When Joseph awoke from this startling dream, he must have raced over to see Mary; to reveal to her the message from the angel of the Lord. He was commanded by God to a task much larger in scope than he could ever imagine, but he knew that he could trust God to fulfill His will and plan. For the next day, he took Mary has his wife, and with great awe and respect for God, he kept himself from intimacy with his new wife, the consummation would come later, after the birth of their son, but not just theirs, it was God’s Son, the Messiah, the Savior to the world.

Upon Jesus’ birth came with further unexpected revelations that would cause greater wonders: a journey to Bethlehem, to fulfill the prophecy by Micah the prophet. “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (5:2)

Another unexpected, the nightly visit from the shepherd’s on the birthday of the Son of God. They spoke of a great angelic visitation from God, of the angels’ glorious presence and the angelic praise. (Luke 2:8-20), and another extraordinary event, the proclamation of a old righteous man and a elderly prophetess who foretold of Jesus’ life and His death, and followed months later by a surprising visit by eastern Magi who had followed a star to their humble abode with expensive gifts of gold, myrrh, and frankincense. But to cap all of these momentous occurrences, there was another startling dream to flee for their lives to Egypt for king Herod was on a rampage to kill the new king. (Matt. 2:9-15).

 After a time in Egypt, God sent another message by the angel of the Lord with the approval to return to Nazareth where they could now live in peace. Both Joseph and Mary had grown to expect the unexpected, and to trust in God’s guidance, wisdom, understanding, and provision. They raised Jesus and he grew in stature and truth before God and among men. “Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.” (Lk. 2:52)

Such was the life of Joseph, a righteous man whom God had chosen unexpectedly along with Mary to parent and raise the Son of God.

Application - Another WOW! There is a concept in scripture that states what God commands he provides for and equips. As was written by Isaiah the prophet, “The Lord will continually lead you; he will feed you even in parched regions. He will give you renewed strength…” (Isa. 58:11) And later reiterated by the author of Hebrews. “Now may the God of peace…equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Heb.13:20-21 NIV)

  Like Joseph and Mary, God is always watching over our lives with a strong hand, words of wisdom and divine guidance, and with a peace that surpasses all comprehension. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus…And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7,19 NLT)

In the takeaways from the lives of this young Jewish man and His wife, we can trust God, especially in the unexpected times when God’s calling tells us to move forward into places and scenarios that exceed our human logic and call upon us to walk by faith in the Word of the Lord and in the power of His Holy Spirit. “For we live by faith, not by sight.” “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (2 Cor. 5:7; Gal. 5:25 NIV)

For each of us has a calling from God to fulfill, it may not be as adventurous or dynamic as Joseph and Mary, nor as dangerous as the Apostle Paul’s. But God is always watching over us. “But the Lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love.” “The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.” (Ps.33:18;121:5-8 NLT)

Always remember, God doesn’t choose perfect people, for there are none. He uses imperfect people for His perfect plan and purpose, all that He asks is for us to believe, trust Him, and to obey His commands and His Word. I’m including a URL to a song by Michael Card, Joseph’s song. Joseph's Song by Michael Card.wmv

This Christmas season, let us realize how blessed we are to know the One true living Lord, Son of God and King, Jesus Christ. The Prince of Peace wants to reign in your life today, “And he will be the source of peace.”

As always, I want to end with presenting the gospel in the form of the ABC’s of salvation for all those who have not yet received Jesus Christ for salvation. For Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second,

 B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, 

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis

I have revised my webpage on Spiritual warfare. Please give it a look. Thank you. http://uss-warfare3.webnode.com