Advent : Mary & Joseph Series

Advent : Mary & Joseph

December 6, 2020 Morning Service

Second Sunday of Advent

Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK

Rick Boyne

Message Point: Service to God requires faith – and faith requires obedience.

Focus Passage: Luke 1:26-38, Matthew 1:18-25

Supplemental Passage: And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6 NASB)

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. (Hebrews 11:6 NLT)

Introduction: When God told Noah to build a boat, he believed and obeyed, even though it had never rained before. Look at Abraham. Without understanding, he offered Isaac and trusted God. Moses stood before Pharaoh and demanded what God told him to say, knowing it would only anger him. In faith, David stood before and killed Goliath. In faith, Elijah built an altar to God and challenged the prophets of Baal. In faith, Esther entered the presence of the king to expose the plot of Haman. Many people brag about their faith in God, claiming that they would go to jail or even die for their faith. Many of those same people won’t even tithe! (How can you trust God with your soul if you won’t even trust Him with your bank account?) Or serve in VBS or help with the bus ministry or help clean the kitchen after a dinner. James said, basically, that it is easier said than done. Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” (James 2:18 NLT)

I. Unanticipated Request

a. Neither Mary or Joseph asked to be used like this

b. The request basically came out of nowhere; they had no indication that there was something big for them

c. Mary was chosen because she found favor with God; Joseph was chosen because he was Mary’s fiancé.

i. Was he her fiancé because God knew Joseph would be honorable?

ii. Perhaps our being used is because of an association with someone else whom God wants to use?

d. Yet, when the time came, they both believed the angel and trusted the Word of the Lord

i. Contrast with Zacharias (Luke 1:18) who questioned the Word of the Lord

II. Unexpected Repercussions

a. When Joseph was engaged to Mary, he expected things to go “normally”

b. When Mary agreed to God’s request, she never imagined the consequences it would have with Joseph or with society. She simply trusted God.

c. Because Joseph was an honorable man, he didn’t want to have her stoned. He was going to quietly take care of the situation to preserve both of their dignities.

III. Unimaginable Results

a. Mary and Joseph never imagined that the birth would bring about such a fuss, both good and bad.

i. Shepherds and wise men- good

ii. Herod having the babies killed and having to flee to Egypt - bad

b. Mary and Joseph were blessed to witness God in man, the literal Immanuel first hand

c. We don’t know much about Joseph, but we know Mary witnessed some of the miracles and the crucifixion. She also was a witness after the resurrection

Application/Invitation: How’s your faith? How’s your obedience? Do you say you believe God but still do what you want? Faith requires obedience. What has God told you to do? Have you done it? Have you been putting it off? Trust God and be blessed. Now, don’t do it just to be blessed! Do it because you love God and trust Him. Blessings are side benefits. We are blessed to be blessings to others! Have you ever shown the ultimate step of faith by trusting Jesus as your Lord and Savior? The Bible says If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. (Romans 10:9-10 NLT) Put your faith in Jesus today and as a result, repent of your sins and be baptized!