Christmas: God Will Turn Things Around For Good

CHRISTMAS: God Will Turn Things Around for Good

Mt. 1:18-25

INTRODUCTION

Christmas, instead of being a time of joy, can be a time of great stress. Often there are unrealistic expectations and disagreements. One Poem says...

A. “TWAS THE FIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS” by Tony Cooke and David Beebe

1. ‘Twas the fight before Christmas & all through the house; not a creature was peaceful, not even my spouse. The bills were strung out on our table with dread, in hopes that our checkbook would not be in the red.

2. The children were fussing & throwing a fit, when Billy came screaming & cried, “I’ve been bit.” And Momma with her skillet, and I with the remote, She said, “You change one more channel and I’ll grab your throat.”

3. When on the TV there arose such a clatter, I sat up on the couch to see what was the matter. When what to my wondering eyes should appear, the cable was out, it was my worst fear.

4. “The Cowboys, the Celtics, the Raiders, the Knicks, without the sports channel I’d soon need a fix!” And then in the midst of my grievous sorrow, I remembered the times I had promised my kids “tomorrow…”

5. “Not now, my children, but at some soon time, Dad will play with you, and things will be fine.” Now under conviction, I looked at my wife, where was my kindness? Why all the strife?”

6. “My heart quickly softened; I now saw my task, some love and attention was all they had asked. I gathered my family and called them by name, and told them with God’s help I’d not be the same.”

7. “We’ll keep Christ in Christmas and honor His plan. No more fights before Christmas—on that we will stand. My children’s eyes twinkled; they squealed with delight. My wife gladly nodded; she knew I was right.”

8. “It was the fight before Christmas, but God’s love had come through, and just like He does, He made all things new.”

B. CHRISTMAS IS A TIME OF STRESS

1. Shortage of money to buy things for others.

2. The Pressure of decorating, shopping, dinners.

3. Loneliness or estrangement. 43% are single, and 27% live alone. Some aren’t on speaking terms.

4. Grief. Missing a deceased loved one. Christmas time can intensify our missing them.

5. Pleasing others. We try to meet everyone’s expectations & probably. fail.

6. We’re going to read about a Bible couple who also had a difficult Christmas season.

C. TEXT

18 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. 19 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. 20 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. 21 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.” 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. Matthew 1:18-21,24.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem…5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” Luke 2:4-7.

D. A PERFECT BEGINNING

1. God sent angels to Mary & Joseph; filled people with the Holy Spirit (Mary, Eliz., John Baptist), and worked the miracle of the Conception.

2. But this was followed by a time when God seemed to be absent and the difficulties of life closed in on this couple.

3. Today we’re looking at “Christmas: God Will Turn Things Around For Good.” First let’s look at:

I. JOSEPH & MARY’S NIGHTMARE

A. JOSEPH’S BETRAYAL

1. Joseph & Mary’s marriage got off to a bad start -- Mary turned up pregnant during the engagement and Joseph knew that the child was not his; they had never been intimate.

2. What must have been Joseph's feelings?

a. ANGER? Yes. Anger at her unfaithfulness and at whomever had defiled their marriage bed.