Go Joe!! (Christmas 2013)

c I believe God chose the right mom for Jesus & the right dad for Him too.

B Sometimes we are given a choice, like Mary; sometimes we’re given a command, like Joseph.

1 Whether we’re given a choice or a command we must always remember that God is in control.

a We may not understand the “why” of the things that happen to us but we can always know “who” is calling the shots.

aa Joseph wasn’t given an option, drafted into the role of Jesus’ earthly father.

bb How many of us would have just stuck to our plan of walking away?

b Taken individually, the events and circumstances God allows to happen in our lives may not, in and of themselves, appear to be of any value or good to the Christian.

aa Romans 8:28 (NASB) And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

bb But Paul does not say that each event is good or even that each incident will produce that which is good. He informs us that all of the events, working together, produce what is good.

2 To illustrate, the ingredients which go into a cake are not very tasty when eaten individually.

a Flour, sugar, shortening, eggs, salt, baking powder, and spices are not something we want to eat one ingredient at a time.

aa But mix all of these together in just the right proportions, and then bake the combined mixture, and you have a delicious treat.

bb Each event in our life is like one ingredient in a cake. It may not seem good, by itself, but when mixed by God with other correct events, it will surely produce what is good.”

b We may not understand why God does what He does when He does it . . . but we can know He’s sovereign, authority, ruling and He knows the predetermined port of destination.

Conclusion:

A Many churches (& Christians) have either forgotten or failed to embrace God’s sovereignty.

1 The appeal to God’s sovereignty is not to foster hope that we will be spared all difficulty, but to foster confidence that when those difficulties come we are not abandoned.

a Things have not fallen out of hand.

b We can still rely on the God who has permitted us to face these things to supply us with the grace and help we need to be faithful under such circumstances.

2 When we realize that everything that happens does so for His purposes . . . we can do great things & cope with grievous times.

a The sovereign will of God is Holy & perfect.

b IL. My wife & my youngest son share a character distinction . . . they both insist on having the final word.

aa The church in recent times has been depressed, oppressed, nervous, harassed, & anxious.

bb Brethren, if we truly understood the sovereignty of God we would feel none of these things.

B He’s still on board, charted the course, He knows where He’s going and how to get there . . . AND HE GETS THE LAST WORD!!!

1 Today, will you trust him like Joseph.

a We don’t have to understand anything but the fact that God is in authority.