Life Intercepted By God-2(2024)

LIFE INTERCEPTED By GOD-II—Matthew 1:20-25(:18-25)

Attention:

‘Chopper Cops’ TV show. The show highlights excerpts from the operations of the Marion County, FL(Ocala) Sheriff’s Dept. Helicopter Team. The team is key to catching criminals, &/or aiding civilians.

As a crime scene is made known, the Marion County Sheriff’s office takes action. The need for or against helicopter assistance is determined. When the helicopter is in the air, it uses special cameras that can see & record in real time, the activities of criminals either on foot or in vehicles.

Especially at night, heat signatures of the criminals as they flee on foot, can be easily followed by the helicopter crew. If the criminals are in a vehicle, the helicopter can follow that vehicle.

The helicopter crew can pinpoint the location of criminals from the air, & can relay that information, in real time, to sheriff’s deputies on the ground via radio. Since the helicopter crew has eyes directly on the criminals, they can then direct the deputies step-by-step to the criminals.

So in situations where they are called upon to act, the helicopter crew is indispensable for the interception & apprehension of criminals in Marion County, FL. Criminals lives drastically change due to their interception by the Sheriff’s Department.

And in a similar manner, YOUR life, as it ‘naturally’ strays from God, will drastically change when it is Intercepted by God!

‘INTERCEPT’—Mirriam-Webster—“To stop, seize, or interrupt in progress, or course, or before arrival”?OR—New Oxford American Dictionary—“To obstruct so as to prevent from continuing to a destination.”

Need:

The apostle Matthew recorded some key elements/aspects surrounding the conception & birth of Jesus, from Joseph’s perspective.

Jesus’ beginnings, as they relate to Joseph’s perspective, is known.

?What can be learned from Joseph’s perspective about Jesus’ beginnings?

5 lessons learned from a life intercepted by God.

So far we’ve found that Life Intercepted By God...

1. INTERCEPTS The ORDINARY(:18a)

&

2. Is CRISIS DRIVEN(:18b-19)

Today we’ll also find that:

3—Life Intercepted By God...

Is FULLY INFORMED(:20-21)

Explanation:(:20-21)

:20—“But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”

“But while he thought about these things,...”

“Joseph” “thought” long & hard(optative mood) about his decision to put away or divorce “Mary.”

• “Joseph” was so shaken by the crisis at hand, that he took it to bed with him.

• “Joseph” fell asleep & had a lucid “dream.”

“An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David,...”

•In that “dream” “an angel of the Lord appeared to” “Joseph.”

•The “angel” SPOKE to “Joseph”, & informed him of matters that would cause him to see his situation in a radically different manner!

•“Joseph” was reminded by the “angel”, that he was a “son of David.”

•Despite King “David’s” failings, he was recognized & regarded by the Jews as a man after God’s own heart(1Sam. 13:14; 16:13; Acts 13:22). “David” also wrote many of the Psalms. Those written words were prophetic & recognized as coming from the Holy Spirit of God Himself(1Sam. 16:13). King “David’s” words were & are still enlightening to all who ponder them. And “Joseph” was in King “David’s” genealogical lineage(1:1-16) & so held a ‘legal’ right to the throne.....

:20—“Saying,” ...... “do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”

“Joseph” was told by the “angel” that he was “not” to “be afraid to take” “Mary” as his “wife.” The “angel” was aware of the torment that Joseph was going thru.

•And the “angel” informed “Joseph” that, though the child in “Mary’s” womb was not ‘from him’ naturally, that indeed “Mary” had been faithful to Joseph! Because amazingly, the child “conceived in her was of the Holy Spirit”! & not of another man.

So “Joseph” had no need to be hurt, or disappointed, or to come up with a ‘crisis’ plan. Even though “Joseph’s” plan to divorce “Mary”, had been conceived with the purest of motives & the tenderest forgiving heart, his decision was ill-conceived because it was made in ignorance.

*With the “angel’s” words, “Joseph” now knew that his “Mary” had been faithful to him all along! He had no need to fear or come up with an exit strategy!

:21—““And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.””

“And she will bring forth a Son,...”

This promised One would be “Mary’s” first-born “son”(:25; Lk. 2:7). Thus her “Son” will have the right of the firstborn from His f/Father, including all due legalities & inheritances sovereignly present thru Jewish society. In fact, that was one of the reasons Jesus would be born of the Jews!