Taking Christmas Faith on the Road
Grace Church 12/9/2007 Steve Trampe
Welcome to the second in our 4 week Advent series called
Taking Christmas on the Road.
I have really enjoyed getting a fresh look at the events and characters involved in Christmas because it brings it alive and makes it applicable to me.
I grew up with a Christmas Nativity picture that
• had Mary looking more like she spent a day at the spa than a day in labor.
• The straw was spotless. The animals clean and well behaved.
• And Jesus looked like a wizened adult with a tiny body, more than a newborn infant in a feeding trough.
I like reading between the lines of the Scripture surrounding the birth of Christ – getting a feel for their lives – trying to understand their reality, like the drama we just saw, so that Christmas becomes more than just a sanitized story, or an excuse for family gatherings, eggnog and gift giving.
I hope this morning to help us view Christmas as a real event that not only changed history, but might change our lives as well.
This morning – take a look at Mary and Joseph
• People who had solid faith, but not perfect faith.
• People who couldn’t see the total reality of their future, but could hope in the future
• People growing in faith as they took their faith on their walk through life.
• People who were learning that “we walk by faith, not by sight”
• People like us, on a faith journey
I remember a time when my faith was first strengthened then stretched
• Sue and I married about 1 year
• Missions or Christian camping
• Opportunity to do both in New Zealand – we took off into the unknown – literally having spent only 10 minutes with the director
• Not what expected – both better and more difficult.
• A tough, trying time of confusion and discouragement
• QT – Jeremiah 29:11- God’s promise about my future gave hope
• Yet as I considered this in the days ahead - I knew that today’s living is preparation for tomorrows life
• Fear, concern, anxiety,
• Today is tough – What is tomorrow going to bring – What difficulties is God preparing me for?
Mary and Joseph
• People who had plans and dreams, yet God changed their plans
• People who believed the promises of God concerning their future, yet faced many difficulties because of God’s plans
How did they remain hopeful and faithful in the midst of trials and difficulties that resulted from God’s plans?
How might we be helped by their story so that in the midst of our own difficulties and trials we can
WALK IN FAITH – NOT SIT IN DESPAIR
Before we look at their story, I want us to better understand their situation as far as their relationship – because the Jewish traditions that culminated in marriage were much different than ours
• Engagement: arranged by parents or matchmaker – usually during childhood. Arranged because for the Jew, marriage was far too serious of a commitment to leave to the fickleness of the heart
• Betrothal: Legally binding commitment – considered husband/wife, but living with parents. About 1 year. Groom preparing living quarters (like Jesus is doing for us, His bride) Any time together would be in the context of normal living.
• Wedding day: groomsmen bring wife to husbands quarters to celebrate and finally consummate the marriage.
When we come to Mary and Joseph in the Christmas story, they are in the Betrothal time period
• Looking forward to the wedding celebration and consummation
• Looking forward to a long life with lots of kids
• Looking forward to growing old together in peace
And in the midst of these dreams – An angel shows up and changes the plan!!
Luke 1:26-38 NASB
What can we learn from this part of the Christmas story?
Right from the start – Mary shows her faith – simple belief in what God is promising to her.
We don’t know how much she understood – but she certainly believed the promise that she – a virgin – would have a Child.
NO QUESTIONS
except about the logistics of how a virgin could have a child,
not questions of whether a virgin could have a child!
First lesson – Will we believe the promises of God, even if we cannot imagine how He will pull them off?
This is faith – “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen”.
God promises us many things in His Word – some of which may seem difficult to understand how they could come to pass.
Faith doesn’t keep us from wondering how God is going to fulfill His promise to us
• Giving peace in the middle of our turmoil
• Strength in our weakness
• Provision in our poverty
• Healing in our woundedness
• Righteousness in our sinfulness
How is a Good Question -because by asking how, we open up the door to God revealing any part that we might play in fulfilling His promises to us.
But first God challenges us – Will you simply Believe? Like Mary, rather than like Zechariah in Luke 1:18 NASB
Second lesson – God will provide us with what we need so that our faith can stay firm and growing.
Mary didn’t ask for a sign to believe – unlike Zechariah Luke 1:18
But God initiated giving her encouragement in her faith
The angel didn’t stop with answering her how question, but lest she begin to doubt, he does more.
• He gave her an example of God doing the miraculous, the unbelievable in Elizabeth
• He reminded her of truth “Nothing is impossible with God”
Our God knows our frame, that we are but dust
• He knows our limits
• He knows our need
• He knows exactly what each of us need to continue to grow in our faith, and He will provide encouragement as needed
We must open our eyes to see His encouragement toward faith that He provides all around us
• Words of encouragement from others
• God sightings in everyday life
• Scripture that comes along at just the right time
As we walk in our faith journey, God will graciously supply us with the encouragement we need to keep walking!
ARE YOUR EYES OPEN?
• I love Mary’s response – Resigned at this point, not necessarily excited
• a solid commitment to God as His servant
• an agreement to get on board with the plan of God
• FAITH
Most of us have never seen or spoken with and angel face to face
But I would guess that at times we have received a message from God about His plan for our future
• During a Quiet time of devotion
• While a message is being preached
• During a worship song
• As a result of a conversation
For me – when I sense God telling me something about my future situation – I come away encouraged and hopeful – my faith grows
But sure enough, tomorrow comes along, or the next day, or the next
Reality comes into view – Questions, fears, doubts, anxieties
I find myself engaging in mental conversations
Needing to choose between
1. the reality I see with my own eyes
2. the truth of God’s promises
thinking of all the things I did not at first consider
I have to believe that some of this began to happen to Mary after the angel left. Why do I say this?
Mary is a real person and I believe this happens to real people
Luke 1:39-40
WITH HASTE is what she did – she hurried right away!
Why the rush?
• Maybe she wanted to see with her own eyes, the good news she had been given by the angel?
• Maybe she needed to see - as assurance for her own situation?
Reality of her situation probably started to sink in after the angel left
Mary probably had some mental conversations
• Did I really have a conversation with an angel?
• Did he really say what I think he said – me a virgin now pregnant?
• Was it a dream?
• What is going to become of me?
• Will Joseph have me stoned according to his rights by law?
• How will I tell my dad?
• No one is going to believe me!
One way for Mary to have absolute confidence before her world got turned upside down? GO SEE ELIZABETH!!!
Once again we see our loving heavenly Father, who knows exactly what we need, encouraging Mary in her faith
Luke 1:41-45
Through her visit with Elizabeth, Mary receives absolute affirmation of the truth – not just about Elizabeth, but about her own situation
• She hears that she is for sure pregnant – something she may yet to have experienced physically this early in the pregnancy
• She hears that the child inside her is God
• She hears that she is blessed and a blessing because of her growing faith
At this point Mary’s faith blossoms in full. If she didn’t fully understand she was carrying the Messiah, she does now
Luke 1:46-50
Mary shows us that when we respond to God’s will for us with the faith that we do have – He will make sure to give us everything we need to keep living and growing in faith – to the praise of His glory!! Philippians 1:6
JUST BELIEVE AND OPEN YOUR EYES
After 3 months with Elizabeth,
Mary is ready to head home and take on the troubles
that are sure to follow her as an
unwed, pregnant, betrothed young Jewish girl.
Her faith is strong as she hit’s the road. SHE IS READY!!!
So what about Joseph? What is his walk of faith?
• Joseph had probably waited a long time for Mary to come of age
• He had to be so excited that she agreed to become his Betrothed
• He was lovingly preparing their wedding quarters
• Dreaming of one day –
owning their own home
Having a family - a son to be his heir
HE HAD PLANS!
All of it starts unraveling when he gets the news – Mary is pregnant!
NOW WHAT?
Matthew 1:18-25
• We don’t know exactly how he finds out Mary is pregnant
• We don’t know exactly when he finds out
1. maybe after Mary comes back from her unplanned trip to visit her aunt. WHAT HAD HAPPENED ON HER VISIT???? Obviously something!
2. maybe her father had come to him with the news?
3. It doesn’t seem that Mary had come to him because they may have been able to talk it through after he understood the whole story according to Mary whom he obviously loves
• Whenever and however he found out, it seems he only believes that Mary is pregnant, not that she was to be the mother of Messiah.
Imagine how you would feel if your beloved was unfaithful
How would you react?
• Anger, sadness, betrayal
• Throw the book at her - legally
• Throw her out of your life so you could make a new start
We see in Joseph a righteous man in turmoil over the situation
• Not religiously righteous – adultery was punishable by stoning
• But godly righteous – thinking of Mary, more than himself – trying to take quiet action for her sake, even though his life would never be the same.
Do you ever find yourself in a dilemma of great magnitude – having to make a decision of tremendous consequence?
The story of Joseph and God can give us hope and increase our faith
.
What can we learn from Joseph and God’s dealings with him?
1. God’s plans and our plans are not always in alignment. God will do
whatever it takes to lead us along His planned path for our lives.
• God made sure that at the needed moment, Joseph got a vision of His plan and the reality of the situation, so that Joseph could clearly know what to do.
• The reality – God is far more interested in us following His will than we are!! He has a plan and will make sure we are clear on our part in it so that it can be accomplished.
2. If we are really serious about doing the right things in our life – God
will make sure to give us guidance
• Joseph wasn’t just flippantly making a decision, he was thoroughly thinking through things, wanting to make the right one, and God made sure he made the right decision.
• James 1:5 Ask for wisdom – it will be given
3. When God answers clearly- obey, even if the answer is not what you
you want to hear.
• Get married but do not consummate – torture!!
• Everyone is going to do the math – forever the topic of gossip
• Start your dream out as a stepfather
• The dad of Messiah – are you kidding me? How am I supposed to do that?
• Lord, whatever you say – I am your servant.
Joseph models what we might hope to be – caring, thoughtful, obedient
• So what decisions are you facing today?
• What promises do you need in your life right now?
• Will you ask God for wisdom?
• Will you believe He can deliver on His promises?
• Can you believe that God has a plan?
• Will you believe that God is accomplishing His plan, no matter what you see happening around you, not matter how tough things are getting in your life?
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I want to close today with a powerful passage
of encouragement to faith.
A passage in the Christmas story that really helps me
to believe Gods promises, to trust Him, to keep walking in faith
even when I cannot see things clearly
A passage that shows the power of God to fulfill His promises to me.
Luke 2:1-7
Folks, when we begin to wonder
• if God really has a plan for us
• if God can really fulfill His promises in the midst of our lives
• if God can really accomplish His plan for us when it is dependent on the attitudes and actions of so many others
What we see in the Christmas story is God exercising His power to
accomplish everything He declares to be part of His plan.
(share how God made sure His Word was fulfilled)
Micah 5:2-5
I don’t know the plans God has for you -----but He Does!!
I don’t know what promises you need in your life right now---but He does!!
I don’t know how He is going to accomplish His plans for your life---but He does!!
But I do know that the Christmas story of Joseph and Mary
Can help me grow stronger in faith
If I will just start walking with what I have,
rather than despairing of what I don’t
Because the story of Mary and Joseph
Reveals to me a loving Lord
powerful to fulfill His plans for me by
• influencing hearts
• influencing events
• influencing creation
IF HE CAN DO ALL THAT FOR THE FIRST CHRISTMAS
WHAT MIGHT HE DO FOR YOU RIGHT NOW?
‘For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope’!!
