1. Conquering Fear
Stanley went to a psychiatrist. "Doc," he said, "I've got trouble. Every time I get into bed, I think there's somebody under it. I get under the bed, I think there's somebody on top of it. Top, under, top, under ... you gotta help me, I'm going crazy!"
"Just put yourself in my hands for two years," said the doctor. "Come to me three times a week, and I'll cure your fears."
"How much do you charge?"
"A hundred dollars per visit."
"I'll think about it," said Stanley.
Six months later the doctor met Stanley on the street. "Why didn't you ever come to see me again?" asked the psychiatrist.
"For a hundred bucks a visit? A friend cured me for ten dollars."
"Is that so! How?"
"He told me to cut the legs off the bed!"
Most of us, though, have fears which are much more difficult to overcome -- fear of failure, fear of dying, fear of letting others down, fear of living alone, just to name a few.
And, as you read through the Bible, you see that fear is not unique to those of us in the 21st century. One phrase that reappears over and over throughout the Bible is the phrase, "Do not be afraid.”
2. The “Dad-on-Loan” for Yeshua (Jesus), Joseph, had to deal with some real fear in light of the situation in which he found himself.
3. Matthew 1.18-25
4.
I. The Man – Joseph
A. Joseph was an Obedient Man
The Premier of Australia said that when the Great War broke out, the Australian Commonwealth at once offered to do what they could to back Great Britain. They asked what was the most useful thing that they could do, and the reply came-"Build us ships: we want ships." The Australians did not build ships. Instead, they began to till the fields, sow seed, and reap harvests to send food to the motherland. Grain was gathered, put into sacks, and brought down to the water’s edge to wait for the ships. But the ships never came.
The mice got in, and then found their way into towns and villages and cities, carrying disease with them-a disease that attacked the eyes of many and blinded some. And all the time Great Britain said, "Ships! ships! ships!" All they had to do was "obey." But, instead, they went their own way.
1. He was Torah-Observant – Obeyed the Teachings of God
a. He knew the punishment for immorality – death by stoning
b. He knew he could capitalize on the situation and get the bride price back along with her dowry
c. Divorce was justified
d. He chose a higher road – no death; no money issues; just a quiet fulfillment of Torah
“Love neighbor as self.”
2. He Followed the Instructions He was Given
a. He received the explanation of the angel
b. He went ahead with the marriage to Mary
c. He would take Yeshua (Jesus) as his son
B. Joseph was a Humble Man
1. “Humility is one of the things that when you think you have it, you have lost it.
2. He was more concerned about Mary’s well-being than his rights as the wronged
a. People may have thought another man was the father – adultery
b. People may have thought HE was the father – fornication
c. Any way was uncomfortable
3. He is the kind of man God wants to care for his Son
4. Humility comes
a. “Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”
b. Best in ourselves – 2 Chronicles 7.14 – HUMBLE THEMSELVES; 1 Peter 5.6; James 4.10 – Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you in due time.
1) Study the text
2) Walk with God
3) PERHAPS Joseph was a rabbi – at least followed Torah
c. There can be forced humility (humiliation) – Philippians 2.9-11
II. The Message from the Angel -- Salvation
A. An Explanation – Mary’s Child is from the Holy Spirit
1. Remember that the HS is sent to people who believe and follow (Acts 2.38)
2. The HS aids in our service to God; Guidance into truth; Holy living; fruit of righteous living
3. Implication is that Mary is a trusting, faithful follower of God
4. This is a suitable couple to help one another and serve God
5. Consider the scripture references in Mary’s song (Luke 1.47ff)
B. An Instruction – Complete the Marriage Process
1. The process began with the proposal (based on the fathers’ agreement)
2. The process continued with the engagement/betrothal
a. “Kiddushin” – same root as Kadosh (holy, set apart)
b. The couple was set apart for one another
c. Considered husband and wife even without intimacy
3. The process completed with the Pronouncement of ceremony and consummation
C. An Expectation – Care for the Baby
III. The Meanings of the Names
A. “Jesus” means little to us by way of definition
1. Yeshua means salvation
2. It is derived from the same root as Joshua – YHWH is Salvation
3. You shall call his name Yeshua (salvation) for he shall yoshia (save) his people from their sins
Twenty-one year old Christina Grady had to pay the penalty for her crime...while standing outside a major department store. Twice convicted of shoplifting at a JC Penney in North Carolina, she was ordered by the court judge to stand outside the store’s entrance while wearing a sign that read, "I have been convicted twice for shoplifting at JC Penney. I am truly sorry for what I did." Perhaps the judge had just finished reading The Scarlet Letter, but for whatever reason the judge gave her this choice in order to avoid a 45 day jail sentence.
What if a Judge who was totally innocent saw the woman in embarrassment as she started to attach the placard around her neck, and as the shoppers started to pull in the lot, the judge said, give that to me, you can leave and I’ll wear it for you." That’s what Jesus did.
B. Immanuel (from Isaiah 7.14)
1. God with us
2. Implies his deity
3. Emphasizes his desire to be with us
1. Freedom from Sin
Chuck Swindoll tells a story (Tardy Ox Cart, p. 503)
In a village in northern India, everyone brought items to trade and sell at the local market. One old farmer brought in a group of quail. He had tied a string around one leg of each bird. The other ends of all the strings were tied to a ring which fit loosely over a central stick. He had taught the quail to walk in circle, merry-go-round style, around and around. Nobody seemed interested in buying the birds until a devout Hindu man came along, who couldn’t bear to watch these poor creatures walking in their monotonous circles.
The Hindu man said, “I want to buy them all.” The merchant was elated, and after receiving the money, he was surprised to hear the buyer say, “Now, I want you to set them all free.”
“What’s that, sir?”
“You heard me. Cut the strings from their legs and turn them loose. Set them all free!”
With a shrug, the old farmer bent down and snipped the strings off the quail. Free at last. But what did those birds do? They simply kept marching around and around in a circle. Finally the man had to shoo them off. But they landed some distance away and resumed their predictable march.
Free, unfettered, released, yet they kept going in circles as if still tied.
Jesus saves us from the power of sin – Salvation cuts the strings that once held us. End the monotony of the sin treadmill and start flying.
2. Yeshua (Jesus) frees us from the mundane; from the entrapment in sin; from the routine of sin; from the power of sin; from the condemnation of sin
3. What will we do with Yeshua (Jesus) and our freedom?
