A Heart Like Joseph
Matthew 1:18-25
Introduction: Circumstances have the potential to change us.
Traumatic events have a lasting effect on our lives. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Maybe:
The divorce of our parents.
A sudden loss!
A difficult upbringing—a the trial of one of the most evil men of this century “Ted Bundy” who was raised by his grandparents! It is reported that his grandfather Samuel Cowell was a tyrannical bully who hated blacks, Italians, Catholics, and Jews, beat his wife and the family dog, and cats by their tails. He once threw Louise's younger sister Julia down a flight of stairs for oversleeping
And we[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:1-3
When we become Christian’s we are equipped with a supernatural power!
Jesus has called us all to remember what we are, and whose we are regardless of what life throws at us!
Joseph revealed his true character when faced with an unexpected pregnancy.
I. He considers others more than himself.
We have to appreciate JOSEPH’s DISIRE TO NOT BE MARRIED TO A WOMAN HE CANNOT TRUST!
As a betrothed (engaged) couple Joseph and Mary were not to have sexual relations until the wedding night. This period would last for 1 year. They were also not allowed to have sexual relations with others for this would legally considered adultery.
When Joseph discovers Mary is pregnant he considers a legal divorces, but he wants to do this quietly. He does not want to punish or hurt her.
The Pharisees went out of their way to drag someone’s name through the mud!
Pharisees ONLY CARED ABOUT THEIR OWN STATUS: Jesus Forgives and Heals a They could not see the good in healing a Paralyzed Man
2 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
---Ill: My Choir director’s mother became diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in her early 50’s. She would attend football games and she would always have her hair neat and her clothes in fashion. For the longest time people would complement her and she would only smile. For the world at large –most did not know that it was her husband that dress her, helped her with her makeup and brushed her hair. He took her arm and guided her to dinner and the football games.
Ill: Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
1 Cor. 13 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.
1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
2 Peter 1:5-7 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
Ill: Jesus knows what is like to give up everything for sake of others!
He made himself nothing!
---He know what is like for the parents who give up going places because their daughter or son is physically unable.
---He knows what it is like for the wife who cannot visit her mom because she hates her husband.
---He knows what is like for the dad who goes to a job he hates because his kids must eat.
---He knows what it is like for the minister who is trying to hang on and save his ministry.
---He knows what it is like for the wife or the husband who must go to church by themselves.
II. He consults God’s will.
HE REST BEFORE REACTS!
---HE WANTS TO KNOW GOD’S WILL AND GOD SPEAKS TO HIM THROUGH AN ANGEL!
--WE OFTEN LISTEN TO OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY OVER THE WORD OF GOD!
Let me comment for a minute of the teaching of the Virginal conception of Jesus.
DO WE EVER CONSIDER THAT
1. Jewish scholars have tried to make Jesus birth a scandal: Many Jewish scholars have claimed that Jesus was the illegitimate son a Roman solider.
2. Liberal Churches have denied the virginal conception –and the Resurrection: Albert Schweitzer and Rudolf Bultmann. Often considered the most influential New Testament scholar of the twentieth century, Bultmann argued that the New Testament presents a mythological worldview that modern men and women simply cannot accept as real.
In America, the public denial of the virgin birth can be traced to the emergence of Protestant liberalism in the early 20th century. In his famous sermon, "Shall the Fundamentalists Win?," Harry Emerson Fosdick--an unabashed liberal--aimed his attention at "the vexed and mooted question of the virgin birth."
Another angle of attack on the virgin birth has come from the group of liberal scholars who organize themselves into what is called the "Jesus Seminar.", discounts the biblical narratives about the virgin birth as invented theology. They note that the virgin birth is a myth and mishandling of Isaiah 7:14
----IF JOSEPH OR A ROMAN SOLIDER WERE THE FATHER OF JESUS THAN WE LOOSE THE INCARNATION!
Jesus claimed his Father was God!
ALL OF JESUS’s FOLLOWERS WERE DEVOUT MONOTHEIST JEWS:
THEY GIVE US THE DISCRIPTION OF JESUS
1.Divine names, actions, or prerogatives proclaimed by or attributed to Jesus Christ
a. Creator (John 1:3; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:2, 10-12)
b. Sustainer (1 Cor. 8:6; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3)
c. Universal Ruler (Matt. 28:18; Rom. 14:9; Rev. 1:5)
d. Forgiver of sins (Mark 2:5-7; Luke 24:47; Acts 5:31; Col. 3:13)
e. Raiser of the dead (Luke 7:11-17; John 5:21; 6:40)
f. Object of prayer (John 14:14; Acts 1:24; 7:59-60; 1 Cor. 1:2; 2 Cor. 12:8-9)
g. Object of worship (Matt. 28:16-17; John 5:23; 20:28; Phil. 2:10-11; Heb. 1:6)
h. Object of saving faith (John 14:1; Acts 10:43; 16:31; Rom. 10:8-13)
i. Image and Representation of God (Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3)
MATTHEW AND JOHN THE APOSTLES ARE PASSIONATE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT JESUS’ CAME INTO MARY’S BODY THROUGH A SUPERNATURAL EVENT!
----So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son. (Jn 1:14, NLT)
III. He follows through with what he believes.
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.
Why can’t we just do what he said!
Ill: Obey God first! --t with his Temple guards and arrested the apostles, but without violence, for they were afraid the people would stone them. 27 Then they brought the apostles before the high council, where the high priest confronted them. 28 Did’nt we tell you never again to teach in this man’s name? he demanded. Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him, and you want to make us responsible for his death! 29 But Peter and the apostles replied, We must obey God rather than any human authority.
The parable of two sons! One says no, but changes his mind. The other says yes, but never goes to the vineyard!
TALK IS CHEAP!
Faith Without Works Is Dead
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your[a] works, and I will show you my faith by my[b] works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?[c] 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”[d] And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
JESUS Said, “If you love me keep my commandments!” Jn. 14:15
WE NEED TO LOVE GOD MORE THAN OUR KIDS, HUSBANDS, OUR WIVES, OUR CHURCH, OUR COMMUNITY, OUR HOBBIES, OUR JUST CAUSES!
LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART AND SOUL AND STRENGTH!
---HOW MANY REFUSES TO BE BAPTIZED BECAUSE OF YOUR SPOUSE OR YOU PARENTS?
---HOW MANY CHRISTIANS ARE LIVING IN SIN BECAUSE THEY WANT TO PLEASE THEIR LOVED ONE.
Conclusion: Like Joseph we should build our house upon the rock!
Her funeral was held on a Thursday Afternoon Kasandra Perkins was laid to rest at Fellowship Church in Blue Ridge, Texas. She was mudered by her NFL husband Jovan Belcher who graduated with a degree in child development and family relations. He was a mentor in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. (Belcher was raised by his mother and older sisters.) He participated in the university's Male Athletes Against Violence group, which seeks to educate men about their role in the prevention of domestic violence.
Concussions? Jovan had spent the night with another woman, and was drinking heavy daily!
The Wise and Foolish Builders
24“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
As we prepare to celebrate Christmas have you build your house on the rock?
