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God's Chosen Provision Series

Contributed by Monte Brown on Jan 16, 2015 (message contributor)

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Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Baptist

Summary: We have been looking at a series of messages entitled “Behold the Lamb of God” was promised, He was prepared, He has been provided, He is to be praised, and now He is God’s Chosen provision.

Behold the Lamb

God’s Chosen Provision

Matthew 1:18-25 Monte T. Brown

December 21, 2014 Sunday Evening

Stapp Zoe Baptist

Introduction

We have been looking at a series of messages entitled “Behold the Lamb of God” was promised, He was prepared, He has been provided, He is to be praised, and now He is God’s Chosen provision.

Christmas is this Thursday and every year pastors around the world preach about the Bethlehem experience.

They preach about the Christ Child, Mary, the Shepherds, and even the Inn Keeper, but very little is said about Joseph.

Christmas pageants usually overlook him, Oh; sometimes he is given a walk-on part.

Even the anonymous innkeeper attracts more attention.

The character of Joseph, God's Chosen Man, Mary's faithful husband;

But Joseph, the son of Jacob, was God’s Chosen Servant God’s Chosen Man to act as the earthly father to our Lord and Savior the Almighty in the flesh.

According to the Bible Joseph’s geniality makes him a legal heir to the Throne of David.

Joseph was a royal person, a potential king, but royalty was not his only qualification.

He was a man according to God’s ideal of manhood, the ideal father.

He was God’s Chosen Servant God’s Chosen Man.

We know little about Joseph, other than he was a carpenter in Nazareth; he had moral and spiritual strength, and was obedient to God’s word.

He had the qualifications that God was looking for, to act as the earthly father for His son.

To know more about Joseph one must know the relationship between him and Mary.

Joseph’s first response to Mary when he found out that Mary was with a child was not that of hate, on the contrary, the law of the Jews gave Joseph every right to publicly denounce his relationship with Mary.

To even have her stoned to death.

But Joseph was God’s Chosen Servant God’s Chosen Man.

Of all the servants of God little is said about Joseph.

I believe that of all the servants of God, Joseph is one of the most faithful and obedient of all.

So, let us take a look at Joseph God’s Chosen Servant God’s Chosen Man that it might be an example of how we are to live for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Please let us honor the Word of God by turning to Matthew 1:18-25 and stand as I read from our text.

Scriptures

18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

19Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privately.

20But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

22Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

24Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. Matthew 1:18-25 (KJV)

References of a brief history of Joseph are found in:

• Matthew 1:18-25 The announcement of the birth of Christ

• Luke 2:1-7 His birth of Christ in Bethlehem

• Matthew 2:13-15 Herod seeking to kill the Lord.

• Matthew 2:19-23 Joseph returns from Egypt.

• Luke 2:39-42 Joseph worships.

• Luke 2:51-52 Jesus’ life in Nazareth.

Prayer

Little is known about Joseph, but here are the things that we know.

1. His Charitableness

Matthew 1:19 (KJV)

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privately.

Joseph was a man of character and loved Mary very much.

He was not a man that desired revenge.

How would the world deal with this?

How would you deal with this?

2. His Wisdom

Matthew 1:20 (KJV)

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Joseph did not make decisions quickly, but thought upon them and sought God.

3. His Openness to God’s Word

Matthew 1:20-23 (KJV)

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Joseph took these things to God, by meditating on these things. The word of God says to meditate upon these things.

We are to weight decisions against the Word of God. While he was doing this an angel of the Lord appeared to him. God gave Joseph the name of his son.

4. His Obedience to God

Matthew 1:24-25 (KJV)

Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Joseph obeyed God. How do we respond to Gods’ calling?

5. His Responds to God with Faith

Matthew 2:13-15 (KJV)

And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

Herod seeking to kill the Lord

Joseph’s flee to Egypt was prophesized by the prophets of old.

Joseph’s faithful service to God brought about the Egyptian prophecy. Joseph responded to God with faith.

6. His Responds to God with Hast

Matthew 2:19-23 (KJV)

But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.

And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:

And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

Joseph quickly did as God had said.

Joseph returns

7. His Spiritual Leadership in the Family

Luke 2:39-42 (KJV)

And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover.

And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

Joseph worships

Joseph saw the need to worship God.

He made sure that his family was in church.

8. His Fulfillment the Service of God and the Family

Luke 2:51-52 (KJV)

And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

Not only did he take them to church, but also he taught the Word of God in the home. (Jesus’ life in Nazareth)

Invitation/Conclusion

1. How is Your Charitableness?

Does your life display character and loved to others?

Does your life seek revenge?

Do you deal with others as the world would?