When God Messes With Your Plans

When God Messes with Your Plans

Series: Christmas 2020

Chuck Sligh

November 29, 2020

NOTE: PowerPoint or ProPresenter presentations are available for this sermon by request at chucksligh@hotmail.com. Please mention the title of the sermon and the Bible text to help me find the sermon in my archives

TEXT: Matthew 1:18-25 – “Now 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. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 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. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 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. 24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.”

INTRODUCTION

Today I want to speak about Joseph and Mary. The title of my sermon is “When God Messes with Your Plans!” In our text, we see two godly young people making plans for their lives, and then…God messes with their plans.

Illus. – Men, can you remember the days of your engagement? You had fallen in love with the girl of your dreams! And she seemed to be pretty fond of you too! There came that time when you made up your mind to ask her to marry you. And wonder of wonders—SHE AGREED! Boy what a dupe she was!

Well, engagements were handled differently in Bible days than they are now. Marriages were pre-arranged by the parents in what are called betrothals, although usually the desires and concerns of the bride-to-be were taken into consideration. When they were betrothed, they would make their plans, and their future marriage was just as anticipated as it is to engaged couples today.

I can imagine young JOSEPH— The wedding date is approaching and he’s making preparations. All he thinks, eats and breathes is Mary, Mary, Mary.

I can also picture MARY— The event every girl dreams of is almost here! She’s so excited as she and her parents make the wedding plans. She and Joseph have such wonderful dreams for their lives together.

But then [PAUSE] GOD MESSED WITH THEIR PLANS! It was never in their plans for Mary to become pregnant before their wedding night! And certainly, the idea of becoming pregnant MIRACULOUSLY and giving birth to the MESSIAH was about the LAST thing they expected.

Their reactions were oh, so normal:

Mary’s response to the news was one of perplexity. She asks in Luke 1:34b – “How can this be, seeing that I am a virgin?” As a flood of thoughts raced through her mind, she was naturally bewildered. “Oh me, how do I explain THIS to Mom and Dad? Will Joseph still want me as his wife now? Will he believe my story of how I became pregnant? Will ANYONE believe THIS story?” No doubt, the whole thing must have been very frightening to her—and yet somehow exciting to know that in her womb was the long-awaited Messiah!

Joseph’s reaction was a little different and more pragmatic. He had an important decision to make: Should he believe that Mary had remained a virgin and that she had miraculously become pregnant with the Messiah? I mean, come on—that’s a little far-fetched, and he knew how girls got pregnant, and HE was not the father, THAT’S for sure! Maybe I should just break off the engagement, he thought What was the right thing to do?

Well, you know the rest of the story—an angel confirmed to Joseph that Mary’s story was true; they DID marry; Mary DID give birth to the Messiah; and the rest is history! Today I’d like to share three observations from our text that I think would be helpful:

I. FIRST, NOTE THAT GOD DIDN’T ASK JOSEPH AND MARY—HE TOLD THEM!

This suddenly hit me one day. There’s no scripture where the angel ASKS Mary or Joseph if this was okay with them! God didn’t seek their approval before proceeding with His will for their lives. He simply INFORMED them through an angel—and their lives were FOREVER altered after that.