Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• 400 years of silence
  • A first breaking in - God sends an angels to speak to Zacharias, who does not believe
  • A second breaking in - to Mary who believed
  • A third breaking in - to Joseph
  • God comes to a man: Joseph
  • The Angel Gabriel does not appear physically, but in a dream
• Overview:
  • An Unexpected Dilemma
  • An Unusual Intervention
  • Untold Blessing

An Unexpected Dilemma

• Joseph is looking forward to marriage
  • But there is an unexpected dilemma - Mary is pregnant
  • He is likely devastated - imagine his thoughts (examples)
  • In Jewish society - engagement was a vow and a pledge to marry, a contract, as if you had already been married (v19)
• Joseph was in a dire situation
  • The only way out was for public divorce - it would have been extremely painful
  • He did not want to make a public show - he did not want to shame her
  • He wanted to quietly put her away
• Joseph did not know the conception was supernatural from God
• We too have (unexpected) dilemmas
  • Sometimes we cannot see a way out
  • We can make the wrong judgment if we do not have all the facts
  • We must not always do what is best for us, but think what is best for others
• Joseph
  • Did not do anything in haste (v20) - examples
    • This is a lesson for us - do not be hasty but bring everything to God in prayer
  • Our most painful dilemmas often involve the family - examples
    • Betrayal is hard - the consequences can be catastrophic
  • There is pain but no malice in his heart
    • We should pray, look to God and seek counsel from others
    • Seek the wisest - not the 'best' solution
  • Sexual impurity is important
    • It is an 'easy' sin to fall into
    • Where there is repentance, there can be full forgiveness and restoration
    • God can repair broken situations

An Unusual Intervention

• Was Joseph accustomed to dreams?
  • This is more than just a vivid dream - he knows God has spoken to Him
  • He was not expecting this
• Reading v18-20
  • Behold - an angel appeared
  • Mary your wife
• God intervenes at just the right time
  • Imagine the consequences of divorce
    • Jesus would have had no legal right to the throne of David
  • Yet God intervenes in history
    • Examples in the Old Testament: Joseph, Moses, Laban
    • God preserves His people
• What about us?
  • It is highly unlikely God will send an angel to us - they are reserved for very specific circumstances
  • God can intervene in our situations
    • Example of the Spanish Armada and D-Day

Untold Blessing

• The blessings are tremendous
• Jesus will be born (v21)
  • God's people had been expecting the Messiah
    • Anna, Simeon, Nathaniel
  • The Messiah to be given to a young/simple couple from Galilee
• The name Jesus was given - meaning Saviour
  • He has come to rescue His people from their sin
  • His people
    • Not just for Israel/the Jews, but all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ
      • Those who believe are totally forgiven and acquitted from the consequences of sin - hell and the punishment of God
      • You are clothed in Jesus Christ and considered a child of God
      • You can never be 'unsaved'
• Scripture is fulfilled in Jesus Christ - Isa 7:14
  • Religion is about man reaching God
  • Christianity is about God reaching down to Man
• Salvation for your soul and God will be with us forever
  • Do you believe this?
  • So easy (belief) and so hard (renouncing of self)
  • Have you believed in the Lord Jesus?
  • Jesus does not save everybody - only those who trust and believe in Him
• Joseph did as he was commanded (v24)
  • May we too obey the word of God
  • We are saved to be obedient to the purposes and will of God
  • There is untold blessings in obedience