December 15, 2024

Joseph

Preacher:
Passage: Matthew 1:18-25
Service Type:

Introduction

  • Last week looking at the genealogy of Christ
    • Picked out 4 names – 4 women
    • Jesus came into the world to save sinners
    • Tamah, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba
    • This reminds us God is a God of grace
  • Joseph the husband of Mary (v16)
    • Mary eclipses Joseph
      • No recorded words of Joseph but recorded words of Mary
    • Background but not insignificant
      • A descendant of King David
      • Jesus was to sit on the throne of David – a Kingdom that would never end
      • He returned to Bethlehem as part of the census – as prophesied in Micah 5:2
    • He became the adoptive/legal father for Jesus
    • He was a carpenter
    • He had the responsibility of guiding
  • Overview:
    • Faithful to God
    • Directed by God
    • Obedient to God

Faithful to God

  • A just/faithful man (v19)
  • Faithfulness – not just being loyal, steadfastness, reliable, trustworthy
    • Are you faithful?
  • God is always faithful – in every way
    • Every human being is faithless at times – examples
  • Joseph was faithful to God
    • Living in a difficult time
      • Corrupt religious leaders – examples
      • There were some righteous/faithful people – John the Baptist’s parents, Simeon, Anna
    • Yet he was know to be a just/faithful man
  • Are you faithful?
    • You can be once you come to know God
    • By faith seeking to follow the Bible
    • By cooperating with the Holy Spirit
  • He was faithful in a difficult situation
    • How bethrothral was different to our times – explanation
    • But he found out that Mary was pregnant
    • He was minded to put her away and not make a public example of her
    • This was a scandal
    • Heb 13:4
  • He did not want God’s honour to be affected
  • He took the child to be circumcised
  • He took Jesus to Jerusalem to fulfil the first born offering and purification offering (as prescribed in the Old Testament)
  • He took Mary all the way to Bethlehem
  • How are we called to be faithful to God?
    • We need to acknowledge the Sacrifice of Christ on the cross
    • We must ask God to cleanse us of all our sins – examples
      • We will then be whiter than snow and able to stand in the presence of God
  • Have you come in faith to Jesus Christ and believed in Him as your Lord and Saviour?
    • Are you then obedient to the commandments of God?
  • There are blessings attached to faithfulness
    • Example of Simeon and Anna
  • Continued faithfulness
    • Luke 2:41
  • As Christians we are called to persevere and continue in the things of God
    • Example of Bill Capper
    • What will be our legacy?
    • Are we known as Christians who love God and can be relied upon?

Directed by God

  • The Christmas narratives are full of supernatural occurrences
    • 400 years of silence
    • Then God speaks into the situation
      • The angel Gabriel to Mary
      • An angel to Joseph
      • An angel to the Shepherds
      • A star for the wise men
  • A timely intervention (v20)
    • He was thinking about these things – not making quick decisions
    • The Lord spoke to him by revelation – examples
      • Jesus – a Saviour
      • Immanuel – God with us
  • There will be hurdles
  • God spoke to Joseph to flee to Egypt
  • God was continually directing Him
    • Do you know God as a shepherd?
    • Do you know God directing and leading you?

Obedient to God

  • Joseph was obedient
    • Despite what people would think about the virgin birth – to take Mary as his wife (v24-25)
    • To call Him Jesus
    • To go to Egypt
    • To return from Egypt (Matt 2:20-21)
    • To go to Galilee (Matt 2:22)
  • What is your life like? / What are your fruits?
    • Joseph was showing the true fruit of faith
    • Do you have true living faith?
    • May we be people known to be obedient to the living God
  • Joseph is ‘what he was’ by God’s grace
    • We all need to come under God’s grace