The Sermon Joseph by David McGee
Dec 14, 2014
Joseph (33:33)
Referenced Scriptures: Matthew 1:18-25
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The scriptures below are from the WEB Bible.
Matthew 1:18-25
18) Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this; because when his mother, Mary, had been engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit.
19) Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly.
20) But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, you son of David, don‘t be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
21) She shall bring forth a son. You shall call his name JESUS, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins."
22) Now all this has happened, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,
23) "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son. They shall call his name Immanuel;" which is, being interpreted, "God with us."
24) Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself;
25) and didn‘t know her sexually until she had brought forth her firstborn son. He named him JESUS.
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This is a machine transcript of the sermon. It won't be completely accurate of what's said in the sermon.
The song in the presence of Jehovah is one of my on some favorites. Maybe too many out of mobile, and that when because it's wanted. This speaks to us of being at peace, and whatever we are at peace. That's whenever we are. We are available, most available to God and to his blessing into his power and peace brings power and the peace of God that passes all understanding will guard our hearts and minds through Christ soul to be at peace with ourselves and with life. This is a great accomplishment, and it's not something that we do by simply saying I'm going to be at peace. We are praying God, I want to be a piece about the situation about this decision about what I'm doing about the direction of my life. I want to have your piece about this and what fits. I think today is in the story of Joseph. I don't know if I've ever I may have been forgotten, but I'm never really than I remember. Three. Shawn spoke on those. So they were looking at Matthew chapter one verses eighteen to twenty five Joseph the birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother Mary was engaged to be married to Joseph, before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn't know that Joseph chagrined I had with him and I know what chagrin means means hurt in the late Joseph and the light but noble determined to take care of this things. These things quietly, some Mary would not be disgraced while he was trying to figure out a way out. He had a dream God 's angel spoke in the dream, Joseph, son of David, don't hesitate to get married Mary's pregnancy is spirit conceived God 's Holy Spirit made her pregnant. She will bring the sun to burn and when she does. You Joseph will name him Jesus. God saves because he will save his people from their sins. This would bring the profits in an boring and broader embryonic is a regular embryonic sermon to full term embryonic that the air like an embryo that we embryonic segment to a full-time watch for this aversion will get pregnant and bear a son, they will name him Immanuel Hebrew for God is with us. Then Joseph woke up, he did exactly what God 's angel commanded in the dream he married Mary, but he did not consummate the marriage until she had the baby. He named the baby Jesus. The mystery of the incarnation God became flesh and dwelt among us, one of another one of my favorites is John in John's Gospel, where he says, and the Word became flesh, and we beheld him, and the same be held is the same. I am of Moses said John is telling us that the God of Moses, the I am of Moses is the B of what John is saying, and we held the IM. We helped him not only we beheld them in our eyes. But John is declaring we held the God who formed this universe. The God who spoke of the world came into existence. John says, we helped him. We helped him. And so whenever we began to look at the conception, the incarnation. We see this as the great mystery begets is the great revelation that comes through the Word and through the spiritualized and as we look at this today from Joseph's perspective, we are perhaps seeing there are hopefully that we can see how Joseph was a very godly man. He was a man of character. He was a man that was able to allow God 's peace be with him in a very most difficult time Jesus was Florence. We don't know exactly body was formed, conceived in the womb of Mary and David in his Psalm one thirty nine, says David Byers, how he himself was made in the sacred place in it. Sure, and curiously wrought together. No, we don't have it and have the technology that we have to day to know what goes on with the conception and the development of a fetus in the child, but we do know that in these days. In these times, there was a wonder about the formation of a child in the womb, and there was a declaration about how that God was with and put together informed the child in their mother 's womb. We find married and mother of our Lord 's files to Joseph not completely married but contracted to ensure some of you would love to be contracted not really that you are contracted out you are you are espoused you were put under contract to be married in the unit. Putting these two under contract husband or wife area that they are beginning to get with you if you're talking up with him under contract there. What McJob Mary could have been somewhere around anywhere from thirteen to sixteen years old when she was conceived and became the mother of Jesus and Joseph was much older. He was an older man himself. It was in an again in those days, being married at the age of thirteen to fifteen was lots of that young because the average age. Probably was anyone around forty, so it was it was a time in which contracts were put together and families were put together in unions were put together and not by the will of the individual, but by the will of the families and sold Joseph was betrothed. He was under contract to this woman, Mary, and has not taken her to be his wife. You see this contract was a betrothal. It was a time period of a year. Basically, a time of purification and affirmation that the woman was faithful, and that she had not been with other individuals. And so on. She was in this betrothal period of which they would wait a year and she was in and after the year of waiting, there would be the marriage so to put the respect upon this marriage and to recommend it as an honorable one, Mary and the child would have been the outcast of her society. If Mary had not been betrothed, she would have been considered a harlot, a woman of the street and becoming pregnant, she would have been subject to the disgrace, and to the people of the village in which she would've been stoned for her sin, and so wise that being betrothed, being all under contract. The Joseph and finding out that she was with child. Joseph was the one responsible to have ourselves if she were to race down for her sin, it would be Joseph's doing because he is the one who was legally bound to her, and in this idea, whereas were going through the story with Joseph would begin to see the character of Joseph of not wanting Mary to be hurt, or any thing to happen to her. She wasn't her conception should be protected by this marriage contract, but not married that they would take to train individuals to verify the divine nature of the child, because not only is it Mary's word, but it is also Joseph's word that comes to play in our understanding that this child was divinely conceived. It was at this contract that would lead people to say is this not the son of the car for dirt instead of saying, is this not the son of a harlot. So we see that even under the contract of marriage and how that Jesus would be referred to later on it was the son of the cartridge or Mary and Joseph, who are the four people on the highest spiritual character. These are the two greatest individuals of all time in their character and their character and their devotion to God. These are the some of the highest people would ever live, and it would be that character that would be the frames would be criticized and condemned their entire life is not this Jesus the son of Mary and Joseph, who couldn't wait for the year to be up. Then she became pregnant and how that they broke the laws and it would be this slanting of their character to people who had no slight gender character, but no deformity, and their character because they were the ones as the words were devoted to God. So Joseph the husband of Mary would be there to guide this youthful companion Mary that he would be there to travel with RSS as far as her partner to help them live this spy life, not to. There were not two more virtuous individuals than Joseph and Mary the Joseph was a just man, and she was a virtuous woman. Those LR believers should not be unequally yoke and Mary and Joseph were to gather in this very virtuous people come together to be the mother and the stepfather of Jesus, our pregnancy while before they came together she was found with child, which really wise of the Holy Spirit and the marriage was different for the betrothal and in this contract time she appeared to be with child, and the time came for before their time of marriage came about. So Mary would have began to show her pregnancy whenever she returned home from visiting Elizabeth, her cousin. She was at the time that the angel came upon Aronson, Angel, the angel said to Mary that you are going to have a child and you know how can this be in you know the angel explains while the Holy Spirit is going to come upon you, and you're going to Circuit City and to let you know your cousin Elizabeth, who is very old in age. She also was with child, and so Mary went to be with her cousin and when she returned from natural. She was already starting to show and people now began to wonder what was married doing before she left him. What was she doing whatever she was visiting her cousin, but after her return. Joseph had some decisions to make Mary knew the divine origin of this conception, but how could she prove it. How can she prove that what has happened to her is oh, the ordinary and is only going to happen one time in all of the human race. How is she going to convince other people and how she going to convince Joseph Harris files husband how she going to convince him while some people. And again, we don't know, but some would say that Mary didn't say a thing very relied upon whom she was in her character, and she also relied upon God to help in this whole situation because if there was going to work out. It was going to have to be God who made work so if there it would have been dealt with as a harlot. This not a more devoted follower of God in her, she would have fallen and been accused of the worst of crimes if we do not find that she is tormented about this. We never find anywhere in the Scriptures that speak that Mary is worried about what's going to happen. She's not tormented by what people are going to say what people are going to do, she can. She's being conscious of her innocence. She's being conscious of what is there and she has kept her mind, calm, and she has committed that which is going on in her heart and in her womb, she has committed at the God who judges all things righteously, and I think of a hobbit in our lives. How many times that there are things that get us anxious and upset that water people going to say what are people going to think how is this going to happen and what is going to make it right and were going to allow ourselves to be at peace and allow the peace of God to call my hearts and minds, and that we are going to be at this place of peace because it is in this place of peace that Mary has to reside in order for God to work this out and it is Mary who has received the conception and now she is waiting for Joseph to understand the revelation or will he she doesn't know that she only knows that which is in her is of a divine origin. So Joseph is not angry enough and I was looking at the words around this, you know that the talk about Joseph. Joseph was hurt. He was annoyed. He was perplexed, but he was not angry. Note the words that associated with Joseph and understanding his whole tax he is he is hurt any time. And perplexed, but he's not angry and when someone breaks a trust, you know when someone breaks a commitment. I yawned about you, but I sometimes get a little upset to know angry sure you don't. But anyhow, you know, but we save Dennis and Joseph nothing that is associated in this whole tax portrays Joseph as being this angry person that so we can imagine, then, what a great trouble and a disappointment. It was to him to find that the one that was betrothed to him of value for him one. Then he anticipated his life together with was has broken the patrol and this was so out of character for Mary, but you know, facts don't lie or do they faxed a lie. You guys and maybe ever said that while you know what the truth as I can sit and I know what it is an facts don't lie. What would this been like for Joseph deceived by the one he trusted disappointed. Christ, our actions are too bad to our too terrible to be excused her pregnancy is too plain to be denied. And here we have the struggle going on in Joseph one that he is jealous for knowing her failure and yet the affection which he has for Mary to be her husband so he was not willing to make her a public example, while what that means is that, by law, a betrothed woman as Mary was the last play the harlot 's Deuteronomy chapter twenty two twenty three says that she is to bestow. That's it. That's the law. She is to be killed and executed for her sins because she was under contract to an individual and broke that contract. Therefore, she is to bestow, but he was not willing Joseph was not going to make or to take advantage of the law to somehow justify his wounded ego. It was not willing to take a lie and say this is what the law demands the log in because you broke this contract with me and you make me look bad. Therefore, you're going to die. Why didn't do that, consider the obvious Joseph was considering the obvious Mary, it's obvious you're pregnant, you broke the contract now. Sometimes the obvious leads us to the wrong conclusions. Sometimes the obvious leads us to the wrong conclusions. Joseph a backup movement with the obvious leads us to a certain point, we think we can solve this on our own. We've got it easier. I can see it. I can know what I can see what's going on and I know it, and the obvious is this Saturday, need to pray about it because I know the obvious, but it was in the obvious situation that Joseph was in prayer, as it were. It was being the just man of the righteous man that he is, he would not have allowed this to go without taking it to God, and so bringing American punishment. He is here called making her a public example which shows what is the is and the aim of punishment the end of the aim of punishment is to make an example and here. Joseph could have made her an example don't do the crime if you can't if you can't do the time, don't do the crime, hang on. It will teach them a lesson I will teach a lesson in how not only will take the guys dead. Little did everybody else that they can break the laws where it's easy we're going to put things in perspective here where going to make an example of this whole thing, while some even blame Joseph because he was too easy-going in LF England been such a pushover because he was a just man, not willing to expose her. He was a religious and good man, and therefore inclined to be merciful as God is, and to forgive is one that was forgiven. This is what tells us of the character of Joseph. This is what points out to us that Joseph wasn't just some pushover off of an individual. He was a very just. Manny was a very righteous man, and even though he knew the facts anew the things that were in front of him, because it was obvious he was not willing to allow the obvious to dictate his actions. The lesson for us. We're not to pass judgment on those that come under suspicion were not the pass judgment, but to pray for hope for the best concerning them. Pray for the best concerning them. We don't understand we don't know why but you know what we pray that God will make the best of it. We pray that God will make the best of it. No matter what it appears to be in hopes that God may work it out for them in their life giving the benefit of the doubt. Turning the other cheek turning it over to God all those who found who are found faulty, or perhaps we find out that they have been over taken the fault in the sand. And we pray that God would help them to understand the error of their ways and Joseph was minded to put her away privately that is that she was to be given a bill of divorce. He was to sign a contract in of in the NL presence of two witnesses signed the contract given over to marry tell Mary go back and see Elizabeth back to that place where nobody no one knows you and have your baby. There still being a just man that is a strict observer of the law. Most of Moses, Joseph was a strict observer. The law because he was a just man, and he would not try to proceed on an marrying Mary because for him to consent to this marriage would mean he's the father. He broke the contract with Mary before they were to be married and for him to say that it's okay for her to have the child was to say that he, being a very just man in the community. A man on a steam character would be defaming him and that he was saying what this is really my job and I know I blew up, but no, that would that since his approval of Marion getting married so he would not allow that to happen. One, his character great to be destroyed many and any and Mary broke the law. It's her character that is destroyed. So it's her fault, let her pay the piper. Let her pay for not paying for it which see Joseph wasn't that kind. Matthew one twenty while he thought of these things, and knew not what to determine God graciously directed him what to do when you don't know what to do get yourself a place of peace with God when you don't know what to do. Get yourself in a place of peace with God, Joseph didn't know what to do. He needed direction because he was wrong in his assumption. I mean it's obvious she is with child. She had an illicit risk with someone else. And she's got a child sold. Therefore, I know it's obvious, and he has to be a piece of place of peace with God where he can hear what God wants to say about this. It is the thoughtful, not the unthinking, whom God will guide God will not guide the unthinking, because they are already off on their own tangents in their own perspective. When Joseph was at a loss and carried the matter as far as he could in his own thoughts and his own understanding, God came to him with the advice when he didn't know what to do. It was then he sat down or went to sleep. Whatever we so he came in a dream, but you see we see here the character of Joseph 's nature was not to punish his nature was to be merciful. That's why he is an excellent stepfather for Jesus, while the message was sent to Joseph by the angel of the Lord same angel that I delivered the message to Mary in the conception is now the angel who comes to Joseph and gives him the message. Now the interaction. The angel appeared to Joseph in a dream whenever he is asleep and when we arc for you can compose when we are quiet and composed. We are in the best frame of mind to receive notice of a divine program of divine will. It's when we have no will of our old in the situation that we have to say that so confusing. What should I do this is an way back up our minds like that make up your mind, go to the Lord in prayer and peace and allow God to speak so. Joseph was here directed to proceed in his intended marriage. A call to Joseph. This is probably the most important part of this whole thing. Joseph, thou son of David, the Angel reminds Joseph, of who he is. He is in the lineage and of the house of David, and everybody knows the Messiah is to come to the house and the lineage of David, and when we are at peace. The angel, the word of God, the Spirit of God comes. It reminds us David me you you are of the house and the lineage of Jesus Christ the Messiah you whenever you are on the lineage of God. Now listen to what the word will say to you about your life and about your future. Don't be caught up in what you think you know, because up in knowledge of who you are. Remind yourself that I am a child of God than I am. I am a child of the highest I have God 's power in his presence and his love flowing through my life because is grace because of his mayor, city has unmerited favor to the spot to the Stalin upon my life and judge it on gels of has to be reminded because Joseph can be one of these humble people that says I'm not worthy pass me by. I'll just put her out on her own. Now that's not humble. That's pride the lineage you are reminding ourselves of who we are. We are God 's. We are his child. Then we are declared out to each of us fear not, thou son of Abraham, the child of God, do not forget who you are never forget. Never forget who's whose views I am. I am his. He is mine. He lives in IR together in this thing and we are the children of God, highly favored of God, don't forget that we are the highly favored child of God. You know what I'm got favorite, but so are you a you said in Sunday school and I remember I've been in. Citizens go off like my mom when she died the grandchildren on the other twelve twelve grandkids and all of them spoke at the funeral and every one of them finished with. I was grandma 's favorite and every one of them conclude it would never look around that I was grandma 's favorite and inexorable. I was grandma 's favorite. Every one of them said that because grandma, my mom made them all feel they were her favorite and him us. That's the relationship we have with God never forget who you are, who's you are and Joseph is delivered from his fears. Mister Joseph feared fear not to take Mary for your wife. What was he afraid of. He was afraid of what people were going to say about him and about his wife about this child. He was so he was such a righteous man, that he knew what the talk would be an important allies is afraid of all of this and the angel says if you're not, don't be afraid of all this is going on around you and don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife for what is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit and Joseph Spears were go and what we have are a father, stepfather and mother coming together and saying this child is divine. This child is to apply, and that child is our Savior, that child is God incarnate, Emmanuel, God with us. He could never be Jesus the Savior God, the Savior had he not Benny Manuel God with us, God with us is God our Savior 's name is Jesus. Amen. Less than if you are pages that will let them go to be continued next week this Sunday before Christmas, they will do. Mary next week. I know, but I just think about the eyes. I was putting this together. It's just like hell, I'd advise up a half hour forty five minutes early today. Just thinking about this because of the impact of what it means to lots what it means to Joseph and how that we we can be so caught up in the obvious that we never hear what the Spirit is saying to us that the name in thing that we can be so caught up in the obvious we don't know what the Spirit is saying so sometimes we just need to be at peace with what we consider the obvious and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to our hearts, because when the Spirit speaks to a heart. He will work it out for us and for others, be at peace, be at peace. God is at work in this take the obvious set it aside and be at peace and let God instill his character of forgiveness and love and will see the hand of God, and the favor of God work in our lives, and then you believe that, say, men payment, take it home with youThe song in the presence of Jehovah is one of my on some favorites. Maybe too many out of mobile, and that when because it's wanted. This speaks to us of being at peace, and whatever we are at peace. That's whenever we are. We are available, most available to God and to his blessing into his power and peace brings power and the peace of God that passes all understanding will guard our hearts and minds through Christ soul to be at peace with ourselves and with life. This is a great accomplishment, and it's not something that we do by simply saying I'm going to be at peace. We are praying God, I want to be a piece about the situation about this decision about what I'm doing about the direction of my life. I want to have your piece about this and what fits. I think today is in the story of Joseph. I don't know if I've ever I may have been forgotten, but I'm never really than I remember. Three. Shawn spoke on those. So they were looking at Matthew chapter one verses eighteen to twenty five Joseph the birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother Mary was engaged to be married to Joseph, before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn't know that Joseph chagrined I had with him and I know what chagrin means means hurt in the late Joseph and the light but noble determined to take care of this things. These things quietly, some Mary would not be disgraced while he was trying to figure out a way out. He had a dream God 's angel spoke in the dream, Joseph, son of David, don't hesitate to get married Mary's pregnancy is spirit conceived God 's Holy Spirit made her pregnant. She will bring the sun to burn and when she does. You Joseph will name him Jesus. God saves because he will save his people from their sins. This would bring the profits in an boring and broader embryonic is a regular embryonic sermon to full term embryonic that the air like an embryo that we embryonic segment to a full-time watch for this aversion will get pregnant and bear a son, they will name him Immanuel Hebrew for God is with us. Then Joseph woke up, he did exactly what God 's angel commanded in the dream he married Mary, but he did not consummate the marriage until she had the baby. He named the baby Jesus. The mystery of the incarnation God became flesh and dwelt among us, one of another one of my favorites is John in John's Gospel, where he says, and the Word became flesh, and we beheld him, and the same be held is the same. I am of Moses said John is telling us that the God of Moses, the I am of Moses is the B of what John is saying, and we held the IM. We helped him not only we beheld them in our eyes. But John is declaring we held the God who formed this universe. The God who spoke of the world came into existence. John says, we helped him. We helped him. And so whenever we began to look at the conception, the incarnation. We see this as the great mystery begets is the great revelation that comes through the Word and through the spiritualized and as we look at this today from Joseph's perspective, we are perhaps seeing there are hopefully that we can see how Joseph was a very godly man. He was a man of character. He was a man that was able to allow God 's peace be with him in a very most difficult time Jesus was Florence. We don't know exactly body was formed, conceived in the womb of Mary and David in his Psalm one thirty nine, says David Byers, how he himself was made in the sacred place in it. Sure, and curiously wrought together. No, we don't have it and have the technology that we have to day to know what goes on with the conception and the development of a fetus in the child, but we do know that in these days. In these times, there was a wonder about the formation of a child in the womb, and there was a declaration about how that God was with and put together informed the child in their mother 's womb. We find married and mother of our Lord 's files to Joseph not completely married but contracted to ensure some of you would love to be contracted not really that you are contracted out you are you are espoused you were put under contract to be married in the unit. Putting these two under contract husband or wife area that they are beginning to get with you if you're talking up with him under contract there. What McJob Mary could have been somewhere around anywhere from thirteen to sixteen years old when she was conceived and became the mother of Jesus and Joseph was much older. He was an older man himself. It was in an again in those days, being married at the age of thirteen to fifteen was lots of that young because the average age. Probably was anyone around forty, so it was it was a time in which contracts were put together and families were put together in unions were put together and not by the will of the individual, but by the will of the families and sold Joseph was betrothed. He was under contract to this woman, Mary, and has not taken her to be his wife. You see this contract was a betrothal. It was a time period of a year. Basically, a time of purification and affirmation that the woman was faithful, and that she had not been with other individuals. And so on. She was in this betrothal period of which they would wait a year and she was in and after the year of waiting, there would be the marriage so to put the respect upon this marriage and to recommend it as an honorable one, Mary and the child would have been the outcast of her society. If Mary had not been betrothed, she would have been considered a harlot, a woman of the street and becoming pregnant, she would have been subject to the disgrace, and to the people of the village in which she would've been stoned for her sin, and so wise that being betrothed, being all under contract. The Joseph and finding out that she was with child. Joseph was the one responsible to have ourselves if she were to race down for her sin, it would be Joseph's doing because he is the one who was legally bound to her, and in this idea, whereas were going through the story with Joseph would begin to see the character of Joseph of not wanting Mary to be hurt, or any thing to happen to her. She wasn't her conception should be protected by this marriage contract, but not married that they would take to train individuals to verify the divine nature of the child, because not only is it Mary's word, but it is also Joseph's word that comes to play in our understanding that this child was divinely conceived. It was at this contract that would lead people to say is this not the son of the car for dirt instead of saying, is this not the son of a harlot. So we see that even under the contract of marriage and how that Jesus would be referred to later on it was the son of the cartridge or Mary and Joseph, who are the four people on the highest spiritual character. These are the two greatest individuals of all time in their character and their character and their devotion to God. These are the some of the highest people would ever live, and it would be that character that would be the frames would be criticized and condemned their entire life is not this Jesus the son of Mary and Joseph, who couldn't wait for the year to be up. Then she became pregnant and how that they broke the laws and it would be this slanting of their character to people who had no slight gender character, but no deformity, and their character because they were the ones as the words were devoted to God. So Joseph the husband of Mary would be there to guide this youthful companion Mary that he would be there to travel with RSS as far as her partner to help them live this spy life, not to. There were not two more virtuous individuals than Joseph and Mary the Joseph was a just man, and she was a virtuous woman. Those LR believers should not be unequally yoke and Mary and Joseph were to gather in this very virtuous people come together to be the mother and the stepfather of Jesus, our pregnancy while before they came together she was found with child, which really wise of the Holy Spirit and the marriage was different for the betrothal and in this contract time she appeared to be with child, and the time came for before their time of marriage came about. So Mary would have began to show her pregnancy whenever she returned home from visiting Elizabeth, her cousin. She was at the time that the angel came upon Aronson, Angel, the angel said to Mary that you are going to have a child and you know how can this be in you know the angel explains while the Holy Spirit is going to come upon you, and you're going to Circuit City and to let you know your cousin Elizabeth, who is very old in age. She also was with child, and so Mary went to be with her cousin and when she returned from natural. She was already starting to show and people now began to wonder what was married doing before she left him. What was she doing whatever she was visiting her cousin, but after her return. Joseph had some decisions to make Mary knew the divine origin of this conception, but how could she prove it. How can she prove that what has happened to her is oh, the ordinary and is only going to happen one time in all of the human race. How is she going to convince other people and how she going to convince Joseph Harris files husband how she going to convince him while some people. And again, we don't know, but some would say that Mary didn't say a thing very relied upon whom she was in her character, and she also relied upon God to help in this whole situation because if there was going to work out. It was going to have to be God who made work so if there it would have been dealt with as a harlot. This not a more devoted follower of God in her, she would have fallen and been accused of the worst of crimes if we do not find that she is tormented about this. We never find anywhere in the Scriptures that speak that Mary is worried about what's going to happen. She's not tormented by what people are going to say what people are going to do, she can. She's being conscious of her innocence. She's being conscious of what is there and she has kept her mind, calm, and she has committed that which is going on in her heart and in her womb, she has committed at the God who judges all things righteously, and I think of a hobbit in our lives. How many times that there are things that get us anxious and upset that water people going to say what are people going to think how is this going to happen and what is going to make it right and were going to allow ourselves to be at peace and allow the peace of God to call my hearts and minds, and that we are going to be at this place of peace because it is in this place of peace that Mary has to reside in order for God to work this out and it is Mary who has received the conception and now she is waiting for Joseph to understand the revelation or will he she doesn't know that she only knows that which is in her is of a divine origin. So Joseph is not angry enough and I was looking at the words around this, you know that the talk about Joseph. Joseph was hurt. He was annoyed. He was perplexed, but he was not angry. Note the words that associated with Joseph and understanding his whole tax he is he is hurt any time. And perplexed, but he's not angry and when someone breaks a trust, you know when someone breaks a commitment. I yawned about you, but I sometimes get a little upset to know angry sure you don't. But anyhow, you know, but we save Dennis and Joseph nothing that is associated in this whole tax portrays Joseph as being this angry person that so we can imagine, then, what a great trouble and a disappointment. It was to him to find that the one that was betrothed to him of value for him one. Then he anticipated his life together with was has broken the patrol and this was so out of character for Mary, but you know, facts don't lie or do they faxed a lie. You guys and maybe ever said that while you know what the truth as I can sit and I know what it is an facts don't lie. What would this been like for Joseph deceived by the one he trusted disappointed. Christ, our actions are too bad to our too terrible to be excused her pregnancy is too plain to be denied. And here we have the struggle going on in Joseph one that he is jealous for knowing her failure and yet the affection which he has for Mary to be her husband so he was not willing to make her a public example, while what that means is that, by law, a betrothed woman as Mary was the last play the harlot 's Deuteronomy chapter twenty two twenty three says that she is to bestow. That's it. That's the law. She is to be killed and executed for her sins because she was under contract to an individual and broke that contract. Therefore, she is to bestow, but he was not willing Joseph was not going to make or to take advantage of the law to somehow justify his wounded ego. It was not willing to take a lie and say this is what the law demands the log in because you broke this contract with me and you make me look bad. Therefore, you're going to die. Why didn't do that, consider the obvious Joseph was considering the obvious Mary, it's obvious you're pregnant, you broke the contract now. Sometimes the obvious leads us to the wrong conclusions. Sometimes the obvious leads us to the wrong conclusions. Joseph a backup movement with the obvious leads us to a certain point, we think we can solve this on our own. We've got it easier. I can see it. I can know what I can see what's going on and I know it, and the obvious is this Saturday, need to pray about it because I know the obvious, but it was in the obvious situation that Joseph was in prayer, as it were. It was being the just man of the righteous man that he is, he would not have allowed this to go without taking it to God, and so bringing American punishment. He is here called making her a public example which shows what is the is and the aim of punishment the end of the aim of punishment is to make an example and here. Joseph could have made her an example don't do the crime if you can't if you can't do the time, don't do the crime, hang on. It will teach them a lesson I will teach a lesson in how not only will take the guys dead. Little did everybody else that they can break the laws where it's easy we're going to put things in perspective here where going to make an example of this whole thing, while some even blame Joseph because he was too easy-going in LF England been such a pushover because he was a just man, not willing to expose her. He was a religious and good man, and therefore inclined to be merciful as God is, and to forgive is one that was forgiven. This is what tells us of the character of Joseph. This is what points out to us that Joseph wasn't just some pushover off of an individual. He was a very just. Manny was a very righteous man, and even though he knew the facts anew the things that were in front of him, because it was obvious he was not willing to allow the obvious to dictate his actions. The lesson for us. We're not to pass judgment on those that come under suspicion were not the pass judgment, but to pray for hope for the best concerning them. Pray for the best concerning them. We don't understand we don't know why but you know what we pray that God will make the best of it. We pray that God will make the best of it. No matter what it appears to be in hopes that God may work it out for them in their life giving the benefit of the doubt. Turning the other cheek turning it over to God all those who found who are found faulty, or perhaps we find out that they have been over taken the fault in the sand. And we pray that God would help them to understand the error of their ways and Joseph was minded to put her away privately that is that she was to be given a bill of divorce. He was to sign a contract in of in the NL presence of two witnesses signed the contract given over to marry tell Mary go back and see Elizabeth back to that place where nobody no one knows you and have your baby. There still being a just man that is a strict observer of the law. Most of Moses, Joseph was a strict observer. The law because he was a just man, and he would not try to proceed on an marrying Mary because for him to consent to this marriage would mean he's the father. He broke the contract with Mary before they were to be married and for him to say that it's okay for her to have the child was to say that he, being a very just man in the community. A man on a steam character would be defaming him and that he was saying what this is really my job and I know I blew up, but no, that would that since his approval of Marion getting married so he would not allow that to happen. One, his character great to be destroyed many and any and Mary broke the law. It's her character that is destroyed. So it's her fault, let her pay the piper. Let her pay for not paying for it which see Joseph wasn't that kind. Matthew one twenty while he thought of these things, and knew not what to determine God graciously directed him what to do when you don't know what to do get yourself a place of peace with God when you don't know what to do. Get yourself in a place of peace with God, Joseph didn't know what to do. He needed direction because he was wrong in his assumption. I mean it's obvious she is with child. She had an illicit risk with someone else. And she's got a child sold. Therefore, I know it's obvious, and he has to be a piece of place of peace with God where he can hear what God wants to say about this. It is the thoughtful, not the unthinking, whom God will guide God will not guide the unthinking, because they are already off on their own tangents in their own perspective. When Joseph was at a loss and carried the matter as far as he could in his own thoughts and his own understanding, God came to him with the advice when he didn't know what to do. It was then he sat down or went to sleep. Whatever we so he came in a dream, but you see we see here the character of Joseph 's nature was not to punish his nature was to be merciful. That's why he is an excellent stepfather for Jesus, while the message was sent to Joseph by the angel of the Lord same angel that I delivered the message to Mary in the conception is now the angel who comes to Joseph and gives him the message. Now the interaction. The angel appeared to Joseph in a dream whenever he is asleep and when we arc for you can compose when we are quiet and composed. We are in the best frame of mind to receive notice of a divine program of divine will. It's when we have no will of our old in the situation that we have to say that so confusing. What should I do this is an way back up our minds like that make up your mind, go to the Lord in prayer and peace and allow God to speak so. Joseph was here directed to proceed in his intended marriage. A call to Joseph. This is probably the most important part of this whole thing. Joseph, thou son of David, the Angel reminds Joseph, of who he is. He is in the lineage and of the house of David, and everybody knows the Messiah is to come to the house and the lineage of David, and when we are at peace. The angel, the word of God, the Spirit of God comes. It reminds us David me you you are of the house and the lineage of Jesus Christ the Messiah you whenever you are on the lineage of God. Now listen to what the word will say to you about your life and about your future. Don't be caught up in what you think you know, because up in knowledge of who you are. Remind yourself that I am a child of God than I am. I am a child of the highest I have God 's power in his presence and his love flowing through my life because is grace because of his mayor, city has unmerited favor to the spot to the Stalin upon my life and judge it on gels of has to be reminded because Joseph can be one of these humble people that says I'm not worthy pass me by. I'll just put her out on her own. Now that's not humble. That's pride the lineage you are reminding ourselves of who we are. We are God 's. We are his child. Then we are declared out to each of us fear not, thou son of Abraham, the child of God, do not forget who you are never forget. Never forget who's whose views I am. I am his. He is mine. He lives in IR together in this thing and we are the children of God, highly favored of God, don't forget that we are the highly favored child of God. You know what I'm got favorite, but so are you a you said in Sunday school and I remember I've been in. Citizens go off like my mom when she died the grandchildren on the other twelve twelve grandkids and all of them spoke at the funeral and every one of them finished with. I was grandma 's favorite and every one of them conclude it would never look around that I was grandma 's favorite and inexorable. I was grandma 's favorite. Every one of them said that because grandma, my mom made them all feel they were her favorite and him us. That's the relationship we have with God never forget who you are, who's you are and Joseph is delivered from his fears. Mister Joseph feared fear not to take Mary for your wife. What was he afraid of. He was afraid of what people were going to say about him and about his wife about this child. He was so he was such a righteous man, that he knew what the talk would be an important allies is afraid of all of this and the angel says if you're not, don't be afraid of all this is going on around you and don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife for what is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit and Joseph Spears were go and what we have are a father, stepfather and mother coming together and saying this child is divine. This child is to apply, and that child is our Savior, that child is God incarnate, Emmanuel, God with us. He could never be Jesus the Savior God, the Savior had he not Benny Manuel God with us, God with us is God our Savior 's name is Jesus. Amen. Less than if you are pages that will let them go to be continued next week this Sunday before Christmas, they will do. Mary next week. I know, but I just think about the eyes. I was putting this together. It's just like hell, I'd advise up a half hour forty five minutes early today. Just thinking about this because of the impact of what it means to lots what it means to Joseph and how that we we can be so caught up in the obvious that we never hear what the Spirit is saying to us that the name in thing that we can be so caught up in the obvious we don't know what the Spirit is saying so sometimes we just need to be at peace with what we consider the obvious and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to our hearts, because when the Spirit speaks to a heart. He will work it out for us and for others, be at peace, be at peace. God is at work in this take the obvious set it aside and be at peace and let God instill his character of forgiveness and love and will see the hand of God, and the favor of God work in our lives, and then you believe that, say, men payment, take it home with you