Why is JOSEPH Part of Christmas? - Christmas 2018 - Lesson #4

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Sermon Notes

Speaker: Pastor Dave Tyree

Date of Sermon: December 30, 2018

Summary: God used Joseph because he was willing to obey no matter what God asked him to do?

Key Verse: "When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him..." - Matthew 1:24a

Message Outline:

God Used Joseph Because He Was Willing to do the Unpleasant

• Bible Reading:  Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”  All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).  When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him - Matthew 1:18-24a​​ ESV

God Used Joseph Because He Was Willing to Take a Risk

• Bible Reading:  Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.  John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”  But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.  And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;  and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” - Matthew 3:13-17​​ ESV

God Used Joseph Because He Was Willing to be Faithful for Life​​

• Bible Reading:  And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.  And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.                      - Luke 2:21-22​​ ESV
• Bible Reading:  Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.  And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. - Luke 2:41-42 ESV

​Important Takeaway:  God uses those people that obey him, not tomorrow, but now.

 Reflection Questions:  

• When God speaks to me, do I obey?
• Is my obedience to God immediate?  How quickly do I obey? 

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