December 4 2016 When Life Gets Messy

THE STORY OF JOSEPH - When Life Gets Messy

This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”...When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus. - Matthew 1:18-21, 24-25

HOW DO I THRIVE WHEN LIFE GETS MESSY?

1. ADMIT MY Fear.

“As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. ‘Joseph, son of David,’ the angel said, ‘do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.’” - Matthew 1:20

God doesn’t want me to fear the opinions of others.

“The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” - Psalms 118:6

God doesn’t want me to fear circumstances.

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” - Romans 8:28

God doesn’t want me to fear the future.

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” - Jeremiah 29:11

2. TRUST GOD EVEN WHEN I I don't understand.

“When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.” - Matthew 1:24

Memory Verse: “‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.’” - Isaiah 55:8

3. TRUST GOD EVEN WHEN IT’S  it's costly.

“After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,’ the angel said. ‘Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.’ That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother, and they stayed there until Herod’s death.’” - Matthew 2:13-15

(Jesus) “And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life.” - Matthew 19:29

4. ALLOW GOD TO DEVELOP MY patience DURING THE MESS.

“When Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. ‘Get up!’ the angel said. ‘Take the child and his mother back to the land of Israel, because those who were trying to kill the child are dead.’” - Matthew 2:19-20

November 29 2015 Realizing The Heart Of Christmas

REALIZING THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS

Matthew 2:1-10

Five Truths To Remember

1. We must move beyond religious practice.

Matthew 2:2 – We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.

Verse 6 – Who will be the shepherd of my people.

Matthew 3:7-8 – You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

2. Our faith must move faith to the heart.

Matthew 2:8 – Herod said..go and make careful search for the child. As soon as you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him.

Matthew 15:8 – These people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

3. We must understand no one is too far away.

Matthew 2:1 – Wise men from the east came to Jerusalem.

4. We must make our surrender real.

Matthew 2:9 -11 – After they had heard the King, they went their way and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star they were overjoyed.  On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary and they bowed down and worshiped Him.  Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

5. We must decide to be obedient.

Matthew 2:12 – They returned to their country by another route. They had diving instruction to go a different route.

December 2 2012 Trusting Christ At Christmas

TRUSTING CHRIST AT CHRISTMAS
Luke 2:4-7

Verse 6 - There was no room for them in the inn.

Verse 7 - She gave birth to her first born, a Son. She wrapped Him in straps of cloth and laid Him in a manger.

3 WAYS TO TRUST CHRIST IN OUR DISAPPOINTMENTS

1. Look for God in the disappointment.
Luke 2:16 - So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby who was lying in a manger.
Matthew 2:4 - They bowed down and Worshiped Him.

Examples:

Joseph:
Genesis 50:20 - You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.

Job:
The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh. Blessed by the name of the Lord.

David:
Psalm 23

Paul:
Romans 5:3-5 - Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character, and character Hope.

2. Give God your very best.
Luke 2:7 - She wrapped Him in strips of cloth and place Him in a manger.

Luke 2:23-24 - As it is written in the law of the Lord, every first born male is to be consecrated to the Lord and to offer sacrifices.

The differences between the average person and the above average person: They do their best and then some.

Psalm 30:5 - Weeping may remain for the night, but joy comes in the morning.

3. Willing to change the direction of their life.
Matthew 2:13 - When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph. Get up he said, take the Child and His mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.

Matthew 19:26 - (Jesus said) With God all things are possible.

November 25 2012 Preparing For Christ At Christmas

PREPARING FOR CHRIST AT CHRISTMAS
Matthew 2:1-10

Five Observations To Consider:

1. We must do more than obey the law.
Matthew 2:2 - We saw His star in the east and have come to Worship Him.
Matthew 2:6 - Who will be the shepherd of my people.
Matthew 3:7-8 - You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

Examples: The Priest and Levite.
The rich young ruler.

2. Our faith must move beyond the lips to the heart.
Matthew 2:8 - Herod said, go and make careful search for the Child. As soon as you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and Worship Him.
Matthew 15:8 - These people honor me with their lips but their heart is far from me.

Examples: They failed to go the second mile.

3. We must understand that those who are farthest want to get close.
Matthew 2:1 - Wise men for the east came to Jerusalem.

Examples: The wise men.
The thief on the cross.
The prodigal son.


4. We must make our commitment real.
Matthew 2:9-11 - After they had heard the King, they went their way and the star they had seen in the east, went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His Mother Mary and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

5. We must obey the Father.
Matthew 2:12 - They returned to their country by another route. They had Divine instruction to go a different route.