December 4 2016 When Life Gets Messy
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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
