Today the message is continuing with the theme “What Child is This? This week’s title is “Joseph Listens to God.” We are going to look at having Peace through Listening to God.
Joseph seemed very calm when he accepted the command from the angel. Joseph must have been quite a man – to take on a baby from God!
He did this because he obeyed! He had peace by obeying God
We will start by reading the part of the Christmas story that tells us about Joseph’s encounter with an angel.
Matthew 1:18-25 NIV
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[ Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, which means the Lord saves.] because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
23 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[Isaiah 7:14] (which means “God with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.
25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Joseph was a righteous man. “To Jews this meant being zealous in keeping the law.” He knew what was expected of him now that Mary was pregnant – either publicly judge her and stone her or quietly divorce her to avoid that.
I am sure there were family and friends who encouraged him to be rid of Mary.
Joseph believed and trusted God. This allowed him the ability to be calm and think clearly. He showed exactly what God told the Israelites – they should show His commands in their lives.
Jeremiah 7: 23 NIV God’s words to the Israelites.
But I (God) gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you.
James 1: 25 NIV James to the twelve tribes.
But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
Joseph was chosen by God for this incredible sacrifice, this immensely difficult path to take in a young mans life. If Joseph had not known God’s words, he might not have followed this path.
In our Thursday night Bible Study we looked at the David and Goliath story that we all know so well. The key thing to see is the path that David was on. He knew God’s word and trusted God so he did not listen to negative people – he listened to God and we read what God did through David.
Joseph did the same.
The apostles were constantly challenged in their faith walk.
Acts 5: 29 NIV apostles reply to chief priests question.
Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!”
All of us have a choice to make – follow mans path or follow God’s path!
We need to chose so we can grow and can have peace if we walk with God through our lives.
1 John 3: 21-24 NIV John writing to the Christians
21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God
22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.
23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.
24 Those who obey His (God’s) commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
This child that was coming would be a man someday. That man (Jesus) would be the way to righteousness.
Romans 5: 19 NIV
19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man (Adam) the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man (Jesus) the many will be made righteous.
Jesus is the way to peace. Trusting Him leads us to be calm just like Joseph was. It is a lot easier to be calm amidst the storms of life when you have a rock to stand on.
Romans 5: 1-2 NIV
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
John 14: 27 NIV talking to disciples
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 20: 21 NIV Jesus talking to disciples after the tomb
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
Then to close, from this mornings “Our Daily Bread,” Colossians 3:15 NIV
Let the Peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. AMEN
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