Let's Witness a Troubled Romance in Nazareth, Part 3

We can only imagine what it was like for Joseph to hear the shocking news. His fiancée Mary had a teenage woman was expecting a child in the Hebrew tradition. He was free to break his engagement and move on. But that's not the way the story unfolded today on Insight for living trucks. One doll re-creates the life altering decision facing both Mary and Joseph, and their implications for each of us today Chagas teaching from the first chapter in Matthew titled today's message. Let's witness a troubled romance in that group. Joseph Rose was a good man did not want to disgrace her publicly. He decided to break the engagement to divorce her quietly and that night wrestling over the issue, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. This, by the way, is the first time Joseph gets the information from anyone other than Mary and it comes from an angel, Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife for the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. She will have a son you are to name him Jesus. He will save his people from their sins. Now look at this response, Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded. He took Mary as his wife and did not have sexual relations with her until the sun was born and he named him Jesus. I got tell you something hats all to Joe's the man who is virtually unknown by most turns out to be a hero in the story he hears what he's to do. It's clear to him that is from an angel.

There's no wrestling any further.

No more tears, no more struggle. Susie can contact Mary. They make their way back to the synagogue. It's officially declared and put into the record that this betrothal was cut short.

The couple marries, and within a matter of a month or so. She's beginning to show how you think the neighbors handle that and then the next month and the next month and just before she reaches term. They leave Nazareth and the go to Bethlehem we know it was because of the senses that had been taken and the new taxation that the Caesar required and they had to go to Joses County see which is best plan beautiful hello how the Lord works.

But what did that say to the neighbor, they aren't even willing to have the baby among us. Could you imagine how tongs wagged but they are not familiar with many things, but I'm familiar with gossip and it's amazing how what is not true begins as rumor and before long the rumor sounds convincing and then the convincing becomes quote the truth when is the farthest thing from the truth. Some even said she was pregnant from some Roman soldier. When Jesus is a man is still living with this these ugly remarks regarding his being an illegitimate. The Pharisees said to him, we know who our father is and when he says I'm of God. I've come from heaven. They they why they would take up stones to stone him for blasphemy.

He came unto his own things, but his own ones did not receive. Not even fellow Jews believed his story I tell you, the more you think about it the more you realize Joseph comes out on top in the story. He never budgets he hears what he should do.

He steps into it because it against all odds and against the wagging tongues and if I might add a nude another dimension. Wonder what his parents said to or her parents said to her. Now they may have been wonderful people of God who had no struggle and they loved it that their daughter was chosen by God for this. On the other hand, they may not have been what would you have done had he been your daughter or your son. And this is to be a miraculous conception when you say something so all of us who were in the story.

I thought about this and up and I want to make this just as practical as I can.

I want to give several possibilities.

It's possible if we could leave the story till next time will get to the baby in our next time together but let's stay with today for right now you may be facing a tough life altering decision you personally is one that calls for sacrifice just like Joseph East. The details are different. Should you follow the Lord.

In doing this or should you hold back. I urge you to follow Joseph's model and do it do the hard thing life altering tough regardless doing. It's a matter of obedience is another possibility, you may be right now running the risk of being the brunt of others criticism even though you are doing what is right and you're unable to convince people that it's right just like Joseph and Mary. I imagine there was a time when they finally said to one another in the privacy of their home were no longer going to try to convince the neighbors. You may be running the risk of being the brunt of someone's criticism because you're doing what's right and pleasing to God. My answer to you is stay there. You hold no one else an explanation for obeying God what others may call ideological, even foolish is wrong is that statement is. God calls right go there just like Joseph got up from his bed that next morning couldn't get a hold of Mary fast enough. He went there regardless of the criticism that would come. Here's 1/3, you may be forced to stand alone and to be virtually forgotten as another one is magnified and you are reduced in significance. Let's face it, having said all I've said of the two.

Mary is carrying the child. Joseph is a loyal onlooker know me to be putting them down but he is he he is had nothing to do with this conception, our older daughter told me recently about a television series that she and her husband are watching about royalty happened in England when when the Prince and the Queen were engaged and then married.

They knew that one day would come when she would be the Queen but they had no way of knowing when that would happen.

Interesting. In truth, it happened quickly after they had married rather quickly. You know what the Prince took a backseat every time I look at royalty there in England and I see the Queen.

I watch him sort of a step or two behind why she's the queen he's not almost a king is not that it all. She's the queen he's her husband remarried their life together, but she's the one who is in the spotlight. Now back to my application. I don't know your situation. But God may have been his plan to reduce your significance from Moron who once filled. I couldn't describe it here. You have to do that in your own mind. Maybe you were once a major player in this play in this event. Maybe you were once the leader of that ministry or that organization and by God's timing and because of God's planning you been reduced in another has that position. My answer to you is step aside obedience for you was to step away from that role and accept one. That's less than what you had the ideal example is the Lord Jesus himself who was in the Godhead did not cling to his role as it is a part of the Trinity, but willingly gave up the voluntary use of his divine attributes and willingly came to this earth.

This earth of all places, and obeyed the father took upon himself the role of a servant. Put bluntly, you may be asked to be a servant that brings me to my fourth year new place of involvement may be caring for someone who is in need humbled yourself step into that role accepted see it as a privilege that God would ask you to fill that place. I believe Joseph was an enormous emotional support for his dear wife. I believe his arm was often around her shoulders believed when she decided to go with him to Bethlehem. I believe he cared for her as she was almost a term with that pregnancy and how uncomfortable that long 90 mile journey must've felt like. And there he was with her being a helper to her and for here's the way I put it there were times in each of our lives from the Lord leads us to follow through on an assignment we would not have chosen, but he wants us to do it.

Perhaps it's something others would not understand, and in fact would not affirm they would say oh you're too important for that or your gifts are not being used as they could be. But this is God's will. It did may defy logic. It may lack common sense and others opinion but it's the right thing to do and you know who I'm talking to you.

You you who know what God is leading you to do in your wrestling with. Can you do it.

The answer is absolutely not only can you. You must. God is in it.

There's no other answer but I am available.

I will do it if Joseph teaches us nothing else. He teases us the value of obedience. I say again I said earlier, say it again. He bases all of this on one nights angelic visit his whole life changes. He's now a carpenter who will train this remarkable son, God would give them in the trade. He is now the husband of the, the one who would bear the child. What a privilege to have a hand in that role of mentoring and loving this young man into adulthood and letting them go to a life of service to the world. Few have ever said it better than John auxin ham in a piece, I came across titled God's hand writing listened auxin ham's words, he writes in characters to grand for our short, slight to understand. We catch but broken stroke and try to fathom all the mystery of weathered hopes of death of life, the endless war. The useless strife there with larger, clearer site. We shall see, this his way he was right. You and I are on this earth to fulfill his way to go. His direction, to obey his will. It isn't about us if we learned that by the time we are placed in our burial site we have, we will have reached true adulthood and I have to say there are many never get that messy. It is not about you in this life is not your script were to follow, nor are you to follow God is in charge and he's leaving us to do his will his way in his time for his purpose in of story and we have Joseph to thank for that reminder bell with me.

Would you all not linger. I just have a few words to you who've never met the Savior difficult as it is for me to imagine. I know it's true there are many who enter into the Christmas season not familiar with this. The one on whom the star shown the God whom all of this revolves.

His name is Jesus the Messiah. I urge you to turn your life over to him. Your Christmas will never be the same if he is given first place replacing you on your own throne of life and taking charge of your direction.

Trust him now simple prayer Lord, I acknowledge my distance from you my selfishness, my sinfulness, I come before you and I believe in your son is my Savior. I take him now.

Thank you for giving me this gift this Christmas would love to talk with you and we will happily do so if you get a hold of us. That's why we are here to help you in that journey from earth to heaven. Thank you father for the things we have learned today. Thank you that some of them are so far into the way we have been taught, it requires faith to go there. It requires discipline to obey. It requires a true vision from you to embrace a new way of life that doesn't revolve around ourselves and pray for those who've never come to Christ they will this day, trust him and give them then a life of obedience is mixing modeled in the life of Joseph. Thank you in advance for those who come to Christ this day in the name of the Savior Messiah are mastering Lord, we pray everyone sit a minute site for living Bible teaching of pastor and author Chuck Swindoll. Jack titled today's message.

Let's witness a troubled romance in Nazareth and is in the studio today with a prepared statement exclusively for a listening family so please keep listening the learn more about this ministry. Visit us online@insightworld.org right now though. Would like to give you a little sneak peek of what's ahead in the new year 2021. Chuck is already mapped out his preaching schedule for the program and I'm pleased to tell you that in January will begin a brand-new verse by verse study through the book of Matthew. Matthew, of course, is the first book in the New Testament and it's a masterful record that begins with our king's arrival in Bethlehem and ends with his great commission. In addition, the checks teaching serious we are pleased offers brand-new commentary. It's called swindles living insights commentary for Matthew because of its enormity. This commentary comes in two hardbound volumes both are ready right now and we encourage you to purchase your copies in time to begin the study with us in January to purchase swindles living insights commentary for Matthew call if you're listening in the United States dial 1-800-772-8888 or go to insight.org/store in these more than 40 years of ministry that insight from living has been teaching the Bible, I've never witnessed a year quite light, 20, 20, chances are you have an either. This was a year defined by general enormous disruptors. The disruptors are personal disasters that derailed our plans and stole any modicum of peace would come to enjoy the number-one disrupter. Of course, was the unnerving coronavirus, but make no mistake, the chaos cannot be isolated to a contagious flu bug alone. In addition, culverts seem to ignite a powder keg of emotions that exploded like bombshells in our political and civil discourse and the end result.

Our world is embroidered in the diabolical war against itself. These are serious days and now you're probably thinking on chart lighten up a little. I know I know is not like me to paint such a dark and hopeless picture but I would deny the obvious. If I didn't acknowledge the minefield of troubling issues that litter our path today, so here's where I turned the corner lest we think were trekking through uncharted territory. Let's pause to remember Jesus has been down this road before.

In fact, when you think back this time as were rife with crisis just desires our impact when the baby Jesus broke on the human stage in Bethlehem, the political climate in Rome was deep and treacherous Caesar Augustus was demanding of senses and Herod the great was on a rampage of fury and it was no accident that Jesus arrived when he did remember Paul's words when the fullness of time came, God sent forth his son, Galatians 44 20 Matt was Jesus arrived right on time. Ultimately Jesus died on the cross right on time and later walked out of the grave right on time. I believe that God has appointed insight for living ministries to declare the truth about Jesus for such a time as this.

It is right on time. He is our only hope. Christ is still the one who is able to bring light when all around us is dark as night.

God is still with us in this year of loss and violence division arguments and pandemic. So now as we turn the page and come to the end of this chapter called 2020. I'm asking you to join me in proclaiming the truth about Jesus with a world that's overcome with fear. Look, I'm keenly aware that many of our listening family have endured financial setbacks this year. I realize that and I stand with you. Some, however, are capable of giving on their behalf above and beyond in any case, I can assure you that your much-needed year-end gift will become a light to those who are walking in darkness. Any amount God places on your heart to give to insight for living ministries will make all the difference. You can imagine and it will make a difference to those in need. Together, let's assure them of this. You are not alone.

God is still on the throne and he's always right on time. Thanks, Chuck. Perhaps you're in a position to give on behalf of others who come to rely on insight for living. Just as someone once did for you. Your generosity right now will arrive at just the right time. So here's how to connect if you're listening in the United States dial 1-800-772-8888 that's 1-800-772-8888 or go online to insight.org you can also get a year-end donation by going directly to our website insight.org that we know this is a busy holiday week, but we invite you to set aside 1/2 hour this coming Friday when Chuck Swindoll presents a musical celebration on Christmas day tomorrow. Chuck Swindoll begins another Christmas message titled, let's hear God's voice in a baby's cry right here on insight for living. The preceding message. Let's witness a troubled romance in Nazareth was copyrighted in 2019 and 2001 and the sound recording was copyrighted in 2001 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. all rights are reserved.

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