Why Following Jesus is Difficult: The Story of Joseph

Katie Greer, the Holy Spirit is laid out the patterns of Jesus birth for how people are going to follow you something to be four elements from Joseph's life about following Jesus, but are not listening better, not just an inspiring example from the past there a there a compelling example of the present. This is how your life is going to look if you actually follow Jesus life with your house smelling that events week as we work our way towards Christmas day and the culmination of the season and I think we all agree that the nativity scene is usually painted as a very picturesque got the beautiful newborn baby with his parents and surrounded by smiling shepherds, gentle sheep and shining angels. But today Pastor JD reminds us of the story behind that moment and what the little baby's birth really meant for Mary and Joseph as part of our series called upside down Christmas and you can catch up on previous messages JD Greer.com right now. Let's get right into the message titled why following Jesus is difficult. The story of Joseph wanted to there a lot of people who simply like the resolve to genuinely follow Jesus. They would like to, but to really go all in requires motivation beyond what they currently possess high. I think that I have been surrounded by those kinds of people. All of my life to follow Jesus when it's easy when, for example, they are part of a group of friends who were all doing it when it when it naturally fits within their lifestyle but they simply lack the verve to do it when it's hard to stand alone to swim upstream to keep going when there is nobody standing behind him going. Come on you can do it.

That's when these people putter out at night they fall behind.

Make no mistake to actually follow Jesus is difficult, very difficult is it is a great irony in the Christian life following Jesus ushers you into a life that is simultaneously the most joyful and the most difficult life on earth. John Tintin tells you Jesus can give you life and life more abundantly. Psalm 1611 says that in God's presence is fullness of joy. Psalm 8410 says it is better to spend one day in God's presence than 10,000 anywhere else but Matthew 16 also tell you that if you follow Jesus you take up your cross to follow him.

I don't know what kind of image that gives to you, but I can assure you that in the ancient world. It was not a pleasant one. Today we wear crosses made out of diamonds around our necks as pieces of jewelry, that if you have one on. I'm not singling you out just telling you that back then the major days they would not of done that. That was a symbol to them of oppression, torture and death that cause horror and the people who saw it in those days. Normal nice people did not get across tattooed on them years to help you understand that. Imagine if you went over to somebody's house that you just got to know when your neighbor's house and in their baby room about their baby's crib was a little hangman's noose hanging down out of the ceiling and you go into their kitchen and above their kitchen table is a picture of an electric chair and then in their living room. They got a picture about their sofa of a group of men standing in front of a firing squad. You don't stick around for dinner and your kids don't go over there and play date right because that's just it. It's creepy. It's not.

It's weird. That's the image that Jesus shows that this could define you. Paul says in first room is 15 that the resurrection is not true then followers of Jesus are the people that ought to be be most pitied people in the whole world. Why because their lives were characterized by a cross and by suffering at the resurrection didn't happen than they were prophetic. That's why he said that for Paul following Jesus meant suffering, sacrifice and persecution. It meant living with unanswered questions and unfulfilled dreams dying in many ways a loser and Paul said you know what if I get to the end of my life and it's all a hoax. I can assure you I am not to say all you know. But it was still all great. It was an abundant life, O glorious delusion will be saying that he says bye to be in my life. It is a hope that I am of all members prophetic. This is a question I've asked you before the resurrection has to be true in order for you to consider your life good is the resurrection have to be true in order for you to consider your life good, if not, you're probably not live in a life of sacrifice. The reason I say that it's our Chris's all my life, something like you know what I could be alive and this is not true.

It was an abundant life, I was blasted and what I don't care if it's true my Paul would never have said that never dispose of my life is characterized by crossing the resurrection not true is prophetic to actually go all the way with Jesus you have a strong grasp on why he is worth it and that's what you're gonna see in Matthew one and two.

Not easy to show you right out of the gate is to show you what it looks like a follow Jesus and how you gain the motivation to actually do it. Okay I'm given to see a story this morning of the first followers of Jesus, by the way back through the first followers of Jesus was there but you get the question wrong is Peter, James, John, is a verse one that starts the process a whole lot sooner than that is usually two people would begin to follow Jesus there were the first Christians before anybody else in your gonna see the pattern for how people follow Jesus in them that applies to you this day.

Matthew chapter 1 was beginning verse 18, Matthew 118 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 Shane resolve to put her away quietly divorce her quietly.

Can you imagine for just a minute how painful and humiliating this was for Joseph. Well, of course, as you could probably understand Joseph unbeliever is it all right the holy ghost got you pregnant yet give you a pet unicorn that you're saying you got your backyard to.

I am sure Joseph was for whatever it was worth it was a pretty good guy and he was kind, so he arranged a hat to break the betrothal quietly, legally, by the way, he could have had her stoned verse 20 that she consider these things we hold 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 or that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you will call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

All this took place of a fillable Lord have spoken by the prophet. Behold, the virgin will conceive and bear a son, and they will call his name Emmanuelle, which means God with us. When Joseph awoke from sleep. He did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.

He took his wife, but he knew her not until she had given birth to a son, and they called his name Jesus ever wonder why God did it this way we think about it for just a minute why God could do things any way that he wanted why did God choose to do it this way.

It ruined both of the reputations.

The angel did not show up and explain the situation. Everybody else angel and some bad news bulletin.

All of her family and friends, declaring that she really was an impure. Everyone else from that point on.

Thought of Mary as an impure girl when they were looking for the yearbook later and they came to Mary's picture. The girls that have been our friends were like on what happened there. Oh yeah member who knew that was a part of her life. She had that kind of dark side and we thought she was sweet little you know God loving Mary but turns out she's got a dark side and to our knowledge, by the way, as far as we know, there was never any clarification or vindication given to the New Testament was written 34 years later and by that point was mostly irrelevant.

When Joseph married her. It seemed like he was confessing that the baby was actually his. This pregnancy ruined both of the reputations in the community.

Mary did not get the storybook wedding she had always dreamed about their dad walking down the aisle and all of her friends all over family present. I know that for many women.

Your wedding day is the most highly anticipated plan for an expensive day of your life. My daughter Ally has been practicing walking down the aisle since she could take her first steps.

I kid you not. From the time that to could just amble around to be my daddy what is on the wall down the aisle. We had a running conversation up about five years when I get married I want this when I get married I want this to happen day when I get married this every time a response is always the same. Save your money save you money because your mom and I gave away all that money at all in so you got the paper itself just because Mary lived 2000 years ago. Don't assume that she was vastly different.

Her dreams of her own beautiful wedding day were absolutely shattered ruined not by an angry mother-in-law away by Jesus himself may not only that eventually there'd have to leave their family to flee their homelands.

There you have to get rid of everything because of Jesus to see them on the life to see Bunnell's is what you signed up for to see Bunnell's is.

Is this what you sign on the dotted line for what a guy do it this way the Holy Spirit is laid out the pattern from Jesus birth for how people are going to have to follow him something to be fork elements from Joseph's life about following Jesus, but are not listening better, not just an inspiring example from the past there a there a compelling example of the present. This is how your life is going to look if you actually follow Jesus number one. What following Jesus looks like I see four different elements person A. Trust in absolute obedience trust in absolute obedience. Joseph had to believe the impossible and to risk everything on the fact that the impossible is true.

Several years ago at a friends who him who became a Christian when he lived in Egypt in the Islamic part of Egypt when he became a Cree became Christian over there because he met a church planter from America who shared Christ with him in over the process of 67 months this guy who I'll call Timothy EEE became to message Jesus was the Messiah.

He was an Islamic Imam, which meant was like an Islamic priest and so he quietly converted to Jesus was trying to figure out exactly what to do and was keeping a journal.

Just writing out prayers, which he thought was private. He hid it under his bed is for his Bible city return home one day and standing outside of his house was a group of people from his village, his mom sitting on the front porch and she had in her hand. This journal she said that she walked up to him and she took this journal, she threw it down to his feet, reached down, took off her shoe and slap in the face, spit in his face and said this is what you wrote. You are dead to me. You are no longer my son. He said this model commits to beating me until he said they literally left me for dead so they thought I was dead after nightfall came, he said I came to a came back to consciousness and I managed to drag myself get out of my village and get to the house of this American who had its share price of me and eventually was sent out of the got out of the country and to this day is not allowed to go back because they put a death sentence on his head as he's telling me the story he is referencing on his brother and sister. He said that he loved so very much and you when this happened she was 13 years old. He was about 19 and he said that I said something about what is your sister think about this is that I have no idea. These are the last time I saw my sister was on that day that on my return home and was beating like that and it looked to me versus and he said he said that was the price that was the price for following Jesus. That's what I had to choose how to choose whether or not he was worth its the only way that kind of thing makes any sense is if Jesus actually rose from the dead is if the impossible actually came true in choose Jesus because it was his preference and choose Jesus because that was culturally the easiest path chosen because they believe the impossible taken place and he risked everything on it.

By the way the church planter who left the United States to go live there didn't know lived there because he like Egyptian culture. He went there because he believed that what Jesus said was true that he was the way the truth and the life that there is no salvation apart from him and therefore people all over the world got to know that they believe impossible. The risk everything on it.if you struggle beating sacrificially or giving notice in your life may tell you why it is because you lack confidence in the promises of God people lack confidence in God's promises will throw some guilt money in the offering plate when it goes by from time to time, especially when I preach an emotional sermon that you get to you a little bit you will throw your lunch money and you're the little guilt money but to actually give a sustained sacrificial way will never make it until you absolutely commence the impossible is true to forgive a father who is sexually abuse you take some bold confidence in God's forgiveness and his ability to work all things for good. Cannot say something animated to be offensive, but Opera is not going to give you the resources to forgive a father who sexually abuse you. The only resources that you could be able to tap into, is when you understand that there is a God whose forgiveness is larger than yours and his ability to work all things for good goes beyond other people's ability to work things for evil, without doubt, you'll never have the strength to forgive following Jesus. I mean really following him, not just plain religious games means trust in the impossible and absolute obedience.

There's a second thing the acceptance of a sentence of death, acceptance of a sentence of death marries out of wedlock pregnancy put her under a literal death sentence in Jewish law.

Beyond that, I told you Mary and Joseph had to die to their good name that died in their cherished dreams that died of their families died in their homelands. When you follow Jesus a means acceptance of a sentence of death John Bunyan who wrote Pilgrim's progress, which is still the greatest selling English book of all time spent many years in prison for preaching the gospel of his own country in England. They told him that if he would simply stop preaching the gospel, you go home to his family. It was a young single radical. He was a married man who had at least three children when he first wanted to present one of them was blind. Bunyan wrote these words in prison.

He said the parting with my wife and poor children has often been to me in this place like a pulling of the flesh from my bones. I've often brought to my mind the many hardships miseries and wants that my poor family has had to meet with, especially my poor blind child who lays near to my heart and all else.

I have besides if I would ever suffer rightly. I know that I must first pass a sentence of death upon everything that can properly be called a thing of this life, even to reckon myself, my wife, my children, my health, my enjoyments and all is dead to me and myself is dead to them by the way, I'm not talking about any delinquency of being a good father good husband because you know what following Jesus made you a better father and husband but I'm just saying that when Jesus said, follow me. He said they come across, which is absolute and total. He said John should be Luke 1426 may Mama come after me if anything comes up to me. He's got a father or mother.

He's got a wife and children. You got a brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life unless he does that he could never be my disciple is not talk about actually developing feelings of hate for those because he makes you love the more we talk about is your love and commitment to Jesus become so strong. There is absolutely nothing that competes with doing what he is told you to do. It means acceptance of a sentence of death that you die to everything and you become alive to the will of Jesus in your life. By the way died during a growing church to see you know when you grow churches preach all that among the life stuff right here.

This clears out of church so if you I don't believe I totally understand that always understand the emotion. I'm still needed to consider this about me saying this, I'm courting to you the words of Jesus. Her C. The third thing. Self-denial, self-denial, verse 25 tells you that Joseph did not know Mary or have sex with her until after the birth of Jesus.

So not only did he have to wait a year and betrothal. He waited another year after she finds out she's pregnant before he is able to be together with his wife. That's significant. I think right following Jesus means denying yourself some of the things that you might otherwise enjoy. Should we have single people in this church who were not willing to wait to have sex and you're not even married. Here is Joseph who was married and is still waiting because this is the will of Jesus, and you think that your a follower of Jesus and he's okay with the fact that you're just going to exempt yourself from this particular command of his and that you come in here so that I can think 500 would tell you right now, but unless you're willing to forsake what he is forbidden. You can never be as follower so you have got to. You've got to come to a place where you deny yourself.

Things that he has forbidden because you are surrendered to do what he says in his timing and in his way. We have couples in this church you are living together, but are not married. Why because it's the easier thing for you until you are willing to deny yourself. Things that you might otherwise otherwise obtain things that that that that other people in our culture to do your never going to be a follower of Jesus to do to follow him.

If you deny yourself and you commit to do things his way through the last 1D willingness to embrace inconvenience willingness to embrace inconvenience.

Do you realize how much Jesus birth complicated Josephson's life and mess up his relationships with his family. It messed up relationship with his friends. His joband people in your in your community did not like you, then they would bring you their business so G this whole pregnancy thing totally messed up.

Joseph business. Eventually, by the way, had to move and start over until you do. Serving Jesus is rarely convenient. Why work hard all week and I got kids yeah I look forward to hear you explain that one to Mary and Evan. My church had the audacity to ask me to help take care of my own kids once a month and there's like yeah I do bear somebody else to nine months and give birth to an got ostracized my family because I am tell me about your story. All great man of faith. The people in our church to serve our community don't do it because it's convenient they do it because are committed to Jesus. I know that not everybody is called every ministry meant to imply that understand if you don't have a ministry that is in some way inconvenient for you. I'm at least putting a? About whether or not you're actually following him. As always, means inconvenience to come across is never like convenient adoption and fostering children is never convenient to tell somebody who's done it. By the way, if you start doing it because it's a preference or a fad or because you think it's a little cool in your Christmas card that's good where all them promise you, you get involved in adoption of fostering children for one reason God told us to care for the ones and everybody else forgot about and you do it as a way of loving him sharing Christ is rarely that convenient for me. Whether that's reaching out to a neighbor or or strike up a conversation with the guy next to me a plate. It's rarely convenient there been times in my life where I just did not feel like getting to know new person like neighbor or something like that you like it is much rather hang out with friends I got I thought walking across the street to meet them is like high I don't which many friends already. What's your name that's it's almost what I feel like now thankfully right now I have some totally awesome neighbors.

I really like to avoid that way about any of them severe here this morning not talking about you, but but there are times when this is never convenient. We don't do it because it's convenient.

We do because of the great commission this week. Sit next to Diana on airplane I just had a couple really intense days of ministry. I sit down next to their and I just just wanted things we got to sit next to me and through the Holy Spirit.

So you you need to strike up a conversation with this guy and I know that you think that I do that because I'm a pastor of a natural or not is God's will enjoy this.

I notice what you think you all about his past wrongdoing to I don't do it.

I don't think just when I'm gone I need to rest and read my book. That's all I want to go to the next out at all that I want God and Jesus like yelp and across negative for six hours on Friday and you need a break was good… I was allowed to strike up a conversation, not because it's convenient because it's the great commission. That's what he told us to do rear wonder what Joseph's life have been like if he followed through with getting married. He may have had the perfect little life he thought he was destined to have it, he would have missed out on Jesus when JD sat with him are committed to the great commission sharing the gospel not going to be convenient. It's getting mean getting a part-time energy and even our money in order to be obedient to what God has called us to do when we take that step work entering into God's mission and will see him work in the most amazing ways.

That's our goal is administering to say yes to God's call and step out in faith and bring the gospel to people all across the country and around the world through the radio and if you believe in that mission love for you to be a part of her namely we need any descendent life helping us expand our reach. Enjoy new radio stations so that more people came into the gospel with us every day. When you donate today will send you the 2021 Summit life day planner about the importance of using our resources for God's glory. And that certainly includes your resource of turning this plan will help you stay organized and it also includes Bible versus Bible reading plan to keep that center and everything that comes with our thanks for your for your copy of the 2021 cleaner when you get by calling 83586651 line Molly. It's Tuesday.

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