A TEEN GIVEN AN “ADDED” BLESSING
Matthew 1:18-25
I. INTRODUCTION:
A. Ministering uniquely as an “angel of the Lord”: v. 20
(See back)
1. Orchestrating and interpreting dreams: (#1 and #6)
2. Time line in visitations – different angels?
B. Introducing Joseph, the “just” carpenter: vv. 18-19
1. His name, “Jehovah adds”, and approx. age:
2. His trade: (Mt. 13:55)
3. His character – “just” (righteous):
C. Solving the mystery in a list of names: v. 20
1. The priority of the Tribe of Judah: (II Sam. 7:12-13;
Isa. 11:1; Jer. 23:5; 33:15)
2. The predicament with the Tribe of Judah: (Mt. 1:11,
16; Jer. 22:30)
3. The remedy for the Tribe of Judah: (Lk. 3:23-38)
II. SEEING DAYLIGHT IN THE MIDST OF OVERWELMING
DESPAIR:
A. Excited with a binding marriage license officially signed:
v. 18a
1. The price, the cup, and the binding covenant: (Lk.
22:20; I Cor. 11:25; Jn. 3:29; Rev. 21:9; 22:17)
2. The departure and the return: (Jn. 14:1-4)
3. The wedding feast and bridal chamber: (Rev. 19:7)
B. Crushed with a seemingly obvious assumption:
vv. 18b-19
1. The seemingly obvious betrayal:
2. Making assumptions concerning motives on the basis
of partial truths: (Jn. 7:24; I Cor. 4:3-4)
3. Weighing four options with a good heart:
a. The law: (Deut. 22:13-21)
b. Public court:
c. Divorce:
d. Marriage:
C. Enlightened with truth after months of silence: vv. 20-23
1. When the angel appears in the dream: (Lk. 1:56)
“The teacher is usually silent when He is giving an
exam.”
2. What the angel says about Mary’s pregnancy:
3. How Joseph humbly and promptly obeys with a bridal
reception but with one key exception:
D. Blessed with the results of obedience: vv. 24-25
1. His faithfully devoted and morally pure bride:
2. His legal stepson, Jesus – “Jehovah saves”:
3. “Jehovah adds” sons and daughters of his own:
(Mt. 12:46; 13:55-56; Mk. 6:3)
III. PRINCIPLES TO PERSONALLY APPLY:
(Together becoming “people of the Word” in principle AND in practice)
A. If you are obediently walking with Christ, claim three
Biblical absolutes in the midst of any bout of despair,
and you will live worry-free.
1. My Savior and King is always with me, so I am never
alone.
2. My Savior and King is always good and in control.
3. My Savior and King is never late.
B. Assumptions and partial truths are constant roadblocks
for sustaining relationships with others, and most of all
with Christ.
C. The most destructive assumption anyone can ever
make, is it embrace a work-oriented strategy to get into
heaven.
Sinners Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I was made by you and I was made for you, but
I have been living for myself. I am sorry for that self-rule you call sin.
I believe that Jesus Christ being my creator God, died, was buried,
and rose again to pay the insurmountable debt that my sin has
created since birth. So right now, I am turning from a life of going my
own way, to by faith, place my trust in Jesus Christ, to pay the debt of
all my sin, and to get me to heaven, when I breath my last breath.
Lord Jesus, from today on, I am yours. Thanks for saving me, this
very moment, in Jesus name, Amen.
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