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Message Notes
“Grace is God’s favor shown to those of us who don’t deserve it, cannot earn it, and will never be able to repay it”. —Chuck Swindoll
“Grace is the empowering Presence of God enabling you to be who He created you to be, and to do what He has called you to do.” —James Ryle
I. How Did God’s Grace Empower Joseph?
- God’s grace empowered him to work through the confusion of Mary’s pregnancy.
Matthew 1:18
“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 pregnant through the Holy Spirit.”
- God’s grace empowered him to be filled with compassion towards Mary.
Matthew 1:19
“Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.”
- God’s grace empowered him to stay committed to Mary.
Matthew 1:20-24
“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, 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 conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (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.”
- God’s grace empowered him to live a life of consistency and obedience to God.
Matthew 1:25
“But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.”
II. How Can God’s Grace Empower Us Today?
- God’s grace can empower us to work through difficult, confusing situations.
James 4:6
“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’”
“Grace doesn’t promise the absence of struggle but the presence of God.” —Max Lucado
- God’s grace can empower us to stay committed to our families.
Luke 2:52
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.”
- God’s grace can empower us to stay consistent in our walk with Christ.
2 Corinthians 12:9
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Ephesians 2:8-9
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”