12-24-11 PM - Surviving the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

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 18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ 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, 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" --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.

I. EXPECT YOUR PLANS TO BE INTERUPTED. (18)

(1) Erusim (engagement, betrothal): legally the couple was married, but not living together, have not consummated the relationship. The erusim could last as much as 12 months. Tested fidelity, integrity. In order to break the engagement you had to get divorced.

In our culture you just say "let’s call it off."

(2) Nisuin (Marriage ceremony itself)

Joseph was planning on marrying his sweetheart, drawing up house plans, carving their marriage bed...BIG PLANS.

James 4:13-15 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." [14] Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. [15] Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that."                                                                                                                                                                      

Pro 19:21 Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.

II GET GOD’S TAKE ON THE INTERUPTION

(1) He got to marry his sweetheart.

(2) He was honored to have been chosen to raise God’s only Son.

Consider God’s take Joseph did! Verse 20)

(1) PRAY:                                                                                                      

I Thess. 5:17  pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

James 5:13  Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray.

(2) PERSPECTIVE: Put the interruption in proper perspective.                

Luke 12:22 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 25  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?                                                    

Matt. 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

(3) PROVIDENCE: God is in control. He still has your hairs numbered.

Duet.32:4 He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.

Is.55:8,9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord.

9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Ps. 145:17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.

Prov. 5:21 For a man's ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all his paths.

Rom. 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.