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Bible StudyDecember 5, 2018CHRISTMASChristmas SeriesMatthew 1: 18-25(Joseph: Fulfilling God’s Will)In today’s lesson, we are looking at a character that is mainly mentioned during the Christmas holiday, Joseph. All we know about him, from the scriptures, is that he was a carpenter, probably from the town of Nazareth and a descendant of David. We find him here in Matthew 1 as an engaged man; engaged to a young woman named Mary. All seemed well until he hears that Mary, his fiancé, is pregnant from the Holy Spirit. His initial thought is to put Mary away privately and leave the situation. However, his life is forever changed after an encounter with an angel who gives him some good news. Though this may not have been what he planned in his life, Joseph makes a decision to fulfill the Will of God for his life and many others. Joseph makes the decision to take Mary as his wife and take the child as his own. Joseph was chosen by God long before he knew and everything was according to God’s plan; fulfilling God’s prophecy. Looking at Joseph’s story helps us look at our lives to find strength to fulfill God’s Will even if it means altering our own plans. Let’s look together at Joseph’s story…Joseph18?Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19?Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20?But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21?And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”22?So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23?“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” 24?Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25?and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus. (NKJV)How would you describe Joseph’s character in verse 19?Why do you think the angel addressed him as “Joseph, son of David?”Why do you think Joseph did what the angel said to him in his dream?Has God ever spoke to you (got your attention) about doing something for Him?If yes, what was your response? Did you do what the Lord ask you to do?Today, we will look more about doing the Will of God and ways God speaks to us. To help us, we will use Daniel Darling’s article on entitled “Four Ways God Speaks to Us” as a guide for our discussion.When you hear someone say, “I want to do the Will of God,” what do you think they mean? How can one what is God’s Will in their life?Some see God’s Will as some sort of vague, cloudy, blurred thing that cannot be reached or grasped. However, to help us look and think about God’s Will, know that:(1) It is Satan who wants us to be confused, directionless, and ineffective. (2) It is God who has a preordained plan for us, who has given us specific steps, and who wants to see our lives matter. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”With this, here are some ways God speaks to us and guides us to His Will…God speaks to us through circumstances.God is in charge of this world. And the events that He allows; the family we were born into, the town we grew up in, our friends, the schools we attended, getting fired from a job, meeting a future mate, our gifts, talents, skills, the places in which we live, are all part of God’s divine blueprint for our success. None of this by chance. God didn’t mess up. God didn’t make a mistake. God isn’t ever caught by surprise. So you can do one of two things. You can continue to live as the world lives and say, “You get out of it what you make of it. I can’t help the way I am." OR You can embrace your life—your life right now—as God’s will. Yes, what happens to you--that’s out of your control--is God’s will for your life.God speaks through opportunities.There is an old story about a man trapped on the top of his house during a flood. The water is swiftly rising. As this man sits on his roof, fearful of being swept away by the current, he cries out to God, “God please deliver me.” A few moments later, a farmer friend arrives with his boat. “Hey, friend, want a ride to safety?” he asks. “No,” replies the man on top of his house. “God is going to deliver me.” An hour later, the water is up to the gutters. A voluntary rescue person comes by on his yellow raft. “Hey, let’s get you off of there—and on to safety,” he yells. But the man on top of his house refuses to go. “God is going to deliver me.” Another hour passes and now the water is halfway up the roof. The man climbed to the top of his chimney, nervously looking down at certain death and destruction. Fortunately, a Red Cross volunteer swings by in a canoe and offers him a ride to safety. The man refuses saying, “God is going to deliver me.” A couple of hours pass by and the water sweeps over the top of the man’s house. He is carried away by the current and drowns. When he gets to Heaven, he meets Jesus and says, “I thought you were going to deliver me.” Jesus looks down at the man and says, “I sent a boat, a raft, and a canoe—but you refused each one.” Morale: The Lord brought to him opportunity after opportunity but he refused to take them. God works through open doors and opportunities. These are not just “lucky occurrences” but windows and doors of opportunities God provides for us to step out and walk through. If you want to do God’s Will, then Get up, Go, Do something and let God direct you.God speaks through spiritual counselors and mentors.Every believer should have someone or a group of faithful, spirit filled friends; mentors in their lives who they can bounce ideas with. We need people who not only listen to us, but someone we can receive feedback from. We need spiritual people around us who will hold us accountable of our words and actions. God can speak through those who have our best interest at heart; those who care about our growth and walk with Christ. Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 1:5 says, “A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel.”For this cause, every believer should be a member of a local church, a body of like-minded believers to help us grow and make sound decisions. One of the gifts God gave to the church are pastors. They are His under shepherds to help lead His people find their calling and gifts. Pastors and leaders are in place to provide godly wisdom to those in the church; provide spiritual counsel so believers can make good decisions. Hebrews 10:24-25 (NLT), “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. ?And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”God's will is revealed in God's Word. We must know that what God wants to you to do in your life is already spelled out in His Word. God is not going to mysteriously lead you to do something that contradicts His Word. The Bible touches on every aspect in our lives, it is up to us to read, study, and live by His Word if we want to be in His Will. Sadly, what occurs, is many Christians try to mix their sinful lifestyles with the teachings of the Scriptures and wonder why they can’t ever seem to discover “God’s will for their lives.” Unconfessed sin keeps us from not only being close to God, but “blind” to the Will of God. But once we repent of our sins, turn from them and dedicate ourselves to God’s Word, God will speak to us and reveal to us His Will. 2 Timothy 3:15-17 (NLT) says, “You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ?God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”Let’s look at Joseph again, he has an opportunity of being the father of God’s Son. It is the Will of God for him to care for both Mary and Jesus; raise the Christ child and be remembered for all eternity. Though he is presented a challenge and possible ridicule from others, God spoke to him through the circumstance of the situation. God sent an angel to ease his mind and explain why Mary is pregnant and that is was chosen to carry out this task. The angel tells Joseph that it will be his responsibility to pronounce to the world the name of this great child. Also, through the angel, God speaks to Joseph, telling him that all of this was already revealed by the prophets. This special Child is the revelation of God’s Word into flesh. Through these things, Joseph did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife and did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. ................
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