The Gospel of Requirements: When Discipleship Eclipses the Savior

[00:06:52] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
and more.
[00:08:29] Thank you for watching!
[00:09:42] and more.
[00:10:34] and more.

[00:10:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Good morning and welcome to worship here at First Baptist Church of Mooresville we know that it is cold outside but yet you braved the weather anyway and you have joined us here and thank you so much whether you are here in person whether you are worshiping via our overflow in the fellowship hall or perhaps you are at home and you're worshiping via our live stream thank you so much for joining us we are in this Advent season and this is a special time of year
[00:11:13] For us to connect with God and through him in a relationship with Jesus Christ and that is what we are all about here.
[00:11:21] We want you to connect with us here in worship but we want you to also connect through growing in your faith and knowledge of who Jesus is.
[00:11:28] And so here's what I'm going to ask you to do.
[00:11:30] If you would love to get more connected here at First Baptist Church, whether you just have simple questions about who we are, whether you want to get connected to a Bible study or connected in serving, if you will look in the pew in front of you, you'll find a Connect card.
[00:11:45] you can fill that out and place it in the offering plate as it is passed around or perhaps you have a prayer need or a prayer concern you can fill that out as well and we will be sure to pray for you or to reach out to you with any questions that you may have perhaps today you are a first-time guest and thank you so much for joining us if you are a first-time guest at the conclusion of our service please join us at the welcome center in the back we have a small gift as a way of saying thank you for being here and we would just love to be able to meet you
[00:12:14] and to share more about First Baptist Church.
[00:12:17] But today we gather to worship the one true living God.
[00:12:21] So we encourage you now to open up your hearts and your minds to let God speak to you today what it is that He needs you to hear.
[00:12:29] Thank you so much for worshiping with us.

[00:12:38] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Well good morning everybody.
[00:12:41] Welcome on this, the third Sunday of Advent, as we celebrate joy.
[00:12:47] And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
[00:12:57] It's an eternal joy.
[00:12:58] It's not a joy dependent on your circumstances.
[00:13:01] It's a joy dependent on Jesus Christ.
[00:13:06] So as we open in worship this morning, if you're able, I invite you to stand as we sing together your name.

[00:13:38] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Humbly to the earth you came Born into this world to stay Brought with us, Emmanuel

[00:14:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
Your name is a strong and mighty tower Your name is a shelter like no other Your name, let the nations sing it louder Cause nothing has the power to save
[00:14:38] In your name we pray Come and fill our hearts today Forgive our strength to live for you And glorify your name Your name is a strong and mighty tower
[00:15:09] Is a shelter like no other your name Let the nations sing it louder Cause nothing has the power to save
[00:15:36] Counselor

[00:15:48] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
Your name is a strong and mighty tower.

[00:15:54] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
Your name is a shelter like no other.
[00:16:00] Your name, let the nations sing it louder, for nothing has the power to save.
[00:16:14] Is a strong and mighty tower your name Is a shelter like no other your name Let the nations sing it louder For nothing has the power to save
[00:16:48] Amen.
[00:16:53] Please be seated.

[00:17:03] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
At this time I'd like to invite the Black family forward for the lighting of the Advent wreath.

[00:17:35] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
On the first Sunday of Advent, we lit the candle of hope.
[00:17:39] Last Sunday, we lit the candle of peace.
[00:17:49] Today, we light the third candle of Advent, the candle of
[00:17:55] We practiced this.
[00:17:59] Joy.
[00:18:00] But the joy of Christmas doesn't begin in comfort.
[00:18:03] It begins with Joseph, a quiet, righteous man whose life suddenly collapsed beneath him.
[00:18:09] His plans, his reputation, his understanding of the future, all of it seemed to fall apart.
[00:18:15] And in the moment of confusion and fear, God came to him.
[00:18:19] Listen to Matthew 1 20-23 But as he considered these things, behold, 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, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
[00:18:36] She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.
[00:18:43] All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet.
[00:18:50] And they shall call his name Emmanuel, which means God with us.
[00:18:55] This is a revisitation of Christmas.
[00:18:58] An angel appeared and said, Do not be afraid.
[00:19:01] What is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
[00:19:04] Joseph didn't get clarity.
[00:19:06] He didn't get details.
[00:19:07] He didn't get answers.
[00:19:09] But he did get a promise.
[00:19:11] A kept promise.
[00:19:13] A virgin shall conceive and bear a son.
[00:19:15] And he received a name.
[00:19:17] A remarkable name.
[00:19:19] Jesus.
[00:19:20] Emmanuel.
[00:19:21] God saves.
[00:19:22] God is with us.
[00:19:25] This is where joy is born.
[00:19:27] Not in ease, but in obedience.
[00:19:29] Not in comfort, but in surrender.
[00:19:32] Not when life makes sense, but when God steps into a life that doesn't.
[00:19:37] Joseph discovered a truth we need today.
[00:19:40] Joy isn't found in your circumstances.
[00:19:42] Joy is found in our Savior.
[00:19:45] Joy is found not in having all the answers, but in the assurance that God is always with you, Emmanuel.
[00:19:52] And so today, as we light the candle of joy, we remember the story of Joseph, the man who chose obedience over reputation, sacrifice over comfort, surrender over self, and discovered that the cost of following Jesus is great, but the joy of being with Jesus is greater.
[00:20:11] We light this candle today because Jesus is our God.
[00:20:17] Joy.
[00:20:19] Emmanuel has come and in him our joy is complete.
[00:20:24] Let us pray.
[00:20:26] Father, as we light the candle of joy, remind us that true joy is found, not in perfect circumstances, but in your faithful presence.
[00:20:34] Teach us to trust you like Joseph did, to follow even when the path is unclear, to obey even when it costs something, and to rest in the promise that you are with us.
[00:20:44] Fill our hearts with joy of Emmanuel, and let the joy shine through our lives this Christmas season.
[00:20:50] Amen.

[00:20:56] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
Thank you and let us stand again as we sing together, Joy to the World.
[00:21:12] Joy to the world, the Lord is come.
[00:21:20] Every heart prepare Him room And heaven and nature sing And heaven and nature sing And heaven and heaven and nature sing Joy to the earth the Savior reigns That banners all
[00:21:52] What fields and floods, what fields and plains Repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy Repeat, repeat, repeat the sounding joy No more of sins and sorrows grow
[00:22:22] He comes to make His mercies full Far as the curse is bound Far as the curse is bound Far as far as the curse is bound
[00:22:45] He rules the world with truth and grace And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness And wonders of His love And wonders of His love
[00:23:12] Amen.

[00:23:21] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Please be seated.

[00:23:35] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
2019 marks 100 years that Southern Baptist Offering for International Missions has been called the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.
[00:23:43] You probably know that 100% of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goes directly overseas to support IMB missionaries serving around the world.
[00:23:51] 0% goes to overhead and administrative cost.
[00:23:55] Every penny goes directly to IMB missionaries to declare the majesty of Christ to a lost world.
[00:24:02] Inspired by a spirit of a Gospel-driven partnership, the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is an effective initiative that God is using to extend His work in a world that desperately needs to hear that Christ died for the forgiveness of sin because of the mercy and grace of God.
[00:24:22] Lottie Moon isn't the name of a clever marketing campaign.
[00:24:26] It marks the legacy of a giant who followed Christ with full surrender and championed others to do the same.

[00:24:50] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Good morning church.
[00:24:53] This morning we have a great opportunity to be part of something bigger than us with the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering giving.
[00:25:01] It's been a lifeline that is over a century.
[00:25:05] 100% of every dollar given goes directly to the missionaries in the field, helping share the gospel to men, women, and children who may never have heard the name Jesus.
[00:25:15] This offering carries a legacy of Lottie Moon, of extraordinary women,
[00:25:20] With Extraordinary Faith, who spent 39 years in China pouring out her life for Christ and ultimately gave everything she had, even her own life, for the people that she loved.
[00:25:32] Because of her sacrifice, Southern Baptists began praying, giving, and sending, and God has been faithful ever since.
[00:25:39] Today, this offering supports nearly 3,700 missionaries around the world, and now it's our turn to help.
[00:25:46] As a church, we are praying and believing that God will help us give $15,000, trusting Him to strengthen missionaries, to plant churches, to translate scripture, to reach families, to save children, and change eternities.
[00:26:00] This is more than an offering, it's a worship, it's obedience, and it's love.
[00:26:05] It's the heartbeat of the Great Commission.
[00:26:08] Lottie Moon once wrote,
[00:26:17] Let me share a few important events that are happening in the life of our church.
[00:26:37] Tonight at 6 p.m. we invite you to Songs at the Major.
[00:26:40] It's a meaningful time of Christmas music reflection as we prepare our hearts for Christmas.
[00:26:47] Come worship with us as we focus on the hope and peace that Christ brings to the world.
[00:26:53] This evening is student ministry.
[00:26:55] We'll be meeting at 5 o'clock in the Fellowship Hall for appetizers and then Christmas karaoke.
[00:27:00] This will be a great time for fun and fellowship and then we'll head over to Songs at the Major at 6.
[00:27:07] This Thursday night at 10 o'clock our students will be heading to Charlotte to the Operation Christmas Child shoe box packaging center to prepare shoe boxes that were lovingly donated from people all over the southeast and we're going to pack them to get them one step closer to being in the hands of families all over the world.
[00:27:27] So please be in prayer for our youth as they serve our communities near and far.
[00:27:34] Christmas Eve at First Baptist Church is coming up, and as we celebrate the birth of our Savior with candles and communion, we offer two service opportunities.
[00:27:43] The first one is at 5 p.m.
[00:27:46] It'll have a children's emphasis, and then at 7 p.m. we'll have our traditional candlelight service.
[00:27:53] Also mark your calendars for a few upcoming fellowship opportunities.
[00:27:58] Joy, Crazy Bingo, and Luncheon will be on December 16th at 1130 a.m. Be sure to RSVP and wear your most festive Christmas apparel.
[00:28:10] And speaking of festive Christmas apparel, Pajamas and Popcorn Christmas will be held for kindergarten through fifth grade students on December 21st at 930 a.m.
[00:28:23] Please note there will be no Wednesday night activities through the holiday season.
[00:28:28] December 17th, 24th, and 31st we will not be meeting.
[00:28:31] The Wednesday night activities will resume on January 7th.
[00:28:38] One last thing.
[00:28:39] I ask that our church family be in prayer for our youth.
[00:28:43] It's been such a blessing to watch our FBC youth grow and spiritually develop.
[00:28:49] We have a great opportunity this summer to go to Caswell for summer beach camp, and we've already had over 50 students sign up, so that's been an amazing blessing.
[00:28:59] But right now we're being limited by the amount of housing at Caswell.
[00:29:03] We believe we could send 70-75 students.
[00:29:06] So just bring in prayer that additional housing opens up so that we can have more students attend.
[00:29:12] Also, if you'd like to support this trip, we'd love for no student to not go because of a financial issue.
[00:29:18] So if you'd love to support that ministry, if you could check out the merch that's in the
[00:29:24] fellowship hall we got shirts sweatshirts other first baptists and first baptist youth apparel and all of the proceeds will go directly to the caswell trip that's thanks to mary ann greenhill who's designed and created all of these um and for the caswell trip so he is a faithful all right let us pray heavenly father
[00:29:56] The greatest gift of all.
[00:29:58] As we enter this season of celebrating his birth, we are reminded of your love, generosity, and grace that you poured out to us.
[00:30:07] We now bring our tithes and our offerings as an act of worship, trusting that you will use them for the work of your kingdom.
[00:30:15] Bless both the gifts and the givers, and may all that we do point others to hope, peace, and salvation found in Christ alone.
[00:30:23] In Jesus' name we pray.
[00:30:25] Amen.

[00:30:54] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
The night was like no other night As the world lay fast asleep The wise men followed heaven's light Through a desert dark and deep

[00:31:20] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
The stable that echoed the baby's cries And they fell to their knees by the manger's side They're singing, Holy, Holy, Hallelujah, our King
[00:31:41] You're the one who sets the world free.
[00:31:52] Holy, holy, earth and heaven will sing, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

[00:32:04] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
We're a million miles from Bethlehem But the story is still the same And when peace on earth is hard to find Yet we still cry out His name

[00:32:34] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
and Reconciliation, Reconciliation and Reconciliation.

[00:33:06] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Hallelujah!
[00:33:09] Hallelujah!

[00:33:42] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
Hallelujah, hope has arrived Love took a breath and we came alive Hallelujah, Jesus has come We bow before Him Hallelujah, hope has arrived Love took a breath and we came alive Hallelujah, Jesus has come

[00:34:08] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
Holy, holy, hallelujah, our King You're the one who sets the world free Holy, holy, earth and heaven will sing
[00:34:41] Holy, Holy, Hallelujah our King

[00:35:11] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
At this time, we're dismissing to Children's Church.
[00:35:15] And if you are visiting with us today and have someone participating, quickest way to pick them up at the end of the service is right up the ramp behind the piano.
[00:35:24] Turn right down the steps and turn right again.
[00:35:27] The slide said next Sunday on the 14th for Songs of the Major.
[00:35:34] This is next Sunday on the 14th.
[00:35:36] Six o'clock tonight.
[00:35:38] We would love for you to join us.
[00:35:42] Prayer is an important part of this church family.
[00:35:46] We encourage you to be a part of that, to let us know if you or someone that you know is in need of prayer.
[00:35:54] We email the prayer sheet out.
[00:35:56] You'll find it at the back of the church at this time.
[00:35:59] Let us come before the Lord in prayer.
[00:36:04] Heavenly Father, we come before you this day with grateful hearts.
[00:36:08] Remember us.
[00:36:11] To all people through the angel on that glorious night so long ago, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all.
[00:36:22] Father, we thank you that this great joy is not dependent on what life has for us.
[00:36:28] It doesn't come and go with the changing seasons.
[00:36:31] It isn't found in our bank accounts, our health reports, or our earthly success.
[00:36:37] No, this joy
[00:36:39] This deep, abiding, eternal joy is found only in the person of Jesus Christ, your Son and our Savior.
[00:36:46] Lord, we confess that too often we look for joy in all the wrong places.
[00:36:51] We seek it in temporary things that fade and fail us.
[00:36:56] But you have given us a joy that the world cannot give and cannot take away.
[00:37:01] A joy rooted in the truth that Christ came to save sinners.
[00:37:05] That he lived the life we could not live, died the death we deserved to die, and rose again so that we might have eternal life.
[00:37:15] Today, Father, we lift before you those in our midst who are hurting.
[00:37:21] We ask for your healing touch upon bodies that are weak and worn.
[00:37:26] We pray for comfort for those who grieve, for those whose hearts are heavy with loss and sorrow.
[00:37:34] We ask for your peace, that peace which passes all understanding, to guard the hearts and minds of those who are anxious and afraid.
[00:37:46] Lord, specifically, we lift up Mike Privet, David Lentz, William Simms, Mark Merritt, Bill and Trinda,
[00:38:05] Help us, Lord, help us to rest in the great joy of knowing Christ.
[00:38:10] When our circumstances seem dark, remind us that the light of the world has come.
[00:38:15] When we feel alone, remind us that Emmanuel, God with us, will never leave us nor forsake us.
[00:38:24] When we are weary, remind us that in Christ we have an anchor for our souls.
[00:38:30] We pray all these things in the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, and our great joy.
[00:38:38] And all who agree say, Amen.

[00:38:47] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Well, good morning, everyone.
[00:38:48] Thank you so much for being here.
[00:38:50] If you will, will you kindly open up your Bible to Matthew chapter 1.
[00:38:58] Matthew chapter 1.
[00:39:06] Now, I want to read a story to you, and I told you last week, as we were reading, you know, sometimes, especially during this Advent season, these stories you're familiar with.
[00:39:18] And sometimes familiarity can make things lose its weight.
[00:39:23] So, I want to ask you today, this story I'm about to read, if you will pretend like it's the first time you've ever heard it.
[00:39:33] and just let this hit you like a breath of fresh air so Matthew chapter 1 for all of you who are in here for all of you that are in the overflow over building B we so appreciate you giving up your seat and we thank you for just being so selfless I want to ask you wherever you're at if you're willing and if you're able if you will stand at this time you've been sitting for a little bit and I don't want you to fall asleep I mean to wake you up
[00:40:00] Matthew chapter 1 we're going to start in verse 18 and it goes like this pretend this is the first time you've heard this 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
[00:40:23] And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.
[00:40:30] But as he considered these things, behold, 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, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
[00:40:49] She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
[00:40:54] All of this took place fulfilled what the Lord had spoken by the prophet.
[00:41:03] Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which means God with us.
[00:41:11] And when Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel told him.
[00:41:18] He took his wife.
[00:41:20] But he knew her not until she had given birth to a son.
[00:41:25] and he called his name Jesus.
[00:41:29] Lord, we need your help this morning.
[00:41:33] Your word is powerful.
[00:41:35] Your word is perfect, but this morning we need you to open up our hearts so it becomes personal.
[00:41:43] Lord, I pray that this morning, Lord, you would help me.
[00:41:49] I feel my mind feels a little bit clouded today.
[00:41:53] So Lord, would you hide me behind your cross?
[00:41:56] If there's anything that I'm going to say that is contrary to kingdom value, do what you must to silence me.
[00:42:02] But if what I'm saying stands on your truth, then Lord, make my voice echo in the sanctuary, in the halls of the overflow, perhaps off the walls of those listening at home in their living rooms.
[00:42:16] Father, I pray that today your word would so penetrate our hearts that today would be the day of salvation.
[00:42:24] but if there is someone in here Lord we don't want to make any bones about it there's someone in here this morning who does not know you they've not surrendered their life to you that from this story they would make that decision today so Lord will you go ahead pour out your Holy Spirit and draw them closer to you we pray all of these things in your holy and your most exalted name and all those who agreed said amen you may be seated in the presence of the Lord
[00:42:54] If this is your first time here today, I just want you to know that this Advent season, what we've been doing the last several weeks is we've been in a series that we're calling Visitations, going through the book of Luke, even though today we're in the book of Matthew.
[00:43:11] What we're doing is we're looking at every time God sends an angel to visit someone in the Christmas narrative, what kind of message did that angel have?
[00:43:21] By the way, the word angel in Hebrew literally means messenger.
[00:43:24] What kind of message do they have?
[00:43:26] and most importantly what does that message have to do with you and i right now and so the first week when we started this we talked about zachariah angel came to visit zachariah and said hey your wife elizabeth is going to be pregnant which was crazy because they were incredibly owed well past barren years
[00:43:42] and you're going to she's going to give birth to a son named John he's going to be a prophet he's going to prepare the way for the Lord himself and then the angel visits not an old couple but a young teenage girl named Mary and says Mary you're going to conceive and you're not going to have a prophet but you're going to have God himself the Christ
[00:44:03] Mary says well how can this be because I'm a virgin and the angel explains this is not going to be through intercourse it's not going to be through a man God is going to step out of the portals of heaven into the realms of this world and he's going to do that by entering your womb and wrapping himself in the flesh that's in your womb
[00:44:22] Mary says okay Lord she says the most courageous thing let it be done to me according to your word and now the third visitation is not Zachariah it's not Mary it's Joseph now I want to tell you why I think Joseph's visitation is so unique there's three things that separate this from everyone else's now this is not in your sermon notes in your bulletin
[00:44:44] This is completely free.
[00:44:46] It doesn't cost you anything, okay?
[00:44:47] But three reasons, real quick.
[00:44:49] First one is simply this.
[00:44:51] Joseph is asleep.
[00:44:53] Right?
[00:44:54] Does that make sense?
[00:44:55] Mary was awake, Zechariah was awake when the angel came, but not Joseph.
[00:44:58] Joseph is asleep.
[00:45:00] The second thing is when God comes to Zechariah, and when God comes to Mary, God tells them what He's going to do before He does it.
[00:45:12] Is that right?
[00:45:13] Elizabeth will be pregnant and then Elizabeth gets pregnant.
[00:45:16] Mary, you're going to conceive, then Mary conceives.
[00:45:19] But God is speaking to Joseph not before he moves, but after he's already moved.
[00:45:26] Does that make sense?
[00:45:27] It's kind of like giving the game plan at halftime.
[00:45:30] It's a little bit awkward.
[00:45:32] The third thing that I think is really interesting is when God speaks to Zechariah, Zechariah has some questions.
[00:45:40] How can this be?
[00:45:41] We're too old.
[00:45:43] Mary has some questions.
[00:45:44] How can this be?
[00:45:45] I'm a virgin.
[00:45:46] But poor Joe here doesn't say anything.
[00:45:51] Joseph is silent.
[00:45:52] As a matter of fact, Joseph doesn't have one recorded word in the Scripture.
[00:45:58] Did you know that?
[00:45:59] Yet his life, I think, preaches the loudest.
[00:46:04] When God comes to Joseph, the message is simple.
[00:46:07] Go back to verse 20.
[00:46:09] As he was considering these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying, Joseph, son of David,
[00:46:18] Do not fear to take Mary.
[00:46:19] Oh, can I share with you the fourth thing I think is interesting?
[00:46:22] Every time an angel shows up, the angel says, do not be afraid.
[00:46:26] But it's always in the context of don't be afraid of me.
[00:46:29] With Joseph, it's don't be afraid of Mary.
[00:46:32] Don't be afraid, take her in, okay?
[00:46:34] Don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
[00:46:43] Y'all listen, before this moment,
[00:46:46] Joseph's life is planned out it's simple it's good y'all he's a carpenter which means he is a carpentry business he's an entrepreneur he has a good name the bible says that he's a righteous man that means a good reputation he has a betrothed Mary or a fiance he has a future he has a plan he has aspirations he has dreams and when God shows up in this moment
[00:47:17] Everything begins to fall apart for him.
[00:47:21] When he realizes that his betrothed is pregnant, his heart breaks, his dreams collapse, his reputation will be shattered, and his understanding of the world is going to unravel.
[00:47:34] And it's in that moment of the unraveling God sends an angel.
[00:47:38] Why didn't he do it beforehand?
[00:47:39] I have a theory.
[00:47:40] I think sometimes we're more in tune to God's voice not when things are nice, neat, and tidy, but when there's confusion and chaos.
[00:47:49] And this is the moment God begins to speak.
[00:47:50] By the way, what does that mean to be betrothed?
[00:47:53] What does that mean?
[00:47:55] Okay, so the process of getting married or being wed in ancient Israel is a little bit different than the way we go about it in our Western society.
[00:48:05] It's a process called kineshing.
[00:48:08] You can look that up later on and find out more details, but essentially here's how this works, okay?
[00:48:13] For all of you men out there, your parents are the one who picks out your wife.
[00:48:19] Okay, not you, it's your parents.
[00:48:21] Reason 570, I'm glad I didn't live in that culture or that time.
[00:48:25] So they're gonna pick out a suitable helpmate.
[00:48:28] What they do is they go to the girl's parents and they say, hey, we want your daughter to be our daughter-in-law.
[00:48:34] How much is this gonna cost?
[00:48:36] There's a bride price that needs to be paid.
[00:48:39] So Joseph's parents would have talked to Mary's parents and they would have came up with a bride price and there would have been denarii that was exchanged.
[00:48:46] After that financial agreement or contract is signed, there's a ceremony.
[00:48:51] There's going to be two ceremonies as a part of this process.
[00:48:55] The first one is where you get the immediate family together with a priest.
[00:49:00] And this couple, at least in the eyes of the law or the eyes of God, is essentially married, okay?
[00:49:07] But here's the thing.
[00:49:09] They can't live together.
[00:49:10] They can't sleep together.
[00:49:12] So what would happen is after that ceremony, they would each go back to their parents' home.
[00:49:17] And they're going to do that for the next year.
[00:49:19] And that year of waiting is what we call the betrothment process.
[00:49:24] Now, the husband has essentially one job to do in that year, okay?
[00:49:28] That is to build a home, and that's what Joseph would have been doing.
[00:49:32] The wife essentially has one job to do.
[00:49:34] You know what that is?
[00:49:35] Be pure.
[00:49:36] That's it.
[00:49:38] That's actually why they wait a year, right?
[00:49:40] Because there was money exchanged, and they want to make sure they're not paying for some girl.
[00:49:45] Preimprisonment or something so so she's just got to be pure and everybody's going to keep their eyes on her now the guy could come and see the girl but only if somebody's there they can never be left alone her daddy had to be there the whole time sitting in front of them reason 2082 i'm glad i didn't live in that culture or in that time now after a year of betrothment
[00:50:10] there's the second service and that's not just the immediate family that's where the whole village comes together and they celebrate and they party and at the end of that service the couple goes to their new house and that's when they physically consummate that marriage does that make sense to everyone well it's in the middle of that betrothment process Mary shows up pregnant
[00:50:39] Now, I think sometimes in our Western culture, man, we read this and we romanticize it, we throw glitter on it, or we think that this is just kind of a nice little cute and quaint story, and we forget the seriousness and the drama of, oh my goodness, she's pregnant!
[00:50:59] This alone was devastating.
[00:51:02] Listen, Mary could have been killed instantly.
[00:51:04] Four reasons Mary could have been killed.
[00:51:06] Number one, she got pregnant out of wedlock.
[00:51:07] Number two, she got pregnant during the betrothment process.
[00:51:11] Number three, she broke a financial agreement.
[00:51:14] There was a bride price that would have been paid for her.
[00:51:17] The same as stealing property in the eyes of the law, punishable by death.
[00:51:20] Number four, which I think is really interesting, Mary left Nazareth.
[00:51:26] You remember that?
[00:51:27] After the angel Gabriel talks to her, where does she go?
[00:51:29] To her cousin Elizabeth's house.
[00:51:30] You're not supposed to do that.
[00:51:33] You've got to stay home.
[00:51:34] People have to keep eyes on you.
[00:51:36] But Mary left, which means she put her life in danger and her daddy's life in danger as well.
[00:51:42] You say, so how do you know this?
[00:51:43] I mean, isn't this a little bit of hyperbole?
[00:51:45] Well, not really.
[00:51:46] I mean, I don't mean this to be crude, but it's like reading a history book or something.
[00:51:52] Now listen, imagine Pastor Alan Sledge had a birthday party, and you come to that birthday party, I'm there, I'm documenting everything.
[00:52:01] They bring out the cake, and I document that when they brought the cake out for Pastor Alan, we all begin to sing.
[00:52:09] Now later on, someone's reading that, and they say, well, we don't know what they sung.
[00:52:14] Well, yeah, we do.
[00:52:16] What do we sing at a birthday party when they bring out the cake?
[00:52:19] Happy Birthday.
[00:52:20] I don't have to record the lyrics to Happy Birthday, because in our culture that's what you do.
[00:52:27] The book of Matthew is written to a Jewish-targeted audience, and so they know the culture and the details of the betrothment process, and Matthew doesn't have to list all the details.
[00:52:36] Does that make sense to everyone?
[00:52:39] Second of all, I know it biblically because Joseph says it.
[00:52:42] He's considering dismissing Mary privately, not publicly.
[00:52:48] Why?
[00:52:49] To keep her from shame, which means death.
[00:52:51] Because she could be killed.
[00:52:52] For whatever reason, Joseph's a good enough guy, he doesn't want to see Mary die.
[00:52:57] And then the angel shows up and says, now you take her in as your wife.
[00:53:02] And here's the craziest part to me, Joseph says, okay.
[00:53:08] The fact that Joseph took Mary in means in the eyes of the community that he's admitting his own guilt.
[00:53:18] Why else would he take her?
[00:53:20] Wait, because that's God?
[00:53:23] Nobody's going to believe that.
[00:53:24] By the way, I promise we'll get to the sermon notes in a second, but can I share with you something else that I think sometimes we overlook?
[00:53:34] Mary and Joseph go to Bethlehem because a census is required, right?
[00:53:40] Jesus is born in Bethlehem.
[00:53:42] Everybody has to go back to their hometown.
[00:53:44] There's two things about that.
[00:53:46] One, there was no room for them in the inn.
[00:53:48] Well, the inn is not a hotel.
[00:53:49] It's not a Holiday Inn Express.
[00:53:50] Inn typically means guest house.
[00:53:52] So whatever connections Joseph had there, they said no.
[00:53:56] Second of all, after Jesus is born, eventually some...
[00:54:01] Some magi from the east come to visit him, but they don't come until he's two years old.
[00:54:06] You say, wait a second, my nativity scenes are messed up a little bit, but I'll get to that in a couple weeks, okay?
[00:54:12] They come when he's two years old.
[00:54:14] They didn't find Jesus in a stable, they found him in a house.
[00:54:17] They didn't find him in a manger, they found him in a crib.
[00:54:19] You following me?
[00:54:22] Why did they stay there for two years?
[00:54:25] Let me ask you men a question.
[00:54:27] Let's say your wife is pregnant with your first child.
[00:54:30] You leave Mooresville to take her on a vacation to Disney World.
[00:54:34] And while you're at Disney World, she goes into labor.
[00:54:38] You get her to the closest hospital, and she gives birth to your first child in Orlando, Florida.
[00:54:43] You want to look at her that night and say this?
[00:54:46] You know, babe, I've been thinking.
[00:54:48] I know her house is back in Mooresville, the house that I built.
[00:54:52] I know our lives are back in North Carolina.
[00:54:54] I know that's where all the grandparents are.
[00:54:56] I know that's where our jobs are.
[00:54:58] But since you gave birth in Orlando, I think we ought to just stay here.
[00:55:02] What would your wife say?
[00:55:03] No.
[00:55:05] So why did they stay two years in Bethlehem?
[00:55:08] Let me tell you why.
[00:55:09] Because they knew what was waiting for them back in Nazareth.
[00:55:13] They knew what was waiting for them.
[00:55:15] The only reason they left Bethlehem is because there was a ferocious dictator who was committing genocide to all the babies two years older or younger and Joseph and Mary had to run for their lives as refugees to Egypt and only then did they go back to Nazareth.
[00:55:31] Y'all listen, after this angel visits Joseph, there's not another angel coming to Nazareth.
[00:55:38] No other angel shows up to explain this to Joseph's parents.
[00:55:44] No angel shows up to explain this to Mary's parents.
[00:55:47] There's not some public announcement that God makes that says, no, no, no, no, no, they're telling the truth.
[00:55:55] You say, well, what about the book of Matthew?
[00:55:57] Well, the book of Matthew was written 40 years after the resurrection.
[00:55:59] The average life expectancy is 30 years old, which means the people of Nazareth went to their graves believing that Mary and Joseph were unfaithful.
[00:56:09] You with me?
[00:56:10] That meant the real housewives of Nazareth, every time they went through the yearbook and they got to Mary's picture, they got to Joseph's picture, they said, see, that's the couple.
[00:56:20] That's the ones who were unfaithful.
[00:56:23] One more thing, and I promise I'll get to my notes, but they're in Bethlehem for how many years?
[00:56:29] Two years.
[00:56:30] How long was the betrothment process?
[00:56:34] At the end of that betrothment process, what happened?
[00:56:36] The second ceremony.
[00:56:39] Guess who didn't have a ceremony?
[00:56:43] And by the way, shame on you if you think just because little Mary lived 2,000 years ago, she didn't have the same dreams and aspirations as every young little girl.
[00:56:53] Y'all, I have daughters.
[00:56:55] I have a wife.
[00:56:56] My RTV stays on say yes to the dress.
[00:57:03] If I can confess, Graham and I kind of like it too.
[00:57:08] Is that what little girls think about?
[00:57:10] Mary never had her daddy walk her down the aisle.
[00:57:16] Mary never had people just gawking over how pretty she is or how Joe must be the luckiest guy in the world.
[00:57:27] God never clarified with anyone else the truth.
[00:57:33] And from this point on, at least from a human standpoint, their lives are ruined.
[00:57:41] because nobody's ever going to believe them and this will follow them for the rest of their life that shame that scandal that broken reputation and I guess here's my question this morning why if God could bring himself to this earth any way he wanted to I don't know why did he do it by ruining the lives of two young people
[00:58:09] Why did God do it this way?
[00:58:11] I have a sneaking suspicion.
[00:58:12] Can I tell you?
[00:58:15] I think the reason God did it this way is because He's wanting to show me and you what it really means to be a Christ follower.
[00:58:27] Mary and Joseph are the first followers of Jesus.
[00:58:34] And God wants to show us what it actually requires to follow Jesus.
[00:58:38] Would you write this down, number one?
[00:58:40] What it requires to follow Jesus?
[00:58:43] It requires trust.
[00:58:46] Following Jesus requires trust.
[00:58:50] Joseph had to believe something no man in history has ever had to believe before.
[00:58:56] Joseph had to believe something no man in history has ever been asked to believe before.
[00:59:01] That his fiance, his betrothed, a virgin, was miraculously pregnant.
[00:59:06] And by the way, it's God.
[00:59:10] And that the Savior is going to save the people from their sins.
[00:59:15] And that God is working in such a way, but I can't explain this to any other human being.
[00:59:22] And Joseph doesn't even have a conversation with an angel.
[00:59:27] Everybody else has questions, not Joseph.
[00:59:31] It is just mind-blowing to me in verse 24, look at this, after the angel says, take Mary as your wife, verse 24, when Joseph woke from his sleep, he did as the angel commanded him.
[00:59:46] He just does it.
[00:59:49] Why did he do it?
[00:59:51] It's because he trusts God.
[00:59:54] It's because he trusts the Lord.
[00:59:56] Listen, would you make note of this, letter A?
[01:00:00] Faith is not having all the answers.
[01:00:02] It's trusting the one who does.
[01:00:04] Amen?
[01:00:06] Make note of this, letter B.
[01:00:08] You trust God's word above your questions.
[01:00:12] Now, does that mean it's wrong to have questions?
[01:00:14] Not at all.
[01:00:15] You should have questions.
[01:00:17] That's okay.
[01:00:18] Read the book of Habakkuk if you don't believe that.
[01:00:21] You should have some curiosity.
[01:00:23] You are allowed to throw your hands up in the air and say, Lord, I just don't understand this.
[01:00:27] Here's my question.
[01:00:28] What are you gonna do when he doesn't give you the answer?
[01:00:32] You wanna trust him?
[01:00:34] You still wanna be obedient?
[01:00:36] You see, God, I trust your character and who you are.
[01:00:39] Y'all, trust is at the center of it.
[01:00:43] Listen, we're taking up this offering.
[01:00:45] Our goal is $15,000.
[01:00:46] That's not much when you consider where it's going.
[01:00:49] This is to go 100% to support missionaries who are living in places to make Jesus' name famous in areas he has not been named before.
[01:00:58] And I am so proud of you.
[01:01:00] Some of you have already given so well.
[01:01:03] But can I kind of let you in on a secret?
[01:01:05] People who give well, people who give generously, you know why they do that?
[01:01:10] It's not because they believe in giving.
[01:01:14] It's because they believe in God and they trust God.
[01:01:17] Amen?
[01:01:18] They trust His care.
[01:01:20] How do you forgive?
[01:01:22] How do you forgive?
[01:01:23] It's not because you believe in forgiving.
[01:01:26] Y'all, forgiving is not natural.
[01:01:27] That's not a part of our nature.
[01:01:30] How do you forgive someone who sexually abused you?
[01:01:33] How do you forgive someone who cheated on you?
[01:01:36] How do you forgive someone who hurt you?
[01:01:38] How do you forgive someone who abandoned you as a child?
[01:01:41] That's not natural.
[01:01:42] And so people who forgive, forgive, not because they believe in forgiving, but because they believe in God, and they trust the character of God, and they know that God is good, and they trust His Word when He says, In all things I will work them for the good of those who love Me.
[01:01:59] Amen?
[01:02:00] So whatever struggle you have in obedience, it's not really the issue.
[01:02:04] The real issue is trust itself.
[01:02:07] People don't sell everything they have and go to the international mission field because they believe in adventure.
[01:02:14] They do it because they believe in God and they trust in God and they're willing to do that even if it means the cost of their lives, which leads me to the second point.
[01:02:24] Following Jesus requires surrender.
[01:02:30] It says that Joseph was a righteous man, not self-righteous.
[01:02:34] He wasn't arrogant.
[01:02:35] He was God-fearing, and he had a good reputation.
[01:02:41] But in this moment, when that angel comes, here's what he realizes.
[01:02:45] His reputation is now no longer his own.
[01:02:48] And his reputation is now no longer his to protect.
[01:02:51] His life is now no longer his own.
[01:02:53] His future is now no longer his own.
[01:02:56] His plans, his aspirations, his dreams is no longer his own.
[01:03:00] Can I ask you a question?
[01:03:01] Make note of this.
[01:03:02] Letter A.
[01:03:03] You willing to give up the life you expected from the life that God designed for you?
[01:03:08] You willing to surrender that?
[01:03:10] and say God whatever it is I'm no longer in charge you take control and if my life doesn't look the way I want it to look I'm okay with that you know C.S.
[01:03:20] Lewis talks about this that when a lot of people come to Jesus they come to him just because they want like a fresh coat of paint on their life it's like you invite God into the heart of your house for him to remodel some things you know make it look cleaner a little bit brighter
[01:03:35] And so you say, all right, Lord, take up the shack carpet, paint that panel and put some new tile down, make this thing look real sharp.
[01:03:42] And then all of a sudden you turn around and Jesus has got a sledgehammer and he's knocking holes in the wall.
[01:03:48] You know, no, no, no, wait a second.
[01:03:51] I wanted a fresh coat of paint.
[01:03:52] I don't want stuff destroyed.
[01:03:55] And then you get in on the secret.
[01:03:58] He did not come to remodel your house.
[01:04:01] He came to tear it down.
[01:04:04] to demolish it so he can rebuild the palace that he wants that's fit for him.
[01:04:11] Amen?
[01:04:13] And some of you are struggling with that right now because you're like, hey, I'm bringing my kids to First Baptist, my parents didn't bring me to church.
[01:04:20] Hey, I'm volunteering, I'm serving, I'm doing this, but now all of a sudden God's knocking down another wall and you're like, oh, I don't like that.
[01:04:26] It's good where I'm at.
[01:04:27] Can't you just have most of my life?
[01:04:29] Do you really have to have all of my life?
[01:04:32] I tell you guys all the time, if you say that God is 99% in charge of your life, guess what that means?
[01:04:37] You are 100% in charge.
[01:04:39] You know why?
[01:04:40] Because you're picking where the 1% is.
[01:04:42] And God says there is nothing that is off limits.
[01:04:46] Nothing that is off limits.
[01:04:47] I don't want a little bit.
[01:04:48] I want all of it.
[01:04:50] But Lord, there's some things I want to do that I may not be able to do.
[01:04:53] He says that's the point which leads me to the third point.
[01:04:56] Write this down.
[01:04:56] Following Jesus requires self-denial.
[01:05:01] Look at this.
[01:05:01] Jump back to verse 25.
[01:05:03] But Joseph knew her not until she had given birth to a son.
[01:05:11] And he called his name Jesus.
[01:05:14] Joseph knew her not.
[01:05:17] Joseph, the time Mary gave birth, most scholars will tell you, the time Mary actually gave birth, it was at the end of the betrothment process.
[01:05:28] So listen to what that means.
[01:05:30] Joseph, who had every legal right to know, to have intercourse with his wife, refused to.
[01:05:42] He waited during the betrothment process, He waited during the pregnancy process, and He waited until after Jesus was born.
[01:05:52] There's millions of churches in our country right now, and there's millions of people filling them and sitting in pews claiming to be Christians.
[01:06:00] and a whole lot of them have come in this morning having premarital sex, addicted to pornography and pretending that sexual immorality is no big deal.
[01:06:08] Joseph had every right to and he still said no.
[01:06:12] You know why?
[01:06:13] Write this down.
[01:06:14] Because obedience matters more than desires.
[01:06:19] How can you call yourself a follower of Jesus when you say, you know what, my desires are more important than anything else?
[01:06:29] Love is love and my truth is my truth and what feels good to me feels good to me and it matters not what God's Word says.
[01:06:36] I just don't believe.
[01:06:37] Listen to me.
[01:06:37] If you're not willing, if you're not willing to smother certain desires and to go through self-denial, I'm just telling you, you cannot biblically follow Jesus.
[01:06:49] Amen?
[01:06:52] Write this down.
[01:06:54] Self-denial forms desires that match God's purpose.
[01:06:58] God never says no because he's being rude or mean or wants to disappoint you.
[01:07:04] God says no because he loves you.
[01:07:06] If my kids based my love off every time I said no, we'd have a problem.
[01:07:13] I don't say no because I don't like them.
[01:07:16] I say no because I love them and I know what's best for them.
[01:07:20] But listen, self-denial isn't punishment, it's actually preparation.
[01:07:26] It's preparation for God to form your heart so you leave what you think is good so he gives you things that are better, including himself.
[01:07:35] You say, I don't know how I feel about that.
[01:07:37] That hurts.
[01:07:38] It does hurt, which leads me to the fourth point.
[01:07:40] Write this down.
[01:07:41] Following Jesus requires inconvenience.
[01:07:47] Obedience through Joseph's life into chaos.
[01:07:51] From Nazareth to Bethlehem, Bethlehem to Egypt, then from Egypt back to Israel.
[01:07:58] There's nothing about Mary or Joseph's life that's convenient from this point on.
[01:08:04] And you've got to make a decision today if you're okay with that.
[01:08:07] Let me tell you one truth.
[01:08:08] I need you to write this down.
[01:08:10] You cannot prioritize ease and Christ at the same time.
[01:08:17] And if you are, I have to seriously doubt today, biblically, if you're following Jesus.
[01:08:25] Now maybe you're not following Him, maybe you're just trying to fit Him in to areas where it feels good.
[01:08:32] But have you surrendered?
[01:08:34] Brothers and sisters, there is nothing convenient about serving people, amen?
[01:08:40] There's nothing convenient about serving when you're tired.
[01:08:43] There's nothing convenient about feeding people.
[01:08:45] There's nothing convenient about clothing people.
[01:08:48] There's nothing convenient about being involved in youth ministry or children's ministry.
[01:08:55] There's nothing convenient about mentoring students.
[01:08:58] There's nothing convenient about watching the nursery.
[01:09:02] Which is why we ask you to watch the nursery.
[01:09:04] And by the way, let me help you before you get to heaven one day.
[01:09:06] I don't want you to get to heaven and start complaining about how First Baptist just talks about youth and kids and wants you to watch the nursery because I'm afraid Mary may hear you.
[01:09:15] and when she hears you talk about you know having to watch kids that ain't yours she's going to look at you and say oh yeah because i had to carry a child for nine months that wasn't mine that completely destroyed my reputation and made my family community community abandon me but please tell me more about the audacity of first baptist asking you to give up once every two months to go down there and watch the nursery and that would be awfully embarrassing for you and i don't want that to happen so just know now it's inconvenient it's inconvenient
[01:09:45] To be and practice holiness.
[01:09:48] It is inconvenient to open up your house.
[01:09:51] It's inconvenient to practice foster care and adoption.
[01:09:55] And if you do it because you think it's convenient, I'm telling you, you want to get over that real quick.
[01:10:01] It is inconvenient to be bold about the name of Jesus.
[01:10:06] We have a lot of teaching here about how you need to be bold and you need to witness to every person in your life because there's no one in your life that God has put there by accident.
[01:10:18] We tell you all the time, you don't witness because you're a scholar and you don't witness because you're such a great wordsmith.
[01:10:25] You don't witness because you're an extrovert.
[01:10:28] You don't witness because you're a scholar.
[01:10:30] No, no, no, no, no.
[01:10:31] Listen, witnessing has nothing to do with a personality trait.
[01:10:34] It has everything to do with obedience.
[01:10:36] And I can just tell you, I know how inconvenient that is.
[01:10:39] Y'all, I mean, it may not show, but listen, on Sunday mornings, I try to be pretty prepared.
[01:10:44] I mean, I've kind of worked hard this week of trying to study and write and prepare a sermon for you.
[01:10:50] You know, monologue is one thing.
[01:10:51] Dialogue is something else.
[01:10:53] When I'm witnessing to a waiter or a waitress or someone I'm sitting next to on a plane or someone on a ball field, listen, it's like the Wild West.
[01:11:01] Right?
[01:11:01] I feel like Michael Scott.
[01:11:03] I'll start talking.
[01:11:03] I don't know how it's going to end, right?
[01:11:05] D.A.
[01:11:06] Carson said the death is two nervous people having a conversation, the person witnessing and the person listening.
[01:11:14] But we don't do that because we're gifted.
[01:11:17] We do it even though it's inconvenient because we're obedient.
[01:11:20] We love the Lord and we trust in Him.
[01:11:23] Y'all, it is inconvenient.
[01:11:25] It is inconvenient to talk about justice and radical racial reconciliation.
[01:11:31] It is inconvenient to stand up for truth.
[01:11:36] If you don't think I feel the weight of that every time I preach, let me just tell you, I do.
[01:11:40] It'd be so much easier for me to come in here and say, you know,
[01:11:44] I'm not going to talk about sin.
[01:11:47] I'm not going to talk about purity.
[01:11:49] I'm not going to talk about giving.
[01:11:51] Listen, Joseph was an ordinary guy.
[01:11:54] God used him.
[01:11:55] You're an ordinary guy.
[01:11:56] God will use you.
[01:11:57] Get on out of here.
[01:11:57] I'll see you next week.
[01:11:59] That would be so much easier, man.
[01:12:02] Church would probably be a whole lot bigger if I did preach that way.
[01:12:05] Sermons like this don't grow a church.
[01:12:07] They clear a church.
[01:12:11] It's not convenient to stand on truth.
[01:12:15] It's not convenient to be a part of missions.
[01:12:18] It's not convenient to give up everything you want so those who've never heard the sweet name of Jesus can know the sweet name of Jesus.
[01:12:30] Write this down.
[01:12:31] But obedience disrupts comfort so God can redirect your purpose.
[01:12:37] We do it not out of convenience.
[01:12:40] We do it because we trust the one who's told us to go.
[01:12:43] Amen?
[01:12:44] Don't ask Bethany, she'll come and start wrapping us up and as she does, you say, Seth, I don't know if I'm there.
[01:12:52] I don't know if I'm there.
[01:12:53] Let me ask you this question.
[01:12:57] When you became a Christian, anything in your life changed besides one hour on Sunday morning?
[01:13:03] Maybe an hour and a half if you go to First Baptist, they'll give you that.
[01:13:06] Anything else change?
[01:13:10] Anything in your life look different right now than your neighbor's life who's not a Christian?
[01:13:16] Listen, when I say that these things are required to follow Jesus, I don't mean that you've got to do this before God saves you or anything like that.
[01:13:25] No, no, no, no, no.
[01:13:26] We don't earn salvation.
[01:13:28] But what I do mean is that when you surrender your life to God, things ought to look different.
[01:13:32] Things are going to be uncomfortable.
[01:13:34] You say, I don't know.
[01:13:35] I don't know if I have the strength to do that.
[01:13:37] Well, you don't.
[01:13:38] Listen, Joseph didn't have the strength because he was superhuman.
[01:13:43] He didn't have the strength because, you know, him and Mary were somehow spiritually elite or perfect or on another religious notch.
[01:13:52] Y'all, Joseph is an ordinary God, but here's how he has strength, because he really does serve and follow an extraordinary God.
[01:13:58] Amen?
[01:13:59] Let me show you real quick where strength comes from to follow Jesus this way.
[01:14:06] Strength comes from a kept promise.
[01:14:10] I kept promise 700 years before this encounter with this angel God was speaking once more 700 years ago before this there was a king by the name of Ahaz and there was a prophet by the name of Isaiah
[01:14:31] there was an army that was lurking around the corner and God used Isaiah to go to King Ahaz and say don't worry God will protect you and God will give you a sign here's the sign that you need to know look at this Isaiah 7 14 therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and you shall call him Emmanuel now can I show you something some of you are going to think this is a little bit nerdy but I think this is kind of cool
[01:15:01] The word virgin, okay?
[01:15:05] The word virgin is a homograph.
[01:15:08] So, you know, English, we have homographs, a word that is spelled the same, pronounced the same, but has two different meanings, or several different meanings.
[01:15:18] Let me give you an example of an English homograph.
[01:15:20] Bat.
[01:15:21] B-A-T.
[01:15:23] If you say, go get the bat, what do you mean?
[01:15:25] Now, if I'm standing on a ball field, I know what you mean.
[01:15:27] A stick, you know, hit a ball.
[01:15:29] If I'm in a cave, you may say, that may mean something else, right?
[01:15:33] Like a rat with wings.
[01:15:34] If I'm in Gotham City, that may mean something else.
[01:15:39] Well, the word virgin in Hebrew is a Hebrew homograph.
[01:15:43] Two meanings.
[01:15:45] It's the same way we look at it today, someone who's never had sex.
[01:15:50] The second meaning just means a young lady, a young woman.
[01:15:56] So this was kind of obscure because they thought, now wait a second, a young woman gets pregnant?
[01:16:03] Well, that happens all the time.
[01:16:06] I mean, that's kind of like saying the Lord will be here when the dogs bark and the birds chirp, right?
[01:16:10] It's kind of obscure.
[01:16:12] And sure enough, there was a young lady in King Ahaz's court that got pregnant and it's like, all right, guess that was it.
[01:16:20] So for 700 years, it's just kind of an obscure passage that no one really talked about.
[01:16:30] Until one day when a guy's life was falling apart and he lays down
[01:16:37] In his bed as his head is going a thousand miles an hour and God sends an angel because that's what God was talking about 700 years prior.
[01:16:54] Amen?
[01:16:55] The God we serve
[01:16:59] The God we serve keeps His promises.
[01:17:03] Write this down just real quick.
[01:17:05] God always keeps His word, even when His timing feels unclear.
[01:17:09] Even when it doesn't make sense, you can still trust in Him.
[01:17:12] And because of that, listen, His past faithfulness gives us strength for present obedience.
[01:17:18] You see, that's where you get this strength from.
[01:17:20] Because you know, you know that God, God will never break a promise.
[01:17:23] Well, listen, what has He promised you?
[01:17:26] what about this Romans 8 1 therefore there's no condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ I cling to that promise what about this I will never leave you I will never forsake you I'm closer than your skin what about this that one day one day you will be my people and I will be your God that there will be no more death no more sorrow I will wipe away every tear from your eye that I
[01:17:51] You are dead in your trespasses of sin, but I have brought you out into this life.
[01:17:57] I have adopted you as an adopted son and daughter, as an heir into the kingdom.
[01:18:03] And one day, if you persevere, one day, if you trust in me, you will reign with me forever.
[01:18:09] That is a promise that will not be broken.
[01:18:12] That's what gives us our strength.
[01:18:14] Listen, let me give you the second one real quick.
[01:18:16] You know where we get our strength from?
[01:18:18] Not just a kept promise, but from a remarkable name.
[01:18:21] Now it's interesting because there's two names listed here.
[01:18:24] Did you notice that?
[01:18:27] She'll call his name Jesus, and then it says call him Emmanuel.
[01:18:30] What is that?
[01:18:30] Is that like Jesus Christ of Nazareth, but my friends call me Emmanuel?
[01:18:33] How does that work?
[01:18:35] Listen, this is important.
[01:18:37] Verse 21, She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
[01:18:41] Look at this, for he will save his people.
[01:18:46] Verse 23, Behold, the virgin will conceive and bear a son.
[01:18:50] Call him Emmanuel, which means God with us.
[01:18:56] Write this down, Jesus means God saves.
[01:18:59] That's what that means.
[01:19:02] Yahshua, Yahweh saves.
[01:19:06] But Emmanuel means God with us.
[01:19:08] Why the two names?
[01:19:10] One name tells you what He does.
[01:19:13] The other one tells you who He is.
[01:19:17] So when God calls you to lay down your life, when God calls you to get rid of the plans that you have,
[01:19:26] For the life He's designed for you.
[01:19:29] When God calls you to things that's going to be inconvenient, sisters, let me give you some hope.
[01:19:35] When God calls you to surrender, Emmanuel goes with you.
[01:19:39] When God calls you into self-denial, Emmanuel strengthens you.
[01:19:45] When God calls you into inconvenience, Emmanuel walks with you.
[01:19:48] When God calls you into suffering, Emmanuel comes with you.
[01:19:54] When God calls you to give up everything,
[01:19:57] Emmanuel, Jesus, gives you Himself.
[01:20:02] I'm going to ask you a question.
[01:20:03] I asked you this earlier.
[01:20:14] Did anything change besides your routine on Sunday morning?
[01:20:21] I want to pray for you as we pray.
[01:20:24] I want you to seriously consider that.
[01:20:27] And I want to ask you this morning, just here in a few seconds, that maybe you've been here for a while, but you've never actually surrendered your life to Jesus.
[01:20:39] You've never said, Lord, take the sledgehammer and knock it all down.
[01:20:43] I'm Yours.
[01:20:45] Not because I know how this is going to work, not because I know what the future holds, but I know You and I trust You.
[01:20:52] because I trust you I'm willing to surrender even if that means self-denial even if that means inconvenience because I believe your promise I know what a remarkable name you have who you are and what you do I trust you maybe you've been here for a long time maybe you've got everyone fooled you've got your wife fooled you've got your husband fooled you've got your kids fooled you've got your Sunday school teacher fooled let me tell you something you do not have God fooled
[01:21:21] Today's the day you own that and you say, I'm truly surrendering my life to you, Jesus.
[01:21:28] Can I give you some good news?
[01:21:30] He is just and faithful to forgive.
[01:21:32] Amen?
[01:21:34] Maybe you're here today and listen, you know the Lord, but you have become so preoccupied with you that you've not been serving the way you ought to.
[01:21:46] Maybe today's not the day you start a relationship with Jesus.
[01:21:49] Maybe today's the day you renew your relationship with Jesus.
[01:21:53] Listen, this altar is going to be open.
[01:21:55] I'm here.
[01:21:55] Pastor BJ's in here this morning.
[01:21:57] Pastor Allen's here.
[01:21:58] We've got plenty of deacons around.
[01:22:00] Won't you come?
[01:22:01] Let us pray with you.
[01:22:02] Won't you stand right where you're at?
[01:22:03] Let's pray together right now.
[01:22:04] Father, we thank you for who you are.
[01:22:08] We thank you, Lord, that you are the one that's in charge.
[01:22:11] We thank you, Lord, that you are the one
[01:22:14] You're the one that we even when life doesn't make sense we know you but we know the one who holds tomorrow Lord if they are somebody here this morning who has actually surrendered their life to you Lord Jesus I pray that today be the day of salvation
[01:22:42] that they would come and die to themselves so they can be raised to life in, for, and through you.
[01:22:49] Father, maybe there's someone in here who, you know, they love you, they've given their hearts to you before, but this cruel world has just beaten them to the point where, well, they've kind of forgot about you.
[01:23:01] They've been living more for themselves, more for their own hearts, more for their own aspirations.
[01:23:05] Lord, let today be a day of healing.
[01:23:07] Let today, this Advent day, be a day where they say, I'm tired of just worrying about me.
[01:23:13] Now, now, my focus is on the life that God has called me to live.
[01:23:18] Lord, may your Holy Spirit stir and draw your people.
[01:23:23] We pray this in your holy and most exalted name.

[01:23:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
of Israel, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye, O come ye, O come ye, O come ye,

[01:24:01] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
and Rehoboth for the King of Angels O come, let us adore Him O come, let us adore Him O come, let us adore Him

[01:24:38] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
Salvation, O sing, all ye faithful!
[01:24:46] Glory to God of glory in the highest O come, let us adore Him O come, let us adore Him O come, let us adore Him

[01:25:10] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Amen.
[01:25:21] Brothers and sisters, I just want to tell you one thing that I'm so excited about at First Baptist.
[01:25:26] The Lord has just blessed us with a church, new people every Sunday, and something I just really appreciate that the Lord is so kind to do for us.
[01:25:38] We pray every day, every day we pray, God,
[01:26:07] Listen, the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
[01:26:12] Would you just build an army here?
[01:26:14] Would you just send people here that'll serve and work, people who love you and care for you?
[01:26:19] And this family is most certainly an answered prayer to that.
[01:26:22] So let me ask you, if you affirm their membership, would you just throw your hand up in the air real quick?
[01:26:27] Thank you so much.
[01:26:29] Let's pray together.
[01:26:29] And when I get done praying, I want you to come up here and tell them how excited you are.
[01:26:34] Father, I thank you for Aaron.
[01:26:36] I thank you for Becca.
[01:26:37] I thank you for these sweet boys.
[01:26:39] I thank you for putting them here at First Baptist.
[01:26:41] Lord, I thank you for every single person that is in this room today, every single person that is in the overflow, those sweet and precious people who gave up their seats so we would have enough room in here this morning.
[01:26:54] Father, thank you for the army you're building.
[01:26:58] People who love and care for you, like-minded people who want to honor you and serve you.
[01:27:04] Lord, you did not forget about Nazareth.
[01:27:07] You used that dusty little town to move in.
[01:27:12] Lord, you haven't forgot about Mooresville, either.
[01:27:15] We believe that you are here, that you're sitting on the throne, that you're in charge, and that you have more at stake with this community and more at stake with this church than we do.
[01:27:23] So, Lord, we pray for you now.
[01:27:26] We pray all of this and your holy and exalted name and all those who agreed said
[01:27:56] You are dismissed.