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| December 8, 2002God Chose Mary and Joseph (God Chose You)
TEXT: Matthew 1: 18-24 and Luke 1: 26-38
THESIS: “You did not choose me, but I chose you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last.” Jesus
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I. God chose Mary and Joseph because their hearts were with Him.
A. Both Mary and Joseph found favor in God’s eyes. see Matthew 1: 19 & Luke 1: 28-30 1. Mary was called a “virgin”
2. Joseph was called a “righteous man”
a) The first of the two commands deals with the heart.
Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart…” Matthew 22: 37
That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10: 9
B. God places more value on the condition of a person’s heart than on outward appearance.
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” I Samuel 16: 7
II. Mary and Joseph respond to God’s call with strong affirmation.
A. Both Mary and Joseph, in spite of the difficult request, chose to please God.
1. Joseph was asked to accept, by faith, that the child Mary carried was conceived of the Holy Spirit.
2. Mary was asked to take upon herself the responsibility of giving birth to the Son of God and accepting the ridicule of her neighbors.
B. Mary states verbally,
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Luke 1: 38
C. Joseph’s choice to answer God’s request was witnessed in his actions.
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded hi and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. Matthew 1: 24-25 |
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