NOTES: Holy Moments
Sermon: Holy Moments: Consider Obedience
Date: Sunday, December 1, 2024
Text: Matthew 1:18–25
18 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. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 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. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
Let’s Connect:
Your life is no accident — Nor are the moments of your life accidental — No moment is ignored or discarded by God.
“O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.” Psalm 139:1-6 ESV
Within the moments of our lives are the choices we make, knowingly or unknowingly, that contribute to our joy & blessings, or…troubles.
Text Explained:
The story:
(Vs. 19):
Just and unwilling:
One of Joseph’s hardest moments was also one of his holiest moments.
“A life of holiness makes room for holy encounters.”
(Vs. 20-21):
Joseph obeyed immediately, yet without full understanding.
(Vs. 22-23):
Isaiah 7:14, 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Why this Isaiah passage?
God intersects the sinful broken timeline of human history with a Holy Moment—the birth of Jesus—who is “God with us.”
(Vs. 24):
In this Holy Moment of obedience, Joseph emulates God’s Holy Son, because he moved toward Mary’s shame to rescue her and do what God asked.
Isaiah 53:3–5 (ESV)
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement (punishment) that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
Jesus entered our shame and bore the weight of our disgrace.
In Christ, we live as those who have been fully rescued from sin and restored to our created dignity.
The Take Out:
Where do you want to be (who do you want to be) at the end of your journey?
Philippians 2:12–13, “12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Discussion on how we “work” this out:
Our Challenge:
Your moments of obedience are exactly what God is looking for!