Matthew 1:18–25 (NIV) 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.
Joseph is righteous, but he is troubled.
Matthew 1:20(NIV) 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.
Hope Abides 1. An Encounter We Experience.
“GOD IS NOWHERE.”
“Where doubt, fear, and uncertainty dwell, God puts space.”
“GOD IS NOW HERE”
2. A Direction We Walk In
“Joseph was righteous; therefore, he obeyed.”
3. A Name We Call On Matthew 1:21(NIV) 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.”
4. A Truth We Hold Onto Matthew 1:23(NIV) “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.”
Hebrews 6:19 (NIV) We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
“At Christmas, we don’t celebrate the idea of hope—we celebrate the arrival of hope.”
John 1:14(NIV) The Word didn’t flesh and made his dwelling among us.
