CHRISTMAS SERIES: PROFILES OF HOPE. Part 1: “FINDING HOPE WHEN THINGS SEEM TERRIBLE.” (Profile: Joseph - Matthew 1:18-25)

JESUS CAME TO BRING HOPE…IN FACT JESUS IS THE HOPE WE NEED!

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 togethershe 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 nameImmanuel” (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. ESV

“FINDING HOPE WHEN THINGS SEEM TERRIBLE”

YOUR CURRENT LIFE-OUTLOOK SEEMS GREAT!

Matthew 1:18a - “Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph,…” ESV

SUDDENLY YOUR TOTAL LIFE-OUTLOOK CHANGES!

Matthew 1:18b-19 - 18b “…before they came togethershe 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.” ESV

A LESSON FOR US…EVEN WHEN SOMEONE SHATTERS OUR GREAT LIFE-OUTLOOK…WE STILL NEED TO SHOW CONCERN FOR THEM!

HOW CAN YOU STAY HOPEFUL WHEN YOUR LIFE-OUTLOOK SEEMS TERRIBLE?

BE WILLING TO HEAR A MESSAGE FROM GOD! Matthew 1:20-25 - 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.ESV.

GOD HAD ALREADY TOLD MARY… “FOR NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD!” (Luke 1:37)

LOOK BEYOND YOUR CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES TO WHAT THE FUTURE WILL BE!Matthew 1:21 - “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."ESV.

TRUST THAT GOD HAS A PLAN AND PURPOSE! Matthew 1:22 - “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:…” ESV. Isaiah 7:14gives the prophecy of the virgin birth of Christ.

YOU CAN FIND HOPE FOR YOUR LIFE WHEN THINGS SEEM TERRIBLE IF YOU REMEMBER GOD IS IN CONTROL AND HE HAS A PLAN AND PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE!

REMEMBER GOD IS WITH”! Matthew 1:23 - "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). ESV.

WHAT HOPE THAT MUST HAVE GIVEN JOSEPH…AND WHAT HOPE THIS SHOULD GIVE US…NO MATTER HOW TERRIBLE THINGS MIGHT SEEM…AS CHRISTIANS WE HAVE GOD WITH US…IN FACT GOD INDWELLING IN US BY HIS HOLY SPIRIT!

MOVE FORWARD IN YOUR LIFE WITH CONFIDENCE IN GOD!Matthew 1:24-25 - 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. ESV.

IN SIMILAR FASHION…WHEN THINGS SEEM TERRIBLE IN OUR LIVES…WHEN OUR LIFE-OUTLOOKS CHANGE FROM GREAT TO TERRIBLE…WE NEED TO HEAR GOD AND MOVE FORWARD IN OUR LIVES WITH COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN HIM!

BUT GOD KNOWS AND HE CARES!

Joseph’s “profile of hope” CAN GIVE US HOPE! From Joseph’s profile we can discover HOW TO STAY HOPEFUL WHEN THINGS SEEM TERRIBLE! Remember and apply these HOPE-BUILDING STEPS IN YOUR LIFE:

Be Willing to Hear God’s Message!

Look beyond your current circumstances to the Future.

Trust that God has a Plan and a Purpose…no matter how terrible things may seem!

Remember GOD IS WITH YOU if you are a Christian! (If not…trust in Christ now!)

Move forward in your life with Confidence IN GOD!

If we will remember and apply these truths to our lives…WE CAN HAVE PROFILES OF HOPE ALSO!