The Counselor of Wonder Speaks To Joseph

The Counselor of Wonder Speaks To Joseph Isaiah 9.6-7 Matthew 1.18-25 Try to imagine, if you will, the dilemma of the Joseph was faced with. He was in love with Mary. They were in the betrothal stage. They had made plans for the rest of their lives together. They were looking forward to a happy future, a simple life in Nazareth. At this point would be considered legally husband and wife. Although the marriage had not yet been consummated, if Joseph had died during that period Merry would be referred to as a widow who is a virgin. To break this agreement would require a divorce. It seems that Mary had told Joseph that she was pregnant and about her vision, her visitation, the Annunciation that she would be the mother of the Christ, the Messiah. When asked how this would be the angel of the LORD said to her that the Holy Spirit will come upon her so that the child would be the Son of God. It could be she never got to tell him anything but, “Joseph, I am pregnant.” Or maybe he saw she was. Perhaps she told him the whole story. Whatever was said or not said we know this Joseph was not buying it. One thing he knew for sure. Mary was pregnant and he was not the baby’s father! Joseph we are told in the scripture this morning had in mind to divorce her quietly. He was thinking about this when he had a dream. All dreams that are from God are in perfect alignment with His Word. God never contradicts His Word either in prophecy, dreams, and or visions. There is perfect harmony between the Word of God and the way that He manifests Himself and direction and warning and encouragement in dreams visions and words of wisdom and knowledge. We are told that Jesus would be called the Counselor of Wonder. What God said through the angel in Joseph’s dream was wonderful counsel. * Do not be Afraid Afraid: to put to flight by terrorizing, to scare away To be struck with fear, seized with alarm, startled with strange sights or occurrences A man who finds out his wife or fiancé is expecting a child that is not his is devastated. Fear is part of this dilemma. Anger and betrayal are as well. She has broken the relationship. How could things be right again. How could he ever trust her? Hosea the prophet had that problem with his wife. Homer had children by someone else. It was a lesson in spiritual adultery for the nation of Israel and the message from God through Hosea. In fact the direction God gave Hosea is a very strange message: Hosea 1. 2 When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.” 3 So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. Talk about fear! One of the 365 times this phrase is in the Bible in one form or another Now Joseph…Calls him by name, full name Speaks of wonders He was doing with Mary and now Joseph. Mary’s response to her unplanned, unwed pregnancy was, “I am the LORD’s servant. May it be to me as you have said. Only the servants knew. Wine at a wedding and things God is doing in your life that no one else understands! Fear not, Joseph, son of David… David committed adultery with Bathsheba. He was forgiven. The greater sin was having her husband Uriah killed. Matthew 1.6 David became king. 6-11 David had Solomon (Uriah’s wife was the mother), Fear not, Joseph, Fear is perhaps one of the worst prisons emotionally and mentally that a person can live in. Jesus Christ has come to set us free from fear. That is why throughout the Bible all the New Testament you will find these words do not be afraid, fear not. Always is because the Lord is with us. As He was with Joseph so He will be with us. He will speak to us. He will come to us. The way may not be easy. But it’s possible because of Jesus. That’s what Immanuel means, “God with us.” Fear paralyzes us. Joseph was moving away from God’s Plan. God was patient with him. He is patient with us. Fear makes mountains out of molehills. It enlarges problems. Fear is an insult to God, His character and His Word. * You Are Part Of God’s Plan Every day! Even the Quiet Ones. Psalm 139.16 You are here not by chance. His hand formed you and made you the person you are. He compares you to no one else. You are one of a kind you like nothing it is Grace can’t give you he is allowed you to be here at this time in history to fulfill his special purpose for this generation you are God servant in God‘s plan and God‘s perfect time. Roy Lessin I believe so why should I worry or fret? I know Who holds the future. I know Who holds my hand. I know just as sure as I’m singing this song I’ma part of His Almighty Plan. In times where you are saying, “Where are you, LORD?” You are still part of His plan. In this time when Joseph thought the worse, God was bringing about the best. True this couple lived with people drawing wrong conclusions. The amazing thing is they did not care about anything but doing what God wanted. There will be times, if you walk closely to the LORD, when you will have to walk a lonely road. People often misunderstand what God is doing in some else’s life. It gets more painful when they assume and even gossip. Being falsely accused puts you in the company of Jesus. Obey the LORD no matter what. * Joseph Obeyed Matthew 1. 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 did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. The way of worry free obedience is the way of peace of heart and mind. Do not worry. Psalm 37.8 Do not fret—it only causes harm. It will eat at your soul and body. It will rob you of joy. You will never be able to enjoy the present. It will rob you of sweet sleep. You will be full of guilt. I know I should not worry. Go over the things you know are true. Look back over your life. All of your worry has been vain. God is all powerful. God is on my side. Go is in control. * God Took Care of Him, Baby Jesus and Mary He always does for those who trust in Him. A virgin pledged... God saw that His Son would be cared for as He grew in a family. He is a God of incredible details. He takes care of His people. He is always preparing a place for us! Egypt, Church of the Holy Family Old Cairo God spoke again in a dream to Joseph Matthew 2.19 After Herod died, an angel of the LORD appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” 21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. The LORD used dreams, dreams that Jospeh had, to reveal His plan to him. Today, primarily, He speaks to us through His Word and when needed confirms it with a dream or vision. Sometimes He speaks to us through a dream for a specific purpose. Father and daughter… going the wrong way. Father and son in DR. God is at to work in your life greater ways than you could imagine or even dream of. The wisest thing you can do is trust Him. Let the Counselor of Wonder be your guide. Get into His Word like never before. Pray about everything. Rest in Him.