God's Awesome Sovereignty Coinciding With Our Obedience
The sermon explores the interplay of God's sovereignty and human obedience through the biblical accounts of Mary and Joseph during the birth of Jesus.
Erlo Stegen emphasizes God's sovereignty in the birth of Jesus Christ, illustrating how both Mary and Joseph exemplified obedience and trust in God's plan despite their challenging circumstances. Mary, a pure virgin, accepted her role with humility, while Joseph, initially shocked by the news of her pregnancy, sought divine guidance before taking her as his wife. Their faithfulness led to the arrival of Jesus, who came to save humanity from sin, highlighting the importance of making room for Him in our lives. The sermon calls for believers to recognize the significance of Jesus' birth and the transformative power He brings to overcome sin. Ultimately, it is a reminder that true victory over sin comes from embracing Jesus within us.
Text
In the book of Matthew 1, 18-25
it is written of how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. Jesus came to save people from their sin. Sin is the big problem. We should not go back to our sin, for He came to save us from sin. Mary was a pure virgin and totally surrendered to the Lord. Mary and Joseph were betrothed and they didn't come together or visit each other. At a Jewish engagement, there was a cup that they both drank from. Then they were separate and the man would go a prepare a place (dwelling) for her. It is not like today where a girl is already pregnant and the white dress and veil are only hypocritical. Joseph, however, trusted Mary and it was a big shock to him when he heard that she was "with child" but what had happened to Mary was not sinful. In this situation she kept it a secret and didn't blurt it out to everyone. She bowed to God's awesome sovereignty and remained humble and obedient. It was difficult but she kept it to herself and asked that it would be done to her as the Lord wanted it to be. In the same way it was a crisis for Joseph. He had trusted her but when he found out he didn't just do as he thought. He waited on the Lord and God showed him that he should take Mary as his wife. Joseph was honourable and had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. He too bowed to God's awesome sovereignty and was obedient every step of the way.
A great light came into Mary and Joseph's life. It is Jesus within that gives a person victory over sin. At the inn, however, there was no room for Him. God sent His son to save you and me. People should have given up their place in the inn for Him for this indescribably great salvation that He would bring about for every person. There was a baby in swaddling clothes in a dirty stable filled with animals but the shepherds recognised that it was the Messiah who forgives and cleanses "whiter than snow" and saves us from an immoral spirit and all manner of sin.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Introduction to the birth of Jesus
- The significance of sin
- Mary's obedience and purity
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II
- Joseph's trust and crisis
- God's guidance in difficult situations
- The importance of waiting on the Lord
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III
- The arrival of Jesus and its implications
- The response of the world to Jesus
- The shepherds' recognition of the Messiah
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IV
- God's sovereignty in our lives
- The call to obedience
- Victory over sin through Jesus
Key Quotes
“Mary bowed to God's awesome sovereignty and remained humble and obedient.” — Erlo Stegen
“Joseph was honourable and had no union with her until she gave birth to a son.” — Erlo Stegen
“There was a baby in swaddling clothes in a dirty stable filled with animals.” — Erlo Stegen
Application Points
- We should strive to remain obedient to God's will, even in challenging circumstances.
- Trusting in God's plan can lead to unexpected blessings and guidance.
- Recognizing Jesus as our Savior empowers us to overcome sin in our lives.