Evangelist Carolyn Malaika Foster-Brooks
THE MINISTRY OF S.A.R.A.H.
Lyons, Georgia
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father,
As we quickly approach the time of year when all believers will give reverance to the annointed birth of Your son Jesus Christ, we want to take acknowledge the men of God who are in love with Your daughters.
Being a man of God is not always easy, but we give thanks to those who are true to you. Uphold them God and keep them strong in Your Word. Let them be an example to other boys and men who need to witness how Holy men treat their loved ones and their brethern.
In Jesus name, I pray. Amen
SCRIPTURE: (Luke 1:78-79 and 2:1-6 (nlt)
(78) BECAUSE OF GOD’S TENDER MERCY, THE LIGHT FROM HEAVEN IS ABOUT TO BREAK UPON US. (79) TO GIVE LIGHT TO THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND IN THE SHADOW OF DEATH, AND TO GUIDE US TO THE PATH OF PEACE. (2:1) AT THAT TIME THE ROMAN EMPEROR, AUGUSTUS, DECREED THAT A CENSUS SHOULD BE TAKEN THROUGHOUT THE ROMAN EMPIRE. (2) (THIS WAS THE FIRST CENSUS TAKEN WHEN CYRENIUS WAS GOVERNOR OF SYRIA) (3) ALL RETURNED TO THEIR OWN TOWNS TO REGISTER FOR THIS CENSUS. (4) AND BECAUSE JOSEPH WAS A DESCENDANT OF KING DAVID, HE HAD TO GO TO BETHLEHEM IN JUDEA, DAVID’S ANCIENT HOME. HE TRAVELLED THERE FROM THE VILLAGE OF NAZARETH IN GALILEE. (5) HE TOOK WITH HIM, MARY, HIS FIANCE WHO WAS OBVIOUSLY PREGNANT BY THIS TIME. (6) AND WHILE THEY WERE THERE, THE TIME CAME FOR HER BABY TO BE BORN.
TEXT:
As we quickly approach Christmas, I want to bring your attention to the obstacles Joseph faced and how deep his love for Mary was.....
The scripture highlight is on Luke 2:4-5," and because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He travelled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, his fiance who was obviously pregnant by this time."
Joseph and Mary were in love with each other and were committed to each other in the promise of marriage. But while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit! As impossible as that seemed to be, Joseph had to at least try to understand it. After all, he had met Elisabeth, Mary’s older cousin who had never bore a child before, and look, she was pregnant too. As the story goes, Elisabeth’s child leaped for joy when Mary came to tell her cousin of her " miracle child " , the Messiah.....but Joseph was faced with a dillema!
You see, perhaps it would have been easier if they could go on, get married and stay in Nazareth, Mary’s hometown, but Joseph, being a just man, had to fulfill his obligation to his native land of Bethlehem. He had to go there, stand up and be counted! He knew he had to serve God and his country, but what about love????
Joseph decided to break his engagement quietly, so as not to disgrace Mary publicly.
I don’t believe Joseph prayed before making that decision, for the Book of Psalms 119:105 clearly tells us that, THY WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET, AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH......but obviously Joseph thought about Proverbs 28:14 which says, BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HAVE A TENDER CONSCIENCE, BUT THE STUBBORN ARE HEADED FOR SERIOUS TROUBLE.
The scripture in Matthew tells us that as Joseph considered his decision to break the engagement, he knew he loved Mary and he had a conscience- he fell asleep and an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream," Joseph, son of David ", the angel said, "do not be afraid to go ahead with your marriage to Mary. For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." All this happened to fulfill the Lord’s message through His prophet:
LOOK! THE VIRGIN WILL CONCEIVE A CHILD! SHE WILL GIVE BIRTH TO A SON AND HE WILL BE CALLED IMMANUEL (MEANING, GOD IS WITH US!)
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord commanded. And in my spiritual imagination, I believe Joseph woke up praising God because he had a change of mind and he wrote this:
Love Song For Mary
I know that love is blind
I never thought that I could find
Someone so pure and so kind!
I’ve been like a helpless and lonely child,
Feeling so trapped in my denial
Lost and confused, and I didn’t know what to do!
But the strength that God provide,
Gave me a peace of mind,
He restored in me
A sense of security
In knowing that with you by my side
I could feel a sense of pride.
And the whole world will one day know,
That like the child you carry, our love will grow
And I can face all accusers and feel no shame Because you have been blessed by God, no man’s to blame
For the child you carry,Jesus is his name!
And I love you Mary, for everyone will see
That I have chosen a wife, unlike any other
Who will birth the Messiah, everybody’s brother
And God found me worthy, to know His son personally!
........Yes, Joseph brought Mary home to be his wife. And while they were there the time came for her baby to be born!
The continuing "love story" of Joseph and Mary is definitely a story of faith and endurance. And for us, we can find instructions in James 1:2-18...(2) DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WHENEVER TROUBLE COMES YOUR WAY, LET IT BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR JOY. (3) FOR WHEN YOUR FAITH IS TESTED, YOUR ENDURANCE HAS A CHANCE TO GROW. (4) SO LET IT GROW, FOR WHEN YOUR ENDURANCE IS FULLY DEVELOPED, YOU WILL BE STRONG IN CHARACTER AND READY FOR ANYTHING.
(5) IF YOU NEED WISDOM-IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT GOD WANTS YOU TO DO- ASK HIM, AND HE WILL GLADLY TELL YOU. HE WILL NOT RESENT YOUR ASKING. (6) BUT WHEN YOU ASK HIM, BE SURE THAT YOU REALLY EXPECT HIM TO ANSWER, FOR A DOUBTFUL MIND IS AS UNSETTLED AS A WAVE OF THE SEA THAT IS DRIVEN AND TOSSED BY THE WIND.
(12) GOD BLESSES THE PEOPLE WHO PATIENTLY ENDURE TESTING. AFTERWARDS THEY WILL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE THAT GOD HAS PROMISED TO THOSE WHO LOVE HIM. (17) WHATEVER IS GOOD AND PERFECT COMES TO US FROM GOD ABOVE, WHO CREATED ALL HEAVENS LIGHTS. UNLIKE THEM, HE NEVER CHANGED OR CASTS SHIFTING SHADOWS. (18) IN HIS GOODNESS, HE CHOSE TO MAKE US HIS OWN CHILDREN BY GIVING US HIS TRUE WORD. AND WE, OUT OF ALL CREATION, BECAME HIS CHOICE POSSESSION.
ALTAR CALL;
Joseph was faced with a decision that altered his life. As with us all, he had free-will and at first leaned upon his own understanding.
When you are in doubt about yourself as you might be today, remember Proverbs 3:5-6, AND TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND DON’T DEPEND ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING. REMEMBER THE LORD IN ALL YOU DO, AND HE WILL GIVE YOU SUCCESS.
THE WAYS OF GOD ARE WITHOUT FAULT. THE LORD’S WORDS ARE PURE. HE IS A SHIELD TO THOSE WHO TRUST HIM. (Psalms 18:30)
So on this day, get on your way to a place of worship among believers who know how to lend a helping hand and uplift your spiritual life. Give your life to God today and take a Christian stand! For Jesus is coming back-again!!!
Repent. That is why He was sent! Believe. And everything you want, you will achieve.
.......this has been a message of Serenity, Atonement, Restoration and Healing.
Bless You All!
