Evangelist Carolyn Malaika Foster-Brooks
THE MINISTRY OF S.A.R.A.H.
(SERENITY*ATONEMENT*RESTORATION & HEALING)
Lyons, GA.
PRAYER-
Heavenly Father,
My God above...Even when I am a disobedient child You never fail to correct me through Your Divine grace and mercy. And everytime, God, You send me back to Your Word which is the Holy Bible- life’s instruction book that never changes.
God I pray that You touch the life of everyone who reads this sermon and remind them of how precious they are to You. Remind them God, that through You, by way of Your son Jesus Christ, our Savior that we can do all things because You give us strength!
In our weakest moments, if we have faith, that is when You step in, take over and move us out of the way. And Lord, I thank You for Your holy intervention. Bless everybody. And continue to use me as Your humble servant.
Right now God, I step in with this prayer as an intercessory for the hurting parents whose children have been misled and I pary for the children who are in dysfunctional homes. Thank You Father. And so it is.
Amen.
SCRIPTURE: (Matthew 1:16 & 19 nlv)
(16) AND JACOB BEGAT JOSEPH THE HUSBAND OF MARY, OF WHOM WAS BORN JESUS, WHO IS CALLED CHRIST. (19) THEN JOSEPH HER HUSBAND, BEING A JUST MAN, AND NOT WILLING TO MAKE HER A PUBLIC EXAMPLE, WAS MINDED TO PUT HER AWAY PRIVILY........
TEXT:
The birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ is the most announced baby story in the history of man! So much so, until it is almost too easy to forget the circumstances of His arrival and the reason why...
Today’s message is not your typical Christmas story- no, by Divine guidance, I have looked at the family life of Joseph and Mary. I have looked more closely at Joseph and asked the question- What Kind of Man Is This?????
Certainly it had to be a question Mary and her family asked at some point! For we know that during the courtship of any couple, not only do you get to know each other, but you also should learn a lot about each other’s family.
Down through the generations, Joseph’s ancestors were a mixed bunch of people- some were heathens, some were infamous and some were kings....good and bad!
One thing for sure if you study the scriptures, you will learn that:
Grace does not run in the blood, nor does reigning sin. God has shown us that even out of the family of a poor carpenter, the Glory of Christ can be manifested if you trust Him. And whether we be of royalty or common birth, what matters most is our relationship with God. Because it is by God’s will in our lives that grace and favor is shown!!!
........here was Joseph, a man looking for a wife with certain qualities. A woman who was after God’s own heart.
As a single woman, Mary had learned to enjoy preparing nutritious meals for God; she groomed herself for God; Mary had respect for God and she put Him first in her life! Yes, Joseph had found the woman of his dreams!
My brethern, can you rightfully say that you are the woman or man of someone else’s dreams? What kind of woman or man have you chosen? If you had the choice between a king or a carpenter- or a queen and a virgin handmaiden, which one would you choose?
Your worldly self might answer a king or a queen, but your best choice would be a man or a woman of God who does not exalt themself!!
WHAT KIND OF MAN IS THIS? How do you identify him?
Well, I am no relationship expert, but based upon the bible we can use Joseph as a great example.
1- First of all, although Joseph came from a mixed up, dysfunctional family- he didnot allow that to hinder him from serving God!
2- He was led by the ministering angels and was not afraid to live by the Word of God!
3- As a carpenter, he lived and knew how to rebuild things that might have once been torn down. (You know there is somebody out there, right now, who is tore up from the floor up!) And can use a little bit of fixing here and there.
4- Carpenter’s can make something out of nothing and appreciate the end results!
and......
5- Carpenters have patience. They know that Rome was not built in a day. And they know that every effort must be made to build a strong foundation and that without support, there is no structure!
Joseph is said to have been a "just man" and when the Virgin Mary revealed herself to him, he was not willing to expose her.
WHAT KIND OF MAN IS THIS?
He was a religious, good man and therefore inclined to be merciful, like God Himself.
My brethern, take heed to the lifestyles of this couple, begin applying the qualities of Mary and Jospeh to your relationship. The bible does not prophesy about there ever being another Virgin Mary, so I am not saying that, but I am saying that the birth of Jesus was the greatest love story ever told!!
But before the birth, this couple had to have a common bond! (So to my unmarried brethern, here’s a Word from God- use Phillipians 2:1-2 and your future mate & yourselves these questions, then decide what you want:)
Does your life in Christ give you strength? Does His love comfort you? Do we share together in the Spirit? Do we have mercy and show kindness towards others?
......if any answer to the above questions was no, then you really need to ask, What kind of person am I?????
Joseph honored Mary and wouldn’t touch her. Am I suggesting chastity and abstinence? Yes!!!
Hebrews 13:4 (nlv) says, MARRIAGE SHOULD BE HONORED BY EVERYONE AND HUSBAND AND WIFE SHOULD KEEP THEIR MARRIAGE PURE. GOD WILL JUDGE AS GUILTY THOSE WHO TAKE PART IN SEXUAL SIN.
....Joseph wanted only the best for his companion and allowed God to guide him in his decisions. He married Mary, stayed by her side in the face of ridiucle form the non-believers and became a great father figure to Jesus although he was not Joseph’s biological son. Jesus was Joseph’s step-son.
During this holiday season, I want to give a holy shout of hallejuah to the men of today who are like Joseph and who are not afraid to live by God’s standards for their lives.
WHAT KIND OF MAN IS THIS? A Christian man that any woman could love, appreciate and thank God for!
