Advent: The Royal Birth - Our Savior - Pastor Mark South

# Confrontation of Christmas - Matthew 1:18-25 ### Advent confronts us with a personal God. ### People were just as shocked by the supernatural birth of Jesus then as we would be now. ### If God must think and act as you would, then instead of you worshipping God, God worships you. - Joseph loved Mary. - Joseph loved God. His fear kept him from genuine love. ### Joseph is more afraid of the dilemma of his circumstance than the dilemma of his existence. ### Jesus *(Yeshua)* means *God Saves*. ### Advent confronts us with our fears > 1. We fear people because they can expose and humiliate us. > 2. We fear people because they can reject, ridicule, or despise us. > 3. We fear people because they can attack, oppress, or threaten us. > > “…self-esteem and self-worth exists because it is trying to help us with a real problem. The problem is that we really are not okay. There is no reason why we should feel great about ourselves. We truly are deficient. The meager props of the self-esteem teaching will eventually collapse as people realize that their problem is much deeper. The problem is, in part, our nakedness before God.” ~ Ed Welch ### Advent confronts us with a new life. ### When Joseph woke…(v. 24) ### When Joseph woke…(v. 24) ### He did as the angel of the Lord commanded him. ### In light of the arrival of Jesus, Joseph… - Risked misunderstanding and scandal. - Brought meaning to ordinary life. - Surrendered to his Son.