In the opening verses of Matthew’s Gospel we find a genealogy that begins with the patriarch Abraham and runs through King David down to Joseph the legal father of Jesus. Matthew intends to show his Jewish readers that Jesus is indeed the royal heir to the throne of David. He is true pedigree. from the royal blood line. So humanly speaking, Jesus is clearly the Son of David. However, Matthew ls more concerned to show that Jesus is also the Son of God, the rightful heir to the throne over all things. It the genealogy were all that could he said about Christ then He may have had the legal right to be the King of Israel, but He could have never redeemed men. Notice how Matthew reveals Jesus. not just as David’s son, but as He truly is God’s Son.
Jesus is revealed the Son of God by the names given to Him!
Jesus – Joshua, “Jehovah is Salvation” (Matthew 1:1, Matthew 1:21)
Christ – “The anointed Messiah” (Matthew 1:1, Matthew 1:16)
Immanuel – “God with us!” (Matthew 1:23)
Jesus ls revealed the Son of God by the sign that accompanied Him, He ls born of a virgin!Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:18 NKJV)
By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. (1 John 4:2-3a NKJV)
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14 NKJV)And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel. (Genesis 3:15b NKJV)
Jesus ls revealed by those who obey God and step out of the shadows Into His purpose!
But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 1:20 NKJV)
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David got it right when it came to some really critical things in His life. He understood that life was about learning and lessons. Therefore, he approached life from the attitude and perspective of a student. He always wanted to learn as much as he could. He knew that God’s Word in particular is the means given to teach us and instruct us in God’s Ways. But most importantly, he understood that God himself, the LORD is the Teacher.
Teach me your way, Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my enemies. (Psalm 27:11)
Three Reasons To Live Life As a Student
1) God’s University Is The School of Wisdom (Proverbs 1:9)
There is no knowing that does not begin with knowing God. (John Calvin)
Abraham went to school in a tent
Joseph got his training in a pit and then a prison
Moses studied on the back side of the desert
David went to university in a cave
2) Students Search the Depths of God’s Wisdom
Six characteristics of being a student:
A healthy cynicism toward your own wisdom
A humble sense of need
A willing and open heart
Discernment, focus, and determination
Commitment to act on what you’re learning
Resisting the temptation to think we have arrived
3) Students understand the danger life presents Psalm 27:11 – Lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence.
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One of the most powerful stories in the Bible is the story of Joseph. When he encounters his brothers for the first time in 15 years after they had been the cause of such enormous pain and suffering in his life, Joseph finds the grace of God to extend forgiveness to them. What is it that causes some people to find forgiveness while others never do? Our lesson today studies six aspects of Joseph’s life that helped him come to forgiveness. We learn the most forgiving people in the world have an exceedingly high view of God.
Forgiving people trust that God is all powerful, all loving and always working for His glory and our good! Genesis 50:20 – But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
Forgiving people trust God’s promise!Romans 12:19 – Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. Genesis 50:19 – Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?
Forgiving people see their sin against God and His forgiveness of them as infinitely great!Matthew 18:24 – And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
Forgiving People see God as the true treasure of forgives and they will do anything to have God. Genesis 39:2 – The Lord was with Him.
Forgiving people see others through the eyes of Christ.Genesis 50:21 – Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
Forgiving people realize how utterly powerless they are to forgive without God’s help.Genesis 44-45
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Whose voice we listen to determines what we can be and what we know.
“See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.
“But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.
“This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” – Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Reproach has broken my heart and I am so sick. And I looked for sympathy, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none.
Isaiah 61:1 – The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;
1. The People Who Knew Rejection
Jesus Luke 22:59-61 – After about an hour had passed, another man began to insist, saying, “Certainly this man also was with Him, for he is a Galilean too.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.”
Joseph Genesis 37:23-28 – So it came about, when Joseph reached his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the varicolored tunic that was on him; and they took him and threw him into the pit. Now the pit was empty, without any water in it. Then they sat down to eat a meal. And as they raised their eyes and looked, behold, a caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing aromatic gum and balm and myrrh, on their way to bring them down to Egypt. Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it for us to kill our brother and cover up his blood? “Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. Then some Midianite traders passed by, so they pulled him up and lifted Joseph out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. Thus they brought Joseph into Egypt.
David 1Samuel 17:28-29 – Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger burned against David and he said, “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your insolence and the wickedness of your heart; for you have come down in order to see the battle.” But David said, “What have I done now? Was it not just a question?”
1Samuel 18:6 – It happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with musical instruments.
1Samuel 18:7-11 – The women sang as they played, and said, “Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.” Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?” Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on. Now it came about on the next day that an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and he raved in the midst of the house, while David was playing the harp with his hand, as usual; and a spear was in Saul’s hand. Saul hurled the spear for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David escaped from his presence twice.
Psalms 142:4 – Look to the right and see; for there is no one who regards me; there is no escape for me; No one cares for my soul.
Psalms 6:6-7 – I am weary with my sighing; every night I make my bed swim, I dissolve my couch with my tears. My eye has wasted away with grief; it has become old because of all my adversaries.
2Samuel 19:4 – The king covered his face and cried out with a loud voice, “O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
Psalms 55:12-14 – For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, Then I could bear it; nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me, and then I could hide myself from him. But it is you, a man my equal, my companion and my familiar friend; we who had sweet fellowship together Walked in the house of God in the throng.
2. The Problem with Rejection
Psalms 55:4-7 – My heart is in anguish within me, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fear and trembling come upon me, And horror has overwhelmed me. I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. “Behold, I would wander far away, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah.
3. The Pit of Rejection
1Samuel 30:6 – And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
Psalms 3:1-6 – LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.
Psalms 55:22 – Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Jeremiah 30:17 – For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.
Genesis 45:1-4 – Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried, “Have everyone go out from me.” So there was no man with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. He wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard of it. Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence. Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come closer to me.” And they came closer. And he said, “I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.
Genesis 50:20 – “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.
Isaiah 53:3-5 – He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.
Message by Pastor Craig Diestelkamp
re: Psalms 69:20
