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The Dedication Of The Will Of God

Christmas Sunday Morning 12/25/22 – Evangelist Dale Vance

If you have your Bibles this morning, I want you to turn to two passages. I want you to turn to Matthew, chapter number one. And then I want you to turn to a verse that you should have memorized in Sunday school. Isaiah, chapter number seven and verse number 14. We’ll begin the reading in Isaiah, trying to simply lay the foundation to this particular thought or this process of our life faith. As the children of God, we understand this. Everything in the Bible is there for a reason. There are no accidents. There are no mistakes in the word of God. That’s why Satan is trying to destroy the Bible, even in our churches in this day and hours. So what we hold in our hands is the complete canon of the Scriptures. God has preserved it from generation unto generation. So everything that we are reading, everything that we are studying today, it was already in the fore mind of God before it was ever put in the hand of men to pin upon the paper of the word of God. As we read in Isaiah, we understand this. What we will read in Matthew and what is read in Isaiah is somewhat 2700 years in between time. There are many things that will take place between the writing of the book of Isaiah and then when Matthew gets a pen and God begins to inspire this man of God and begins to read and write the same things, life has taken place generation after generation. But in all that time and in all those generations, the plan of God, and let me say it this way, the will of God remained the same from the time of Isaiah and to the day of Matthew. Now, Isaiah is writing under the inspiration of the Spirit of God. Chapter number seven in verse number 14. Isaiah, this great prophet, this man of God, he makes this statement therefore, because of all these things that have taken place in the house of David, all these signs that have been given of the Lord, therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. The prophet Isaiah, he referred in the previous verses to signs that would be given not by men, but of men. But Isaiah said, there will come a day, there will come a moment in the life that God will also give you a sign. Like you know the verse, you have memorized this. The Lord Himself shall give you a sign. What is it? Isaiah. Behold, take heed, pay attention. A virgin shall conceive and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel. As the prophet is writing, he is writing to Israel. He is writing to the Jewish people. He is showing them, he is reminding them that there will come a Messiah. Emmanuel god upon this earth. God will be with you upon this earth. I can imagine some of the first readers, these Jewish readers, reading this prophecy from this great man of God thinking, a virgin that will conceive God will be with us in the flesh. It made no sense in their process of thinking. They could not understand what God would do through this man of God. Do we understand today that even in Jerusalem at this moment, at this hour, even in Israel today, many do not believe that Jesus has already come in the flesh? They are still looking for the true Messiah. They are still looking for Emmanuel, God with us because they did not believe the plan and the process of God. Now notice what the Bible says in Matthew chapter number one. It is just simply the parallel passage of the reading of the book of Isaiah. Now, some 2700 years later, watch this. Now God’s plan didn’t change. God made a purposeful statement through the pin of Isaiah. Now Matthew is about to write down a story, something that has taken place, something that has already happened for the believers in Matthew, chapter number one, in verse number 17, Matthew said so all the generations from Abraham to David are 14 generations. That’s very important. And from David until the carrying away into Babylon are 14 generations. And from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are 14 generations. All these generations from Abraham. Now, up until the Lord Jesus Christ, his prophecy, his plan is being fulfilled. Notice verse number 18. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise when as his mother Mary was a spouse to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost, that is the virgin. Then Joseph, her husband, being a just man that refers to his testimony, his character, am not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privately. But while he thought on these things, watch what happened. Behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, joseph, thou son of Tate, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost, and she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus. Why? For he shall it’s a promise, save his people from their sins. Now notice verse number 22. I’m interested in this statement. Now all this was done, the birth of Christ. Now all this was done a virgin that would conceive. Now all this was done, everything that has already been foretold and prophesied that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet Saint, referring to Isaiah. Behold, a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted, is God with us? Thousands of years before, generation upon generations before, Isaiah took a pin in hand and under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, he began to prophesy and he simply began to write what God told him to write. And Isaiah said to Israel, isaiah said to God’s chosen people, there will be a Messiah. There will be a virgin that’s conceived. It will take place in this land for these people, that God will be with his people. Now, watch this. The plan did not change everything that Isaiah said. Under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, it took place. It was the promise of God. It was the prophecy of God. It was the foreknowledge of God that this plan would be fulfilled. Can I just make this statement as we began this short study in the word of God? If God has a plan, it will be fulfilled in the sovereignty of God. It is not referring to your salvation, but it is referring to his plan in his mind. Whatever God has said, if God has put it in the Bible, you might as well understand it will take place. If it hasn’t taken place yet, it will take place, because that is the foreknowledge and the plan of God. So notice this now. Everything that God has said, it has taken place. It has come in true. Do we understand in our lives God has a plan? Do we realize in our lives as children of God, he has a purpose for everything that is done? There are no accidents in the mind of God. God doesn’t make any mistakes. Everything God does is right. Everything that God does is true. Isaiah said, There will be a Virginia, and she will conceive. And Matthew said, I’m telling you, Joseph, it is the plan and the mind of God. Do we understand what God is doing in our life? Do we realize how mighty our God is? So just for these moments, I want to speak on the dedication of the will of God. When we fall on our heads and we bow our heads and fall upon our knees and say, god, whatever you want in our lives, that’s what I’ll do. Do we really know what we’re saying? Is it about being a pastor of a large church? Is it about being some evangelist? Is it about saying, god, I’m dedicated as a father and as a mother? So, God, since I’m so dedicated, you’ll protect my children, you’ll protect my family, all of these great things. But I wonder if we’re really dedicated when I say, God, whatever you want. The songwriter put it best wherever you lead, I’ll go. I’ll follow my christ. Amen. Who loves me so. Amen. Wherever he leads, I’ll go. Little did we know where God was leading, but the prophet said, it’s already been spoken in. God’s sovereignty is already complete. It’s already done. You say, as I have said multiple times in the last few months, god, why did you allow this to happen? It was already going to happen. There’s no change in God’s will and plan for your life. Isaiah said, I’m telling you, there will be a virgin. She will conceive. He, mind you, of God will be with us in the flesh. You know what Matthew said, joseph, it’s already been prophesied. Amen. You might as well take her as your wife. You might as well just follow the Lord completely. It’s already been done in the mind of God. Watch the Bible quickly. Number one in Matthew chapter number one, verse number 18 look at the desire of this plan, the birth. Verse 18 of Jesus Christ was on I love this was on this wise, when his mother Mary was a spouse betrothed to Joseph when before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. And Joseph, her husband here’s his desire, he was a just man, not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her way privately. It was the desire of Joseph to be a just man. It was God’s plan and the life of Joseph. But he had no idea. Can you imagine the love that he had for Mary? Can you imagine the dedication he had for this life of this young woman that he loved? It was his desire. His desire was to marry. His desire was to the Lord. It was on this wise that married she she had never been with Joseph. Joseph had never physically been with her. But he had a desire for Mary. How many people do you love in this life? Your desire is for those people. God, whenever it takes, I’m going to protect him. God, whenever it takes, I’m going to do right. God, I’ll do whatever I need. That’s my desire. You know Joseph? Did he desire Mary? He was betrothed to marry. He loved Mary. So we see this desire of God’s plan, but then we notice the direction of God’s plan. Verse 19, we read it. Joseph, her husband, he is a just man. That simply means he was upright. He lived right, he lived holy. I know Mary was a virgin and that wasn’t unusual that day. She she did right, but that wasn’t unusual in that day. Joseph, he was upright. That had everything to do with his character. There were men, no doubt, in that time, in that hour, that town, they weren’t living right, they were living like heathens. Not Joseph. There were men that were living ungodly lives. Not Joseph. He was upright. Have you ever heard a preacher say this? If you live for God, you have the greatest life you can ever have. That’s not true. I personally know men that are multimillionaires. They live like a heathen. They got everything you could desire in this world and they live ungodly. All of a sudden, Joseph, he lived right, upright, had character, had a testimony in his community. But God had another plan. God had something that was about to happen that could ruin his testimony. People would begin to talk, people would begin to say things. And it was all the plan of God. Watch the Bible. Number one in this story, we see this desire, his direction. He was upright. He didn’t want to make her a public example. He was minded to put her way primarily. But then, number three, we see the dream of this plan, verse 20. But while he fought on these things, can you imagine what went through his mind? Can you imagine that effeminate heathen that sings gospel music? He wrote this song called Mary. Did you know? I’ll tell you something, that’s ignorant statement. If nobody else knew, Mary knew. Mary knew some things Joseph didn’t know. He was following God. He was living right. He began to think about these things. God, why? God, I’m upright, I’m doing my best. Now this God, we stayed pure as Christians should. Now this God, this is not happening to my friend. He’s thinking. And while he’s thinking, an angel came to him in a dream. Watch the Bible. Look at the word of God in this plan. Behold the angel of the Lord, verse 20. Peered unto him in a dream. St. Joseph, thou son of David, remember the generations, 14 upon 14 upon 14. What a study. Fear not to take into the Mary, thy wife. You know why the Andrew had to say that? Because he was doubting. I wonder if I should marry her. I wonder if she’s been honest with me. I wonder if it’s really true. I wonder when my grandfather told me about the prophet Isaiah. I wonder if she’s the one that he’s referring to. All of a sudden, as he’s thinking, as he’s doubting us, he’s pondering fear not, take unto thee Mary. Look at the Bible, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. What’s she going to do? She shall bring forth a son. Thou shalt call his name Jesus, literally referring to the Savior of the world. Why? For he shall save his people from their sins. There’s a dream in this plan, but there’s a design in this plan. Look at verse 22. Now all this was done, but it might be fulfilled, which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet saying behold of urgent shall be with child and shall bring forth a son. And they shall call his name Emmanuel, which mean interpreted as God with us. The Bible just said it’s God’s plan. It was in the sovereignty of God. It was already designed in the foreknowledge of God. This is exactly joseph was the man, mary was the young lady, jesus was the baby. It was all the plan of God. Amen. So here’s the message, verse number 24. Number five. And I’m done. Look at the dedication to God’s plan. Look what he did in verse 24. Then Joseph being raised from sleep. One commentator said this refers to the complete obedience to the will of God. Did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, they took unto him his wife. And here’s his dedication, he knew or not, that she had brought forth her first born son. And he called his name Jesus. Not only did he accept the will of God, he was dedicated to the will of God. I don’t know what’s going to happen in your life. I’m not going to tell you. Being a Christian is the greatest life you can have, because many times that’s not true on this earth. But I will tell you this. Joseph said, whatever happens, I’m going to follow God’s plan. Whatever I must do, whatever I must go, I’m going to follow. Exactly. As a matter of fact, I’m not even going to be with my wife until she has this little baby. I’m dedicated. How many people at Crown College where we went, come to an altar and say, god, whatever you want. How many people in this church has come to this altar, said, God is a father. As a mother, I give my life to you. I wonder if we really know how serious that is. Amen. Joseph doubted. Mary knew. Joseph really didn’t know. But by faith god, I don’t understand this. God, I don’t know why you let it happen this way. We stayed pure, we stayed clean. God, they’re going to talk about us. God, they’re not going to believe us. God, I’m going to trust you. I wonder what God wants you to do. It’s easy to say, I’ll be a preacher. If you think that means churches and buildings and meetings. It’s easy to say, as a family, we’re going to live for God. If God is blessing you. Joseph said, Whatever happens, I’m going to follow you. God, this is your plan. This is not my plan. This is your plan. Little did Joseph know what God was about to do. God’s way is always the right way, but very seldom is it the easy way. God’s way is always perfect and righteous. Very rarely does it ever make sense. We see the world and what is happening in the world, and how you and I are so separated from the world and they think what we’re doing. Why, even Christians, sadly, why would you come to church on Christmas? It’s for family. No. It’s for the Lord. It’s for all of these things. It makes no sense. So here’s the message. Many people have said, I’ll live for Jesus. Many Christians have said, God, whatever your will may be, that’s exactly what I’ll do. But not many have been that dedicated to say God, whatever. By faith by faith I don’t understand it, but by faith I’ll take Mary as my wife. I’ll not touch her until that baby’s conceived. I’ll completely dedicate myself to the will of God. There’s not much that’s said about Joseph. The Catholics don’t really like him. But it didn’t take much faith for Mary to believe that that was Emmanuel. Because in spite of what Mark Lowry said, she knows. She knows. But it took a lot of faith for Joseph to think about these things. And an angel come in a dream and say, yes, Lord. I think Joseph died early, but we had no more about him. I think when he crossed over, God said, that’s him, he was faithful. You fought a good fight, Joseph. They lied about you. They talked about your wife, they called your son a bastard child. But by faith you believed. So on this Christmas Day, who is completely dedicated to the will of God? I had a lady, I’ve had people say so many things. Some people are ignorant, I’m just telling you. But so many people have been so kind. One lady come up to me a couple of weeks ago and said, well, what are you going to do now? What do you mean, ma’am? Or you’re not going to stay on the road and Ally’s not going to sing? What are you going to do? I didn’t give her an answer. I didn’t have an answer. I didn’t know what to say to the good Holy Ghost of God said, where are you going to go? Who you gonna go to? I know you don’t understand it, but just stay faithful. I’m looking in the eyes of people that’s lost little children, little babies, mothers and fathers that hurt husbands and wives that have been broken. And I want to ask you how dedicated are you to the will of God? It’s absolute sinful to say that if you’re faithful to God, you’ll never have problems. That’s a sin to say that, but I tell you, if you’re faithful to God that’s why many people will only do it for a while. You’ll be in valleys, storms, trials. Oh, we want our kids to be popular. We want them to have everything. We don’t want them ever to suffer. Jesus suffered. Yes. Amen. Mary cried. I wonder if I am dedicated enough to the will of God for my life. 27 years ago, it was easy to come to this altar. Bring Rachel with me, say, I’m going to be a preacher, God. That’s your will. I’ll follow you. It’s not that easy now, god, what do you want? That’s what I want. I didn’t say that this year. God, I know you’ll never leave me. I thought he left me this year. Job said I looked everywhere for him. I couldn’t find him. Peter had enough faith to step out on the water and then he began to sink. The only disciple that was willing to have that much faith, God let him sink. So I wonder who’s dedicated to the will of God for your life. I want you to stand, Brother Andy, if you’ll just come and play something for us for invitation before this communion as we celebrate the death and the bear on the resurrection of Christ. No better time to take communion because that’s why we celebrate Christmas. I’m not concerned about the world taking Christ out of Christmas and they have nothing to celebrate. This is our holiday. But I am concerned about many people call theirself Christians. The first problem, the first bill they can’t pay, the first sign of sickness, they quit on God. I’m glad Joseph said, God, wherever you lead, whatever you want. I don’t understand it, but I’ll follow you. I wonder this morning on this Christmas what Christian will say, I want to rededicate my life. I’ve been through things and I’ve been through valleys this year, but I want to rededicate my life. Wonder who raise up their hand of mine, because that’s what I’m doing. Wonder who raised up say I want to just rededicate this morning. Would you do this? Can we gather around the altar this morning and say lord, if you raise your hand every child of God let’s just come right now and say Lord. I don’t know what that means. I don’t know where I’ll have to go. God, I will completely dedicate myself to Your will. Father, we need you today. God, I need you today. God, it is only it’s not grace. God, it is not grace. It’s your sovereignty that’s got me through this. Knowing that this was your plan for my life. To God, I believe you. I don’t like it. I would change it. God, I can’t see. God, today I rededicate myself completely and totally to Your will. Help us now in Jesus name. Brother Andy, you keep playing that one wonderful song. Wherever he leads, I’ll go I’ll follow my Christ who loves me so.

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