Joseph: 7 Marks of a Godly Man

In this second Sunday of Advent message, we examine 7 marks of a godly man, as seen in the life of Joseph.   Click here for the recording of this 12/7 Service, and you can fast-forward to 34:46 to get to the start of the sermon.

Our text comes from Matthew 1:18-25

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

19And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.

20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

21She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Introduction

• I have often said, both in the pulpit and in the classroom, “if God were to give me unlimited power in any one area, I change men, for the better”

• Most all dysfunction, in the home, church and society, is due to the lack of a godly man- crime, poverty, abortion, spiritual and church dysfunction, family dysfunction, educational dysfunction…

• This, is quite a statement, born of my home of origin, my own personal growth struggles as a man, and what I have seen in the church and education

• How is it that a male Jewish peasant carpenter, likely not yet 20, left us such a good example, some 2k years ago?

• Likely, his own father, Jacob, had something to do with that, whose lineage runs all the way back to Abraham

According to Wikipedia- Jewish education

• no direct evidence—either literary or archaeological—exists for schools in ancient Israel

• there is no word for school in ancient (biblical) Hebrew

• There were probably not schools in the traditional sense but rather an apprenticeship system located in the family

• Ezra originated the bet rabban, “the house of the teacher” or bet safer “the house of the book” to secure education for fatherless boys 16 and up

• Only married men were allowed to teach

• Some of the earliest teaching material included the book of proverbs

The Shema (to hear)

4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. [Haredi Judaism] 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

1- Because of this, Joseph would have been the first, and primary, educator of Jesus for his formative years

• Often “Christian” parents (fathers in particular) will hold the church accountable to do with their children’s discipleship what they will not do at home; thus, there is only so much we can do to counter what spiritually lethargic parents will not do

2- Joseph was present in the story

• “When his mother Mary had been betrothed  to Joseph…”

• Part of effective male leadership in the home, church and society is simply showing up

• A man gives his presence to that which he values- hunting, camping, golf, football…where is church in all this?

3- Joseph was committed

• “When his [Jesus’] mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph…”

• As a Jewish male he was first committed to god- “being a just man…”

• Second, he was committed to mary- “betrothed”; “unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly”

• He could have had her stoned for adultery

• What a man is committed to says much about his character and priorities- time, money, energies, speech, Lord, family, work

4- Joseph was thoughtful

• “But as he considered these things…”

• Enthumeomai- to think, ponder, reflect
  to revolve thoroughly in the mind, consider carefully

• What a man gives thought to will ultimately be reflected in his actions, or lack thereof

• When I ask the average man a thoughtful question, I often get the response, “well, I don’t know…”

5- Joseph had the ability to hear from the Lord

• “an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream…”

1. Don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife- can you imagine the cultural backlash?

2. She has conceived of the holy spirit- how do you process this?

3. She will bear a son

4. You will name him “Jesus”

5. He will save his people from their sins- what does this mean?

6. All this took place via OT prophecy- Isa 7.14

• Every man has the responsibility to hear from God on behalf of his family

• What is the Lord telling you, about your family, right now?

6- Joseph was obedient to what he heard from God

• “he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him…”

• Knowing what the Lord wants of you, and actually doing it, are two different things

• “to him who knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin…” Ja 4.17

• A good man has the moral courage to do what is right, and leave the results to god

7- Joseph had control over his sexuality

• “but knew her not until she had given birth …”

• A man goes a long way toward sanctification when he brings his anger drive and his sex drive under the Lordship of christ- Dobbins

• How a man responds to anger and arousal says much about who he is as a man, and his values

And so, man, what about you?

• It amazes me what a woman will settle for in a man; woman, don’t complain, if you’ve settled…

• To the men in the room-

1. What are you teaching your children?

2. Are you present?

3. To what are you committed?

4. To what are you giving your thought life?

5. What is God telling you about your family, and are you listening for his voice?

6. Are you obedient to what you are hearing him say?

7. Are you bringing your anger drive and sex drive under the Lordship of Christ?