Joseph, the Carpenter who Raised Jesus

The last two weeks in our evening service at church we've looked at the people who were given the privilege to raise Jesus. As I was looking at their lives it's evident that they were models of God worshipers, as well as men and women and parents. Their lives and characteristics set them apart, and they were blessed with the privilege of spending years with Jesus.

Joseph is one of the famous characters in the Bible, but he is seen in only four chapters of the Bible, two in Matthew and two in Luke. Later in His ministry people identify Jesus as the son of Joseph, but tradition holds that Joseph died before Jesus began His ministry. We know that Joseph was a carpenter from Nazareth, that his father was named Jacob, and that he is a descendant of David's son Solomon, who followed his father as King.

Scripture tells us that Joseph was a righteous man. We see in scripture that he waited on, and obeyed God. We see compassion in him, and the protectiveness of a husband and father. Joseph did what few men in his position would have done. He could have had Mary stoned for adultery. But instead he risks his own reputation and standing in the community to be obedient to God. He raises a son that isn't his, he sets an example of masculinity to a young boy, and to all of us today.

It wasn't easy, I'm sure it was intimidating. There is a line in The Nativity Story Joseph and Mary are on there way to Bethlehem, they talk about how they will know when Jesus is more then just a child. As they talk Joseph says, "I wonder if I will even be able to teach Him anything."

Joseph was obediant to God. He took on a task that would be socially frowned upon, and a task that no one would feel capable of, but he was blessed greatly. This past week I realized that Joseph had more one on one time with Jesus than anyone else who ever lived. The hours they would have spent together in the carpenters shop, the son learning the skills of the trade from His father. A boy having a man pour time into His life. Jesus was fully human, and as every boy does, needed a man to help Him become a man. Joseph would have talked with Him about God, about the scriptures, about worship and righteousness.

Joseph is a model to all men. We are to be examples of righteousness in our lives. We must be willing to do the difficult thing. And when we have the opportunity, we must pour into the lives of boys. We must teach them the things of God, the things that make a man a man. We must bestow masculinity and initiate boys into manhood. Joseph did this with the human side of Jesus, and Joseph was blessed with time with God. Joseph is a model of a man and of a father.

Peace be with you

Piece 2: Breastplate

Ephesians 6.14b "and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS," Righteousness is a right standing relationship with God. It is an essential characteristic of a Christ follower because it is the evidence that we are living for God. Righteousness means that there is nothing separating us from God, nothing is keeping us from going to Him, and nothing is keeping us from hearing Him. Righteousness is essential.

The breastplate is a crucial piece of equipment for a solider. It was made of metal and covered a solider front and back, from neck to thigh. This piece offers protection of most of the vital organs in the body. It allows the solider to attack without fear of injury.

Righteousness gives us protection for battle. A life that is righteous can stand up against any accusation and prove it false. A life lived in a right relationship with God has nothing to hide, and can proudly display all of it's deeds before anyone without fear of something being seen. Satan cannot accuse a solider of God, because that solider is covered in His righteousness.

Even though the breastplate covers the whole torso of the solider, it's main function is to protect the heart. The heart is essential to life, without it blood cannot flow through the body. The heart is also the organ we associate with love and relationships. The breastplate, righteousness, is there to guard our source of life, and to protect our ability to build relationships.

The righteousness of God covers us and clothes us for battle. We come to the righteousness of God through the truth of God. Fasten the belt around your waist, then cover yourself with the breastplate. The truth will not be believed unless it is shared from a righteous life. Righteousness is an essential part of the armor, it allows us to march boldly into battle, unafraid of any attack the enemy may hit us with. Strap on the breastplate and prepare for battle.

Peace be with you

Prayer of the Righteous

As I've been seeking another staff position people continue to ask me what is going on, so certain people I text updates to. This week I got an email from a pastor about a potential position and emailed my Proverbs 18.24 brothers. One of them responded with "Yeah. prayers of the righteous availeth much" and over the last few days I've been thinking about that verse.

James 5.16b, "The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." (NASB)

What makes this prayer effective? What makes it accomplish so much? The key to this verse is the word righteous.

When people consider the word righteous they probably think most often of one of the disciples, Billy Graham, or some really old Christian who has lived for Jesus for 75 years. Yeah, those people are righteous, but it doesn't take walking with Jesus in the flesh, preaching the Gospel to millions, or being really old in order to be righteous.

Righteousness is a right standing relationship with God. It means that there is nothing in the way of our communication with God, there is nothing stopping us from going before Him, there is nothing keeping us from communicating with Him. Why is the prayer of a righteous person effective? Because there is an open line of communication to present it to God.

It isn't that some 85 year old saint of the church knows the right words to pray for God to respond. Have you heard children pray, the simplicity and beauty of their prayers captivates the Heart of God. It doesn't take presenting the Gospel to the entire world in order to earn the right to speak to God. Have you ever heard the prayer of someone who has just come to faith after a lifetime in sin, the love and gratitude is lavished on the heart of the Father and He rejoices over it. It doesn't mean that we had to walk around Israel 2,000 years ago with Jesus, we simply must walk with Him today.

The cross paved the way to the Father. The cross opened the path of communication with God. When we simply enter into a relationship with God through the blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we are in a right standing relationship with God. We are righteous.

"The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."

Peace be with you