01/01/2022
. Good morning brothers and sisters on this first day of 2022. A beginning. I would like to tell you about something from the beginning. Faith, it's been here all the time.
The faith that Jesus was surrounded with from the beginning.
Now in Luke 1:24 "And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying," 1:26 "And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth," 1:27 "To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 1:28 "And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." 1:31 "And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS." 1:56 "And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house."
Elizabeth was a barren lady married to Zachrias, a priest, they were a Levite couple. Those days when Zacharias was ministering in the temple. And when his duties were over went home and his wife. Henceforth, she conceived a child.
What went through Joseph's mind when Mary returned from Elizabeth's house with news that Elizabeth was with child. And, not long after Mary appeared to be with child. Joseph couldn't have known why.
Joseph had faith he sought a positive solution to this problem. Prayer, the evidence of faith. God provided him with a earth shaking answer. A joyful answer.
Matthew 1:18 tells us yhe details. "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost." 1:19 "Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily." 1:20 :But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of