Introduction: Before He gave us the Bible, God often communicated directly with people by means of visions and dreams. God walked in the garden of Eden, and talked directly with Adam and Eve. God and two angels ate supper in Abraham's tent. God wrestled all night long with Jacob, and changed his name to Israel. God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, and on Mount Sinai, and gave him the Law. God sent dreams to Joseph, and the Butler, and the Baker, and Pharoah, and gave Joseph knowledge of the meaning of the dreams.
At this Christmas Season we are reminded that God communicated with Mary's husband Joseph by dreams and visions four different times.
Mat 1:18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
Mat 1:19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
Mat 1:20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
Mat 2:13 When they (the wise men) had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."
Mat 2:14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt,
Mat 2:15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."
Mat 2:19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt
Mat 2:20 and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead."
Mat 2:21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.
Mat 2:22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee,
Mat 2:23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene."
Christians in our time often wish that God spoke directly with them, as He did with many of the heros of the Bible. But God no longer speaks to us in dreams and visions. He no longer sends angels to tell us what to do. He no longer appears directly and has supper with us, and says, "now this is what I want you to do."
However, it is still possible for Christians to know what to do, even about specific decisions like these:
1. Study the Bible.
Mat 22:23 That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question.
Mat 22:24 "Teacher," they said, "Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and have children for him.
Mat 22:25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother.
Mat 22:26 The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh.
Mat 22:27 Finally, the woman died.
Mat 22:28 Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?"
Mat 22:29 Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.
Mat 22:30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.
Mat 22:31 But about the resurrection of the dead--have you not read what God said to you,
Mat 22:32 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living."
If you know the teachings of the Bible, you will know right from wrong. You will know what is sinful. You will know what is unwise.
2. Pray for wisdom.
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
3. Listen to your conscience.
1 Tim 1:19 hold (ing) on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith.
If something is bothering you, if you aren't sure something is right, then just stop! Don't go against your conscience. Your conscience may be imperfect, but you must not sin against it.
4. Listen to your wants and desires.
Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
If John and Edward are both equally fine Christian men, and both look like good marriage material, but you love one and not the other, isn't it obvious what to do?
5. Ask the opinion of older, wiser Christians.
What are the spiritual leaders of the church called? "Elders."
Prov 16:31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life.
Lev 19:32 "'Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the LORD.
6. Be patient
Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Don't expect to know what to do about everything instantaneously. If a decision doesn't have to be made immediately, then take your time.
Conclusion:
Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
Doing the will of God has far more to do with our sanctification than it does these specific decisions. God is more concerned about your spiritual life than about where you work, where you live and so on. We often invert this, and are more concerned about unimportant details. Love God, and love your neighbor, Jesus said this was what God expects of us. Everything else will fall into line automatically.
Joseph needed specific directions because the situation was crucial for the salvation of the world. Believe me, if God involves YOU in something that crucial, God will make it plain to you, what you are supposed to do. You won't have to wonder about it at all.