Scandal

Happy Sunday!

Bishop Alexis A. Thomas preached, "There's Scandal in Bethlehem!" He used Matthew 1:18-26 as his reference scriptures.

If you haven't heard of the television show "Scandal", I have one question for you...where have you been? I have never watched it but I have heard all the buzz about it. Thursday nights it's hard to navigate through all the postings about it on Facebook. Bishop David G. Evans even conducts up to the minute tweets and posts about the show. Bishop Thomas reported that he had never watched Scandal until this week. He watched the season finale. He is hooked and he will be anxiously awaiting further episodes. He said it brought back fond memories of his time watching or following, "24".

The Bible is full of real life stories of scandalous behavior. Every possible story of triumph, tragedy, or condition is played out on the pages of the Word. You should read it some time!

Matthew 1:18-26 says, "So here, finally, is the story of the birth of Jesus the Anointed (it is quite a remarkable story): Mary was engaged to marry Joseph, son of David. They hadn’t married. And yet, some time well before their wedding date, Mary learned that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph, because he was kind and upstanding and honorable, wanted to spare Mary shame. He did not wish to cause her more embarrassment than necessary. This is remarkable, because Mary has never had sex. She and Joseph have not even spent very much time alone, but they are pledged to each other and their wedding feast has been planned. She has never even kissed a man. She is a virgin, yet she is pregnant. Miraculous! On the other hand, Joseph suspects that Mary has cheated on him and had sex with another man. He knows he will have to break their engagement, but he decides to do this quietly. Mary understands that it is God, in the Person of the Holy Spirit, who has made her pregnant. Now when Joseph had decided to act on his instincts, a messenger of the Lord came to him in a dream. The Messenger of the Lord said: Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to wed Mary and bring her into your home and family as your wife. She did not sneak off and sleep with someone else—rather, she conceived the baby she now carries through the miraculous wonderworking of the Holy Spirit. She will have a son, and you will name Him Jesus, which means “the Lord saves,” because this Jesus is the person who will save all of His people from sin. Joseph woke up from his dream and did exactly what the messenger had told him to do: he married Mary and brought her into his home as his wife (though he did not consummate their marriage until after her son was born). And when the baby was born, Joseph named Him Jesus, Savior. Years and years ago, Isaiah, a prophet of Israel, foretold the story of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus: A virgin will conceive and bear a Son, and His name will be Immanuel (which is a Hebrew name that means “God with us”). (Voice)
Now that's real drama! What can we take away from this message? I'm glad you asked! This message reminds us that even if we are experiencing unusual circumstances God has a plan! Even if things aren't going as we wished and dreamed, hang in there...God is able! Philippians 1:6 says, "There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears." (Message) Even if you weren't born in a mansion with a silver spoon in your mouth, just trust..."We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan." Romans 8:28 (Voice)

Love and prayers, Cynthia