{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"The Gospel of Matthew | Matthew 1:18-25","description":"Matthew 1:18\u201325 draws our attention to the faith and obedience of Joseph when God unfolds the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ. As Joseph faces the shock of Mary\u2019s pregnancy, Scripture reveals a righteous man who chooses to show mercy rather than condemnation. God calls Joseph to believe what is humanly impossible and to obey at great personal cost. His humble response demonstrates that faith is not merely intellectual agreement, but courageous trust expressed through obedient action.   In this message, we'll explore why affirming the virgin birth is essential to Jesus\u2019 identity as Savior and King. We see that through Joseph\u2019s willingness to receive Mary as his bride and to name the child Jesus, the legal lineage of David is preserved, and God\u2019s redemptive plan advances exactly as promised.   Pastor Maiola challenges us to believe that God is worthy of our trust and obedience, even if His calling disrupts expectations, invites misunderstanding, or requires sacrifice. Like Joseph, we are called to walk in faithful obedience, confident that God is always at work fulfilling His promises for His glory and our good. ","author_name":"One Love Ministries Hawaii","author_url":"http:\/\/onelove.org","html":"