When God Sends A Veto | Blueprint Bible Study Ep. 10 (Matthew 1:18-25)

Devotional

Day 1: Divine action often comes before clear revelation.

When God moves, the consequences can arrive before the explanation; people find themselves in uncharted waters like Joseph when Mary was found to be with child. In those in-between seasons, maintain godly character and trust that God will provide clarity after the fact so that the next step becomes clear. Hold to faith that God’s action will be matched by revelation to guide what to do next. [12:20]

Matthew 1:18-25 (NIV)
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 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. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us." 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Reflection: When God has acted in your life before you understood why, what one godly habit (prayer, Scripture reading, accountability) can you strengthen this week so your discernment is clearer like Joseph’s?

Day 2: God’s voice brings divine direction and new purpose.

God often interrupts ordinary life to call a person into a new assignment, just as God called Moses from the burning bush and changed the trajectory of his life. That call brings clarity about purpose and sends a person forth with a divine mandate to act. Pay attention to places where God’s voice reframes your daily path and offers a new direction. [07:37]

Exodus 3:2-4 (NIV)
2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn." 4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!" And Moses said, "Here I am."

Reflection: What “mountain” or unexpected encounter might God be using to redirect your life right now, and what is one concrete step you can take this week toward the call you sense?

Day 3: You cannot outrun God’s voice or mission for you.

Running from God only delays the transformation He is determined to bring; Jonah learned that the word of the Lord finds its way back to the called even when they try to flee. The Lord’s purposes pursue and, when met with repentance, can redirect someone’s life toward a mission larger than themselves. Consider how God’s persistence might actually be mercy aimed at reorienting you. [08:09]

Jonah 3:1 (NIV)
Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: "Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you."

Reflection: Identify one area you’ve been running from God’s correction or calling; what specific, measurable action will you take this week to stop running and turn toward obedience?

Day 4: A ready response opens one to prophetic clarity.

When God calls, responding with "Here I am" positions a person to receive further direction, as Samuel responded and was used as God's mouthpiece. Quick attentiveness and willingness to listen allow God to develop someone for greater service and clearer understanding. Practice saying "Here I am" to small nudges so you will be ready for larger instructions. [09:06]

1 Samuel 3:10 (NIV)
The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

Reflection: In which small, everyday nudges are you tempted to delay or ignore, and what would saying "Here I am, Lord" look like practically in that situation this week?

Day 5: God intercepts and redirects to fulfill His purposes.

God can interrupt even good plans—He stopped Saul on the Damascus road to redirect him and to involve others like Ananias in the process of transformation and mission. Divine intervention often comes through a disruptive encounter that reroutes a life toward kingdom impact. Trust that interruptions can be God’s way of saving you from a wrong path and launching you into greater service. [09:29]

Acts 9:4-6 (NIV)
4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?" 5 "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. 6 "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

Reflection: Where might God be trying to redirect you through an unexpected interruption, who could be the "Ananias" God uses to help you respond, and will you reach out to them this week?

Sermon Summary

We gathered as a community hungry to grow, and we opened Matthew 1 to walk with Joseph into a season none of his plans accounted for. He was a righteous man with wedding dates set and family expectations high—until Mary showed up pregnant and the child wasn’t his. That shock put him in uncharted waters. He chose compassion and integrity in the fog: no public shaming, no wrecking her future, just a quiet course correction while he waited. Only after that choice did God speak—an angel in a dream—explaining the divine action already in motion and giving Joseph the next step: take Mary home, name the child Jesus, trust that this is the work of the Holy Spirit.

That order matters. Sometimes God speaks before the assignment; other times God acts, then clarifies. Our task in the “in-between” is to preserve godly character, feed our discernment with God’s Word and prayer, and move humbly with the light we have. How we live before we hear determines the filter through which we hear. Joseph’s compassion over legalism primed him to receive a disruptive word and obey it without having to undo rash decisions.

I urged us to practice a mature prayer: “Lord, based on what I know, this is the step I believe I should take. If this isn’t Your path, veto me clearly.” That keeps us moving by faith without demanding a full blueprint up front. God is faithful to clarify, to course-correct, and—when our discernment is misaligned or He’s lifting us to a new level—to send a direct word that gets us where we need to be. As we step into Advent, let’s cultivate that Joseph posture: integrity in uncertainty, compassion over spectacle, discernment that’s been trained by Scripture and prayer, and a readiness to obey when God speaks.

Key Takeaways

1. God sometimes clarifies after He acts God does not owe us a heads up. He often moves first, then gives the word that interprets what He’s already set in motion. Maturity means honoring Him in the gap between divine action and divine explanation, trusting that clarity will come in due time. [27:31]
2. Character must hold in uncertainty Joseph modeled compassion and restraint while he lacked answers. Our integrity in the fog keeps us from creating messes we’ll need to clean later. Let your conduct be something God can bless when the fuller picture arrives. [23:09]
3. Discernment is shaped by your inputs What you feed your heart becomes your filter. Fill your mind with Scripture, prayer, and godly counsel so you can recognize God’s movement amid noise and pressure. A worldly diet produces worldly instincts; a holy diet tunes you to God. [39:04]
4. Expect God’s veto and course-correction When your sincere discernment misaligns with His will—or when He’s promoting you to a new level—God knows how to interrupt, redirect, and set you straight. That confidence frees you to take faithful steps today without fear of missing His ultimate path. [40:56]
5. Choose compassion over legalism’s rigidity Joseph balanced fidelity to the law with mercy toward Mary, and that posture prepared him to receive a disruptive, holy assignment. Rigid systems cannot shepherd human hearts, but compassion can carry truth with grace. Mercy creates room for revelation. [34:52]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:10] - Building community and sharing
[03:21] - Giving Tuesday and church launch
[06:52] - Opening prayer and series frame
[07:37] - Recap: hearing God through Scripture
[11:33] - Reading Matthew 1:18–25
[13:09] - 400 years of silence context
[16:07] - When everything changes
[19:41] - Joseph’s plan: quiet divorce
[24:17] - Angelic dream and instructions
[29:42] - Holding character in the in-between
[33:39] - Your pre-word life shapes your hearing
[38:08] - Practicing discernment and prayer
[40:56] - God’s veto and course correction
[43:54] - Praying for direction in real crises
[55:35] - Closing prayer and next steps

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

- Matthew 1:18–25 (NIV) — This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 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. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Observation Questions

What specific plan did Joseph make when he discovered Mary was pregnant, and what motive does Matthew 1:19 give for that plan?
What message does the angel give Joseph in Matthew 1:20–21, and what practical instruction follows in verses 24–25?
How is Joseph’s character described in his initial response to Mary’s pregnancy — especially his choice to avoid public disgrace — and why is that detail emphasized? [23:09]
In the passage, which comes first: the divine action (Mary conceived) or the divine explanation (the angel’s dream)? How does that order shape the narrative?

Interpretation Questions

What might be the theological meaning of God acting first (conception by the Spirit) and explaining afterward through a dream? [27:31]
How did Joseph’s choice to balance obedience to the law with compassion prepare him to receive and obey the angel’s message? [34:52]
In what ways does “how you live before you hear” affect the way a person interprets and responds to God’s later clarity? [33:39]
What does it mean that God can “veto” a course of action or send course-correction, and how might that differ from simply withholding clarity? [40:56]

Application Questions

Identify an “in-between” season in your life right now—something has changed but you don’t yet have full clarity. Based on what you already know, what one faithful, compassionate step can you take this week? [39:04]
Pray a simple prayer this week: “Lord, based on what I know, this is the step I believe I should take. If this isn’t Your path, veto me clearly.” After praying it, what would it look like for you to watch for a clear confirmation or correction? [45:13]
Where have you been tempted to make a spectacle of someone who wronged you rather than protect their dignity? Name one concrete action you will take to choose compassion instead of public shaming in the next seven days. [23:09]
Audit your spiritual inputs for the next week (Scripture time, prayer, counsel, and media intake). What will you start, stop, or increase so your discernment is shaped more by God’s Word than by the world? Create a one-week plan and share it with a partner. [39:04]
Is there a decision you already made in haste that now needs “cleanup” (an apology, a conversation, or a course reversal)? What is the first step you will take this week to begin that repair? [36:44]
How will you practice readiness to obey if God gives a clear word—who will you tell (an accountability partner), what practical change will you make, and when will you report back about obedience? [31:29]

Sermon Clips

``Jesus did not die so that you would be bound. Jesus did not suffer on the cross so that you could allow things to hold you back. But it was for freedom that Christ has set you free. And through Freedom Church Atlanta, I believe God is going to set persons free. Chains are going to be broken. Yokes are going to be thrown down. And we're going to walk in the liberty with Christ has set us free. [00:05:40] (25 seconds) #SetFreeInChrist

Even when we've been done wrong, we must still have a godly character. Even when we've been done wrong, we must still show godly character. We are defined not by how we react when people treat us right. We are defined by how we respond when people treat us wrong. Joseph sees the situation as we all would, as we have been treated wrong. But he does not allow that to change who he is. [00:23:12] (50 seconds) #RespondWithGrace

God is not required or obligated to get our permission to do his will. God does not have to talk to us first before he takes action. God does not have to sit down with us and schedule a conference call before he carries out his plan for the world. But when he does carry out his plan, there are times where we don't get a heads up or an indication on the front end of what God is going to do. [00:25:59] (29 seconds) #GodMovesWithoutPermission

Christian real maturity is fully accepting that even if God doesn't give me a heads up to the why, I'm still going to be true to who he has created me to be. I want somebody to write in the chat, I'm going to be true to who God created me to be. I'm going to be true to who God created me to be. Even if God doesn't give me a heads up, I'm going to remain true. [00:30:20] (33 seconds) #TrueToWhoGodMadeMe

Whenever God gives us a word, it's to give us direction on what to do next. God does not give us a word just so that we can put on a t-shirt saying, I've heard from the Lord. God doesn't give us a word just so that we can walk around saying, I talked to God last night. God gives us a word so that we are clear on what he wants us to do next. [00:31:58] (31 seconds) #GodsWordIsDirection

How you live before you hear God's voice will determine the filter through which you hear and understand and are able to act on what God says. How you live, how you operate your life before you hear from God, before you have the understanding, before you have the clarity, will determine the filter through which you can hear, understand, and do what God says. [00:33:39] (34 seconds) #LiveRightToHearRight

Your discernment is shaped through what you put into your spirit. Your discernment is shaped through the life experiences that you live and it's shaped by how much of God you put in you. The more God you put in you, the more you can discern when God's moving and speaking. The less God you put in you, the less you can discern. The more of the world you put in you, the more the world factors into your discernment. [00:39:47] (25 seconds) #FeedYourSpirit

Whenever our discernment is not in alignment with God's will, he will send a direct veto to get us on course. This is the key. Before we ruin our journey or our destiny. Whenever our designment, discernment is off track and not aligned with God's plan for our lives, he will send a direct veto, a messenger, an angelic word to get us back where we need to go. [00:40:56] (40 seconds) #DivineVeto

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Why does God sometimes speak after divine action?

How did Joseph balance law with compassion?

What practices sharpen spiritual discernment filters?