Fear Not Series

Fear NOT

Luke 1:30

Times when God Seems Slow

Sometimes God seems to be moving at high speed

At other times it seems that He is so slow in His program

The four hundred years of silence between testaments

Words of the prophets must have seemed vain

The Whirlwind Pace then & Now

Angels sent on special errands

John the Baptist to be born…. Other miracles

Suddenly those who had waited were gripped with FEAR

I. The Fear of the Unexpected (Luke 1:26-30)

a. “Fear not, Mary”

b. Mary’s life up to then very normal

i. Growing up… dreaming romantic dreams like all girls

ii. Kept herself right with God

iii. She was engaged and anticipating marriage

c. What is this that has entered her peaceful harbor to make waves? She was troubled as his saying

i. Easy to panic at the unexpected

ii. The best made plans may go wrong

iii. Some fear all interruptions; Every phone call a threat, every letter opened fearfully

d. But what good news the angel brought that day!

e. She had found favor with God and would be part of a miracle

II. The Fear of Personal Loss (Matthew 1:18-25)

a. Joseph & Mary.. all he had dreamed about or hoped for

b. Then the awful blow: Mary was with child

i. Joseph’s dreams are shattered

ii. His castles tumble

iii. He thought he would lose Mary

iv. How real these fears are: Our children or other family members

c. Note that Joseph was not afraid of the angel…but of loss

d. We may fear personal loss

i. Loss of money

ii. Loss of home

iii. Loss of name

e. How this holds back blessing

i. Afraid to risk love

ii. Afraid to risk investment

iii. Afraid to live

f. Joseph would not lose Mary & would gain more than he had ever imagined

III. The fear of meeting God (Luke 2:8-14)

a. The fearful shepherds

b. Their fear was because of the glory of the Lord

c. Many have shared that fear & awe

i. Abraham, Job, Isaiah Peter

ii. They must have faced their sins

d. You may fear meeting God

e. But here’s good news God loves you and sent His Son to be your Savior

God wants to take away your fears

Trust Him and You will have nothing to Fear