Fear Not (Sermon 1 Of 3) Series

SUMMARY

The first truth I noticed: angels often say “do not be afraid.” The truth is that the angel of God comes and reassures the shepherds that the message they are bringing is not one that should invoke fear or judgment, but one that is centered on good news, great joy, is for all people, and shows the glory of God.

TRANSITION

This truth got be wondering and meditating and praying. Why did the angel have to assure the shepherds not to be afraid? Why did the angels in Genesis, Daniel, Luke, Matthew, and Acts all mention for the people not to be afraid? This led me to another truth about God and one that brought me to His grace.

GOD IS INFINITE AND WE ARE FINITE

I was thinking about the teeny tiny shepherds and the glory of the Lord filling the night sky and I was reminded of the truth that: God is infinite and we are finite. It is impossible for the finite to truly comprehend the Infinite. God is Unlimitedly Eternal and we are limitedly mortal. When God lets just a microscopic amount of His glory enter our reality, He lights up the whole sky. The angels were just reflecting His glory and lit up the night sky in a miraculous manner.

This truth is taught and illustrated by a conversation YHWH God has with Moses in Exodus 33 in the Old Testament. Moses had the privilege of speaking to God on Mount Sinai.

READ EXODUS 33:17-23 (ESV)

“And the Lord said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name.” 18 Moses said, “Please show me Your Glory.” 19 And He said, “I will make all My Goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you My Name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20 But,” He said, “you cannot see My Face, for man shall not see Me and live.” 21 And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by Me where you shall stand on the rock, 22 and while My Glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with My Hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take away My Hand, and you shall see My Back, but My Face shall not be seen.”

The next chapter in Exodus (34:29-35) tells us that when Moses is again among the Israelites after this passage that “his face shone because he had been talking with God” and the people were “afraid to come near him.” Moses had been so near to God that his skin glowed. He literally had to cover himself head to toe because it freaked the Israelites out (Exodus 34:33, 35). Encountering the Infinite Limitless Eternal God of the Universe is no small thing. It is impossible for sinful broken humans to survive the holy glory of God. We are told: “no one can see God and live.” This means it is impossible for us in our present state to comprehend God in His full glory, and if we saw His Glory, we would die.

TRANSITION

This truth got be wondering and meditating and praying. The angels had to assure the shepherds that the glory of God reflected in them would not make them piles of goo next to the sheep poo. The message of God explained was not one of fear, but one of salvation. This led me to God’s grace.