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
