Intro: Fear has been a part of the human struggle since Adam and Eve first disobeyed God in the beginning. The first thing they did when God called them was to hide. Genesis 3:10 I hid because I was afraid! Everyone that is honest is afraid of something. Our fears may be reasonable or unreasonable and can range from fear of frogs to fear of failure. Fear is real in our lives but it doesn’t have to rule our lives!
The Scottish preacher John McNeill told that during his childhood he had to walk a long distance home every evening, and his route led through a forest with a large ravine. Reports said that wild animals and gangs of robbers were often seen in that area. Great fear would seize his heart as he made his way past the spooky- looking trees. He recalled, "One night it was especially dark, but I was aware that something or someone was moving slowing and quietly toward me. I was sure it was a robber. When a voice called out, its eerie tone struck my heart with fear. I thought I was finished. Then came a second call. This time I could hear the voice saying, 'John, is that you?' It was my father. He had known of my fear and had come out to meet me.")
It was a word from John McNeill’s father that brought peace to his fearful heart that night. Whatever our fears or causes of our fear we all need a word from our Heavenly Father. It is the words of life from His lips that expel fear and make it possible for us to experience love and peace.
God has used His word to tell us over and over again fear not. Why? Fear is one of the most basic of human emotions. God knew that we would struggle with it, fight it and get frustrated with its control over us. God has given us a word that will help release fears grip on us.
I. God chooses unlikely people to fulfill His amazing plans. (1 Peter 2:9) (Focus on out of darkness)
What is one of the most comforting words we can ever hear from God’s Word, chosen. When you deal with rejection, fear, frustration, despair or depression I encourage to read these words. You are chosen.
Ephesians 1:4 “For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love” (He chose us because he has a plan for us)
2 Timothy 1:9 “He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works,
but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.”
God chooses the most unlikely people to do the most impossible task.
A) The meek Moses (numbers 12:2)
Moses was on the lamb. A murderer and a runaway felon. So what does God do? He makes Moses go back and face his fears. As God called Moses and said I’m sending you to set my people free Moses responded with excuses and objections.
In exodus 2:14 we see Moses was afraid the Pharaoh would find out he killed an Egyptian. He was afraid of the Pharaoh and the consequences of his actions.
Exodus 4:1 shows us Moses was afraid of being rejected by the people of God.
In facing the fears that He had what did Moses learn?
Moses learned that God’s plan is better than man’s pleasures. Hebrews 11:27, 28 “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter 25 and chose to suffer with the people of God rather than to enjoy the short-lived pleasure of sin.” Moses had moved from fear to faith.
B) The captive hand maiden of Naaman’s wife (2 Kings 5:1-9) (she was a captive not a coward)
What an amazing story. This young woman didn’t have an encounter with God from a burning bush. She did however have a faith in God that couldn’t be shaken by being kidnapped and thrown into slavery. Imagine a nameless nobody used of God to touch a powerful somebody like Naaman.
God has never looked for superstars. He’s looking for humble servants that will do what is right no matter their circumstances. Isn’t it just like God to choose someone that seems powerless to bring the powerful to their knees? Naaman had to humble himself to be cleansed of his terrible disease. Beloved so do we. Do you remember what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1:27 “Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong.”
C) The elderly priest Zechariah and barren mother Elizabeth
1) Their position and pain
They come from respected families
They were considered righteous by God. Luke 1:6. Zechariah (My God has remembered.) Elizabeth (My God is an Oath)
They still suffered because of Elizabeth’s barrenness. It seemed they were in a hopeless situation.
2) God’s providence and positioning
18,000 priests.
Drew lots to decide who got to do what service. A priest could live his whole life and never offer the incense to God. It wasn’t an accident it was providence.
God was positioning Zechariah for the most important day, no the most important moment of his life! He was to be in the Holy place right next to the presence of God.
3) God’s promise and Zechariah’s punishment
a) Zechariah’s sheer fear
Great a once in a lifetime moment what did I do wrong now?!
b) God’s sure promise
1) Don’t be afraid --
2) Your prayers have been answered.
c) Zechariah’s sharp discipline
He had prayed for a son and possibly a redeemer for Israel. Now when the angel promises to answer his prayer Zech asks for a sign. How can I know this my wife and I are old.
Gabriel said fine, you will not be able to speak until the day his thing takes place.
Zechariah was looking at himself and his abilities instead of God. If we allow it fear will capture us when we look at ourselves and we will see our situation as hopeless.
Matthew Henry, “We can depend on God to fulfill His promise, even when all the roads leading to it are closed.”
God chose each of these people for their respective tasks. Not because of their abilities but their availability.
Listen to the amazing way God chose you and me recorded in Ephesians 1:3-4 “Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens. 4 For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love”
1) He chose us personally
Each of us were chosen in Jesus Christ! God doesn’t talk to someone else when He lets us know we are chosen. Have you ever heard the personal call of God?
2) He chose us powerfully
Before the foundation of the world
3) He chose us for a purpose
Each of the people God chose in our stories today were chose for a purpose and a task. Beloved you were not chosen by God to sit in fear, fretting or fits. You were chosen by God to serve and pave the way for the Messiah to in others lives.
Boy this truth will upset the tater cart of fear. This will give you reason to boldly follow God wherever He leads. You were chosen!
Why does God chose the most unlikely people to do the most impossible task? He wants us to know he chose us and that we do not have to be consumed by fear.
II. God chooses unlikely circumstances to fulfill His perfect plans.
Someone once said, “Life would be much simpler if God would behave himself more predictably.” We find ourselves asking why on earth does God have to be so odd! Why does he have to take us so completely from our comfort zone into so many unknowns. We need to remember what we learned from VBS not too long ago it may be unknown to us but it is known to Him.
Job 5:9 “He does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number.”
The message says it like this, “After all, he’s famous for great and unexpected acts; there’s no end to his surprises.” God uses unlikely circumstances in our lives so we will not get comfortable with what’s around us.
When your circumstances seem to crush you turn to Jesus that is exactly what He wants.
He wants us to trust His power to guide not our power to decide.
The birth of Jesus: He was moved into position to be born in Bethlehem by a roman emperor.
The birth of John the Baptist is a great example. Born of a barren mother and
The deportation of Daniel to Nineveh in order to dream dreams and see visions and save a pagan king. The furnace that SMA were thrown into to reveal the power and protection of God.
God doesn’t allow circumstances in our lives to make us fear. He allows them in order to build our faith. Dr. Adrian Rogers said it well, “A faith that can’t be tested can’t be trusted.
What keeps you in fear? Looking at your circumstances!
What is the ultimate reason we don’t have to fear? God keeps His word!
III. God chooses every day to work in normal lives by keeping His word
The chief desire of the devil is for you and me to doubt God’s word. Why is that? If we doubt God’s word we doubt God’s character. If we doubt God’s word we doubt that we are sinners in need of a savior. If we doubt God’s word we doubt that He loves us, seeks us and saves us.
Zechariah doubted God’s word because he looked at what He could see. God is a spirit often works behind the scenes for His glory and our good.
.
A) Confess your fears to the Lord
What keeps us in fear? Not believing God’s word
B) Place your confidence in His word!
