“GREATLY TROUBLED”: Spiritual stuff can be scary.
- Luke 1:29.
- An angel shows up to speak to Mary. On the one hand, the angel is light and not wielding a sword, so there is a sense in which he shouldn’t be scary. But, of course, we don’t see angelic beings very often and I’m sure his presence was enough to freak her out.
- The phrase “greatly troubled” stands out to me and I want to drill down on those words this morning.
- Spiritual stuff can be scary.
- Why?
a. It’s uncharted territory for many of us.
- Many don’t know much about spiritual things and so it’s a dark mystery.
- Many admire spiritual things, but don’t understand how they work.
- That’s a little like me looking at Evan’s college engineering homework. I’m in awe of it, but have no idea how it works.
b. You don’t know what God is going to ask from you.
- Is he going to ask you to go to Africa? Is he going to ask you to make massive, painful changes to your life?
- A little digression: for those of us who are Christians, it’s probably not a healthy sign when we get totally comfortable with our faith.
- It likely means that we’re not moving forward with God anymore. We’ve gotten settled into a familiar rut and are staying where we are comfortable.
- Even as Christians, God continues to push us forward into challenges and situations that might make us uncomfortable. If you can’t remember the last time your faith made you uncomfortable, it might be that you’re not walking in faith, but rather sitting in faith.
- This morning I want to look at this idea. The way we hold back on spiritual things because it all seems a bit daunting.
AN ESSENTIAL STARTING QUESTION: Is God approaching you as a judge with a gavel or a father with open arms?
- Luke 2:10; Luke 4:18.
- I want to be clear that I am not preaching a shallow gospel this morning that says that God is a kindly grandfather who would never judge anyone. The Bible teaches us that God will judge one of these days.
- But God approaches us today not as an eager judge ready to render a guilty verdict, but rather as a father with open arms.
- We know that when Jesus told the story of the prodigal son, the father was eager to welcome the wayward son home.
- We know that Jesus welcomed even those who were the farthest from the Kingdom – even tax collectors and prostitutes.
- We know that the birth of Jesus is heralded in Luke 2:10 as good news.
- We know that when Jesus shared His “mission statement” at the outset of His ministry, He said he came to bring good news.
- We know that even the word “gospel” – as in “the gospel of Jesus Christ” – means “good news.”
- We know that in the most famous verse in the Bible (John 3:16), Jesus shares that His message is that God is Father who loves us so much He sent His only Son. The following verse tells us that the Father sent Jesus to redeem the world, not condemn it.
- All that adds up to an essential understanding: right now God’s stance toward us is that of a father with open arms. He desires for us to repent and return to the Father’s house.
- As I said a moment ago, that doesn’t mean that there is not a judgment to come for those who refuse to repent. That doesn’t mean that hell isn’t real. But those truths don’t change the wonderful fact that God comes to us now wanting to redeem and to help.
- This is essential to understand because many presume that God is out to get them. They presume God is at best indifferent and at worst actively against them.
- This is a revelation to be celebrated. God is for us, not against us. God is a father that wants to receive us home.
- He knows we are sinners and have messed up, but He has made a way through Christ to redeem us.
- This is important for those who think spiritual things are scary. It’s good news that there is good news! It should give us the courage to take some tentative steps forward.
BECOMING LESS TROUBLED: Knowing more about God makes it less scary.
- Luke 1:30-33.
- As the angel answers the obvious doubts of Mary, he shares information that encourages.
- Unpack vv. 30-33.
- Because of the “good news” stance that God has toward us now, that is also true in a number of other ways.
- I want to look at a few specific examples of that.
- Examples:
a. Greatly troubled trying to figure God out.
- Matthew 21:31-32; Matthew 23:1-4.
b. Greatly troubled praying for the first time in a long time.
- Luke 11:1-2.
c. Greatly troubled convicted of sin.
- Luke 3:3; Luke 24:47; 1 John 1:9.
d. Greatly troubled thinking about eternity.
- John 3:16, 36; John 10:10.
e. Greatly troubled to obey Christ.
- Matthew 7:24-27.
A FINAL "TROUBLED" QUESTION: Do I want good news?
- Now you face a choice. You can stay in the dark about whatever issue you’re facing when it comes to spiritual things. Or you can believe that the Bible is telling the truth when it says that there is good news and you can step out.
- It’s easy to remain in your defensive position. It’s easy to stay right where you are. But God has better things for you. He wants to be present in your life and help you to become like Christ.
