FEAR NOT : BEHOLD I BRING YOU GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY
*********************************************************
1.THE BIRTH OF CHRIST IS GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY
2.THE PROPHECY OF MARY AND ZECHARIAH
3.THE NAMES OF THE LORD
4.JESUS CAME TO GIVE US FULLNES OF LIFE
5.JESUS CAME IN GOD’S APPOINTED TIME
6.GOD SEES OUR SUFFERING AND HEARS OUR CRY
7.GOD GIVES US VICTORY IN BATTLES
THE MESSAGE
FEAR NOT : BEHOLD I BRING YOU GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY
*********************************************************
1.THE BIRTH OF CHRIST IS GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY
" But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ....Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Luke 2 :10-14
The birth of Christ brought good news to mankind which was lost in sin and in the bondage of satan . His coming brought glory to God and peace on earth and favour on men. Even today Jesus comes to us with good news and brings joy to us when we are in pain and need.
2.THE PROPHECY OF MARY AND ZECHARIAH
"His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. ....He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers." Luke 1 :50-55
"salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us-- to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days." Luke 1: 71-75
Mary prophesied that God extends His mercy from generation to generation to those who fear him. He performs mighty deeds and scatters the proud who have many imaginations in their hearts . He helped Israel because he remembered His covenant with Abraham . Even today the Lord shows mercy to the descendants of those who feared him and helps them in their time of need . He shows His strength and scatter the proud in their imaginations. Zechariah prophesied about the covenant of God to deliver us from our enemies and enable us to serve Him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
3.THE NAMES OF THE LORD
" She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,] because he will save his people from their sins."
"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" which means, "God with us." Matthew 1 :21,23
" ..And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. " Isaiah 9:6
The Lord is called Jesus because He saves us from our sin . He is called Emmanuel because He is with us all the time. The Lord wants us to experience the qualities that His names reveal . We can experience His wonders , His counsel ,His might , His fatherly care and His peace.
4.JESUS CAME TO GIVE US FULLNES OF LIFE
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10
The devil comes to steal from us and kill us and destroy us in many different ways . But the good news is that Jesus has come to give us fullnes of life. Let us reach out in faith and receive this blessing from the Lord.
5.JESUS CAME IN GOD’S APPOINTED TIME
"But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law," Galatians 4:4
Jesus came in God’s appointed time . God fulfills His promises at the right time . We must wait for God’s perfect time to enjoy the fulfillment of His promises to us.
6.GOD SEES OUR SUFFERING AND HEARS OUR CRY
" The LORD said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey-the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them " Exodus 3 :7-9
God is not blind to our suffering nor is He deaf to our cry . He sees our pain and hears our cry . And He comes down to deliver us and take us from the Land of suffering to the Land of blessing . Let us have an expectant faith for the deliverance of God in our lives.
7.GOD GIVES US VICTORY IN BATTLES
" no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD , and this is their vindication from me," declares the LORD . " Isaiah 54:17
" So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish.
Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all.
For I am the LORD , your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. " Isaiah 41 :10-13
The Lord is with us in every battle and strengthens us and delivers us . He foils every attack of the enemy and grants us the victory . We need not fear but put our trust in God and He will stand with us and deliver us from every attack of the enemy .
*******************************************************************
