The 3 'fear Nots' Of Christmas

THE 3 FEAR NOTS OF CHRISTMAS

Lk. 1:26-33

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. 'Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house; I searched for the tools to hand to my spouse. Instructions were studied and we were inspired, In hopes we could manage "Some Assembly Required."

2. The children were quiet (not asleep) in their beds, While Dad and I faced the evening with dread: A kitchen, two bikes, Barbie's town house to boot! And, thanks to Grandpa, a train with a toot!

3. We opened the boxes, my heart skipped a beat.... Let no parts be missing or parts incomplete! Too late for last-minute returns or replacement; If we can't do it, it goes in the basement!

4. When what to my worrying eyes should appear; But 50 sheets of directions, concise, but not clear; With each part numbered and every slot named; So if we failed, only we could be blamed.

5. And then in a twinkling, I knew for a fact; That all the toy dealers had indeed made a pact; To keep parents busy all Christmas Eve night; With "assembly required" till morning's first light.

6. We spoke not a word, but kept bent at our work; Till our eyes went bleary & our fingers all hurt. The coffee went cold and the night it wore thin; Before we attached the last rod and last pin.

7. Then laying the tools away in the chest; We fell into bed for a well-deserved rest. And I said to my husband just before I passed out; "This will be the best Christmas, without any doubt.”

8. “Tomorrow we'll cheer, ‘Let the holiday ring;’ And not have to run to the store for a thing!; We did it! We did it! The toys are all set; For the perfect, most perfect, Christmas, I bet!"

9. Then off to dreamland I gratefully went; but into my dreams came a darkening hint; “Those who think themselves free are often self-deluded; You forgot that batteries are never included!” [THE END]

10. Christmas can be complicated. For most people, Christmas is filled with joy. But for many, Christmas is a time of uncertainty, fears, loneliness, sadness or depression.

B. THESIS & TITLE

1. We all have fears. In Australia there was a 747 jet that attempted to take off, but had to cancel due to engine failure. Who was on that 747? A planeload of people taking their first flight after completing a course on "How to overcome your fear of flying!" What irony!

2. But regardless of your fears, God gives us great consolation by assuring us 3X in the Christmas story not to be afraid.

3. The title of this message is "The Three ‘Fear Nots’ of Christmas." The 1st “Fear-Not” involved Mary feeling...

I. UNWORTHY, BUT SHE WAS HIGHLY FAVORED!

26 God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth...27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 ...“Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words...30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a Son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Lk. 1:26-33.

A. SAINTS WHO FOUND FAVOR WITH GOD

1. Imagine if an angel appeared to you. What if it said, “You have found favor with God.” Wouldn’t those be wonderful words to hear? Finding favor with God is all-important.

2. NOAH, Gen. 6:8. Out of a whole generation, one man found favor and he & his family were spared.

3. MOSES, Ex. 33:12. Favor allowed Moses special closeness with God.

4. SAMUEL, 1 Sam. 2:26; DAVID, Acts 7:46 KJV.

5. Finding favor meant they could have God’s blessings & protection.

B. DEFINITION OF…

1. The possession of favor, is characterized as "pleasing" God. "When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him" Prov. 16:7.

2. Heb. 11:5; Enoch was translated (raptured) because he pleased God.

3. But God's favor is not based on our works, but on God's choice of us from eternity – due to His knowledge we would put our personal faith in Jesus! The Favor of God – in our time – is based on what Jesus did on Calvary & our trust in Him and His atonement.

C. THE CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

1. Mary was just a poor, ordinary nobody. She was nothing special in the natural. She was similar to us! But God chose her. God's favor made the difference.