Fear Not – Seven Christmas Messages from the Book of Luke

Christmas time. A time of celebration, but for the sinner, for the homeless, for those in debt, for the inmate, for the hopeless it can be a time of fear. Fear of insufficient finances, fear of losing a home, fear of broken relationships, fear of failing health, fear of abandonment and desertion and rejection. For the believer the promise of the scriptures in regards to fear is found in 2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. But what about fear? Are there not events and situations that can bring about real fear and paralyze our hearts and wound our spirits? This Christmas season let’s consider the Book of Luke, and see seven situations where fear is expected, but with God we are to Fear Not!

Christmas Message #1 – Fear Not, God Does the Impossible. Luke 1:10-14 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. 11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. Zacharias was a priest near the time of Jesus’ coming. Zacharias was an aged man, and his wife Elisabeth was also old, well beyond child-bearing age. But it was in the heart of Zacharias and Elisabeth to have children. In that time it was looked upon poorly if a married couple did not have children. And here are Zacharias and Elisabeth, who for all these years watch other couples bring children into the world. They watched as children went to school, had birthdays, and grew into adulthood. They missed all of this and their hearts were broken, yet still they served God, they still believed God was good. They still believed God had a purpose and though they didn’t know what the future held, they knew who held the future. And an angel appears to Zacharias and understandably Zacharias is afraid! Yet the angel says Fear Not! God is on your side beloved. He has heard your prayer. He is making a way! He holds the future. Do your part – believe the gospel, be faithful in the things of God, attend to your duties as a man, and fulfill your days with honor. Then watch and see what God will do. God will restore the years the locust has eaten. God is always on time! Is it in your heart to have a reunion with your family? Your children? Your parents? God can make a way where there is no way. Don’t give up on God. God hears your prayer and God does the impossible. God has not abandoned His people! Fear Not!

Christmas Message #2 – Fear Not, God Does the Miraculous. Luke 1:26-31 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. The Christmas Story, how Mary the virgin girl conceives a child by the Holy Spirit, and the sinless Son of God and Son of Man, Jesus Christ the Righteous, is born, God incarnate in human form. It was God’s plan that Jesus would come into the world, live sinless, die for the sin of man, and be raised again by the power of God. It took a miracle. Human processes were suspended as the virgin conceives. What miracle do you need? Is it a miracle like that which befell Mary? Probably not, yet in this same chapter the angel tells Mary, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Do you believe this beloved? Do you believe God is all powerful, all knowing, all present, and that he can move a mountain? Well, he created the mountain, and He can certainly move it! Do you need a miracle? God does the miraculous! Fear Not!

Christmas Message #3 – Fear Not, God Speaks to the Common Man. Luke 2:8-14 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Jesus had just been born. The shepherds knew nothing of what was going on. They were doing their work, tending the flock, raising their families, and minding their own business. They had hopes, dreams, disappointments, concerns, discouragements, and joys just like anyone else. They had bills to pay, obligations to meet, and things to fix. Life was moving forward. Then God appears on the scene! God intervenes in lives! He brings hope to the hopeless, love to those not loved, and He wants you and I to know it. God speaks to the common man. He knows events can bring fear, and God’s message in changing times, in any time, is Fear Not!

Christmas Message #4 – Fear Not, God is the Friend of Sinners. Luke 5:8-11 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: 10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. 11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him. When the angels appeared to the shepherds in the field this was the start of something good, the announcement of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, born into the world. Then the child grows to be a man, and this man has a mission. And he looks to men to fulfill the plan of the ages. A miracle of an enormous catch of fish comes after a day of toil with no productivity. Jesus, the Lord of heaven and earth, sees to it that an immediate catch of fish comes. Peter sees what is going on, realizes he’s a laborer, an under-educated rough neck, and he’s face to face with God in the flesh, Jesus the Lamb of God. Peter is afraid, but Jesus says Fear Not! Jesus has plans for Peter and the disciples. God has a plan for you. God is after you. God meets you where you are. When you recognize you are a sinner standing before a holy God it is frightful. It’s time to get right with God and follow Him. The message of God, the friend of sinners, is Fear Not!

Christmas Message #5 – Fear Not, God Will Walk With You. Luke 8:49-56 49 While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master. 50 But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. 51 And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden. 52 And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. 53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. 54 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. 55 And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat. 56 And her parents were astonished. Jesus is out in the neighborhood ministering, like he does in countless neighborhoods to this day. Peter, James, and John are with Jesus when news comes of the death of a young girl. The disciples don’t know what to do, and all eyes are on Jesus. When you are serving God and learning the ways of the Lord things will come into your path that you don’t understand. The message is Fear Not! Don’t fear the future, don’t fear death, and don’t fear set-back. Stand like a man, a man of God, and believe the promises of God, believe the goodness of God, believe in the righteousness of God. When everyone laughs you to scorn because you are a Christian, Fear Not! The parents of the child were astonished, but the disciples were afraid, afraid because they didn’t know what to do. It takes time walking with Christ to get to the point where you are not afraid when in ministry, when you can step out and be bold in Christ. But the more you do it, the more emboldened you become. Stand fast, and see the glory of God, see and experience the heartbeat of God, don’t weep, but believe. Because God is walking with you, Fear Not!

Christmas Message #6 – God Knows You and He Still Loves You! Luke 12:4-7 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? 7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. There is evil in the world. There is sin in the world. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil! Jesus here is comforting his disciples. They see the wickedness, the injustice, the heartache of life then, even as we see it now. And Jesus is saying to them how important they are in God’s sight. God knows your hurts, your sorrow, your pain. He says that the very hairs of your head are numbered. Therefore, Fear Not! God, who sees all of the pain, all of the sorrow, all of the injustices, sees you, yes you, and you are precious in His eyes! Whatever your past, whatever your situation, whatever your station, God knows who you are and He loves you with an abiding love. Don’t let your past keep you from God’s abundant life. God’s message to you is Fear Not!

Christmas Message #7 – Fear Not, God Will Always Provide.  Luke 12:29-34 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. 30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. 31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. 32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Jesus is speaking to a real-world concern of many, and that is the concern about their daily provision. Everyone needs to eat, to sleep, to have clothes, to have a roof over their head. There are innumerable obligations in a home – utilities, rent, maintenance, groceries, education, holidays, and on and on and on. Jesus is saying to us point-blank that our Father knows that we have need of these things. He says Fear Not! God even goes so far as to tell us to sell, to provide alms, to build up treasure in heaven. Do you believe this? Do you believe you will have treasure in heaven and still have sufficient for you and your family as you participate in the work of the kingdom of God? The world’s system says “get all you can and can all you get and sit on the can.” Jesus says in Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. God knows the practical needs, and he uses us to fulfil those needs even for others. When it comes to provision Fear Not!

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This Christmas season would be a wonderful time to give your life to Christ, to embrace him of whose birth was announced by angels? God is at work this Christmas season beloved. Seek the Lord. He will not let you down. Receive Christ for the forgiveness of sin, forsake sin, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. There is nothing to fear. Let us consider on more passage from the Book of Luke in Luke 17:9-13 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? What do you need my beloved? God can restore, God can heal, God can mend, and God will forgive sin. Whatever you are facing, it is better to face it with God in your heart and life, leading and guiding and blessing and comforting. Fear Not!