Fear Not’s For Christmas and Beyond

Matthew 1:18-25

 

INTRO: "Fear not," can this be the theme for a Christmas sermon? Yes, for it is through the virgin born Son of God that fear is dispelled, fear of life and fear of death.

In the midst of life’s troubles, these words ring out loudly: "Fear not!" During times of distress and discouragement, these word sing out clearly: "Fear not!"

The scriptures records the "fear not’s" of Christmas:

1. A "fear not" for Zacharias the father of John the Baptist: "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.... and many shall rejoice at his birth" (Lk 1:13-14).

2. A "fear not" for Mary the mother of Jesus: "And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call him Jesus (Lk 1:30-31).

3. A "fear not" for Joseph: "...Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Mt 1:20-21).

4. A "fear not" for the shepherds abiding in the field: "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord" (Lk 2:10-11).

Not only are there "fear not’s" for Christ, there are "fear not’s" for you and me: "fear not’s" for each day of the year:

1. In Genesis 15:1, "...the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward."

2. Deuteronomy 31:6 says: "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."

3 II Chronicles 20:17: "Fear not, nor be dismayed: tomorrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you."

"Fear not"– this is one of God the Father’s favorite expressions to His children. God tells us to "fear not" for fear IS NOT to be our Master. Jesus is our Lord, not fear. God does not give us fear; He gives us faith. II Timothy 1:7 says: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

 

I. MATTHEW 1:18, FEAR NOT WHEN YOU ARE DISAPPOINTED

A. One of my favorite sayings in the Bible is, "it came to pass." Friends, it did not come to stay; it came to pass! Joseph felt as though all his hopes and dreams had been dashed. That all was lost.

B. Joseph had jumped to a wrong conclusion. He had concluded that his sweet Mary had been immoral.

1. If we are not careful, we too will jump to wrong conclusions that will bring fear.

2. As is so often the case, we see that while Joseph was worrying God was working (Rom 8:28).

C. "Before they came together, she was found with child..." She was pregnant!

1. Can you image the emotion that must have rushed over Joseph’s being. The one he loves is "with child." What a storm this must have been.

2. All of us have times of distress and times of disappointment. Each of us must remember to look to the Lord to listen to His sweet words: "Fear not, I am with thee."

3. "Periodical tornadoes and hurricanes will sweep o’er the Christian; he will be subjected to as many trials in his spirit as trials in his flesh. This much I know, if it be not so with all of you it is so with me" (Spurgeon).

D. But alas, she is: "with child of the Holy Ghost." She has not been immoral!

1. The supposed sin is actually the sacred fulfillment of scripture (Isaiah 7:14).

2. Joseph was so much like many folks today. He was fretting over the failure of another. We need to be concerned, yes; but we must not fear for God is in control. He is with us (Psa 37:1-7).

 

II. MATTHEW 1:19, FEAR NOT WHEN YOU ARE WORRIED

A. Joseph did not realize it, but he was right in the middle of God’s will.

B. In his hate, Joseph was going to put Mary away. He was going to get a writing of divorcement.

1. Even good people have heart wrenching problems. The Bible says that Joseph was a "just man." This means that he was righteous.

2. Because of his love for Mary, he was not going to make a scene. He didn’t want her to be ruined by her supposed sin. He didn’t know what others would do when the supposed facts were know, but he feared it would not be good.

C. Joseph was enslaved by public opinion. Fear will enslave you.

1. Proverbs 29:25 says: "The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe."

2. There are some things we need to realize about fear:

a. Don’t be afraid to go out on a limb. That’s where the fruit is.

b. The greatest mistake you can make in this life is to be constantly fearful you will make one.

c. Fear not tomorrow. God is already there.

D. Dear ones, our responsibility is to be sensitive to the will of God and do it. If you fear public opinion, you will miss God’s best.

E. Do not fear to surrender your life to God. Do not fear what others will say.

 

III. MATTHEW 1:20, FEAR NOT WHEN YOU ARE DISTRESSED IN MIND

A. Verse twenty begins with these word: "But while he [Joseph] thought on these things.... then the angel says to Joseph, "fear not."

1. Joseph thought continually on "these things." His mental and emotional states were not good.

2. Fear can control us if we let it, even when the thing we fear is not even real. Psalm 53:5 says: "There were they in great fear, where no fear was."

B. We need to trade in our fear for faith. When a squall came up on the sea of Galilee, Jesus said to the fearful disciples: "Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?" (Mk 4:40).

1. How can we overcome fear? Fear leaves when faith comes in.

2. The Devil uses his lies to put fear in our hearts. God uses His truth, the Word, to put faith into our hearts. (Rom 10:17, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.").

3. Belief of the truth dissolves the Devil’s lies and liberates us from fear. John 8:32, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

4. Fear will displace faith or faith will displace fear. It is better to have faith then fear.

C. As with many of us today, Joseph’s fear was without justification.

1. He thought Mary’s name would be ruined. It was immortalized. Instead of folks calling Mary bad; they called her blessed.

2. What Joseph though would bring death brought deliverance instead.

 

CONCLUSION: Let’s exchange our fears for faith in the risen Lord. At the tomb, the angel said to the women: "Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said, Come, see the place where the Lord lay" (Mt 28:5-6).

 

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