Overcoming Fear Through Faith: Mary's Example

"Very similar to Compassion, to Convoy. They're not competitors. Actually, they were both with us. One of the leaders of Convoy and the leaders of Compassion. So they're not competitive and they bless each other. So we thought we need to go all in. We have sponsored for years Children Through World Vision, which is a sponsorship which you can interact with the children. We've got children by letter and so, but we don't have a relationship with World Vision like we used to. So we're reestablishing one with, or establishing one with Compassion International. So next Sunday and Christmas Eve, we're going to do both. There'll be an opportunity to sponsor a child. It'd be a great, if you're already doing that, it's a great Christmas present. You could pay for it for the year, give it to one of your children or grandchildren." [00:31:45] (54 seconds)


"And we're, we need some significance. Significant giving to do that. So just going to leave it to you to pray. Talk to Jesus. It's been a great year, but we've fallen behind in some areas and we'd love to start the year without. So it's going to take some significant people. Just listen to the Holy Spirit. If you've been enabled by God to be able to give generously beyond your tithe, it'd be a wonderful time. You're in giving. Be a wonderful time. So let's pray over the offering this morning. You can give online through. Text giving. You can give in the kiosk and you can give in the envelope on your way out in the boxes. So let's pray. Lord, we just thank you that you're our provider. We trust you. Lord, we're praying for a miracle to end the year. Lord, and just fill back up some of the funds that have been depleted, especially near compassion missions. Lord, we've been really generous this year to a lot of needs and people and through the food truck. And so Lord, I just pray. You'd whisper to some people that would have the means to help us get to that place of filling back in these funds. Lord, we just trust you for that. Those that give generously regularly, they tithe. Thank you for their partnership, Lord, that when we celebrate that one person that came to Jesus or the hundreds that were prayed for or what goes on on Thursday nights or even the weekend or these baptisms, Lord, it's all supported by those that tithe in this church, Lord. And without that, we couldn't do what we do. So bless them." [00:33:37] (96 seconds)


"But a great word on not trying. Trusting when God gives you. It's a big deal to God to not trust him. Big deal. Now think about it in your own life. When someone you love that doesn't trust you. It's debilitating. And most of us don't see doubt and fear as a big deal to God. And so the Christmas story is filled over and over with fear not, fear not. You know, Zechariah was told to fear not. God gave him this great promise, and he's like, I don't know. I don't think that can, how could that happen? And God says, all right, you're going to go nine months without talking. Now, wouldn't that be a gift for some of you?" [00:36:13] (42 seconds)


"Now, why would God not want him to talk for nine months? Because what he was saying was stupid. Unbelieving. What if God said, you can't say anything until Christmas that isn't positive, faith, uplifting, and encouraging. You can't say it. You can't complain. You can't doubt. You can't speak fear. Would you still be able to have a conversation?" [00:37:03] (28 seconds)


"And I'm not referring necessarily to fear of heights or fear of snakes. There's a reasonableness to don't get too close to that edge. That's a healthy thing. I'm talking about inordinate fears. It's to keep you from being what God wants you to be. I'm talking about fears that can drive you to bad behavior and misbehavior. You know, can you name your primary fear? Because if you can't name it, you can't beat it." [00:38:01] (29 seconds)


"It doesn't matter where we're at. It doesn't, it doesn't, big church, I just, it's, it's, I have to fight it on a regular basis. Fear of failing. Fear of not being up for the job. Fear of not doing a good job. Fear of not being a good. Now you can say, well, that's a good. No, it's not a good. It's a good thing. Life is not meant to be driven out of fear. So we're going to use a story this morning about overcoming fear. That's probably one of the most familiar stories in the whole Bible. It's arguably the greatest miracle in the Bible. The, the, the, the pregnancy of Mary, uh, the, the conception of Jesus. And so I want to kind of set that up though, that, cause I want you in the whole message to be thinking about how you could be making application in your own life. As I am in mine. Now, how can I better face this? Fear fears, it wouldn't be great if God." [00:38:55] (53 seconds)


"So look, let's follow this story of this young teenager that's filled with anxiety about how in the world, what's going on, and Mary was greatly troubled. The angel says, don't be afraid, Mary. You found favor with God. There's nothing more important to overcome fear with knowing God's for you. If you forget that, it doesn't matter what, what you try to do to overcome, fear will win. The news will win. Fear and anxiety is the word our world is wired to. It's every ad, everything is about this, that, and I'm not saying that, you know, anyway, it's just a world built on fear." [00:45:58] (37 seconds)


"And the only way to win is to start with, I've got a God that's on my side. And the angel says, Mary, Mary, you could say, being firm with her, Mary, don't forget. God likes you. God's on your side. I mean, that, if that's not enough to start with, now it's not all where he's going to end, but he says, Mary, don't be afraid. You found favor with God. You're going to be with a child, give birth to a son. You're going to give him the name Jesus. He'll be great. He'll be called the son of the most high. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end." [00:46:35] (42 seconds)


"You're going to beat fear. It isn't because you're limited, unlimited. It's because he is. You're not going to beat it because you're strong enough. You're not going to overcome it because you're smart enough. You're not going to win because you can get enough stuff to not fear going without. Jesus said, man, with man, it's impossible. So give up. Step one, Mary, you can't make a baby. Takes the pressure off. Can you imagine a teenager thinking, I got to make a baby without having a man? And there was no fertile in whatever the big word is, uh, or they can make it, you know, put it, it's, it, if it's going to happen here, God, you're going to make it happen. Okay. We're now in a good place. Look what Mary says to close out." [01:04:37] (53 seconds)