Fear Not wk 3

FEAR NOT

AFRAID OF WHERE YOU STAND WITH GOD

Have you ever been afraid of where you stand with someone? DTR talk

Afraid of where you stand with God.

Good enough? Compare to others? Where do I stand?

Now I lay me down to sleep—Amen x Amen

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8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:8-11

Why is this good news? Savior from what?

1st ann Messiah’s birth: Not priests/scribes/Pharisees/Sad—Shepherds

Lowest ranking and embarrassing jobs—Youngest sons & slaves.

Uneducated & in career with no hope for advancement

Religious culture—failure and outcasts!

No matter how hard tried—didn’t measure up—Constant fear w/God.

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What can make you feel distant from someone?

3 REASONS SHEPHERDS FELT DISTANT FROM GOD

THEY FELT UNWORTHY.

Outcasts in Israel: Taught they weren’t good enough for God/religion.

Work made them ceremonially unclean (away from temple for wks)

Religious person wouldn’t touch a shepherd—unclean.

Know what we’ve done, Should do—don’t.

Everyone at church worshipping—almost killed child way to church.

THEY FELT INADEQUATE.

Uneducated—Inadequate socially—Conversation over head, Gym.

Spiritually inadequate: Couldn’t keep Sabbath—sheep need protection.

Not as smart, popular, attractive, Twit followers, Xmas tree instagram.

House is perfect—Candles, Floors, Hair

Spiritually inadequate—Pray—Help me get thru Xmas inlaws.

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THEY FELT UNLOVED.

Known as thieves—not allowed testify in legal cases.

Parents didn’t want their daughters to marry a shepherd.

Grew up w/o a dad, Spouse left you, Don’t like self.

If people rejected me, don’t like self—how could God accept me?

Religion didn’t work for the shepherds—Doesn’t work for us!

Religion focuses on externals: Jesus & cup

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People here today: Unworthy, Inadequate, Unloved.

Mom—can’t do it all, Dad—$ failure, Parent—wrong direction.

Not married, Never told her spouse, Hurting—alone.

Unworthy, Inadequate, Unloved.

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Fear Not—I bring you good news great joy—Town of David.

THE GOOD NEWS

20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. 21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law…22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. Rom 3:20-22 NLT

YOU CANNOT EARN GOD’S ACCEPTANCE BY OBSERVING THE LAW.

Pharisees tried to follow 613 laws—Shepherds couldn’t do everything.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Chapter 2)

These sheep outside of Bethlehem were most likely the sheep owned by the priests and used for sacrifices in the temple ministry. Because the shepherds who kept watch over them would not have been able to enter into the temple to receive cleansing, they would have been considered unclean. But who are the first to hear of Jesus’ birth? The unclean ones, the outcasts, us.

20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands… Rom. 3:20 NLT

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THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW IS TO SHOW YOU YOUR NEED FOR A SAVIOR.

20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. Rom 3:20

Told a lie, Stolen, Lustfully

Until you see yourself as sinner, won’t see need for savior.

Don’t need religion—you need Christ!

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RIGHTEOUSNESS WITH GOD COMES BY FAITH IN CHRIST ALONE.

What stops some from placing faith in Jesus?

Fear not! Good News—Unworthy, Inad, Unloved, Savior born!

Xianity isn’t religion—relationship!

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The love of God cannot be:

Equaled

Earned

Or erased.

Christ + nothing.

Religion Relationship

What I do What Jesus has done

About me About Jesus

Do Done

22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. Rom. 3:22 NLT

Do you want to stand in the presence of God like the Shepherds knowing you are welcome?

Fear not—Good news—Great joy all people—Town of David

Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

"New birth comes from God, who alone puts right what is ultimately wrong with the world—our broken souls. No amount of meditation or silence or retreat from the world will accomplish that. Only God in his grace is big enough. The only reasonable conclusion to any self-examination is that we cannot mend our world on our own, we cannot mend our broken spirits; we need someone from the outside to enter our world and our lives and set things right. We need a Savior." Zacharias