Do Not Be Afraid

Luke 1:26–38 ESV

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

In our text, Mary, the mother of Jesus, receives news of the virginal conception of Christ. In this familiar text, the young woman receives shocking news. She will give birth to a son. She asks, “How will this be, since i am a virgin?” Notice a difference, between her questions an Zechariah. Zechariah asks, “How can I know this is true?” His question is one of doubt. What sign will you give me to prove this is true. Mary’s is a functional question of faith, “How is God going to do this?” This is the primary difference between these two people that God will use. And its the difference between us being on Mission with God.

Zechariah’s faithfulness is forever overshadowed by his doubt. Yes, he’s a righteous man, but if you ask people what they remember about him, if they remember him at all, is his moment of questioning that led to his time of silence.

But Mary’s different. She is the venerated mother of Jesus, and I think this moment highlights the difference.

As Christians, we are called to be On Mission with God. But we must recognize this truth: God’s purposes will stand. He will do what he is going to do. But for some in life, God’s will is accomplished in spite of them and for others they are on mission with God.

God Calls You to STEP OUT

Because of my grandfather and his time in the Navy during WWII, I have always loved the history of that great war and the men who fought in it. One of the most decorated heroes of that time was Audie Murphy.

Audie Murphy was born into poverty in Kingston, Texas, in 1925 as one of twelve children. From a young age, he shouldered adult responsibilities, working long hours to support his family after his father abandoned them. Audie’s mother struggled to provide for her children and, after her death when Audie was just 16, he became the primary caretaker for his younger siblings. Deeply affected by his family’s hardships and determined to make a difference, Audie attempted to enlist in the military during World War II. Though initially turned away for being underweight and underage, he eventually succeeded in joining the Army at 17, where he would go on to become one of the most decorated soldiers of the war.

Audie Murphy’s bravery is legendary, but he never saw himself as a hero. In one of his most remarkable acts, during a battle in France, Murphy single-handedly held off an entire German company after his unit had been forced to retreat. He climbed onto a burning tank destroyer, armed with only a machine gun, and defended his position for over an hour. Despite being wounded, he continued to fire until he ran out of ammunition, buying his comrades precious time to regroup and counterattack. Afterward, he shrugged off any talk of heroism, saying he just did what had to be done to protect his men. Murphy once said, “I'll tell you what bravery really is. Bravery is just determination to do a job that you know has to be done."

Murphy’s story reminds us that true courage isn’t about feeling ready or fearless. Often, it’s about stepping into the role God has placed before us, even when we don’t feel prepared or adequate. Murphy didn’t act out of a desire for glory; he acted out of duty and love for his fellow soldiers. Like Murphy, God calls us to moments of bravery in our own lives, not necessarily because we feel qualified, but because there’s a purpose that requires us to step up. Real courage comes not from feeling heroic, but from trusting in a strength beyond our own and being willing to do what must be done.

God very rarely calls the most qualified to do his will. God is well known for using the most unlikely people for his purposes.

God used a timid farmer named Gideon to lead a small army against the Midianites in Judges 6-7.

God used a pagan prostitute named Rahab to protect the spies in Jericho.

God used a humble shepherd named David to be the first king of Israel.

God used an outcast tax collector named Matthew to be his disciples and gospel writer.

God used a gentile Centurion named Cornelius to be the first Gentile to receive the gospel.

And God used a peasant girl named Mary to cary his son.

Mary didn't see herself as being favored by God. She was a young woman. She wasn't wealthy, nor powerful. She wasn't highly educated or special. Mary wasn't perfect.

So why was she blessed? Because God in his Sovereign Grace chose her. God blesses those he chooses not based on their own merit, but on his own will.

God doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies the called.

God Calls You To Do the Hard Thing

Following God is always hard. We don't like that. We like to do the easy thing. But God always calls us to do what's hard.

Kevin DeYoung in his book "The Crazy Busy: A Mercifully Short Book about a Noisy Heart," writes:

"Do the hard thing. Choose the thing that requires sacrifice, the thing that makes you uncomfortable, the thing that takes you out of your comfort zone."

Following God requires sacrifice. It demands that we try great things for him. God is not found in the simply thing, though the simple things of the faith are often what prepares us to do great things.

The worth of our lives will be measured by how well we loved and served God and others, and the cost will be high.

For Mary, that cost was her reputation, her comfort, her dreams. She dreamed of her wedding day. She dreamed of raising children with Joseph. She dreamed of taking them to temple, and keeping her home.

She never dreamed of being an unwed mother. And yet it was through the difficulty of answering God's call to carry the Son of God that she did great things.

We are called at Truitt to build his kingdom here on earth. That's hard. We live in a culture that rejects God's rule and reign, and yet we are called to push back against the darkness in this world. That's hard work. It's fraught with highs and lows, with good days and bad. It's a call to put ourselves second so that the kingdom can advance.

One of the the greatest moments in our lives was the day our sons was born. It was wonderful, but when they handed me that little baby in his car seat, another feeling crept over me.

No longer were we going to be in the hospital where nurses and doctors could help us. No longer could we send him to the nursery when he was too fussy. In that moment two realizations came over me: 1. I had no idea what I was doing, and neither did Kristy, 2. the fate of this child's soul was in my care.

I am blessed that all three of my sons have expressed faith in Christ. But up to the moment when Aiden accepted Christ I was nagged by a lingering fear of what I would do if one of my sons never accepted Christ.

Parents, whether you accept this truth or not, you are accountable for the soul of the children God has given you. Especially you dads who are the spiritual heads of your household.

You will one day give an account for the souls of your children. That's an awesome responsibility.

Church, you too are accountable. You are accountable for the souls of every man and woman who is comes through the doors of our church and who are in the community that Christ has placed us in. We will give an account for how we teach the Word. We are accountable for how faithfully we stand on his truth. If you don't believe me, check out Christ's condemnations of the churches in the first chapters of Revelation.

Christ didn't condemn them for their numbers, but for their faithfulness, and note, he didn't hold the pastors accountable alone. He held the members of that body accountable. That is an awesome responsibility.

This is the hard thing we have been called to. Church when we don't take this responsibility with the due amount of seriousness then we are failing.

It's not just VBS, or AWANA. It's shepherding God's children in his Church.

It's not just Grow Groups, it's God's call to feed his flock.

It's not just a song service, it's the worship of the king of kings.

It's not just preaching, it's the correctly dividing of the word of truth.

I'm afraid we've become frivolous in the church. We don't take this seriously enough. We don't realize the call.

Mary understood the challenge she faced, and she answered the call. Will we?

Parent's will you shepherd your children in their love of the word with the same passion you shepherd their ball career, or their band activities?

Church will you shepherd your classes with the same fervor you do your jobs?

God Calls You to Trust Him

Mary was told by the Angel to not be afraid.

I tell you, when you realize the call of God that's often easier said than done! I can't shepherd the hearts of my kids. If you saw my parenting, you'd know I failed a lot.

As I've been your pastor for almost 6 years, many of you know how often I have failed as a pastor.

I can't do any of this. But God can.

The one truth I've learned the most keenly over the past 30 years of ministry is how often my attempts at helping God out have failed and that without God I am completely helpless in doing anything. But when we reach the end of ourselves, and when we realize our need for God, it is in that moment that God is the most big.

What God wants from us is this: That we trust him to do what we cannot. Mary couldn't raise the God of the universe, and yet she did, not because she was capable, but because she trusted in the God who was.

You can't reach that lost atheist in your workplace. But God can.

You can't reach that wayward grandchild or son or daughter, but God can.

You can't change your neighborhood for Christ, but God can.

Where you end is where God begins.

Elizabeth Elliot was born on December 26, 1926, in Belgium to missionary parents, which influenced her lifelong commitment to missions and ministry. She attended Wheaton College, where she earned a degree in philosophy. In 1953, she married Jim Elliot, an evangelical missionary who felt called to reach the Auca people in Ecuador.

Tragically, in January 1956, just a few months after their daughter Valerie was born, Jim and four other missionaries were killed by the very Auca tribe they sought to evangelize. Elizabeth, demonstrating extraordinary courage and faith, returned to Ecuador two years later with their daughter and fellow survivor to the tragedy, Rachel Saint, whose brother Nate was also killed on Palm Beach, a small sandbar on the Curaray River. These women returned to live among the Aucas, eventually leading many to Christ, including some of the very men who had killed their family members. Elizabeth’s life and work have inspired countless individuals through her writings, speaking engagements, and her commitment to missions, emphasizing themes of sacrifice, forgiveness, and faithfulness in the face of suffering. She once said,

“The will of God is not a route to take, but a relationship to cherish.”

Trusting God is about cultivating a relationship with Him, which sustains us in our calling. We will never trust a God who we don't walk with. How did a 12-14 year old Jewish girl in first century Israel trust when God called her to carry His Son and raise him? She trusted because she knew Him.

Do you know Him today?

Do you Trust Him today?

If so, step out, do the hard thing, trust God, and “Do not be afraid."