We are all familiar with the angel’s message to the shepherds announcing the birth of Jesus in Luke 2: 10-11: “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.” The words in this passage are key to understanding Jesus’ message and mission to this world and to us personally today at such a time as this.
Let us first define the word “fear” which is a two-fold word. It refers to an emotion marked by dread and anxious concern, but it also means awe and wonder and profound reverence. Immediately we see that the meanings are polar opposite as one is bad and one is good! There are over 300 references in scripture that command us not to fear or be afraid and likewise over 300 that commands us to fear God and treat Him with respect, trust and reverence. The origin of the first definition is from the enemy—Satan who subtly questions God’s power and love. Again, we must go back to the Garden to lay a foundation for our study. God lovingly provided Adam and Eve a perfect abode where they were in harmony with Him and their environment. God’s only requirement was obedience, trust and confidence in Him—the right kind of fear! Ungodly fear was born and experienced by Adam and Eve when they clothed themselves with fig leaves and hid from God in dread because of their disobedience. Through this first act of baited disobedience Satan shrewdly took the complete trust they had IN God and turned it into a fear OF God. They feared the Creator who loved, cherished, and provided for them in every way. This verse from Exodus 20:20 puts both of these definitions of fear into perspective: “And Moses said unto the people, Fear not; for God is come to prove you and that His fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.” God created us with free will—which will we choose?
Therefore, the message of the angels to the shepherds is the Good News that Jesus Christ was born to take away the sins for all people that would accept Him as Savior—good tidings of great joy! It is faith in Jesus Christ that draws us into a right relationship with God—not to cringe before Him like a prisoner robbed of freedom by a ruthless dictator. Satan uses fear as a weapon to disrupt our faith. He wants us to question and doubt everything God says to us. If he can get us to the point of unbelief, he can move us away from trusting God. God is the very essence of love and when we’re in Him, we’re safe from emotional damage fear can inflict. I John 4:18 says: “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear; because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”
Life can send us trouble at any time, but as believers, we never have to be afraid of it. The kind of life God wants for us is never passive or timid. It’s filled with wonder, excitement, adventure, but most of all victory. Jesus said in John 10:10: “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” We can depend on God to always be there when we need Him. He delivers us from trouble, no matter what happens. Our full trust in His ability and willingness to rescue us when we need help gives us peace. “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” (Psalm 56:3) Ungodly fear and trust don’t mix; trust in God is much more powerful than the schemes of Satan and his fear tactics.
Let us stop to remember that Lucifer/Satan and his angels were created by God and DO NOT HAVE more power that GOD! Paul makes this clear in 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” From this verse, the word of God is saying that God has not given us a spirit of fear. In other words, stop listening to the devil’s lies! The fear that comes from the enemy is tormenting. Some people are afraid to worship God and we are seeing more and more of this today! Jesus said in Luke 12: 5 “But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear; Fear him (Jehovah), which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea I say unto you, Fear Him.” The spirit of fear is saturating the airwaves in this age of technology all designed to discredit faith and trust in God and promote FEAR! The devil puts this kind of thing in our minds, but the word of God says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” (Prov. 9:10) If we love God and if we belong to God, then we do not have to worry about anything. People are afraid or worried about so many things, but the word of God says: “Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you.” (Ps. 55: 22) According to Philippians 4:19, God will provide for all our needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. This promise is echoed in Psalm 37:25, where David assures us that God will not be stingy in providing what we need as we pursue Him. The Bible also includes verses such as 2 Corinthians 9:8 (And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.) and Matthew 21:22 (And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer; believing, ye shall receive.), which emphasize God's ability to make all grace abound to us, so that we may have all we need for life and godliness. David encourages us of God’s protection and provision in what seems like an impossible situation in Psalms 27: 1-3 “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.” “Now we did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear.” (Romans 8: 15) We are set free in Jesus Christ!
Solomon in Ecclesiastes 12: 13-14 sums it up in these verses: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter; Fear God, and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” The commandments are God-given, not man-made so Solomon, after showing throughout his book the vanity of worldly things, ends by pointing his people to the commandments. This conclusion accords with both the Old Testament and New Testament is that we must trust in, rely upon and depend on God and in His Son who loved us and gave Himself for us. Let us rest in the good tidings of great joy—Jesus Christ! “For God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus; That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2: 4-7) Jesus is the GIFT OF GOD!
We have been set free from the schemes and wiles of the devil—we are children of God. No one has power to destroy us because Jesus Christ came to destroy the works of the devil. (1 Jn. 3:8) God is with us and who can be against us? Remember Ps. 118:6--the middle verse of the Bible that says: “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.” If we trust in the blood of Jesus Christ, no enemy has power to touch or to destroy us. Deuteronomy 28:7 says, “The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come to destroy you, but when God puts fear in their hearts, they are going to run seven ways!” God’s got it! Let’s watch God work!