Every human being knows the feeling of being fearful. If there is anything that has caused great havoc in the history of man, it is the spirit of fear. This spirit of fear had been linked to many sicknesses. Fear is the emotional state that makes an individual lose confidence or feel unsafe. If the spirit of fear can be overcome, our lives will be more purposeful.
The spirit of fear crept into the lives of man since the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they hid out of fear. Fear began here, making men hide from God. So sin is the culprit that separated man from God. The Bible put it this way,
“He answered, ‘I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” Genesis 3:10.
Fear began here, imprisoning human beings. Fear comes in different forms. There can be fear of the past, fear of dreams, fear of curses, fear of imagination, fear of failure, fear of the unknown, and the list goes on and on. Jesus came into the world to reconcile us to God and remove our fears.
It is no surprise that the coming of Jesus into the world began with “fear not”. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was troubled when the Angel Gabriel greeted her with the news that she would be the mother of the Messiah. The angel told her not to be afraid. Luke 1:30, “But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth
to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.”
Jesus was born to remove our fear and give us the favor of God. That is what Christmas is all about. On the day Jesus was born, an angel announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds who were in the field. Luke recorded the announcement and the message to humanity.
“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11
The angel’s message was one of reassurance and good news. The message is a Christmas message. What is the message? 1. Do not be afraid. 2. Instead of fear, receive the good news of great joy. This message is your message. The Savior, Jesus, the Messiah, is born for you. Do not allow the spirit of fear to cripple you. Instead of fear, receive the good news that the birth of Jesus brought to you.
The shepherds also experienced the spectacular appearance of the heavenly host. Christmas is the time when heaven came down, and glory filled our souls. The word host means an army of angels, ‘ten thousand times ten thousand’. What is their message to the shepherds, which is also meant for you and me? Their message is recorded in Luke 2:13-14,
Suddenly, a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
The angels were delighted that the LORD would visit the earth to save humanity. What is the message? The thousands of thousands of angels cried out in unison, shouting, “Glory to God!” They cried out peace, reconciliation, and goodwill to all men.
The alienation and separation, struggle and divisiveness, restlessness and fear caused by sin needed to be solved. The heavenly host was praising God that the alienation and separation were now being solved in the birth of the “Savior, who is the Christ, the LORD.”
This is the end of our fear. Whatever the source of your fear, Jesus has brought you a solution. Embrace the most excellent news: Jesus has come to eliminate your fear and anxiety. Open your heart to the message of hope and love.
I pray you will have a Merry Christmas, overcoming everything that causes fear.