Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Advent 4b (PEACE - Do not be Afraid!)


Advent 4b (Peace –Do not be Afraid)
December 18, 2011                                  Luke 1:26-38

Read Luke 1:26-38
Change – How do you deal with change?
§  What kinds of change have you experienced lately?
§  What change was easy?
§  What change was hard?

First Sunday of Advent: Hope & importance of waiting
Second Sunday of Advent: Love, and the need to prepare
Third Sunday of Advent: Joy, and our call to bear witness
Fourth week of Advent: Peace, in the face of change

How has God Incarnate – Changed your LIFE?

Angels:  In Luke 1:30 & 1:13 “do not be afraid”
Why are they always saying “do not be afraid”?
          Are they scary?
          Is their very presence so different – it causes alarm?
          Are they bringing bad news?
          Are they bringing good news?
          Are they bringing a new and different message?

Do Not Be Afraid:   Seen all throughout Scripture.
·        Angel’s words “Do not be afraid” seem often to prescribe a coming birth.
Gen 15:1-6 The Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.”

Birthing: Luke 1:35 (NLT) The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 

When we think of Birthing: We think of the total change of life.
§  We tell “soon to be” parents: cherish this time.
§  Get all the sleep you can…
Same use of “come UPON you” is found in

Acts 1:8 (NIV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”


What happens in Acts?
Chapter 1:
o   Jesus meets with his disciples for the last time – and then is lifted to heaven.
o   Before going – tells them the Holy Spirit will come on them and they will be his witnesses.
Chapter 2:
o   The day of Pentecost.
o   The Holy Spirit comes and changes everything. People are able to speak in different languages.

God is always doing something new with his people:
Drawn to think of Isaiah 43:16-21 (specifically vs 19)
19 See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the wilderness  and streams in the wasteland.

We too – like Mary are provided the opportunity:
Ø  To give birth to the growing love of God in this world.
Ø  To give birth to the growing light of Christ.

v In the chaos of the Advent Season, in Christmas,
v  In the chaos of life, In the chaos & uncertainty of change
Ø  May we not be afraid, and may we find the Peace of God that passes all understanding

How has God Incarnate – Changed your LIFE?
What is being birthed – that you hear the angel saying: “do not be afraid?”
          In your patience – BE.Hopeful
          As you prepare – BE.Loving
          When you witness – BE.Joyful
          Throughout the changes of life – BE.Peacful

As you go, take courage from these words from Christ: "I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid." (John 14:27)  Go and Love!


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