God With Us – Week 4
Josh’s point: Fear is something everyone has to deal with…the truth is…that included those at the first Christmas…
(Take a deep breath. I’m going to condense a lot of info into the first question.)
The Angel DID NOT say to Mary, Joseph and the shepherds that fear was not present. The Angel DID tell each of them to stop living in the fear that was present.
Think of what it means to “live in the face of fear” while reading this excerpt from Annie Dillard:
“What does it feel like to be alive?
Living, you stand under a waterfall. You leave the sleeping shore deliberately; you shed your dusty clothes, pick your barefoot way over the high, slippery rocks, hold your breath, choose your footing, and step into the waterfall. The hard water pelts your skull, bangs in bits on your shoulders and arms. The strong water dashes down beside you and you feel it along your calves and thighs rising roughly backup, up to the roiling surface, full of bubbles that slide up your skin or break on you at full speed. Can you breathe here? Here where the force is the greatest and only the strength of your neck holds the river out of your face. Yes, you can breathe even here. You could learn to live like this. And you can, if you concentrate, even look out at the peaceful far bank where you try to raise your arms…It is time pounding at you, time. Knowing you are alive is watching on every side your generation’s short time falling away as fast as rivers drop through air, and feeling it hit.”
Pastor Josh said living in the face of fear is something we have to learn to deal with. In light of the angel’s acknowledgement of the presence of fear and the story above, what can we do to live in the face of fear when it’s trying to steal our breath away?
***For Leaders – Have last week’s verse ready: Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 Also, lean into Phil 4:6-7 that addresses fear & peace. Overall, we avoid fear, but it’s empowering when functioning in the Lord’s strength in the face of fear and overcoming it to accomplish our life’s mission.
The story says that “time” is pounding at you. Why is it important to take “time” into account when living life in the face of face fear?
***For Leaders – Lean into the wisdom of Moses: Teach us to numbers our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psa 90:12. Fear will literally steal years away from us and knowing that our time on earth is short is a motivator to keep fear from stealing more! Just like the story says that being alive “is watching on every side your generation’s short time falling away as fast as rivers drop through air”. We have a mission like King David, who faced his share of fear, but at the end of his life Scripture says, “…when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep and was buried with his ancestors.”
Read Psalm 71:3 (ESV) Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come;
you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.
What secret to life is revealed here in living life in the face of fear?
***For Leaders – The secret is God has given the command to save you! He gave the same command for Joseph and Mary so they continued forward even though fear was present. He has given that same command to save you and he will carry you through whatever trial you face as you can continually come to him in the midst of it all.
Pastor Josh and Lisa said to call your fears to the mat quickly and renounce them. What fear in your life do you need to call to the mat and renounce?