Whiteboard: Fear Not

What if faith isn't the opposite of unbelief?

What if faith is actually the opposite of fear?

That would help explain why the first thing the angels say in the Bible at the beginning of any miraculous, heavenly encounter is always, "Fear not!" They aren't simply saying, "Calm down, something amazing is happening here!" rather they are saying, "Have faith, because something amazing is happening here!"

Which is exactly what Jesus is doing with our sermon scripture for Sunday morning. He says, "Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

It is an amazing thing that Jesus says there, isn't it. "Don't be afraid" which is to say "Have faith!" because "it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom," which is to say "The thing God wants for you more than anything else is for you to be a part of God's kingdom."

So this Sunday our worship service is built around the fact that we are called to move from Fear to Faith and then all the way to Freedom. I'll see you on Sunday as we unpack all of those things!

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Luke 12: 32-40

‘Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

‘Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

‘But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.’