There are many reasons why people disobey God, but one of them is fear. It could be that a person is afraid to fail, or what others will think, or possibly the negative things that might happen if we fully trust God. Fear is a powerful motivator that moves us to action. While we all have an instinctual desire to protect our lives, fear can also be a paralyzing element that keeps us from experiencing God’s purposes for our lives. While most people walk by what they see, know, and understand, the Scriptures teach us that we are to walk by faith in what God is asking us to do despite possible fears that would hinder us from moving forward. When we overcome our fears, we can face the giants in our lives and prevail, like David did over Goliath.

Interestingly, Joshua, Moses’ successor, struggled with the issue of fear when leading the people of God into the promised land. In Joshua 1, God spoke to Joshua that He would be with him even as God had been with Moses. God’s challenge was simple.

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.                       

But what happens when we give in to fear? Once again, we find in the book of Jeremiah God’s message for the people to follow a course of action which they were afraid to take. What will they do? How will they respond? The more pressing question is what will we do and how will we respond to the fears that keep us from fulfilling God’s will and purposes for our lives? There are some things we need to do to overcome letting fear shape our lives.

J. Gresham Machen once wrote: “False ideas are the greatest obstacles to the reception of the gospel.” Many people deny the existence of the devil. Jesus, certainly, was not one of them. In teaching us as disciples how we ought to pray, Jesus concludes the prayer with this petition.

“And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:13). Here, we see that evil is revealed in a person. Peter also warns us in his first letter that Satan, or the devil, is seeking to destroy our lives. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

One of his greatest tools in doing this is to deceive people. In warning the Corinthians about the nature of being deceived by Satan, Paul writes: “But I am afraid that just as the serpent’s cunning deceived Eve, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.” (2 Corinthians 11:3-4)

The battlefield in the Christian life is being waged in our minds. That is why Paul explains the nature of spiritual warfare. “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.”  (2 Corinthians 10:3-4)

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have the divine power to demolish strongholds. So, what are those strongholds, and what weapons do we fight with? “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5)

The ability to control our thoughts is an expression of spiritual maturity. The displacement principle helps with this: We focus on what is true, pure, and right rather than sinful thoughts, which are the ‘fiery arrows of the evil one’ (Eph. 616).

Jeremiah 41 is a material example of this profound spiritual reality. We see how evil embodied in a person can deceive and then bring about great destruction and disaster that will have terrible and tragic consequences for unsuspecting people. So, what can we do, or as Peter states, how can we be alert and sober-minded so that we are not caught unaware and thereby duped and experience tremendous losses in our lives?

In Jeremiah 39, we find the destruction of Jerusalem and many leaders being taken into captivity to Babylon, but not all are left. Some remained behind. We now pick up the story of the remnant and their response to the destruction of their nation. How could they move forward? How can we move forward after experiencing a devastating change of circumstances in our lives? We can have one of two responses. We can either see it as a moment of opportunity to learn from the experience or allow hurt, pain, and anger to dominate our thoughts and affect our future decisions.

In his introduction in what transpires following the devastation of the nation, Robert Davidson states: “Chapters 40-44 describe a series of incidents, set in the days, the months, and perhaps the years, immediately after the destruction of Jerusalem. For Jeremiah and the people, the period should have marked a watershed in their lives. The city was in ruins, and the countryside was ravaged. But if the external circumstances had changed, much else, including the people’s attitude to God and the prophet’s uphill ministry, remained unchanged.” In other words, they still have not learned from their rebellion, and it will lead to even greater tragedies in their lives. So, if we don’t learn from life’s experiences, we live in a vicious cycle. So, how should we handle major changes or devastating moments? How can we avoid going from one tragedy to the next?

On Tuesday, Shelley Kozakevich’s daughter, Kelly, was about to land in Los Angeles, unaware of the inferno engulfing the city. The Pilot explained that there were incredible winds ahead and that they needed to brace for a rough landing, so she texted her mother for prayer. Later, after landing, she texted back. ‘I’m coming back to evil. As I looked out the window being tossed around, the ground below was a fiery ‘hell.’ What a powerful image of devastation. We have adopted the word into our vocabulary to speak of the worst kind of situation. Yet, as to believing that such a place of existence is real, most people are living as if it doesn’t exist. What is even more tragic is that even many people who profess faith in Christ deny the very existence of hell, a place of judgment for the devil, the fallen angels, and the ungodly. If there is no hell, we can dismiss the idea of eternal punishment or any accountability for the wrongs committed in this life. There is no sense of justice to come. Yet, as Harry Buis points out: “It should be noted that in the New Testament, Gehenna [which is translated Hell in our English bibles] is used only in the synoptics [first three gospels] except for an occurrence in James (3:6) and that in these synoptic references, the word was used only by Jesus Christ. In other words, the knowledge of hell comes almost exclusively from the teachings of Christ, who spoke emphatically on the subject on a number of occasions.”

Jesus warns us in the Sermon on the Mount against avoiding this place of judgment. He speaks of the danger of the fire of hell (Mt. 5:22) and warns against the danger of sinning to the point of saying, “If our right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell (Mt. 5:30).” It is obvious that Jesus not only believed in hell but came to die in order for us not to end up there.

As I was reflecting on our text, it impacted me how much judgment is a fundamental theme of the Bible, but we rarely talk about it. Yet, it should motivate us to avoid it and encourage us to share with others so that they, too, can avoid or escape the consequences of a broken world.

This Sunday, we will turn to the book of Jeremiah, which we left off in chapter 38, 18 months ago, in my series on this book of the Bible and begin to examine the rest of the story.

There are people today drowning in despair, hopelessness, and distress. The pressures come from both within the human heart, adverse circumstances, and the constant messaging of bad news.

It was certainly true in Israel as Jesus burst on the scene. Roman occupation was now nearly a century old when Jesus’ ministry began. The people's state of mind was mixed, with some accommodating, others resisting, and the majority just trying to get by. Taxes were high, freedom was limited, and hope for a better future was fading. The Scriptures promised something better, and now was just on the horizon when Jesus came, healing the sick and setting people free from pain, torment, and hopelessness. Jesus brought a life of freedom and healing to the poor and afflicted in the land. 

Early in Jesus’ ministry, he came to his hometown, where he read from the prophet Isaiah and told his neighbours and friends that this was the day Isaiah prophesied or spoke about. Jesus was the One sent by God, the Father, to bring good news to the poor, freedom to the captives, release to the prisoners and a proclamation of God’s year of favour, or as many theologians believe, a year of Jubilee.

Warren Wiersbe explains what happened during the year of Jubilee and its significance. “The background of this passage is the “Year of Jubilee” described in Leviticus 25:7ff. Every seven years, the Jews were to observe a “sabbatical year” and allow the land to rest. After seven sabbaticals or forty-nine years, they were to celebrate the fiftieth year as the “Year of Jubilee.” During that year, all debts were cancelled, all land was returned to the original owners, the slaves were freed, and everybody was given a fresh new beginning. This was the Lord’s way of balancing the economy and keeping the rich from exploiting the poor.”4

When we speak of the Lord’s favour, we speak of a year of rest, blessing, and the experience of freedom and healing. How many would love to experience ‘the year of the Lord’s favour?’

Today, we will look at the text that Jesus fulfilled in his coming and at the context in which Isaiah is explaining the amazing transformation that happens when Jesus comes on the scene, not only historically but into each of our lives. There are three realities that can help us understand what was about to transpire and has now been fulfilled in the person of Jesus, and these can help us experience a life of freedom and healing.

Psalms 119:1-16

How to live a life with no regret.

How often is it that things aren’t always what they appear to be? Events have no meaning apart from revelation. The word revelation means ‘an unveiling.’ 

What was it about Mary and Joseph that brought attention to them in the little town of Bethlehem during that first Christmas season?  Absolutely nothing. They were just a poor couple looking for a place to stay, struggling with a baby about to be born. It is amazing and sometimes hard to believe that Jesus was born in such poverty, struggle, and obscurity. Would we question God’s grace, love and wisdom if we were seemingly forsaken and forgotten? How do you view your present circumstance? Do you wonder where God is in the equation? Had God forsaken this little family? Of course not! How often do we read the wrong message in our outward circumstances of life? When things are not going as we would like them, we are tempted to question God’s love, goodness, and possibly His faithfulness to us.    

We see from the Scripture that there was no family to support this couple as they were alone in Bethlehem.  Even the people from town didn’t do anything to assist them in this most important event in their lives. The birth of Jesus, the Messiah, would have gone unnoticed by humanity if it had not been for Divine intervention. For the most part, the community would have never known that the most important person to have ever lived was being born in their town. They would not have hazard a guess that one of the prophecies of Scripture was fulfilled at this very moment.

Micah 5:2

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.

God intervened and revealed to a group of people who this child was. In our text, we learn that God is always at work revealing Himself to people. Here, we see the nature and the purpose of this child, but it can only be understood when God reveals it to people. God is showing us the way of salvation and true and lasting peace in our lives.

In a world filled with oppression and despair, God broke in after four hundred years of silence. The ultimate hope for humanity comes to us in an unassuming and unexpected way. God invaded earth in a miraculous but quiet and gentle way to conquer the greed, insecurities, and fears of people. Where God’s kingdom is rejected, we find despair and hopelessness. Real joy is absent!

How often the one time of year when we are reminded of heaven’s invasion in gentleness is filled with stress, growing pressures, and the possibilities for real disappointments. Expectations abound. Yet, looking back to that first Christmas, we see people facing pressures in which they discovered a joy that sustained and strengthened them. Christmas is the story of God coming into our world, living among people under stressful conditions but finding joy in their troubles. This season, God wants us to experience that same joy regardless of our circumstances.

Christmas can bring out the best and worst in people. That is why Scrooge and the Grinch are such popular characters. It is a season of mixed emotions, bringing out the greatest hopes while reminding others of their greatest losses. In the first Christmas season, we discover moments of anxiety and difficulty intermingled with moments of great joy. Why does sorrow often come before joy? W. E. Vine relates, “Experiences of sorrow prepare for and enlarge the capacity for joy.”

Love is the most powerful motivating factor in bringing grace to our world. John is writing to explain the true nature of being a child of God. He writes in 1 John that God’s children not only renounce sin and become obedient to His Word but reject the ways and values of a society devoid of God’s motivating love in their lives. The greatest identity marker of a genuine follower of Jesus Christ is love.

In 1 John 4:8, 16, John states that God is love. In other words, God is the one that defines for us what love is. He is the source and greatest model of what love is. The greatest longing in the human heart is to experience a love that embraces us unconditionally. Nicky Gumbel stated it so succinctly in a devotional reading. “When you really know God’s love for you, your life is transformed.”

The first commandment that God gives us is that we love Him, which empowers us to love others. These two commandments reflect the essence of our purpose on earth. When we love, we are most like God. Divine love can only be expressed to others upon experiencing it personally ourselves. To experience God’s love then shapes our lives.  

Nicky Gumbel shared a question by Alex Buchanan, a fellow pastor, that was directed to him but is a question that we need to consider. “Do you and I believe that God approves of us?” Nicky’s response is probably similar to what most of us would say. “Actually, I really struggle with that because I know things about myself that I find difficult to believe that God approves of me.’ Buchanan’s response is what each of us needs to hear. ‘We all struggle with things about ourselves, but God wants us to know that he approves of us, as his followers. He wants us to know he loves us ‘unconditionally,’ ‘wholeheartedly,’ and ‘continually.’”    In 1 John 4:7-21, John explains the nature of a love that will transform our lives.

Job 38-42:1