1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:14,760 Hey everyone, this is Josh from Encounter Church Henley and thanks so much for tuning 2 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:17,000 into our podcast. 3 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:20,680 Our prayer is that through this podcast you can have an encounter with Jesus that will 4 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:22,800 change your life. 5 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:26,480 And now get ready for an inspiring message from our preaching team. 6 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:31,320 Hello Encounter Henley. 7 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:35,640 How are you today in this very hot weather? 8 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:42,960 I don't know about you but my berks have turned into a slip and slide from the heat. 9 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:50,000 Well, before we start today I'd just like to open in prayer so if we could all close 10 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:55,080 our eyes and bow our heads and join me in prayer. 11 00:00:55,080 --> 00:01:01,240 Lord Jesus we come before you today with hearts open to your word and minds ready to receive 12 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:02,840 your truth. 13 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:08,160 Thank you for gathering us here as your people drawn together by your love and grace. 14 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:12,880 As we reflect on the message you have prepared for us today may your spirit move powerfully 15 00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:14,880 in this place. 16 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:16,360 Speak to us. 17 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:19,080 Lord soften the hard places within us. 18 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:23,000 Calm our fears and remind us of your unwavering presence. 19 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:30,000 May we leave here not only encouraged but transformed knowing that you are at work in us and through 20 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:31,000 us. 21 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:33,000 In Jesus' name we pray. 22 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:34,000 Amen. 23 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:36,800 I think we can do better than that. 24 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:40,720 My three year olds can say amen with more passion and power than that. 25 00:01:40,720 --> 00:01:41,720 Let's try again. 26 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:44,360 In Jesus' name everyone said amen. 27 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:45,360 That's better. 28 00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:47,640 Oh my goodness. 29 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:53,880 Well let me start with a little story. 30 00:01:53,880 --> 00:02:02,000 When I was younger around 13 or 14 just to let you know that I was a highly active kid 31 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:09,800 and I had a small streak of perfectionism, maybe actually a lot of perfectionism and 32 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:12,360 a hecton of motivation. 33 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:18,920 I grew up in a military family which meant that I had a strict household and a healthy 34 00:02:18,920 --> 00:02:22,920 fear of consequences was instilled in me from a young age. 35 00:02:22,920 --> 00:02:28,960 So with that in mind let me tell you about the time I tried to teach myself a gymnastics 36 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:29,960 walkover. 37 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:37,720 Now a walkover is like your body's way of saying gravity I respect you but not today. 38 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:42,840 It's a blend of gymnastic elegance and sheer defiance of physics. 39 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:47,240 First you kick up into a handstand, I'm talking hands on the ground, legs in the air and then 40 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:52,840 you tip forward like a graceful human seesaw, trying to trust your hands to catch you as 41 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:58,200 your legs fly over in a scissor kick, all in slow motion. 42 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:02,480 Finally if all goes well your feet will land on the ground, your body straightens up and 43 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:08,840 you try to look nonchalant like you weren't just seconds away from looking like a pancake. 44 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:14,680 It's part acrobatics, part yoga and 100% confidence builder if you could get it correct or an 45 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:19,120 ego checker if you landed on the floor. 46 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:23,800 Fueled by my memories of a single gymnastics lesson, one singular gymnastics lesson at 47 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:26,800 the age of seven I started practicing. 48 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:31,480 I used the back of old convertibles at school, at recess and lunch I spent all my time trying 49 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:33,200 to get this trick. 50 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:39,160 One afternoon I was so determined to get this that I decided that the perfect practice spot 51 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:42,560 was a blank wall in my house. 52 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:48,160 It was a very smart move I made, I kept away from my mum's fine china and chose that blank 53 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:49,160 space in the wall. 54 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:55,120 I kicked up into a handstand, got past vertical and instead of landing my feet on the floor 55 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:57,920 my feet went through the wall. 56 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:05,160 I was absolutely mortified that I had put a hole in the wall and panic set in. 57 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:11,560 Desperate to cover up my mistake, I took the chairs from outside, the foldable ones and 58 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:17,200 brought them inside to cover the hole strategically. 59 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:20,880 No one would know. 60 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:26,800 It seemed like a really brilliant plan, putting those outside chairs inside and it did work 61 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:29,840 for less than 24 hours. 62 00:04:29,840 --> 00:04:33,840 The next day I was at school I was absolutely consumed with fear, dreading the moment I 63 00:04:33,840 --> 00:04:40,200 would come home to a mother that would not be impressed with my actions. 64 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:46,520 The fear of coming home knowing that I'd face my family's reaction was almost unbearable 65 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:52,240 and I was pretty sure that the unusual sight of outdoor chairs inside would draw the wrong 66 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:56,280 kind of attention and boy was I correct. 67 00:04:56,280 --> 00:05:00,760 Little did I know that that afternoon my mother did in fact notice the outside chairs were 68 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:07,120 inside and found my giant foothold in the wall that I left behind. 69 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:14,040 In regards to my consequence as well, I'm going to leave that up to your imagination. 70 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:18,400 The tension of coming home when things aren't quite right is something that many of us feel 71 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:24,480 especially at Christmas time and it's one of the reasons Christmas carries so much 72 00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:26,480 weight. 73 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:32,320 The season brings to mind the idea of coming home to family, to traditions, to familiar 74 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:33,320 places. 75 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:40,280 There is a pressure to seem like we have everything under control, to meet expectations, to win 76 00:05:40,280 --> 00:05:46,640 the approval of family members and we find ourselves stressing over picking the perfect 77 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:53,160 gifts, creating the illusion that everything is fine, concealing our flaws and the times 78 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:55,560 that we almost missed the mark. 79 00:05:55,560 --> 00:06:02,200 The fear of not being good enough gnaws at us especially in those quiet moments in the 80 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:04,880 car before pulling up to Christmas lunch. 81 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:09,640 There's no better way to increase the heart rate than that drive to family Christmas lunch, 82 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:11,920 am I right? 83 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:16,720 Christmas time is not only the time where fear precedes peace. 84 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:21,400 In our culture today, fear seems to be a constant undercurrent. 85 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:26,760 We live in a world where anxiety and worry have become almost commonplace. 86 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:31,360 Many of us carry this deep fear of getting things wrong, of making mistakes that might 87 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:34,440 have lasting consequences. 88 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:39,720 Grant Herbert, an emotional intelligence and leadership expert, has introduced the idea 89 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:45,880 that there are three universal fears which sit at the heart of human experience. 90 00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:48,120 Number one, the fear of not being good enough. 91 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:50,440 Number two, the fear of not belonging. 92 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:53,720 And number three, the fear of not being loved. 93 00:06:53,720 --> 00:07:00,240 These fears resonate deeply across humanity, shaping how we see ourselves and others. 94 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:02,400 These fears connect us all. 95 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:08,800 Even the story of the shepherds that we will explore in our story today, fear has a strong 96 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:10,760 grip on our world today. 97 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:15,880 And it's no wonder that even children are feeling the weight of anxiety. 98 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:22,520 Leon Blue states that in Australia about one in four people will experience an anxiety 99 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:24,920 disorder at some point in their lives. 100 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:30,320 And if we look at that statistic, there's one quarter of this room. 101 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:35,040 This statistic is just those who have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. 102 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:39,960 And it's not even including those who live undiagnosed or who simply just live anxious 103 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:40,960 lives. 104 00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:47,040 Whether it's the pressure to succeed, concerns about relationships, or worries about global 105 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:54,280 issues like economics instability and climate change, the burden of fear can be overwhelming. 106 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:58,880 This anxiety often leaves us feeling like imposters, always striving but never truly 107 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:00,560 at peace. 108 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:06,320 In a society consumed by fear, it's clear that we need an antidote to break free from 109 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:07,680 its hold. 110 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:13,640 When we encounter God's presence, his peace will quiet our fears. 111 00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:17,960 Just as I feared coming home that day with a hole in the wall, many of us fear coming 112 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:20,320 face to face with our own shortcomings. 113 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:26,240 We fear judgment, rejection, or the realization that we don't have it all together. 114 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:31,480 That same kind of fear is reflected in the Christmas story when we look at the shepherds 115 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:32,640 in Luke. 116 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:36,880 The scripture says, and in that region there were shepherds out in the fields, keeping 117 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:39,080 watch over their flock by night. 118 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:43,520 An angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and 119 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:45,600 they were filled with fear. 120 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:51,360 Fear took a hold of them, fear of the unknown, fear of God's overwhelming presence, but 121 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:56,200 the angels' first words to the shepherds were fear not. 122 00:08:56,200 --> 00:09:01,000 It's part of the human experience and it's a very human tendency to fear that makes 123 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:03,880 the message of Christmas so profound. 124 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:08,080 It's a season that reminds us that we don't have to let fear define us. 125 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:12,960 It's an invitation to come closer, to witness the birth of Jesus. 126 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:15,280 In Jesus' fear turns to peace. 127 00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:21,520 In Jesus, God offers a way home that doesn't depend on us getting everything right. 128 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:26,240 Now if you're anything like me, you might know that the Christmas story is actually 129 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:30,120 a collection of stories from the four gospels. 130 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:35,240 I definitely thought until a couple weeks ago that the Christmas story was packaged 131 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:39,240 together in a nice neat bow, but much of my surprise, the wise men and the shepherds 132 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:41,280 are actually in two separate gospels. 133 00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:46,160 So if you're anything like me, I didn't know that. 134 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:48,080 Very mind blown. 135 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:54,480 In Luke's account, and only in Luke's account of the Christmas story, you find the shepherds 136 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:59,640 in the field and of all people, they are the first to receive a heavenly announcement of 137 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:01,360 Jesus' birth. 138 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:07,640 Now the author of the Gospel of Luke is Luke Wadashaka. 139 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:12,600 Known for his meticulous attention to detail, Luke was believed to have been a companion 140 00:10:12,600 --> 00:10:20,400 of Paul, a skilled physician and a highly educated individual with an extensive vocabulary. 141 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:26,040 Given his thoughtful and deliberate academic writing style, it raises the important question, 142 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:32,680 why did Luke include the detail of the shepherds in his narrative of the Christmas story? 143 00:10:32,680 --> 00:10:37,560 What significance does their inclusion hold for his readers? 144 00:10:37,560 --> 00:10:43,520 Now to answer these questions, we need to look back at the reality of life of shepherds 145 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:46,040 in ancient Israel. 146 00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:53,880 Now I picture shepherds with peaceful pastoral scenes, working with sheep in a serene countryside. 147 00:10:53,880 --> 00:11:00,200 Now think of a specific Aussie TV show about farmers meeting their future wives. 148 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:05,400 But that is a far cry from the shepherds at the time of Jesus' birth. 149 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:11,200 During the time of the early prophets Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Israel bore the influence 150 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:13,560 of its nomadic heritage. 151 00:11:13,560 --> 00:11:19,280 Because of this, shepherding was considered a central and honorable occupation to have 152 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:26,720 at the time as a partial society that Israelites depended on sheep and goats for food, clothing, 153 00:11:26,720 --> 00:11:29,920 and trade, and also religious sacrifices. 154 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:36,560 And in those days shepherds had a really vital role in caring for and protecting these animals. 155 00:11:36,560 --> 00:11:41,360 A shepherd's role was essential to daily life in ancient Israel. 156 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:47,320 But moving forward to the time of Moses, the Israelites had settled in Egypt, where the 157 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:52,840 Egyptians looked down on shepherding for both cultural and practical reasons. 158 00:11:52,840 --> 00:12:00,280 In Egyptian society, wealth and stability were tied to settled agriculture, which is 159 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:02,480 otherwise known as farming. 160 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:04,880 And this symbolized order and success. 161 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:13,000 It was the foundation of their advanced civilization, not to mention that the sheep and cattle grazing 162 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:16,480 put critical crops at risk. 163 00:12:16,480 --> 00:12:21,800 In contrast, shepherding was viewed as a less refined way of life, often linked to groups 164 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:25,200 living on the outskirts of society. 165 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:30,640 Among the Israelite shepherds were considered lower class because their work kept them isolated 166 00:12:30,640 --> 00:12:36,560 from towns and temple rituals, making them unclean by Jewish standards. 167 00:12:36,560 --> 00:12:42,880 Their transient lifestyle also led to mistrust, with shepherds sometimes accused of trespassing 168 00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:44,120 or theft. 169 00:12:44,120 --> 00:12:49,680 At the time of Jesus' birth, the longstanding cultural disdain for shepherds and the occupation 170 00:12:49,680 --> 00:12:51,320 still lingered. 171 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:57,080 So knowing this, why then were the shepherds, who were despised, considered unclean, lower 172 00:12:57,080 --> 00:13:03,160 class and often seen as sinners, among the first to hear the news of Jesus' birth? 173 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:08,560 Well, to discover the answer to this question, we need to look back to the scripture. 174 00:13:08,560 --> 00:13:13,480 In the scripture it says, in the same region, shepherds were out staying in the fields 175 00:13:13,480 --> 00:13:17,920 and keeping watch at night over their flock, then the angel of the Lord stood before them 176 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:22,240 and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were terrified. 177 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:31,080 The fear that the shepherds experienced at the angel's appearance was likely a two-fold, 178 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:37,720 both natural and human reaction to encountering the divine and a deeper inner fear tied to 179 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:40,240 their societal status. 180 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:45,240 Being the glory of God's messenger surrounded by heavenly light would have been overwhelming 181 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:47,240 for anyone. 182 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:54,760 I get overwhelmed by seeing our bank accounts after Christmas, let alone being exposed to 183 00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:56,680 something so divine. 184 00:13:56,680 --> 00:13:59,800 So I too would be picking my jaw up off the ground. 185 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:06,640 However, for the shepherds this fear was likely magnified by their own sense of unworthiness. 186 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:12,120 As a despised and marginalised group, the shepherds were accustomed to being overlooked 187 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:13,280 and undervalued. 188 00:14:13,280 --> 00:14:20,160 They were viewed as sinners and outcasts unfit for any sacred or holy moments. 189 00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:27,040 This separation from anxiety, from society, left them feeling spiritually inadequate, believing 190 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:33,320 they could never measure up to the standards of a society that tied their worth to temple 191 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:34,800 rituals. 192 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:39,680 To suddenly find themselves face to face with God's messenger may have reached deep into 193 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:41,240 their inner fears. 194 00:14:41,240 --> 00:14:43,120 Why would God choose us? 195 00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:49,560 Are we worthy to receive such a message, let alone be in the presence of a Saviour? 196 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:54,640 Will we be judged for our uncleanliness or our lowly status? 197 00:14:54,640 --> 00:15:01,200 Now Luke's inclusion of the shepherds underscores a major theme in his gospel that God's salvation 198 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:04,960 through Jesus is for everyone. 199 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:10,360 It reveals God's intentional choice to reveal his message to the humble and the marginalised 200 00:15:10,360 --> 00:15:15,440 and highlights the inclusive and transformative nature of the gospel. 201 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:22,360 A message of peace and joy meant for all people regardless of their social standing. 202 00:15:22,360 --> 00:15:28,720 This reassurance of the angel's message broke through the shepherd's fear and not only brought 203 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:34,680 them a sense of peace but affirmed their value, showing that in God's eyes they were not 204 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:41,680 just included but they were actually honoured as a first to hear the news of Jesus' birth. 205 00:15:41,680 --> 00:15:47,200 The fear the shepherds experienced that night standing in the presence of the divine reflects 206 00:15:47,200 --> 00:15:50,280 a reality that we still face today. 207 00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:52,840 Fear is all around us. 208 00:15:52,840 --> 00:16:00,280 Our world today is deeply shaped by pressures to present a flawless image and to perform 209 00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:04,280 as though we have everything perfectly together. 210 00:16:04,280 --> 00:16:10,920 Social media, workplace expectations and cultural norms amplify this pressure, encouraging people 211 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:16,600 to curate their lives to appear successful, happy and in control. 212 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:21,720 It's no wonder that the constant comparison to others highlights reels can leave many 213 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:26,440 feeling inadequate as though they are falling short of an unspoken standard. 214 00:16:26,440 --> 00:16:33,200 There's an emphasis on achieving visible success, having the right career, relationships, 215 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:39,560 appearance and lifestyle all while hiding the struggles, failures or imperfections. 216 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:45,440 A relentless demand for perfection means admitting weakness, making mistakes or showing the messier 217 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:48,400 side of life often feels risky. 218 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:54,560 In a world where our worth is too often measured by our performance and presentation. 219 00:16:54,560 --> 00:16:58,640 When I think back to the time as a 13 year old it really connects to the pressure we 220 00:16:58,640 --> 00:17:05,400 all feel to present a perfect image and the fear of being seen as flawed or failing, something 221 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:09,400 I've definitely struggled with and I know many others do. 222 00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:14,600 As a motivated and slightly perfectionist teenager, the idea of making a mistake felt 223 00:17:14,600 --> 00:17:19,520 catastrophic, when I put that hole in the wall my biggest fear wasn't actually just 224 00:17:19,520 --> 00:17:24,560 the punishment but it was the thought of being exposed for messing up. 225 00:17:24,560 --> 00:17:29,480 It was like I wasn't just trying to hide the hole, I was trying to cover up the fact that 226 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:34,720 I didn't have it all together, I wasn't perfect at what I was trying to do. 227 00:17:34,720 --> 00:17:40,000 The three universal fears that we explored earlier can also be seen in the scripture 228 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:41,000 today. 229 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:48,560 For the shepherds, at the time of Jesus' birth, these fears took on a specific form. 230 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:54,160 So the fear of not being good enough was mirrored in their sense of unworthiness. 231 00:17:54,160 --> 00:17:59,800 Their occupation made them unworthy among society and they were living as outcasts and 232 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:04,600 were often regarded as untrustworthy and insignificant. 233 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:09,680 Now the fear of not belonging is reflected in their exclusion from religious and social 234 00:18:09,680 --> 00:18:14,920 circles heightened by their occupation which rendered them unclean. 235 00:18:14,920 --> 00:18:19,960 And lastly the fear of not being loved is tied to the terror of being exposed or found 236 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:25,520 out, revealing their flaws and feeling unworthy of God's acceptance. 237 00:18:25,520 --> 00:18:32,360 But instead of judgement, they were met with those incredible words, fear not. 238 00:18:32,360 --> 00:18:36,440 Simple words with a profound meaning and impact. 239 00:18:36,440 --> 00:18:42,040 Being today as someone who still grapples with perfectionism, I often approach my relationship 240 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:45,120 with God through the lens of performance. 241 00:18:45,120 --> 00:18:49,840 There's a part of me that constantly strives to measure up to get everything right and 242 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:54,040 to present myself as someone who has it all together. 243 00:18:54,040 --> 00:18:58,520 The perfectionist tendencies that began as a young child are still very much present 244 00:18:58,520 --> 00:19:00,360 in me today. 245 00:19:00,360 --> 00:19:06,280 It's like part of me is still trying to desperately hide the holes, to conceal the mistakes and 246 00:19:06,280 --> 00:19:13,840 to make sure nothing is exposed that might show that I'm not perfect. 247 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:20,280 I often feel like I have to prove myself as if I need to earn God's love or somehow make 248 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:23,320 myself worthy of His grace. 249 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:29,200 It's not always easy to rest in the truth that God's love isn't contingent on my ability 250 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:31,720 to perform perfectly. 251 00:19:31,720 --> 00:19:37,800 There's this constant tug-of-war in my heart where I know in my head that I am loved unconditionally 252 00:19:37,800 --> 00:19:42,120 yet my heart still feels the weight of striving. 253 00:19:42,120 --> 00:19:47,800 I fear that if I make a mistake or fail to live up to what I think I should be, it might 254 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:51,200 change how God sees me. 255 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:58,120 I wonder if you have ever felt like you are hiding parts of yourself from God, fearing 256 00:19:58,120 --> 00:20:02,040 that He wouldn't accept you if He knew your flaws or mistakes. 257 00:20:02,040 --> 00:20:06,400 I wonder if you've ever felt a barrier of fear holding you back from truly coming to 258 00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:11,920 God as if something deep inside is keeping you at a distance. 259 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:18,640 It's because of these three universal fears really deeply impact our relationship with 260 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:19,640 God. 261 00:20:19,640 --> 00:20:26,400 When we don't feel worthy, loved or accepted, we tend to put God at a distance. 262 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:33,520 We build walls around ourselves hoping that He won't see the real us, the messy, imperfect 263 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:34,520 parts. 264 00:20:34,520 --> 00:20:37,640 We fear our unworthy of His love. 265 00:20:37,640 --> 00:20:44,440 In our hearts we long for a miracle that if we don't reveal our true selves, maybe just 266 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:47,840 maybe, He will still love us. 267 00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:49,960 But this is not how it's supposed to be. 268 00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:55,560 I hope you know that, that this is not how it's supposed to be. 269 00:20:55,560 --> 00:21:02,240 It didn't intend for us to spend our lives in fear, hiding the shadows in the shadows 270 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:04,720 of shame. 271 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:11,680 In Genesis, the Garden of Eden is described as a place of perfect harmony where Adam and 272 00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:16,560 Eve walked with God in an intimate and unbroken relationship. 273 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:22,280 They lived in a world where there was no shame, fear or separation from God. 274 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:24,360 This was the intended plan. 275 00:21:24,360 --> 00:21:28,440 A relationship built on trust, love and unity. 276 00:21:28,440 --> 00:21:35,680 However, the decision of Adam and Eve to disobey God's command disrupted this perfect relationship. 277 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:41,080 Their choice to eat from the tree of knowledge, of good and evil, wasn't merely about simply 278 00:21:41,080 --> 00:21:46,680 breaking a rule, but it was about choosing autonomy over dependence on God. 279 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:51,600 The immediate consequence of that decision was fear and shame. 280 00:21:51,600 --> 00:21:57,960 It says in Genesis chapter 3 verses 7 to 10, then the eyes of both of them were open 281 00:21:57,960 --> 00:22:00,360 and they knew they were naked. 282 00:22:00,360 --> 00:22:04,400 So they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 283 00:22:04,400 --> 00:22:09,040 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the 284 00:22:09,040 --> 00:22:14,440 time of the evening breeze, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 285 00:22:14,440 --> 00:22:18,480 So the Lord God called out to man and said to him, where are you? 286 00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:25,000 And he said, I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid. 287 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:31,280 They became aware of their nakedness and in their guilt hid themselves from God. 288 00:22:31,280 --> 00:22:38,000 This act of hiding was symbolic of the relational fracture between humanity and God. 289 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:44,320 What had been a close, trusting connection was now marked by fear, alienation and the 290 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:47,960 painful consequences of sin. 291 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:53,240 But even in Adam and Eve's brokenness, God didn't abandon them. 292 00:22:53,240 --> 00:22:59,160 Now I'm not saying that they weren't consequences, much like my own situation and boy was their 293 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:01,360 consequence. 294 00:23:01,360 --> 00:23:08,200 The entire narrative of scripture points to God's relentless pursuit to reconcile humanity 295 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:10,800 to himself once again. 296 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:17,520 The birth of Jesus is the fulfillment of this pursuit, a pivotal moment in God's redemptive 297 00:23:17,520 --> 00:23:19,000 plan. 298 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:24,600 Jesus came to restore what was lost in the garden, to bridge the gap that sin had created 299 00:23:24,600 --> 00:23:31,160 and to invite us back into the kind of relationship that God had always intended. 300 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:35,320 God does not want us to hide in fear. 301 00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:39,920 Looking back my fear of coming home to face my family mirrors the fear that many of us 302 00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:44,280 feel when we think about the idea of coming home to Jesus. 303 00:23:44,280 --> 00:23:49,160 And it's probably the same fear the shepherds had as they approached the stable where baby 304 00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:51,080 Jesus lay. 305 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:56,440 We're afraid we'll be met with judgment and rejection or abandonment because of our mistakes 306 00:23:56,440 --> 00:23:57,440 or imperfections. 307 00:23:57,440 --> 00:24:02,920 But just like the shepherds we're met with peace and a reminder that we're loved unconditionally 308 00:24:02,920 --> 00:24:07,560 and accepted, even with our holes in the wall. 309 00:24:07,560 --> 00:24:12,880 That journey from panic to facing reality taught me something powerful. 310 00:24:12,880 --> 00:24:19,520 That God's grace and peace are waiting for us when we stop hiding and step forward in 311 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:22,560 perfections and all. 312 00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:29,480 In the birth of this baby born in the muck of a stable we see a God who chose to step 313 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:33,200 into the mess and chaos of our world. 314 00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:40,760 He didn't come in power or splendor but in humility wrapped in the vulnerability of human 315 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:42,440 flesh. 316 00:24:42,440 --> 00:24:49,360 From the very start Jesus entered into the brokenness we try so hard to hide. 317 00:24:49,360 --> 00:24:55,880 Our fears, our failures and our flaws, yet instead of judgment he came to bridge the 318 00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:58,480 gap between us and God. 319 00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:05,440 To wash us clean and to invite us into a relationship where we are fully known and yet have nothing 320 00:25:05,440 --> 00:25:06,840 to fear. 321 00:25:06,840 --> 00:25:15,040 Fear is such a cultural disease in our society, it eats away at all God has called us to be. 322 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:21,720 And like any disease, fear needs an antidote to be eradicated and thankfully God offers 323 00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:25,440 the perfect antidote in Jesus. 324 00:25:25,440 --> 00:25:32,960 For the fear of being unworthy or not being enough, which leads to the symptom of rejection, 325 00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:35,920 Jesus offers peace. 326 00:25:35,920 --> 00:25:47,680 In John 14 to verse 27 it says, Peace I leave you with you, my peace I give you, I do not 327 00:25:47,680 --> 00:25:54,360 give to you as the world gives, do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 328 00:25:54,360 --> 00:26:01,120 His birth declares that our worth is not determined by our perfection or performance in him. 329 00:26:01,120 --> 00:26:03,640 We are made whole and complete. 330 00:26:03,640 --> 00:26:08,760 His peace quietens our hearts, reassuring us that we are enough in his eyes no matter 331 00:26:08,760 --> 00:26:11,240 our shortcomings. 332 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:17,320 For the fear of not belonging or being unclean, which manifests as judgment, Jesus offers 333 00:26:17,320 --> 00:26:19,520 acceptance. 334 00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:26,280 In Mark chapter 2 verses 16 to 17 it says, When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees 335 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:31,800 saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples, why does he eat 336 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:34,360 with tax collectors and sinners? 337 00:26:34,360 --> 00:26:38,840 On hearing this Jesus said to them, It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the 338 00:26:38,840 --> 00:26:43,760 sick, I have not come to call the righteous but sinners. 339 00:26:43,760 --> 00:26:49,080 Jesus entered our world born into a humble stable, meeting us in the mess of our humanity 340 00:26:49,080 --> 00:26:51,440 to make us clean. 341 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:58,080 He welcomes us as we are with our condemnation and invites us into his presence. 342 00:26:58,080 --> 00:27:03,080 And for the fear of not being loved, which creates the symptom of abandonment, Jesus 343 00:27:03,080 --> 00:27:05,760 offers unconditional love. 344 00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:13,880 In John chapter 4 verses 9 to 10 it says this, This is how God showed us his love among us. 345 00:27:13,880 --> 00:27:18,360 He sent his one and only son into the world that we might live through him. 346 00:27:18,360 --> 00:27:20,480 This is love. 347 00:27:20,480 --> 00:27:25,520 Not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his son as an entoning sacrifice 348 00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:27,840 for our sins. 349 00:27:27,840 --> 00:27:33,440 This love is constant, unwavering and never dependent on our actions or mistakes. 350 00:27:33,440 --> 00:27:39,680 Jesus' very presence is proof that we are seen, we are valued and pursued by a God 351 00:27:39,680 --> 00:27:43,000 who loves us deeply and eternally. 352 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:49,480 In the face of our deepest fears, God's antidotes bring us healing and restoring us to the fullness 353 00:27:49,480 --> 00:27:53,000 of life that he desired for us. 354 00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:57,520 But just because there is an antidote doesn't mean that we always have the confidence to 355 00:27:57,520 --> 00:27:58,520 take it. 356 00:27:58,520 --> 00:28:04,240 If you are anything like me who cried on the operating table before getting my wisdom teeth 357 00:28:04,240 --> 00:28:12,200 out, you know how hard it can be to reach out and take that antidote or anesthesia. 358 00:28:12,200 --> 00:28:16,200 Even when you know it, it will bring healing. 359 00:28:16,200 --> 00:28:23,560 There is something about fear that grips us, making us hesitate even when the cure is right 360 00:28:23,560 --> 00:28:25,440 in front of us. 361 00:28:25,440 --> 00:28:30,640 It's difficult to trust that God's peace, acceptance and unconditional love will truly 362 00:28:30,640 --> 00:28:35,520 heal the wounds that we've been carrying for so long. 363 00:28:35,520 --> 00:28:41,360 When our instinct is to hold on to our fears as a way to protect ourselves from judgement, 364 00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:43,880 rejection and abandonment. 365 00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:50,840 The truth is that my fear of releasing my fears comes down to the need for control and 366 00:28:50,840 --> 00:28:54,280 it's rooted in a lack of trust. 367 00:28:54,280 --> 00:28:59,520 It's hard to let go when I think that I know better, when I convince myself that my plans 368 00:28:59,520 --> 00:29:05,320 will keep me safe or that by holding on tightly I can prevent pain. 369 00:29:05,320 --> 00:29:12,400 To be our own doctors and trust in Dr. Google instead, as humans we often believe that our 370 00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:19,040 fears help us maintain control, creating barriers that we think will shield us from the pain 371 00:29:19,040 --> 00:29:20,960 or vulnerability. 372 00:29:20,960 --> 00:29:27,920 We strive, we work, we perform, believing that if we can just get it right we will somehow 373 00:29:27,920 --> 00:29:30,960 earn peace, love and acceptance. 374 00:29:30,960 --> 00:29:35,920 But deep down we link receiving these good gifts with our behaviour. 375 00:29:35,920 --> 00:29:42,200 We believe that God's gifts, his peace, his acceptance, his unconditional love are reserved 376 00:29:42,200 --> 00:29:44,840 for those who measure up. 377 00:29:44,840 --> 00:29:50,000 Instead of receiving what Jesus freely offers, we try to fill the fears with other things 378 00:29:50,000 --> 00:29:56,160 like success, relationships, achievements or even distractions that help us numb the 379 00:29:56,160 --> 00:29:57,600 pain. 380 00:29:57,600 --> 00:30:03,720 We try and push the fears aside, ignore them or bury them under the busyness, but all that 381 00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:09,560 does is makes them grow stronger in the quiet corners of our hearts. 382 00:30:09,560 --> 00:30:14,080 This is especially true for those of us who struggle with perfectionism. 383 00:30:14,080 --> 00:30:20,320 It's exhausting to live in a space where failure feels catastrophic, where the fear of being 384 00:30:20,320 --> 00:30:23,800 found out looms large. 385 00:30:23,800 --> 00:30:28,960 Perfectionism convinces us that if we just work harder, strive longer, hide better, that 386 00:30:28,960 --> 00:30:34,400 we can control the outcome, avoid rejection and find peace. 387 00:30:34,400 --> 00:30:40,240 The truth is that perfectionism never delivers what it promises. 388 00:30:40,240 --> 00:30:44,880 And yet Jesus steps into that mess with a different message. 389 00:30:44,880 --> 00:30:52,760 He offers peace, not as a reward for perfect behaviour, but as a gift freely given. 390 00:30:52,760 --> 00:30:59,480 Through the cross, Jesus made a way for us to receive these gifts apart from our efforts. 391 00:30:59,480 --> 00:31:06,960 What he accomplished on the cross breaks down the lie that we have to earn God's favour. 392 00:31:06,960 --> 00:31:12,120 Jesus knew that we could never be good enough on our own, so he took our place. 393 00:31:12,120 --> 00:31:18,840 He bore our shame, our fears and our failures, and in exchange he offers us his peace, his 394 00:31:18,840 --> 00:31:21,680 love and his acceptance. 395 00:31:21,680 --> 00:31:24,320 This changes everything. 396 00:31:24,320 --> 00:31:28,520 The cross means that our performance is not tied to God's goodness. 397 00:31:28,520 --> 00:31:33,200 We don't have to strive to be enough or hide our flaws to be loved. 398 00:31:33,200 --> 00:31:41,520 Instead, we can stand before God, fully seen, fully known and still be called worthy, accepted 399 00:31:41,520 --> 00:31:43,520 and beloved. 400 00:31:43,520 --> 00:31:46,200 But here's the key. 401 00:31:46,200 --> 00:31:49,720 Knowing this truth in your head isn't enough. 402 00:31:49,720 --> 00:31:52,600 You have to know it in your heart. 403 00:31:52,600 --> 00:31:57,560 It's one thing to hear that God loves you unconditionally, but it's another thing to 404 00:31:57,560 --> 00:32:03,800 truly believe it, to allow it to sink deep into your soul. 405 00:32:03,800 --> 00:32:09,880 When you know, when you truly know what Jesus has done for you on the cross, it changes 406 00:32:09,880 --> 00:32:11,960 the way you live. 407 00:32:11,960 --> 00:32:15,680 It means that you don't have to hold on so tightly to control. 408 00:32:15,680 --> 00:32:18,320 You don't have to keep proving yourself. 409 00:32:18,320 --> 00:32:20,520 You don't have to keep numbing your fears. 410 00:32:20,520 --> 00:32:27,200 And instead, you can release those fears into his hands because you trust that he is good 411 00:32:27,200 --> 00:32:32,760 and that his plans are good and that his love is enough. 412 00:32:32,760 --> 00:32:38,000 Timothy Keller's perspective speaks directly to this tension. 413 00:32:38,000 --> 00:32:44,440 He says, we fear rejection and failure, but if we were completely filled with God's love, 414 00:32:44,440 --> 00:32:46,800 you wouldn't care what people thought. 415 00:32:46,800 --> 00:32:53,000 We fear future and circumstances, but if you knew God perfectly and that he is good and 416 00:32:53,000 --> 00:32:58,920 in control, you would trust him and you wouldn't be afraid of death because you would know 417 00:32:58,920 --> 00:33:01,680 how you would be with him forever. 418 00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:13,920 His words remind me that fear thrives when I doubt God's ultimate plan of redemption 419 00:33:13,920 --> 00:33:16,440 and reconciliation. 420 00:33:16,440 --> 00:33:22,120 This kind of trust doesn't mean we, life will be perfect, but it does mean that you can 421 00:33:22,120 --> 00:33:23,880 live differently. 422 00:33:23,880 --> 00:33:28,080 When you trust God's love, you don't have to worry about being enough. 423 00:33:28,080 --> 00:33:30,760 You already are in his eyes. 424 00:33:30,760 --> 00:33:36,040 When you trust God's acceptance, you don't have to fear rejection because he has already 425 00:33:36,040 --> 00:33:38,360 called you his own. 426 00:33:38,360 --> 00:33:42,120 When you trust God's peace, you don't have to cling to control. 427 00:33:42,120 --> 00:33:46,960 You can rest knowing that he is holding you. 428 00:33:46,960 --> 00:33:50,840 Let's remind ourselves of this unshakable truth. 429 00:33:50,840 --> 00:33:54,440 God has done all this for me. 430 00:33:54,440 --> 00:34:01,320 He saw us in our fears, in our striving and in our perfectionism and he sent Jesus to 431 00:34:01,320 --> 00:34:03,320 rescue us. 432 00:34:03,320 --> 00:34:09,240 Because of what Jesus has done, we can live with ultimate trust and peace free from the 433 00:34:09,240 --> 00:34:12,120 group of fear. 434 00:34:12,120 --> 00:34:18,160 When we know this truth, not just in our heads, but in our hearts, it changes everything. 435 00:34:18,160 --> 00:34:23,840 We don't have to care about the opinions that once held us captive. 436 00:34:23,840 --> 00:34:27,000 We don't have to worry about proving ourselves. 437 00:34:27,000 --> 00:34:32,920 We can trust that God is who he says he is, that his plans are good and that his love 438 00:34:32,920 --> 00:34:36,840 will carry us through every fear and uncertainty. 439 00:34:36,840 --> 00:34:40,200 That is the gift of the cross. 440 00:34:40,200 --> 00:34:46,080 That is the peace that Jesus brings. 441 00:34:46,080 --> 00:34:51,880 Going forward into the scripture in verse 15, it says, when the angels had left them 442 00:34:51,880 --> 00:34:59,880 and returned to heaven, the shepherd said to one another, let's go straight to Bethlehem 443 00:34:59,880 --> 00:35:04,160 and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us. 444 00:35:04,160 --> 00:35:09,360 They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph and the baby who was lying in the manger. 445 00:35:09,360 --> 00:35:11,880 After seeing them, they reported the message. 446 00:35:11,880 --> 00:35:16,160 They were told about this child and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherd 447 00:35:16,160 --> 00:35:18,240 said to them. 448 00:35:18,240 --> 00:35:23,880 The shepherd's response shows a shift from fear to peace and action. 449 00:35:23,880 --> 00:35:31,280 Their initial fear gave way to an excited urgency to witness the Savior, affirming that 450 00:35:31,280 --> 00:35:39,320 the angels reassurance had brought them peace and confidence in God's invitation. 451 00:35:39,320 --> 00:35:44,760 This empowered them to leave their fields and become messengers themselves, sharing 452 00:35:44,760 --> 00:35:51,760 the good news with others, glorifying and praising God for what they had seen and heard. 453 00:35:51,760 --> 00:35:58,400 They became evangelists, spreading the good news of the Savior's birth to everyone they 454 00:35:58,400 --> 00:35:59,560 encountered. 455 00:35:59,560 --> 00:36:06,320 These men who were previously overlooked, marginalized and considered unworthy, yet they 456 00:36:06,320 --> 00:36:12,240 were chosen by God to carry the most important announcement in history. 457 00:36:12,240 --> 00:36:16,360 They didn't worry about being perfect or being qualified. 458 00:36:16,360 --> 00:36:20,080 They simply shared what they had seen and heard. 459 00:36:20,080 --> 00:36:26,120 This shows us that sharing about Jesus doesn't require perfection or expertise. 460 00:36:26,120 --> 00:36:31,440 It simply requires a willingness to speak from the heart about what God has done in our 461 00:36:31,440 --> 00:36:33,160 lives. 462 00:36:33,160 --> 00:36:39,560 The shepherd's example challenges us to consider how we respond to the good news of Jesus in 463 00:36:39,560 --> 00:36:40,800 our own lives. 464 00:36:40,800 --> 00:36:48,120 Are we so transformed by his unconditional love, acceptance and peace that we can't 465 00:36:48,120 --> 00:36:51,280 help but share it? 466 00:36:51,280 --> 00:36:57,920 Just like the shepherds, our testimonies have power to inspire and encourage others. 467 00:36:57,920 --> 00:37:03,880 Not because of how polished or how perfect we are, but because of the authenticity of 468 00:37:03,880 --> 00:37:05,440 our faith. 469 00:37:05,440 --> 00:37:12,160 When we encounter the peace and joy of Jesus, it's not meant to be kept to ourselves. 470 00:37:12,160 --> 00:37:18,040 We are called to go out in whatever sphere of life we find ourselves in and share the 471 00:37:18,040 --> 00:37:21,920 hope of the gospel with those around us. 472 00:37:21,920 --> 00:37:27,560 The encounter transformed the shepherd's sphere into faith and their lowly status into a 473 00:37:27,560 --> 00:37:32,200 privileged role of proclaiming Christ's birth. 474 00:37:32,200 --> 00:37:37,480 What if we, like the shepherds, took this message seriously? 475 00:37:37,480 --> 00:37:42,320 What if we went out into our neighbourhoods, our families and our workplaces, not just 476 00:37:42,320 --> 00:37:50,400 with a message of personal peace, love and acceptance, but with a message of global transformation? 477 00:37:50,400 --> 00:37:55,640 Imagine what it would look like if our communities were filled with the peace, love and acceptance 478 00:37:55,640 --> 00:37:57,240 of Christ. 479 00:37:57,240 --> 00:38:04,640 Not just in a passive way, but in an active pursuit of justice, reconciliation and love. 480 00:38:04,640 --> 00:38:10,640 What would the Henley area look like if everyone knew the deep sense of those antidotes gifted 481 00:38:10,640 --> 00:38:13,040 from God? 482 00:38:13,040 --> 00:38:17,800 What would happen if in Henley and beyond, people knew that they are loved by God and 483 00:38:17,800 --> 00:38:21,440 are a part of his redemptive plan? 484 00:38:21,440 --> 00:38:29,040 I think we'd see communities where forgiveness replaces bitterness, kindness overcomes hatred 485 00:38:29,040 --> 00:38:33,440 and hope extinguishes despair. 486 00:38:33,440 --> 00:38:37,280 The band can come up if they like. 487 00:38:37,280 --> 00:38:43,680 This isn't just a lofty vision, it is the calling of the gospel. 488 00:38:43,680 --> 00:38:50,360 Jesus's peace isn't meant to stay within us, it's meant to overflow into every part of 489 00:38:50,360 --> 00:38:53,520 our lives and the world around us. 490 00:38:53,520 --> 00:39:00,800 The shepherds remind us that even those who feel unworthy, unlovable or excluded are invited 491 00:39:00,800 --> 00:39:04,400 to carry this extraordinary message. 492 00:39:04,400 --> 00:39:11,160 What if we embrace that calling, allowing the antidotes to our deepest fears, peace, acceptance 493 00:39:11,160 --> 00:39:18,440 and unconditional love, to transform not just our hearts, but our actions as well? 494 00:39:18,440 --> 00:39:25,160 When we step into the peace that Jesus offers, we are empowered to confront the fear of being 495 00:39:25,160 --> 00:39:32,800 unworthy with the peace that affirms our value, to face the fear of rejection with the acceptance 496 00:39:32,800 --> 00:39:38,000 that God has already called us his own and to overcome the fear of abandonment with the 497 00:39:38,000 --> 00:39:42,360 knowledge that his love is unwavering. 498 00:39:42,360 --> 00:39:47,360 The question isn't just whether this change is possible, it's whether we're actually 499 00:39:47,360 --> 00:39:53,320 willing to step forward like the shepherds, leaving behind our fears and our comforts 500 00:39:53,320 --> 00:39:58,040 and becoming the messages of God's peace. 501 00:39:58,040 --> 00:40:05,400 The baby born in a messy stable, laid in a food trough and visited by society's lowest, 502 00:40:05,400 --> 00:40:09,600 was at the centre of God's redemptive plan. 503 00:40:09,600 --> 00:40:16,400 Those same outcasts were entrusted to share the most important message, that God had come 504 00:40:16,400 --> 00:40:23,120 near, peace was now here and that fear no longer had the final word. 505 00:40:23,120 --> 00:40:31,600 The birth of Jesus is more than just a story, it is a declaration of God's unwavering desire 506 00:40:31,600 --> 00:40:34,040 to bring us home. 507 00:40:34,040 --> 00:40:40,680 In sending his son, God tore down the barriers that fear and sin had built between us and 508 00:40:40,680 --> 00:40:50,160 him in the garden, where we once may have felt unworthy, unclean or unlovable, Jesus 509 00:40:50,160 --> 00:40:57,760 steps in as our peace, our acceptance and our unconditional love. 510 00:40:57,760 --> 00:41:04,840 Through him we are washed clean and the burden of proving ourselves is lifted. 511 00:41:04,840 --> 00:41:11,960 We no longer have to strive or fear rejection, for Jesus has already secured us a place in 512 00:41:11,960 --> 00:41:14,760 the Father's arms. 513 00:41:14,760 --> 00:41:22,600 This is the invitation of Christmas to come home to a God who not only sees us as we are, 514 00:41:22,600 --> 00:41:26,000 but loves us fully and completely. 515 00:41:26,000 --> 00:41:32,720 It's a reminder that no matter who we are or what fears we carry, God invites us into 516 00:41:32,720 --> 00:41:35,120 his story. 517 00:41:35,120 --> 00:41:40,440 The angels message, do not be afraid is still for us today. 518 00:41:40,440 --> 00:41:47,160 When we come home to Jesus, we leave behind fear because we find ourselves in the presence 519 00:41:47,160 --> 00:41:55,640 of a saviour who fully knows us, deeply loves us and offers us true peace. 520 00:41:55,640 --> 00:42:01,280 Peace that speaks directly to the three universal fears we all carry. 521 00:42:01,280 --> 00:42:06,960 Jesus' birth assures us that we can stand before God with no fear. 522 00:42:06,960 --> 00:42:13,960 He has already made the way and he is calling us to step forward, to trust him and to rest 523 00:42:13,960 --> 00:42:18,360 in the truth that we are his. 524 00:42:18,360 --> 00:42:24,200 In his presence we find the peace we've been searching for, the love we've been longing 525 00:42:24,200 --> 00:42:34,120 for and the safety to be who we truly are no longer afraid but fully embraced. 526 00:42:34,120 --> 00:42:48,200 God has given us himself the greatest gift of all so that we can come home to him. 527 00:42:48,200 --> 00:42:51,120 Thanks so much for tuning into this week's message. 528 00:42:51,120 --> 00:42:57,400 If you felt challenged or need prayer, we'd love to hear from you on Instagram at EncounterHenry. 529 00:42:57,400 --> 00:43:05,680 Or if you're interested in how you can support this ministry, please go to our website EncounterAdelaide.com.au. 530 00:43:05,680 --> 00:43:07,160 Thanks again for listening. 531 00:43:07,160 --> 00:43:21,760 God bless you.