Advent Series: Fear Not - Rise Above (3/4)

Fear Not: Rise Above (3/4)
Matthew 1: 18-25
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
December 15, 2019
Third Sunday of Advent

This Advent we are sitting in four stories from the Gospels of Luke and Matthew where an angel of the Lord makes a divine visit to proclaim, “Fear Not!” And we are uncovering the layers of these holy encounters with Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds to be encouraged that yes, God is indeed with us and listening. God’s Word will light the way for us to rediscover and celebrate the hope, peace, joy, and love that Jesus’ birth brings.

Today we listen to the story of Joseph’s encounter with the angel in Matthew 1: 18-25.

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.

But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet [Isaiah]:

‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel’,
which means, ‘God is with us.’

When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

Joseph was the son of Jacob and a descent from the line of King David. King David’s father Jesse was from Bethlehem (Matthew 1: 16; 1 Samuel 16:1). Joseph was a carpenter (Matthew 13:55). He was hardworking, honest, and a righteous man following the Law of Moses (Matthew 1:19).

Joseph was living right in the eyes of God and in the eyes of others. He was focusing on a bright future with his fiancée’ Mary, a young teenage woman from Nazareth. Their engagement was an arranged marriage according to Jewish custom. The earliest age to marry for a young woman was age 12 and for a young man was age 13. So, Joseph and Mary were most likely quite young.

Betrothal was not like our modern-day engagement where you could just walk away with a case of cold feet. Betrothal was a legally binding contract with consequences. The father of the groom would have paid money or an in-kind service to the father of the bride.

The news of Mary’s unexpected pregnancy completely dimmed the light in of Joseph’s eyes. This man felt a dark shadow of shame cover him. Joseph feared his reputation and Mary’s would be tainted in the eyes of their families, friends, and the community.

While Joseph kept the letter of the law, he was not willing to make an example of Mary. The legal consequences were dire for such a scandal; Mary could be stoned to death by the men of the city for bringing disgrace upon her father’s house and upon Joseph (Deuteronomy 22: 23-27).

The only way out of this mess was to divorce her. And yet the angel appeared to reframe Joseph’s state of mind and strengthen him: “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20-21).

The angel’s words shined God’s light into the darkness of Joseph’s shame. The angel freed Joseph from the fear being unworthy of God’s favor and judged by others. God’s message empowered Joseph to rise above his fears for God’s purposes to be accomplished through him.

One of the challenges of being human is our struggle with shame. We all are prone to carrying it around with us. Shame creates obstacles to moving forward in lives when our circumstances make us feel defeated. Shame weaves lies of a false narrative within us saying that we are unworthy. Shame causes us to fear the judgment of others; but the worst critic stares at us in the mirror. Shame completely steals our joy.

Brené Brown is a shame researcher. She has written a number of books and given talks on TED (Technology Entertainment and Design). She says:

If we want to be able to move through difficult disappointments, the hurt feelings, and the heartbreaks that are inevitable in a fully lived life, we can’t equate defeat with being unworthy of love, belonging, and joy [1].

We have to talk about shame. Shame is the swampland of the soul. Shame and guilt are different. Guilt says, “I’m sorry – I did a bad thing.” Shame says, “I’m sorry – I am a bad thing.”

Shame plays two big tapes. The first is “You are not good enough.” If you get through that one, it plays, “Who do you think you are?”

For women, shame is this web of unobtainable, conflicting, competing expectations about who we're supposed to be. And it's a straight-jacket.

For men, shame is not a bunch of competing, conflicting expectations. Shame is one, do not be perceived as what? Weak.

If you put shame in a Petri dish, it needs three things to grow exponentially: secrecy, silence, and judgment. If you put the same amount in a Patri dish and douse it with empathy, it cannot survive.

The Angel broke the shame cycle for Joseph. And God’s message can break the shame cycle in us too. Whatever might be stealing your joy today, I want for you to know that you are worthy of love, belonging, and joy because you are a beloved child of God.

Humanity was created in God’s image and everything that God created was called good. However when humanity reached beyond the boundaries of God’s will, the condition of sin entered the world and shame is what we have all hidden from ever since then.

The Maker of heaven and earth would do anything to remove the shadow of shame that burdens us. In fact, God did.

Our Creator came down from heaven’s throne to put on the thin skin of humanity. In Christ, God fully experienced our brokenness, disappointments, guilt, and shame. God chose to look upon us with compassion and empathy by sending his Son to save us from the judgment that we deserve.

Therefore we look to Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and he has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2).

As we enter into the third week of Advent, let the light of God’s compassionate love shine into the shadows of shame. According to the Christmas story - secrecy, silence, and judgment do not have the last word. God always has the last word. God alone is the One who is re-writing the end of our stories.

And when we realize that it is only God’s perception of us that matters, then THAT, my friends is joy.

Joy is never putting on a fake smile and being of good superficial cheer.

Joy is having a deeper awareness of God’s grace.

Do not fear. May the joy of the Lord be your strength to rise above as we anticipate Christ’s birth (Nehemiah 8:10).

Glory be to God our Maker, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.

Sources Referenced:

[1] Brené Brown, “Daring Greatly” (New York: Penguin Random House, 2012), p. 67.

Advent Series: Fear Not - Trust God (1/4)

Fear Not: Trust God (1/4)
Luke 1: 5-25
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
December 1, 2019
First Sunday of Advent

The Chrismon tree is up with all the ornaments. The lights are shining. Some of you already have your homes decorated inside and out. The children are excited about the count down to Christmas. It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

But I have to be honest. I am not ready to celebrate. My heart is heavy for so many who feel like they are walking in darkness. Many of us are navigating through uncertainty, grief, and deep questions for God. This is not an easy time of year.

The season of Advent gives us permission to be honest. This first Sunday of Advent reminds us that it is not time to celebrate just yet. These four weeks that lead to Christmas meet us in the darkness of humanity to shine the light of God’s promises into our lives. Advent meets us at this crossroads of searching for hope. Many of us need to know that God is with us and that God is still listening.

This Advent we will be sitting in four stories from the Gospels of Luke and Matthew where an angel of the Lord makes a divine visit to proclaim, “Fear Not!” And we will be uncovering the layers of these holy encounters with Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds to be encouraged that yes, God is indeed with us and listening. God’s Word will light the way for us to rediscover and celebrate the hope, peace, joy, and love that Jesus’ birth brings.

Listen to the story of Zechariah's encounter with the angel in Luke 1: 5-25:

In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years.

Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. Now at the time of the incense-offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside.

Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him.

But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’

Zechariah said to the angel, ‘How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.’

The angel replied, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.’

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, and wondered at his delay in the sanctuary. When he did come out, he could not speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them and remained unable to speak. When his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, ‘This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.’

Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were a faithful couple and both descendants of priestly families. The integrity of their faith reminded the hearers of Luke’s Gospel of Abraham and Sarah and their faithfulness to God as told in Genesis.

Zechariah was blessed to be in the most holy place of the Jerusalem temple. He was among a group of priests that served in the temple once or twice a year. On this given day, Zechariah was chosen to enter the sanctuary and offer incense on the altar. It was a privilege that occurred once in a lifetime.

My commentary said the priests would always conclude this ritual with the priestly benediction from Numbers 6: 24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord make his countenance to shine upon you and give you peace.”

But Luke implies that Zachariah did not feel blessed. Elizabeth was barren. Zechariah had been praying and praying for God to act and work through this impossible obstacle. This couple was losing hope in God’s ability to give them a son to carry on the family lineage. Zechariah was getting weary as he and Elizabeth were getting on in years.

In ancient times barrenness was not only a dark shadow of disgrace to a couple. Barrenness also threatened the fulfillment of God’s covenant to Israel.

As Zechariah went through the motions of offering the incense, a divine messenger - an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared. “Fear not, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear a son, and you will name him John… before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God… He will make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:13, 15-17).

What a divine encounter of hope. The angel affirmed that God was listening deeply to Zachariah’s prayers. Not only would this priestly couple be blessed by God’s faithfulness, but God’s chosen people would be blessed as this anointed child John would prepare the way for the coming of Jesus Christ.

When Zechariah responded to the angel with a question of disbelief, I do not think Zechariah had expected God to answer his prayer.

No matter how big your faith and mine might be, we are all vulnerable to seasons of spiritual dryness. Have you ever felt like your faith is just going through the motions?

Maybe you feel like Zechariah and you are asking the Lord, “God are you here? Lord, are you listening?” When life is not the way we expected and we are being tossed by the waves of uncertainty, grief, and big questions, the light of hope within us can grow dim.

Sharyl is a minister and colleague in ministry. This past week has been a hard one.

She found herself going through the motions to make it through. It was her mom’s birthday. And Sharyl and her sister Kim had a ritual of getting Chinese food to honor their mother. But there was no time to hold that ritual this week. Sharyl thought, “I wish I had time to run out at least for soup today. My mother loved wonton soup. She always said ten wontons were just the perfect amount of generosity.”

Suddenly a man walked into the church. He had been attending the Griefshare group which the church hosted. In his hand was a child’s sock that he found left behind in the church parking lot. Sharyl and the man began talking.

During the conversation, the man shared that his wife had died around Thanksgiving. And Sharyl shared it was also the anniversary of her own mother’s death.

The man shared he was making his wife’s cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving and Sharyl replied that her mother always had wonton soup, but that was not something she was going to make.

The man then smiled saying, “It’s funny you mention wonton soup. I have three quarts in my car. I ordered the soup because I needed the containers for the cranberry sauce. I guess this soup is for you. So what are we going to put your soup in?”

This man came into Sharyl’s life like an angel. This holy encounter gave Sharyl a message of hope that God was indeed with her and God is still listening. They both experienced a gift of God’s grace.

On any given day there are angels among us whom God places in our lives to proclaim a message of good news. The compassionate actions and words of children, women, and men empower us to trust in God’s faithfulness.

They come alongside us in our times of need to shine a light of hope into the darkness. When we feel like we are just going through the motions, God’s hope empowers us to keep taking the next right step in God’s faithfulness.

The Lord once said to our spiritual ancestors and still says to us today, “Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

God’s victory to deliver us comes from a place of vulnerability. Ever since God breathed life into all creation and humanity, God has been with us and is deeply aware of our brokenness. God’s love for us is unparalleled. And God reveals such love in an expected and messy way. God became vulnerable, taking on human form as a baby to be one of us.

And once again we are waiting for God’s hope to be born among us and restore our faith in God’s steadfast love and faithful presence. Sometimes the only prayer any of us might have is, Lord, bless this mess.

Listen to your life this week. Look for God’s angels who may be divinely appointed to bring you a message of hope.

Pay attention to life happening around you this week. The Spirit just may be nudging YOU to be an angel and prepare another to receive the promise of the Lord’s hope. God’s promises are trustworthy and true. The Lord God is our rock and refuge.

As we enter into this first week of Advent, do not fear the uncertainty, grief, or deep questions. Do not fear your own vulnerability. Trust God.

In the name of God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.

Sources Referenced:

The Advent Sermon Series theme “Fear Not” is adapted from Get Lit Worship Resources

New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary Volume VIII: Luke and John (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2015), pp. 33-37.

Advent Series: Fear Not: Say "Yes" to God (2/4)

Fear Not: Say “Yes” to God (2/4)
Luke 1: 26-38, 46-55
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
December 8, 2019
Second Sunday of Advent

This Advent we are sitting in four stories from the Gospels of Luke and Matthew where an angel of the Lord makes a divine visit to proclaim, “Fear Not!” And we are uncovering the layers of these holy encounters with Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds to be encouraged that yes, God is indeed with us and listening. God’s Word will light the way for us to rediscover and celebrate the hope, peace, joy, and love that Jesus’ birth brings.

Today we listen to the story of Mary’s encounter with the Angel Gabriel in Luke 1: 26-38, 46-55.

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.’

But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.

The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’

The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.’

Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.
Mary’s Song of Praise

And Mary said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’

Mary was living her best life. She was a young teenager and betrothed to Joseph. Mary was technically legally married to Joseph, although she lived in her father’s house. She was counting down to the big day to officially tie the knot and begin their life together.

Mary’s encounter with Gabriel was a complete interruption. The angel’s presence brought Mary great distress. Her heart went back and forth with a mix of emotions. Her mind was trying to make sense of Gabriel’s words: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name his Jesus (Yahweh saves). He will be great, the Son of the Most High.”

God was calling Mary to do a hard thing: to carry and deliver the Son of God.

Do you know who was relying on Mary’s answer?

The lowly were waiting for Mary to say “yes” so that God’s hand would lift them up and overthrow those who abused human authority at the lowly’s expense.

The hungry were waiting for Mary to say “yes” so that God would fill them with good things and to send the rich away empty.

Israel was waiting for Mary to say “yes” so that God would make good on the covenants to Abraham and David (Genesis 17: 4-8; 2 Samuel 7: 12-17).

All of these were waiting for Mary to say “Yes” to God in order for God’s plan of salvation to be fulfilled (Luke 1: 52-54).

Can you imagine if Mary had said, “Oh Lord, I cannot do that. You are asking too much of me!” Mary did not know how God would work it all out. Nor did Mary know that this holy child would be destined to pierce her own soul and cause her family pain; she would one day watch her son bear God’s unconditional love on the cross (Luke 2:35).

But with what Gabriel did reveal to Mary - the angel reassured her that as crazy as all of this might sound, nothing will be impossible for God (Luke 1:37).

Mary overcame her fear by placing her trust in God’s faithfulness. Faith gave Mary the courage to say “Yes!” to God. And God’s faithfulness provided Mary with all she needed to serve the Lord and bring about God’s purposes.

Mary’s willingness not only brought her a sense of peace. Mary’s boldness continues to bless all of creation and humanity with the promised peace that only Jesus Christ has the power to bring into our hurting world.

God called our spiritual ancestors to do hard things to bring about God’s purposes.

God called Moses to deliver God’s people from Egypt and yet Moses felt unqualified (Exodus 3: 10-11).

God called Isaiah to prophesy to God’s people and show them the way forward into God’s will and yet Isaiah felt unworthy (Isaiah 6:5).

God called Jonah to share the good news with the people of Nineveh, his enemy, and yet Jonah ran in the opposite direction (Jonah 1).

God calls you and I to do hard things for the Lord too. It may not be as daunting as what God called our biblical ancestors to do! But when God calls us out of our comfort zones it is scary, nonetheless.

Jesus Christ calls us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves; to forgive others – not just once but throughout our lifetime; to love our enemies and pray for them; and to pray for God’s will.

Jesus Christ calls us to feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and visit the imprisoned (Matthew 25: 35-36).

Christ calls us to make disciples of all nations and teach them all that he commanded (Matthew 28:19-20).

Christ calls us to do all things according to God’s rule of love. And we are promised that the work of the Spirit will always guide us daily into Christ’s truth and God’s will (John 16:13-14).

What is the hardest thing God has ever asked you to do? As God showed you the next right steps who was blessed by your willingness to say yes to God?

What might God’s Spirit or an angel in disguise be nudging you to do now?

Our first thoughts just may be, “Oh Lord, I cannot do that! You are asking too much of me!”

In some ways, that response is gospel truth. Whatever God is asking of us– it is true that none of us can accomplish God’s purposes on our own. And it is true that on any given day it will seem that God is indeed asking too much of us.

Jesus Christ is our example of what human faithfulness looks like to God. Christ fully relied on God with every obedient step he took from the cradle to the grave. And Christ gave his all for us as God was reconciling the world to himself.

The cost of discipleship is great, my friends. It costs something of us because it cost Jesus Christ everything.

The good news is that NOTHING is impossible with God. The God of peace will make you and I complete in everything good so that we may do his will (Hebrews 13:21). God’s grace and power are perfected in our limitations and weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Do not fear having your life interrupted by God’s plans. Do not fear the hard thing God is calling you to do.

I have to be honest; no matter what hard thing God has called me to do, I have never had a sense of peace until I have said “Yes” to God.

So say “Yes” to God because the Spirit will provide everything you need to share the peace of Christ.

Say “Yes” to God because someone else is relying on your “yes.”

In the name of God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.

Sources Referenced:

The “Fear Not” Advent Theme Sermon Series and Worship Planning used with permission from Get Lit Worship Resources.