New Year – hope or fear?

As we enter a New Year do you look upon it with hope or with fear?

A recent survey said that the top 3 fears at the moment are

1. The fear of public speaking

2. The fear of death

3. The fear of death while public speaking.

Fears are sometimes irrational.

Fear stops us from doing so much. We fear failure so we don’t try something new. We fear change so we stay as we are. We fear taking risks so we stand still and stagnate. Fear paralyses. What are you afraid of right now?

“My life has been full of terrible misfortunes most of which have never happened” John DeLaFontaine. Most of us live in fear of things which will probably never happen.

What is the most often repeated command by God in scripture? The answer – Do not fear; Do not be afraid; Fear not; It was repeated to David; Moses, Joseph, Mary, Paul, John and countless others in the scripture. Fearnot! In fact it’s been calculated that there are 365 occasions in scripture when God says ‘Don’t be afraid’ – one for every day of the year!

As we enter 2012 God wants you not to fear. God wants you to know that He can do anything! “I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will support you with my victorious right hand” Isaiah 41: 10

God can do anything – at Christmas Gabriel came to Mary and said she was to have a baby. “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” It was an impossibility for a virgin to have a child – Gabriel said “Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. Fornothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:36-37).

God can do anything

Gideon believed God to be with him in battle, and his tiny army of 300 slayed over 100,000. (Judges 8:10)

God can do anything

The disciples questioned Jesus about salvation – Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

God can do anything.

When the Israelites were faced with mighty enemies too big to defend against God said “Don’t be afraid, because I am with you. Don’t be intimidated;. I will support you with my victorious right hand” Isaiah 41: 10

God can do anything.

The apostles believed God would send power to them, and 3,000 became believers in one day. (Acts 2:1-41)

God can do anything.

Let’s go into this New Year full of confidence that our God can achieve anything.

With this in mind I will be preaching on “How to Live Well in 2012” this coming Sunday. You may like to look at some of these texts as a way of preparation beforehand: Psalm 91: 9-14; Romans 8: 28 and Matthew 5: 38-48.

Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday.

Every blessing

Lee

The Reverend Lee Townend MA
All Saints’, Ilkley
Weddings Project
www.Ilkleypc.co.uk
Twitter: @Leethevicar
01943 430693