Genesis 15:2-12, 17-18; Luke 13:31-35

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

Luke 13:31-35

Who’s Afraid?

February 28, 2010

Lent 2

We are 2 weeks into the season of Lent — the most important Season of the Church year as we reflect upon what Christ has done for us and what God calls us to do for Him.  Since the very early days of the Church Christians have observed the 6 weeks before Easter as a time for solemn reflection, greater commitment, and prayer.  The early Church used the 6 weeks before Easter as a time for teaching those who wanted to join the Church what it meant to be a Church member, much as we continue to do today as we hold Confirmation classes during Lent.

Lent is indeed an important time for us as we seek to become better followers of the One who calls us to follow Him in lives of love and service.

Last week we looked at one of the things that keep us from being better followers of Christ – that being how we respond to temptation.

Today we are going to look at another thing that sometimes keeps us from being better followers of Christ – that being fear.

Fear is one of the things that can keep us from following Christ and trusting Christ. It is one of the obstacles we face to being a better follower of Christ.

How many times have we known the things God wanted us to do – known what it meant to be a follower of Christ in a specific situation in our lives – but let fear keep us from stepping out and doing what we knew God wanted us to do?

How many times have we had to face situations in our lives, and feared that God would not give us the strength we needed?

Fear is indeed one of the things that can keep us from truly following Christ, and truly living the life of faith God wants us live.

My Dad tells a story of an incident in World War II.

The best German fighter plane was the Focke Wulf .  It was a terror in the skies for Allied planes.  Dad was a Bomber pilot in Europe — and tells this story of how one day in the Mess Hall of his home field in southern Italy there was a sign sporting a picture of the Focke Wulf  with this caption:

WHO’S AFRAID OF THE BIG FOCKE WULF?

Without much of a thought Dad took out his pen and wrote under the picture and caption:

I am

Billy D. Hayes

Before long, most of the other pilots at his home field had done the same.

Who’s Afraid?

Fear may be good at times — it at least keeps us from being too rash or too foolish or overconfident.  But — at other times — fear is not so good!

Who’s Afraid?

Aren’t there times in our lives when we let the circumstances of our lives scare us?

Aren’t there times when the things happening in our lives strike fear in us?

Aren’t there times in our lives the “big, bad wolves” of our lives intimidate us?

Aren’t there times when the circumstances of our lives cause us to doubt God’s plan for us?

Don’t we – maybe — like Abram — look around sometimes and wonder if God and God’s plan for our lives can be trusted?

Yea – a lot of times we understand how Abram may have felt — simply because we’ve been there ourselves.

Who’s afraid?

If someone were to put a poster somewhere that read:

“Who’s Afraid?”

There are many times I would have to write n it:

“I am.

Bill Hayes.”

Quite honestly there are times in my life that I am afraid.

Many of you may have times that you are afraid also.

What are some of the things that scare us?

What about the present economic situation?

That’s indeed scary.

What about poverty — hunger — homelessness?

Problems we used to think were  “out there somewhere” have come close to  home — and can indeed scare us!

What about debilitating illness?

The thought of getting a debilitating illness can scare even the most healthy of us — and those who have debilitating illness can be very scared at times.

O – here’s one for you —

What about the fact that so many church members seem so apathetic to the things of God and the things of the church?

Now that’s one that scares me and keeps me up at night – what about you?

What about when God calls us to try something new – either as individuals or as the Church?

That can truly be unsettling and scary!

These are just some of the things that can scare us — and there are many, many more.

Many circumstances of life do indeed scare us — and sometimes we are so scared we want to throw up our hands and say:

“Lord — don’t you see what’s happening?”

“Can’t you tell what we’re up against?”

“Don’t you care?”

“Aren’t you with us?”

Who’s afraid?

Our Old Testament and Gospel lessons for today are about — among other things — fear.

“O Lord GOD, what will you give me,

for I continue childless”

You can almost hear the fear in Abram’s voice.

Our Old Testament lesson is about one of the times God came to Abram — whose name, of course, was eventually to be changed to Abraham — and promised him that his descendants will inherit the land on which he is standing.

Abram wants to believe this — but there is one problem — God promised him this years before — but after many years he is still without children.

How could Abram’s descendants inherit the land if he had no descendants?

Had he followed and trusted God — all for nothing?

Had he given up his family and fortune and followed God — for no reason?

He had no descendants to inherit the land.

Could God be trusted?

Fear that God would not — or could not — make good on His promises must have gripped Abram.  There must have been some fear on Abram’s part that the circumstances of his life were going to keep God’s promises from being fulfilled.

Could God be trusted?

Was God really in charge?

These questions may have crossed Abram’s mind – and caused him to be fearful.

Who’s afraid?

“Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.”

You can almost hear the fear in some of the Pharisees voices – and maybe their attempt to strike fear in the hearts of Jesus and his followers.

Our Gospel lesson tells of the time some of the Pharisees told Jesus of Herod’s plot to kill Him.  This message may have been intended to strike fear in Jesus — and it probably did strike fear in the hearts of some of his followers.

Could it be that Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem — but was not going to make it?

Could it be that Herod was going to kill Him on the way?

Jesus was talking about going to Jerusalem and dyeing — yet rising again.  But — could it be that His death was now immanent at any moment — and at the hands of Herod?

And if Herod killed Jesus — what would happen to them?

Jesus said they were going to Jerusalem — where — yes — He would die — and yet rise again — but — what if He never made it to Jerusalem?

What if Herod killed Him before He got there?

It may have looked like that the circumstances of life were going to keep Jesus’ promises — any of them — from coming true.

Was God really in charge?

Could Jesus be trusted?

Who’s afraid?

So – what does God say to Abram?

Yes — God says to Abram — I am in charge — and I can be trusted. Do not be afraid. God repeats His promise of descendants to Abram — then in a vivid picture of an ancient covenant ceremony God commits Himself to fulfill that promise.  God commits to keep God’s word.  God says — in effect — that it doesn’t matter what the circumstances of life may look like — God and God’s promises can be counted on.  God is in charge of Abram’s life — not the circumstances of being childless.

Have faith, Abram.   Despite the way things look — God can be trusted.

How does Jesus respond to the Pharisees?

“Go and tell that fox for me,

‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures

today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work.’”

Jesus responds to the Pharisees.

In other words, Jesus says that it doesn’t matter what Herod wants to do to Him — what matters is God’s plan for Him.

Herod can’t interfere with God’s plan.

No matter how intimidating — or scary — or “foxy” Herod might be — Jesus is not going to be deterred from what He knows He must do.  He goes to Jerusalem — unafraid — because He knows God is in charge.  He stays in control – - regardless of how things may look — or who may oppose Him.  He doesn’t let the fear of Herod or anyone else for that matter keep Him from His mission.

Who’s afraid?

When we might be tempted to sign “I Am” to a poster asking “Who’s Afraid” we can hear again God’s words.

Hear again the words of God to Abram.

Hear again God’s promise to be with him — that the circumstances of childlessness did not mean that God’s promises would not be fulfilled.

Hear again God’s promise that God was in charge of Abram’s life — regardless of how desperate the situations of Abram’s life may look.

Hear again Jesus’ words that regardless of what Herod may do or want to do — He knew God was in charge.

Who’s Afraid?

The things of life don’t have to strike fear in us — or at least they don’t have to take away our conviction that God is with us — regardless of how desperate our circumstances may appear.          In prayer — Bible Study — and Worship we can get another vision of our circumstances — especially those circumstances of life that scare us.  We can get God’s vision.            As Abram worshipped God he received a new vision of God’s presence and God’s promise to be with him.  As we pray — study — and worship we can get a new vision for the fact that regardless of life and how it may appear – regardless of how scary things may become – regardless of how afraid we may become that God is not with us — God is with us – and God strengthens us.

God is with us to strengthen us to cope with and overcome the things that scare us.

God is with us to help us overcome our fears – step out ijn faith – and follow Him.

Jesus did not let foxy old Herod stop Him.

We can’t let whatever things there may be in our lives take away our commitment to God or make us doubt God’s presence in our lives.

Regardless of how scary the circumstances in our lives may be — God is with us.

God was with Dad as he flew against those scary Focke Wulves.

God was with Abram as he journeyed on in faith.

God was with Jesus as He journeyed to the cross.

There’s another expression from World War II.

When planes would get damaged by the enemy — but the pilot successfully landed the plane — they sometimes said they flew home “on a wing and a prayer.”

God’s wings hold us up and sustain us when we face the hard and scary times of our lives.

In prayer we can give our problems and troubles to God — and let God strengthen us and sustain us.

The author Max Lucado writes:

“Jesus is not afraid of the things that cause us fear.  He never said ‘Don’t bring your fears to me.  I’m too busy.’  Instead, He says: ‘I’m not afraid of the things that cause you fear.  Bring your fears to me.”

We can take our fears to Jesus.

The one who wasn’t afraid of foxy old Herod is not afraid at all of the scary things in our lives — but strengthens us to cope with them.

Who’s afraid?

Because of Jesus, we don’t have to sign the list of those who are afraid and live in fear.

Because of Jesus, there is an answer to our fears.

We need to stop spending so much time focusing all our attention on our fears — and know that God is with us – and by God’s glorious grace, we don’t have to be afraid.

If we bring our fears to Jesus, He will strengthen us so that we can more faithfully follow Him.

Amen.