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The Angels' Song - Wini
Sermon Summary
Wini continues our series on The Angels' Song, sharing about not being afraid.
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Fear is a natural response when God suddenly interrupts our ordinary lives. The shepherds in the fields were terrified when the angel appeared, and for good reason—heaven had invaded earth in a way that was overwhelming and unexpected. Yet, the angel’s first words were, “Don’t be afraid. I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.” This is a pattern throughout Scripture: when God breaks in, it is often unsettling, but always for our good. The challenge is whether we will let fear stop us from saying yes to God’s invitation.
Throughout history, people have responded differently to God’s sudden call. Zacharias, Mary, and Joseph all faced fear, but they moved past it because they knew God’s heart and trusted His promises. The shepherds, too, left their flocks and hurried to see the newborn Messiah, their lives forever marked by their obedience. In contrast, the pig farmers who witnessed Jesus deliver a demon-possessed man were so unsettled by the disruption and the cost that they asked Jesus to leave. The difference lies in knowing God—those who know Him can move past fear and step into obedience, trusting that what He brings is ultimately good.
God’s interruptions are not always dramatic. Sometimes they come as quiet promptings, a nudge to step out in faith, to leave comfort behind, or to pursue a new direction. Wini shared her own story of leaving behind a settled, happy life to follow God’s call back to Malaysia. It was uncomfortable and scary, but obedience led to blessings and opportunities beyond what she could have imagined. Each time we say yes, we see more of God’s faithfulness, and our trust in Him grows.
For many, the struggle is not just with fear, but with desire. Sometimes we don’t even want to want what God wants. But even here, God invites us to be honest: “Lord, help me to want to want your will.” As we draw near to Him—through Scripture, prayer, and quiet listening—He reveals His heart, and we find the courage to obey. The good news is that God is kind, faithful, and generous. Whatever He asks of us, we can trust that His intentions are for our good and for His Kingdom.
Key Takeaways
1. Moving Past Fear Requires Knowing God: Fear is a natural response to God’s sudden interruptions, but those who know God’s heart can move beyond fear into obedience. Trust is not built in a moment; it grows as we see God’s faithfulness over time. When we know the character of God, we can risk saying yes, even when it’s uncomfortable or costly.
2. Obedience Opens the Door to Transformation: The shepherds’ willingness to leave their flocks and obey the angel’s message led to a life-changing encounter with Jesus. Obedience often means stepping into the unknown, but it is in that space that God’s promises become real and our lives are transformed. The alternative—clinging to comfort—may keep us safe, but it also keeps us from experiencing God’s best.
3. God’s Disruptions Are Always for Our Good: Whether through dramatic angelic visitations or quiet promptings, God’s interruptions are invitations to participate in His greater story. While the cost may seem high, what God brings is always good, even if it doesn’t look like what we expect. Trusting His goodness allows us to embrace the unknown with hope.
4. Honest Prayer Leads to Deeper Trust: Sometimes our struggle is not just with fear, but with our own desires. God welcomes our honesty—He invites us to pray, “Help me to want to want your will.” As we draw near to Him in vulnerability, He meets us, shapes our hearts, and gives us the courage to obey.
5. Drawing Near to God Grows Our Faith: The more we immerse ourselves in Scripture, prayer, and listening for God’s voice, the more we come to know His heart. This knowledge is the foundation for trust, enabling us to move past fear and step into the life He has for us.
Daily Hope Devotionals
Day 1: God’s Intrusion Invites Us to Move Past Fear
Scripture:
Luke 2:8-11 (NIV)
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%202%3A8-11&version=NIV
Devotional:
When God interrupts our ordinary lives—whether through dramatic events or quiet promptings—it can be startling, uncomfortable, or even frightening. Yet, as seen with the shepherds on the night of Jesus’ birth, God’s message is always for our good, bringing great joy and hope. The challenge is not to let fear paralyse us, but to trust that what God brings is ultimately for our blessing and the blessing of others. When heaven invades earth, it may disrupt our plans, but it also opens the door to God’s greater purposes.
Reflection:
When has God disrupted your comfort or plans, and how did you respond—did fear hold you back, or did you step forward in trust?
Prayer:
Lord, just as You told the shepherds, "Don’t be afraid," I come before You asking for courage to move past my fears. When Your glory breaks into my ordinary life, it can be sudden and scary, but You bring good news that brings great joy to all people. Amen.
Day 2: Saying Yes to God’s Call Brings Transformation
Scriptures:
Luke 2:15-17 (NIV)
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%202%3A15-17&version=NIV
Luke 8:36-37 (NIV)
Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/LUK.8.36-37
The shepherds, like Mary and Joseph, chose to say “yes” to God’s invitation, even when it was scary or costly. Their obedience led to joy, transformation, and participation in God’s unfolding story. In contrast, others—like the Gerasenes who witnessed Jesus’ miracle—let fear and the cost of change keep them from embracing God’s work. The difference lies in our willingness to trust God’s goodness and step out in faith, even when the outcome is uncertain.
Reflection:
What is one area where God is prompting you to say “yes” despite your fears, and what step of obedience can you take today?
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for calling me into Your story, just as You called the shepherds and Mary and Joseph. Help me to say yes to Your call, even when it feels scary or uncertain. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Day 3: Knowing God’s Heart Helps Us Trust and Obey
Scripture:
Psalm 9:10 (NIV)
Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%209%3A10&version=NIV
Devotional:
Those who moved past their fear—like the shepherds, Mary, Joseph, and Zacharias from the Christmas story—did so because they knew God’s character: His faithfulness, kindness, and love. The more we know God, the more we can trust Him, even when He asks us to do hard or unexpected things. Drawing near to God through Scripture, prayer, and listening for His voice builds our confidence in His goodness and helps us obey, even when we are afraid.
Reflection:
How can you intentionally grow in your knowledge of God’s heart this week, so that you can trust Him more fully when He calls you to step out?
Prayer:
Lord, Help me to know Your heart more each day, so that when You interrupt my life, I will not be afraid but will trust and obey You. Teach me to want Your way, not just my own good, and to want Your best for Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Day 4: God’s Goodness Is Worth the Cost of Obedience
Scripture:
Romans 8:28 (NIV)
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%208%3A28&version=NIV
Devotional:
Obeying God may require us to let go of comfort, security, or our own plans, but what He has in mind is always good—both for His kingdom and for us. Even when obedience is costly or leads us into the unknown, God’s faithfulness ensures that nothing is wasted, and He can turn even difficulties for our good and His glory. The testimony of those who have obeyed is that God provides, blesses, and transforms beyond what we could imagine.
Reflection:
What is something you are afraid to lose if you obey God’s leading, and how might trusting in His goodness change your perspective?
Prayer:
Lord, sometimes your call surprises me. It interrupts my comfortable life and asks me to say yes, even when fear wants to hold me back. Like the shepherds, help me to move past my fear and obey you, because I know you are good. Thank you for your goodness that is worth every cost of obedience. In Jesus’ name, Amen
Day 5: Draw Near to God—He Will Draw Near to You
Scripture:
James 4:8 (NIV)
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%204%3A8&version=NIV
Devotional:
God promises that if we seek Him, He will meet us. Even when we struggle to want what God wants, we can pray honestly, asking Him to help us desire Him above all else. Creating space to listen, reading Scripture, and opening our hearts in prayer are ways to draw near and experience His presence. As we do, our fears diminish and our trust grows, enabling us to follow Him with courage and joy.
Reflection:
Set aside ten minutes today to be still before God—what do you sense He is saying to you as you draw near in quietness and openness?
Prayer:
Lord, thank you that you promise if I draw near to you, you will draw near to me. Help me to want to want you more each day. Teach me to come to you through your Word, to read and learn your heart, and to create space in my heart to hear your voice. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Day 6: Obeying God rather than Humans
Scripture:
Acts 5:29 (NIV)
Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts%205%3A29&version=NIV
Devotional:
Sometimes God interrupts our ordinary lives with unexpected calls to step out in faith. It might be a new job, a mission trip, or simply joining a community group. It’s okay if you don’t feel ready or willing right now. The prayer “Lord, I want to want to” is a good place to start.
Like Peter and the apostles in Acts 5:29, we are called to obey God first, even if it means going against what others expect. When we trust God’s goodness, we can say yes to Him boldly.
Reflection:
While God wants us to respect and obey our earthly leaders, they can sometimes come into conflict with God’s commands. Have you faced a situation where you needed to choose to obey God rather than people?
Prayer:
Lord, help me to know You more so I can move past my fears. Help me want to obey You, even when it’s hard or scary. Thank You for being faithful and good. I choose to obey You rather than fear people. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Day 7: Embracing God’s Spirit of Power, Love, and Self-Discipline
Scripture:
2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy%201%3A7&version=ESV
Fear can be a powerful force that holds us back from stepping into what God is calling us to do. But today, let’s remember the promise in 2 Timothy 1:7: God has given us a spirit that is the exact opposite of fear. He has given us power, love, and self-discipline.
God’s power is not meant to paralyse us but to empower us to say “yes” to His plans, just like Zacharias, Mary, Joseph and the shepherds did in the Christmas story. Obeying God often means saying “no” to our own comfort and “yes” to His will. This requires self-control and discipline. This helps us to keep trusting and obeying, even when the path is hard or unclear.
Reflection:
Where is fear holding you back today? What is God asking you to say “yes” to, even if it feels scary or uncomfortable? Remember, God’s Spirit is with you, giving you power, love, and self-control to step forward in faith.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for giving me a spirit not of fear but of power, love, and self-discipline. Help me to know You more so I can trust You and obey You, even when I’m afraid. Help me want Your way and Your best for my life. Amen.
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