Fear Is A LieSample

“THE FEARLESS GENERATION” I wonder when was the last time you opened a newspaper or tuned in to watch the news on TV. Whenever it was, I imagine that the first thing you read or watched was a story of tragedy, death or loss. The news is full of negative stories, whether there has been another terrorist attack or a natural disaster somewhere in the world. The news can be incredibly negative, and it often reminds us of the broken status of the world we live in. It is so clear that the world is not as it should be, and for many people this creates fear. Of course, the world we live in today is full of fear. When we interact with people, whether in school or work, it’s clear that many people are living in fear, whether it be the fear of rejection, ridicule, acceptance or death, the fear of exam results, identity, loneliness, or failure. The emerging generation is grappling with many fears, and the solution to this is truly a fearless generation. It is not just the church, but society as a whole, that needs a generation of young people to rise up with a fearless spirit, declaring that fear is a lie, that perfect love casts out fear, and that this perfect love is on offer to everyone, regardless of their past, background, or insecurities. Today’s passage says that each generation has the responsibility of passing on the message of God’s mighty acts. Each generation since the time of Jesus has been entrusted with passing on the message of grace, truth, and hope, and this is as true today as any time in history. A fearless generation is one that chooses to stand firm in the face of fear and declare that there is no turning back, that their eyes are fixed on Jesus and that they will bring the message of Jesus’ grace and mercy into their world. Over the last two weeks we’ve looked at a number of social fears and the tools needed to live free from fear. When you go into your world today, take confidence in knowing that fear IS a lie, and that in Christ we can truly live a fearless life!