Untitled Sermon (3)

FEAR GOD, NOT MAN

What motivated you?

Luke 23:13–25 (NASB95)

Pilate summoned the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one who incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you make against Him.

“No, nor has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him.

“Therefore I will punish Him and release Him.”

Now he was obliged to release to them at the feast one prisoner.

But they cried out all together, saying, “Away with this man, and release for us Barabbas!”

(He was one who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection made in the city, and for murder.)

Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again,

but they kept on calling out, saying, “Crucify, crucify Him!”

And he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has this man done? I have found in Him no guilt demanding death; therefore I will punish Him and release Him.”

But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail.

And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted.

And he released the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he delivered Jesus to their will.

Pilate wanted to release Jesus- but why didn’t he? pressures of the crowds!

Mark 15:15 “Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.”

Galatians 2:11-12 “But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.”

What motivated Cephas?- the circumcised party- Jews; how do we know we are motivated by man?

Do our actions change when the people around us change? Church friends/group vs school vs sports vs online followers/people

MOUSE TRAP- fear of man is a trap

Proverbs 29:25 “The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.”

Believers must resist the fear of man knowing that they have been accepted in Christ and that the opinion of God is infinitely more important that the opinion of man!

But why are we bothered SO much when we are rejected by man...... earlier in the year we talked about WORSHIP..... we were created to WORSHIP.....but idols in our lives (esteem, love, acceptance, respect, relationships.....)

Psalm 34:9-11 “O fear the Lord, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no want. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; But they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing. Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.”

Galatians 1:9-10 “As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.”

Matthew 10:28 ““Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”