Fear

Warren Brosi

November 24, 2024

Dominant Thought: Jesus wants fearless and fearful followers.

Objectives:

I want my listeners to understand who to fear and what not to fear.

I want my listeners to feel encouraged to draw near to Jesus.

I want my listeners to fear God and give Him glory.

I was probably four or five years old. We lived in an old farmhouse near Prophetstown, IL. It was a late fall/early winter day and I was out playing in an old abandoned out building or hog shed. I can still smell the old musty smell where animals had lived. I was playing using my imagination and have a grand time building something or conquering some battle. Then, I saw it. About 6-8 feet from me I saw a large rodent about the size of small dog. I think it was a rat. Maybe it was a possum. It had beady eyes and sat up on something looking at me. I took off running across the farm lot to the house. I ran as fast as I could with my heart racing. When I got to the door of the house, my mom saw me and said, “What happened? You’re as white as a sheet.” My only reply, “It had pink ears.” To this day, I don’t like mice or rats. I’ll go around the world for Jesus. I just pray I won’t see a rat when I get there.

We all have fears. Fears of speaking in front of people. Fear of heights or snakes. Some fears are rational—don’t cross railroad tracks when a train is coming. Some fears are irrational—scared of what people may think of you. Scripture has much to teach us about fear. In particular, Revelation addresses fear nine times. In our time today, we’ll unpack the theme of fear this way, Jesus wants fearless and fearful followers.

First, Jesus wants fearless followers. In Revelation 1. 9-20, John describes a vision of Jesus. Jesus is described like a son of man (Daniel 7.13-14) among the seven lampstand (the seven churches of Asia Minor). This description of the son of man has echoes from Daniel 7 and Daniel 10. He is dressed with a golden sash, hair white like wool, feet like glowing bronze, voice like rushing waters, right hand holding seven stars, double-edged sword coming out of his mouth.

When John sees this picture, he falls at his feet like he’s dead. Then, Jesus placed his right hand on John and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades” (Revelation 1.17-18). Notice the same right hand that holds the stars which are angels of the seven churches (Revelation 1.20) is the same right hand that touches and comforts John.

Isaiah 41:10 ESV

fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Jesus said to John, “Don’t be afraid.” Jesus was fond of saying these words to His disciples. When Jesus calmed the storm in Matthew 8.26, Jesus asked the disciples, “Why are you so afraid?” Then, when Jesus comes to the disciples walking on the Sea of Galilee, they think he is a ghost. They cried out in fear. “But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid’” (Matthew 14.27). Then, on resurrection morning after Jesus rose from the dead, he greeted the women who clasped His feet and worship Him. He said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me” (Matthew 28.10).

C.S. Lewis pictures Jesus as a lion named Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia. He is introduced to the children by the beavers when they ask about Aslan. “Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion." "Ooh" said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion"..."Safe?" said Mr Beaver ..."Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.”

― C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Jesus also has encouraging words to the church in Smyrna where he tells them, “Do not be afraid of of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown” (Revelation 2.10).

So, by looking at these first couple chapters of Revelation, Jesus twice encourages His followers not to be afraid. We don’t need to be afraid of Him because He is good, gracious, and compassionate. He is not safe, but He is good. We do not need to fear the suffering that is to come because He has overcome the ultimate suffering, death on a cross.

The problem is we are afraid of the wrong things and not afraid of the right one.

Second, Jesus wants fearful followers (Revelation 14.7; see also Revelation 11.18; 19.5). The command of victory given in Revelation 14.7, “Fear God and give Him glory.” While Jesus comforts with words, “Don’t be afraid,” we also encounter this command to fear God. So, which is it? Yes, we fear God but it is a reverent fear. It’s not the type of fear of an abusive parent. Our God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abound in love and faithfulness (Exodus 34.6). He is just and righteous and punishes evil and sin. He is holy and dangerous. We would do well to walk in reverent fear of God.

Revelation gives us a couple more descriptions of those who fear God.

Revelation 11:18 (NIV)

The nations were angry, and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your people who revere your name, both great and small— and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”

Revelation 19:5 (NIV)

Then a voice came from the throne, saying: “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both great and small!”

Jesus said it this way in Luke’s gospel.

Luke 12:5 ESV

But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!

So, how do we grow in our fear of God?

1—Open your eyes to His majesty. Read Revelation 1 and Revelation 19 to see the majestic images of our Lord Jesus. He is powerful and yet near and comforting.

2—Take the warnings of judgment seriously. A holy fear of God will help us take sin more seriously. As you read Revelation, sinful behavior has a reckoning. It is dealt with swiftly, decisively, and for all eternity.

3—Walk in His love. Hear the refrain, “Don’t be afraid.” The first time we read it in Revelation, the son of man, Jesus, our king has placed His right hand upon His disciple.

Jesus wants fearless and fearful followers.

“The remarkable thing about God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.” ― Oswald Chambers