Personal Surrender: Dying to Fear

Introduction

Today we dive into a beautiful passage in Matthew 10. Here the words again Matthew 10:26-33

Matthew 10:26–33 ESV

“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

The context for these verses in Matthew 10 is Jesus sending out his disciples...as he says in Matthew 10:16

Matthew 10:16 NET 2nd ed.

“I am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Jesus is sending out his disciples into dangerous territory.

We just passed the 82nd anniversary of D-Day. June 6, 1944...where the allied nations stomred the beaches of Normandy in order to free occupied Europe from Nazi Germany.

That’s why Jesus was sending out his disciples then… and even today… because we are in occupied territory. But as believers in Jesus as Lord...we are sent out into occupied territory to proclaim it liberation. Not with weapons of human war....but with spiritual weapons and the sword of truth.

In Matthew 10 Jesus makes clear that suffering will follow his disciples...that they will be hated...beaten and killed. Those things are happenig to Christians all over the world up to this very day. According to Vatican news and other groups who track religous persecution...in 2026...believe it or not...Christianity is considered the most persecuted religious community in the world.

Times have not changed since Jesus' day. It’s a miracle Christianity...the gospel of Jesus...ever survived in the first place...and it is still the most persecuted group in the world...yet it thrives in places of persecution...

In occupied territory… the message of freedom… will be dismissed and violently rejected as “fake news” or “misinformation” or, as we heard in the past few years, the term “malinformation”.

Friends, I always question when those in authority try to silence a particular perspective… there might be truth there that threatens their power.

Equiped

Jesus equipped the disciples to heal, and raise peopel from the dead, and to cast out unclean spirits. Jeaus didn’t then...and doesn’t now...leave his followers without equipping us...preparing us for what we will face in this satan occupied world.

There is movement a progression in our passage this morning...

First, there is a command not to fear...mentioned three times in the passage. This command is immideatly followed by JEsus revealing himself to his disciples...he equips them and us...with what is “whispered in the dark”.

That’s important for us to know. We are told not to fear. Why? Because God has “whispered” to us...Jesus has revealed himself...truth itself...to believers. We are not to fear b/c God has revealed his plan to us...and he is greater than anything that can happen to us in this world.

So God equips us by revealing truth to us...

Not to Fear 2

Then he says don’t fear again...particularly don’t fear what people will do to you for His name's sake. Yes as Jesus followers...we will face beatings...even death...and Jesus says...those things aren’t where our fear should reside...in God and God alone...who can kill the body and soul in hell is the proper place for our fear.

We talked last week that fearing God meant? Right...reverence...awe...because of who God is...and in awe that God cares for us.

The command not to fear...is not the good news of this passage...the reason for this command is the gospel.

Jesus says dont’ fear huamanity no matter how evil it is...it’s nothign compared to God.

JEuss then seemingly changes the subject to birds. Didn’t know Jesus was an ornothologist did you? He says “consider the Sparrow” one of the least expensive birds that could be purchased...less than an hour’s wage...we might say “a dime a dozen”

And Jesus couches his command not to fear based on God’s provision even for a sparrow. HE’s counted the hairs on our head...which means God knows you and me...intimatley...nothing esecapes God’s providencial knowledge or care for us.

We must die to self-protection. Live in God's providential care.

Discipleship is not trusting that nothing bad will happen.

It is trusting that nothing happens outside God's loving knowledge.

God knows us...God values us...much more than a sparrow… as the old hymn says “His eye is on the sparrow...and I know he watches me.”

Proclaim

So in our passage...Jesus told us not to fear...based on his equipping of knowledge of God (what has been whispered in the dark...shout from the rooftops)

The second do not fear...is couched in God’s intimat knowledge of and care for each believer. God’s got us....ergo...we have nothing to fear.

Finally...the last fear not says we are worth more than many sparrows...therfore we need to get to work for God.

Because God knows your name and values you beyond measure, you do not need to be ruled by fear of rejection. Therefore, you are free to speak of Christ...and the gospel of salvation in his name alone.

Practical application

slides

Closing

Remember friends...we are sent out to share God’s good news...which we recieved from God...into occupied territory; a hostile landscape.

But we are not to fear...because we have and know the truth...God’s care for us is unquestioned...therefore we die to fear...surrender ourselves to God and trust Him with every outcome in our lives.

Thanks be to God...AMEN.