Three Reasons To Fear God

“In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another,”

There were so many thousands of people that had gathered together; they were stepping on each other.

This is a massive crowd of people. It numbers in the tens of thousands-- They’re so intent on trying to hear what Jesus says that it’s turning into a crushing mob.

This is like a rock concert to end all rock concerts; It’s like trying to navigate through Disney World just to get on the little Dumbo Ride; impossible.

This is someone who heals sick people. This is someone who raises dead people. This is someone who has things to say like no one has ever said.

Now if you only had one occasion in your life to speak to a large crowd numbering in the tens of thousands, what would you say?

If Jesus, for example, one Sunday visited Lakewood the largest church in America, what would His sermon be about?

Well, if you were to ask most evangelicals that question today, the subject probably nine out of ten times would be, “Love of God.” Maybe “Grace of God.”

But in perhaps the largest crowd that Jesus ever spoke to, He chose to talk about hell and He chose to talk about hell to the most religious people.

Interestingly in the gospels there are many accounts that you will notice that Jesus is speaking on Hell and it is in the midst of religious folks.

This is what He said:

“Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops. 4 “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 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.”

One great message to a massive crowd of very religious people--at the very core of that crowd is the Pharisees.

Remember the scribes being the theologians; the Pharisees, if you will, being the ministers of that system of religion.

Let’s go back to verse 1.“When so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Look at the people in this crowd:

· There are some μαθητής, the word for learners, or followers, or disciples. There are some who are honestly interested in what Jesus is saying and would classify themselves as a disciple of that teacher.

· There are the Pharisees who are, for the most part, beyond spiritual help. That’s why you have in the New Testament rarely a convert to Christ. They are in opposition to Christ.

· There are the very devout followers of the Pharisees. So there are the hardcore followers of the religion pervaded by the Pharisees.

· There are also some in the crowd just trying to figure it out. They have hopes in who Jesus is, but they are not convinced yet. They are looking for more information.

It is amazing how diverse a crowd can be~ specifically when it comes to spiritual things.

I would venture to say that the same could be said even of an average church crowd.

Over in verse 32 He identifies the true followers as a little flock, --very small amount.

““Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (,)

We know that even on the Day of Pentecost there were only 120 of them in the city of Jerusalem, gathered in the Upper Room.

It’s amazing how out of those who see Jesus, and His power and know who He is, only a small number actually follow him.

So what you have here is our Lord giving a warning to people who are still at least demonstrating some interest in the things that He is saying that are contrary to their religion.

And the stakes are high; it’s about your eternal soul. It’s about your eternal dwelling place.

There are no more important words than words that direct us away from hell and toward the Kingdom of Heaven. And so He begins, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

The idea of leaven is permeating influence. It is referring to a Yeast.

Leaven was put in dough to cause it to rise and swell and enlarge.

When yeast is put into dough it affects the entire dough, it permeates into the dough, and it changes the structure of the dough.

Yeast became a symbol in Judaism for the permeating power of sin: “. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?” (,)

Beware of the permeating, influence of the Pharisees; beware of its deadly pervasive influence. He is telling them you’ve got to escape from your false religion.

“Watch yourselves carefully so you don’t get contaminated with Pharisee yeast, Pharisee phoniness.”

Beware of a little hypocrisy in your life because it can be deadly.

Hypocrisy- To pretend- To act as if you are in a play, an outward show.

The warning is so true today; you think a little hypocrisy is no big deal, it’s going to come into your life and find its way into your soul and it will corrupt you.

Jesus said more about the false religion and hypocrisy than He did about specific iniquities, because false religion provides a damning deception that sin does not provide.

Lukewarm ““‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (,)

He comes in the direction of the end of His ministry; He warns them about damning religion, religion that cannot save, religion that sends you to hell.

Judaism has turned into a false hypocritical religion in the day of Jesus, it is focused only on the outside and it has no internal power and authority.

It’s a show trying to look Holy; but it has no authenticity.

Stay away from religion that is hypocritical--ceremonies, rituals on the outside, but corruption on the inside.

No doubt we see that rampant in our world today, We have got churches full this morning of people that have all the right words to say, but there is no action behind it.

Illustration: Everything is Fake (Laminate Wood Flooring, Laminate Counter-Tops, Silver Plated Faucets)

It seems to me that we have a bunch of laminate Christians who look the part but they are not made out of the same substance.

The warning today is you must be AUTHENTIC!

How do you do that? How does one avoid hypocrisy?

First, you need to be motivated-- to abandon your Hypcocrisy.

1. EXPOSED

“Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.”

And what is going to motivate you. God will uncover the truth.

You see the words “covered,” “revealed,” “hidden,” “known.” No one escapes exposure.

Listen, hypocrites know they are hypocrites.

Oh, they can get very good and very adept at self-deception, you can be here today and you can have those sitting around you fooled, you can have your spouse fooled, you can have your momma and your daddy fooled, but I promise you that you have not fooled God!

Hypocrites know they’re hypocrites.

· You know whether your heart is corrupt.

· You know whether your salvation is real or whether it’s superficial.

· You know whether you have power over sin.

· You know whether you have righteous longings and holy aspirations.

· You know whether you have true joy and experiencing worship.

· You know whether your heart is drawn out in love to Christ and those who are Christ’s.

Hypocrites know they are hypocrites, especially if they associate with people who are not hypocrites. And they see the difference.

You had better avoid false religion, your hypocrisy, first of all, because in the end you’re going to get exposed.

Hypocrites are going to be unmasked. This is something our Lord said numerous times in Matthew, Mark, Luke. Hypocrites will be unmasked.

· Parable of Sheep and Goats –

“he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.… “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.…And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”” (, ESV)

· Parable of the Weeds –

“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”” (, ESV)

· I Never Knew You -

““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (, ESV)

It’s a reoccurring theme in the Scriptures, it’s a warning, a word of caution; not to the lost around us, but to those of us involved in ministry.

What hypocrites successfully conceal from other people, they do not conceal from God.

Notice the contrast in v. 3, dark and light, a metaphor for revealing what hypocrites want hidden.

“who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.” (, ESV)

Hypocrites are only good at what they do if they can hide it.

To hide the reality, play the game, we’ve all heard those testimonies--some of you are living them right now.

You are in severe danger because even in Christianity today, there’s plenty of room for false religion.

A superficial speech about a relationship with Jesus Christ and no reality.

But some day, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you whispered in the inner room shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

Reminds me of : I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

— Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.

Inner rooms~ In the middle of the house they would have a room that could be locked and it had no windows. There was no access So there were in larger homes inner rooms where everything could be secure.

Well, whatever is going on in the inner room in the life is going to be uncovered by the Lord Himself and taken to the top of the house and shouted out loud for all to hear.

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”

And so it is in the life of every person who hides something; it will be uncovered and it will be declared. God Knows!

Illustration: Mason and Maddox don’t know that I am watching! Stop Running!

Some in this room today are saying “I’m not running” but you know you are.

2. SENT TO HELL

Consequently, verse 4, “I tell you, my friends.” there’s compassion in that; there is sympathy in that; there’s tenderness in that.

“I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him”

Number one, God will unmask hypocrites. Number two, God will send hypocrites to hell.

I’m sorry, I wish there was a nicer way that I could say that to you, but this is reality.

“And I say to you,” continues the sequence of truth, “My friends”--My friends, those who are still in any sense friendly to Me and listening to what I’m saying, do not be afraid of what kills you physically, do not be afraid of what men can do to you.

There, just as a side note, is the heart of hypocrisy--fear of man, fear of what people will think.

Many are unwilling to tell the truth about themselves because they want to be accepted in a certain group; you want to be accepted in the church, the youth group, whatever.

You fear men. You’re consumed with what people think.

How many people have held on to a pew while they doubt their salvation because they are afraid of what someone might think of them?

There are people here this morning who know they are lost, but your afraid to tell anyone.

I hate the reality that from an early age we begin to be so focused on fitting in!

Illustration: Maddox shorter then class mates.

It’s natural that people go through life and they fear ‘death.’

And so He says, “Don’t fear them because all they can do is kill you, and after that they can’t do anything else.”

That is to say, they cannot determine your eternal destiny.

Here’s who to fear, fear the one who after he has killed you has the authority to cast you into hell.

That can’t be Satan; Satan doesn’t have authority to cast anyone into hell. Satan himself will be cast into hell.

This is God who is in view here.

Don’t fear man; fear God. Fear the One who has the right to send you to hell forever.

We take great precautions today, security precautions so somebody doesn’t come into our world, into our room, into our house and take our life--we understand all of that.

Security System

But remember this life is temporary; why don’t you focus on the security of your eternal soul for a while.

Momma and Daddy if you are like me you will do whatever it takes to make sure your children are safe; what are you doing for their eternal security?

Much, much more important to fear the one that you can’t lock out. Fear the one that you can’t restrain, the one who can both take your life and send you forever to hell.

Just a few things about hell since we’re discussing it here:

Gehenna is the word, ge-ennan (valley of Hinnom, on the south and west of Jerusalem). It’s a very interesting piece of real estate. Just a little bit of background: This location is originally where the Jews set up the perverse worship of idols. The Jews worshiped idols there, just south and west of Jerusalem.

One of the things they did in the valley of Hinnom, in worshiping idols, was to worship the god Molech, and Molech required the death of a child. In order to appease Molech, you took your baby and put your baby on the fire and incinerated your baby to appease this otherwise angry god who would bring calamity into your life.

“There was a deep hole in which much wood was piled and the wood was ignited by a stream of brimstone”, , .

God-fearing King Josiah resisted this idolatrous high place and -turned it into the city dump. Jerusalem’s garbage was taken out there for centuries so that it always smoldered and it always burned at all times, and it became a perfect image of hell--ever burning fire, abomination, judgment, slaughter, wretchedness, wickedness so Ge-ennan in the Greek became Gehenna, which became hell.

Our Lord had much to say about hell--talked about it as a place of unceasing fire, torment, burning, smoke, weeping, wailing, grinding torture, blackness, isolation.

“Yes, I tell you, fear him!” Fear Him who can send you there forever.

3. NO ONE ESCAPES

6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

There’s a third reason for fearing God. Number one, He will unmask all hypocrites. Number two, He will send them all to hell. Number three, He knows everything; no one escapes.

How many times have you heard these verses quoted?

How many times have you heard those read as verses of encouragement?

Every sparrow sold God knows about. The very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Don’t fear. You’re of more value than sparrows. In a sense, that’s encouraging. But the warning is about this--God knows every single detail about your life.

Yes, He knows when sparrows hop; yes, He knows when they fall; He knows when they die.

He knows the hair of your head, and I understand the average is 150 thousand, because if it is, He knows it. It’s not that He counts. It exists; He knows it.

He knows every tiny detail, and He knows who is His. And He knows who is not. God’s knowledge is complete; nothing escapes His infinite omniscience.

That is frightening news to the hypocrite. That is wonderful news to the true believer.

You’re not going to fool Him.

So our Lord is saying to this crowd, massive crowd, a very religious, devout people: “You better escape your false religion.”

He’s not talking to mass murderers and pedophiles. He’s talking to moral, upstanding, religious people.

You better escape your false, hypocritical religion because, number one, God will uncover the truth. Number two, He will sentence you to hell. And number three, He knows who you are. And He knows those that are His and those that are not.

How do you escape- WHAT’S THE SOLUTION?

Verse 8, “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, 9 but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.”

It has to do with whether or not you have made a true, open, public confession of Jesus Christ.

“Everyone who confesses Me before”...What?...“men.”

“I confess Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and the only Lord and the only Savior, and the only Redeemer.”

It’s not a private thing.

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

No Confession= No Salvation= No Heaven.

Even devout, orthodox Jews are on the way to hell along with everybody else who rejects Jesus Christ.

A Christ-less Judaism is no different than Islam, or Buddhism or atheism, or any other form of unbelief.

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

6 And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’ ”

End of sermon. Wow! End of sermon? Yeah. What is it about; what’s he saying?

Jesus told this parable to show the people that while God is gracious in giving people time to repent, come to him, and grow in him, that patience will not go on forever.

He’s saying everybody’s living on borrowed time.

Every fruitless life, every life with no spiritual reality, every life producing nothing for God is living on borrowed time.

The extra attention and love had been showered on the nation in the presence of their Messiah.

God’s judgment had been graciously held back. But if the people continued to refuse to “bear fruit” for God—if they continued to refuse to live for and obey him—the end would come.

The tree would be cut down. There would be no more chances. God is merciful toward sinners. But for those who reject him, he will not be merciful forever. They will be punished.

Today I’m throwing out some fertilizer your way; and the choice is yours.

It could be today that you know deep down you have never truly surrendered your life to Christ.

You don’t have the power of the Holy Spirit living in you, and you have doubted it for years. Maybe this morning the Lord is giving you one more chance, one more opportunity.

Maybe this morning you know you have a relationship with the Lord, but you also see some hypocrisy in your life. You look inside and you see some ways that you aren’t bearing fruit, you aren’t being productive.

Here’s some fertilizer, maybe you have one more chance…

The most universal gift of common grace is time, time to repent, time to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

All...all sinners live on borrowed time.

“Examine yourselves,” “whether you be in the faith.” Hell is real.