Fear Not

Last Sermon of the Year

As I prepared for this sermon, I felt a great sense of hope and strength as I reflected upon the words of Christ concerning fear. When we review the Incarnation narratives, we recall that people received the command to "Fear Not" more than once. Fear is a natural response of humans and animals. In a good sense, we can let the feeling of fear motivate us to protect ourselves from danger. But in the negative sense, fear can become a crippling emotion that reduces us to live in hiding and become weighed down from fear that immobilizes us.

God never intends for us to be immobilized by fear; rather, He wants us to understand the proper role of fear in life. And that proper understanding begins with fearing God. Fearing God is a multifaceted response. In one sense, we ought to be afraid of God because He is all-powerful, as we will see in the words of Jesus. But fear includes the concept of being in awe of God. These two aspects of fear help us to think correctly about God. The Creator of the Universe has immense power, but He loves us through Jesus Christ. The God of the Universe humbled himself in the Incarnation to show us the way and become the Way to God through his death on the cross. Our response is to marvel at God.

And even though we as believers recognize the importance of the fear of God, we may at times be overwhelmed by fear, especially when we think about our present situation or the future. We are living in times in which some of us are fearful and worried. I, too, feel that. But I find encouragement in the words of our Savior.

Matthew 10:24–33 ESV

24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household. 26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. 28 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. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

Context of Discipleship

Jesus spoke these words to those that followed Him. He called them His disciples. They come to know God through the grace shown through Jesus Christ. Just like them, we enter a new relationship with the Creator through faith in the work of Jesus. We experience the new birth reality and the presence of the Holy Spirit, who affirms to us that we belong to God. And this faith experience continues as we grow up in Christ. Just like infants move from milk to solid food, we too move into a greater understanding of God and greater obedience.

Jesus calls all who believe to become his disciples. The disciples were people that learned from Jesus, followed Him, and obeyed. Discipleship is never simply passive or cerebral; it is active growth in the knowledge and submission to the will of God. Our life as believers is a personal relationship that included fulfilling God's will and mission through our participation and obedience. It is life and lifestyle. It involves allowing God access to alter and transform every part of us that needs to be changed to His will.

If you get the notion that discipleship is a demanding concept, you would be correct. Let's consider what Jesus said to his followers concerning their understanding of discipleship and fear.

Esteem the Teacher and Master

Who do you respect as having authority, and who do you allow to be a Teacher/Master? There was a time when we used to respect those involved in reporting the news. But now there is a large movement that distrusts reporters because it is obvious that many report their bias along with the facts. Some respect government leaders and medical professionals' authority, but some today have seen the hypocrisy of some. Many have resorted to picking their voices of authority and information. How do you respond to Jesus as your teacher and master, your voice of authority? A disciple will make room to ensure that God is the teacher and master of his/her life. No one else, including ourselves, can be the Teacher and Master. Are you satisfied in being under the teaching and leading of God through His Word and Spirit? Do you listen, learn, and follow?

Sharing the experience of the Teacher/Master

When we submit ourselves to the leading and teaching of God, we will inevitably become more like Christ. That is God's plan for us. And if we follow the Lord, we will also inevitably experience the rejection and animosity that he received. Earlier in Matthew 9:34, he healed a person from demonic oppression that caused him to not speak. But when the Pharisees saw the miracle. Unlike the crowds who marveled, the Pharisees declared that he performed this miracle because he had the prince of demons' authority. They concluded Jesus was acting under the power and leadership of Satan. They concluded that Jesus was spiritually immoral, a nuisance, a lawbreaker, and a negative influence that needed to be suppressed.

Jesus told his disciples beforehand that they would also experience the animosity of the greater culture. This continued for the first 3 centuries of Christianity. The early followers knew that when they became Christian, they expected that they would receive a harsh rejection from others because of their commitment to Jesus Christ. And they even thanked God for the opportunity to identify with the Savior. Acts 5:41

Remember this, as a believer in Christ, you will experience varying degrees of rejection because you identify with Jesus Christ. Be encouraged, have no fear because God is with you.

Have No Fear & Proclaim the truth

Christ told his disciples not to fear those who reject or oppose them, and boldly declare and live the truth He had given them. Christ gathered his disciples to teach them and guide them concerning the truth that comes from God. Jesus described himself as the embodiment of that truth (The Way, the Truth, and the Life.) And because they have received truth, they ought to proclaim it. Truth is never meant to be suppressed but shared so that all may hear and benefit from responding to it. Unfortunately, today, many of our ways of communication and expression are under varying degrees of censorship. Even though we are censored, we should never censor our message by letting it go unmentioned.

Fear is to be replaced with a bold approach to identifying and sharing God's truth. This means living and sharing the Gospel. The Gospel is the foundation for all that we are as believers. Our future is in Christ, and our present task on earth is to proclaim God's truth. A disciple that is unwilling to proclaim God's truth needs to check his/her heart and open the ears to hear the Gospel and the call to discipleship.

Fear the Powerful One

If discipleship implies obedience to God and enduring rejection from others, the issue of fear can be a challenge. On one end of the spectrum, people may dislike you or say negative things, and on the other end, one may experience physical suffering. It often amazes me how some governments and cultures (primarily Secular and Communist) make such a great effort to silence and stamp out Christianity. What about Christianity is so harmful to these constructs? At the basis of the their antagonism is the reality that Christianity has a supreme allegiance to God. There is no authority higher than God. The the power of government and culture are secondary.

Jesus directs us to think soberly about who is truly all-powerful. If you do not view God as All-Powerful and above all authority, then you need to re-examine what you believe about God. Christ encourages us to recognize that anyone or any group on earth has limited power over us. Ultimately, if we are in Christ, we are eternally set. Remember to view the temporary reality of this life and take an eternal perspective from Almighty God.

Do Not Fear because God Cares

This command to not fear is backed up with a truth from God's love and care for his disciples. Disciples are God's children. Jesus compares the greater value that He gives to His children in comparison with insignificant animals. Consider how many animals and creatures exist on the earth at one time and for all history. God keeps track of each one of them. And some animals are used for food. Jesus mentions the most insignificant meat product at a market, a sparrow. The cost for two comes out to about the price of a loaf of bread. Jesus declared that we are more valuable than those birds and their price. God is so powerful and interested in our well-being that He keeps track of the hair on our heads.

What a powerful God we serve that can show such great concern, accuracy, and interest. And this God invites us to receive His grace so that we might become His children.

Disciples Acknowledge God before Men

All that God has done for us through Christ, and the presence of the Holy Spirit should instill confidence in us. It should inspire the response of gratitude, allegiance, and worship. But, at times, we may feel tempted to draw back from God's commands and calling because we are fearful. Even the most outgoing apostle, Peter, claimed that he would never deny his allegiance to Jesus. During the trial and persecution of Jesus, Peter followed closely but avoided affirming any association with Jesus when questioned.

Jesus tells his disciples that they must not deny Him but declare their association and allegiance to Him. The words of Jesus are heavy to receive because He demands an allegiance that may be used against us. Those who deny Jesus will be denied before the Father. The issue is of a heart to heart commitment to Jesus. In Matthew 7:23 Jesus gives another example of disciples who assume they are in Christ when he tells them the harsh truth that He didn't know them as a disciple or believer. As powerful as this statement is, we can be encouraged that denial is a sin that God wants us to repent from. Peter denied Christ before men, but he repented and received God's grace and forgiveness. If we deny Him, repent. God wants us to live in bold allegiance without fear of others.

Is it worth it?

Some misunderstand the call to believe as a way of adding God to your life. When we believe we are not adding God as another element in our life, rather, we are abandoning all things to follow and obey Him. Belief involves completely entrusting your life to God and His ways.One might be tempted to ask the question, "Is Christianity worth my time, energy and sacrifice?"

Why would God call people to such a complicated arrangement where He predicts we will have varying degrees of suffering? It doesn't seem like a very good marketing plan. But God's plan has a coherent and comprehensive view. It acknowledges that something is wrong with life and identifies it as sin. Even though sin is fun at times, it will always end up in death and separation from God. So He provides the solution for sin through faith in Jesus Christ. But only those who believe will receive. Those who reject will remain distant from God and ultimately be separated from Him for eternity. Those who reject continue in their sin. Some of those who reject desire to rid the world of the Gospel and those who would follow. Believers may suffer, but their suffering is not a loss. It is a validation of their allegiance to Christ. And it is part of the path that we follow as we are led by the Savior who suffered, died, but resurrected to new life. Those who believe in Him also have life.

Why is the Christian message, with all its challenges of suffering, still being received by people today? John 6:66-69 reminds us why we follow Christ. We follow because it is the true message of life from God. If it is from God, it is true, and any other path is a false path that leads away from life.

Looking to 2021

Many uncertainties plague us, and we might want things to quickly go back to the way they were. Hopefully, we recognize what this upheaval has done to our understanding of life. May we learn to embrace what God declares is valuable, eternal, and true. May we look forward to the uncertain future without fear because God is with us and loves us immensely.