Proper Fear & Value

Yesterday in my Bible reading I was in Matthew 10 and came across a passage that I think is great for us in the beginning of the year.

Let me read you Matthew 10:28-33

Matthew 10:28–33 ESV

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.

This morning there are 3 things I want us to see in this passage. 3 things that we can carry with us into 2022.

Have a Proper Fear

Jesus says don’t fear the wrong things.

Matthew 10:28 “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.”

We fear so many things that have no real power over us.

Why?

Because we value the wrong thing.

We protect and worry about what we value. I can never find the remote in my house. Do you know why? Because my children value the remote. They hide it from each other. There is a never ending land battle over the magical kingdom of T.V. in my house on the weekends.

I’ll find it behind the curtains, in a drawer, I’ve even found it in the cushion of the couch. And we know as adults it’s silly to value the remote so much right? To put so much energy and time into controlling the remote. My kids even get punished for this because they’ll forget where they hid it and then we have to search the house for it. They put so much energy into somethign as trivial as a remote.

But you and I have our own “remotes” in this life. Silly things that we value over other more important things.

It’s really easy for you and I to value earthly things—unlasting things over things that are eternal.

Why? Because we latch onto to the “here and now”, the “tangible”, what we can grab with our hands.

We put our fear in money, jobs, social stature, comfort, stuff, entertainment—what else?

Pause. Define fear. (Get feedback)

So here’s the question: ...

What does Jesus mean when he says “fear” in this passage? The greek word is the word that we get phobia from in English. It doesn’t mean scared though.

There is a difference between being scared of something and a phobia of something. I’m scared of snakes I don’t have a phobia of snakes.

A phobia/fear envelops us and pulls our energy, time, thoughts, actions, and resources toward it.

We get a great example of what “fear” is in Acts 10:2 “a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.”

Cornelius gave his energy and time and resources to God. He prayed, he helped the poor. Why? Because he valued the eternal instead of the temporary.

Q. In your life which do you value? The eternal or the temporary?

God says don’t fear the things that have no real power, but instead fear me who can destroy body and soul in Hell.

Now that’s an unpopular word today because it implies an unpopular concept.

We as people are deserving of punishment.

Now I’m going to explain that in just a few moments, but for right this second let’s resolve to...

Not putting all our energy, our devotion into valuing the remote—value God and put your energy into the things of eternity where you will spend your forever.

Transition: We need to have a proper fear and...

Proper Value

Matthew 10:29–31 ESV

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.

You need to know your value.

You are valuable because God says you are.

That’s what Jesus says here. Look at the birds—they are not worthy anything really. You can get two doves for a penny.

But even these unimportant birds are governed and watched over by God the Father. They don’t fall in death until God says so.

Matthew 6:26 ESV

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

Jesus says that even the number of hairs on your head are known by God. He intimately knows you. He cares deeply about his children.

Don’t fear the material things. God cares for his children. He takes care of his people. If you belong to Him you need not fear these things because you are worth far than birds to God and he cares for them daily.

Q. How do you know that God cares for you?

Romans 5:8 ESV

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Share the gospel. 3 Circles. We deserve punishment for sin, but God rescues us in Jesus.

You have great value.

Transition: We need proper fear, know our proper value, and...

Make the Proper Decision

Matthew 10:32–33 ESV

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.

We need to make the proper decision.

What does it mean to acknowledge Jesus?

It means to believe that he is who he said he is and he accomplished what he said he accomplished.

Jesus proclaimed himself to be God in the flesh.

When Jesus rose from the dead he proclaimed the guilt and spiritual death of sin to be defeated for all those found in Him.

Romans 10:9 “because, 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.”

If you are a follower of Jesus already this morning then I want to encourage you to recommit yourself to God’s eternal kingdom. Know your value and fear your God. Give your time, energy, thoughts, actions, and resources to God. Live on mission as you have been called to do.

If, this morning, you have never trusted Jesus to save you from the guilt of your sin—I want to beg you to come to Christ who is your salvation. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done. It doesn’t matter how messy life is right now. You have heard this message today and it is your opportunity to be made new in Christ. To be forgiven of your sins so that you too can fear God and live a glorious life in Him. Does anyone want to accept Jesus this morning?

Let’s pray.