"Have We Lost the Fear of God?"
Luke 12:1-12
A sermon for 7/31/22 – Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Pastor John Bright
Luke 12 “4 And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!
6 “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
Pause right there. Those words I just read; they were “Breathed by God”! God wants you to hear His Word right now! So, what is your response? Do you want to transformed by that Word or do you want to be informed about the words? You have to choose.
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Two brothers are terrible trouble makers. They are always breaking things, stealing things, lying, and making all kinds of general trouble. The parents have tried everything to get the boys to change, to no avail. Finally, out of options, they ask their pastor if he can help. He says he will talk to the boys, but only one at a time. The parents drop off the youngest and go home, promising to return to get him soon. The boy sits in a chair across from the pastor's desk and they just look at each other.
Finally, the Pastor says, "Where is God?" The boy just sits there and doesn't answer.
The pastor begins to look stern and loudly says, "Where is God?" The little boy shifts in his seat, but still doesn't answer.
The pastor is starting to get angry at the boy's refusal to converse and practically shouts "Where is God?" To the pastor's surprise, the little boy jumps up out of his chair and runs out of the office. The boy leaves the church and runs all the way home, up the stairs and into his brother's room. He shuts the door and pants, "We're in BIG TROUBLE. God's missing and they think we did it!" 😊
Don’t worry – God is NOT missing, but I’m doubtful that the God being preached in churches today is like what my grandfather heard when he was a boy and went to brush arbor revival meeting. That preacher would have described God in a way that was familiar to John Wesley and George Whitfield and Jonathon Edwards and the other preachers of the First Great Awakening that radically transformed England and the American Colonies.
Today, we have offered the world a God who is nothing but LOVE. We endlessly debate if we should call God “He” or “She” or “IT.” We have succeeded in convincing many in the church and world that God would never let His children (read here – everybody) suffer in hell. Taking it one step further, some claim there is no hell. (SMH) Guess they skipped the verses we will cover today!
There will be NO SECRETS, v. 1-3
“1 In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.”
Last week, we covered the end of Luke 11 where Jesus has some harsh words for the religious leaders. Now we find Jesus warning the Disciples that they need to look out for the “leaven of the Pharisees” that is hypocrisy. When we read “leaven” or “yeast” in a warning, it should be a warning to every church. The Apostle Paul called out the house churches in Corinth for condoning sexual immorality among their members – 1 Corinthians 5 “1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife! 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. “
“6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”
Whether it’s hypocrisy or condoning sin – it’s described as moving through the whole group. Jesus is warning them to watch out because the hypocrite can act one way at church and another way at home or work – but God sees everything! It will all be judged by the Righteous Lord – Revelation 20 “11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”
So, can we agree with those old-timey preachers that there is a hell and if you are not saved – that’s where you are going? God does love you – so much that Jesus paid the price for your sin – death on a cross. You are precious to God. Never doubt that!
Fear God – not people, v. 4-6
“4 And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!”
6 “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
I am well aware that absent true persecution – we have no context for these verses. If your life is in danger as a Believer – you will read these verses and truly understand. If you would face backlash at work or online for taking a Christian stance on hot-button issues – it just is NOT THE SAME.
All but one of the original Disciples died the death of a martyr. The tradition is that John was miraculously saved from martyrdom before being imprisoned on the Isle of Patmos. He would later die as an old man. The threat to these men was real. Jesus was telling them that there was difference between the end of their earthly life and eternity in hell. People can only end your life here, so why fear them. Rather, fear God who determines where you spend eternity.
What about us? We would do well to remember Proverbs 1:7
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Knowledge and wisdom come from God and we begin by learning God’s Word. There we find God’s Will for us and for the world. If I start there – I can end up on the right side of what ever comes along. I NEVER want to be on the side that opposes God’s Will. When that happens, I open myself up to the discipline of God described in Hebrews 12 “5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.”
7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
We are more precious to God that the sparrows (don’t tell the Greenies) and so we can have the greatest of fear and reverence for God, yet never be afraid. If we can develop fear and reverence for the God who loves us with an everlasting love – these will shape our every waking moment.
Our witness before people, v.8-12
“8 “Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. 9 But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.
10 “And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.
11 “Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
I need to deal with verse 10 first – it always raises questions that I am unable to answer. 10 “And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.” Each time Jesus addresses the dreaded “unforgivable sin” there is always a mention of the Holy Spirit. We have no concept of the sanctity with which the Early Church gave to the very presence of God in their midst through the Holy Spirit. In Acts 5, we read the troubling account of Ananias and Sapphira. They conspire to lie about the amount they were paid when selling some land. Listen to Peter confronting Ananias – “3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” The end result is that these two members of the Early Church were struck dead by God on the day they stood in opposition to the Holy Spirit. If you oppose the working of the Holy Spirit to bring you into a relationship with your Heavenly Father… if you do not accept the free gift of salvation paid for by Jesus on the cross… if you keep doing that until you die – then you will end up in hell. That comes with a 100% guarantee.
The rest of these verses that surround verse 10 speak to the public witness of the followers of Jesus Christ. Are you a follower of Jesus Christ? Do you have a public witness? If not, why not? Were you never taught what to say or do? Are you afraid of rejection?
I have heard all of these in the past, but the most common is this – “Isn’t that the pastor’s job?” Nope. I have the same calling as every other follower of Jesus Christ to have a public witness. It can be as easy as asking the waitress “What can I pray for you today?” or I may get the chance to share what God has done in my life. Here’s the best part – I don’t have to be prepared to answer every question because of the promise of Jesus we heard this morning – “12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” What an amazing boost to the confidence of every Believer!
So, let’s have a quick review –
• God sees everything! There are no secrets.
• Hell is the place for all those whose names are not in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
• God can discipline me because I am precious to Him.
• Every Believer can and should have a public witness.
• This world is in need of another Great Awakening and some old-timey preaching!
Amen!
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Teaching Sheet
"Have We Lost the Fear of God?"
Luke 12:1-12
7/31/22
How preachers today describe God has changed:
• They offer a God who is nothing but LOVE
• They debate if we should call God “He” or “She” or “IT”
• They claim that God would never let His children (read here – everybody) suffer in hell
• They claim there is no hell
There will be NO SECRETS, v. 1-3
The Apostle Paul called out the house churches in Corinth for condoning sexual immorality among their members – 1 Corinthians 5:1-8 Whether it’s hypocrisy or condoning sin – it’s described as moving through the whole group.
God sees everything! It will all be judged by the Righteous Lord – Revelation 20:11-15
Do you agree that there is a hell and if you are not saved – that’s where you are going? God does love you – so much that Jesus paid the price for your sin – death on a cross. You are precious to God. Never doubt that!
Fear God – not people, v. 4-6
We are NOT persecuted – your life is NOT in danger!
All but one of the original Disciples died the death of a martyr. The tradition is that John was miraculously saved from martyrdom before being imprisoned on the Isle of Patmos. He would later die as an old man. The threat to these men was real.
What about us? We would do well to remember Proverbs 1:7
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
I NEVER want to be on the side that opposes God’s Will. When that happens, I open myself up to the discipline of God described in Hebrews 12:5-11
We are more precious to God that the sparrows (don’t tell the Greenies) and so we can have the greatest of fear and reverence for God, yet never be afraid. If we can develop fear and reverence for the God who loves us with an everlasting love – these will shape our every waking moment.
Our witness before people, v.8-12
We have no concept of the sanctity with which the Early Church gave to the very presence of God in their midst through the Holy Spirit. Acts 5:3-4 If you oppose the working of the Holy Spirit to bring you into a relationship with your Heavenly Father… if you do not accept the free gift of salvation paid for by Jesus on the cross… if you keep doing that until you die – then you will end up in hell. That comes with a 100% guarantee.
Having a public witness can be as easy as asking the waitress “What can I pray for you today?” or I may get the chance to share what God has done in my life. Here’s the best part – I don’t have to be prepared to answer every question because of the promise of Jesus we heard this morning – “12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” What an amazing boost to the confidence of every Believer!
This world is in need of another Great Awakening and some old-timey preaching! Amen!
