FEAR
Luke 12:4-7
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. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has the authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. [NASB]
INTRODUCTION
Have you ever been alone in the house at night? Perhaps you have been watching a scary movie and then suddenly, out of the blue, you hear a strange noise. When this happens, most people are immediately gripped by fear. There is an “unknown” something lurking and most are not quite sure how to react.
Or, have you ever walked into a darkened place and had something brush against your face causing you to recoil not knowing what you have run into? Then when the light is turned on you find nothing more than a string or cobwebs, etc. has turned out to be the culprit.
Perhaps you are one of those who say, “I ain’t scared of nuttin’!” – However, this type is a rare breed and I really do not think that there is any among us who are not fearful of something.
DEFINITION
Funk & Wagnalls Standard Desk Dict., 1979 – “[1] An agitated feeling aroused by an awareness of actual or threatening danger, trouble, etc.; dread, terror. [2] An uneasy feeling that something may happen contrary to one’s desires. [3] A feeling of deep reverential awe and dread.”
Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dict., 2000 – “[1] An unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger. … [3] Profound reverence and awe esp. toward God.”
Greek verb “phobeo”, (# 5399 – Strong) most often translated fear in the NT means - “in earlier Greek, ‘to put to flight’ … is always used in the passive voice, with the meanings either (a) ‘to fear, be afraid,’ … or (b) ‘to show reverential fear’ … (a) and (b) are combined in Luke 12:4,5, where Christ warns His followers not to be afraid of men, but to ‘fear’ God.” [Vine’s Expository Dict. of New Testament Words, 1996]
PURPOSE
What brings fear into your life?
> Darkness – to some the “boogey man” is very real and frightening
> Health – many in our society are afraid of getting some dreadful disease
> Old Age – most “baby-boomers” are at war at getting old
> Financial – many are afraid of being poor
> Physical – many dread being harmed and maimed for life – “bullies” still exist
> Death – very few look forward to experiencing physical death
** How do we deal with fear? Should we fear? If so, then what kind of fear should we have? Our text answers these questions.
** In our text - Jesus tells us that worldly fear is something we need not be concerned about – instead – what we should fear is God! For He is our Sovereign Lord.
TEXT
Vs. 4 – 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.
Two Things Here -
* First – Jesus is addressing those he considers as His friends.
Friends are dearly loved. Taken into the greatest intimacy. Share emotions and times with each other. The ones you put your complete confidence into.
2 Samuel 18:1-5 & 20:16-17 - Jonathan and David
Proverbs 17:17a - A friend loves at all times
Proverbs 18:24b - There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
John 15:12-15 - Jesus describes His friends
Who do you consider to be your friends?
^ Worldly – James 4:4 “… Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
^ Heavenly – 1 John 4:7 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” Let your heart show where your treasures are at – Matthew 6:19-21.
* Second – Not to be afraid of those who will harm or destroy the body.
The people during Jesus’ time on this earth were afraid of what the Scribes and Pharisees were capable of doing to them.
^ Some feared being put out of the synagogue - John 9:22 & John 12:42
^ Some were put to death - Luke 12: 45-49 & Acts 7:54-8:2
Jesus said not to be in fear of these people – for once they destroyed the body, they could do nothing else to harm the person!
John Gill wrote:
“Be not afraid of them that kill the body; though [Jesus] would have them beware of the Pharisees, he would not have them be afraid of them; he would have them know them, and avoid their hypocrisy, and guard against it; but not fear them, or the worst they could do unto them, which was to kill the body; and they had no need to be afraid of, since at death, their souls would be immediately happy, in the enjoyment and vision of God; and their bodies would sleep in Jesus, and be raised in resurrection morn, and be united to their souls, and be both for ever blessed.” [John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible, 8/30/2003, http://www.gospelcom.net/eword/comments/luke/gill/luke12.htm]
** Therefore, Christ’s disciples have nothing to be anxious about – for all things work according to God’s purpose – Romans 8:28.
Vs 5 – But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has the authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!
Worldly fear is nothing – Godly fear is everything!
> Man destroying the body can do nothing else to it.
> God destroying the body has the authority to judge.
Romans 3:23
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Romans 6:23a
“The wages of sin is death.”
Hebrew 9:27
“… It is appointed unto men to die once and after this comes judgment.”
Genesis 18:25
“Far be it from You to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?”
Hebrews 12:23
“… To God, the Judge of all …”
Revelation 20:11-15
“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
Isaiah 66:23-24
“And it shall be from new moon to new moon and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all mankind will come to bow down before Me, says the Lord. Then they will go forth and look on the corpses of the men who have transgressed against Me. For their worm will not die and their fire will not be quenched; and they will be an abhorrence to all mankind.”
Philippians 2:10-11
“… At the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess the Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Vs. 6-7 – Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the very hairs of your hair are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.
> Sparrows – what a cheap commodity.
> Almost valueless.
> Yet, God does not forget “one of them”.
> Now how much more valuable are you than sparrows?
Jesus says here that every hair on a person’s head is numbered. If God is so minutely aware of those details – then don’t you think that He is aware of all that transpires within your life?
Acts 17:24a, 25b-26
“God who made the world and all things in it … He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation.”
CONCLUSION
What do you fear”?
> Non-believers – You should be most fearful
Hebrews 10:31
“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” [NKJV]
** May I urge you seek the Lord Jesus Christ as your surety for judgment before God
John 5:24
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”
> Believers – Rejoice! – In God’s love you have nothing to fear
1 John 4:16-18a
“We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment … There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear …”
Bruce Allen
Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church
August 31, 2003
bea0210@hotmail.com
