Fear of God

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Background

If we have not had the pleasure of meeting my name is John Colunga and I have the privilige of serving as lead pastor here at New Day Pasadena

I also have the privilige of bringing this weeks sermon

So if you have your Bibles, please turn to Matthew 6:5-13

If you forgot your Bible please use the one in front of you and if you dont have a Bible at all, please take home the one in front of you as a free gift to you

Matthew Series

Magnifies Jesus as King of Kings

In Matthew 5 discourses - in depth teachings of Jesus

Outside of the discourses are more narratives by Matthew

We just got out of the first discourse (Sermon on the Mount) chapters 5-7

Then we find a narrative of Jesus showing compassion and healing in chpter 8

And last week we started the second discourse of Jesus in chapter 9

We are going to continue in that discourse today in chapter 10

Second Discourse

In this discourse, Jesus has called and is commissioning his disciples

And in Jesus’ commissioning, he is not just giving them a seasonal commissioning

Rather, he is commissioning them for life

Even after, Jesus’ death and resurrection - this commissioning will remain

So what we find is a futuristic tone and nature to this commissioning

And so Jesus starts by instructing them as to how they are to go and what they are to do

proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.

They are to display the works of Jesus to the house of Israel

And as they go, Jesus says that they will be persecuted

And at the end of Jesus’ teaching of this he says

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.

And this is important for us to flesh out as we go into our text for today

Because what Jesus is indicating here is that the disciples while they are under a teacher are under the teachers authority

And as long as they are under the teachers authority - they are to imitate the teacher in character and in living

And because there are those who hate the master - the disciples who identify themselves with the Master will be hated as well

They will share in the same sufferings as the master - share in the same sentencing of the master

In Matthew 9:34 “But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.””

And so Jesus says, if I am being called the prince of demons - how much more will they display evil to those in his house

And yet, still today - there are many giving their life to Jesus and we would be

And so what we do a sign and symbol of our faith in identifying ourselves with Jesus is - Baptism

We rejoice and continue to reflect on last weeks baptsim where Darrell was baptized to symbolize as a sign that he identifies with Christ

That he is a follower of Christ and will seek to be like him in character and in his living

That is something we all declared upon our own baptism

And in that time of Jesus and even still true to today - there are many who hate Jesus, who is God

And because you follow Jesus, you at some point, in your character and living of Jesus should and will encounter persecution

And so Jesus tell us not to fear - you are my disciples - you are identified with me - do not fear

Do you fear being a Christian?

Do you fear sharing the gospel?

You identified with Christ in church, in a baptistry, amongst brothers and sisters in Christ

Do you still identify with Christ openly when the scenery changes and you are in the midst of those who hate God?

If you are able to stand, I ask that you please do so for the reading of God’s word. I’ll read it as you follow along,

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. Not Peace, but a Sword 34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. 41 The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mt 10:26–42.

This is the Word of the Lord - You may now be seated

No Fear

Don’t fear man

The first thing I want to highlight and will come back to is that in this passage Jesus does tell us to fear something

But to start - he tells us who not to fear

Do not fear those who hate God

This is a continuation from the preseeding verses where Jesus is stating

Those that hate me and that will hate you - do not fear them

Why?

Becuase the Master - the teacher that the disciples follow is over everything

He has true authority and at the proper time all things will be revealed

for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life

And while the truth may hidden from those who hate God now - there will come a time when the truth will be revealed to all

And in that revealing of that truth all of the evil will be exposed

And this isnt just a revealing of the evil of those who hate God

But also the revealing of the evil committed by those who love him

Even the sins of the disciples will be revealed

But Jesus tells the disciples don’t dwell on this revealing that is to come

Rather - they are to proclaim the truth and proclaim it from the housetops

To be like Jesus open and freely

Live like Jesus did open and freely

Live in the the truth and proclaim it openly

To take the teachings of Jesus and spread it for others to hear

They are to live in truth - not being afraid of evil

Soul

And ultimately - What Jesus is teaching here is that the spiritual implications far outweigh the physical ones

28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.

Live open and freely in the image of Christ because yes, you may die physically - but you will continue to live in the spirit

You have a life beyond this life that is far greater than you can ever think or imagine

You have a soul that identifies with Jesus who is truth but is also life

And because of his life and your identification with him there is a place prepared for you

So live - not focusing on the physical persecution - but live your life with eyes set on Jesus

Live your life with your eyes set on heaven

Colossians 3:1–3 “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (The Cost of Discipleship) was one of the few German pastors who had the courage to oppose and speak openly against the regime of Adolf Hitler. For that, for helping Jews escape, and for plotting against Hitler, he was jailed, then executed. From prison he wrote, “Those who are still afraid of men have no fear of God, and those who have fear of God have ceased to be afraid of men.”

And this is where we are at - we have been raised with Christ and proclaimed it with our baptism

And so we do not focus on our fear - rather we focus to seek the things that are above

And if our fear is of this world - of those who hate God - is so paralyzing that we cannot seek the things that are above

If we are not able to set our minds on things above

Then the logical question is - what or who do we really fear? Do we really fear persecution or do we fear God?

Fear God

Satan is not the one who destroys both sould and body in hell

It is God’s wrath and punishment for sin that does that

And for those who hate God, for those who do not know him - this is the kind of fear that they have

But what Jesus is teaching here is that that the disciples arent to fear God in the same way

Rather, they are to fear God as the final authority in their life

And because God authority, is teachings and his ways are to be followed

And there are consequences if you dont follow as he teaches

Jerry Bridges writes in his book - The joy of fearing God - We cannot separate trust in God from the fear of God. We will trust Him only to the extent that we genuinely stand in awe of Him.

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.

And what Jesus is doing here is giving the disciples a healthy way to fear God And is this not what we see in the family home

The kids growing up and becomming their own person but at the same time, take on attributes and characteristics of their parents

The kids have to trust their parents and fear them at the same time

They dont wake up daily with instant fear for the parents

They love and trust their parents so they call out to them

Their parents have displayed a love and care for them to where they trust the parents

And in the trust

We have to have a healthy level of fear of God

And what Jesus is doing here is giving the disciples a healthy way to fear God

Application

Examine our life

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.

Our application today is in two parts but it is a weighty application

And it is weighty because it causes you to examine yourself - to be real with yourself

And ask yourself the question - Do I truly fear the Lord?

And we first want to start by asking how much do I trust Him?

How much do I trust him when he says that I am eternally secure in him?

How much do I trust him when he says that I am valued and loved?

How much do I trust him when he tells me that it is better to proclaim his name from rooftops and be persecuted rather than to live in denial

Have you been persecuted for your faith?

If we are being honest - we here today have luxury Christian living

How much do you acknowledge Jesus Christ before men?

Are you in awe of God?

Practical

1. Give your life to Christ

2. Repent for denying Christ

3. Ask God teach you more about him through his word

4. Follow his teachings and proclaim his word to others

Announcements

Connect Card - Please fill out, we want to connect with you

‌‌Community Group Gathering (Gathering in Houses) -

‌Save the Date for Fall Festival - Saturday October 29th - 10am-12pm - we will need your help (Sign up Sheet in Front) and bring Candy

Right after Service - about 5min we are going to hear a prayer request from Mr. Ben Chamberlain and we are going to pray for him. IF you can stay after please do so

New Day Reading Plan - This week1 Timothy 6 - 2 Timothy 4

Benediction -1 Thessalonians 3:12–13‌ “and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.”

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