Spoken at SGBC
7-13-97
Luke #98
12:1-9
Fear Not, God Cares for You
(Luke 12:1-7 NASB) Under these circumstances, (See chapter 11:53-54 for the circumstances.), after so many thousands of the multitude had gathered together that they were stepping on one another, He began saying to His disciples first of all, "Beware of the leaven (yeast) of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. (The word describes someone who is pretending to be something they are not.) {2} "But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. {3} "Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. (In other words, there will be no success for the hypocrite. For all secrets of all kinds will one day be exposed for all to know.) {4} "And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of (or intimidated by . . ) those who kill the body, and after that have NO MORE THAT THEY CAN DO. {5} "But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who after He has killed has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! (This person is God. Now, Jesus presents us with truth which will help us live fearlessly before men who might intimidate, harm or persecute us for identifying with God and His Christ. He asks . . . ) {6}"Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? And yet not one of them is forgotten before God. {7} "Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows."
In the latter portion of Luke eleven Jesus sits down to dinner with some Pharisees and Lawyers. The occasion however, was not to be a pleasant one. Jesus speaks to these men about the condition of their hearts. He tells them that they do a good job of keeping the outside clean but inside they are full of robbery and wickedness. In other words they are not Christians, they are hypocrites. Jesus goes so far as to say they are like "unmarked graves" that defile or pollute everyone they come in contact with. He accuses the Lawyers, the interpreters of the scriptures, of "Taking away the Key of Knowledge." In Matthew 23:1-15 Jesus presents this same truth a little differently.
"Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, {2} saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; {3} therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things, and do not do them. {4} "AND THEY TIE UP HEAVY LOADS, AND LAY THEM ON MEN'S SHOULDERS; but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. . . . {13} "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you SHUT OFF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN from men; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. . . {15} "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel about on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, YOU MAKE HIM TWICE AS MUCH A SON OF HELL AS YOURSELVES."
The way these men take away the "Key of Knowledge" or "Shut off the Kingdom," is by hiding or misrepresenting God's truth and particularly the Gospel. There's was a teaching of works acceptance with God which is as far as it can be from the truth of salvation by faith in the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Not only did they hide God's truth they added to and took away from it. So, a great portion of what they taught was not truth at all. Yet, they claimed to lead converts in the light of God's truth. What they were really doing was keeping men and women out of the Kingdom of God. Just as Christ said, "Their hearts were full of robbery and wickedness."
Following Christ's statements in the latter part of chapter eleven the Pharisees and the Lawyers were enraged and began to be very hostile toward Jesus. They plotted against Him hoping to catch Him in some error so they could accuse Him before the people. The boldness of Christ's words to them coupled with the intensity of their hatred and pursuit of Christ drew more and more people to the scene. The crowds were so large people were stepping on one another. Some were honest seekers of Christ and His truth but most were there to see miracles or what was going to take place between Christ and His enemies.
In the previous chapter Christ speaks TO the Pharisees, now He speaks ABOUT them to His Disciples. He begins with these words. (Luke 12:1 NASB) ". . . Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy."
The word "leaven" refers to yeast and its infecting properties. The leaven spoken of is hypocrisy. Jesus says to His followers, beware of hypocrisy for it spreads and infects like yeast added to bread dough. In the end it reaches into every portion of your being so that you become a playactor inside and out. Don't fake your religion and don't allow these fakes to infect you either, says Jesus. On the positive side He is counseling His Disciples to be honest, real and sincere in their religion. After all, hypocrisy accomplishes nothing for; ". . there is NOTHING covered up that will not be revealed, and HIDDEN that will not be known. {3} "Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms shall be proclaimed upon the housetops." (Luke 12:2-3 NASB)
Hypocrisy is a waste of time and energy. It is a waste because it doesn't fool God. God knows exactly who your are in your heart. There is nothing that God doesn't know about and that men will not know about someday. Jesus, the God Man, proves this in the text we dealt with last week. He peered into the hearts of the Pharisees and revealed all He saw there. He saw hearts full of robbery and wickedness. They could not fool God the Son. Hear the scriptures as concerns the Omniscience of God. The word Omniscience means that God knows everything all the time.
Proverbs 15:3 NASB) "The eyes of the LORD are in EVERY PLACE, WATCHING the evil and the good."
(Hebrews 4:13 NASB) "And there is NO CREATURE HIDDEN from His sight, but ALL THINGS ARE OPEN AND LAID BARE to the eyes of HIM WITH WHOM WE HAVE TO DO." God sees and knows all about us and in the end men will also. For the truth about every man will be proclaimed to all.
Let's consider the phrase in this Hebrews reference, "Him with whom we have to do." We humans are prone to put emphasis on secondary things to the extent we forget what ought to occupy first place. Proof of this is found in those who go through life as if it were people we had to answer to. I speak of those times when its what people think, like or dislike that governs how we live and behave. To be accepted by men, for some, is their quest in life, the very reason for their existence. For such people it is tempting to play the hypocrite, to please men by pretending to be something we are not. This is hypocrisy. It often pleases and fools men but it does not fool, "Him with whom we have to do." Hypocrisy therefore is a waste of time. We will not stand before a tribunal of men in the day of judgement but before "Him with whom we have to do." It is to God that all men will answer. It is before God that all must stand to give account for every word, thought and deed. Saint or sinner, we all live out our lives under the all searching eye of God. We perform before many audiences but it is the AUDIENCE OF ONE that matters. That audience is God. He sees and knows everything about us. Nothing we do or think can be hidden from Him. He is the one you must be concerned with in both life and death. He created us. He owns us. He has made demands of us. He will, in the end, take us to His heaven or condemn us to His Hell. Therefore, God's will and good pleasure is to be the focus of every activity, decision, thought and word spoken. For it is to Him we will answer in the end, not to men.
What are the reasons Jesus sites for fearing God instead of man? Hear the text once again. (Luke 12:4-5 NASB) "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 warn you whom to fear: fear the One who after He has killed has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!"
The first reason is this. Men can kill our bodies but that's all, they can do nothing else. They cannot harm our souls. They have nothing to do with determining where we spend eternity. They can't save us and they can't damn us. Therefore, do not fear your fellow humans. Rather, fear God for He alone has the power and the authority to both kill the body and cast your soul into Hell!
There is a second reason offered in Luke 12:6-7 NASB. Hear He gives reason not te fear even those who might do us bodily harm. Jesus asks this question; {6} "Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? And yet not one of them is forgotten before God. {7} "Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows."
What do sparrows and strands of hair have to do with us fearing God instead of men? A great deal to be sure. The argument begins by setting forth some facts. God is in control of and concerned about His creation to the extent He determines the birth and death of every sparrow and how many hairs are on each persons head at any given time in their lives. In other words, God is the absolute Sovereign Ruler and Governor of everything He has created, right down to the hair on ones head. Based upon this truth we are to draw a conclusion. The conclusion called for is this. If our God's control of His creation is so extensive that it reaches to the hair of ones head. Then surely His concern, care, and detailed government reaches to us. Surely He is in control of our lives. Surely He is in control of those humans that we are tempted to fear more than we fear Him. Surely if it is good in His sight He can and will deliver us from any danger wicked men might want to bring upon us. By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit we are told that we are more important than the lessor things mentioned. That is why we need not fear. We are called upon to be and can be fearless of men. We can be confident in our testimony of the grace of God without concern about man's response. We can be certain that what befalls us is in God's control and will not harm us beyond that which He has ordained will be good for us and bring glory to Him! He who governs and keeps the sparrow and the strand of hair will most certainly care for me. In short, the Christian can be fearless of men, "Because his Father is the Sovereign God who rules over all He has created!"
In the last two verses of our text this morning Jesus reminds us in yet another way that God is the one who ought to be feared and not men. {8} "And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, (To confess Jesus before men is to live unashamedly and without apology as a Christian in the home and work place. Further it is to give testimony of His saving and sustaining grace when given opportunity. In both these ways we confess Jesus before men. The open confession of Christ by life and word shows that one fears God more than men. It reveals ones trust in God to take care of dangerous or uncomfortable consequences that may result from living and speaking for Christ. Such faithful boldness comes with this promise;) the Son of Man shall confess him also before the angels of God; (Jesus will gladly identify with his Brothers and Sisters confessing His relation to them before God and the angels. He is not now nor will He ever be ashamed of those who have come to Him by faith.) {9} but he who denies Me before men (That is, the person who does not live and speak for Christ in the home and workplace for fear of what men might do or say, this person . . .) shall be denied before the angels of God."
Hear these comments by J.C. Ryle; "The duty of confessing Christ rests on all Christians in every age of the Church. Let us never forget, it is not for martyrs only, but for all believers, in every rank of life. It is not for great occasions only, but for our daily walk through an evil world. The rich man among the rich, the laborer among laborers, the young among the young, the servant among the servants. Each and all must be prepared, if they are true Christians, to confess their Master. It needs no blowing of a trumpet. It requires no noisy boasting, it needs nothing more than using the daily opportunity. But one thing is certain, if a man loves Jesus, he must not be ashamed to let people know it. The difficultly of confessing Christ is undoubtedly very great. It never was easy at any period. It never will be easy as long as the world stands. It is sure to bring on us laughter, ridicule, contemp, mockery, enmity, and persecution. The wicked dislike to see any one better than themselves. The world which hated Christ will always hate true Christians. But whether we like it or not, whether it be hard or easy, our course is perfectly clear. In one way or another Christ must be confessed." End Quote
Once again our Lord's words are these; "And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man shall confess him also before the angels of God; {9} but he who denies Me before men shall be denied before the angels of God." By these words we see two things. First, there are no secret service Christians. Those who are saved display themselves before the world by working out their own salvation day to day. In one sense they can do nothing else for they are new creatures from the inside out and that will be noticed. On the other hand they will not try to hide their faith but will promote and speak of it to those willing to hear. Secondly, and very importantly, these words tell us that God in Christ has power, not over the body alone, but over the soul as well. Those who do not openly confess Christ in this life are not Christians and will receive their fiery reward. This is why all men must fear God and not men.
But what does it mean to fear God and what does it look like in practice? Let's turn to the scriptures to find out.
(Proverbs 8:13 NASB) "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way, And the perverted mouth, I hate." In other words when one fears the Lord he agrees with God on what is good and evil. First, he agrees that he is an evil sinner in need of the Savior Jesus Christ. He fears or respects God's word and warnings to the extent he obeys His command to believe in Jesus for salvation. This person hates what God hates and loves what God loves.
(Psalms 34:11-22 NASB) Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. (You need to know what this means if you are one who, . {12}. who desires life, And loves length of days that he may see good? (If this is you then you must . . .) {13} Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit. {14} Depart from evil, and do good; Seek peace, and pursue it. (This is how one behaves that fears the Lord. Look at the marvelous blessings that belong to such persons.) {15} The eyes of the LORD are toward (That is, He is for them and He watches over . .) the righteous, (Of course the righteous are those who trust in the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ. This believing person fears the Lord. Therefore . . ) . . . His (God's) ears are open to their cry. {16} The face of the LORD is against evildoers, (Non-Christians) To cut off the memory of them from the earth. {17} The righteous (The God fearing) cry and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. {18} The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, And saves those who are crushed in spirit. {19} Many are the afflictions of the righteous; (The God fearing person.) But the LORD delivers him out of them all." We know He will do this because He concerns Himself with sparrows and strands of hair and tells us that WE ARE MORE VALUABLE TO HIM than all such things.
(Psalms 112 NASB) Praise the LORD! How blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who greatly delights in His commandments. (One of the characteristics of a God fearing person is that he loves the Bible.). . . {5} It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; (This too is characteristic of the man who fears the Lord, he is gracious to others.) He will maintain his cause in judgment. {6} For he will never be shaken; The righteous will be remembered forever. {7} He will not fear evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, TRUSTING IN THE LORD. {8} His heart is upheld, HE WILL NOT FEAR, (Because he knows that God takes care of Him and rules over his enemies. He will live in peaceful confidence . .) Until he looks with satisfaction on his adversaries. {9} He has given freely to the poor; His righteousness endures forever; (For it is the righteousness of Christ by faith.) His horn will be exalted in honor. {10} THE WICKED WILL SEE IT (That is the righteousness of the Christian and God's blessing on him.) AND BE VEXED; HE WILL GNASH HIS TEETH AND MELT AWAY; The desire of the wicked will perish."
The God fearing person is a God lover. He is one who has come to Christ by faith for salvation. He is a person with a new heart, motivations, desires and loves. He wants more than life itself to please his God and Savior. God's word is his command and delight. There is nothing on earth that can come between him and his Father. There is no human that can frighten him to the extent he abandons his worship of God. Put him in a position where he must choose between death or denying God and His Christ and the God fearing man will continue to confess Christ as His Lord and Savior come what may. This is what it means to fear God instead of man.
I suppose we might summarize the lesson today by saying, "Get Real." "Be who you are!" If you are not a Christian don't pretend to be one. Be real, and if you wish to remain among us we will continue setting before you the means of grace by which God saves all His lost sheep. Hypocrisy is a waste of time "For the eyes of the Lord are in every place watching the evil and the good."
The lesson for those of us who are Christian is one we have looked at many times. It has to do with the cure for anxiety and fear. That cure comes in the form of good theology. If you believe that the God who is for you is also against the wicked, doing with them as He pleases, you will be encouraged. If you understand that He is the supreme and Sovereign Governor of every thing He has created, you will be encouraged. When you believe that He actually and really does ordain the birth and death of sparrows as well as the number of hairs on your head you can't help but believe that God governs every detail of YOUR life as well. A dear Sister, now fallen asleep in Jesus, left me with a wall plaque that will conclude today's lesson quite well. The text on the plaque it is Joshua 1:9 NASB. It says this, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
Herein lies the Christian's peace and strength.