Fearless

Fearless Fearless Michael Morse / General CrossFit / Fear; Boldness; Value; Unforgivable Sin / Luke 12:4-12 Introduction 1. Jesus wants us to live fearless lives. CrossFit disciples live fearlessly for Jesus a. They are able to be obedient and submitted - putting His calling before their own desires b. If a disciple cannot live fearless for Jesus - they will live as hypocrites - both as disciples of Jesus and followers of the world i. Straddling the fence of life and never fully committing to either one 1. Claiming to be both - but being neither 2. When you live by the wrong fear - you hide and protect yourself and when you hide yourself for protection - you open the door to hypocrisy - Faking Fitness a. The cure for hypocrisy is fearless living b. Faithful men will always be despised - therefore crossfit disciples must live fearlessly in the face of such opposition › SLIDE Fearless living is 'right' living › SLIDE Luke 12:4-5 CSB 4 "I say to you, my friends, don't fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. 5 But I will show you the one to fear: Fear him who has authority to throw people into hell after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the one to fear! › SLIDE Luke 12:6-8 CSB 6 Aren't five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God's sight. 7 Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 8 "And I say to you, anyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God, › SLIDE Luke 12:9-10 CSB 9 but whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. 10 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. › SLIDE Luke 12:11-12 CSB 11 Whenever they bring you before synagogues and rulers and authorities, don't worry about how you should defend yourselves or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said." › SLIDE The Right Fear › SLIDE Luke 12:4-5 CSB 4 "I say to you, my friends, don't fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. 5 But I will show you the one to fear: Fear him who has authority to throw people into hell after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the one to fear! 1. The right fear is not fear of man a. Jesus speaking to friends - those close and intimate with Him - says to not fear men i. Speaking about the issues they will face that may cause them to second guess their choice to follow Him ii. At most men can only kill the body and then they are powerless to do anymore 1. There is a limit to the power and the damage that can be done by men b. There have been powerful men throughout the ages i. Horrific terrible tyrants, despicable dictators, and just depraved men ii. But none of them have ever been able to inflict a single ounce of pain after the death of someone c. Jesus says that this is not worthy of a Christians fear - dont fear men i. God has ultimate power over the life and death of us as believers anyways 2. The right fear - is the fear of God a. Jesus says I will show you the one whom you should fear i. Fear the one who has authority to throw people into hell after death 1. God is the only one who has authority to cast into hell - men dont have this authority and Satan doesnt even have this authority - for he himself will be an inhabitant there 2. Jesus says - yes this is the person to fear ii. Fear God who has the power to throw the soul into hell 3. To live fearlessly as CrossFit disciples - we must have the right fear - the right fear leads us to right living a. If we want to live lives pleasing to God we have to fear disobeying Him more than we fear - what men will do to us i. Disrespecting, Taunting, abusing, persecuting, killing b. We must be more concerned with following Him and obeying Him than obeying men › SLIDE Acts 4:18-19 CSB 18 So they called for them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 Peter and John answered them, "Whether it's right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; › SLIDE Acts 5:28-29 CSB 28 "Didn't we strictly order you not to teach in this name? Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood." 29 Peter and the apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than people. › SLIDE If you fear God more than anything - you can live fearlessly for God Adam Clarke A man has one life to lose and one soul to save; and it is madness to sacrifice the salvation of the soul to the preservation of the life. › SLIDE The Right Value › SLIDE Luke 12:6-7 CSB 6 Aren't five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God's sight. 7 Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 1. God is mindful of the worthless things a. Sparrows are 5 for two pennies i. 2 Sparrows a penny with the 5th being free - this saying is even the free one is not forgotten by God ii. God has not forgotten even the insignificant sparrow b. The hairs of your head are counted i. Redheads have about 90,000 hairs, a dark haired person has about 120,000 hairs and a blonde has about 145,000 ii. Who cares how many hairs you have? God does that's who 1. He knows exactly how many you have on your head right now 2. Insignificant to us is significant to God and He is mindful of them 2. You are worth more to Him a. Jesus says dont be afraid - you are worth more i. More than many (poly - much or great) sparrows ii. That is a fear many - even in Jesus day had - the fear of being forgotten b. Jesus is saying your life is precious and remembered before God in heaven i. even if you go through bad times and persecution 3. God has not and will not forget you a. Allow God to give you your value - the world doesnt value you - but God does i. Not only does He know the numbers of hairs on your head - He knows all the important stuff about you as well ii. Persecution and mistreatment in this world - sacrifice tempts many to give in to the feeling worthlessness and no one cares for them - God cares has not forgotten and values and treasures you! b. Sparrows are cheap - God sees each one and cares for them - you are more valuable to God - how much more will He care for you? › SLIDE Matthew 10:29-31 CSB 29 Aren't two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's consent. 30 But even the hairs of your head have all been counted. 31 So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. › SLIDE - bought with the priceless blood 1 Peter 1:18-19 CSB 18 For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb. › SLIDE When we understand our right value before God we can live fearlessly for Him - for we are precious and He is not wasting us › SLIDE The Right Confession › SLIDE Luke 12:8-10 CSB 8 "And I say to you, anyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God, 9 but whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. 10 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 1. The right confession is acknowledgement before men a. Jesus said anyone who acknowledges Him before others i. Acknowledge is confess in the sense to admit and declare that Jesus is the Christ Son of the living God ii. This was a big deal for confession of this magnitude would almost guarantee social exile from Jewish life › SLIDE John 9:22 CSB 22 His parents said these things because they were afraid of the Jews, since the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed him as the Messiah, he would be banned from the synagogue. b. Those who acknowledge and confess Him before men - Jesus will in turn confess and acknowledge us before the angels of God - the hosts of heaven i. Publicly proclaim devotion to Jesus here on earth ii. Jesus will proclaim your devotion to Him in heaven 1. Allegiance to Jesus is rewarded with allegiance from Christ 2. The wrong confession is denial of Jesus as Christ a. Jesus said those who deny Him before men will be denied before the angels of God i. Denial - repudiate or disown ii. Denial of Jesus comes with the penalty and disgrace and denial before the throne of God › SLIDE Matthew 7:23 CSB 23 Then I will announce to them, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!' 3. To make the right confession we must make the choice to confess rather than deny Jesus - publicly a. It is most difficult - especially when we fear men and try to find our value from men instead of God i. The test to confess or deny Jesus as Christ comes in many ways- but be certain it always comes. ii. If you want to pass the test you need to determine in heart and mind beforehand that the test will be much easier › SLIDE Daniel 1:8 CSB 8 Daniel determined that he would not defile himself with the king's food or with the wine he drank. So he asked permission from the chief eunuch not to defile himself. b. Before Christ said we are either with Him or against Him - and now it is confess me or deny me - again no middle ground - no wait and see i. The right choice - comes from knowing God is the one to fear and that to Him you are most valuable - who do you choose? Who will you acknowledge - God or men - calling on Christ or denying Him? ii. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to convict of sin and point the world to Christ › SLIDE John 15:26 CSB 26 "When the Counselor comes, the one I will send to you from the Father-the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father-he will testify about me. 1. To deny Christ and His work as Messiah is to deny the witness of the Holy Spirit and deny God's means of salvation 2. This is unpardonable sin - to not believe in the one whom He testifies about - it is a settled rejection of Jesus China 1990 Amelio Crotti writes - From my cell I heard a mother speak soothing words to her child of five, who name was Siao-Mei. She had been arrested with the child because she had protested against the arrest of her bishop. All the prisoners were indignant at seeing the suffering of the child. Even the prisoner director said to the mother "Dont you have pity on your daughter? It is sufficient for you to declare that you give up being a Christian and will not go to church any more. Then you and the child will be free." In despair the woman agreed and was released. After two weeks she was forced to shout from a stage before 10,000 people, "I am no longer a Christian." On their return home Siao-Mei who had stood near her when she denied her faith said "Mummy, today Jesus is not happy with you." The mother explained "You wept in prison. I had to say this out of my love for you." Siao-Mei replied "I promise that if we go to jail again for Jesus I will not weep." The mother ran to the prison director and told him " You convinced me to say wrong things for my daughter's sake, but she has more courage than I." Both went back to prison but Siao-Mei no longer wept. › SLIDE The right confession comes from knowing Jesus, fearing God, and knowing your value before God - we can live fearlessly when we confess rightly Jesus before men › SLIDE The Right Leading › SLIDE Luke 12:11-12 CSB 11 Whenever they bring you before synagogues and rulers and authorities, don't worry about how you should defend yourselves or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said." 1. The right leading comes not from civic or religious arena a. The religious leaders and civic leaders were the ones bringing believers to give an account i. Jesus didnt say if they - He said when they - giving it a certainty that it would happen ii. They would gather them up to ask them - confess or deny - etc iii. Fearless living doesnt come from the leading of religious or civic rule 1. This is actually fearful living - fearful of breaking the laws 2. These entities are usually where the persecution begins b. It was a fearful thing - in the face of fear how would they answer, would they stand strong 2. The right leading comes from the Holy Spirit a. Jesus says dont worry - dont be anxious or concerned about what you will defend i. Defend - apologeomai - apology - apologetics - answers, defense or adequate answer b. It is hard to know how we will respond in time of persecution - and imminent death or great harm i. Jesus is saying in these hard times and trying times we can have perfect trust in God for these moments ii. No worrying over saying things perfectly right or saying things at all Barclay It was not the humiliation which early Christians dreaded, not even the cruel pain and agony. But many of them feared that their own unskilfulness in words and defense might injure rather than commend the truth. It is the promise of God that when a man is on trial for his faith, the words will come to him." Alice Driver - martyr At her examination put all the doctors to silence, so that they had not a word to say, but looked upon another. Then she said Have ye no more to say? God be honored; you be not able to resist the Spirit of God in me, a poor woman... so the Chancellor condemned her, and she returned to the prison as joyful as the bird of the day." She was burned at the stake two weeks before the end of Queen Mary's reign (Bloody Mary) › SLIDE Fearless living by having the right leading from the Holy Spirit Conclusion To live fearlessly - fear must be put into perspective Life on this earth is not what is important. Eternity should be our focus. We should not fear anyone or anything who is limited in power to this life, this world, this plane. The one with power in eternity deserves your attention. God alone has this power - fear God and ignore everyone else Fear and reverence the one who values you, not those who oppose you When you fear God and not men - you confess Jesus as the Christ - and Jesus will confess you in heaven before God for eternal life. What happens when earthly fear takes charge? Religious and civic hypocrites will come after you - will you join them or confess Jesus? Fear Human persecution or Fear not being included in the kingdom of God Under this interpretation, I am supposed to accept persecution and capital punishment judgments and still confess Jesus. What do I say in such an awesome situation? How do I testify to Jesus in the face of persecutors and judges? No fear, says Jesus. When you need to testify, the Spirit will show you what to say. You are not responsible for figuring out what to say. You are responsible for saying what the Spirit tells you to say. Do you have faith and courage to obey the Spirit in the face of persecutors? This is living fearless for God Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 10:04 PM September 19, 2020.