Fear God not Man

This sermon was preached on July 21, 2013.

(Luke 12:1-12)

The pressure of the Pharisees' example, along with the rise of persecution,

prompts Jesus to warn his disciples about whose opinion they value.

Peer pressure is a given in any culture. The power of those who seek conformity is very strong.

Persecution methods can be strong, controlling and painful.

Economic pressure was also sometimes applied, along with social ostracism.

1. Fear God not man so you won’t live a double life.

Jesus had a very large following. Evidently its size kept increasing.

v.1  ..crowds grew until thousands …“Beware of the yeast…their hypocrisy.

Popularity can breed a desire to remain popular and thus to soften the hard truth of our sinfulness before God.

Yeast was a symbol of corruption . Leaven, as hypocrisy, starts small but expands and affects everything. The way of the Pharisees is not the way for Jesus' disciples.Ch.11:37-52.

v2 The time is coming when everything that is covered  will be revealed…

On the human level there are exceptions to this principle, but Jesus undoubtedly had God who knows all secrets in mind.

Hypocrisy will not work, because everything is revealed before God.

This includes words said in the dark or whispered in private rooms.

We may divide our activities into public and private, visible and unseen, but there is no such division with God's vision. The walls we build up to protect our psyche and rationalize our behavior cannot keep out the eyes of God.

2. Fear God not man so you won’t give in to pressure of persecutions

4 “Dear friends…5 Fear God, who has the power to kill you…

"my friends"-The word expressed confidence and approval of them as those entrusted with His secrets and those who do His will.

Friends are people with whom we share common life but with whom we also share common commitments and goals.

They should fear not those who kill the body but the One who has power to throw . . . into hell. Human beings' power over life is limited. The life that counts is the life to come. There is no prosperity theology here, nor is there any glossing over of the rejection disciples may face.

3. Fear God not man because God notices you & you are valuable to God

6 … sparrows—God does not forget a single one of them.

7 …the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

We can also be assured that God is aware of our situation no matter how bad it gets. Even five sparrows that sell for a few pennies do not escape God's attention. These sparrows were the cheapest thing sold in the ancient market.

God cares for those insignificant birds, and he cares for you & me.

He knows the number of hairs on one's head, and he knows that people are more valuable than sparrows. So we need not fear even the direst of persecutions, because God knows what is taking place.

4. Fear God not man because your eternity hangs in your testimony.

8 -9“I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels…

What it all comes down to is a choice of allegiance, an identification with Jesus. Those who acknowledge Jesus before human beings will receive due reward. The Son of Man, that is, Jesus, will acknowledge them before the angelic witnesses of heaven; they will stand accepted for eternity.

10 Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

The obstinate rejection of Jesus, is the most likely meaning.

To fear God means to choose Jesus. To reject him is to reject the Spirit who testifies constantly to him.

5.Fear God not man because the Holy spirit will help you defend you.

11 -12… don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say,

Some of the disciples could anticipate having to confess their belief in Jesus before hostile religious and political bodies, both Jewish and Gentile.

The same Spirit that they might feel pressure to blaspheme against (v. 10) would help them if they remained faithful to Him.

Application:

Times will be harder….but Fear God not man!