Fear Rightly Focused – Part 2 | Matthew 10:26-33

Scripture

• Matthew 10:26–33

About this sermon

Introduction: When we follow our Lord’s instructions for ministry, opposition is certain to follow. When we meet with that opposition — that persecution — a temptation is sure to follow. That temptation is to be afraid of those who would persecute us. The temptation is to fear men, to fear flesh and blood, instead of honoring our God and trusting in His care for us. Our Lord is preparing His men for that temptation. So, in our verses we are looking at five necessary things for us to remember and to practice in order to have our fear rightly focused. This morning we looked at the first two. • WE MUST BELIEVE CHRIST REGARDING FUTURE ILLUMINATION (vs.26) Justice will be served, and Christ’s disciples will be vindicated. • WE MUST OBEY CHRIST REGARDING PRESENT ILLUMINATION (vs.27) The words of Christ are light, and they must be proclaimed openly. We begin tonight with a third commitment. • WE MUST BELIEVE CHRIST REGARDING COMPARATIVE DANGERS (vs.28) Persecution CAN BE frightening. But we need to remind ourselves of the limits of what human beings can do to us. • THE DANGER REPRESENTED IN MAN’S POWER THEY CAN KILL THE BODY BUT THEY CANNOT KILL THE SOUL They can make a believer’s life difficult in the temporal realm. But they offer no threat whatsoever with respect to eternity. In fact, if he takes the believer’s life in the temporal realm, he simply delivers us into paradise in the everlasting realm. The worst you do to me is prove to be God’s instrument for my graduation. • THE DANGER REPRESENTED IN GOD’S POWER God can destroy temporally and eternally. Hell is a reality. Eternal torment is a reality. A resurrection unto judgment is a reality. The believer in Jesus Christ has nothing to fear in that judgment. The unbeliever has EVERYTHING to fear in that judgment. THIS WAS CHRIST’S MESSAGE TO THE CHURCH AT SMYRNA. ESV Revelation 2:10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.' THIS IS THE PROMISE MADE CONCERNING THE RIGHTEOUS WHO WILL BE RAISED FROM THE DEAD PRIOR TO THE THOUSAND YEAR KINGDOM ESV Revelation 20:4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. THIS IS THE FEARFUL REALITY THAT UNBELIEVERS WILL EXPERIENCE ESV Revelation 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. THE CONCLUSION, THEREFORE, IS THAT IF ANYONE IS TO BE FEARED IT IS NOT PERSECUTORS — IT IS GOD.

Topics

• Anxiety & Worry