Services | Be Afraid but Do Not Fear

Bulletin

FBCWest
April 26, 2020

“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and truth.”

Praise and Worship
SCRIPTURE READING – Psalm 147:7

Giving of Selves and Our Offerings
OFFERTORY PRAYER
SPECIAL MUSIC – By Pru Hungate

Proclamation of the Word
Message by Pastor Joe
“Jesus Teaches: Be Afraid, but Do Not Fear”

PRAYER TIME / Time of Reflection

Acknowledgements and Announcements
Benediction “Won’t Stop Now”

Sermon Notes
Luke 12:1 Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees
Luke 12:2 & 3 Nothing is covered up
Luke 12:4 & 5 Fear God
Luke 12:6 & 7 You are more valuable
Luke 12:8–12 Confession, Denial and Defense
Luke 12:13–15 Be on guard against greed
Luke 12:16–21 Parable of the Rich Fool
Luke 12:22–32 Don’t worry, it doesn’t work, instead seek the Kingdom
Luke 33 & 34 Where the treasure is there the heart is

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Scritpures

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Transcript of Service

As we continue our study in the life and ministry on Earth of Jesus, we've come to Luke Chapter 12.

It it starts off by saying under these circumstances, well, the circumstances is what we left off with last week in the sense that Jesus had been answering questions and discussing things with the Pharisees. And they didn't like what he was doing and they didn't like his answers and so that became very hostile towards him and started plotting against him. So in that.

So the circumstances after so many thousands of people had gathered together that they were stepping on one another.

That's real life.

We, uh, we had this idea. Sometimes it that Jesus was only real popular when he fed the thousands and he did. But Jesus is ministries becoming more and more popular. That doesn't mean more and more people are getting what he's saying or doing what he's saying is just that he's becoming more popular in their thousands of people and all you have to do is go out in a crowd and see that most people don't pay attention to other people and so it's easy for them to step on each other and just get in each others way.

And so in that situation, either being Jesus began saying 2 disciples first of all, so he's giving them some priorities and teaching here. And he says beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Now he doesn't leave to doubt what the leaven is. 11 is that type of thing. That's all this needed is just a little smidge an it will impact affect the entire.

Food. Just recently, it only takes a little leaven to raise bread. So Jesus saying, Beware, be cautious about the leaven of the Pharisees, and again, he doesn't say well. I wonder what that is? He tells them it's hypocrisy. That's eleven. Hypocrisy is Playacting. It's pretending to be something you're not.

And Uhm.

Unfortunately, many if not all religious people can be accused in some sort at some way of being a hypocrite.

For instance, we all say that were saved by Grace and restart a matter of works and all that. And yet, there will creep up even in my life, a sense of well. Somebody will do or have done something that I think well. I believe it wouldn't do that.

Who am I to judge another believer? I'm being hypocritical 'cause I'm saying what I've done. God's grace is covered and if I don't like something you've done well, maybe you're less and so it's very easy for us to fall. So Jesus is saying just because you're his father doesn't mean you're automatically.

Immune from being a hypocrite.

An non church people nonreligious people love to tell us we.

Church people that we are hypocrites Ann. I have two responses to that. Yes we are and that's why we go to church which is a hospital which helps us to get over it.

The second is, quite frankly, they are too.

Now, how is it that they are, well, many people who are?

Atheist.

Leave there's no God, and yet they definitely in desperately want their life to have meaning and impact.

Well, there is no God and we just got here by accident. Then there is no meaning and there's no purpose. So why are you so worried about it?

So we all have a tendency to be a little hypocritical. So even in our judgment of hypocrites, we tend to be hypocrites. And so Jesus is telling us, be aware of that, and so it's something that we as believers should always stand on guard. Now he's going to follow up with that with something I just wish he hadn't said.

He says, but there is nothing covered up that there will not be revealed and hidden that will not be known earned according to whatever was said in the dark will be heard in the light and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed appan the housetops. So everything that you think you did in secret and everything you thought you said in secret, it's gonna be known.

I personally don't like that, but he's God. He gets to say in and teach what's the fax. And so as a uhm, a movie character one said, well that's all I'm gonna say about that. I'm going to apply here because it just causes me too much pain.

First 4 and I suspected as you as well.

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. But I warn you, whom to fear.

The fear, the one who, after he has killed as authority to cast into hell. Yes I tell you, fear him.

So Jesus.

Says

Don't be afraid. We have all this fear about different things and all life circumstances of people and we have this tendency to be afraid. And she said, what's the ultimate thing that the person you're afraid of can do? He can take your life.

Or Jesus has come to give us life eternal so Watt.

So he's saying Don't be afraid, but then he uses a different word, he says. But fear someone else.

Since you're the one who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell.

Now wanna comment two things. The only person who has the authority to cast someone at the hell is God. So Jesus is saying fear God.

Now.

Most of us, when we think of the idea of fear, we think about fear and trembling and and whatever. If that's what gets you to understand who God is, OK. But the fear here is much more. Take him seriously understand who he is and if he is who he is God, then we need to.

Take what he says and does with.

Seriousness.

And so if it means you're thinking, well, I don't know how about fearing God because God loves me. Yeah, he loves you.

He's also not only holy is holy, holy, holy.

And we ain't.

The second thing I want to tell you is it Jesus just here said hell is real.

He didn't say well after Hill cash you often you'll be in out of the Hills. He says he's able to put you into hell, so you may not believe in Hell. But Jesus knows it's there.

So I'm gonna take him at his word, not yours, so I would rather be afraid of somebody else and take God seriously to fear him. But Jesus is gonna say fear God. But there is a counter to it.

Ann are not five sparrows sold for two cents?

Yet not one of them is forgotten before God, I seen it takes 5 sparrows and you could buy them for two pennies. 2 cents.

And he didn't say well, God take seriously all five sparrows, he says. One of the sparrows, which you can't even buy with money 'cause he's so cheap.

God knows about that Sparrow.

Is not, that's one is not forgotten before God. Indeed the very hairs on your head are all numbered. Now I know some of us are making it easier for God to keep count as we keep losing ours, but he still knows even when we brush our hair and they start falling out, he still knows how many there. Which means he didn't check us last week to see how we're doing its daily hourly minute by minute. He knows who we are.

Do not fear, you are more valuable than many sparrows.

You see Jesus is saying, Yeah, take God, seriously understand that he has the authority to cashew into health. But because if you are believer in Christ, you are more valuable.

Then many, many sparrows.

Now.

Again, I wish you to use a different analogy.

'cause I think I'm still worth more than thousands of sparrows.

But he's drawing a point that if God so notices a Sparrow.

You are more valuable to him.

Than many sparrows.

Never did he sent his son to die for a Sparrow.

He did so for you in Maine.

Verse 8.

And I say to you, so he's Jesus is teaching a number of different things. Everyone who confesses me before men the son of Man will confess him before the Angels of God.

But he.

Who did denies me before? Men will be denied before the.

Angels of God.

And everyone who speaks a word against the son of man, it will be forgiven him, but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it is, it will not be forgiven him.

So Jesus is saying.

When you become a believer, there are no secret believers.

If you deny him, then he's going to deny you. Well, then you instantly think of, well, what about Peter? Peter not only denied him, he denied him three times.

Because Jesus had already told Peter that would happen.

And I think that was part of the reason why Peter was so valiant at the arrest and why he took out his sword and struck one of the men in attendance. 'cause I think he was trying to deny deny.

But then when it came.

Or in Jesus is trials that he followed him.

And even a slave girl, he could not say.

I'm with Jesus.

But the difference is Peter did not have the Holy Spirit then.

After the resurrection, he did.

And Peter considered it joy to suffer for the name of Jesus.

You and I if we are believers, have the Holy Spirit.

So I denial of him then kind of impact. Maybe we do not have the Holy Spirit.

So.

I think we should take this warning very seriously.

How important is our faith in him?

And he says, even if it comes at a time when you say something against the son of man.

He says I want to forgive you.

But when you blasphemed the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

And that's why the Pharisees are not being forgiven, because they did in fact blasphemed the Holy Spirit.

Then he's going to come up on a different topic in kind of the same vein. In verse 11, he says when they bring you before the synagogue and the rulers and the authorities.

Do not worry.

About how or what you are to speak in your defense or what you are to say. Now Jesus is saying there's one thing when somebody says are you, my disciple and you say yes or no? Now it's been ratcheted up and you've been brought before the religious authorities?

Now for us.

We think Oh well.

So what for them? It was very significant because if you were cast out of the synagogue.

It was a true excommunication. It was no longer. You just weren't allowed to go to synagogue. You couldn't buy, sell, or do other things because you were cast out of the community.

So it was a serious situation. So Jesus says when that happens and it will because his disciples, after the resurrection and Ascension went to the authorities on a number of times.

He says don't plan out your defense before hand.

Now, that's not this.

Denying would Peter will later right in his letters to always be ready to give a defense for the faith that is in you.

That defense is when you are witnessing, why would you become a follower of Jesus? You're having it. It's where we get the term apologetics. It's you are discussing why I believe the way I do this isn't why I believe the way I do. I believe the way I do, and I have been accused of it. So Jesus, don't worry, don't plan out of Defense. the Holy Spirit is going to tell you exactly what to say.

And when to say it?

Now.

That doesn't mean that they're going to buy what the Holy Spirit says, and you'll be released.

You may be released.

And you may be like Stephen who gets stoned to death.

Are you maybe like Peter who gets crucified upside down? Or you may be like Paul, who is believed to have been beheaded. Or you may be like on any thousands of other believers who were crucified, burned at the stake, and whatever, all for the name of Jesus.

But your defense will be made by the Holy Spirit.

And while Jesus is making these statements.

We get somebody who wants to change the subject.

If you've ever taught classes, or you've done things, you will find people who are always wanting to change the subject you're trying to drive home certain points, Jesus saying.

Beware of the 11 of the Pharisees.

Make sure you understand that even your thoughts.

Or known and if you deny me all night and all this and so here comes in verse 13 a change of subject, some in the crowd said to him teacher tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.

So here's This guy with Jesus is teaching spiritual things. Cheeses is trying to teach us how to relate to God and how to live a better life. If you will. And here's This guy who enter interrupts an he's so much like people who pray to God.

Notice he didn't say, Hey, Jesus, would you hear my case? This is why my brother should divide the inheritance with me. It's no tell my brother to divide the inheritance with Maine. When we go to Jesus, we tell him God, I want you to Abcd and EO an A in your name, Amen.

We love to tell God what to do.

Rather than saying God, this is my case as David in many of the Psalms will plead his case before God as God being the judge and saying God, you rendered a decision. This person changes the subject demands that Jesus determine the outcome according to the way he wants it to be.

But he said, being Jesus said to him, man.

Who appointed me? Judge or arbitrator, arbitrator over you now?

This reminds me of two things.

When Moses attempted to be to judge of the entire nation of Israel as they were.

Leaving.

His brother log. I mean I'm sorry his father in law gave him some great advice. He said there's too many problems. There's too much, so why don't you appoint some people who are good? Were the men to render judgment on these small matters an on the important things? In essence, in our situation you become the Supreme Court.

If it's a really hard matter or somebody wants to appeal the decision or whatever, then you hear that. But let all the other judges in Jesus and S insane. I got more important business, so who who made me judging this situation?

Go deal with the judge in this situation, not me.

But I'll tell you who appointed Jesus Judge God, and he will judge us at the end.

If you will, in the ultimate Supreme Court.

So then he takes that opportunity of the change of topic that teaches. Well, then he said to them, beware and be on your guard against every form of greed or not, even when one has an abundance, does his life consists of his possessions. So Jesus says, here's this guys come.

And we're going to assume that he was probably fairly well off because he doesn't say that the guys for he says even when you have enough and you have a lot of possessions, what you own does not define you.

Now what you own tries to define you.

All you have to be as an you dad who wants to put a swing set up for his children and to see all the complicated directions of the swing set and then at the end it tells you you're supposed to oil it. Every so often. You're supposed to maintain it ever so often and you just go. I just want the kids to have fun. I don't want to work.

And so we have these things in all of a sudden, the more we seem to possess, the more it seems to possess us.

The people who seem to want to hold on to what they have or those who have more.

And so Jesus ain't beware sonatas. Just as Jesus had said beware of hypocrisy, he says beef where of every form of greed.

'cause there's lots of forms. Agreed it's not just money can be fame can be power. It can be popularity. Whatever the situation is.

Is we can never find enough, and if you will.

It's one of the.

I guess great questions among a number of why I never be exceptionally wealthy is because when I look at these great men and women of wealth, I wonder why you keep working, why? Why don't you just enjoy what you got? Why don't you take what you got and then do good things or do whatever, why not, but I know it's because some people it's not the possession is the pursuit of the per possession.

And so they are trying to acquire it, and he's saying Your life does not consist of what you own.

No one will judge You at the end whether you owned Bentleys and Mercedes Maserati's

As opposed to.

67 VW's.

It's not definitive.

And to drive home this point that you're not defined by your possessions, even if it's a lot which is going to kind of shake them up because they think the more you have, the more God blesses you. In the last you have must mean God is opposed to you.

So then he's going to tell them a parable.

Sing

Land of a rich man was very productive. He began reasoning to himself, saying, what shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?

Now notice he doesn't ask the question.

Do I have enough?

He says I don't have enough space to store what I have.

He could have said since I have no space, maybe I should give what I have extra to others.

But no, he's gonna hold onto it.

Then he said This is what I will do I will tear down my barns and build larger ones.

And there will store all migraine and my goods. Now notice you keep hearing my goods migraine my stuff.

He's thinking his possessions to find him.

And I will say to my soul soul, you have many good laid up for many years to come.

Take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.

Now this rich young fool has he'll be later hold talked about.

Has the same problem many younger people and older people do.

We all decide that we're going to pursue things before we take a look at our eternal souls.

So we say Well when I get through school.

I'll turn to God.

And when I get a job all turned it God and when I get a promotion I'll think about God. And when I'm there in retirement, I'll think about God and, well, you know, I've always wanted to take that cruise. So after the cruise I will think about God and there's always some other reason to think about rather than your soul.

And so when you do that, so he saying, take your ease kickback, you have lots of stuff you can enjoy it.

Eat, drink and be merry.

But God said to him.

But God said to him.

This very night.

Your soul will be required of you.

All his plans to enjoy all of his stuff.

Ended that night.

He said Saul take it easy. God said no, no by Saul is demanded night.

And then God asked him a question as he takes him out.

And now, who alone? What you have prepared?

Question is OK.

You decided to trade the temporary instead of the eternal.

So who's going to maintain the temporary?

As I frequently say.

I have never seen in all the funeral possessions that I have been a part of or observed driving on the highway.

That I ever see a U-Haul trailer behind the hearse.

You never take it with you.

One of the reasons I know is because I do probate work.

And oftentimes the errors fight over what you said is how they're supposed to be divided up, and so they spend most of it on the lawyers arguing over who ought to get it.

The regardless of who wins or loses the person in the ground.

Didn't take it with him.

And this has been a common thought throughout human experience.

Take the Egyptians.

The rulers the Pharaohs thought OK, not only do I believe in an afterlife, and so they mummified them and put their bodies in whatever, what they do, they put in boats and they put in servants and they put in gold and all kinds of things to make their life.

Valuable in the afterlife.

But guess what? When they rated those tunes.

The boats and the servants and the cold in the jewels were still there.

Even in their belief, it still didn't get.

Gone from there.

So is the man who stores up treasures for himself is not rich towards God.

The end of this parable.

Jesus, in essence, ask us a question.

Are you more generous?

With your stuff for you and you are generous towards God.

Then he goes on. In verse 22 he says that he said to his disciples.

For this reason I say to you.

Do not worry about your life. Is it what you will eat?

Or for your body is what you will put on.

Or life is more than food and the body more than clothing.

Consider the Ravens, for they neither sow nor reap or have storerooms nor Barnes and yet God feeds them.

How much more valuable are you and the bird? Well, God's already answered that you are more valuable your more valuable than than many sparrows. And yet God knows every moving of the Sparrow, so you are more valuable. So if God feeds them, you don't need to worry.

And which of you? Why worrying can add a single hour to his life span?

If you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters?

Now.

There was a song that I didn't like said. Don't worry, be happy.

I still like the tune.

And I've read this passage not just in in.

Sermons, but in other Bible Studies.

No, yeah.

Praise God, don't worry.

And it's easy for me to tell you not to worry about what you're worrying about.

Until it's something that I worry about.

And yet what God Jesus says is?

Don't worry as you won't change it by worried.

You can lie on your bed.

Awake worrying.

Any either will or won't happen.

But yeah, we continue to lay in her bed, worrying.

About it

So I have two pieces of advice that I need to get myself into you.

No, I'm pointing one figure. 3 fingers are being pointed back.

Number one, if there's something that you can do about it, do it.

Is there nothing you can do about it pray?

Because God is argues that Jesus is always said. God is concerned about you.

So therefore pray what is worrying you?

And do that thing that none of us really do.

Leave it to God.

Because you just said.

If you worry about life.

And you thinking I'm gonna try to expand my life a little longer you can't do it. As a matter of fact, science tells us, the more we worry is probably going to shorten our life.

Because if you can't change it.

What's the point of worry?

Like I said.

Worrying doesn't work.

Although we keep trying it.

But if God so close the grass of, I'm sorry.

27 consider the lilies.

My father love lilies. Every time I read this passage, I think of the lilies that he loved.

And my mind goes there. There are beautifully white green stalks, the Golden Center. So consider the lilies. How they grow. They neither toil nor spin. But I tell you not even Solomon in all of his glory. Close himself like one of these.

Now lilies are not the most expensive flower into.

Laura's.

Not everybody I know my my wife like some.

Stargazers, some people call him Tiger lilies or whatever but but there in there a little more expensive, but the typical Lily. That's why they in the old cartoons. When you saw a.

You're coughing, there'd be a single Lily on top of it, but it was a beautiful flower. And God, saying, Solomon, who was wealthy beyond belief.

Couldn't dress himself better.

You know, Lily.

So if God takes care of the Lily who's there and then fades away.

But if God so close the grass in the field which which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will he clothes you?

You, men of little faith.

You see, we get so wrapped up in 2.

The here and now if we forget to let God to God.

And so we have.

Not no faith.

But not enough and it's always striking because it old men of little faith and he had Jesus said, if you have the faith, the size of a mustard seed, you could tell this mountain to be moved. It will be moved. So that tells you how little the faith really is.

And do not seek.

But you will eat and what you will dream and do not keep worrying for all these things, the nations of the world eagerly seat.

Is not uncommon. Demand to worry about food, shelter, possessions and all that.

Doesn't everybody has that? So if God notices every hair on your head and you're more valuable than the birds and you're more valuable than the grass and the Flowers.

And he saying.

Oh no.

Is aware.

God knows you need these things.

But seek his Kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

Jesus is saying change your motivation, change your direction, change your attitude instead of pursuing the temporal.

Which God already knows you need.

See his Kingdom.

The other day, I listen to briefly.

Seminary professor who was speaking.

Before a Chapel at his seminary.

And you made a comment that I thought was very interesting. He goes many men and women come to seminary wanting to know what God's will is for their lives was always what does God's will for me.

An we frequently will ask well what is God's will for me?

In his statement was.

Just drop off the for me.

What is God's will?

Do that.

See the Kingdom of God, which is God's will.

Not for you, that's his will.

Seek his Kingdom.

And these things will be added to you.

Do not be afraid, little flock, for your father has chosen gladly to give you the Kingdom, so by seeking God's Kingdom is not a hide and seek.

Is that well? I wonder if I'll find it. Once you seek God's Kingdom, he will gladly give it to you.

Notice it's offer grudgingly, he stopped with indifference. It's gladly give it to you.

First 33 sell your possessions and give to charity. Give to those who are going to give. Make yourselves money else which do not wear out.

And unfailing treasure in heaven.

Or there's no thief.

Comes near nor bought North destroys.

For where your treasure is, then your heart will be also.

Jesus makes a statement.

It really lies.

At the crux of it.

There was a.

Young man who was rich.

Who came to Jesus? And we saw this previously. He wanted to know what he needed to do.

Inherit the Kingdom.

And Jesus said, well, what is Los 80 talks about loving the Lord in an loving your neighbor in Jesus? Well, one thing basically select give what you have.

You follow me.

And the person went away sorrowfully.

He asked the question, what do I need to do? Get eternal life when given the answer?

His possessions owned him rather than him owning his possessions.

And so Jesus says.

You wanna know?

But where is your heart?

Is your heart in heaven is that's where your treasures are? Or as your heart here on earth in the pursuit of more possessions.

Now as I said.

I have never seen.

U-Haul trailer behind.

A hearse.

But I do know that there are many many very very rich people in heaven.

Because the scripture says you can't take it with you, but you can send it on ahead.

So my advice to me.

In my advice to you.

Send it on ahead.

The look on it as to tell you where your heart is.

In my prayer for me and my prayer for you is your heart is there in Heaven.

And all God's people said.