Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard
Pittsgrove Presbyterian Church
Sermon Matthew 10:26-31 “Fear”
June 21, 2020
We live in a world filled with fear. Late last year a virus began ravaging parts of China. It was deadly to elderly patients and to those with already compromised immune systems. The virus quickly spread all over the world. Scientists told us that this virus was a coronavirus, like a common cold, but far more serious. Health officials told us to flatten the curve with social distancing for two weeks to slow the spread. Political leaders told us to stay home and told schools, businesses, and churches to close. And for months we have been cowering at home, fearful that we might either get or transmit the virus. We will talk about our fear, but first, let’s pray.
Heavenly Father, we fear a dangerous virus. Calm our fears and be our God. In our Lord Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Listen, as Jesus talks about what his disciples fear.
Matthew 10:16 “See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles.
21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 22 and you will be hated by all because of my name.
There is plenty in this world to be afraid of. And we are justified in staying in our homes with the doors locked, because without Jesus in our lives, we have no hope of dealing with fear. But with Jesus, our fears dissolve. Hear his message.
Matthew 10:26 “So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. 27 What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. 28 Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 And even the hairs of your head are all counted. 31 So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.
We believe that God is in control of the world. And if God is in control, why would we be afraid? We believe that Jesus defeated death through his resurrection. Though this he promised us eternal life. If we have eternal life, why would we be afraid of death? The Holy Spirit has adopted us into God’s family. If we are the children of God, why would we be afraid of anything?
The world has not been as fearful in the past as we are today. We have had dangerous viruses before but did not close everything down. We have had polio, smallpox, the Black Death, but did not close churches. If just one year ago we heard about a more difficult flu season would we have closed the church? Of course not. So what changed?
We are now seeing the effects of the secularization of western culture. Fifty years ago we noticed that church attendance was beginning to decline. We focused on new worship styles to try to get people back to church. But we assumed that the biblical principles that are the foundation of western culture would always remain intact and guide us. So long as we were guided by the Bible we had no fear.
As Christians, we have many things to be afraid of, but we have no fear because of our faith in Christ. But what about all those who have lost their faith in God? What about all those who have abandoned the church? What about those who have never been to church? What about those with little or no faith? They will be afraid. And this is exactly what we are seeing today. As western culture pulls away from the church and biblical principles, it loses its faith. And with the loss of faith comes an increase in fear.
In the 9th century before Christ, the Hebrews were filled with fear. All of their enemies conspired to defeat them. Listen to how the Chronicler tells the story.
2 Chronicles 20:1 After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. 2 Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; already they are at Hazazon-tamar” (that is, En-gedi). 3 Jehoshaphat was afraid;
You can’t blame Jehoshaphat for being afraid. We would be afraid if we were threatened. So what did Jehoshaphat do to help his people deal with their fear? Did he tell them to go home and lock their doors? Well, no. Here is what he did.
3 He set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the towns of Judah, they came to seek the Lord.
What did Jehoshaphat do to deal with the fear his people were experiencing? He proclaimed a nationwide fast and summoned everyone together for worship. What if we did the same? What would happen if our leaders called for a period of fasting and prayer and encouraged people to go to church and ask God for deliverance from the virus? Jehoshaphat prayed for deliverance from his enemies. Here is his prayer.
5 Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, 6 and said, “O Lord, God of our ancestors, are you not God in heaven? Do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? In your hand are power and might, so that no one is able to withstand you. 7 Did you not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? 8 They have lived in it, and in it have built you a sanctuary for your name, saying, 9 ‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house, and before you, for your name is in this house, and cry to you in our distress, and you will hear and save.’ 10 See now, the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy— 11 they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession that you have given us to inherit. 12 O our God, will you not execute judgment upon them? For we are powerless against this great multitude that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
In the midst of worship, prayer, and fasting God promised to answer their prayers. God sent a prophet to talk to his people. Listen to the prophet’s message.
13 Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. 14 Then the spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the middle of the assembly.
15 He said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not fear or be dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours but God’s. 16 Tomorrow go down against them; they will come up by the ascent of Ziz; you will find them at the end of the valley, before the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 This battle is not for you to fight; take your position, stand still, and see the victory of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”
The prophet told them to trust in God. We are to turn our fears over to God and let him protect us. So what happened to the Israelites when they tried this? Let’s go back to the story.
18 Then Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. 19 And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
With their fear gone they worshiped and praised the God who had delivered them. And they were ready to confront their enemies once and for all.
20 They rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God and you will be established; believe his prophets.” 21 When he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy splendor, as they went before the army, saying,
“Give thanks to the Lord,
for his steadfast love endures forever.”
22 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the Ammonites, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.
God defeated their enemies. God can defeat anything we fear. Turn every fear over to God and let him deal with it. And then respond to this blessing like this.
27 Then all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat at their head, returned to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lord had enabled them to rejoice over their enemies. 28 They came to Jerusalem, with harps and lyres and trumpets, to the house of the Lord.
So let’s turn all of our fears over to God. Let God deal with all that threatens us.
And let us leave our homes and return to our normal lives. We will have to protect ourselves from the virus. We will have to protect those who are most vulnerable to the virus. When we open this church we must practice safe distancing. The most vulnerable and the sick should stay home. But let’s turn all our fears over to God. Let’s open this church for prayer and worship praising God for all he has done for us. And let’s “give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.”
Let’s pray. Lord Jesus, we thank you for dealing with all that we fear. We worship and praise you for all that you do for us. As we come back to church, protect us from the virus, and let us safely return to worship. Amen.
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