Five Fear-busters!Five Fear-busters!Matthew 10:24-33Matthew 10:24-33

Logos Bible FellowshipLogos Bible Fellowship

3/28/20073/28/2007

Context of the PassageContext of the Passage

• Mt 9:38 – Jesus prays for harvest laborersMt 9:38 – Jesus prays for harvest laborers• Mt 10:1 – Jesus gives His disciples authorityMt 10:1 – Jesus gives His disciples authority• Mt 10:5 – Jesus sends out His disciples to Mt 10:5 – Jesus sends out His disciples to

preachpreach• Mt 10:16 – Disciples as “sheep among Mt 10:16 – Disciples as “sheep among

wolves”wolves”• Mt 10:17-23 – Promise of persecutionMt 10:17-23 – Promise of persecution

– Physical affliction (vv.17-18), arresting Physical affliction (vv.17-18), arresting (vv.17,19), betrayal (v.21), rebellion (v.21), (vv.17,19), betrayal (v.21), rebellion (v.21), hatred (v.22), persecution (v.23)hatred (v.22), persecution (v.23)

• Matthew 10:24-33 – Five fear-bustersMatthew 10:24-33 – Five fear-busters

Setting Your HeartSetting Your Heart

““It is strange that when God gives His It is strange that when God gives His children mercies, they generally set children mercies, they generally set their hearts more on the mercies than their hearts more on the mercies than on the Giver of them. But when the on the Giver of them. But when the night comes, and He sweeps all the night comes, and He sweeps all the mercies away, then at once they each mercies away, then at once they each say ‘Now, my God, I have nothing to say ‘Now, my God, I have nothing to sing of but thee; I must come only to sing of but thee; I must come only to thee, and to thee only.’”thee, and to thee only.’”

~ Charles H. ~ Charles H. SpurgeonSpurgeon

Outline of the PassageOutline of the Passage

1.1. Replicate Replicate God’sGod’s Example (vv.24-25) Example (vv.24-25)

2.2. Recall Recall God’sGod’s Omniscience (vv.26- Omniscience (vv.26-27)27)

3.3. Revere Revere God’sGod’s Power (v.28) Power (v.28)

4.4. Rest in Rest in God’sGod’s Benevolence (vv.29- Benevolence (vv.29-31)31)

5.5. Reciprocate Reciprocate God’sGod’s Faithfulness Faithfulness (vv.32-33)(vv.32-33)

Replicate God’s Example Replicate God’s Example (vv.24-25)(vv.24-25)

• If the world persecuted Christ, they will If the world persecuted Christ, they will persecute us also (cf. persecute us also (cf. John 15:18-16:4John 15:18-16:4))– If you are saved, you will be hated and If you are saved, you will be hated and

persecutedpersecuted– They will do this because they do not know GodThey will do this because they do not know God– Despite this, you must testifyDespite this, you must testify– His promises and Spirit keep you from going His promises and Spirit keep you from going

astrayastray– See also 2 Timothy 3:12 and Acts 14:22See also 2 Timothy 3:12 and Acts 14:22

• Be willing to be like and follow Christ in all Be willing to be like and follow Christ in all ways (Mt. 10:38-39; 1 Pet. 2:18-23; Heb. ways (Mt. 10:38-39; 1 Pet. 2:18-23; Heb. 12:2-3)12:2-3)

Recall God’s Omniscience Recall God’s Omniscience (vv.26-27)(vv.26-27)

• What is the “therefore” there for?What is the “therefore” there for?– Jesus was going to overcome the world (Jn. Jesus was going to overcome the world (Jn.

16:33)16:33)– ““The fundamental ground for endurance in The fundamental ground for endurance in

persecution is the victory of Jesus over the persecution is the victory of Jesus over the world (Jn. 12:31; 1 Cor. 15:57). Through His world (Jn. 12:31; 1 Cor. 15:57). Through His impending death, He rendered the world’s impending death, He rendered the world’s opposition null and void. While the world opposition null and void. While the world continues to attack His people, such attacks continues to attack His people, such attacks fall harmlessly, for Christ’s victory has fall harmlessly, for Christ’s victory has already accomplished a smashing defeat of already accomplished a smashing defeat of the whole evil rebellious system.” the whole evil rebellious system.” ~John MacArthur~John MacArthur

Recall God’s Omniscience Recall God’s Omniscience (vv.26-27)(vv.26-27)

• All things concealed will be revealedAll things concealed will be revealed• Do not hide or conceal the Word of GodDo not hide or conceal the Word of God

– Knowing that the gospel produces faith and Knowing that the gospel produces faith and salvation (Ro. 1:16, 10:17) should produce salvation (Ro. 1:16, 10:17) should produce boldness in us (boldness in us (Acts 4:23-31Acts 4:23-31))

– God’s Word is living and active. It convicts, God’s Word is living and active. It convicts, judges, and lays us bare before God (Heb. judges, and lays us bare before God (Heb. 4:12-13)4:12-13)

• Live a holy life Live a holy life – Pray through Psalm 139:23-24 and Psalm Pray through Psalm 139:23-24 and Psalm

19:1419:14– Bless your enemies (Ro. 12:17-21; Mt. 5:43-48)Bless your enemies (Ro. 12:17-21; Mt. 5:43-48)

Revere God’s Power Revere God’s Power (v.28)(v.28)

• Persecutors can only kill the body but Persecutors can only kill the body but God can destroy both body and soul in God can destroy both body and soul in hellhell

• Every person goes to either Heaven or Every person goes to either Heaven or Hell (Matt. 25:46)Hell (Matt. 25:46)

• Rejection of God’s revelation results in Rejection of God’s revelation results in consuming judgment (Heb. 10:26-27, 31)consuming judgment (Heb. 10:26-27, 31)

• God will take vengeance on those who God will take vengeance on those who do not know Him and do not obey the do not know Him and do not obey the gospel of Jesus Christ (gospel of Jesus Christ (2 Thes. 1:3-102 Thes. 1:3-10))

Revere God’s Power Revere God’s Power (v.28)(v.28)““Having a right attitude toward suffering is essential, and that Having a right attitude toward suffering is essential, and that

required attitude is concern for the kingdom of God. They were required attitude is concern for the kingdom of God. They were not self-centered, but concentrated on God’s kingdom. Their focus not self-centered, but concentrated on God’s kingdom. Their focus was not on personal comfort, fulfillment, and happiness, but on was not on personal comfort, fulfillment, and happiness, but on the glory of God and the fulfillment of His purposes. They were the glory of God and the fulfillment of His purposes. They were not moaning about the injustice of their persecutions. Rather, not moaning about the injustice of their persecutions. Rather, they were patiently enduring the sufferings they did not deserve they were patiently enduring the sufferings they did not deserve (v. 4). This very attitude was “manifest evidence” or positive proof (v. 4). This very attitude was “manifest evidence” or positive proof that God’s wise process of purging, purifying, and perfecting that God’s wise process of purging, purifying, and perfecting through suffering was working to make His beloved people through suffering was working to make His beloved people worthy of the kingdom (cf. 2:12) by being perfected (cf. James worthy of the kingdom (cf. 2:12) by being perfected (cf. James 1:2–4; 1 Pet. 5:10). For believers, afflictions are to be expected 1:2–4; 1 Pet. 5:10). For believers, afflictions are to be expected (cf. 1 Thess. 3:3) as they live and develop Christian character in a (cf. 1 Thess. 3:3) as they live and develop Christian character in a satanic world. Suffering is not to be thought of as evidence that satanic world. Suffering is not to be thought of as evidence that God has forsaken them, but evidence that He is with them, God has forsaken them, but evidence that He is with them, perfecting them (cf. Matt. 5:10; Rom 8:18; 2 Cor. 12:10). So the perfecting them (cf. Matt. 5:10; Rom 8:18; 2 Cor. 12:10). So the Thessalonians demonstrated that their salvation, determined by Thessalonians demonstrated that their salvation, determined by faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ, was genuine because they, faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ, was genuine because they, like Christ, were willing to suffer on account of God and His like Christ, were willing to suffer on account of God and His kingdom. They suffered unjustly as objects of man’s wrath against kingdom. They suffered unjustly as objects of man’s wrath against Christ and His kingdom (Acts 5:41; Phil. 3:10; Col. 1:24).”Christ and His kingdom (Acts 5:41; Phil. 3:10; Col. 1:24).”

~John MacArthur~John MacArthur

Rest in God’s Benevolence Rest in God’s Benevolence (vv.29-31)(vv.29-31)

• Benevolence – “God’s unselfish concern for Benevolence – “God’s unselfish concern for the welfare of those He loves.” ~ H. Wayne the welfare of those He loves.” ~ H. Wayne HouseHouse

• Even a sparrow cannot die apart from God’s Even a sparrow cannot die apart from God’s will (i.e. God allowing it to happen)will (i.e. God allowing it to happen)

• God has even numbers the hairs on your God has even numbers the hairs on your headhead

• God will care for you and protect you if you God will care for you and protect you if you cast yourself on Him (Ps. 55:22)cast yourself on Him (Ps. 55:22)

• You are more than conquerors in Christ You are more than conquerors in Christ ((Ro. 8:28-39Ro. 8:28-39). See Stephen’s example (Acts ). See Stephen’s example (Acts 7:59-60)!7:59-60)!

Reciprocate God’s Faithfulness Reciprocate God’s Faithfulness (vv.32-33)(vv.32-33)

• The person who acknowledges Christ as The person who acknowledges Christ as Lord in life and in death is the one whom Lord in life and in death is the one whom Jesus will acknowledge before the Father as Jesus will acknowledge before the Father as His own.His own.

• We are able to be faithful to God, because We are able to be faithful to God, because He was faithful first (2 Tim. 2:8-13; 1 John He was faithful first (2 Tim. 2:8-13; 1 John 4:19)4:19)

• Falling away during hardship indicates only Falling away during hardship indicates only a emotional, superficial, false conversion a emotional, superficial, false conversion ((Matt. 13:5-6, 20-21Matt. 13:5-6, 20-21). This is illustrated by ). This is illustrated by the teacher of the Law in Mt. 8:18-20.the teacher of the Law in Mt. 8:18-20.

Reciprocate God’s Faithfulness Reciprocate God’s Faithfulness (vv.32-33)(vv.32-33)

““You may readily judge whether you are You may readily judge whether you are a child of God or a hypocrite by seeing a child of God or a hypocrite by seeing in what direction your soul turns in in what direction your soul turns in seasons of severe trial. The hypocrite seasons of severe trial. The hypocrite flies to the world and finds a sort of flies to the world and finds a sort of comfort there. But the child of God comfort there. But the child of God runs to his Father and expects runs to his Father and expects consolation only from the Lord’s hand.”consolation only from the Lord’s hand.”

~ Charles H. ~ Charles H. SpurgeonSpurgeon

Group DiscussionGroup DiscussionNateNate:: What title is used for the Holy Spirit in John What title is used for the Holy Spirit in John

15:26-27? How should this affect your witness? 15:26-27? How should this affect your witness? How does understanding God’s benevolence How does understanding God’s benevolence and omniscience and Christ’s victory affect you? and omniscience and Christ’s victory affect you? How can the group pray for you in this regard? How can the group pray for you in this regard?

MarkMark: What does it mean if hardship is promised : What does it mean if hardship is promised and you have never experienced any? How and you have never experienced any? How does Christ’s victory over the world give you does Christ’s victory over the world give you hope to endure hardship in the world? How can hope to endure hardship in the world? How can the group pray for you in this regard?the group pray for you in this regard?

RickRick: What are some ways that a Christian being : What are some ways that a Christian being persecuted can result in the glory of God? What persecuted can result in the glory of God? What is one way that the group can pray for you to be is one way that the group can pray for you to be more bold for Christ and more faithful to Him?more bold for Christ and more faithful to Him?