Luke 12:1-12

[0:00] You're going to be turning to Luke chapter 12 this morning. Luke chapter 12.

[0:18] ! I don't know about you, but today it's kind of gotten to the point where I feel like I have to go.! We've thought about will we have service? We've thought about how will people get home?

[0:33] Who will get home safely? We've, at least as elders, been running all over the place, not physically, but thinking through things. And God has been good, but now we come to God's word.

[0:46] And it would be good for us to rest as we think about this. We who are parents have an obligation, as much as we can, to make sure our kids are prepared to make good choices throughout life.

[1:04] No pressure. No pressure. It's not unusual for situations to come up that give us a sense of urgency to convey principles and truths to our children in order to prepare them for facing the kind of situations that we experience.

[1:23] And oftentimes that comes in this kind of place where we just experience a situation. And we're very much burdened at that point to convey principles to deal with that exact situation.

[1:37] Now, Jesus has been teaching his disciples all through his public ministry to this point. And the situation he's just gone through, and I'll just remind you, that's where he was out.

[1:52] He finished his Galilean ministry, and he's heading towards Jerusalem. And on the way, he cast the demon out of this demon-possessed man. And not much is made of it, but all of a sudden the Pharisees and the lawyers are beginning to accuse Jesus.

[2:09] Oh, you're casting out demons by Beelzebul. And Jesus has words with them about that and sets the situation straight.

[2:21] And they say, oh, show us more miracles than we'll believe. And Jesus talks to them about that and sets them straight. And at that point, one of the Pharisees says, let's sit down to eat.

[2:35] And it's a banquet, and supposedly Jesus is the guest of honor. But they have him there to be able to attack him or be able to talk more about what he'd said.

[2:48] And he starts out by breaking their traditions. And then he said some bold words to them. Woe to you, Pharisees. You wash the outside of the cup, and the inside's filthy.

[3:01] And the meal was on. We talked last time about, ooh, that'd be a tough meal to sit through. Indigestion, I'm sure, abounded after that was done.

[3:14] But he gets done with that meal. And from the text of Scripture that we'll read in just a moment, he goes outside. And the first thing he does is go to his disciples.

[3:27] And what he's just gone through gives him great opportunity to share several protective truths to them. He's like that parent.

[3:38] And I think that's very much because of some of the things he says, you know, I tell you, my friends. My friends. He addresses the disciples as my friends. I tell you, my friends. And he goes on to talk about, he's like that parent who's just gone through a situation.

[3:53] And as he steps out of that situation, he says, kids, I just want to let you know. These are some things you need to think about. Maybe you've done that, Dad. Or maybe you've done that, Mom.

[4:03] And you've had that great opportunity to convey things because your kids have watched you go through something. And they've watched what you said. And they're beginning to get the feel of the atmosphere and beginning to wonder, ooh, this is getting rough.

[4:20] And you take that opportunity to teach them. And Jesus does just that. He takes the opportunity to teach them truths that will help them know how to follow him in a world that hates him and hates them.

[4:39] And so as we look at Luke chapter 12, follow along as I read the first 12 verses. In the meantime, when so many thousands of people had gathered together that they were trampling one upon another, he began to say to his disciples first, Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

[5:09] Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed or hidden that will not be known. Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light. And what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed in the housetops.

[5:23] I tell you, my friends, nothing more that they can do. But I warn you whom to fear. Fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell.

[5:36] Yes, I tell you, fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God.

[5:51] Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, you are of more value than many sparrows. Fear not, you are of less.

[6:01] Fear not, you are of less. And I will tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God.

[6:11] But the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven.

[6:22] But the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say.

[6:37] For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say. Let's pray together. Amen. Father, I thank you that as we come to this passage and even just a quick read through it, there's passion here.

[7:00] Our Lord Jesus's passion. And I thank you, Father, that that passion is directed towards his disciples. And even though we're removed by over 2,000 years, that passion is directed towards us.

[7:17] And when we hear, I tell you, my friends, it was not to 12 or several hundred who were called disciples who were just there.

[7:29] I thank you, Father, that that phrase applies to us. And so, Father, as we come before your word and we have this scene where the Lord Jesus is so motivated and passionate about protecting his disciples, I pray that you would be with us, that we would hear him speak to us.

[7:51] And that as we live in this world full of people who hate you and even hate us, Lord, may we know how you would have us to live and to be true to you.

[8:07] I pray that you would give wisdom in this and that your spirit would seal it to our hearts, we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. Well, I know that I have read three verses that I actually preached on a little bit last week.

[8:22] And that was on purpose. We'll get to that more in just a second. But I just didn't want to, I know I'm getting old, but I'm not quite that senile yet.

[8:35] I just wanted you to know. So as we look at this passage, it was evident from the meal with the Pharisees, there were some attitudes that took place.

[8:47] If you have your Bible, while you have your Bible, if you look back to 53 and 54, you're going to see that the moment Jesus left, the Pharisees and the lawyers were already conniving how to set up questions, how to put Jesus in situations so that they could catch him.

[9:09] They wanted to be able to accuse him either to the Romans or to the Jewish leaders. They wanted to get him in trouble with someone. Someone that could come along and do away with him. They hated Jesus.

[9:24] And they wanted to kill him. Jesus knew it. And these people knew it. And I think the disciples are beginning to get that drift. At least they were beginning to see that Jesus' ministry, although there were thousands upon thousands, and many think the terms here may even mean close to 10,000, even though people were falling all over each other, getting close to, trying to get close to Jesus, there was a friction that was coming out.

[9:58] And because it was with the religious leaders, it was a scary friction. They sought opportunity to have him condemned and killed.

[10:10] And Jesus, the God-man, being God, knew that this was not something that would just be something that he would face.

[10:21] He knew that these men that he was training, he knew that these men who wanted to serve him, who were loving him, who were obeying him, who were following, who would someday speak for him, he knew that these men, not only these men, but also the women who were following, and down through the ages, all of those, all of us, who would ever name the name of Christ and want to follow Christ, would follow along and feel the same hatred as he's facing and feeling.

[10:56] And his burden was that people be ready for that. Matthew 2.22 says, And you will be hated by all for my namesake.

[11:09] Matthew, or Luke 21.12, which is further ahead. We'll see this more later. But before all this, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and the prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my namesake.

[11:29] In Matthew 24.9, Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my namesake.

[11:42] As disciples of Christ, we face the same attitude today. Now, it varies in its intensity.

[11:53] It varies in its openness. But the world still does hate us. Now, sure, you may have nice neighbors. That's great.

[12:04] I'm not saying that your neighbors are ready to stab you in your sleep. But those who don't know Christ, they don't like Christ.

[12:14] I can give you testimony before I knew Christ. He was my enemy. I know that because I know that, and I know that more importantly because Scripture says that.

[12:27] The world hates Christ. And the world is going to hate us. And the thing is, as we face that kind of thing, the temptation, temptation, because we often are people who like for people to like us, it's a temptation for us to take a path that will be of least resistance.

[12:51] Let's not make them mad. Let's make them happy. Let's compromise. Let's be a little hypocritical so that it makes everyone happy. And that's not the path we're to take.

[13:04] And so as Jesus comes out of this meal with these Pharisees, and their attitude is very evident as they begin their discussions and their pursuit of Him, He's wanting His disciples to know what they needed to remember when the world hates them.

[13:27] It's interesting. I really want to point this out to you. I've made much of it a little bit already, but I'll make more of it. Even though many thousands were gathering, and most Christians in this day would say, okay, the disciples need to wait a few minutes.

[13:45] I've got 10,000 people I'm going to share the gospel with. Now He gets to it. He gets to it. But as He comes away from that crowd, and 10,000s of people are trampling over themselves to be near them, His first thought is for His people.

[14:01] I want you to see that. I want you to know that Christ has a heart for His people. Now He has a heart for the lost. Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, oh, how it would gather together as a hen gathers her chicks, but you would not.

[14:16] He has a heart for the lost. But He's burdened for those of you here today who know Christ, that you follow Him, even though the world hates you.

[14:27] And so His first words out, and these are words that I talked about last week, He says, Beware the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

[14:42] And I addressed them last week because it's such a good summarization of what they were doing, of what they were. But now I want to bear it out because it's a reminder of us to be careful because these Pharisees were hypocrites.

[15:00] And what they taught was hypocrisy. The temptation the Pharisee pushed, I'm sorry, was to pretend to be something you are not.

[15:10] They lived lives that were clean on the outside, but filthy on the inside. And that's the way they pushed their religion. Just look good.

[15:20] Just look good. Doesn't matter what you really like. Just look good. Some people today, they're always pretending to be the victorious Christian. Never ever admitting that they're struggling.

[15:33] Never ever admitting that they fight sin like every Christian does. And they pretend to be victorious on the outside. And they may well be truly Christians. Sometimes we can get caught up in this hypocrisy, of never letting the inside show.

[15:48] And I'm not talking about letting all your messy blood and guts, sin-wise, spew out on everybody. But beware of being the kind of people who just want to present a good front and are never honest enough to say to your brother, brother, I'm struggling.

[16:08] Pray for me. I can't overcome. I'm struggling with this addiction to food or this addiction to porn or this addiction.

[16:18] Don't be a hypocrite that says everything is always right and I never need help. They were those kinds of people, although they were not trusting Christ at all.

[16:29] Jesus points out that we need to be careful of the lemon of the Pharisees. It's hypocrisy. We need rather, in verses 2 and 3, to be people who live with an honest heart before God and before others.

[16:44] Again, not puking out every little thing, but being honest. I am a sinner.

[16:55] And if you've read through Scripture, you know that Paul, the one who's probably seen the most direct revelation from God, had understood some of the things that others just seemed like they couldn't put together, who seemed to be the closest to God that we can imagine as we look through Scripture, the Apostle Paul himself says at the end of his life, I am the chief of sinners.

[17:20] He's willing to admit his sinfulness. Everything, verse 2 talks about, everything will be revealed. The things that we've tried to hide will be revealed.

[17:34] Verse 3, you say, oh no, what am I going to do? My deepest, darkest secrets are going to be revealed. Well, what you're going to do is what you always do.

[17:49] 1 John 1, 9, if we confess our sins, he's faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If it's a sin against a brother or sister, brother, sister, I've said this of you, or I've done this against you, please forgive me.

[18:09] One of the things that can be most protective of a disciple is to have an open and honest heart that is willing to confess that which is willing to be made right.

[18:23] It's not someone who's trying to cover up everything. It's not someone who's always saying, and I'm not going to rebuke you if I ask you out today, how are you?

[18:34] And you say, fine. And you say, tomorrow, fine. And I'm not going to... But be people who have an open heart before God and are willing to confess your sin.

[18:47] But remember what Christ has done. Those who are trusting the work of Christ have all their sins paid for. That's why, that's why we can be like this.

[18:59] And that's why you might say, and I had this thought as a young man, I've struggled with it different times. Sin I've struggled with as a child or a teenager and as a man, I've thought, oh, I would hate to know, for others to know that.

[19:18] But it's all paid for. And Jesus died for it. Live honestly before God. Don't, or I should say it rather the way Jesus says, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

[19:36] And as Jesus goes on in this passage, verses 4 and 5, as he's thinking about the situation that he's just come from, and he's thinking about his disciples and knowing what they'll face, the next thing he wants to tell them is who you should really fear.

[19:54] Now, I don't know if anyone else here struggles with fear of man. Do you know what I mean by fear of man? What will they think?

[20:07] I don't, I don't want to do this because I'm afraid of what somebody might think. Now, I'm not pushing people to be obnoxious and not care about the tenderness of other people.

[20:19] That's not what we're getting at. But Jesus says, you need to be careful who you fear. in the, in the, in the, in the, in the, in the life that we live, we need to be people who only fear one person, ultimately.

[20:37] The situation was that Jesus could see his disciples looking at the Pharisees and saying, I'm afraid of what they might do to me because they could do things to people.

[20:49] They could get Christians arrested. Think of Saul, who was the Apostle Paul before he got saved. His whole life for a couple years was running around arresting Christians, trying to get them to turn away from Christ.

[21:11] And so, it was a temptation. It would be a temptation to Christians. It would be a temptation to Christians to say, well, if it costs to be a Christian, I'm going to do whatever I can to keep the rulers, the religious rulers, or the rulers of this country happy with me because I don't want to suffer at their hand.

[21:38] And Jesus is saying in verse 4, you need to be careful. Do not fear those who can kill the body. none of us looks forward to the experience of death.

[21:54] But we have to look past that because all of us are going to die. We shouldn't fear the person who can just kill the body. Jesus says, there are people who can kill the body, but there's only one person who can cast someone to hell.

[22:12] And Jesus says, fear him. So in all the interactions, in the way the world hates us, we ought always to remember they're not the ultimate authority.

[22:27] They're not the end. They're not the person I truly have to answer to. I may have to suffer at their hands, but I answer to God who has the ultimate authority.

[22:43] The authority to cast into hell. Now, Jesus is not saying that God will cast Christians into hell. He's putting people's minds and thought processes in perspective.

[22:57] He's saying that there is no one who can do anything to you that should make you afraid enough to stop serving God. That sort of boils down to there's no one in this world who can do anything to you that should make you afraid enough to stop serving God.

[23:23] And as he addresses that, he says, my friends, we all know the temptation. Let's just be quiet in this situation or circumstance so as not to rile those.

[23:35] And there are times that are wise to be quiet, God. But our fear should never be of people who can kill the body. Our fear should always be, I'm going to obey God.

[23:47] Well, it's interesting because those two verses are coupled with two more verses. Four and five are coupled with verses six and seven. And four and five give you this thinking, oh, I need to have this great fear of God.

[24:02] Well, you do need to have a great fear of God, but a good and right fear of God. A fear of God that puts him in proper perspective in your life, that puts your priorities in proper perspective.

[24:13] A fear of God that says, I will serve God no matter what man may do to me. But sometimes in thinking of God, we might get a fear that's the wrong kind of fear.

[24:28] fear. And so, coupled with this fear of God who can destroy soul and body in hell, is this teaching where he says, fear not.

[24:40] It's really interesting, this verse has four or five uses of the word fear, and it's meant to be together. These four verses are meant to be together, and it builds this picture, awesome God, that we fear, and yet, Jesus comes back with this picture of like a father, that though you respect, you're perfectly comfortable crawling into his lap, and letting him put his arm around you, not fearing that he'll crush you, not fearing that he'll beat you down.

[25:19] And so Jesus says, don't fear. He gives us an argument from the lesser to the greater, and he talks about sparrows.

[25:30] Now, we have sparrows all around here. It's a common insignificant bird, not in God's eyes, but in our eyes, because we can see, if we look, we can literally see hundreds of them in a day.

[25:44] Not too hard to do that. They're everywhere. And in Jesus' time, they were sold, they were captured, and sold in the marketplace. They were the poorest man's food if he was going to buy meat.

[25:59] Now, you know a little sparrow, you can hold a sparrow in your hand, and it's totally covered up, even if you just do this. It's not very big. But they would sell sparrows in the marketplace.

[26:14] And of course, all you could probably eat would be the breast meat, but they would sell these sparrows in the marketplace, five for two cents.

[26:24] Now, our E&IV says cents, but it's actually the word for Roman coin that means one sixteenth of a day's wage.

[26:38] So one sparrow would be like, what, 15 minutes worth of work? You know, something you do on your coffee break?

[26:55] And Luke quotes Jesus as saying, and God cares for the sparrows. Matthew, I'm sorry, Psalm 50, verse 11, I know, this is God speaking, I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine.

[27:16] Matthew 10, verse 29, are not two sparrows sold for a penny? So Luke has a discount price. Matthew says two for a penny.

[27:27] Luke says five for two pennies. And so Matthew says, are not two sparrows sold for a penny, and not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your father?

[27:39] of those cheap, cheap birds in the microplace. If you saw it on a tree, it doesn't fall to the ground without knowing, God knowing about it.

[27:52] Even when a 12-year-old shoots his BB gun at a lilac tree and happens to actually kill, well, it wasn't a sparrow, it was a starling.

[28:04] God knows about that. And he cares about that. And God doesn't even forget one. So we have the lesser, the sparrow, and then he talks about the greater, the disciple.

[28:25] And he starts out by talking about the hairs on our head. He knows how many hairs on our head. Now, thank you, for us who are challenged in our hair.

[28:40] Just because we have no hair doesn't mean he doesn't care for us. It's an example here. He knows how many hairs are on our head.

[28:52] He has perfect knowledge of each of his disciples. In 1 Samuel 14 verse 45, then the people said to Saul, shall Jonathan die?

[29:05] Saul has threatened anybody who would not carry out his command. Jonathan had disobeyed his command, and Saul was ready to kill Jonathan. And the people said to Saul, shall Jonathan die?

[29:18] Who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it. As the Lord lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground. land. Well, you'd have to know how many hairs were there.

[29:34] Or 2 Samuel 14 11. At the end of the verse it says, as the Lord lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground. And this comparison that Jesus is speaking about speaks of how God cares for sparrows, but he cares much more for disciples.

[29:59] So back to this first part where he's talking about those who can kill the fear of the one who can kill the body and soul in heaven.

[30:10] And then he has this picture of the lesser to the greater. God cares for the sparrows and he cares more for us. And so he's painting this picture.

[30:21] of this great God that we have in heaven that all men will answer to. And because he has all authority I should never ever want to disobey him to serve someone who makes me afraid on earth.

[30:36] I should always want to serve him. But he's not such a God that you are nothing in his eyes. He's a God that sees you as infinitely valuable.

[30:54] And in the comparison of the lesser to the greater you are so much greater. So he's encouraging us to have this huge view of God but this very personal view of God.

[31:12] And that's to keep us serving him when the world hates us. If God has such overwhelming care for his disciples we should not be afraid to follow Christ no matter what the cost.

[31:30] No matter what he calls us to do. No matter what we may face be assured that he cares for you. we are as cared for in the fire as Shadrach Meshach and Abednego fellowshipping with the God who is able to keep them from burning in that furnace.

[31:59] Well then he goes on in verses 8 and 9 warns people to keep a good confession. Verses 8 and 9 let me read that it's been a few minutes since we read it. He says and I tell you everyone who acknowledges me before men the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.

[32:22] When we're faced with enemies who hate and work to silence disciples there may be a strong temptation to think you can be a disciple but never acknowledge it.

[32:36] the whole I'll be a secret disciple kind of thing. And so Jesus warns them to keep a good confession to be willing to name the name of Christ no matter the cost.

[32:54] To be able to be willing to speak of your commitment to Christ even when others don't like Christ or you. And so even in the face of hatred and persecution Jesus reminds his disciples that they are to be willing to acknowledge him.

[33:10] Be willing to acknowledge that they are disciples of Jesus. Now remember if you look at Romans 10 9 that when you come to Christ it requires a willingness to admit Jesus is your savior.

[33:25] If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved. there is a willingness to speak it I have trusted Christ or I am trusting Christ.

[33:39] That's part of you coming to Christ. It's not that we say a magic sentence or something like but that willingness to profess it. Say yes I'm following Christ. We already have seen this verse in Luke 9 26 for whoever is ashamed of me and my words of him will the son of man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the father and of the holy angels.

[34:07] He's calling us to be willing to confess Christ and not try to be secret Christians. Those who acknowledge Christ will be acknowledged before the angels.

[34:21] That's an odd phrase but from scripture we get the sense because angels are always present at the judgment that he's speaking about when it comes to the judgment he will confess us if we're willing to confess him.

[34:38] And right away I'm going to admit to it and maybe you have too there have been times when I've not been willing to confess Christ. When I've hidden that I'm a Christian and I'm glad I feel bad for him but I'm glad for Peter's situation being in scripture.

[35:02] Luke 22 54 to 62 remember after Jesus had been arrested in the garden a little girl came up to him and well let me just read starting in verse 55 when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together.

[35:20] Peter sat down among them then a servant girl seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him said this man also was with him but he denied it and said woman I do not know him.

[35:33] A little later he saw someone else and a little later someone else saw him and said you were also with him but Peter denied it man I am not. Then one more time someone says you surely are his disciple your accent betrays you.

[35:50] Man I am not. Peter and the rooster crowed and Jesus turned back and looked at Peter as Peter had denied knowing him and it says that Peter went out and wept bitterly.

[36:11] This verse is not saying that Christians cannot deny Christ Christians have. Peter had already made a profession of faith. Peter was trusting in Christ but he denied him at one point but Peter confessed.

[36:31] He repented of his sin. Remember in John 21 15 to 17 after Jesus had risen from the dead when he had finished breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter Simon son of John do you love me more than these?

[36:49] Speaking of the boasting he did before they went to the garden. He said yes Lord you know that I love you. He said feed my lambs. He said to him a second time Simon son of John do you love me?

[37:03] He said yes Lord you know that I love you. He said to him tend my sheep and he said to him the third time Simon son of John do you love me? Peter was grieved because he had asked him the third time do you love me?

[37:16] And he said Lord you know everything you know that I love you. In the midst of a world that hates us that hates Christians that hates Christ there is going to be the temptation to die and and sadly some have done it.

[37:39] but there is forgiveness when there's repentance. And in the scheme of things Jesus is telling these people don't deny me.

[37:56] Remember God is the ultimate authority and he's the one we should be fearing. When we do if we do deny then we repent.

[38:14] It's no light matter to deny the Lord. Peter was right to go out and weep bitterly. Peter was right to be so embarrassed by what he had done.

[38:27] But see the forgiveness of the Lord when he had done it after he had repented. Jesus is telling us as his disciples don't deny me.

[38:40] Allow me to not deny you before the angels. And then Jesus speaks of one of the harder things to look at in scripture. We often talk about the unpardonable sin.

[38:56] He says anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit starting in verse 10 or it is verse 10 and everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

[39:12] Blaspheming against the Spirit is to attribute the works of the Spirit to the devil and to speak against the Spirit. That's Matthew 12 31 to 32.

[39:22] The same situation that's in Matthew 12 has taken place in an expanded version here in Luke. Jesus has separated this phrase from when the phrase was gathered closer to it in Matthew.

[39:35] But the same thing. The religious leaders and people had accused Jesus of casting out demons by Beelzebul. And in Matthew it makes it plain that that's blasphemy against the Spirit.

[39:50] Spirit. This comes from a heart that is stubbornly refusing the Spirit's work in their life. And I struggled with why this is here.

[40:07] Why not why it's here in the sense of why is this truth in Scripture. The truth in Scripture is plain. You can't attribute the work of the Spirit to the devil and get away with it.

[40:20] But why is it here? I think Jesus was pointing to these disciples the perilous situation these Pharisees and lawyers were in.

[40:35] In this whole scheme of wanting to serve the Lord in the midst of those who oppose them and those who hate Christ. Jesus is making it plain how bad these people, and it's not saying that all people who oppose Christ are this bad, but beware of the leaven of the Pharisees.

[40:57] And he's pointing out exactly how bad they were in that they had blasphemed the Spirit. fear. And the last thing that Jesus deals with here, he says, are you fearful as a disciple because you feel you won't be able to defend yourself when someone comes up to you or someone arrests you and makes you defend yourself?

[41:20] Just like that. Are you afraid to speak the gospel because you don't know what to say? Are you afraid of being called on account because of being a Christian because you're afraid of what I don't know what to say.

[41:34] I don't, you know, in that situation, under pressure situations, I don't think so well, you may say. I understand. Struggle with that myself. And so if being a disciple costs, if being a disciple means you'll be hated by people, but if being a disciple puts you in a position like Jesus, where they're always trying to catch you in something, and they're always trying to accuse you, and they're trying to get you to trip up so that they can get you removed from the scene or worse, removed from the earth, is it worth it being a disciple?

[42:13] Can I live under that pressure? And Jesus is saying you can live under that pressure because you don't live in that situation by yourself. Don't forsake being a disciple because you don't know what to say.

[42:27] He's saying you have the gift of the Spirit. As a child of God, you have the gift of the Spirit. And if you're taken suddenly to examination, you're put in a situation where you must defend your faith, and you think, I'm not eloquent, I don't know what to say, I've not been to seminary and all this.

[42:46] Jesus is reassuring his disciples, the twelve, whatever I'm going to say, a hundred is a round number, or us.

[42:56] don't be afraid in that situation. God's given you the Spirit. So as you think about your walk with the Lord and being a disciple, don't let the situation of the hatred of the world discourage you in any way.

[43:18] You serve the God of the universe, and this God who everyone should fear, including you, is a God who sees you as more valuable than many sparrows.

[43:35] He wants you to trust him, and he'll be with you in those trials. So, don't be anxious about this kind of situation.

[43:47] don't let a little situation, don't let a situation that hasn't happened, or one that you don't know will happen, keep you from following Christ.

[43:59] Walk boldly with the Lord, for he has promised to help you when you're questioned about your faith. And as he says, the Spirit will give you what to say.

[44:14] I want you to see two things from this passage. I want you, first of all, to see the principles that are here. These are important principles as a disciple of Christ in calling you to serve without fear and being careful of the leaven of the Pharisees.

[44:34] But the other thing I want you to see is this heart. Remember I talked about like a parent going through a situation, and the minute they're out of that situation, the parents care for the child, is intense and wants to prepare the child for that same situation.

[44:54] I want you to see in this situation, not only the principles, but I want you to see our Savior, who as he faces these things, thinks of you, and puts down in his word principles for you, and not only just things we can spit off, but truths that are true.

[45:14] truths, it's not an ethereal thing that the Spirit is willing to help those who are in trouble, who have to give an account. It's not a thing that happens to people out there.

[45:27] If you're a disciple, it's something that's for you. I want you to see the Savior who has this love for you, and prepares an understanding for you that will give you comfort.

[45:41] I want you to see the preciousness that is Christ's heart, the wonder of his love for you, and remember what he's taught.

[45:57] Friend, if you're not trusting Christ for your salvation, these verses paint a grim picture. If you don't know Christ, you're facing a God who knows you, every bit of you.

[46:16] There's no hidden corner. There's no I've got this under control, no one can see what I'm actually doing. You face a God who in the judgment won't know you.

[46:31] You face a God who in the judgment not only has the ability to take your life, but the ability to cast your body and soul into hell for all eternity.

[46:47] But he's not a God waiting in heaven until he can do that. He's a God in heaven who has sent his son to take on flesh and has placed the sins of all who would trust him on his son.

[47:04] and he's allowed that son to suffer and die and absorb the wrath of God against the sins of his people.

[47:18] If you face this God who is so tender and precious towards his disciples, but if you don't know him, beware, but run to him, you're of much greater value than many sparrows.

[47:36] Call upon the Lord. Scripture says whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Let's pray. Father, thank you for your word with us.

[47:49] Lord, may we take comfort in the picture of our Savior. And Lord, also may we take to heart these truths, these principles that he was so eager to give to his disciples.

[48:05] May they ring true in our hearts. May we not see them as something that fit a situation 2,000 years ago. May we see them as precious and dear things spoken to us today.

[48:18] And may we live there and rest in you. We pray that you would be with us as we go into the Lord's Supper. In Jesus' name, Amen.