Good morning everyone, it's great to worship with you.
This is my great enjoy and privilege to preach that worship this morning.
! Please turn with me your Bibles to Matthew chapter 10.
If you don't have a Bible, please raise your hand.
I'd love to give you a copy of the Bible you can use while you're here and take some of you.
Thank you.
Heavenly Father, this passage that you have for us this morning, which calls for radical discipleship,
a radical followership of Christ,
this message that really doesn't make sense unless we see you for who you really are.
Unless we see your glory,
your authority,
your love,
your mercy.
Father, I plead with you that you would help us by our spirit.
That you would magnify
your name,
magnify Christ,
your son, for us.
that we might be able to follow us
to the end of the earth
and be faithful even unto that.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
Please stand if you are able for the reading of God's word.
We stand to honor God as we read from
his word as he addresses us.
From Matthew chapter 10,
verses 16 to 32.
Behold,
I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves,
so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
Beware of men,
for they will deliver you over to courts
and plod you in their synagogues,
and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake,
to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.
When they deliver you over,
do not be anxious how you are to speak
or what you are to say,
for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.
For it is not you who speak,
but the spirit of your father speaking through you.
Brother will deliver brother over to death,
and the father his child,
and children will rise against parents
and have them put to death.
And you will be hated by all for my name's sake.
But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
When they persecute you in one town,
flee to the next.
For truly, I say to you,
you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel
before the Son of Man comes.
A disciple is not above his teacher,
nor a servant above his master.
It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher,
and a servant like his master.
If they have called the master of the house Beelzele,
how much more will they malign those of his household?
So have no fear of them,
for nothing is covered that will not be revealed,
or hidden that will not be known.
What I tell you in the dark,
say in the light,
and what you hear whisper,
proclaim on the housetops.
And do not fear those who kill the body,
but cannot kill the soul.
Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body.
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?
And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your father.
But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.
Fear not, therefore.
You are of more value than many sparrows.
So everyone who acknowledges me before men,
I also will acknowledge before my father who is in heaven.
But whoever denies me before men,
I also will deny before my father who is in heaven.
And God, the only human being before may be seated.
The desire for affirmation and approval
and the praise of men from others
has always been a part of human nature.
Because we're a social creature.
However, in a digital age
where much of human interactions are driven by social media,
the approval of others is now quantified
and constantly visible through metrics like likes
and follower counts and shares.
The immediacy and constancy of such social feedback
amplify the human craving for acceptance and approval.
Especially in a culture like ours
that highlights self-expression and identity.
The pursuit of personal validation
can easily become someone's highest pursuit.
But Jesus calls us in this passage
to forfeit that pursuit once and for all.
As Christians in this sinful world,
Jesus warns us that we will be slandered,
betrayed, persecuted,
and sometimes even killed for our allegiance to Christ.
Why?
Because we follow the crucified Lord
and His servants will fare no better
than their master.
So the main point of my message this morning is simple.
Acknowledge Christ before men.
First, in order to do that,
we must beware of men who persecute us,
the reality of persecution.
And secondly, we must fear not.
Fear not men,
but fear rather than God instead.
Since we took a break last week
from our series in Matthew,
let me remind you that Jesus,
in the preceding passage,
commanded His twelve apostles
to go and proclaim the good news
of the Kingdom of God.
And He told them as He sent them
that the harvest is plentiful,
but the laborers are few.
And as Jesus sends them out on this mission,
He gives them this solemn warning.
Behold, I am sending you,
I'm sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.
How's that for a pet thought?
Sheep?
As I mentioned two Sundays ago,
sheep are proverbially weak and vulnerable.
They're not big or strong.
They don't have sharp claws or teeth.
They can't run away very fast.
That's why no professional sports team
ever names themselves the sheep.
I know some of you are from Minnesota.
Imagine if the Minnesota timber rules
were called instead the Minnesota tender sheep.
That's what they look like
when they play against the Celtics.
That's not exactly a morality, right?
We call sheep like that.
What happens to sheep among wolves?
That's a no-brainer.
Everybody knows.
Sheep get mauled by the wolves.
And that's exactly Jesus' point.
The allure of power
has been too difficult to resist
for many Christians throughout history.
So it's imperative that we remember this truth.
Jesus does not send out his followers
into the world to be commanders,
the conquerors, the predators.
He sends us out as the prey,
as sheep among wolves.
Yes, there is a sense in which
Christians ought to be conquerors.
We just read that in Revelation.
We're commanded over and over again
to conquer in the book of Revelation.
But Revelation also tells us
exactly how Christians ought to conquer.
It says in Revelation 12, 11,
which we read for assurance of pardon,
they have conquered them
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony,
for they loved not their lives
even unto death.
In other words,
we conquer in this world
by being killed
with our testimony to Jesus,
by following in the footsteps
of the Lamb of God.
Christian witness
should not be characterized
by force, aggression,
but by patient endurance
through persecution.
But the fact that we are sheep
doesn't mean that
God wants us to be dumb.
Sheep are often perceived
as unintelligent
because of their herd mentality.
They will follow their herd
and get lost sometimes
and they will easily get spooked
and then run headlong
into danger sometimes off cliffs.
But Jesus doesn't want us
to be gullible
or ignorant.
So he qualifies
that image of sheep
with another animal image.
He says,
to be as wise as serpents.
The word wise here
is a translation
of the same Greek word
that's used
in the Greek translation
of Genesis 3, verse 1,
which says that the serpent
was more crafty
than any other beast
of the field.
It's the same word
that is translated
as shrewd in Luke 16, verse 8.
He described
a shrewd financial manager
who uses his position
of influence and power
to do favors for people
and make friends for himself
so that knowing that
he will soon lose
his job and position
and after he loses his job
he might have some friends
who will take care of him
and do some favors for him.
That's shrewdness,
cunning, craftiness.
If sheep are proverbially
vulnerable,
then serpents
are proverbially cunning.
They are famously stealthy,
they move without
making much noise,
and they hide
by blending
into their surroundings.
They're also known
for their exceptional patience.
Some snakes
that hunt by ambush
have been observed
to lie and wait patiently
for days,
even weeks,
without moving.
just waiting for that smell
of movement
to stir it by.
And then,
patience.
They also have
many means of survival
when they're in danger.
Some snakes play dead,
you know,
to trick predators
into losing interest.
And because they're
very sensitive
to vibrations
in the ground
and to heat,
they can flee
dangerous predators
or disasters
like wildfires
long before they come
to where they are
to threaten them.
Serpents are
one of the most
adaptable creatures.
They've been found
to live in jungles,
mountains,
even deserts,
and in water.
In short,
serpents are
shrewd animals
who know how to adapt
and survive
in the face
of danger.
So then,
while we are
sheep among wolves,
we are not to run
headlong into danger
like sheep sometimes do
and invite persecution
and marginally.
For example,
in John 8, 59,
when an angry
Jewish mob
picks up stones
to throw at Jesus
to stoning to death
for claiming to be
the pre-existing God,
Jesus doesn't just
stand there
and become a target.
He says that
he hid himself
and went out
of the temple.
Similarly,
when the Jews
fought to kill
the Apostle Paul
repeatedly throughout
the book of Acts,
we see the early church
often hiding him
or sneaking him
out of the city
to protect him
in Acts 9, 14, 17.
When their time
for death
and martyrdom
came,
the early Christians
followed Jesus' example
and faced death
with faith and courage,
but they never walked
blindly into persecution.
We are not to be
naive, gullible,
or ignorant
of the schemes
of those who speak
to do us harm.
We should be shrewd
and vigilant
in recognizing traps
and avoiding
unnecessary danger.
We should be prudent
and give thought
to our steps.
In conversations,
we should answer
those who question us,
those who are hostile
toward us,
with grace,
wisdom,
and discernment,
know when to speak
and when not to speak.
And we should be aware
of and make
judicious views
of the legal protections
and recourses
that are available
to us
as Paul himself does,
for example,
in Acts chapter 22,
verse 25.
And that brings us
to the third animal
image that Jesus uses.
We are as innocent
as doves.
This command is paired
with being wise
as serpents
to qualify that.
Serpents are shrewd
and cunning,
yes,
but for that reason
they're also associated
with deceitfulness,
with venom,
and manipulation.
By adding,
be innocent as doves,
Jesus is telling us,
be shrewd
and smart,
but be completely
innocent
in all your dealings.
never resort
to wrongdoing
or dishonesty
or manipulative tactics.
For example,
in Acts chapter 24, 26,
while Paul is in prison
for his witness to Christ,
there's a Roman governor
named Felix
who decides
to keep Paul
in prison for a while
even though
he doesn't deserve it.
And it says
that Roman governor
that Felix
hoped that money
would be given
to him by Paul.
So he's keeping him
in prison
waiting for a bribe.
And I know
this is not as common
in the U.S.,
but in many parts
of the world,
bribes are a very
normal part
of societal dealings.
And it's an expected
means of you
getting out of
a life punishment
by paying a bribe.
But Paul refuses
to pay a bribe,
which makes sense
staying in prison
for another two years
before he's transferred
to somewhere else.
Why does he do that?
He could have easily
collected some offerings
from the local churches
that were eager
to support him
because he wants
to be sure
that's a serpent,
but also innocent
as dust.
Because bribes
are everywhere
forbidden
in Scripture
and condemned.
Doves are
proverbially harmless
and gentle
and tame.
They were
ritually clean animals
that were fit
for Old Testament
sacrifices,
so they become
a pity symbol
of purity,
which is why
even the Holy Spirit
is represented
as being like a dove
as he descended
on Jesus at baptism
in Matthew 3.16.
And pigeons
and doves
are known
for their
guilelessness.
They're really
harmless creatures.
My girls
are afraid
of all kinds
of animals.
They're afraid
of pretty much
every animal.
But even my
five-year-old
will go around
to see
one of the new
games she plays
when we're walking
around.
She'll scare
the pigeons
and she'll act
like it's her
superpower.
She'll run away.
I have a friend
who has
like an eight-year-old
daughter
who actually
catches them.
She'll just
hold them
and catch them
and they don't
do anything.
They just sit there.
They're that mild
and tame
even though these
are wild pigeons.
That's how
blameless
and innocent
we ought to be
as Christians.
Shrewd
yet never
dishonest
or manipulative.
Innocent
yet wise
and prudent.
We are sent
out as sheep
in the midst
of wolves
therefore we ought
to be wise
as servants
and innocent
as dogs.
In verses
17 to 18
Jesus moves
away from
the theoretical
language
and gives
us more
direct
literal
instruction.
He says
Beware of men
for they will
deliver you
over to courts
and flog you
in their synagogues
and you will
be drafted
for governors
and kings
for my sake
to bear witness
before them
and the gentrists.
We must
beware
Jesus says
because not
all are
well-meaning
and some
are out
to give us.
Jesus'
prediction
here has
been borne
out throughout
church history.
Already
in the first
century
we can see
in the book
of Acts
that Christians
were delivered
to courts
sloughed
and dragged
before governors
and kings.
But even
such
difficult
and unfavorable
circumstances
are meant
to be an
opportunity
for us
to tell people
about Jesus.
Because it
says that
we will
get to
bear witness
before our
prosecutors
and jenties.
But when
we are
taken to
court
and have
to testify
before governors
and kings
how will we
know what
to say
in such
an intimidating
environment?
Jesus said
in verses 19
to 20
when they
deliver you
over
do not
be anxious
how you
are to
speak
or what
you are
to say
for what
you are
to say
will be
given to
you
in their
honor.
For it
is not
you
who
speak
but
the
spirit
of
your
father
speaking
through
you.
There are
several
helpful
suggested
parallels
between
this
passage
and
Matthew
chapter
6
verse 25
to
33.
There
in Matthew
6
Jesus
said
do not
be anxious
same
command
do not
be anxious
about
your life
what
you will
eat
or drink
or
about
your body
what
you will
put
on
which
of you
by being
anxious
can add
a single
hour
to his
span
of
life
therefore
do not
be anxious
say what
shall we
eat or
what
shall we
drink or
what
shall we
wear
for your
heavenly
father
knows
what
you
need
he
knows
that
you
need
them
all
Jesus
tell us
not
to worry
about
life
about
our
basic
necessity
because
no
amount
of
worrying
will
enable
us
to
extend
our
life
by
a
single
hour
instead
we should
trust in
our
heavenly
father
who
provides
for us
Jesus
point
in our
passage
is very
similar
again
he gives
the same
command
do not
be
anxious
because
when
the hour
of need
comes
then you
must
testify
before
these
governing
authorities
he
says
he
will
heavenly
father
will
again
supply
our
need
for
it
is
not
you
who
speak
but
the
spirit
of
your
father
speaking
through
you
now
please
don't
misunderstand
me
Jesus
is
not
saying
that
we
should
never
rehearse
the
gospel
or
to
never
prepare
or
write
sermons
imagine
if
I
never
wrote
my
sermons
because
I
want
to
rely
on
the
Holy
Spirit
to
spontaneously
inspire
me
in
this
whole
Sunday
that
would
be
a
misapplication
of
this
passage
he's
saying
that
when
we
are
under
such
dire
circumstances
when
we
are
being
persecuted
and
have
to
testify
before
governing
authorities
under
duress
our
heavenly
father
will
himself
intervene
by
his
spirit
give
us
what
to
say
so
that
what
we
say
goes
well
beyond
our
limited
powers
of
intellect
and
speech
God
himself
will
speak
through
us
so
Jesus
wants
us
to
trust
in
and
depend
on
our
heavenly
father
to
provide
for
us
in
our
time
of
need
but
our
father
speaking
through
us
does
not
guarantee
that
we
will
receive
favor
from
the
authorities
or
get
out
of
jail
some
of
us
will
still
pay
the
ultimate
price
because
the
father's
goal
in
helping
us
is
so
that
we
bear
effective
witness
to
Jesus
so
we
might
be
faithful
to
him
and
preserve
our
souls
not
necessarily
so
we
might
preserve
our
bodies
he
says
in
verse
21
to
23
brother
will
deliver
brother
over
to
death
and
the
father
his
child
and
children
will
rise
against
parents
and
have
them
put
to
death
and
you
will
be
hated
by all
for my
name
sake
!
Jesus
is
going
for
the
shock
factor
here
by
using
familial
relations
where
you
would
most
expect
loyalty
and
speaking
of
betrayal
many
Christians
throughout
history
can
bear
witness
to
this
fact
of
being
betrayed
by their
own
family
members
being
kicked
out
of
their
home
by
their
own
parents
Jesus
foretells
that we
will be
hated
for our
allegiance
to
Jesus
and
he
says
that
some
of
us
will
be
put
to
death
for
our
faith
it's
important
to
note
that
this
persecution
is
inescapable
of
course
the
intensity
varies
from
place
to
place
but
persecution
in general
is
inescapable
we
must
not
think
that
oh
if
we
just
learn
to
be
more
diplomatic
as
Christians
if
we
learn
to
be
a little
kinder
and
more
gracious
oh
then
we
can
avoid
all
this
persecution
that's
not
what
it
says
we
mustn't
!
we
mustn't
say
oh
it's
just
a
big
misunderstanding
oh
if
people
just
realize
how
nice
Christians
really
are
then
they
will
never
persecute
us
no
that's
not
what
it
says
look at
the
reasons
that
Jesus
gives
for why
we
will
be
persecuted
he
says
in
verse
18
you
will
be
dragged
before
governors
and
kings
why
for
my
name
sake
he
says
in
verse
22
you
will
be
hated
by
all
why
you
will
be
hated
by
all
for
my
name
sake
the
real
reason
for
persecution
is our
allegiance
to
Jesus
said
in
verses
24
to
25
a
disciple
is
not
above
his
teacher
nor
servant
above
his
master
it
is
enough
for
the
disciple
to
be
like
his
teacher
and
a
servant
like
his
master
if
they
have
called
the
master
of
the
house
beelzobol
how much
more
will they
malign those
of his
household
the
envious
Jews
who slandered
Jesus
in his
day
by saying
that he
cast
out
demons
by the
power
of
the
prince
of
demons
which
is
what
they
said
in
Matthew
9
34
and
later
on
chapter
12
does
specifically
achieve
Jesus
miraculous
power
exorcism
to
beelzobol
which
probably
comes from
beelzobol
meaning
the chief
god
of the
canons
who
dwells
in the
high
place
beelzobol
it's
another
name
in this
context
for
Satan
if
Jesus
the
son
of
God
is
maligned
as
being
doing
things
by the
power
of
the
prince
of
demons
by
Satan
how
much
more
will
they
malign
his
followers
if
they
despise
and
disdain
the
teacher
who
of
course
deserves
no
respect
in
the
students
then
how
much
more
will
they
despise
and
disdain
his
students
if
they
crucify
the
master
what
will
they
do
to
his
servants
the
language
of
servants
and
master
have
been
used
once
already
in
Matthew
6
24
25
he
told
us
that
no
one
can
serve
two
masters
either
you
must
love
the
one
and
hate
the
other
you
cannot
serve
both
God
and
money
in
that
context
the
master
was
God
and
we
were
the
slaves
were
the
servants
and
Jesus
here
applies
that
to
himself
I
am
the
master
again
Jesus
is
claiming
for
himself
divine
prerogatives
divine
authority
if
this is
how
they
treat
me
they
treat
you
that
person
isn't
it
enough
for
the
disciple
to be
like
his
teacher
and
the
servant
like
his
master
isn't
it
our
destiny
to be
conformed
to the
image
of
God's
son
as
it
said
in
Romans
8
2
so
that
one
day
when
he
appeared
when
Jesus
returns
and
we
shall
be
like
him
if
we
want
to
partake
in
the
resurrection
from
the
dead
like
Jesus
Christ
we
also
must
partake
in
his
sufferance
becoming
like
him
in
his
death
says
in
Romans
3
did
you
know
that
this
is
in
fact
what
!
you
signed
Jesus
does not
promise
us
that
we
will
be
loved
and
liked
by
the
world
he
said
we
will
be
hated
Jesus
does
not
promise
us
safety
and
comfort
he
speaks
instead
of
persecution
and
martyrdom
why
then
do
so
many
of
us
Christians
make
concession
after
concession
compromise
after
compromise
us
groffling
before
the
sinful
world
to
win
their
affirmation
and
approval
when
Jesus
already
told
us
that
they
will
hate
us
why
then
do
so
many
of
us
live
as
if
safety
and
comfort
are
the
absolute
non-denotiables
of life
and make
all of our
life choices
to promote
that end
when
Jesus
already
said
that
those
who
are
faithful
to
him
will
meet
tribulations
and
persecution
the
overriding
goal
of the
Christian
is
not health
and longevity
and wealth
and prosperity
it is
faithfulness
and loyalty
to Christ
our
Lord
and it
is
only
the
one
who
endures
to the
end
who
will
be
saved
I
think it's
providential
that we're on
this passage
after what
happened
this week
with the
murder
of
Charlie
Kirk
if you've
been in our
church
for any
length of
time
you know
that I
don't
talk about
politics
often
I
intend
to do
so
now
yes
he had
a
confrontational
style
and no
I don't
agree with
all of his
politics
and I know
many of you
don't
but
it seems
abundantly
clear to me
that he was
a brother
in Christ
he shared
the gospel
with tens
of thousands
of people
with exceptional
clarity
and boldness
and many
of his
most unpopular
views
like his
views on
abortion
and his
views on
LGBTQ issues
they all
stand directly
from his
commitment
to the
scriptures
as the
word of
God
we will
behave
if you
live as a
public
Christian
we will
behave
but the
one who
endures
to the
end
will be
saved
one
who
as
Revelation
2.10
says
is faithful
unto death
will be
saved
the one
who
forsakes
Christ
to save
his life
might be
spared
for a
little
while
but his
ultimate
fate
will be
eternal
perdition
and this
soaring
message
to give
his
disciples
some hope
Jesus
tells
them
this
in
verse
23
when
they
persecute
you
in
one
time
flee
to
the
next
for
truly
I
say
to
you
will
not
have
gone
through
all
the
times
in
Israel
before
the
son
of man
comes
many
people
automatically
assume
here
that
Jesus
is
speaking
of
his
second
coming
because
he
speaks
of
the
son
of
man
coming
the
gospel
writers
do
use
similar
language
to
describe
his
second
coming
however
here
Jesus
is
not
referring
to
his
second
coming
but
to
something
that
will
happen
much
sooner
before
his
twelve
apostles
had
even
finished
proclaiming
the
gospel
of the
kingdom
through
all
the
towns
of
Israel
this
language
of
the
coming
of
the
son
of
man
is
an
old
testament
allusion
and
the
only
old
testament
passage
that
speaks
of
the
coming
of
the
son
of
man
is
Daniel
chapter
7
verses
13
to
14
which
says
behold
with
the
clouds
of
heaven
there
came
one
like
a
son
of
man
and
he
came
to
the
ancient
of
days
and
was
presented
before
him
and
to
him
was
given
dominion
and
glory
and
a
kingdom
that
all
people
nations
and
languages
should
serve
him
his
dominion
is
an
everlasting
dominion
which
shall
not
pass
away
and
his
kingdom
one
that
shall
not
be
destroyed
this
passage
is
not
speaking
of
the
son
of
man
coming
to
earth
but
to
the
son
of
man
coming
to
heaven
to
the
throne
room
of
God
that's
where
he
receives
his
everlasting
kingdom
dominion
and
glory
this
is
what
Jesus
is
speaking
of
in
the
parable
of
the
ten
minus
in
Luke
19
where
Jesus
compares
himself
to
a
noble
man
who
goes
into
a
far
country
to
receive
for
himself
and
then
return
and
when
does
Jesus
receive
this
kingdom
after
his
departure
when
he
goes
to
the
far
country
namely
when
he
goes
back
to
his
father
the
ancient
days
to
receive
the
everlasting
kingdom
at
his
ascension
to
heaven
this
is
why
in
Matthew
26
64
right
before
his
crucifixion
resurrection
and
ascension
Jesus
declares
this
to
Caiaphas
the
high
priest
from
now
on
right
before
his
death
from
now
on
you
will
see
the
son
of
man
seated
at
the
right
hand
of
power
and
coming
on
the
clouds
of
heaven
once
again
Jesus
is
not
speaking
of
his
return
to
earth
but
his
ascend
to
heaven
on
the
clouds
his
coming
to
the
ancient
days
to
receive
his
kingdom
in
the
medium
that's
why
right
before
his
ascension
Jesus
commissions
his
disciples
in
Matthew
28
saying
all
authority
in
heaven
and
earth
has
been
given
to
me
go
therefore
and
make
disciples
of
all
nations
it
is
there
that
the
mission
of the
apostles
to
all
the
towns
of
Israel
is
expanded
to
all
the
nations
because
now
Jesus
receives
!
all
authority
and
a
kingdom
everlasting
kingdom
over
all
nations
and
peoples
and
times
because
and
his
return
to
earth
are
events
that
are
sequentially
and
causally
related
the
gospel
writers
do
use
the
same
language
to
refer
to
the
coming
to
earth
as well
because
really
those two
events
are at
one
piece
with
each
other
it's
helpful
for us
to note
that
the
Greek
word
for
come
is
the
exact
same
word
that
means
to
go
and
is
translated
that way
in other
parts
of
Matthew
chapter
2
!
27
64
but
we
have
to
rely
on
the
context
to
figure
out
whether
Jesus
is
speaking
of
going
to
heaven
or
coming
to
earth
in our
text
this
morning
there
are
clues
that
tell
us
that
Jesus
is
talking
about
receiving
his
kingdom
at
the
father's
throne
the
kingdom
of
God
that
his
disciples
Jesus
disciples
have
been
longing
for
and
waiting
for
and
hoping
for
will
be
here
before
too
long
before
they
have
finished
proclaiming
the
gospel
to
all
the
talented
Israel
this
is
meant
to
give
them
hope
as
they
take
their
message
despite
persecution
and
resistance
from the
world
having
taught us
to
beware
of
men
because
of
the
persecution
Jesus
nonetheless
adds
that
we
should
never
fear
them
be
aware
of
them
but
be
not
afraid
of
them
Jesus
said
in
verses
26
to
27
so
have
no
fear
of
them
for
nothing
is
covered
that
will
not
be
revealed
or
hidden
that
will
not
be
known
what
I
tell
you
in
the
dark
say
in
the
light
and
what
you
hear
whispered
proclaimed
on
the
house
I
have
noted
before
in
chapter
9
verse
30
to
31
that
there
is
a
pattern
in
Jesus
earthly
ministry
where
he
consistently
tells
people
to
keep
his
true
identity
under
wraps
later
in
Matthew
16
for
example
when
Peter
confesses
that
Jesus
is
the
Christ
the
Protestant
messianic
king
Jesus
strictly
charges
the
disciples
to
tell
no
one
that
he
is
the
Christ
and
again
chapter
17
verse
9
after
temporarily
revealing
his
divine
glory
at
the
transfiguration
Jesus
tells
his
disciples
to
tell
no
one
division
until
the
Son
of
Man
is
raised
from
the
dead
Jesus
does
this
because
he
is
not
interested
in
stirring
up
people's
misguided
messianic
fervor
he's
not
interested
in
instigating
a
revolution
and
overthrowing
Caesar
he
knows
that
his
God
given
destiny
rather
is
to
suffer
and
die
on
the
cross
for
the
sins
of
many
to
be
the
sacrificial
lamb
of
God
so
knowing
this
Jesus
is
thinking
now
is
not
the
time
for him
to
receive
dominion
and
glory
and
kingdom
from
the
father
that
will
happen
after
his
death
and
resurrection
and
ascension
so
now
is
the
time
for
things
to
be
hidden
covered
but
Jesus
assures
his
disciples
but
the
time
is
coming
when
they
will
no
longer
be
covered
for
nothing
is
covered
that
will
not
be
revealed
or
hidden
that
will
not
be
known
what
I
tell
you
in
the
dark
say
in
the
light
and
what
you
hear
whisper
proclaim
on
the
house
now
is
the
time
when
we
declare
Jesus
identity
and
authority
from
the
house
for
all
to
hear
to
all
nations
to
the
ends
of
the
earth
because
Jesus
is
the
glorious
son
of
God
who
rose
from
the
dead
then
Jesus
continues
to
tell
us
why
we
should
not
to
fear
him
but
whom
we
should
fear
instead
in
verse
28
and
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
the
contrast
between
body
and soul
teaches
us
clearly
that
even
when
we
die
physically
there
is
an
immaterial
spiritual
life
called
the
soul
that
continues
to
exist
this
is
an
unnatural
separation
that
will
be
remedied
at
the
resurrection
of
the
body
when
our
souls
are
united
with
our
bodies
but
by
speaking
of
this
Jesus
puts
man's
natural
fear
of
death
into
perspective
no
matter
how
intensely
this
world
persecutes
us
the
worst
they
can
do
is
to
kill
our
bodies
and
they
can
do
no
more
they
do
not
have
the
power
to
kill
our
soul
and
the
continued
existence
of
the
soul
all
but
guarantees
that
one
day
God
will
raise
up
our
bodies
that
means
we
have
nothing
actually
to
lose
that
means
we
have
nothing
actually
to
fear
our
lives
here
on earth
are a
fleeting
breath
but then
there's
eternity
to be
mindful
of
so
who
should
we
fear
the
one
who
has
the
power
to
take
a
few
years
of
our
life
away
or
the
one
who
has
the
power
to
take
our
eternity
away
technically
men
do
not
even
have
the
power
to
take
one
hour
from
our
lives
remember
what
Jesus
said
in
Matthew
6
27
which
of
you
by
being
anxious
can
add
a
single
hour
to
his
span
of
life
in
God's
book
are
written
every
one
of
them
the
days
that
are
formed
for
us
before
we
lived
a
single
day
of
our
lives
our
entire
lives
were
written
in
God's
book
only
it
says
in
the
Bible
so
we
need
not
fear
of
what
man
can
do
to
us
rather
Jesus
says
fear
him
who
can
destroy
both
soul
and
body
in
hell
the
fear
of
God
is
the
only
true
antidote
to
the
fear
of
man
he
says
in
Proverbs
29
25
the
fear
of
man
lays
a
snare
but
whoever
trusts
in
the
Lord
is
safe
many
seek
the
face
of
a
human
ruler
but
it
is
from
the
Lord
that
a
man
gets
justice
notice
how
the
fear
of
man
is
contrasted
with
trust
in
the
Lord
which
is
another
way
to
speak
of
fear
of
the
Lord
man
in
his
people
are
big
and
God
is
small
written
by
counselor
and
seminary
professor
Edward
Welch
he
gives
two
diagnostic
questions
to
figure
out
whether
or
not
we
struggle
with
the
fear
of
man
one
is
if
you
ever
experience
peer
pressure
just
another
term
for
fear
of
man
two
is
if
self
esteem
is
a
critical
concern
for
you
if
you're
very
concerned
for
how
others
support
your
sense
of
well-being
and
self
expression
and
identity
then
you
deal
with
the
fear
of
man
and
this
can
be
very
subtle
for
example
you
can
be
consumed
with
making
sure
that
people
think
that
you're
someone
that
does
not
care
what
they
think
you're
still
caught
in
the
snare
of
the
!
man
!
And the
heart
of the
problem
of the
fear
of
man
is
that
we
need
people
for
our
own
glory
rather
than
loving
people
for
God's
glory
the
antidote
therefore
to the
fear
of
man
is
the
fear
of
the
Lord
to
be
so
consumed
for
God's
glory
to
be
so
aware
of
God's
importance
that
we
don't
actually
spend
that
much
time
at
all
thinking
about
what
mere
men
say
about
us
in
what
ways
is
the
fear
of
man
controlling
you
and
making
you
unfaithful
to
God
do
you
fear
people's
judgment
do
you
hesitate
to
share
the
good
news
of
Jesus
Christ
with
others
when
God's
truth
is
maligned
in
the
classroom
do
you
refuse
to
seek
up
out
of
fear
when
a
glaring
sin
when
you
see
a
glaring
sin
in
a
brother
or
sister
in
Christ
that
needs
to
be
addressed
do
you
ignore
it
for the
sake
of
self
preservation
do
you
seek
to
appease
others
because
you
fear
them
more
than
you
love
them
because
you
fear
their
verdict
more
than
God's
verdict
what
would
we
say
if
we
saw
a
neighbor
or
friend
tormented
in
hell
and
they
look
at
us
with
longing
question
in
our
eyes
why
didn't
you
tell
me
how
I
can
be
saved
will
we
really
tell
them
just
a little
embarrassed
what
does
the
fear
of
God
look
like
in
the
practice
it
doesn't
look
like
terror
or
being
afraid
of
punishment
remember
what I
said
earlier
it
looks
like
entrusting
ourselves
to
God
how
do
we
know
that
because
Jesus
says
that
in
verses
29
to
31
are
not
too
spare
or
sold
for
a
penny
and
not
one
of
them
will
fall
to
the
!
apart
from
your
!
the
hair
of
your
hair
are
all
numbered
fear
not
therefore
you
are
of
more
value
than
many
sparrows
a
sparrow
is
one
of
the
smallest
most
common
and
least
valuable
birds
all
across
the
world
it's
the
cheapest
thing
sold
in
the
market
in
Jesus
time
nobody
pays
any
mind
when
there
is
a
dead
sparrow
I'm
sure
you've
walked
by
many
without
even
noticing
him
we
don't
care
about
him
but
God
says
he
cares
about
him
Jesus
says
that
not
one
sparrow
is
forgotten
by
God
not
one
sparrow
falls
to the
ground
apart
from
the
sovereign
will
and
purpose
of
God
the
Father
how
much
more
than
will
God
take
care
of
us
similarly
Jesus
tells
us
that
even
the
hairs
of
our
head
are
all
numbered
hair
follicles
on
their
head
and
each
follicle
grows
about
20
individual
hairs
in
a
lifetime
and
we
lose
hair
all
the
time
right
you
find
them
on
the
bed
on
the
rug
on
the
carpet
in
the
sink
in
the
bathtub
I
know
first
hand
because
I
live
with
four
ladies
not
that
I
don't
lose
hair
I
do
I
just
can
see
it
a
strand
of
hair
is
insignificant
and
yet
God
has
each
strand
of
hair
on
your
head
how
detailed
intimate
personal
is his
care
for us
he
knows
how
many
tens
of
thousands
of
hairs
are
on
your
head
and
when
each
one
falls
it
is
counted
if
God
cares
about
a
sparrow
if
God
has
a
number
of
strands
on
your
hair
counted
how
much
more
does
God
care
for
us
and
for
our
lives
and
do
you
think
that
God
does
not
care
when
you
are
ridiculed
or
belittled
because
of
your
faith
do
you
think
that
God
does
not
see
when
you
are
mistreated
for
your
faith
in
him
do
!
think
!
God
does
not
care
that
his
representatives
his
children
are
beaten
and
put
to
death
all
throughout
the world
for their
faith in
him
of course
he cares!
according to
Open Doors USA
hundreds of
millions of
Christians
faced extreme
persecution
in many
countries
throughout
the world
last year
alone
4,476
Christians
were
murdered
7,679
churches
with church
properties
were
attacked
and
4,744
Christians
were
in prison
for their
faith
and
do
you
think
that
God
does
not
care?
Of course
he cares!
He said
in Psalm
116
verse 15
that
the precious
in the
sight of
the Lord
is the
death
of his
saints
every
death
of
one of
his
people
one of
his
children
one of
his
saints
is
precious
in
God's
life
rare
costly
weighty
to
God
he does
not
see us
as cheap
replaceable
disposable
goods
the
death
of one
of his
people
is not
something
that God
brings
about
flippantly
it's
weighty
to
him
each
life
is
significant
and
costly
to
him
and
that
means
we
can
trust
him
with
our
lives
and
with
our
souls
fear
not
therefore
you are
of more
value
than
many
sins
things
so
Jesus
doesn't
promise
that
none
of us
will
be
killed
for
our
faith
but
he
does
assure
us
that
if
it
were
to
happen
it
would
not
be
outside
of God's
perfect
loving
and
sovereign
plan
for us
in
Daniel
chapter
3
when
king
Nebuchadnezzar
erects
this
idolatrous
golden
image
and
commands
all of
his
subjects
to bow
down
before
him
worship
shattered
Meshach
and
Abednego
the
three
friends
of
Daniel
refused
to
bow
down
and
Nebuchadnezzar
threatens
them
saying
if
you
do
not
worship
you
shall
immediately
be
cast
into
a
burning
fiery
furnace
and
who
is
the
God
who
will
deliver
you
out
of
my
hands
and
these
three
humble
men
defy
the
most
powerful
king
in
the
world
at
that
time
saying
oh
Nebuchadnezzar
we
have
no need
to
answer
you
in
this
matter
if
this
be
so
our
God
whom
we
serve
is
able
to
deliver
us
from
the
burning
fire
furnace
and
he
will
deliver
us
out
of
your
hand
oh
king
but
if
not
be
known
to
you
oh
king
that
we
will
not
serve
your
God
for
worship
the
golden
image
that
you
have
set
God
can
and
we
believe
that
he
!
will
deliver
us
from
your
God
to
your
golden
idolatrous
image
and
when
they
are
thrown
into
the
fiery
furnace
as
a result
he
says
that
the
fire
had
not
had
any
power
over
the
bodies
of
those
men
the
hair
of
their
heads
was
not
singed
their
clothes
were
not
harmed
and
no
smell
of
fire
come
upon
them
not
even
their
hair
was
lost
in
the
fence
because
no
man
not
even
the
most
powerful
king
of
the
world
can
make
even
a
strand
of
hair
from
one
of
his
children
fall
from
their
head
apart
from
the
sovereign
will
of
God
the
Father
and
that's
why
Jesus
is
telling
us
this
it
is
imperative
that
we
fear
God
and
not
man
because
if
we
don't
if
we
fear
man
we
will
not
bear
witness
to
Jesus
we
won't
confess
him
or
acknowledge
!
So
everyone
who
acknowledges
me
before
men
I
also
will
acknowledge
before
my
Father
who
is
in
heaven
but
whoever
denies
me
before
men
I
will
also
deny
before
my
Father
who
is
in
heaven
this
is
why
we
as a
church
emphasize
the importance
of
baptism
as a
public
acknowledgement
of our
faith
in
Christ
Christians
sometimes
talk
in a
very
individualistic
manner
about
salvation
as if
it
were
a
personal
and
private
thing
repentance
as if
personal
private
repentance
and faith
were
sufficient
but
the
Bible
associates
our
private
repentance
and faith
with a
public
profession
of faith
in
baptism
it
associates
our
personal
repentance
and faith
with a
corporate
baptism
into the
body
of
Christ
the
church
and
outward
public
professional
faith
is
important
our
faith
is
a
public
faith
why
because
the
Christian
faith
is not
a matter
of
personal
opinion
it is
a matter
of
universal
public
truth
John
12
42
and 43
says
this
nevertheless
many
even of
the
authorities
the
Jewish
authorities
believed
in
Jesus
but
for
fear
of
the
Pharisees
they
did
not
confess
so that
they
did
not
be
put
out
of
the
synagogue
for
they
loved
the
glory
that
comes
from
man
more
than
the
glory
that
comes
from
God
do you
see
the
contrast
there
in
John
12
between
believing
and
confessing
there
were
Jewish
authorities
who
believed
in
Jesus
already
secretly
but
for
the
fear
of
the
Pharisees
they
did
not
confess
Jesus
publicly
and
John's
assessment
of them
they
are
not
true
believers
he loved
the
glory
that
comes
from
man
more
than
the
glory
that
comes
from
God
they
were
ashamed
of
Christ
in
his
words
Jesus
said
everyone
who
acknowledges
me
before
man
I
also
would
acknowledge
before
my
father
who
is
heaven
the
word
acknowledge
is a
translation
of the
same
Greek
word
that
is
translated
as
confessed
!
with
your
mouth
that
God
raised
him
from
the
dead
you
will
be
saved
for
with
the
heart
one
believes
and
is
justified
and
with
the
mouth
one
confesses
and
is
saved
believing
in
the
heart
is
not
enough
you
must
always
confess
with
your
mouth
genuine
inward
faith
must
be
accompanied
by
authentic
outward
confession
this
is
why
throughout
the
New
Testament
if
you
could
read
through
all
the
New
Testament
it's
always
public
baptism
and
not
a
private
recitation
of
the
sinner's
prayer
that's
used
to mark
the beginning
of a
believer's
life
the
Lord
Jesus
will not
acknowledge
before
the
divine
heavenly
court
those
who
refuse
!
to
acknowledge
him
before
the
earthly
human
!
If
not
start
this
week
start
by letting
you know
that you
are
a
Christian
start
by
speaking
openly
about
your
faith
and
about
your
preaching
activities
and
things
that
you're
doing
with
church
and
whenever
you
can
share
the
good
use
of
Jesus
Christ
with
them
for
that
is
the
power
of
God
for
salvation
for
those
who
do
you
yes
Jesus
sends
us
out
as
sheep
in
the
midst
of
wolves
but
we
must
remember
that
he's
not
sending
us
to
go
where
he
hasn't
already
gone
before
us
Jesus
says
in
John
10
11
I
am
the
good
shepherd
the
good
shepherd
lays
down
his
life
for
the
sheep
usually
it's
the
sheep
that's
slaughtered
for the
sake
of
the
shepherd
right
but
Jesus
is
a
good
shepherd
who
lays
down
his
life
for
us
the
sheep
remember
verse
28
fear
him
can
destroy
both
soul
and body
and hell
hell is
what we
all
deserve
because
as
Romans
6
23
says
the
wages
of
sin
is
death
but
the
free
gift
of
God
is
eternal
life
in
Christ
Jesus
our
Lord
God
we
all
sin
against
the
holy
and
just
God
and
therefore
the
righteous
price
the
wage
for
that
sin
is
death
and
damnation
bearing
the
eternal
wrath
of
God
in
both
body
and
soul
that's
what we
deserve
but
instead
of
slaughtering
us
sheep
God
loved
us
and
sent
his
only
son
Jesus
Christ
to
shepherd
us
and
to
rescue
us
and
he
came
as
a
good
shepherd
and
in
dying
on
the
cross
for
our
sins
the
shepherd
became
the
sheep
the
lamb
of
God
who
takes
away
the
sin
of
the
world
because
Jesus
took
our
place
and
because
Jesus
paid
our
price
on
the
cross
and
because
he
rose
again
from
the
dead
in
victory
now
all
those
who
pledge
allegiance
to
Jesus
and
entrust
themselves
to
him
can
be
forgiven
of
all
their
sin
and
gain
eternal
life
if
only
we
confess
Jesus
if
only
we
acknowledge
Jesus
before
man
Jesus
says
I
also
will
acknowledge
you
before
my
Father
who
is
in
!
that's
an
amazing
promise
that's
the
most
amazing
promise
I
can
offer
to
every
single
one
of
you
and
that
promise
is
singular
everyone
Jesus
said
I'm
not
going to
you
all
all at
once
I
will
acknowledge
you
by name
personally
before
the heavenly
throne
of God
God
some
117
billion
people
are
said
to
have
lived
throughout
history
as
people
estimate
of all
those
countless
feelings
Jesus
will say
your name
he is
mine
I
died
for him
I
rose
for him
to
be
lost
with
us
!
Father
isn't
that
to hear
that
to
receive
that
isn't
that
worth
forsaking
everything
in our
world
isn't
that
worth
being
rejected
by
all
if
only
we
could
be
received
by
God
by
our
Savior
Jesus
Christ
let's
pray
that
that's
the
case
for
all
us
oh
Father
it's
all
the
name
of your
son
Jesus
Christ
magnify
again
the right
man
magnify
your
glory
your
authority
your
love
your
mercy
so
that
we
might
see
you
as
big
as
you
actually
are
so
that
it
puts
all
things
into
perspective
so
it
puts
our
earthly
lives
into
perspective
so
that
it
puts
all
our
interactions
with
other
men
and
women
in
this
world
into
perspective
so
that
we
will
never
fear
them
fear
you
love
that
we
might
bear
witness
to
Jesus
and
be
faithful
to
him
unto
death
help
us
and fill
us with
your
spirit
so we
can do
it
in
Jesus
name
we
pray
amen
you