Let God Help You Overcome Fear
People sometimes seek to frighten us with fear to deter us from our purpose. But Jesus didn’t let the Pharisees’ false warning deter him from his hour. How about you? Are you trusting in the Lord and his purpose for you, or are you running away in fear all tied up in knots with concerns?
Luke 13.31-35 -- Todd A. Schäve, pastor/teacher
Introduction:
1. “...[The] only thing we have to fear is fear itself...,” said Franklin D. Roosevelt, in his "First Inaugural Address," 4 March 1933.
“So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself - nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes our efforts to convert retreat into advance.”
President Roosevelt spoke these words of action to a nation whose economy and morale had been sapped by financial depression. The speech was given in Washington, D.C. as part of the presidential inauguration. (Source: http://douglass.speech.nwu.edu/roos_a76.htm).
2. Approximately, 2000 years ago a group of Pharisees sought to run off Jesus by frightening him. Luke 13.31-35 records this even, and it says...
vs.31, “At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.”
v.32, “He replied, ‘Go tell that fox, “I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.” ’
v.33, “In any case, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day — for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!
v.34, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
v.35, “Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
3. Fear can cause all kinds of problems, like panic attacks, prolong acute stress, or a generalized anxiety. But, the Bible has some good news for us.
In Proverbs God’s Word says, “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe” (Proverbs 29.25).
In another place it says, “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil” (Proverbs 3.7).
4. In this incident in our Lord’s life, Jesus was traveling through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem, when the Pharisees, sought to run off Jesus by instilling some fear that King Herod, the son of Herod the Great, was out to kill Jesus.
Now, understand that the governing authorities had a lot more flexibility in dealing with, what shall we say, difficult people. Look at verse 1 of chapter 13 and see how Pilate dealt with some Galileans, “Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.”
Of course, Pilate later on in Jerusalem, after finding Jesus innocent, still had Jesus crucified on a cross to appease the crowds and Jewish leaders. They were petty much given a free hand in keeping the peace. That’s why Pilate refused to discuss the truth with Jesus, for he left to make a deal with the Jewish leaders. He was only interested in what was politically expedient, not the truth.
Another case in point was at Jesus’ birth when Herod the Great had the male children in Bethlehem killed in order to do away with a potential rival.
5. Herod Antipas, did have John the Baptist beheaded, yet in reality he hoped to meet Jesus, but not to kill him, rather Herod wanted to see Jesus work a miracle for him. In Luke 23 let me read...
“When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. That day Herod and Pilate became friends — before this they had been enemies” (23.8-12).
6. People sometimes seek to frighten us with fear to deter us from our purpose. But Jesus didn’t let the Pharisees’ false warning deter him from his hour. How about you? Are you trusting in the Lord and his purpose for you, or are you running away in fear, all tied up in knots with concerns?
Take it by faith that the Lord is with you, don’t panic and bolt with what you know God has called you to do. Whatever God is calling you to do, as a parent, a worker, a follower of Jesus, a citizen of this State and Country, as a student or child.....Follow what King David did in Psalm 4. Let me read it to you...
“Answer me when I call to you,
O my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
be merciful to me and hear my prayer......
“Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;
the LORD will hear when I call to him.
In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds,
search your hearts and be silent.
Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD.......”
David concludes Psalm 4 by writing,
“I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone,
O LORD, make me dwell in safety.”
(4.1,3-5, 8).
7. Jesus was in control of his destiny, his purpose was to die to atone for our sins.
Look at Jesus’ reply in verses 32-33, “He replied, ‘Go tell that fox, “I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal. In any case, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day — for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!”
Jesus was approximately three days away from Jerusalem. But he didn’t let the Pharisees discourage him from graciously, compassionately freeing people who were tormented by demons and healing people afflicted by diseases.
But more importantly, he stayed his course, for he later came to save lost, sinners by atoning for our sins, and reconciling us with our Heavenly Father.
What would have happened to people their had Jesus listened to the Pharisees and run?
Let us not run from our responsibilities, our families, our work, and our calling God has given us.
8. Jesus’ ultimate calling is seen in verse 34, where his agonizingly says, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
Jesus is in his protective mode. He likens himself to a protective hen.
9. Brett Blair writes, “Have you ever seen a chicken hawk go after it’s prey? The old mother hen is often aware of the presence of the hawk in time to gather her chicks under her wing.
With a furious fuss she squawks till her brood is safe by her side. She fluffs out her wings and protects them with her own body. The chicken hawk dives and the old hen turns her body toward him and cocks a wary eye without moving from her children.
The predator comes in again for the kill and the mother spreads her wings even wider. A third time he dives only to be thwarted by the determined self-sacrifice of the mother hen. She is too big to be a target and the chicks are too safe to be seized so he flies away.” (Citation: www.eSermons.com, March 2001).
10. What’s the hawk in your life? What’s the person or situation seeking to get you to run away from your charge, your responsibility, the task God has called you to do? Don’t panic and run for your life, stay your ground and face your attacker as Jesus did. He kept healing and casting out demons, and he keep teaching.
In Psalm 91 an anonymous Psalmist writes:
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’ Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.” (Psalms 91.1-7).
11. Jesus saw through their barren life. It had great trappings. But, God wasn’t there. Look at v.35, “Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
The Pharisees looked good, but as Jesus said, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean” (Matthew 23.27).
It takes a spiritually discerning person to see through one’s mask and see the emptiness inside.
In conclusion:
1. What have we learned from Jesus’ example:
1) Don’t Fear But Trust God...
2) Focus On God’s Call for you...
3) Protect Those God Called You to Serve...
4) Take It by Faith, Your Enemy’s Life is Barren.
2. Let us pray: My Lord Jesus, blessed by your name, “...for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Thank for your faithful witness. But, to be honest with you Lord, our spirits are willing, but our bodies are weak. Holy Spirit empower us through your guidance and self-control “...to live a life worthy of the calling [we] have received...”. Father, enable us to “...[be] faithful, even to the point of death...” as witnesses to your mercy you have graciously shown us through Jesus, your beloved Son. We ask all this so our work and families be bless and may you be given eternal praise! In Christ’s name we humbly ask. Amen.
