Why Are
We Failing the Great Commission?
Chapter Thirteen
Overcoming the Fear of Man and Bearing Reproach for
Christ
“Our fears do make us traitors.” (William Shakespeare; Macbeth)
Matthew chapter ten is Christ
commissioning and empowering His twelve apostles to preach to the children
of Israel. This is the context of
Matthew chapter ten. There would be a
time when these men would be sent to the Gentiles as well, but the context of
Matthew chapter ten is the “house of Israel” (Matthew 10:6). Although the
principles of the text apply to all Christians, certain aspects such as healing
and power over demons (Matthew 16:1) is specific only to the Apostles as signs
to the Jews. The “councils” and “synagogues”
of Matthew 16:17 are Jewish apostates who rejected Jesus as the Messiah. In simpler words, like “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego” (Daniel 3:19-20), Jesus was sending these
men into the fire. When a
Christian has already consented to being kindling for the Lord’s
purposes, he does not object to the potential of the fire of persecution.
Most of the
Apostles did not understand of what Jesus spoke until they witnessed the brutal
torture and crucifixion of Jesus. They
were willing to consent to the “baptism” and the “cup” (Matthew 20:22-23) of
Jesus until they actually saw to what that “baptism” and “cup” referred.
First, let’s explain
was appears to be an Eschatological problem in the text. The fact that Matthew
chapter ten pertains to the “house of Israel” is the point of Matthew 10:23,
which refers to the seven-year Tribulation.
The point of that text is that all the physical geography of Israel will
not be completely evangelized in those seven years prior to the second
coming of Jesus.
“16
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the
midst of wolves: be ye therefore
wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
17 But beware of men:
for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in
their synagogues; 18 And ye shall be brought before governors and
kings for my sake, for a testimony
against them and the Gentiles. 19 But when {not if} they deliver
you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you
in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father
which speaketh in you. 21 And the brother
shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the
children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put
to death. 22 And ye shall be hated of all men
for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved
{as evidence of genuine salvation, not a condition for salvation}.
23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye
into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have
gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.” (Matthew 10:16-23).
It is
inconsistent with the commands and expectations of Jesus for a believer to
think faithfulness to the Great Commission can exist without difficulties. Confronting
fears and inconsistencies with the Word of God is a necessity for overcoming
them. Biblical Christianity does not exist
within a vacuum absent of the “mystery of inequity.” Biblical Christianity involves confronting temporal
thinking and feelings with the eternal realities known only
through a real faith in the things to come.
A fear of man can cripple Christians in
doing what God has commanded them to do.
When we succumb to the emotion of fear,
we become spiritual cowards. The issue
is not the presence of fear, but rather our succumbing to that fear and hiding
in our fox holes. In Matthew 10:21-39, God gives three perspectives of life to overcome
fear, two commands for overcoming fear, one principle of encouragement, and two
proofs of real discipleship (each proof has a warning with it). If we do not understand and apply these truths
to our lives, we will find ourselves cowering in the darkness, warming
ourselves by the world’s fires, and denying the Lord Who bought us.
“24
The disciple is not above his
master, nor the servant above his
lord. 25 It is enough for the disciple that
he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the
master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his
household? 26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered,
that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. 27
What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in
the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. 28 And fear not
them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the
soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both
soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?
and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear ye not
therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. 32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will
I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever
shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in
heaven. 34 Think not that I am come to send
peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am
come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her
mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own
household. 37 He that loveth father or mother
more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than
me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that
taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life
for my sake shall find it” (Matthew 10:21-39).
Matthew 10:24-39 is intended to give us
God’s perspective towards the world’s reproach of Christ. Christ gives us three different eternal perspectives
for life that will work to help us overcome fear of persecution and death to
become faithful, witnessing believer-priests.
Perspective one: “24 The disciple {follower} is not above {causally does
not hold a position above, beyond, or more than} his master {teacher; the One whose teachings are
followed/lived}, nor the servant {purchased bond slave ‘bought with a price;’ I
Corinthians 6:20} above { causally does not hold a position above, beyond, or
more than }
his lord {the One who purchased you with ‘His own blood’ from the bondage of sin;
Hebrews 9:12}. 25 It is enough {sufficient or satisfying} for the disciple that he
be like {comparatively} his master {in truth and wisdom}, and the servant like {comparatively} his lord {in life and
practice}”
(Matthew 10:24-25a).
The
person who has committed himself to serve as a disciple of Christ should expect
to bear similar rejection by the world to what Christ experienced. Bearing some reproach for the
cause of Christ is a normal part of Christian service and experience. If you have not experienced rejection because
of your service and witness for Christ, it is
probably because you are not serving or witnessing for Christ. If that is the case, your Christianity is abnormal
from the Scriptural standard.
“4 Hearken unto me, my people;
and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and
I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people. 5 My
righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall
judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they
trust. 6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth
beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax
old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but
my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.
7 Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness {gifted in
salvation by grace}, the people in whose heart is my law;
fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.
8 For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat
them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation
from generation to generation” (Isaiah
51:4-8).
Perspective two: “If they have called the master of the house {the ‘last
Adam’ and ‘firstborn’ of the New Creation} Beelzebub {Chaldean name for their
dung-god; another synonym for Satan; the point is that Jesus was leading
people away from the corrupted priesthood of Israel and therefore the Pharisees
considered Jesus to be evil. Therefore,
when believers leads people away from false religions, false gospels, or false
doctrines, expect those people to think you are evil.}, how much more shall
they call them of his {the Master’s} household {‘born again’ children
of God}” (Matthew 10:25b)? Ridicule by this Christ rejecting world should be a normal part of the Christian experience. The point of
this perspective on the “ministry of reconciliation” as “ambassadors of Christ”
is that the Truth we preach will not automatically be received as truth from
God. Expect accusations and unbelief!
“22 Blessed
are ye {faithful ministering ambassadors}, when men shall hate
you {for being faithful ministering ambassadors}, and when
they shall separate you from their company {for being faithful
ministering ambassadors}, and shall reproach you {for being faithful
ministering ambassadors}, and cast out your name as evil {for being faithful
ministering ambassadors}, for the Son of man’s sake {because of
the unwillingness to compromise one ‘jot and one tittle’ of the teachings of
Jesus}. 23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for,
behold, your reward is great in heaven {Judgment Seat of Christ}:
for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets” (Luke 6:22-23).
Since
all fallen people tend to create God in their own image, expect lost people,
and Biblically ignorant people, to make their wants and desires the standards
for right and wrong. This is what today
is called Political Correctness. Political
Correctness is just a Liberal’s way of saying his beliefs are right and God’s
ways are wrong. That is a doctrine of
fools!
“19 Because that which may be known
of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are
clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his
eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither
were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish
heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they
became fools, 23 And changed the glory {the visible
attributes of the nature and character of God revealed through God’s creation}
of the uncorruptible {undecaying in essence or
continuance; eternal and immortal i.e., never changing} God into an image
{something physical and tangible} made like to corruptible man,
and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things” (Romans 1:19-23).
The central reason people deny God’s
existence is because they can then justify anything and everything in their
practices of sin. Paganism is just do
as you want idolatry so the unbeliever can make the worship of his deity (even
if the deity is himself) take any form he desires and there is no source of
Truth to govern those worship styles.
This is essentially what Isaiah 5:20 says when “evil” is called “good,” “darkness”
is exchanged for “light,” and “bitter” replaces “sweet.”
“Woe unto them that call
evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter” (Isaiah 5:20)!
Perspective three: “Fear them not {those who reject you and the Truths you present to
them, for they are really rejecting Jesus}, therefore; for there is nothing covered
that shall not be revealed; and hidden that shall not be known {all Truths
will eventually be revealed and all lies and liars will be judged}” (Matthew 10:26). We should not determine that conditions under which we
presently exist are the way things always
will be. We must learn to look beyond the present
realities to the second coming of Christ.
When
we see the corruptions of this world from the perspective of the Satanic
influences of the “mystery of inequity” working in the world, we can then see
our critics and accusers compassionately as merely deceived people being used
by Satan. We MUST be able to see them through the eyes
of God’s compassion or we will never risk life and limb to persuade them to
repent. This compassion is revealed by
Christ towards the very people who were crucifying Him as they were doing so. “Father, forgive them; for they know not what
they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots” (Luke 23:34). Judgment Day is coming for them, but until
then there is still opportunity to persuade them to repent.
“For the wrath of God is
revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who
hold the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18).
“And then shall that Wicked
be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and
shall destroy with the brightness of his coming” (II Thessalonians 2:8).
Eventually
God will turn the tables on this world. Even though
living and witnessing for Christ is presently considered religious fanaticism
compared to the world’s standards, this world will one day be changed. Satan’s present covert actions (“the mystery
of inequity”) against the cause of Christ will one day be revealed including
the judgment of each person involved.
“In the day when God shall
judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel” (Romans 2:16).
Christ gives us two commands to obey
in order to overcome fear. Command one: “What I tell you in darkness {privately;
somethings are taught privately and deeply because lost people will not
understand}, that speak in the light {publicly; what you
understand deeply can be explain ed simply and with the time necessary};
and what ye hear in the ear {that you understand and that are
explained to you}, that preach {proclaim and explain} upon
the housetops {to everyone and anyone that will listen}” (Matthew
10:27).
God
does not work covertly through manipulation and deception. Although the
illumination of a believer to the truths of God is usually done in quiet times and with the “still small voice” of the Holy Spirit as He gives us understanding, those truths are intended to
be proclaimed and explained boldly and publicly. God wants this world confronted with the truths
of the Gospel message. Man
is a sinner, lost in his sin, condemned to an eternal hell. Christ
has paid the wages of sin. God is
propitiated. Anyone can be saved if he
will call out to Jesus to save him, recognizing Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9-13).
The more we think about the possible negative
consequences of witnessing for Christ, the higher the probability of our never getting out of our fox
hole and doing anything for Christ. Yes, the
very people to whom you witness may kill your body. But death is where this world’s power
ends! They can never touch your
soul. Your soul is ALREADY secure in the
Father’s hands. The more you focus on the Commander, the more the
potential is there for your life to be
empowered by the Holy Spirit.
“I am the vine, ye are the
branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much
fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John
15:5).
“I can do all things
through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians
4:13).
Command two: “And
fear {imperative
voice; i.e. a commandment} not them who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but
rather fear {imperative voice; i.e. a commandment} him {God} who is able to destroy
both soul and body in Hell” (Matthew
10:28).
The
believer must fear God for the lost. The lost do not know enough to fear God for
themselves. Although the believer need
not fear God for himself (except for chastisement in disobedience), God will one day judge this world and lost mankind
without mercy. This includes the people
Christians fail to witness to because of a fear of being rejected.
“For he shall have judgment
without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment”
(James 2:13).
“28 He that
despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three
witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be
thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted
the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and
hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that hath
said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people {lost, Christ
rejecting Jews}. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of
the living God” (Hebrews 10:28-31).
Christ gives one principle of encouragement for
overcoming fear
Principle one: “29 Are not two sparrows sold
for a farthing? And one of them shall not
fall on the ground without your Father. 30
But the very
hairs of your head are numbered. Fear not, therefore; ye are more value than
many sparrows” (Matthew
10:29-31).
The “farthing”
was 1\4 of one cent. Not one of these
sparrows die (which to the world seem
worthless) unless God gives His permission. God’s concern with the details of the
believer’s life is so involved, He knows the numbers of the hairs of our head. Therefore, the believer who trusts in the
sovereignty of God in his life should not fear what man can do to him. Man’s power over the believer’s life ends
with death.
Overcoming
the fear of rejection or persecution will happen when we change our perspective
on life, when we obey Christ’s commands, and when we understand that God is
intimately involved with every detail of our lives. A
continual refusal to be a testimony for Christ exposes the hypocrisy of our
Christianity.
When
was the last time you really worked at trying to bring a soul to Jesus Christ? Do you really believe Jesus is
the answer to all of man’s needs? If you believe that, why isn’t getting that
message out the central priority of your life? What did you do this last week that proves your
Christianity is real?
“35 And Jesus went about all the cities and
villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the
kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36
But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them,
because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37
Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but
the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord
of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest” (Matthew
9:35-38).
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Numerous studies and series are available free of charge for local churches at: http://www.disciplemakerministries.org/
Dr. Lance Ketchum serves the Lord as a Church Planter, Evangelist/Revivalist.
He has served the Lord for over 50 years.
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