Pentecost
4 - Proper 7
Matthew 10:21-33
21 June 2026
Martini Lutheran Church
New Haven, IN
Fear that chases away fear
O Lord, whose gracious
presence never fails to guide and govern those whom You have nurtured in Your
steadfast love and worship, make us ever revere and adore Your holy name.[2]
Fear. What is it?
FEAR is "False Evidence Appearing Real".
And Courage? COURAGE is fear that has said its prayers.
There is much for us to fear these days. Farmers got a late start planting this spring. Inputs were high. Now we wait for crops to mature and grow. But how about the weather? You cannot control it. And then the markets. You cannot control them either.
Whether it’s the student starting out for the first time on new ventures or the couple contemplating the next phase of their lives, the future can be a little bit scary. - A combination of frightening and alarming. Almost sheer terror!
Some of our fears are legitimate and justified. You can fret and worry about your family, your health, your employment, your future. All valid concerns.
Other times, our fears are unreasonable. Paranoid. Irrational. Uncalled-for. Fear can make us feel powerless. You can talk all you want about the futility of fear. But talking is cheap. Which does not make fear go away.
Your feelings are sometimes deeper than any rational arguments. So how do we deal with this emotion of fear? Faith that deals with this basic feeling is the cure for fear. Address your fears. But trust also in Christ. It is faith that conquers fear. Faith conquers fear because…
Faith is certain we shall overcome – Fear God and you lose the fear of judgment for sin. Jesus said: “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant[a] above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.” Vv. 24-25
Pain, prison, and death are not the greater dangers after all. But disobedience and conformity to this age are the greater dangers. Jesus loves you so much He was willing to suffer for you. That you might have faith in suffering with Him.
When He suffered for you. He gave what you needed to suffer with Him. He gave you forgiveness for your sins.
He tells you plainly: "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." Matthew 26:28
Your guilt is gone. Your heavenly Father is on your side equipping you to trust your Savior Jesus.
And, since the Lord is on your side, what can man do to you? Jesus has promised to suffer for you. That you might have faith in suffering with Him.
Faith in God rather than in man – Fear God and the lesser fear of people disappear.
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. v. 28
Trust not in princes they are but mortal. Do not conform your life to the appeasement of those who may threaten you.
What’s the worst any man could do? Even in a worst-case scenario, if you die at the hands of men, it will be only temporary. If God kills a man, it will be for eternity.
May we have the strength of faith when Peter and the other apostles said in Acts 5:29: “We must obey God rather than men!”
Faith in God’s care for us – Fear God and you lose the fear of failure.
Some may ask. “What if I fail?” “What if it all goes wrong?” What if it doesn’t work?” It doesn’t matter!
The Father loves you. He’s concerned for you. He’s by your side. He’s in your corner. He’s got you back.
He took the lead. He sent Jesus to the cross. To be your substitute. Jesus lived a perfect life. For you.
He suffered and died at the cruel and bloody cross. For you. He broke down the door of death. He ascended into heaven.
He prepares a place for you. He is with you at this very moment. In His Word. In His Sacraments. To strengthen and preserve you.
“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.” Vv.29-31
The Father loves you. You are His. He sustains, directs, supports you. He leads you through troubled waters.
He points you to His promises, which will calm your fears and turn your anxieties and suspicions into a quiet confidence. It is well with your soul when Jesus guides and leads you.
So trust in His timing. Rely on His promises. Wait for His answers. Believe in His miracles.
Rejoice in His goodness. Relax in His presence. Come near to Jesus and He will come near to you. James 4:8
When we take these words of Jesus seriously. (As we should.) We come to this remarkable conclusion; your heavenly Father is completely fascinated by you!
He’s taken the time to count the number of hairs on your head Who else would do something than that, other than He who is absolutely in love with you! So be rational with your fear.
True. Fear cannot be totally eradicated. It cannot be stripped from the human psyche.
Fear is a part of our make-up. It’s a question of what and whom do you fear. Trust Christ not man. When Christ is feared; trusted, respected, and held in love and esteem - all other fear soon disappears.
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