Middletown transcript., 1914-02-21
Warned by Jesus.


II. The fear Of death, w. 4, z. Such
publicity will and always has led to
persecution, and SO Jesus calls his
disciples to courage, charging them
that they fear not those who have
power over the body, but rather to
fear him whose power is over the
soul. Notice the manner Of address.
my friends, fear not" Intimacy and
courage are suggested. Look up the
many times the Scriptures admonish
US not to fear, l. John 4:1S. Satan and
man ". 81 have power over the body,
but they cannot touch the soul. The
Christian, however, needs not to fear
man or Satan, Isa. 51:12, Rom. 1881,
for the angel of Jehovah (the Lord
Jesus) encamps about them that fear
Jehovah FPS. 34:D. Paul tells US that
to depart from this life is again, Phil.
1:21; II. Cor. 5:S. We have, therefore,
no cause to fear the death of the body.
One only, God, has the power after
death, to cast the soul into hell ". 81.
He 1t Is who gives US a suggestion of
awful consciousness of the soul, and Of
the body as well, when they are in
hell, Matt. 1928. Jesus has warned
us and we are to warn others that they
avoid that which was prepared, not for
man, but Off the devil and his angels,
Matt. 25:41. Is there a hell? Yes!
Else Jesus was deceived or has de-
liberately deceived us. Thank God,
however, that as a man Is Of more
value than sparrow, so God has pre-
pared better things for those who
place their faith in his son, ". 81. He
also looks after the most minute details
Of our lives, beyond what we can do,
down to the counting Of the hairs Of
our head ". y. Contrast Fear him."
v. 5, and Fear not" " Z. The fear Of
God produces that obedience and fel1
Iowship whereby all other fear is ban
ished. All fear being banished we be-
come conscious Of his love and we are
inspired to persistent service.
III. The fear Of making an open con-
fession, w. e-12. With such tender,
beautiful assurance Of Gods care over
US it would seem unnecessary for
Jesus to admonish his followers about
confesslng him before the world. Yet
such is the persistent hardness and
the natural timidity of the human
heart that the Master, Ia mercy, warns
his followers, Rom. 1879, 10. Our
Lord looks beyond his disciples to the
dispensation of the Spirit and de-
clared that men, speaking against him
would be forgiven, but that those who
SANDER, detract and heap vituperation
upon the Spirit would commit sin,
blasphemy, which could hot be for
given. Moreover, in that dispense
ton of the Spirit, no matter how much
men might suffer, or be in danger,
they would be taught by that Spirit |
what they ought to say, w. II, IL.
The one who commits this sin, de-
liberately attributes to the Devil what
he knows to be the work Of the Spirit,
Matt. 12:22-32. It is deliberate
choice Of darkness and the heart is so
hardened as to preclude repentance.
There is no desire for repentance.
Those whom Jesus calls to proclaim
the truth concerning the Kingdom Of
God may depend upon a cooperation
Of the Holy Spirit which will make
them fearless Of all opposition. The
death Of the body is but an incident.
AS we receive the Comforter and
come to know the God Of all comfort
we begin to sense our value to him in
carrying out his enterprises and the
mystery of his condescending grace.
There is no warrant for undertaking
work for Christ without adequate
preparation, but there is SUFFICIENT war
rant for fully trusting him IN every
emergency.