5^th Sunday after Pentecost at Epiphany Lutheran Church on June 15, 2008

Matthew 10:29-31 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. ³⁰ And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Don’t be afraid!

For many years tigers have puzzled researchers. It seems that when tigers hunt they have a remarkable capacity for causing their prey to paralyze with fear, a capacity greater than any of the other big cats. As the tiger charges toward its hapless prey it lets out a spine-chilling roar. Now you’d think this would be enough to cause the prey to turn and run for its life, but instead it often freezes and soon becomes tiger food.

Recently, scientists discovered why you’re likely to freeze to the spot rather than run when the tiger charges. When the tiger roars it lets out sound waves that are audible – the ones that sound terrifying – and its also lets out sound at a frequency so low you can’t hear it, but you can feel it. And so, as the tiger emerges from the undergrowth with the flashing of its colors, the sound of its roar and the impact of the unheard but felt sound waves combine to provide an all-out assault on your senses. The effect is that you are momentarily paralyzed, so even though there may be time to avoid the tiger, you are tricked into standing still long enough for the tiger to leap on you.

Our fears often operate in the same way. They paralyze us into inactivity. We are tricked. We can’t move. We can’t speak.

At other times our fears are so powerful they drive people into behaviors they know are wrong and know they’ll be sorry for later. The accountant was afraid of losing her job so she spread rumors about others just to get ahead. The young woman was afraid of losing her boyfriend so she gave in to his pressure for sex and lost her self-respect and her reputation. The young man was so afraid of owning up to the truth about past sins that he almost killed himself to get rid of the guilt. And then there are the people so afraid of God that they haven’t set foot inside a church for years.

Satan isn’t a tiger, but Scripture does describe the devil as a roaring lion who wants us to be paralyzed by fear. He wants us to cower in terror. He wants us to despair and doubt and be driven away from God.

Big fears, little fears - we’ve all got them. The question is, “What are we going to do about them?” We could sit here all day listening to each other’s suggestions. We could hire an expert therapist who specializes in phobias. But I’ve got a better idea. Instead of asking, “What are we going to do about our fears?” let’s ask, “What can God do about our fears?” Jesus tells us in a portion of today’s Gospel lesson: “Don’t be afraid!” 

Fear is the great enemy of faith. What are you afraid of? Illness or failing health? Growing old and helpless? Medical insurance is getting too costly? Rising crime rates will eventually show up at your door in the person of a thief or a vandal? Are you afraid to drive at night? Are you afraid your old jalopy won't get you to your destination? Are you afraid your children won't love you or your parents might cause you embarrassment? Are you afraid your company might go belly up or you can’t pay your bills or you may lose your home? Are you afraid the market might collapse or that your retirement is insufficient or that you can't maintain your lifestyle? Are you afraid someone might find out about your past, or are you afraid of what you might do in the future? Are you afraid of death or afraid to keep on living? Of what are you afraid? I can't mention all of the fears. All I know is that you, yes every one of you, has a fear that is robbing you of the joy of living, that is souring your outlook, your attitude, your relationships, your todays and your tomorrows.

Whether it is the fear of the little toddler standing desperately alone in the department store aisle tearfully crying for his mother, the single mom or dad newly divorced and worried about the future, the elderly living alone in an apartment or a nursing home or facing the prospect of death, the greatest fear is that of being alone. We could say that underlying all our fears is a common thread, namely, the fear of being alone, or of going it alone.

Jesus says, "Don’t be afraid" because you are not going it alone – even when you are facing death. He comforts us saying, "I will never leave you or forsake you." "I am with you always, to the end of the age." He said, "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." All our enemies, even Satan, can do no more than kill our bodies. That may be a terrible thing in itself, but in that very moment when our enemies seem to be prevailing over us, we shall victoriously slip from their grasp, and our Lord and Savior will receive us to Himself in the glories of heaven. We have this assurance: “Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

Jesus says, "Don’t be afraid" because you are not going it alone. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

Sparrows are not highly valued birds – not like eagles and hawks, or even egg-laying chickens or fat roasting turkeys, or even pet parrots and parakeets. Yet God who created the sparrows watches over them, and not one of them dies unless He permits it. God watches over all His creatures from aardvarks to zebras. Yet we humans are more valuable than the whole animal kingdom put together – for we have immortal souls. We were made from the clay of the earth, received God’s breath of life, created in God’s image and redeemed by God’s Son. Could God possibly forget or be unconcerned about those who are His dear children through faith in Christ? Impossible! God is so concerned about our welfare that He even knows how many hairs each us has on our head (although some of you make it easier on God than others). Absolutely nothing escapes God’s notice or is beyond His control. Don’t be afraid for we are safe in His care.

A man was walking down a very dark and unfamiliar road late at night. His car had broken down and he decided that he would go for help. It was pitch black. Clouds blocked any light from the sky.

As he walked, he gingerly took each step hoping to stay on the road. Suddenly, he slipped off the edge and found himself falling. Certain that he was falling to his death somewhere below, he desperately reached out for something to break his fall. His hand found a bush growing from the side the hill and he hung on for dear life.

His calls for help were in vain. His arms grew weaker by the moment. He was tired and afraid. As his grasp slipped and he began to fall, he thought he was going to die. A moment later, however, his feet landed on the soft, grassy bottom of the ravine. He was exhausted, but relieved. If only he had let go sooner! Safety was only inches away.

As we face the troubles and dangers of life, we often forget that help is close by. “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth" (Psalm 145:18). Worried about tornadoes, flooding, terrorist attacks, illness, disease, death, sin, Satan? Don't be. Your Lord and Savior is always there for you. Don't be afraid! Just let go! Put your trust in the Lord! With the Lord at our side we need never be afraid. We turn our troubles over to Him.

If you fear something you have some control over, then do something about it. Form a plan and do what you need to do. If it is beyond your control, then it isn’t your problem! Let it be God’s problem. He doesn’t mind at all when you come to Him with things that are bigger than you are. "The LORD is my light and salvation – whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1)

Hearing this, some might say: "Nice words Jesus, but prove it. Prove You can make a difference. Prove You can do something with my fears when everything I've tried, and every expert I've consulted has been helpless." It's a reasonable request, and speaking for the Savior, I'm glad to oblige. Across the breadth of the Bible, God consistently sends the message, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.” The angel came to Mary and said, "Don't be afraid." God took care of her. Yes, her Baby, our Savior, was born in a stable, but God took care of her. The angel said to Joseph, “Don’t be afraid,” and Joseph's fears were set aside, and He became the stepfather of the Savior. The angel told the shepherds, “Don’t be afraid,” and they worshiped the newborn Savior. Jesus walked on water and called to the disciples in the midst of the storm, “Don’t be afraid.” Then He calmed that storm. Jesus reassured Jairus, “Don’t be afraid,” even though his daughter was dieing. Jairus trusted the Lord, and had his daughter brought back to life.

Jesus told His disciples the terrible ways many of them would die, yet He told them, “Don’t be afraid.” The disciples were afraid when they heard the reports of Jesus' trial, His death, His burial. They were confused when they first heard of Jesus' empty tomb. But then Jesus appeared in the locked room and comforted them saying, “Don’t be afraid.” They had seen the risen Christ, the Savior who could conquer sin, death and Satan, and they were changed. They knew if Jesus could conquer death, He also could conquer their fears. It was a wonderful, transforming moment. No longer did they hide; no longer did they cower. They became lions for the Lord, roaring out to all who would hear: Jesus, the crucified and risen Lord, has put an end to fear.

Jesus sends His Holy Spirit, to call you to faith, to forgive your sins, to change your perspective, to make you unafraid. That is the promise Jesus makes to those who hear Him. It is a promise He alone can keep. It is why the Bible calls Him the Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6) It is why in a time when our economy isn’t looking good and food and gas prices look even worse, we at Epiphany are looking at expanding ministries. Through depression and recession, through war and periods of peace, we have continued to share Jesus. It is He who forgives. It is His blood that buys you back from fear. It is He Who can say, "Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

Fear is a powerful motivator. It drove Adam and Eve into hiding. Fear caused Elijah to run. Fear put a noose around Judas’ neck. Don’t be surprised if Satan tries to use fear to drive you from God. If he does, grab your Bible and read the tens of “Fear nots” and “Don’t be afraids” of Scripture. They are there because Jesus really wants to overcome our fears. And He does! 

On a beautiful spring afternoon, a boy and his father were driving down a country road. Their tranquility was interrupted when a bee flew in the car window. The little boy, allergic to bee stings, was understandably afraid. No, he was terrified. Without hesitation, dad quickly reached out, grabbed the bee, squeezed it in his hand, and tried to toss it out the window. The wind blew the bee right back in. The boy started crying all over again. Once more, the father reached out his hand, but this time he showed the bee's stinger stuck in his palm. "Look," he said, "Do you see this? You don't need to be afraid anymore. I've taken the sting for you." Jesus shows His nail-pierced hands to you, and says: "Do not be afraid. Don't let your hearts be troubled. I've taken the sting for you." And because He has, your hearts need not be troubled; you need not be afraid. Amen.