Fear Not 

Two weeks ago the question was asked, “Which neighbor do you make 
the choice to be? In the end God won’t ask you how long it took you to 
seek salvation. God will take you with love to the gates of his mansion 
in heaven, not to the gates of hell. Last Sunday the question was asked 
in the parable of the Rich Fool, “The kingdom is near, who are you 
storing treasures for?” 

Through God’s word and modern day examples we have learned that 
there are different forms of servant hood. We have learned the danger
of storing up treasures in big barns for oneself without God. What 
would you do if you were going to live forever? What would you do if 
you knew you were going to die today? What the Rich Fool did not
know was that he was going to die the next day. Don’t worry though, 
for death is only about one’s eternity.

Please open your Bible.

Luke 12:32-34

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give
you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms; provide
yourself with purses that do not grow old, with a treasure in the
heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth
destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

“Fear not, little flock,” for God the Father knows our fears, our needs, 
“little flock” and watches over his sheep from heaven above. “It is 
your Father’s place to give you the kingdom,” Our Father who art in 
heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, for the best is yet 
for those who know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. 

What words of comfort and peace these words from God give unto His
children. Have no fear, you are safe, and heaven awaits you. There are 
some who may struggle with this morning’s scripture as our Lord and 
Savior Jesus Christ approaches the issue of money and property with
a radical faith. Radical, for the sin of the flesh says: “LOOK OUT 
FOR #1,” and “THOSE WHO DIE WITH THE MOST TOYS WINS!” 

The Rich Fool tore his barns down to build bigger barns to place his,
not God’s, his treasures in. The Rich Fool with all of his worldly 
possessions before him. He died for he did not get rid of all of his 
possessions and did not give alms which means to show mercy and 
or to feel sympathy for another.

Luke 12: 33-34

“Sell your possessions, and give alms; provide yourselves with 
purses that do not grow old, with treasure in the heavens that 
does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”


We know what alms are, but what does the purse have to do with this 
scripture? Gifts of this world, of the sin of the flesh, tend to decay, 
break and or be stolen. A wise child of God will not give to earthly 
gifts but will give generously to build an investment in heaven, a 
purse. An investment in heaven will not decay, break and or be 
stolen. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” 
In the sin of the flesh, the world says one should go and buy what 
makes them happy. Advise that often can lead one to become 
addicted in a self-destructive behavior for their happiness becomes 
their isolation jail cell. 

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ offers us an alternative, telling us 
to give alms and assuring us that our hearts will follow our gifts. 
That is a principle that Christians have proven time in and time out. 
It is pronounced by the Tremont City UMC Teens For Christ as 
“WORKCAMP.”

For people who help other people find themselves caring not about 
the world but about other people whom they help. Caring and 
enjoying the meaningful life that results from meeting real needs.

The problem lies in what Jesus says, to paraphrase, “don’t be afraid, 
sell your stuff and be happy.” “Use what you have to give to others 
and be ready for my return.”

Now this wisdom sounds wonderful but the problem is not many can 
say those words let alone practice those words. Its like we’re 
involved in a never ending journey searching for the Wizard of Oz. 

We may look like lions but on the inside we are afraid. We are 
woodsmen bright and shiny on the outside, but lack the internal 
characteristics to have a purpose in life and an inner fulfillment. 

We are like a scarecrow; we are agile but lack wisdom. And some of 
us are just like Dorothy, scared, lost, and trying to find our way back 
home. 

Do you remember how everyone in the Wizard Of Oz began their 
statement alike? “If I Only.” If I only had a brain. If I only had a heart. 
If I only had courage. If I only could find my way home.

Hear the Good News, God’s only son, Jesus, came to us to take the
“if only” phrase out of our lives. There lies the gift of today’s Scripture
lesson. Don’t be afraid for our sins nailed Jesus to the cross and God 
still loves us as His own. To live in the kingdom of God is to live being 
filled with the love of God and having no room within you for fear.

Matthew 1: 18-21:

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother 
Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was
found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph,
being a just man and unwilling to put Mary to shame, resolved to 
divorce her quietly. But as Joseph considered this, behold, an 
angel of the Lord appeared to him saying, “Joseph, son of David, 
do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in 
her is of the Holy Spirit;” she will bear a son, and you shall call 
his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

In our life we can enjoy living forever if Jesus Christ is our Lord and 
Savior. We can enjoy with no fear for death is a thing of the physical 
shell, not of the spirit. YES! We can If Only we quit searching and 
realize what lies before our very eyes. 

One day a sick man turned to his doctor as he was preparing to leave 
the examination room. He looked at his doctor and said, “Doc, I am 
afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side.” The doctor calmly 
replied, “I don’t know.” “You don’t know” replied the patient!! “YOU 
AN INTELLIGENT CHRISTIAN MAN OF ALL PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW
WHAT LIES ON THE OTHER SIDE?” As they were seated on the other 
side of the door came a sound of scratching and whining. As the 
doctor opened the door a dog sprang into the examination room with 
an eager pace of gladness and happiness. The doctor turned to the 
patient and asked, “Did you notice my dog? He’s never been in this 
room before; he didn’t know what was inside the door. He knew 
nothing except he heard his masters voice and when the door was 
opened he sprang forth with no fear. I know little of what lies on the 
other side of death, but I do know one thing for sure. I know my 
Master is there and I will spring through the door of death with no 
fear.”

Hebrews 11: 1-3

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the convictions of
things not seen. For by it, the men of old received divine approval.
By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of
God, so that what is seen was made out of things that do not appear.”

At this very moment in your life, what do you fear? Are you able to feel 
His presence right before you?

May we be in prayer, 

Our heavenly Father you tell us, “For where your treasure is, there your 
heart will be also.” May my heart be not one of fear, but trust and love 
in you Father. May my life not be only temporary but ongoing in your 
presence Father. Father may my life be like Helen Keller who was 
blind to the naked eye but she saw you and knew what you 
looked like when many who could see were blind to who 
you are. May I not be blind, may I see your presence 
and be in gladness and happiness. 
Amen



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Image courtesy:  www.SystemaxOnline.com




CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: The grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the love  
of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

People: And also with you.

Leader: Let us come together this day to worship and praise
God’s name.
 
People: We come not in fear but in faith to the One who had called 
us to journey not alone but together.

Leader: May we come proclaiming YES for we have hope and 
expectations of what is yet to come with His presence in our lives.

All: YES!! WE COME WITH THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE KNOWING
THAT GOD IS GOOD AND LIVES WITHIN OUR LIVES. 


Prayer In unity:

Most heavenly Father, we thank you for how you feed us daily and 
Show us your love. How you show us how to love our neighbors 
and ourselves so that we may build treasures in heaven. 
Amen


08/15/2004 JWM




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