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Well, if you were with us last week, you'll know that we've hit a section of Matthew's gospel that deals with the opposition we can face for following Jesus. One recent report found that Christian persecution has reached the highest level ever since records began 30 years ago. In this country, we don’t experience much of that, but as I shared a few weeks ago, one of you recently said to me: "my Christian faith now seems completely contrary to the atmosphere and values of my workplace…And I feel like I'm sitting waiting to be told I'm in trouble, just for living as a Christian". And, whether we can relate to that or not, I think that's pretty much the current state of play.

So, the danger of all of this is that we feel more afraid than we ever did before. And, if you're anything like me, you might feel afraid of living and speaking for Jesus at the best of times. So, I can think of someone I know who's actually down-right hostile to Christian things, and they've been awkward with me before. And, to my shame, I recently found myself avoiding them in the street a while back. That's where I'm at sometimes. Which is literally nothing in comparison to what some of us/Christians around the world are facing. Jesus forgives us, and he loves us. And in these words of his, we'll see that he anticipates our fear. He knows how experiencing hostility will make us feel. And speaking into that, Jesus helps us with four reasons not to be afraid. They're hard reasons, but they're reasons we need to hear. So, here's the first one:

1. Don’t be afraid! Because all opposition to the gospel will one day be revealed (Matthew 10.26-27)

So, think with me about persecution and opposition for a minute. Around the world thousands of Christians are being mistreated, and imprisoned and killed. And, at the more extreme end of things in this country, I flicked through the cases section of the Christian Institute website this week. It's a tough read. And even in the cases where there was a good outcome for the Christian, there's all the pain caused by years of public attention and being dragged through the courts. Think of the inner thoughts of someone that ensures a Christian is treated badly, or the backroom decision that means a Christian is snubbed for a job. Think of those of us who have been disciplined for just sharing a Christian view. Literally, proposing it, not imposing it. I can think of a friend who faced relentless stick from friends he lived with just for being a Christian. Little comments/sly digs, again, and again. Doesn't it hurt so much when people at school/Uni are always having a go? All of this can make us afraid. Yet, look at what Jesus says, reading from Matthew 10.26-27:

So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.

Jesus is saying there will be a day when he returns to this world, and uncovers every single aspect of opposition; every hidden motive, every anti-Jesus thought, all that was hushed up or tucked away. Our Christian brothers and sisters around the world who've suffered in secret - one day, everyone will know what they went through for following Jesus, and all those who opposed Jesus, and his people, will have to give an answer to him. On that day, Jesus will no longer allow his name to be dishonoured, and he will no longer allow anyone or anything (e.g. government/law/disciplinary board) to hurt those who love him.

Really knowing our future helps combat our fear in the here and now because opposition to Jesus won't last forever. One day it will end, once and for all, and on that day, we'll no longer carry those feelings of pain and injustice that opposition causes because Jesus will take them, and heal them, this side of eternity with him. So, there may well be future opposition that we have to endure, but the end of the story has already been written. Jesus will return to rule and to judge and he's not going to miss anything. He'll deal with it all, with perfect justice, as he sees fit.And knowing all of this, can help us keep speaking for Jesus now (Matthew 10.27):

What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.

So, Jesus was saying to the Apostles back then, "Look, it's nearly time to get the message of me out to everyone, everywhere". And, skip on the end of Matthew's gospel, after Jesus died and rose again, and you'll see that the time is now and the responsibility is ours. Jesus knows that opposition means we're tempted to retreat, and keep our heads down. But he's saying here: "Even if you face opposition, everyone, everywhere still needs to hear about me." Because, one day, Jesus will uncover everything, and before that, don't we want as many people as possible to have heard about him? And after all, what did we read a few weeks ago? That the harvest is plentiful. They’re people who will hear and respond. So we're to shout from the housetops, to do all we can to get the gospel message out there, to everyone - including to those who actively oppose God, and therefore us. That's why we need Christians serving as missionaries in Muslim countries, or seeking to engage with the most hostile to the gospel in this country. Because, if someone hadn't told you the gospel, and if God hadn't brought you to trust in him where would you be? And who's to say you, or me, wouldn't be out there, opposing Christians and working against God? So, that's reason one not to be afraid; because all opposition to the gospel will one day be revealed. Here's reason two:

2. Don't be afraid! Because no opposition for following Jesus can destroy your relationship with him (Matthew 10.28)

And 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.

So if Bible passages are coffees, this passage isn't a one-shot skinny latte, is it? It's a triple espresso or one of those super-strong Turkish Coffees. Have you ever tried one of those? If not, be warned, it's strong stuff! Again, Jesus wants to help with our fear of living and speaking for him. He's saying: "Look, even if you get killed for following me, nothing can destroy your soul. We're in relationship. And I've taken responsibility for getting you beyond this life, to be with me forever". Jesus knows that the cost of following him can be huge, but he's saying the cost of not following him is far greater because, ultimately, it's eternal punishment without God in hell. And that's far more to be feared that anything else.

Now, I don't like talking about hell, but being faithful to the Bible gives me no choice. We take it on Jesus' authority that hell exists, and that it's awful, and that it's to be avoided at all costs because when Jesus speaks about hell, it's always because he doesn't want people to go there. So if you're not yet a Christian, Jesus wants you to trust him with your sin and to get into relationship with him. He wants to bring you through this life and into his heavenly Kingdom. He wants you to avoid hell. Jesus speaks about hell in this passage not to minimise the pain of opposition for following him, but to put it into the perspective of eternity, because it's far better to face opposition and remain faithful to Jesus now, to one day enjoy God's un-opposed rule in heaven forever than to reject Jesus now – to one day face hell and life without him. And if we get that, it will help us when we feel afraid because on one hand, we'll know that any pain in following Jesus now will one day, be the tiniest thing imaginable, because there'll be eternity to enjoy and, on the other hand, we'll know that not following Jesus is unimaginably worse than any suffering we could face for following him in this life.

A while back, I was reading about a lady called Shanti. She lives in India and became a Christian in her 50s. Soon her whole family began to follow Jesus. Her extended family rejected them, and they had to flee to another village. Then one day they were taken and beaten up by Hindu extremists. They told the police, who beat them even further, and then arrested them. Listen to Shanti’s response to all of this:

I have experienced the love and peace of Christ in my life. All Christ wanted was my heart…My family and I can never leave Christ for the mere pressures of humans…When Christ himself was rejected by his own, what are we? The Bible warns us we will face persecution, so we are prepared for any situation. Worse may happen to us.

Or I think of a friend of mine, let's call him Sam. Sam became a Christian in his 30s but soon none of his friends were interested in him anymore because he wasn't prepared to do the things he used to. His reaction to all of this? He said: "In Jesus, I've gained far more than I've lost". I think Shanti and Sam get it, don't you? They know that what they've gained from following Jesus is so good (even in the here and now) that it's never worth giving up. And, they know that the cost of following Jesus is far less than the cost of not following him. So, that's the second reason Jesus says, "don't be afraid"; Because no opposition for following Jesus can destroy your relationship with him. Here's the third:

3. Don't be afraid! Because God is in control of every detail of your life (Matthew 10.29-31)

It's a good job, we don't have awards for "snappiest sermon sub-headings" around here, because I wouldn't back these ones as an entry! Reading from Matthew 10.29-31:

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.

So, if God rules over sparrows and not one of them falls outside of his care and control, how much more does he care and rule over our lives? If God provides for the sparrows, how much more will he provide for us? I've got a 9 month old called Simeon. I'm a biased Dad, but he's great! And I cannot tell you how much I love him. Do you want to know how many hairs he has on his head? I have no idea. (He's actually always had loads!) How could I even begin to count them? God knows the number of hairs on your head! (For some of us that's not very many, but that's not the point!) God's love for us is extraordinary, it is intimate and personal, it is literally, immeasurable. He knows us better than we know ourselves. You see, in our heads, we think: "If I live/speak for Jesus in this situation something bad will happen and I'll suffer". But Jesus is saying here: "Yes, you might suffer for living/speaking for me but, God is with you. He knows you. He loves you. He's in control. He will provide".

A while back, a friend had great opportunities to speak for/about Jesus in his workplace, but at the back of his mind, he was thinking, "will this affect me now? Will it affect my references for a future job?" And, I think one big reason I'm afraid of suffering for Jesus is not trusting that he'll provide for me, or sustain me, or help me, or work for my good. But the reality, according to Jesus, is very different. He says that in whatever trouble we may face, God is in control and he will provide. God care about the details.
Haven't we seen this in the lives of those of us who have faced opposition? Later in that article I mentioned about Shanti, she went on describe how she'd been supported materially by Christian giving through the Barnabas Fund. That's why we support the Barnabas Fund, and organisations like Open Doors, who help relieve the needs of persecuted Christians around the world. Because as well as caring for us, God can use us to help relieve the needs of others who face far worse than we do. Jesus doesn't promise us an opposition free life, but he does promise that he'll care for us through any opposition that we do face, with a loving care beyond comprehension. So, that's the (absolutely staggering) third reason not to be afraid: Because God is in control of every detail of your life. Here's the final one:

4. Don't be afraid! Because what really matters is how we respond to Jesus (Matthew 10.32-33)

So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

So, again Jesus has the TV remote. The film is the history of our world, and he's fast-forwarding to the final day at the end of time. And on that day, the single most important question for any of us is, "what have we done with Jesus' offer of forgiveness and relationship?" If we've accepted it, and acknowledged Jesus, he will acknowledge us; he'll say to God the Father, "They have accepted me as King. So they can enter my Kingdom". But if we've denied Jesus, and his rightful rule over our lives. Jesus will say to God the Father, "They don't want to follow me. And they can't be in this Kingdom if they cannot willingly recognise me as King". Friends, there are only two ways to live. And, in the end, though lots of things matter in life, this the one thing that really matters.

If you're with us this evening and you're looking into Christian things, it's important that you do so on your own terms but sooner or later, you need to decide what you're going to do with Jesus' offer of forgiveness. It's costly following Jesus but it's more costly not to. The question is can you afford not to? And for those of us who are Christians, this perspective keeps us going in sharing the gospel and living for Jesus, because, what really matters? The acceptance of our friends/family/neighbours that gives us a quiet life or the acceptance of Jesus, that gets us beyond this life? Anyone who denies Jesus, won't be with him, and keeping that in mind will help us endure opposition, and it will put our fear of it into perspective. Because wouldn't we gladly go through some pain now, so as many people as possible could at least make an informed choice when it comes to Jesus? And, wouldn't we rather go through some pain now, to find on that final day, that just as we opened our lives in service to Jesus, that he opens up the doors of eternity to us? Really getting that is bound to help when we feel afraid.