Dealing with the Unsaved, They Fear

 This may be you. 

Welcome, today. Today we are continuing our series, “Dealing with the Unsaved.” We are talking about us, as children of God, how we should be toward those who are unsaved, and perhaps even more importantly, newly saved people. How should we act? What should we say? How should we present our lives to those people to show them that there is a better way?

We have already discussed those who are not saved because they cannot seem to accept it. They cannot even seem to hear you. We talked about those who are unsaved because they simply do not know what the next step is. Today, we will be talking about those who have heard you. They love what they hear. They believe you and some may have even accepted Jesus into their hearts, but not their lives. These are those Jesus referred to as those amongst the thorns.

“And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.” Luke 8:14

Now I’m not judging you, nor am I trying to guilt you in any way. But this may be you. This may be a loved one of yours. It may be a friend you have sitting in church. Some fear so much, so many various things, that it may even keep them unsaved. So let us talk about it today.

 
Let’s talk about Bill. Bill is a good guy. He has a good job. You love Bill. Bill and the rest of the Notreal family always go to the neighborhood BBQ, maybe they host them. The Notreal kids play sports with your kids. Mrs. Notreal, let’s call her Jane, is an active member of the church.

Bill hears John 3:16-18.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

You tell him over and over again how great our God is. His wife drags him to church. He hears, he believes. Yet? He fears. What is he fearing? He fears the world. You see, Bill loves his wife. He loves you. He loves his kids playing with your kids. But he works for Morgan.

Morgan is an alcoholic, abusive, harsh person. Brilliant. He is the best at what he does and he makes a lot of money. He has become Bill’s mentor. He is teaching Bill the ways of the business. Bill thinks if he sticks in there and lets Morgan teach him he will be rich and successful too. He remembers that one day in the office when Morgan asked him if he would go on a business trip and it would include a Weekend. He did not say no but did mention his family goes to church on Sundays. 

“OH? You are one of those? Come on, I thought you were smarter than that. You can believe in all the fairy tales you want to, but I need someone who will do what I say when I say it and I need you to go away for this trip. Do you want to say no? Fine, I will find someone who does not believe in nonsense.” Bill assures him he is not “one of those” and agrees to go.

What if you do have to choose between God and your job? What if you do have a family member that believes like Morgan does? Do you have to choose between your family and God? How will you possibly live if you just forget everything you have known your whole life and start following God? What about this? Do I have to give up everything I love? Serving God seems so restrictive and, well, boring.

These are some of the fears that not only keep some unsaved, they cause some to become as Jesus calls those amongst the thorns. Let’s discuss some of these today. Jesus actually answers all these because He knows that these fears will keep some away. First and foremost? We should never rely on anything, including ourselves, more than we rely on God. Look what He tells us here.

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:25-33

Yes. The sad truth is, that Morgan may very well come to hate Bill and fire him because he became “one of those.” Better yet? Perhaps Morgan is hurting and learns by watching Bill there is a better way. Do not ever underestimate what God can do through you. However, worst-case scenario? Bill gets a Job that God arranges for him. Trust me. God can bless Bill far more than Morgan can.

If Bill is looking at Morgan’s wealth and striving for that? Well, then he needs to rethink that. Look what Jesus warns us of here.

“No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Luke 16:13

Remember.

“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 1 Timothy 6:10

Jesus tells us that of course, we need things. Clothes, food, etc. He tells us “Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.” All we have to do is “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

We have this absolute assurance from God Himself. Why should we have any fear whatsoever? Do you believe in God? Do you believe Jesus rose from the dead? Do you believe you are saved? Then why do you doubt that God, the creator of the universe, can meet your daily needs? He gave the Jews bread from heaven, Water from rocks, and birds for dinner for forty years in a desert. You do not think He can feed you and your family?

We have gotten so brainwashed in this country. People actually go about their lives without the thought that there is more. They simply work, get paid, pay bills, and repeat. If we break that cycle? What then? We fear the unknown. This is why God tells us. We need not fear.

What about Morgan? What about that family member who will not like you after this? Jesus is pretty harsh with this aspect. He tells us this.

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26

Now some misinterpret this. Some may need clarification on this. No. Jesus is not telling you to hate your family to follow him. That is not what he is saying at all. A little bit after this He tells us a parable about counting the cost. What He is talking about is the cost of following Him. When we choose to follow Jesus, yes, there will be people who hate us for it. Jesus told us this too.

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:11-12

When this happens, you have a choice. Who do you decide to go with? Do you stay with Jesus? Or do you let your faith die, and go with them? This is what Jesus was talking about. If you choose to follow Jesus, and you have family members or others, who hate you for it, and you choose them over Jesus? You cannot be His disciple. He put it this way also.

“Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62

God wants you. He wants all of you. He wants to be there when you wake up. When you go to sleep. He wants to be there in the good times as well as the bad times. He wants to bless you so that you can bless others. This is what Jesus told us not to worry about these people.

“Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.” Mark 10:29-30

All we have to do is have faith in Jesus and trust in God. Know this is true also. God chose you for a reason.

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion on the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6

We do not have to worry about anything. All we have to do is take the first step. Then take the next step. Before you know it, you will be walking in faith. Let the God of the universe be your Daddy. Let Him be the one who is taking care of you. Are you married? Let God take care of you and your family. If it means quitting a job, that may be toxic to you to begin with, then quit. If it means you lose a friend or family member? So be it. Look around in your local church. Guess what, You can have many brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, and even grandparents, all waiting to welcome you into the family of God.

What about all those other things that you are afraid to give up? Smoking? Not in the Bible. Drinking? Jesus turned water into wine, at a wedding. It was not grape juice. The Bible does not say thou shalt not drink. It says do not be drunk. Drugs? Of course, you should give up smoking, drugs, overdrinking, and things like porn, and other forms of adult entertainment for your own welfare. But why not start by saying

“God? I am a sinner. I need a Saviour, I cannot do it by myself. I need you to come into my life. I need you to set me free. I need you to show me what the next step should be. Please? I accept Jesus's sacrifice, and I believe He rose from the dead for me. I know nothing more than what you can show me. I repent my sins. Show me how. Help me to. In Jesus's name, Amen!”

What is the next step? Listen. Do what God leads you to do. Trust in God. It really is that simple. He knows more than you. He knows what is best for you. He is God. Now let Him be your Daddy. Nothing else really matters now does it?

May the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and the peace of our Lord Jesus, be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.

The Email if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!