Jesus Removes Our Fear
Text: Luke 12:22-33 Speaker: Pastor Matthew Ude Festival: Trinity Passages: Luke 12:22-33
Audio Sermon
Full Service Video
Luke 12:22-33
Do Not Be Anxious (Listen)
22 And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?1 26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, 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. 28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek his2 kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.
Footnotes
[1] 12:25
[2] 12:31
(ESV)
Here’s a scenario many of us have likely experienced. My wife came home the other night, walked through the front door, and immediately started talking to me while I was watching TV. She wanted to share her day, to be heard. But I was caught up in the game, distracted and tempted to tune her out.
This familiar scene reminds us of something special Jesus wants to do for us today. He desires to speak to our hearts. But too often, the noise and distractions of this world pull us away from listening to Him. Jesus isn’t speaking to tell us about mundane errands or trivial things; He’s speaking to give us the peace of His kingdom—the peace that passes all understanding.
This is why He invites us in Luke 12:32 — “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Our Lord recognizes our anxieties, our distractions, our worries. And in His gentle love, He calls us to entrust ourselves fully to Him, to open our hearts and listen.
Worry and anxiety about the cares of this world are not just nuisances. They can become sins, because they reveal a lack of trust in God’s promises. They distract us from the faith that God is with us, that He cares deeply, and that His promises are sure. Our Heavenly Father knows our weakness. Psalm 103:14 assures us — “For He knows our frame; He remembers we are dust.” And in Psalm 33:15, we hear that God considers our hearts individually and cares about all our works.
Jesus knows how deeply ingrained worry can be in our hearts. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, to doubt whether God is really present or faithful. That’s why Jesus not only forgives our sins but also offers us three tender promises to calm our troubled hearts.
1. Look to His faithfulness
In Luke 12:24, Jesus says — “Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds?”
When Jesus speaks of “considering,” He invites us to reflect carefully—not just on the ravens and lilies, but on our entire lives. When we pause and meditate on God’s creation and His grace, we see evidence of His loving care.
Many misunderstand what faith really is. Some say faith means believing without evidence. But faith is trust—that unwavering confidence in God’s promises, because He has proven Himself trustworthy again and again. Though we cannot see heaven or prove the future, we trust in God’s Word because He has shown us His faithfulness in countless ways.
Remember Abraham, who doubted initially, yet ultimately trusted God’s promise. Every time we doubt, we can look back at how God has proven Himself faithful—in our lives, in Scripture, in creation. Keeping a prayer journal is a simple but powerful tool. When we look back over the years, we see God’s hand at work, His answers to prayer, His deliverance from trials. And that memory strengthens our trust.
When we fix our eyes on God’s faithfulness, worry loses its grip—there is no reason to carry heavy burdens alone.
2. Talk to Him
I admit—I’m not always perfectly tuned in when my wife speaks to me. Sometimes, all we need when we’re anxious is someone who will listen. And the good news is, God is eager to listen to us whenever we call.
The Apostle Paul encourages us: Philippians 4:6 — “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”
And Peter assures us: 1 Peter 5:7 — “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
Think of that parable about the persistent friend—knocking on the door until he’s heard. Most of us might get annoyed at a neighbor who keeps knocking, but God loves to listen. He encourages us to come to Him again and again, knowing that He is always ready to hear our worries and our questions.
When fear grips us, when anxiety weighs heavy, we can turn to our loving Father in prayer. And when we do, we find comfort: Psalm 34:4 — “I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.”
He’s eager to listen—to hear your voice, to hold your worries, and to give you His peace.
3. Your sins are forgiven
Finally, and most importantly, Jesus removes our worries by reminding us that the one thing we never have to fear is our salvation. The one thing we never have to doubt is whether we are good enough to enter heaven.
Luke 12:32 — “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom
Fear not! – In our sinfulness we are always afraid. We are afraid that God isn’t going to take care of us. We are afraid that God isn’t going to forgive us. We are afraid that God isn’t even going to listen to us. Jesus deals with our fear and our worry with the constant unending promises that He is our Good Shepherd and we are His beloved sheep. He removes our fears and builds trust in his promises
Our Psalm today reminds us
Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.
You are his people. You are his inheritance. Through Jesus Christ you “who were once far off have been brought near.”
There is never any reason to live with worry or anxiety. We can see examples of God’s faithfulness all around us. We can speak to him whenever we need to. We know that our sins are forgiven and that we are his people.