Courage from the Father

Gospel Light Church

Matthew series #24

September 6th, 2026

COURAGE FROM THE FATHER

Matthew 10:27–31

Jesus turns the disciples’ attention toward three great realities:

• We have a message worth proclaiming.
• We serve a God worthy of reverence.
• We belong to a Father who knows us completely.

The passage repeatedly addresses fear, while continually directing the disciples toward bold proclamation, holy reverence, divine providence, and personal value.

Jesus is preparing His disciples to live with confidence because their lives rest securely in the hands of their Father.

I. SPEAK WHAT JESUS HAS GIVEN YOU

“Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.” – vs. 27

Jesus begins with communication.

The disciples are receivers before they become proclaimers.

• Their message originates with Christ.

“Whatever I tell you in the dark…”

• The darkness here carries the idea of a private setting.

There are moments when God develops His servants privately.

There are truths God teaches us:

• in prayer
• in Scripture
• in quiet seasons
• in preparation
• in personal encounters with Him

Then comes the moment when private revelation becomes public proclamation.

“Speak in the light.”

• Jesus takes His disciples from hearing to speaking.

What Christ places within us eventually needs expression through us.

• The Christian faith carries a message designed for proclamation.

“Preach on the housetops.”

The flat rooftops common in that culture provided elevated places where a voice could carry through the surrounding area.

Jesus is saying:

1. Make the message known.
2. Speak clearly.
3. Speak openly.
4. Speak courageously.

We are MOUTHS OF CHRIST…..what an incredible description of the church!!!

We are voices carrying the message of Jesus into our generation.

• Every believer has a sphere of influence.

Your housetop may be:

• your home
• your workplace
• your classroom
• your team
• your neighborhood
• your friendships
• your community

The gospel deserves a voice.

What has Jesus placed in your heart that someone around you needs to hear?

II. LIVE WITH HOLY REVERENCE

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” – vs. 28

Now Jesus moves from proclamation to perspective.

• The word translated “fear” can carry the idea of awe, reverence, respect, and recognition of authority.

Jesus teaches His disciples to place God in the highest position of honor within their hearts.

1. The fear of God gives life proper perspective.

When God becomes greater in our vision, courage grows within our hearts.

“It is to be terrified to be away from God.” — John Bevere

This is the powerful picture of Matthew 10.

• Jesus calls His disciples into such deep reverence for God that His presence, His approval, His Word, and His purposes become supreme.

1. Holy fear produces holy courage.

“There is no cure for the fear of man like the fear of God.” — C. H. Spurgeon

When God occupies the highest place in our hearts, His voice carries the greatest weight.

• His Word becomes our authority.
• His pleasure becomes our pursuit.
• His glory becomes our purpose.
• His mission becomes our assignment.

Whose voice carries the greatest weight in my life?

The fear of the Lord establishes the answer:

God’s voice carries the greatest weight.

Bevere teaches that holy fear expresses itself through wholehearted obedience to God’s Word.

Reverence produces obedience, and obedience produces courage

III. TRUST THE PROVIDENCE OF YOUR FATHER

“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.” – vs. 29

Here we see one of the smallest creatures imaginable.

A sparrow.

Two sparrows could be purchased for a copper coin.

Jesus chooses something seemingly insignificant and says:

Your Father sees it.

That tells us something powerful about God.

God’s providence reaches into the smallest details of creation.

The word Father becomes incredibly important here.

• Jesus could have emphasized God’s power.
• Jesus could have emphasized God’s authority.
• Jesus could have emphasized God’s sovereignty.

Instead, Jesus says: “Your Father.”

The God who governs creation relates personally to His children.

Think about what Jesus is teaching.

• Every sparrow lives under the watchful eye of God.
• Every disciple lives under the watchful eye of God.
• Every missionary.
• Every pastor.
• Every parent.
• Every student.
• Every believer.

Your life is lived under the attentive care of your Father.

IV. REST IN HOW COMPLETELY GOD KNOWS YOU

“But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” vs. 30

Now Jesus moves to something even more personal.

Your Father knows you completely.

Jesus chooses something we rarely think about:, the hairs on our heads.

We know ourselves well but God knows us completely.

He knows:

• every thought
• every prayer
• every burden
• every dream
• every decision
• every act of obedience
• every moment of faithfulness
• every detail of our lives

God’s knowledge of His children is incredibly personal.

The hairs of your head are numbered.

This speaks of detailed knowledge. You are fully known by God.

• God knows exactly where you are.
• God knows exactly what you need.
• God knows exactly what He has called you to do.
• God knows exactly how He intends to use your life.

The same Father who watches the sparrow watches over you.

V. LIVE FROM YOUR GOD-GIVEN VALUE

“Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” – vs. 31

Jesus brings the entire teaching together with one word:

“Therefore.”

• Because the Father sees the sparrow…
• Because the Father knows every hair…
• Because the Father knows every detail…
• Because the Father holds your life…

You can walk courageously.

Then Jesus makes this deeply personal:

“You are of more value than many sparrows.”

• Jesus wanted His disciples to understand their worth as they entered difficult places carrying the gospel.

Spurgeon beautifully described verses 29–31 as a sermon where “sparrows are the text.”

Think about that.

Every bird in the sky becomes a reminder:

• My Father sees me. Every sparrow becomes a sermon:
• My Father knows me. Every detail becomes a declaration:
• My Father values me.

SO WHAT??

1. God has given me something to say.

• “Speak in the light.”
• The gospel has been entrusted to us.
• Our generation needs believers willing to proclaim Jesus clearly.

2. God deserves the highest place in my heart.

• “Rather fear Him…”
• Holy reverence produces courageous obedience.
• When God becomes supreme in our hearts, we become increasingly ready to follow His direction.

3. God knows me and values me.

• “You are of more value than many sparrows.”
• Your Father knows your life in extraordinary detail.

You are:

Seen.

Known.

Valued.

Called.

Held by the Father.