The Word: Part 1
Mat 10:29-31 – “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”
Luke 12:6-7 – “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? 7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.”
What does it matter that Jesus knows how many hairs are on your head? The point isn’t that He’s got them numbered. The point is that He’s that careful and He knows where you’re at and where you’re going and He knows all about your situation.
The song, His Eye Is on the Sparrow was written by a lady and her husband who became friends with Mr. and Mrs. Dolittle. They were very afflicted with crippling sickness. Despite this, they were joyful. This lady asked what is the secret of your joy? Mrs. Dolittle’s reply was, ‘If His eye is on the sparrow, then I know He watches me.’
If you’re discouraged or fearful, the song is written for you.
No sparrow dies without Jesus knowing
Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.Refrain:
I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
Jesus knows the number of stars and calls them all by name. He knows how the cells work inside the hair follicle and the thoughts that go on inside the head. He is always working with human will and even against it. He is watching and working on everything.
2 Chron 16:9 – “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore, from henceforth thou shalt have wars.”
God’s love is not selfish, it’s selfless. He is giving and sacrificing. It’s His good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.
Luke 12:32 – “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
Jesus sent His Spirit to fill His people and called that Spirit the Comforter.
John 14:16-18 – “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”
He is a comforting Father who cares for you, loves you.
You can’t make yourself taller, why do you fret over other things? Jesus has this covered.
Why are you so distressed and distracted? Remember Jesus knows a lot and He’s a comforter.
Jesus wants to comfort.
Job lost everything, his children, his money, his health, his friends. He smelled bad and found no comfort anywhere. He had constant pain. He felt no comfort anywhere. He didn’t know where God was, but he knew that God knew where he was!
God is here and He brings His people comfort.
You may try to drown your sorrows in alcohol, but your sorrows can swim.
You try to do everything else to bring yourself comfort, except trusting God to comfort you, but you’ve got to trust Him. Wait on Him and see it happen.
1 Peter 5:7 – “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
‘Care’ in this case means ‘distractions, anxieties.’ ‘For He careth’ He’s mellow, His interest is piqued. When you have anxiety and fear, He wants to comfort you.
The first title God gave himself in Genesis, in Scripture is ‘The God Who Sees.’ He gave this Word to an Egyptian woman who was cast out of the camp and sent to the desert to die.
God sees and hears the cries of His people.
Psalm 34:15 – “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.”
Just because God doesn’t heal you when you ask Him to doesn’t mean that prayer isn’t working. Jesus went to a fig tree and condemned it, but the tree outwardly didn’t look any different. It was later that the tree appeared withered and died.
Prayer begins down in the root system. He hears your cry.
Cast your cares on Him in prayer.
You know why you don’t do it? Fear. Fear is the rejection of God’s comfort. It’s faith in a false reality or a false future. Be careful because faith in something that’s not there could bring it to pass. Fear is not the opposite of faith. Rather it’s faith in something different. Jesus didn’t say, ‘How come you don’t have any faith?’ He said, ‘Where is your faith?’
The opposite of fear is love. Knowing and understanding God’s love will cast away all fear.
There are so many ‘Fear not’s’ in the Bible. Every time someone was afraid, Jesus said, ‘Don’t be afraid.’
John fell down at Jesus’ feet as though dead. Jesus reached down and touched him saying, ‘Don’t be afraid.’
People fall down as though dead, their situation is so bad, but Jesus reaches down in compassion and says, ‘Don’t be afraid.’ He loves you so much that He stretches out His arms to you. He stretched out His arms for your salvation and He stretches out His nail-scarred hands to you today, right where you are.
Excerpted from a sermon preached by Pastor Anthony LoCascio.
For the full YouTube audio/video, click here.