“I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell.[a] Yes, I tell you, fear him! 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?[b] And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. 8 “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, 9 but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
Lessons
What we do in this life matters and effects our eternity.
Death is not to be feared but Him Who has authority to cast into hell is to be feared (Luke 12:4-5, 1 Corinthians 15:54-55)
Our great value does not guarantee our safe deliverance from persecution only that we will not be forgotten by God (Luke 12:4-7, Matthew 26:29, Ephesians 1:16-18)
Whatever relationship to Jesus you claim under duress will be ratified by God before the angels (Luke 12:8-9, [Stephen]Acts 7:59)
If we acknowledge our relationship with Jesus in times of persecution, the Holy Spirit will give us words to make His Name great (Luke 12:11-12 [Stephen]Acts 7:59)
