Choose Faith Over Fear, Part 1

Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhart challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ New Testament, Jesus said was the site. Let's go over to the other side of right, and then they all get about to get over in a big storm in Mark four. Right, and they become terrifying. Jesus is asleep now. The reason Jesus side effect to start Jesus and the other side of the lake with the Jesus going to the other side of the light the disciples that don't believe Jesus all they wake them up and say don't you care that were perishing in here Jesus on the storm in the saving you men of little faith. Faith you don't believe God is no that's what how fear works as the atmosphere works in joining us today on this additional Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhart Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana when Pastor Bill Gebhart now is once again he shows us how God's word meets our world.

Fear is described this way.

Fear is the unpleasant emotion that something dangerous, painful or harmful is going to happen. Modern psychology says that fear is one of our most primal emotions that it started with cavemen and that it ended in either fight or flight. Now I completely disagree with the etymology of fear with modern psychology.

The first time. Fear shows up in the human race. The Bible says that Adam spoke to God and said, after he had sinned and said that that I heard you, I heard the sound of you. We said in the garden and I was afraid. And ever since then. Fear has been woven into the fabric of every human being. There are not a lot of things that everyone of us have in common. Fear is one of we all find ourselves fearful at certain times.

Many of our fears are rational and a lot of our fears are completely irrational.

What's interesting to me is over and over again in the Bible, but especially in the New Testament, Jesus keep saying, fear not, don't be afraid. Fear not such an important thing for us. If you and I are ever going to experience the abundant life that Jesus Christ spoke about have come to give you life and you give it to you abundantly.

I sent a couple weeks ago that we are going to have to make some choices. And if we don't make those choices will never experience the abundant life we have to choose the peace of God rather than anxiety of our circumstances.

I said last time we have to choose the wisdom of God rather than that the world's knowledge of the world's following this morning.

It's pretty simple to me. You and I have to choose faith instead of fear when a child of God is fearful. We have a choice. You and I have a choice and that's where faith comes in. But I think if were honest with ourselves. Faith is not our default fears. Open your Bibles to Genesis 32 Genesis chapter 32.

Look at Jacob enough you know much about Jacob. He is a twin when he saw Jacob as it is not really a man of high character. He is a schemer is deceitful. In fact, we know that he even deceived his brother out of his birthright.

Esau sold it. We know that Esau was a man's man, Isaacs man and Jacob was a mama's boy okay and so after that it happened. I am certainly Jacob probably solve the unbelievable anger and Esau's eyes after he realized that he had sold his birthright. So we pick it up in chapter 32. Jacob is now going to go back into the land for the first time 20 years of past since the incident when he had taken the birthright now. What's interesting about this is what how he reacts to the situation in can you put yourself in it and act the same way he says in verses one and two, he says now as Jacob went on his way. The angels of God met him and and Jacob said when he saw them. This is God's camp.

So he named the place Maha Naim but to be a tipoff but probably isn't. How many times have you gone anywhere in any met all the angels said not likely a very common thing for us.

God had told Jacob to go back in the land. Now when he's on his way back, host of angels appeared on now I don't know about you but that should be a good sign and that I mean angels already here and you and I might supply with a really like that to happen to my life as well. If you understand angels that are already here.

It just appeared know what's interesting about that is why you think they appear doing well will see in a moment. It says, then Jacob sent messengers before him to his brother Esau in the land of seer in the country of Edom always going to send out messages know why descending out messengers visa we are seeing a moment's because he's afraid he threw a lot of fear and so is going to do what you and I often do, and that is that when we are afraid our tendency is to rely on a plan that will make a plan and change the circumstances if we come up with a good plan and execute the plan that things go better. That's what he's going to do now I want you to see what happens here it says. Then he commanded them, saying, thus you shall say to my Lord Esau thus says your servant Jacob I have surge earned with Laban and stayed until now. Second thing, when were afraid we often lose a spiritual perspective notice when Jacob causes brother Lord you're the my Lord and I'm your servant by the way just in misstep there. He says in verse five he says in verse 18 he says in verse 20 Esau you're the Lord I'm just a servant. What's he doing is buttering the skids you see him, to take control of their summit to try to manipulate this man. I got a plan. I know how to work make this work.

He says then I have oxen and donkeys and flocks in male and female servants, and I have sent to tell my Lord that I may find favor in your sight in the messengers returned to Jacob and said we came to your brother Esau, and furthermore, is coming to meet you with 400 men with Don that on see that's all that works.

Notice chicken was greatly afraid and distressed. He's overwhelmed all Esau's coming could be vengeance could cost me my life. What's going to happen now. I plan on my plans got a work he became greatly afraid and distressed.

And he divided the people who were with him in the flocks and herds and the Campbells in the two companies and he said if these outcomes of the one company in the tax and any other company, which is level skate at the new part of the plan to split them up and that's a good plan as long as you're in the company that escaped.

If any other company had done help at all. He said that, I think that could work then my goddess after your plans.

You always and put some godparent you throw some prayer and do it to get God involved in the process. And that's exactly what he does Jacob settle God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac only Lord who said to me return to your country and to your relatives and I will prosper you that's always starts pretty good government. What's wrong with it. He doesn't believe it is. He doesn't believe it, just like the same thing is wrong with you and me when were for fear I don't believe what God said.

How do I know that notice what he said to God, the God of Abraham to the God of Isaac and you told me to go back into the land and that you will prosperous me now if God told you to go back in the land of the prosper you what you think is going to happen to go back in the land and you can be prospered. God told you that member in the New Testament, Jesus said to his disciples.

Let's go over to the other side of the lake right and then they all get in the boat and I get over in a big storm in Mark Foraker's right, and they become terrified and Jesus is asleep now. The reason Jesus asleep beside the fact that his tired when Jesus several going to the other side of the lake. What the Jesus know going to the other side of the lake, the disciples that don't believe Jesus is all they wake them up and say don't you care that were perishing in here Jesus calm the storm and what they say to them, you men of little faith, you have faith you don't believe God. You see, you don't. None of us to. That's what how fear works.

That's the atmosphere works in select races as he said I am unworthy of all your loving kindness and all your faith, which would you have shown your servant, he said with my staff only. I cross this Jordan and now I have become two companies know what he said there is wonderful God. It's been amazing how you've blessed me up till now when I left the land had nothing but my staff know I'm an extremely wealthy man but I don't really believe you can help me know some afraid.

Just like you and I know matter what God got you through up to something not to be afraid about and not major really afraid because like when I delivered you each time. All the way here and I got it. Jesus deliver me. I pray he said from the hand of my brother from the land the hand of Esau.

For I fear him. He will come and attack me and the mothers of my children for you said I will surely prosper you and make your descendents as the sand of the sea, which is too great to be numbered. Yes, God says, I did said why don't you believe it is a that's a problem when it comes under fear and faith.

I don't believe God, I just, I don't believe him more concerned about my fears. So we spent the night there and then he selected from what he had with him a present for his brother Esau notice after this nice spiritual progress] was plan to bribe the sky 200 female goats 20 mill goats 200 use 20 lambs 30 milking Campbells in their courts, 40 cows, 10 bulls 20 female donkeys and 10 male donkeys has a lot of wealth in that world and it says he delivered them into the hand of the servants every drove by itself and said to his servants passed on before me and put space between the droves and he commanded the one in the front same when my brother Esau meet you and ask you say to them, to whom do you belong and where you going, to whom to these animals and in front of you belong, then you shall say they belong to your servant Jacob is a present sent to my Lord Esau, and behold, he is also behind us. That notice know anything about his plant there going to come in droves. Each set of animals and be present. Notice where Jacob is.

He's in the back. I'm at this trouble. I want to be there on the troubles I got. I pay people for this thing gone, they can have the trouble Jacobs in the back. He commanded also a second and third and all those who follow the droves after this manner you shall speak. He said Esau defined him and usually say, behold, your servant Jacob is behind us and I will piece him with a present that goes before me. Then afterward I will see his face, and perhaps it will set me, that's my plan, so the present passed on before him by himself, spent that night in camp now. What's interesting about this is from God's point of view was almost like God said, Jacob. Don't you get it. Don't you understand the way works honey how you not trust me honey do this. Why would you be afraid, so this is the night by weighing the context of Jacob wrestles with God he requisite residence with the angel of God.

It says here. Then Jacob was left alone and a man wrestled with them until daybreak. Hosea chapter 12 in verse four says he wrestled with the angel of God, which to be a theophany of the son of God. He's wrestling is a kind mentioning thing and when he saw that he had not rebelled against him. He touched the socket of his thigh.

They wrestle all night. He touches the socket of his thigh and he says it was dislocated well. He wrestled with them and then he said let me go. Dawn is breaking. That's the angel said let me go.

He said I will not let you go into your blessed me that's is okay this try to get a practice wake what your name is, and will my name is Jacob. He said your name shall no longer be Jacob and Israel, for you have striven with God and with men Rebel to change her name to Israel. We've all heard about the 12 tribes tremendous blessing of God. Now we don't know. By the way of Jacob limp the rest of his life. Nothing in the Bible tells us but I know this he limp that night.

I don't know if you went back in the socket. And why would God touch them and make them limp.

Think about from one logical point of view he wants to make sure the Jacob understands this is not a dream. This is something that happens now moping member.

He did this to me what is God trying to do to Jacob is trying to do what he does with us is trying to galvanize your faith is actually trying to make you believe him whenever he says this now. What's interesting about this whole thing to me is that as you read on the story, we won't now.

Guess what happened.

Esau did not want any of the animals and want any of them. Jacob insisted he take a buddy subsidized. I don't want I want any animals of all.

He also never would insist you need to call me Lord, I just want to see my brother. None of this was necessary so I like your fear in my none of it was necessary. There was not even a problem. And the reason was not a problem. God already done all the work.

See you prepared Esau to go meet Jacob. God then when Jacob started moving the land who sent the Angels to meet with Jake God when Jacob do he does we do.

So scary. This is really fearful.

I got to come up with a plan to alleviate my fears and got it handled the whole thing all wasn't like that in any sense of the word was extremely different now to question would be what I mean when I say we have to have faith. What is it see I know faith is more than mental assent is more than just believing something that's not faith that biblical faith. In fact, in James two.

Verse 19 it says even the demons believe in trouble demons have faith in that sense of just mental assent or belief. Ken Hughes says this in the simplest terms, faith is belief plus trust is resting in the person of God and his word to us very wonderful word resting whenever you become a Christian, you put your faith or your trust and what in Christ and what you do nothing you rest in Christ who's done all the work Christ I just resting you God I don't have to do anything here. I just need to trust you.

I just need to rest in you because Anna says faith is an active practice building belief, faith is not ambiguous is not.

I'm sure it's a concrete conviction if the present-day confidence of the future reality.

Faith is a solid unshakable confidence in God build upon the assurance that he is faithful to his promises. Faith allows us to move forward were not sure where the destination is Hebrews chapter 11 verse one now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not naturally hard for us because you and I live by site. I can see I can see. So, I know what you got 400 God's will.

And don't tell me not to be afraid. I'm really afraid you see I Ida Dr. hold up the x-ray. I need to be afraid. She had got a be afraid.

These are terrible circumstances. That's the way we react you know a very favorite verse of almost all of us is Proverbs 3. Solomon says trust in the Lord with all your heart menaces but lean not on what your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him. He says to direct your path.

That's faith in action. That's faith that we love the verse but we can't utilize a wonderful fear. Mark Batterson said this, he said, faith is not logical but it's also not illogical.

He said faith is theological. It adds God to the equation.

I just trust God. Faith always acts in Scripture. David Jeremiah looked at Hebrews chapter 11. It's a look at the way faith works. He said faith builds an arc when it's never rain before faith begins a journey obediently despite not knowing where it's going. Faith was in the tense of a foreign country. Faith looks for city whose builder and maker is God.

Faith gives a mother strength to bear a child when she's long past childbearing age, faith is being willing to sacrifice one's own son in obedience.

Faith believes in the resurrection faith promises not to leave Joseph bones in Egypt. Faith refuses to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter Faith chooses to suffer affliction with the children of God.

He says faith esteems the reproach of Christ is greater than the treasures of Egypt faith, he said, forsakes engine for the promised land.

Faith passes through the Red Sea on the dryland faith walks around the walls of Jericho until the collapse.

Faith obtains promises stops the mouth alliance quenches the violence of fire escapes the edge of the sword turns the fight the enemies of God, faith receives the dead back to life and faith receives the promise is that faith is a lot and alleviates the fear that you might be senior but that's Hebrews 11. That's all the fame I don't have a kind of maybe don't. I can tell you this. The Bible says that your faith grows infected Bible says your faith should grow. Paul told the Corinthians in second Corinthians 10.

He said I desire to see the increase in your faith, he said virtually the same thing. The Thessalonians in first Thessalonians 3 and he said you need to be strengthened and what you are lacking in your faith in effect in second Thessalonians chapter 1 he said let me commend you. I can see that your faith is growing. Faith grows, we need to have growing faith to understand God is preferable for your fellowship in the world you ever missed one of our broadcast or maybe you just like to listen to the message one more time remembering a great website called one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen the Fellowship in the Word online at that website you will find on today's broadcast but also many of her previous audio program, had Fellowship in the Word. We are thankful for those who financially support our ministry and make this broadcast possible. Yes, all of our listeners to prayerfully consider how you might help his radio ministry continuous forecast on this radio station by supporting us monthly with just a one-time gift support for ministry can be sent to Fellowship in the Word.

4600 Clearview Pkwy., Metairie 7006 if you would be interested in hearing today's message in its original format that is is a sermon, the pastor will deliver during a Sunday morning service of fellowship monitored visit our website FPC Nola.org that FPC and of LA.O RG at our website you will find hundreds of possible sermon you can browse through our sermon archives defined sensors are looking you can search by title. Once you find the message you are looking for. You can listen online or if you prefer, you can download the sermon on listening anchoring and remember all this absolutely free of charge. Once again our website FPC Nola.org forecaster Bill Gebhardt and Jason Gebhardt. Thank you for listening to fellowship in order