Choose Faith Over Fear, Part 2

Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ, you might be saying that she was love nest. The Bible says that your faith Bible says your faith should also send revenues 10 that I desire to see the increase in your faith subverting the same thing. The Thessalonians in first Thessalonians 3 and he said you need to be strengthened among the lacking back in second Thessalonians chapter 1 he said in recommending I could see the faith grows, we need to have only faith we need to understand or just leaving God is joining us today on this additional fellowship and work.

Pastor Bill Gebhardt Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana Pastor Bill Gebhardt.

Now once again he shows us God's word and it was necessary. There was not even a problem. And the reason was not a problem. God already done all the work you prepared Esau to go meet Jacob. God then when you start removing the land to send the Angels to meet with Jake God what Jacob do, that's what 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. The question would be what I mean when I say we have that faith. What is it she 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 Trumbull demons have faith in that sense of just mental assent or belief can use up 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 resting 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 about 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 sight.

I can see I can see. So, I know what he got 400 God's will. Don't tell me not to be afraid.

I'm really afraid you see I did Dr. hold up the x-ray. I need to be afraid she I gotta 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 and then he says, but lean not on what your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him. He says go 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 in 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 tents 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 agent 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 nest all the fame I don't have a kind of maybe don't 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 I knew 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 a growing faith. We need to understand or just believe God is that I want to illustrate this.

Again, this time from the New Testament. I want to go to Luke chapter 8 Luke chapter 8 verse 40 and were introduced to Menem gyrus. I think all of us can identify with him here. Can you imagine anything in your life worse than watching being me being there when your child dies for parent. I think it's the worst possible thing they can never face the child's gyrus is fight facing as a child.

The child going to die and so consequently because of that he ends up encountering Jesus Christ is sincere and they were in Capernaum at this time. And as Jesus returned the people welcomed them for they had been all been waiting for me is a huge crowd of people here it says in there came a man named gyrus and he was an official in the synagogue now understand he's a Jewish insider.

He's an official in the synagogue and by this time. In Christ ministry. By the way, the leaders of the Jewish people hated him and A-Rod are already plotting to murder and wanted him dead gyrus knows that but gyrus is little girls nine is no time for politics gyrus doesn't care about that at all.

I'm going to go to him and he does he goes to him. His heart is broken.

It says for healing. He had he had an only daughter.

About 12 years old.

She was dying. Just imagine what that was like this official came to Jesus feet began to implore him to come to his house. We know from Mark five which is a parallel to this gyrus.

Is this the Jesus my little daughter is at the point of death. Please come and lay your hands on her so that she will get well and live who would do that is apparent.

I mean who wouldn't do that would do anything we could. If this man can possibly help at all. He is just fully describe as distraught as a person can be. I often think one of the questions that gyrus has in his mind before he purchased Christ. I think there are 31 Kenny do this to does he care three will become gyrus doesn't know the answer is nobody knows the questions that have to be going on the said Kenny do this. Does he care will come. Now we know that it says here that as he went. The crowds were pressing against them, Jesus, one with them. Jesus said sure I'll go with you now that had to be something he knows a couple things he doesn't know if he can yet but he does this he does care and he will come he does care and he will come is coming with me all the crotch pressing that you can imagine gyrus. He knows the daughter is very close to death. He's probably wanting to get Jesus there as soon as you can.

But something happens is citizen a woman who would a hemorrhage for 12 years and could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him as he touched the fringe of his cloak and immediate your hemorrhage stop and Jesus said whose want to touch me.

Just imagine a whole crowd hundreds of people pressing Jesus comes who touched me by the disciples you with the answer this, I didn't see who did it touch me yeah love your gyrus, what are you thinking I don't care I don't care who touched you will all this just keep moving here.

Jesus doesn't want to move. He wants to stop Jesus says who is it touch me and while they were still while they were all denying it wed me what made it says Peter said master. The people are crying and pressing in on you, how would anyone know touched to Jesus as someone did touch me, for I was aware of the power gone out of me. By the way, Jesus knew who touched his Jesus.

And when a woman saw that she had not escaped notice she came tumbling and fell down before him and declared in the presence of all the people. The reason why she had touched him and how she had become immediately healed was me what your Jesus does. He says daughter, your faith has made you well: peace, wonderful little story except that if your gyrus we hate delays we hate delays something so pressing, we needed now. We need some fixed now. Right now, now more and noticed Jesus is in no hurry. Well it goes from bad to worse, I was still speaking, someone came in the house of the synagogue official.

I'm guessing and at the crime I got up and had started gyrus on the shoulder said your daughters died to not trouble the rabbi anymore. His day goes from bad to worse.

This has to be the worst moment in his life.

You know that Dr. walks out the waiting room and says your child just can imagine how well China's math I thought I had a hope. Now I don't. Jesus heard this, Jesus once stock Jesus heard what was said in notice what Jesus says do not be afraid any longer. Only believe should be made well. Do not be afraid only believe by way what that mean that your choice is the choice you have to make all the time. Do not be afraid for her not only believe it's up to you.

Jesus says do not be afraid. Disbelieve, I think of him drought believe believe what my little girls dead.

What you want me to believe he had no idea what was absolutely going to come next. But you and I do see you and I do. The reason the stories in the Scriptures 2000 years later, people like us who are fearful struggles can believe that he can help that he does care and he will come.

We believe that that's the point of people like us can believe in the story changes since then and when he came to the house. He did not allow anyone to enter with them except Peter, James and John and the fathers, the girls father and mother.

No one else going. Once Peter and James and John to see this. Why their weak faith like us every faith so want to see this and in they were all weeping and lamenting over. If he was affluent enough and is a synagogue official reply was here professional mourners. There people who would well and cry for you. Whenever someone died in a Jewish house. They were usually there like hospice care. Near the end so they could start immediately. They were all weeping and lamenting her and he said stop weeping. She's not died Jesus asleep says and they began laughing at him. The great war means mocking the were experts on this.

I know dead when I see dead bodies cold. There's no breathing there's no pulse. She's dead to the left that they want the morning to laughing but now the laughing and Jesus.

He however took her by the hand he called he said child arise and sit was in the big moves when a thunder and lightning clapping as a child arise, you realize how easy this was for Jesus.

This is infinitely easy.

This is like out asking Albert Einstein continue had 2+2 is like having Beethoven. Could you play chopsticks and piano for me this is Jesus child arise.

That's all there is here just child arise in your spirit return, she got up immediately and he gave orders for the giver. Something need and her parents were amazed. No kidding.

Our parents were amazed but instructed them to tell no one what happened while she what's going on here Jesus and are you trusting me severe faith in me now in this case, by the way, to Jesus raised everyone died in Judah from the dead is no very rare thing and he always has his own godly reasons for what he does. But the point is, he can do anything.

Nothing ever is going to happen. That doesn't go through him ever. That's the way this operates is the way this works. He does he can do what he does care and he does come, that's a very important thing becomes, becomes the baby born in Bethlehem comes as a young man is the son of a carpenter. Nazareth comes as the Messiah and Savior of Israel and now is going to come back as the King of Kings and Lord of lords and every one of those cases, the context is don't be afraid. Disbelieve. Don't be afraid of the circumstances of your life always doesn't work in a resurrection always works. I just found this many of you aware that Jim Kelly the Hall of Fame quarterback Buffalo Bills has had multiple cancers jaws and things like that been through it all went into remission. Not too long ago, but really is been through it and had to have jaw surgery made so that he could get dentures put back into his mouth and is an amazing testimony for Christ. When I just found out that she is.

It gives us is now in a spinal cord and this comes from his wife. She sends out an Instagram earnings.

Jill explained that the assistance pressing against the Hall of Fame quarterback spinal cord needs to be removed. She said maybe you're thinking what I'm thinking, not another surgery she continued. I know another mountain to climb, but also another opportunity to trust God and walk by faith, not fear what his daughter wrote.

She said surgery. After surgery, battle after battle when I can't fathom how my dad continues to endure. I'm reminded of where his strength comes from God the one who is above all and in all the one who works all things together for good. The one who fights every battle.

My dad will be having back surgery this morning. Please pray for us and be encouraged in your own battle because it's the Lord who fights for you and then she quotes Isaiah Exodus 1414 if you look up Exodus 1414 says the Lord will fight while you remain silent.

Jim Kelly and his family believe this. You see, they believe this is not living in fear is living in faith is made that choice. That's the way it works for him. You see it's one thing to have fear be a visitor in your life. It's another thing when you make it a resident destroys your life distort your life you enough time to plan the circumstances, but they never work out, you lose all spiritual perspective, just like Jacob will have to live by. For we can live by faith, even in the most fearful circumstances. That's what the Bible says you know the song the 23rd Psalm would be good right even though he said I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. How many are you afraid of dying. Be honest. You see what I mean is that even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.

What's the next words I will fear no evil. Why you're with me, Jesus, and will never leave you nor forsake. He's always going to be with you. He always comes to see how this works.

He can do anything he wants. He cares about you greatly and eat always comes choice is yours. Fear or faith. Spray father. This is such a struggle for us.

There are so many hazards in this world there are so many consequences.

The sin so much pain-and-suffering that potentially could happen to any of us, and it causes us a tremendous amount of fear.

May we learn from these two stories, but the choice is ours. We can fear we can evidence faith father I pray that we understand how important this is to us, told us that all things work together for good. Even we don't understand you've told us that even in the midst of deep suffering. You'll never leave us nor forsake us, told us that everything that happens to us can be for your glory and our good father. We have to believe we do believe it was cast. That's my prayer is for the Christ pastor broke apart on the radio ministry of fellowship Lord, if you ever miss one of our broadcasting or maybe you just like the message one more time. Remember the good a great website called one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen the fellows of the word online that website you will find on today's broadcast but also many of our previous audio programs as well have Fellowship in the Word. We are thankful for those who financially support our ministry and make this broadcast possible. We ask all of our listeners to prayerfully consider how you might help his radio ministry continuous broadcast on this radio station by supporting a monthly 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 at Fellowship Bible church visit our website SBC Nola.org that SBC and LA.O RG at our website you will find hundreds pastor Bill sermon you can browse through our sermon archives defined sensors are looking for. You can search by title.

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