The Fear Of People, Part 2

Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhart challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ. The roots one peters already stood up to the Sanhedrin now won't stand up for the charge. That's the way it is. Say this if you spend your childhood in your teen years worried about what others thought of us to modify the food and you don't want anyone but you and anyone ever reject you will struggle with this.

The rest of the joining of 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. Let's join pastor go get her now again shows us how God's word. Our world is not so closely that it might cost a lot of people like I want to follow the Lord but not so costly that it can make me have to pay something especially like the disapproval and rejection of a group of people, so a status distance. We want the approval Lord, but we don't want the rejection of an unbelieving world and you can't have it both ways. You just can't. I mean, Jesus wasn't just using hyperbole along when he said the world will hate you because the world first hated me if they hate me. They're going to hate you and miss you fear them and mess you want their approval and that she will do anything to make sure they don't reject you in the room. I like you but your disappointment to God.

You see, that's what worldliness is. I accommodate the world because I fear the rejection of man. He had pride he felt the prey he followed Jesus from afar and I guess you could read into this he find fellowship in all the wrong places.

Was he warming himself with what people did he surround himself in this epic night the very people that hated Christ, he thought, hey, can I get in here. You see, what was the small talk like what was really going on.

Charles Spurgeon, the great English preacher said this Peter was on dangerous ground when his master was being buffeted he was trying to make himself comfortable. We read he said of the high priest servant's rough servants of ill masters he was in bad company and he was. Amanda could not afford to be in bad company, for he was so impulsive, so fleshly and so easily provoked to rash actions. The great Bible commentator Matthew Henry said, those that warm themselves with evildoers grow cold toward good people and good things he was finding fellowship in the wrong place. So you have to do to surround yourself with people of the world to Stewart and you become just like that's the way it works and why because you fear them. It's astounding, but we are capable of just those kind of things in a person could be in a cooler at the any officer at a jobsite and a bunch of people around him are having lunch and telling off-color jokes and now you bring up one from your past one that you remember and they all laugh and think is not great but I think Jesus lives. You see, wanted to bring that up. I want to fit in. I just got a finish and I want them to approve of me. I don't want them to reject me at any cost. The fear of man is pervasive. The reality can happen to any of us. It happened to Peter. The reasons pride, failure to pray following Christ from afar having fellowship, the wrong people in the wrong place for something really important to maybe the most important thing about this and that's this the roots of hearing people run deep. The roots of fearing people run deep. When illustrate that. Go with me now to Galatians chapter 2 Galatians chapter 2 now Jesus crucified his resurrected is ascended, the church began in acts chapter 2 Peter is now the apostle for the nation Israel.

He is the apostle to the Jews, Paul the apostle to the Gentiles. They are the two top men in the world for the cause of Jesus Christ. Peter has done remarkable things he has preached tremendous sermons. He has led countless people to Christ. He has performed miracles he has healed people he raise the dead. He has done some amazing things. He went out with John and they were incarcerated for when they got a repair before the Sanhedrin, the Sanhedrin said to him, don't do that again. We don't want to going out talking about Jesus Christ anymore knew what Peter said to them, we have to obey God rather than man were still usually was outward and go do it. What courage you see, wasn't afraid anymore, but the roots of fearing people in deep verse 11 chapter 2 Galatians Paul writing but when Cephas that's Peter but when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned for prior to the coming of certain men from James. James is the Lord's brother, he is the lead elder in the church of Jerusalem. These are men who came from Jerusalem. These are believers. They are called Judaizers they believe in sort of welding together points of Judaism and their faith in Christ. They have a lot of trouble with the idea that Gentiles are going to be included in the body of Christ. He says, but prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles.

That's Peter. But when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof and there is fearing the party of the circumcision is afraid. What they don't like me. One of the go back to Jerusalem and if they don't like me. One of the disapproval. What I'm doing what's James going to say what are people going to think these are people within the body of Christ and is afraid of them. He said the rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy, which is kind of ironic knowledge and allotting the Gentiles, Barnabas, all caught up. Peter is not doing it for the rest of that chapter by the way, Paul really gives Peter a lot of problems. He says when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel. I said to Peter in the presence of them all. If you being a Jew, live like Gentiles, and not like choose. How is it that you compel Gentiles not to start living like Jews.

Peter you been eating everything you been eating with the Gentiles are not unclean. The phones not I'm going now.

You want the Gentiles to start acting like choose what is well with you. I can tell you he fears man and by the way, of all people turn with me back to the book of acts chapter 11. Want to see something else. Acts chapter 11. I want to see how deep these roots run in acts chapter 11 in verse five. This is Peter talking Peter says I was in the city of Joppa and I was praying and in a trance and I saw a vision and object coming down like a great sheet lowered by four corners in the sky and it came right down the me and when I had fix my gaze on it and observing it. I saw the four-footed animals of the earth, and the wild beasts and the crawling creatures. The birds of the air. I also heard a voice saying to me, get up, Peter. Chill and eat, but I said by no means Lord for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered my mouth. I'm a Jew kosher only. I would never eat this kind of stuff but a voice from heaven answered the second time and said what God is cleansed, no longer consider unholy it's all clean Peter by the way, this is God speaking. This happened three times and everything was drawn back up into the sky.

Three times God said Peter you can eat anything Peter you can eat anything. Peter you can eat it as God telling so what happens when some men from Jerusalem.

So up I need to wipe.

I want them or not like me. What they reject me while not improved by them.

See how deep the roots run. Peter is already stood up to the Sanhedrin.

Now he won't stand up people in the church. That's the way it is when we say this if you spent your childhood in your teen years worried about what others thought of you.

You worried about a costly you always want to try to fit in. You don't want anyone to disapprove you were and anyone ever reject you your struggle with this. The rest of your life because it's part of your identity.

I want to please people I want and the like me not, please understand someone usually comes up to me like a week later and says you know it hasn't worked out for me.

You told us that we should be unlikable. No, that's not what I'm saying.

If a possible we should be at peace with everybody know that that's our part.

But the point is we should not fear the disapproval or rejection of others. There is the reality of the fear of fearing people, even Peter.

The reasons Peter had pride lack of prayer falling price in the distance fellowship in the wrong places and the roots of fearing people run deep. Most important question I guess is this how you resolve it. What is the resolution is about as simple as something could be telling me to second Corinthians chapter 5 second Corinthians chapter 5 and before I read that verse I could've gone to a place in like Matthew or Mark. It's real simple. Remember when they tried to trip Jesus and they said to him you know of all the 600 laws and ordinances in the Old Testament, what would you tell us which ones the greatest because a finger to get arguing no matter what he said, Jesus of course I'm sure was amused by didn't take any moment to answer laws so that's easy. Love the Lord your God and love them with all your heart level with all your soul love you with all your mind and you love him with all your strength and you love your neighbor as yourself. See what is the resolution for fearing people replacing it with loving God see if I love Christ enough. I don't fear people. There's another side, not only replacing the fear I have the people with my love for Jesus Christ, but the replace the fear I have for people with love for people.

You see, you have to replace them both as were Jesus said that's why Paul says in second Corinthians chapter 5 in verse 14 he says this for the love of Christ controls us.

Having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died, the love of Christ controls us.

One translation says the love of Christ compels us the word control is just to simple Greek words.

One is soon and the others echo soon. Echo and echo means the idea of holding and soon means together. In other words, he says, the love of Christ holds me together is the love of Christ that holds me together.

That's why Paul wasn't afraid of people.

My love for Jesus Christ. You replace the fear of man with the love you have for Jesus Christ and how do I know that that's the truth. Well, we won't go to because we been doing a few weeks ago, but how about this when Jesus Christ shows up again resurrected and he goes to spend time with Peter. Peter is fishing. If you remember the story and then Jesus sets, Peter.

Now Peter has to fill incredibly guilty of denying him three times what does Jesus say to Peter Peter you love me.

Remember that Peter you agape me and Peter said yes Lord I fly over.

He said Peter do you love me, I guess.

Lord I I thought all you funny Jesus of Peter to follow me. He was yes Lord three times Jesus as you love me then what Peter said yes and so what did Jesus say if you love me replace the fear you had a man with her love for me now tend my sheep feed the lambs. You see, now get about your business.

So Jesus said you love me. The fear of man is driven away by your love for Christ. Secondly, though, you replace your fear of man with your love for mankind receives the same exact kind of idea. Jesus said to us that we are the light of the world. You see, we are the light of the world and he said by being the light of the world. Let your light shine among men in such a way that they will see who you are and they will glorify my fathers in heaven. In other words, the best chance you ever have of influencing other people any peer group, neighbors, relatives, people you work with students. It doesn't matter is like a light shine that they see your good works and glorify your father is in heaven. That's the way it works because I love mankind. Let me illustrate that turn with me to ask chapter 7, the last passage in one look at acts chapter 7, by the way, if you want to read something just wonderful the end of chapter 6 beat all the way through seven at Stephen in early convert. Stephen loves the Lord. He has a lot of promise his sermon to me and ask chapter sevens the greatest sermon in the New Testament apart from Christ is an amazing thing.

He says what a wonderful sermon, but by the way up all of the powers to be hated him for he wasn't afraid of them at all.

He told him the truth. He spoke the truth and love them but they did not like him for so when the sermon ends.

Verse 54 watch what happens.

It says now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him following a Bible in someone's gnashing of teeth that it's never a good thing. Okay.

They are really upset, but being full of the Holy Spirit. He gazed intently into heaven saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

And behold, and he said, behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God, but they cried out with a loud voice, and they cover their ears in a rush at him with one impulse when they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him, and the witnesses laid aside the robes at the feet of a young man named Saul who becomes impossible. Just imagine how Paul felt his whole life. He's the Pharisee that probably orchestrated this stoning of Stephen becomes the great apostle. The registers of the grace of God. They went on stoning Stephen and as he called on the Lord, he said, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit know if he's ready.

Lord, receive me and then falling on his knees. Now these are the last words last words are really important. What's the last thing is going to say you see what is and is going to say right now then falling on his knees. He cries out with a loud voice, Lord, do not hold this against them and having said this, he fell asleep without up in your last words should be see that anyone else have last words like that that anyone ever to hang on the cross and say father forgive them. They know not what they do. Why would Stephen say that because he loved men. You see, he loved you. Not only love the Lord he loved mankind.

I've gotta believe that there are people converted because of those words did you hear what he said were stoning this guided death. The last thing he says he says Lord don't hold it against them. That's love. You see, how do we what's the resolution for referring people replace that fear with love for Christ and love for others.

David Jeremiah says this fear drains us while love empowers us. We cannot fear people and love people the same time we cannot sacrificially and unconditionally love others.

If our energy is directed toward protecting ourselves when we love others, including those he says who can harm us.

Life is no longer about us, and fear of disapproval is driven away. When we love Christ more than we fear man and we love mankind more than we fear man. God uses us to advance his kingdom and you know we get out of it piece not guilt, not weeping, but peace, John Chrysostom, one of the great early believers in the fourth century really the end of the B beginning of the end of the fourth century, John Chrysostom in the year A.D. 398 was appointed the patriarch of the church of Constantinople. That was the number one job in the Eastern church and so Chrysostom said will good so I want to reform the church.

I want to get back to being a biblically-based organization well when he tried to do that. By the way he antagonized the Empress you go see she had absolute power. She was a monarch. She didn't like John at all the kind of things he talked about holiness, stuff like that and so she put them in exile. Anyone, everybody love John so people demanded a Chrysostom come back to Constantinople so she said okay I'll bring them back so she brought him back as soon as he got back he started right where he left off his gun reform. Everything that made a really mad again, so the associate took Chrysostom and permanently exiled. Chrysostom then wrote this he said what can I fear will be death. But you know that Christ is my life. I shall gain by death will be exile, but the earth and all its fullness on the wards and of course it doesn't matter where I am is the wards poverty. He says I do not fear riches.

I do not cite for and from death. I do not shrink for Christ is enough for me. That's when you stop fearing Christ is enough spring father. I'm afraid that this fear of people.

This idea of wanting the approval of others feeling the rejection is a very common fear among almost all of us, but it's a fear we hide, even from ourselves. We need incidences like peters to bring it out with father I pray the next time we find ourselves accommodating the crowd around us because we fear them in their disapproval and their rejection that these words from this message will convict our heart follow for those of us who feel the conviction already, may we pray constantly that we replace the fear of man in our life with our love and our loyalty to you and our love and compassion for people. Father I pray this great name of Jesus Christ on listening to Pastor Brueggemann on the radio ministry of fellowship Lord, if you ever missed one of our broadcasting or maybe you just listen to the message one more time. Remember, you can Google a great website called one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen to Fellowship in the Word online at that website you will find on with today's broadcast so many of our previous audio programs as well. Had Fellowship in the Word. We are thankful for those who financially support our ministry and make this broadcast possible with all of our listeners to prayerfully consider how you might help his radio ministry continuous broadcast on this radio station by supporting us monthly. Fourth is the 100 support for ministry can be sent to Fellowship in the Word. 4600 Clearview Pkwy., Metairie, LA 7006 if you would be interested in hearing today's message in its original format that is is a sermon, the pastor will delivered during a Sunday morning service of fellowship monitored visit our website FVC Nola.org that FVC 10 oh LA.O RG at our website you will find hundreds. Pastor Bill sermon. You can browse through our sermon archives to find sermon series are looking for, or 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 and listen at your inquiry and remember all this absolutely free of charge. Once again our website is FVC Nola.org forecaster Bill Gebhart and Jason Gebhart. Thanking you for listening to fellowship in order