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July 10, 2020 8:00 am
Today on the Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhart challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ billion dollars a year will market to make discontent back I read this in an article. The art was taught how to motivate your prospects about selling it said as an advertiser.
It is your job to create discontentment inside the psyche of your prospects and make them desire the change that you are. So what condition is 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: Pastor Bill Gebhart now again he shows us how God's word. Our world is not a normal person that I don't mean he was abnormal so I don't mean that he was strange but he was not a human being. The way the rest of us are and I don't mean that he was fully God and fully man. I don't even mean that he was both a scholar and a carpenter thinking of it in a different way. You see when you really think about Jesus Christ you realize a lot of things one would be that he never ask for advice.
Never he didn't seek advice at all in its that type of thing that I want to talk about this morning. He sees Jesus did not need things the same things that we need. We think we do.
He did not ask for information he did not ask questions. He never said to the disciples what you guys think you think we should go to Jerusalem this week or next week. What would be safer to me what you guys want to do. Never did that.
Now I did ask questions, but always when he already knew the answer. He was going to use it to teach. For example, Jesus Christ said to Philip how we can feed all these people and they know exactly how is going to feed him. He said to Peter three times Peter do you love me. I nearly knew the answer even the two men on the road to Emmaus after he had resurrected from the dead. He walked up and said what are you talking about. Of course he knew they were talking about Jesus did not need shelter. He said that the foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.
He did not need information he did not need shelter. He did not need to come from a respectable town he gave Nazareth. He did not need to have respectable parents because there was a lot of rumor about his parents. He didn't even need to have a respectable birthplace, a manger in Bethlehem, he did not need to go to prestigious schools like soft Parsis. He did not need to have good connections and be able to network with a lot of people do not need that in fact, according to Isaiah 53. He did not even need to be handsome. He had no need for such things. Maybe most important lead to us as Americans. He had virtually no need of money now.
He spoke of money a lot almost always in the sense of a warning. We have very little need for it and seem very very few times even dealing with it on a personal level C was not a normal person, and yet he had something he was something that all of us want to be but only a few of us are. He was absolutely content. He was content. He was content with his life for you. Are you content with your life. You see now is Jesus Christ content but he wants us to be content as well. Open your Bibles to Matthew chapter 6 will begin in verse 25. Ironically, based on the introduction verse 24 says a lot as well. In Matthew 624 Matthew writes that Jesus said this, he said no one can serve two masters for humor, though I hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other committees that if I'm not perfectly clear enough.
Let me be clear. You cannot serve God and wealth is just that simple. You cannot and then he goes into an area that all of us delve into from time to time, an area we call worry or anxiety. He said for this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life as a what you eat or what you will drink more for your body as a what you will put on.
Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing. Look at the birds of the year.
They do not sell nor do they reap when a gathering the Barnes and yet heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they, and who of you being worried can add a single hour on his life and why are you worried about your clothing. Observe how the lilies of the field grow may not toil in order they spin again I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace we not much more clothe you, you of little faith, and notice what they're worried about. And by the way, if you're worried that me explain something you're not content you want to know whether or not your content.
If you are worrying or you have anxiety about something in your life.
In their case, notice what they were worried about food and clothing that seems pretty basic. Resident Jesus is.
Don't worry about that don't have anxiety about that. You see his whole point is the only reason you worry about that and have anxiety as you have very little faith. You should be content if God takes care of birds. The way he does and takes care of flowers.
The way he does that. How much more will God take care of you, so you should be content. I think it's interesting. Think of the things that we worry about.
I don't think many people here worry about whether they're going to get a next meal or not, whether they have clothing or shelter. We worry about a lot of other things we are discontented and a lot of other ways we are discontented with our looks.
I mean we are we don't stop what is not content. We worry about our looks.
We worry a lot about our stuff.
I mean we worry about getting stuff and keeping stuff, making sure other people can have our stuff and then we worry about more stuff we have to have more stuff were not content unless we have more fact I think this will be a generation of people that historians, especially from even a Christian perspective look back and say they worship the idol of more because that's who we are duly spent $450 billion a year worldwide to market things to make you discontent with what you have in fact I read this in an article. The article is called how to motivate your prospects is about selling and he said as an advertiser.
It is your job to create discontentment inside the psyche of your prospects and make them desire the change that you are offering. So were conditioned to be discontented in all spills over in our life. So we worry or discontent about our looks are stuff. A lot of us are not content with our spouse. Many of us say I think what I do is try another and then another. I'm not content with what I have were not content with our jobs were not content with our portfolios were not content with our reputations were not content in the trouble is willing to pay soon and I continue worry you, not content. You feel insecure when you're not content you feel insignificant.
So you keep striving for something more, something different.
Jesus continues then and he says this. Do not worry. Then about saying what we will eat or what we will drink, or what we will wear for clothing. The Gentiles eagerly seek all these things for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things but you seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.
I can promise you that. He says, so do not worry about now something different tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. You see that something about contentment. You can only be content in the moment so you can plan to be content tomorrow. You can say Haley on May 28 under the content is just another way contentment works and he says, so do not worry about the future. Do not worry about tomorrow, because you know what, if you worry about tomorrow you will not be content today. It steals your contentment and of course we do that a lot.
We see that Jesus was content.
We see all the things that he did need it becomes painfully aware to was that were not content, and yet one of the greatest privileges you should have a being a believer in Jesus Christ is you should have a consistent contentment for your life just the way it is right now you can be content you can be content today is not summing up the look on the road for what I can get all these changes then I'll be content. The Lord wants us to be content with me now. Another famous passage. Psalm 23 the Lord is my shepherd, what great statement. If so, were so familiar with it. We hardly think about it. The Lord is my shepherd. I am his sheep. You see, the Lord is my shepherd.
Here's his conclusion, I shall not want… Contentment. I shall not want, because the Lord is my shepherd what that is freedom. Freedom when you in your life, say the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want your free your free at that moment your free every day and it doesn't even matter what's going on in your life.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside the quiet waters he restores my soul, my life when I need restoration but I need to be picked up. He said he can do that. The Lord restores my life and not only that he guides me in paths of righteousness. He actually leaves me in the best place I should go all because that's what he does. He doesn't for his namesake. He said even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil. Why because you're with me.
You're not going to desert me here right there. He said even your rod and your staff to implement one use the fight off aggressors. Creditors are coming against the sheep, the other to correct the sheep when they find himself stuck in a figure wandering away. One has a hook once more like a club.
He said I love that you have that you protect me and you discipline me your rod and staff they comfort me. He said you know what you prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies you anoint my head with oil my cup overflows with that person meet him content, she put him content and then he said shortly goodness and lovingkindness or mercy. The word is tested lovingkindness a great translation shortly goodness and lovingkindness. It will follow me all the days of my life.
And after that I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. That's contentment.
You see, that's David saying look I am content how do you know if your content why think is how do you speak to the shepherd, I believe you'll know your content when you say this, the shepherd number one. Contentment is when you tell the shepherd that his provision is enough for your physical and material needs. Come with me to Philippians chapter 4 in the New Testament is called the book of joy. You could also call this a an epistle of contentment and the writer Paul was saying on the most joyful and content person you ever want to meet and oh by the way he's in prison and if your customers life he may get a capital offense. He doesn't annex imprisonment gives his life reason I'm totally content I'm completely content here and so what he says in verse 18 he said, I have received everything in full and have abundance. How many prisoners say that they sent him some help going. He said I have got all I need him content. I am amply supplied.
Having received my Pepperdine is what you sent a fragrant aroma and acceptable sacrifice. It was well pleasing to God. And then he says this in my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Notice will supply all you need in Christ, my God will supply yourself when content contentment is when you tell the shepherd that his provision is enough for your physical and material needs. Secondly, contentment was when you tell the shepherd that his presence is enough to meet your emotional needs. Turn with me to Hebrews chapter 13 the writer of Hebrews is sort of doing a summation of the book knowledge, just getting them some things you like him to be doing very typical of an epistle in verse five he says this, make sure that your character is free from the love of money. Notice it keeps going back to that using money is almost a perfect symbol how discontented we are, whether you admit it or not. I think all of us of the same and thinking you know if I just had more lasting for everything just more than I would be content but we won't be he said make sure your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have, doesn't tell you, by the way, they have nothing.
You have nothing and be content you can have some in the content you can have quite a bit. Be content. You have a lot to be content or you have all those not be content by the weight almost works in an inverted way. It seems the more we have a list content. We are but notice what he says then he says for he himself is said I will never desert you know I ever forsake you. I will never leave you will I forsake you know the reason. He says that so that we can calmly say, the Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.
What will men do to me they were facing persecution. He saying you emotional support in this difficult time. I'm here for you. You see I'm absolutely here for you and that's what God says what the Scriptures even in Jeremiah 49. He says let your widows trust in me. In Hosea 14 he says the Hosea rights in you Lord. The orphan finds mercy what God says in the Old Testament is going to know something I know how hard it is to be a widow. I will be the world's husband. I know how hard it would be especially in the world to be an orphan. I will be the orphan's father. In other words, what God says is I will meet your emotional need you emotional need immediate you can be content. I will meet it. In fact, from the greatest emotional word you can ever hear is in that verse. Write the greatest emotional word you could ever hear is the word never. I will never leave you or forsake you. Never met Scott speak if it doesn't make you feel secure. That doesn't make you feel significant. That's the kind words. By the way we use all the time and wedding ceremonies is normally say we use words like that. We use those words so that both people feel really really secure but we know something only they often don't mean those words it doesn't turn out that way.
That's not the case with God is, he would gotta saying I will never what I say never. I mean never even know I go throughout through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil live you because you said you never leave me, for you are with me.
You see, that's the whole idea that's what you're saying God will meet your emotional need. His presence is enough to meet them thirdly and finally, on contentment is when you tell the shepherd that his providence is enough for all your future needs. Turn with me back to Isaiah chapter 43 Isaiah's prophesying to Israel.
Technically, Judah at a very hard time, is called a preexilic prophet. In other words, he is been sent by God to tell them that if they don't turn back and right away they're going to regret it because they're going to be taken ripped out of the land and taken into captivity and we know they were never to spend 70 years as a The people out of the land so Isaiah brings some of the worst news you can ever hear there having a tough time of the hearing what Isaiah, saying, but in spite of all that, notice what then God says I also want you to tell them this chapter 43 verse one but now, thus says the Lord, your creator of Jacob, and he who formed you, O Israel, do not fear, for I have redeemed you.
I have called you by name you are buying. And when you pass through the waters, will be with you and through the rivers, it will not overflow you in any says. And when you walk through fire you will not be scorched, nor will the flame he says burn you, for I am the Lord your God, the holy one of Israel, your Savior, I have given Egypt as a ransom in Christian Sebring. Your place since you are precious in my sight. Since you are honored that be by me and then he says this and I love you.
He says that Israel and he says unto us the covenant made with them is made within each of us individually. He said I will give other men in your place in other peoples in exchange for your life. Do not fear, for I am with you. I will bring your offspring from the east, and gather you from the last I will say to not give them up, and of the soft do not hold them back, bring my sons from afar.
My daughters in the ends of the earth. Everyone was called by my name, whom I have created for my glory, whom I have formed and I have made the summer bring it back at your future when you know that that your future should not have an impact on your present usage and make me content. He says it differently to you and me. Jesus is to us a bill I go and prepare a place for you is is in my father's house are many going places, to prepare one just for you to put your name on the doorbell, a seat, so that where I am you be also pauses to be absent in the body to be present with the Lord fighting tell us all this so I can be content right now you have them carried off into captivity. You see my contentment. The ideas contentment is why tell the shepherd that his providence is enough to meet all my future needs.
That's what he does.
Contentment, as we tell the shepherd that his provision is enough to meet our material needs.
His presence is enough to meet our emotional and spiritual needs as promised enough to meet all future needs one to believe that that's why so many little faith one to believe that is what you are content by way for perfectly healthy never been a day sick again you like and what you would be content. If you just came a doctor's office and you got the biopsy with the worst possible prognosis. You will be content if you happen to be in a low station of your life will be content if you happen to be lofty in a high position in your life you'll be content you see that's what happens. That's contentment that should be the badge of our faith. We should be content needs. We have already met by the one who can meet the needs he said what I want from you is simply this, I want you to be content. Mega said it has nothing to do with inactivity or resignation. When last passage. First Corinthians chapter 10 the apostle Paul is telling the Corinthians, a little bit about whether you eat meat offered to idols and in verse 30 said if I partake with thankfulness by my slander concerning for that which I give thanks. Some people slandered him but then he says this verse, verse 31 whether then you eat or drink and then this phrase is very important. Whatever you do, do it all the glory. God do it all to the glory of God. Whatever you do, so this is an contentment has nothing to do with resignation or inactivity. What I meant be content. I should just sit here and let God.
That's the way saying that I can scripturally agree to statement it even says all rights if you want. Work should be fed. I didn't say if you can't work if you want work is important to do what we can. God expects our best work and effort are honorable to God. He expects that, but his whole idea is so is not resignation, though ideas of what we should do what we can. Richard Swanson says it beautifully. He says this contentment means that we work hard on this broken world, but always with a yielding to God in our hearts. I'm glad submission to his will and a quiet confidence that as we do our part. God will do his part. Contentment is pursuing God's daily agenda, even it means walking directly into the storm.
We know that he is smarter than we are and that he cares for us even more than we care for ourselves so we can trust him and be content Phil Perrin tells a story in a sort of a picture of what were aiming for a rich industrialist who was disturbed to find a fisherman lazily disorder laying beside his boat on the shore and walked up to him. He said why don't you out there fishing Fishman looked at him and said because I cut an official today. He said to them while you catch more fish than you need is what I do them. You can earn a lot more money came in inpatient reply and buy a better boat so you can go deeper and catch more fish you could purchase nylon that's an even more fish and you make more money and soon you have a fleet of boats to be rich like me Fishman looked at him, as it will than what I do is if you could sit down then and enjoy life. Fishman said what you think I'm doing that's contentment Jesus Christ not a normal person was content to pastor Bill Gebhardt you ever miss one of our broadcast or maybe you just like to 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 the fellowship and the word online that website you will find on with today's broadcast but also many of her 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 us monthly with just a one time gift support for ministry can be sent to Fellowship in the Word.
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