Four Words To Give Us Strength

Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ vaccine. We just got a student is no and so until these things happen for turmoil because of you, my child joining us today on this additional Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana Pastor Bill Gebhardt now again he shows us how God's word meets our this past week I was on the Internet and I saw a poster by the most famous picture of a lighthouse in the world today. It was taken in 1970 by a Frenchman named John discharged.

He was in the French Navy and he was in the North Atlantic and at that time. Season the North Atlantic were probably at least 50 feet. The wave action was just unbelievable.

It showed a lighthouse standing in the middle of all this with 5060 foot white water in the back of the White House on two sides of it, and then when you went down to the door at water level just about of the lighthouse. The doors open and there is a man standing outside of the door. Sorta like this, just looking around at the sea 50 feet above and behind him Whitewater on the site and he's just like this as calm as could be. He's doing nothing and it caught him at that particular time, with a photo. It took me a while but I got a moment of inspiration and I got wait a minute, that poster is the perfect picture of what our lives should look like in the midst of the pandemic, and economic struggles that should be asked, no matter what's going on around the Caesar standing there as calm as could be. Your question is though, but is it I suspect not. So today I want to look at one of those more obscure chapters of the Bible because it teaches us some tremendous lessons on how do we get through the storm that we find ourselves in. I might get open your Bibles to Isaiah chapter 30, Isaiah has famous chapters and very famous verses. This is not one of them. This is something we often overlook and yet one of the most important truths you'll find is being taught in this chapter when it comes to dealing with the storms of your life. There's a context of this chapter. The context is simply this, Judah finds itself in a very precarious spot to the Northeast is the Assyrian Empire. The Assyrian Empire is steamrolling everything in its path. The Syrians are probably up to that time, the coolest people on earth.

They conquer everybody to their Southwest is Egypt. Egypt is an empire is now in decline and so not corrupt the great Assyrian king is set his sights on Judah and so what's happening is the king of Judah has decided there something I need to do and the only people that can help me.

The only way I can receive any help as I have to go to the Egyptians, and I want to make a deal with the Egyptians.

I load on our donkeys and our camels with gold and silver will set up a large caravan and were taken down to Egypt and let's make a deal with them that they will protect us if we give them enough money. The event becomes enormous when they're going to leave Jerusalem. Huge crowds are and in this huge crowd. They get the caravan together in a profit Isaiah. Besides, this is the moment that I want to preach my sermon and so Isaiah stands up in public and gives this sermon right in the beginning of the caravan heading off for Egypt. So what happens is simply this. The first word is woe.

Now whenever you see some in the Bible and starts out well not every good you see the ideas of God very angry about this and the reason for it is simply this is where was his covenant people Israel is not to make alliances with anybody. They were never to make alliances is a theocracy and belongs to God. In fact, God is said and improving it many times I protect Israel but the king of Judah said I think I will get the Egyptians involved in this. If we can as it winds up happening is that God intervenes with the word woe is Israel's battle cry and going into battle is always been the same. You when I said the battle is the Lord's. The battle was the Lords not saying that you see what's happening here in June is what happens in your life and mine so different for us. Romans chapter 8 concerning you and me. If God is for us who can be against us. While the pandemic to be against this economy can be against us can all be against us. If God is for you who can be against you. Verse 37 all these things we are more than conquerors through him love us for the Bible says about us first Caribbean 15 thanks be to God. He gives victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. First John 54 this is the victory to overcome the world, even our faith. We are to be people of supernatural optimism with the Bible calls it hope that's what were supposed to be people of hope appointment the storm.

The waves get big enough start losing sight of this. No matter who the enemy is what the crisis be we are to be the people of hope with the king of Judah just doesn't see this and so it starts out woe to the rebellious children, declares the Lord woe to the rubble and calls his own people, rebellious children, why they thought Egypt would be the answer you see is so easy to do that right now. What's the answer, what a vaccine that will do it. Maybe your help how Wall Street see what we we just got a stimulus to the economy got to get this going and so until these things happen. I'm for turmoil. But God says you're my child that's rebellion against me. He says woe to the rebellious children, declares the Lord who execute a plan, but not mine and make an alliance, but not of my spirit in order to add sin to sin. So they come up with a plan as a best on my plan that your plan was only says this could proceed down to Egypt without consulting me to take refuge in the safety of Pharaoh and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt.

He said that's what you think you get your safety please understand what this Egypt always represent the world that's Egypt, that's a Paul talks about when you say they were saved out of Egypt and were saved out of the world what you're saying is the world is my plan. I would figure out what the world wants to do and that's what I meant to do and we can do that will be fine. But God says that's not my plan. He said therefore the safety of Pharaoh will be your shame and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt, or humiliation is doing the work why I'm God I'm looking at this work look like this work verse six. The oracle concerning the beast of the negative. That's the desert on the way down through the land of distress and anguish from work comes a Linus and Alina Piper in a flying serpent. They carry the riches on the backs of young donkeys and their treasures when camels humps to a people cannot profit them. Cut says make sure you get to the negative. I think of donkeys and cameras are getting attacked by lions, alliances and vipers to get there when interesting thing for God to say he says look is not gonna work the way you thought is a verse I love verse eight. Now go write it on a tablet before them and inscribe it on the scroll that they may serve in the time to come as a witness forever got someone to write that down for the people in 2020, who know me all over the world. Now the picture of our culture and many in our church. Verse 10 he said you say to the Sears, you must not see visions, and of the prophet you must not prophesy to us what is right that love speak to us unpleasant words, prophecy, allusions, get out of the way turn aside from the path let us hear no more about the holy one of Israel. Thus says the holy one of Israel. Since you have rejected this word and have put your trust in the oppression and the guile and have you write on them. Therefore this iniquity will be to you like a breach about the fall, a bulge in a high wall whose collapse comes suddenly an incident whose collapse was like the smashing of a partner's jar so ruthlessly shattered that assured will not be fine. Among its pieces to take fire from the hearth or to scoop water from the cistern cataclysmic failure for you. The cataclysmic failure for them is not coming from the Assyrians is not even come with me.

Egyptians it's coming from God to his rebellious children. If you're going through this time in your full worry and anxiety and fear. Something's wrong spiritually in your life and I think it has a lot to do with what were looking at here in Isaiah, but the good news is that God decides in verse 15 to tell us the solution just forwards he says, for thus the Lord God, the holy one of Israel has said in repentance and rest you shall be saved in quietness and trust is your strength for words to see him first word repentance shall in Hebrew only time it's used as repentance in the Old Testament when is repentance. Repentance is a complete change of the way you think and a complete change in the direction you're going.

That's what repentance is. That's like whenever we get saved it's as we repent and believe what you mean. I think differently than I did before about what about my sin and about my Savior and now I'm ready to turn right and follow him as repentance.

See that's the way this works is 180° turn, we must realize that our approach to this dilemma is wrong. That's what he's telling I want to realize that your approach or Kings approach to this is wrong to rely on Egypt to say give you safety in the storm is wrong. You need to rely on me.

You need to repent. We have to turn our donkeys and camels around and head back to Jerusalem with him so he says in repentance and rest member the picture in the beginning of the man in the light of what's he doing in the middle of this terrible storm. With how how many do nothing. Hope you see it you trust the lighthouse is he doesn't have to do anything. I know this lighthouse. The standard that I know this thanks generator do nothing and I'll be just fine. That's what ends up happening rest with that mean it means trusting God with the outcome we get everything back together in the next month. Maybe the last two months, maybe six months maybe. But for you and me mentioning the matter arrested in the Lord. I'm resting in the Lord of this.

Why can I rest in the Lord because he is sovereign over what everything we talked last time is the King of Kings and Lord of lords. He's the answer to every question.

You see, that's the way this works. He is sovereign because that we just rest.

Isaiah 26 you will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trust same idea. Romans 86 the mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Philippians 48 if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about these things to the question is, what's on your mind.

The question is who controls your mind we think about everything we have a lot of stuff to think about.

I mean, there's no doubt about that but who controls our mind.

Jeremiah 616.

Ask for the ancient pass asked where the good way is in walking it and you will find rest for your souls. Exodus 3314. My presence will go with you and I'll give you rest. Psalm 62. Truly, my soul finds rest in God my hope comes from him. Psalm 91 whoever dwells in the shelter of the most high will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

That's the lighthouse. If I ever heard of one Jesus speaking come to me all you are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Anybody weary and heavy laden right now.

So what Jesus said just come here. I'll give you my rest. First John 319.

This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence. That's the point. Repentance then produces rest notice with verses next to him in repentance and rest you shall be saved delivered out of this repent of your sin against me. Rest of me and I'll take care of it. He says in quietness and trust is your strength, quietness, · is the Hebrew word, it means call is that hard to do you want to have the rest.

Here's what I want you I want to be quiet way that's hard to be quiet now on hold news networks doing a 24 seven social media everyone you talk to how you doing how we got a deal of what could happen to us when she required when should just be called from its amazing fungus quota find it interesting to live a healthy human life in quietness and confidence is not easy. In our day the pieces to rapid the strain on our nerves to incessant the world of thought and opinion have become so large, complex and baffling the work of life has become so vast and the day of life is become so short that in our struggle to keep the wolf of failure from the door. The demon of worry gets into our hearts as our day right pastor wrote that from Edinboro in the 19th century good old days really old good old days facing the same thing that quietness will create strength. We looked at the 23rd Psalm a few weeks ago. He leads me beside still waters here and had one running.

I got this Jesus in Mark four, and the storm said what peace be still be quiet. I got in goes on in quietness and trust is your strength. Trust implies confidence. That's what this is, there's our faith. Do I trust you Lord my willing to do this so repentance turn around and go back to God in my thinking leads me to rest, quietness, trust in that final outcome of those four words are strength and I know about you but I felt for myself what we need. During this time strength. That's what we need to strength is why given to you. Just repent from the way of thinking using repent of that term back to me.

I'll give you rest in quietness when I give you that and you trust me for doing double strength looks at me for 16 and you said no, for we will flee on horses. Therefore you shall flee and we will ride once with horses.

Therefore, those who pursue you shall be swift is that I know what your answer is that this no, I'm not doing that. Got a plan.

Egyptians are key to this they don't get it. He said 1000 shall flee at the threat of a man. He said you shall flee at the threat of five. He said until you are left as a flag on a mountaintop as a signal on a hill. Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you and therefore he waits on high to have compassion on you for the Lord is a God of justice. How happy. How blessed are all those who long for him. That's God's heart is, that's what I want for you. Just imagine if that was the overriding characteristic of God's people just in our country right now.

One of Christians without distinctly different through this whole thing to see this. Christians are completely different completely different they have total rest in peace, quietness, they trust the Lord for this are not rattled at all, but in effect I could have 1 Less Pl. and want to go.

Psalm 46 and I have good reason to do that if the only other passage written about the same period of time about the same circumstances. This is the only other thing in the Bible that deals with the Assyrians coming in trying to make a deal with Egypt and Sinnott were of the great Assyrian king, but this is the song and it is written, roughly at the same time that Isaiah writes and what I love about the Psalm when you read it it says this for the choir director.

I love that I witnessing this list for this to attune. I want this song is so important is because we remember the words missing services would sing this and you know the passage but notice the psalmist perspective over what Isaiah just preached God is our refuge and strength a very present help in time of trouble, which are in right now.

Therefore we will not fear the Ursa change in the amount slipping to the heart of the sea, and though its waters roar and foam. And though the mountains quake in swelling, pride. I don't care how bad the storm gets. I don't care how bad the Assyrians are okay or how mean-spirited Sinnott Grove. I don't care. God is our change the word record are lighthouse is my lighthouse is my understanding so casually in the doorway. I find my peace. There while he says in verse eight come behold the works of the Lord, who has wrought desolation's in the earth. He makes wars deceased to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and cuts the spear into and it burns the chariots with fire which I mean I got the Assyrians. I can handle them there women having to fight with the final month. Now my favorite verses in the Old Testament verse two words King James version or be still new American Standard sissy striping sees planning just be still the same thing. Isaiah said rest quietness trust. Be still, he said. Cease striving, and know that I am God.

That statement is so huge he doesn't say I have an answer. He doesn't say no better way. He said what you need to know is I am God didn't realize how much that means I am God. If God tells me cease striving to be still. What can I say to God, well yeah I know what you mean by you know how hard this is. And God I know there's nothing I don't know your cc, striving, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth the Lord of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our strong I am sovereign, all raining, that's who I am.

Repent and lead yourself into a rest in your rest. Be quiet and your quiet trust and you get salvation, deliverance and strength to go through this to active responsibilities and are part of those four words, God won't repent for you and will you have to repent for you. You have to say got them going the wrong direction here I'm doing it the wrong way then you get us to passive things rest and quiet I can receive those I can receive the rest I can receive the quiet back to one more active thing I have to do but I have to keep trusting God and I trust in God can't be a one-time event. That's gotta be repentance can be I can turn back one time but not trust.

Trust I have to apply every day so like the men in the lighthouse. Why is he so called trust the lighthouse. Now I see the picture and if you see it you go alliance look at it. It's out of the negative or stand in the doorway. You know why never been in a lighthouse and I see the waves around. It's just so overwhelming. But this guy, he is probably spent years in the lighthouse. He knows it is her standing there. He's been through normal storms in the past and the lighthouse is never filled without the lighthouse, all would be lost. But with the lighthouse.

All is safe.

That's what we need understand during this pandemic with God in our lives always safe or safe in God's arms see God can do what he wants to do in a situation I just know that in the end all things work together for my good weather. These things we go to get me the end I don't know that the God is and I trust him. I don't need to go to Egypt and ask the world how do I get through this. I don't need to get the coping mechanism that the Lord offers.

I am a sovereign God so you rest, quietness, trust. I pray for you are constant, pastoral giver on the radio ministry of fellowship Lord, if you ever miss one of our broadcast or maybe you just like listening to the message one more time. Remember the good a great website called in 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 but also many of our previous audio programs as 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 report just a one-time gift 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 deliver during a Sunday morning service of fellowship monitored visit our website FVC Nola.org that FVC and oh LA.O RG at our website you will find hundreds pastoral sermon you can browse through our sermon archives to find the sermon series you're looking for. You can search by title. Once you find the message you're looking for.

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