Political Anxiety

Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ. You get the fact that distractions natural for us. It just happens to us. It's everyday. Never stop. I will have some of you can maintain a spiritual life. If you would watch a news channel 24 hours a day were 16 hours a day every waking moment what I can watch for 15 minutes and get all round up the ideas. Like Bob, but this is the most important thing in the world, but it's not 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.

Let's join Pastor Bill Gebhardt now is once again he shows us how God's word are Laura the past 20 years or so something is happening in our country and up we are clearly now the most politically polarized of all generations, and ever proceeded us. It's been interesting for me as a pastor to watch Christians over the last five or six general elections of the amount of fear and anxiety and worry before an election is been come this concerning and if the election went the way that Christians had hoped it would go, then there is an excitement and an optimism and a hope. It seems to me that elections, especially general elections reveal our true character reveals where our hope is really placed in reveals where our security really comes from. It can reveal where are we really put our trust in I get it I understand it, we are so engaged in his country in the process. If you think of 2025 years ago and the advent of talk radio and all that has transpired since that 24 hour day news networks that do nothing but grind a political ax every single day for all of us. The barrage of information that comes through our smart devices is overwhelming to say the least. But in Romans chapter 12 the apostle Paul said we are warned not to allow the world to squeeze us into its mold and I'm afraid that that's exactly what's happening to some of us this morning. I would simply like to talk about where does our trust word is our hope really like would you open your Bibles to Psalm 47 starts out by saying no clap your hand. All peoples can say Israel.

He saved all peoples that were peoples is the Hebrew word, it means all of us. It means everybody there something that should make all people clap your hands when you look at that you think molesters the natural mode of worship. That's what you end up finding in Scripture. He said all the people clap your hands and you see that everywhere in the Bible right wrong don't see it anywhere else in the Bible. In fact, clapping her hands only referred to eight times in word of God.

One time it says the trees, clap your hands so we know that doesn't mean us another time. It says the rivers clap their hands.

So that's two of the occasions. One time Joe said when an evil man dies. People clap your hands in the other five time say this when God judges Israel and you see this in limitations. You see it and Naomi receive Ezekiel when God judges Israel, the enemies of Israel clattering.

This is the only reference about clapping her hands in the entire word of God concerning worship and here is what he says. He says clap your hands all peoples. What is he milk five is that so important is that this is really really important everybody on this planet should be clapping their hands because of what is going to say it's an amazing passage, he says, for the Lord most high is to be feared. A great King over all the earth.

He said that's why Chicago hands. I don't care where you I don't care if you're in Asia and Africa. I don't care where you are, clap your hands the Lord most high really an unusual phrase Yahweh alone wonderful combination of terms for God. He said he is the Lord most high. There's nothing like him.

He is the great King over all the earth see the idea behind it is simple. That should affect your worldview. That should affect how you think about life, it should affect everything about you. The God we worship is Lord most high is a great King over all the earth.

Jesus Christ is called the King of Kings and Lord of lords see the whole idea of it is that's who God is. That's where our trust comes from.

I love what our skin is right in his new and wonderful book called possible people. Jesus, for Christians, Jesus is Lord, is the central conviction and confession of the Christian faith in the words of the previously skeptical, but the been believing Thomas, we are followers of Jesus because we have reached a wanted conviction, my Lord and my God. He says Christians believe that Jesus Christ is fully God become fully human. The unique sure insufficient revelation of the very being, character and purposes of the transcendent God, beside whom there is no other God, and beside whom there is no other name by which we must be saved. Follower of Jesus is therefore a person under authority, living before the transcendent majesty of God and unashamed to be so what God tells us we trust what God tells us to do we obey.

We therefore gladly acknowledge we are not self-created. We are not self-sufficient. We are not autonomous. We are followers of the most high God. That's who we are. He tells me that he is in control. My faith tells me. I believe him.

He tells me what's true and false. He tells me what to do. Remember Jesus once was, perplexities, and I don't get this. Why do you call me Lord and then not do as I ask the whole idea being that I am the Lord. And when you think of all of the powers and all the political powers never came to be and all the things that they have done. He says there's subsequent to mine. I am in power see it doesn't really matter at all. He's told me how to treat my very enemies is one of the saddest things I think about the political polarizing in America we are now viewing people in America when the other side of the hours are enemies instead of friends or mission field reviewing it differently were along the culture displeases into its mold and changes you see these truths that he writes here when he says that the Lord most high is to be feared is a great King over the all the earth. That's true in whatever country you're in. It doesn't matter from in America or in the Congo.

It makes no difference at all. It doesn't matter what the time is it always has been true and always will be true, it doesn't matter if it's in the White House, or in my house. It's true.

He then begins the thank God he said, because this is true. He said he subdues peoples under us, and nations under our feet. He chooses our inheritance for us is of the glory of Jacob, whom he loves.

Now we most Israel decision. What makes it real great God. That's why Israel's great Israel is not great because of Israel. Israel's only great because of God. That's what God is done. He said that what God has done for us. Look at all the things that he is done. His response to this is gratitude which turns up in worship. He said that's what I do is when you look at who we are God's people in all the unique features that we have in the covenants that we receive. We are the people of God. That's worship the same is true for us exactly the same way you see Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

He loved us. He loved me. He came to earth to live for me and then he died for me and then he was raised for me and he ascended for me and come back for me. You see, and I'll be with him forever for me to see the response that you be in amazing gratitude of what is done not only on a large scale like that but the idea of what he is done for me personally, think of the things that you have to be thankful for. Thank you for the church, thankful for the people thankful for my wife. Thank you for my children thankful Michelangelo thankful for my health. Thankful for my job.

There are so many things because he is the Lord most high. This is what God is done. That's what I should be preoccupied with and this is so important because notice after verse four.

He said he chooses. Our inheritance forced the glory of Jacob only loves in any says Sheila why he say that because that's what Salah means don't just go rushing by reading the verses parts, think about what this means. You see, think about what this means he is the Lord most high. He is King of all the earth always was, is and always will be. You see he is a God who is given us tremendous benefits just part he said and think about that and what that means to each and every one of us to an amazing thing. If you look just across the page. Look at verse one through three in chapter 46.

He says God is our refuge and strength is a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear the earth should change, and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea, and though its waters warm with foam. He says though the mountains quake in its swelling pride. He said I don't care what's happening.

I don't care. He said I don't care what's happening in our country. This doesn't change this truth all is anyone of the mountain slide into the sea. It won't change this truth, he says notice he said therefore we will not fear. I'm afraid so many of us have political fear get afraid there's nothing to fear is the Lord most high. Maybe what we need to do is verse 10 of chapter 40 6C striving, and know that I am God or the King James the way I like it. Be still, Sheila, be still.

You need to know that I am God have always been God I'm God today. I'll be gone tomorrow. That's the way this whole thing works out.

That's what he does he see how does this truth that God is King over our earth impact in shape your life right now with the way it should. More than any other way. It should give you peace I mean real peace.

This is who he is always been this see elections test where we put our hope reveals where we get our security tells us what makes us feel really safe. But remember this whenever you lose a spouse when you lose your health or you lose your job you don't go to our government for comfort. It can offer you what you really need all that to God is she what a dichotomy here. Remember Pontius Pilate pilot was the representative of all still arguably the greatest empire the world ever had the greatest political authority of all time and pilot was telling Jesus what he could do with them. And Jesus interrupted him and said you don't have any authority over me and this is been granted you from heaven now pilot and believe that and pilot then like that it was true. She was absolute truth pilots pilot because God is in heaven.

See the absolute authority. That's why Jesus said to me salute my kingdom is not of this world, but if it were, you'd be in big trouble. You see, that's the way this works I usurp all earthly responsibility now goes on in verse five of chapter 47.

He said God has ascended with a shout the sound. He said the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. He said sing praises to our King, sing praises for God is King of all the earth, sing praises with the skillful Saul, what is he doing here.

It's really simple.

Take your eyes off the horizontal stop. It the Lord's ascended with a trumpet using the ideas he's on his throne. He is the Lord most high is King of all, he is ascended lift your eyes off the girl and put them to see how this works and I think what happens to us. We are so inundated in the political process constantly. We don't look to heaven anymore look to Washington. You see, we seem to think there's where the answers are. That's where it's going to happen. That's where it really is important, but it's different to place her and go with me to Colossians chapter 3 just these first two verses. Notice what he says. He says therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, and we have. It's a first-class condition of assumption since you've been raised with Christ, your Christian your born-again believer. Since you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth don't get caught up. Look involved in the process is much as you like. But when that process producing a new fear and anxiety.

Something is wrong with your spiritual life. He said you need to look up set your mind on heavenly things. He said look at me just remind you verse 12 so as those would been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on the heart of compassion and kindness, humility and gentleness and patience, bearing with one another, forgiving one another. Whoever has a complaint against anyone, just as the Lord forgave you. You should also be on these things put on love, which is perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ will in your hearts, to which indeed you were called one body. And be thankful.

Let the word of Christ. And while you richly with all wisdom, and teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Whatever you do in word and deed to it on the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to him. God see that's what happens when you set your mind about act and live differently, and by the way, we should just turn back to Philippians chapter 3 for a moment. In verse 20 Paul gives us a reminder there is this for our citizenship is in heaven.

Great by the way, you say we, I have been of any but I'm an American. Paul said yeah I get that pulse I don't understand. I'm a Roman pulse that if I need to tell someone a Roman citizen.

I will, I am a citizen of, but that's not paramount to me and that's not that important to me. There's a time when using in the book of acts, but not in everyday life. He says our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of his glory by the exertion of the said the power which he has even to subject all things to himself. How can he subject all things to himself is the Lord most high is the king of all the earth. You see that something that has to be embedded in our thought process and how we see things the way God does now back to the song. See, I get the fact that distractions natural for us to just happens to us.

It's everyday.

It never stops I will have some of you can maintain a spiritual life.

If you would watch a news channel for 24 hours a day were 16 hours a day every waking moment.

What's the same thing over and watch for 15 minutes and get all round up.

It's the ideas like wow but this is the most important thing in the whole world, but it's not.

He was on and he says this he says for God is King of all the earth. In verse seven, sing praises with the skillful song God reigns over the nations.

God sits on his holy throne. The princes of the people have assembled themselves as the people of God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God, by the way the shield is the authority of government. He said it all belongs to God is sovereign over all of it. He said he is highly exalted.

See that's what he keep saying it never changes. Psalm 90 says he is from everlasting to everlasting. Isaiah 48 tells us that God is the first of the last of Revelation 4 says that the Lord God Almighty was and is and is the, it's all there's ever been the position of King has never and will never be vacant. The position of King is not up for vote, it's who is this is forever and I want to illustrate this in one of the way you want to go to Psalm two. You might not realize, but this is the most quoted Psalm in the Psalter in the New Testament.

The psalmist quoted more than any other in the New Testament. Psalm one starts with how happy or how blessed. Psalm two ends how happy and how blessed Psalm one ends with the threat. Psalm two begins with a threat to real interesting way in which their put together. There's four acts in this little Psalm 1 to 3. The chaos of the world 4 to 6 God call me sits on his throne. Seven.

The nine God's anointed will prevail and 10 through 12 God appeals the human government and mankind.

Now look at the beginning of this rebellion.

Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing.

The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us what is he saying why are the nations in an upward. Nations want nothing to do with God. You see, they want to cast the fetters away were done with God. We want nothing to do with God is not to be sovereign over us. God must be so angry.

Let's see what is verse four he who sits in the heavens. What he lacks. Wait a minute very lives.

He was sits in the heavens. He said he laughs while he said the Lord scoffs at them. Many will speak to them in his anger and terrify them. He said in his fury saying.

But as for me, I have installed my King upon Zion, my holy mountain.

See memorize and they become great and powerful in God's response to great and powerful men are but you gotta be kidding.

You think you're great and you think you're powerful but you're not. When you remember the book of Daniel. Remember, the whole idea what God says in 2 he said I removed kings and I establish games they said yeah but he's the greatest king of all.

In fact, he was known as the King of Kings and Lord of lords. His name is Nebuchadnezzar a 90 foot statue of himself and said, you must worship me lots of book you're not really that much. So God just touch them and what was Nebuchadnezzar doing then I was eating grass. He became a cow. You see what God's point of view was and God said this in Daniel, God said then after that, the most high is the war over the realm of mankind and bestows only whomever he wishes. I am sovereign you see if it's Nebuchadnezzar I'm sovereign. If it's easier, I am sovereign.

Whoever is in our White House. I am sovereign I am God. The Pulliam Bonaparte the height of his career.

Intoxicated by his own greatness said I make the circumstances of all life and God said oh really. Napoleon came to nothing.

Men, men go see God is not worried about the rebellion people he knows the principles he said I am sovereign over this world in such a great way he says in verse seven. I will surely tell the decree of the Lord. He has said to me you are my son today have begotten you ask me I will give surely give you the nations and inheritance in the very ends of the earth as your possession and you shall break them with a rod of iron, you shall shatter them with like earthenware what is God saying I have a plan see my anointed is my plan.

This is my son, today I have begotten him. He's my plan.

But what you plan for government. He's my plan. What you plan for people. He's my plan will follow this work out exactly the way I decree to so as followers of that anointed how should we be peaceful, loving, kind engaged. Nothing wrong with the engagement not full of anxiety and fear. There should be any of that on our part.

Notice the invitation.

Starting in verse 10 now therefore locating show discernment take warning oh kings of the earth worship the Lord with reverence and rejoice with trembling. That's what we should be about to homage to the son that he not become angry that you perish in the way for his wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are those who take refuge in him. That's us. How happy are those who take refuge in him. And if you're not happy in your full fear in your fill of anxiety. Your problem is not ours all your problem is spiritual because you don't get peace of the Lord most high King of all the earth to simple message. Remember seeing a cartoon of a couple laying in bed and they were watching and not TV, and apparently the news been on for a long time and the last thing that the newscaster said was good night and pleasant dreams and the only way you can watch the news of the troubled world in which we live and have pleasant dreams is to do exactly what the psalmist said take refuge in our sovereign God who even though even on among the probably rebellion of wicked men has told us over and over and completely the king is not abdicated his medical use. The Lord most high, the great King over all the pastoral giver on the radio ministry or fellowship in the if you ever miss one of our broadcast or maybe you just listen to the message one more time. Remember the good or 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 but also many of her 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 us monthly with 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 10 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.

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