Live For An Audience Of One, Part 2

Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ by agnostic/atheist started discussion with you.

I wish you were there. I wish you I don't have. I don't know is not she's never just the reason is not about God 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 work immediately.

They left the phone they drop their nets left the boat and if the father in the following notice there's no discussion, no discussion. Jesus called him they just dropped her neck to get on the boat and left her father in a phone that's a choice what's what's the choice Jesus first. He says that over and over again in the Gospels. I first he said.

In fact he said I'm not first. You can't be my disciple just can't. You have to make that choice.

You have to and essentially forgot. That's exactly what you want to buy some update gifted as he was. He lived for God. He lived for an audience of one, I think so often for us. We don't see the Lord. That way, I think for some of us we see the Lord is like a hobby for some of you may be your favorite hobby, but is the hobby you have your life then you have a hobby and you hobby means that most Sundays. If you can you get hearing I give them a few tunes that form the saying and be nice to people and then going away. He's like a hobby that won't do for some of you. It's even worse you view Jesus as sort of a passport to heaven.

You live your life totally the way you want to live it and use it for the good part is when I got that's can be better than the option. Obviously, the point of it is that's not what Jesus is talking about it all in any sense of the word. The reason they responded is of who he is. He is the Lord Jesus Christ. He was your Savior, but don't forget who he is.

He's the Lord Jesus Christ member Jesus once said to his own disciples. Why do you call me Lord not do the things I ask. In other words, it's kind of written in my name Lord see when you're the Lord to tell someone expected no man Jesus did to for many of us that's not the case at all.

You see, but whenever you do that you have no idea where it's going to lead one of the best choices I ever made in my own life was a happy-go-lucky chemist in Pennsylvania enjoying everything about my life and decided to drop the net get out of the boat and leave my father if I not done that I would've never known the joy of pastoring such a wonderful group of people not wind of an almost anyone I would've talked to would've said that was fine you know you belong here. This is where your family. It got to get you got to get out of the boat.

You gotta drop the net yet and I don't mean everyone has to leave. I just mean everyone is, make the choice you see have to live for the audience of one. Hampton Keithley writes this, he said that's all we need to know is that if God is for us who can be against us. God plus one equals a super majority. His name is the solution to every problem. His name is the answer every question his name, he said comes every fear.

It seals every prayer wins every battle at his name. Angels balling demons quaked at his name. Our sin is vindicated in our authority is validated. He said it's not about who you are who you are absolutely irrelevant. God doesn't use us because of us. He uses us in spite of us, I can testify to that. I'm sure you can to see what's stopping you what's stopping you. Whatever you do do to the glory of God living your life are not into just one, but that's all that really matters.

What's stopping you. We come up with all kinds of excuses. I will look at a few of those. This go to Exodus chapter 3 Exodus chapter 3 we went into Moses.

He's very famous and you know a story spent 40 years in Egypt he was adopted by Pharaoh's daughter. He was raised as a prince of Egypt and now you spent 40 years in the land of Midian. All he does is 10 sheep 40 years of tending sheep in the wilderness. It's always out there. One day, tending sheep and I'm a Bush begins the burn and that's not too unusual in the Sinai spontaneous combustion with bushes can occur.

What made Moses. Notice, this one is no matter how much it burned wasn't consumed and just stayed there.

So Moses meanders over and went to get a better look at this and it's kind of an interesting thing.

He and God have his wonderful interaction. God says in verse seven the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings, so I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians and the bring them up from the land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey. Now it's interesting he says in verse nine.

Now behold the cry, the sons of Israel come to me. Furthermore I've seen the oppression but with the Egyptians are oppressing them is is therefore come out. I will send you to Pharaoh so that you may bring my people, the sons of Israel out of Egypt.

Theirs is going. I wanted to understand the calling here is a little unusual.

It's one thing to have a burning bush. It's another whenever burning bush. It talks the burning bush of toxicities, Lord, is really unusual, but notice what the Lord said, I'm going to deliver my people and I'm going to use you now after he said that what should your response be using me now if God says he's going to use you for something.

What you think is going to use you for something right. So is it possible that Moses could fill here no God said but Moses just like us. Notice what he does. His first response.

Verse 11 but Moses said to God, who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt is lack of identity, he says, who am I to do this ever think of that you ever say that whom I whom I to be used in this way. I mean I'm not a majorly Christian, minorly Christian.

You see, who am I to do that, notice the patience of God need he said certainly I will be with you. He says initial be assigned to you that I was I who have sent you when you about the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain by way that's a guarantee again to be successful.

You see, and by the way you got bring them back to this mountain, even worship me here God gives him prophecy says okay you going to come back doesn't stop Moses all you so much like us. I don't know about this. So he says Moses said to God, behold, I'm going to the sons of Israel, and I say to them, the God of your fathers you sent me to you know what they may say to me is what is his name to Tom. He is a lack of a message when I say you might want to tell you love the Lord God said to him, I am who I him. Yahweh he said that you shall say to the sons of Israel. Yahweh has sent me to you. Notice the patience of God lack of identity lack of a message, but is not done chapter 4 verse one then Moses said what they do not believe me or listen to what I say, for they may say the Lord is not appear to you. You have no authority over us. Just like with the Lord never appeared to you, lack of authority. See, whom I do something like this that is wonderful. The Lord said to him what secondhand by which a rhetorical question God knows he's a what's that your hand. He said a staff okay what the staff is the identity and the authority of a shepherd you saw a man with a staff you know is a shepherd you don't walk around the staff semester.

Shepherd Moses said staff. He said thrown on the ground so he threw it on the ground became research but Moses fled from what it says in the Lord said them. Stretch out your hand and grab it by the tell us a stress that is handed carting them. Staff became a staff again is why did God do that because God likes the show.

We got stuff right is this is shown on look this is an about you. This is about me. I have seen the oppression of my people.

I'm going to deliver them. I've chosen you to do this. This is an about your ability.

Your none of this is me you wanted understand this is me at work. He tries over and over again that convey this to us. God can take anything like a staff and make it miraculous. Why do you think Jesus fed the 5000 and then fed the 4000 because Jesus said most important thing I can do in life is feed 9000 people one time. If I feed 9000 people one time out of the that's not nothing to do with it. In fact, the people were incidental. Why did Jesus feed 5000 and 4000 for his own disciples and he reminds them of that. See how many fish again five and many much greater act to low and how many people we feel you fed 5000 and how about after Lily had 12 baskets you, why do you think Jesus is saying that this about me. This is what I do. This is why am so you don't have to worry about your lack of ability usually don't have to worry about a lack of ability. That's not the case at all. It's not your ability anyway to. That's the whole point. Now you might say what I was Moses out of them better than that. I doubt that bulimia applied in a different way. Over the years.

It's amazing. One of you will share with me this year.

I was at this family meeting end up by agnostic/atheistic brother-in-law start a discussion with me. And boy I wish you were there is what I wish you'd been there. Went to their seat yeah but I don't have. I just don't have the ability.

I don't know Hebrew, it's not about you she's never about you. It's always about God. See that's the whole point.

It's always about God is not about your ability to buy God's ability notice. Then he goes on, Moses says in verse 10 of chapter 4, he said the Lord. I've never been eloquent, neither recently born at times passed since he said you've spoken to your servant. I'm slow speech and slow of thumb. Now if you read in the book of action to find out that's not true. Now is resorted to telling fibs. Stephen says before he smarted Moses as eloquent and make sense he's educated is a prince of Egypt is a highly educated man. I don't think I can do it you never doing anyway.

It's not you see how many times have you said that what I just don't think I could do that. You see what some of you we would say something like this.

We got understand. I don't really like babies.

I don't care. This is an about you liking babies.

This is about the Lord loving babies you see are just a servant but I don't think I could handle.

Shall we do this we do the same thing opposes because we take ourselves right out of the equation by talking about our own inadequacies.

Look, let's start at the beginning you're completely inadequate. Now let's build from there. God uses inadequate people for his glory. That's the way this works well then notice what ends up happening in verse 13 he says the God he says please Lord, now send the message by whomever you will, lack of faith. This time, God's not patient it says here the anger of the Lord burned against Moses is patient with your excuses, but boy, when you lack faith is not patient is why Jesus is only times his disciples all you men of such little faith, why you say you lack identity for your God's instrument. There is the identity you have. You say you like a message but he gives us the gospel even says I'll direct your words you lack authority, but again it's his authority, not yours. You see I like ability, but it's his ability and not yours see what's stopping you from living your life to an audience of just one in every single thing that you do see what's amazing to me about this whole thing is if there was a missions map and have I don't believe the risk is guy doesn't need a map but if there was a missions map and have you realize that your house is dependent that house that yours Gus is that's my missionary right there that's that.

Wherever you worked as opinion or that you again you go to school. There's a printer that you again you see how this works.

God decides to use people. That's his plan. I'm going to use people to change this world and you and I are planning a and there is no plan B euro and I am going to change this world for its good in God's glory. Is this the way this works you see that's what I want from you. That's why whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God. Why do you think Jesus said to us, don't you know that you are the salt of the earth and the light of the world see because we are the light of the whole world. You are so my Jesus and whatever you do please don't hide your light under a bushel.

That's what so many of us do you see so many of us. We have this tendency to have this dichotomy of the idea that really serve the Lord is something full-time. It's something on a mission field. It's not is not the way it works at all.

It's just you and your family, your friends, your job, your school, whatever it is a shoot that's God's plan it you know if you could learn what I bought Lord and save solely DO glory up to God be the glory here. I'm going to live for an audience of one. You would do so much better than you are right now. Go with me. The last verse, Matthew 16, Matthew 16 to verses 24, 25 short versus before they have a lot of ramifications. Jesus says to his disciples.

If anyone wishes to come after me, that's anyone you want to follow Christ is if you want to be a follower of Christ, said anyone. If anyone wishes to follow me, he must deny himself while he must take up his cross and follow me. We talked about that in the past to take up your cross doesn't mean by the way your mother-in-law sees the cries I have to bear is not what he's talking about the take up your cross means. Are you willing to be humiliated publicly for me because that's what the process is a public humiliation is not a piece of jewelry back then something everybody looked at in a different light than we do today. He then says this for whoever wishes to save his life will lose it. Whoever loses his life for my sake find see this all the time over and over in the gospel. Jesus talks about the end of me. If I'm ever going to make it there has to be an end to me. After that I myself have to lose my life. He says that over and over again how you do that one step would be like Johan Sebastian Bach.

I have to believe there's no difference between sacred and secular.

There is no difference to lose my life means I die to myself or more for me. The world ice to me but what happens when your dad I've had to go to way more funerals than most people ever have to go to. It's just part of my job, but you been to enough so you notice this, did you ever notice the cadaver Lander said that because the person's long gone see that that was the moment they left this world are going, but you never notice anything about the cadaver. Did you ever notice that the cadaver doesn't care what people think of it, not not all cadavers never think wonder if they like me. Cadavers never worry about how they're dressed people do that all goes in the look handsome isn't she lovely in depth.

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. To me the cadaver disses it that the person's long gone. Dead people don't worry about their investments and how my investments are doing see what would you say what weight and amenity are dead. That's why the Scripture tells us to die to self, self free Mrs. once I got myself I move for an audience of one.

I only care about what God does. It doesn't mean that I'm not a good steward.

It does a meeting on Sebastian Bach wasn't credible composer. Incredible what what he did he work hard at what he did but he only did for an audience of one. We all benefited from that same thing can happen to you and I you see when you die to yourself doesn't mean your circumstances will necessarily change at all. When you drop your never get out of the boat, or leave your father by doesn't mean you're going to move away doesn't mean any of that necessarily but it does mean you're going to change. That's what happens this morning's message was simple. Ask yourself the question, do I live for an audience of one, and I mean by that is the way I live every aspect of my life to I consciously think of my own mind is this for the glory of God. Spring father. I believe that if were truly honest with ourselves we have this tendency to compartmentalize you.

We think are separated from our real life, and the only time you want to bring you in your real life normally is when we have great problems in our real life, we need your help.

Father, that is not from the word of God the Word of God makes it clear that we have been born again and your family. We are children of God.

We are called citizens of heaven, we are said to be ambassadors for you here on earth we are salt, light, and we are to let our light shine among men in such a way that they will glorify you. Father, I would pray that we live our lives that way that the whatever of first Corinthians 1031 means everything in our life. It means the way that we treat our spouse the way that we treat our children, our parents are siblings, our family, our friends, the people we work for in the people we work with all of this makes a difference. If you do it. Father impress on how we live pastor broke apart on the radio ministry of fellowship Lord you ever missed one of our broadcast or maybe you just think of a smoother 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 today's broadcast but also many of our previous audio program at 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 with 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 of fellowship monitored visit our website FVC Nola.org that FVC oh LA not to Argie at our website you will find hundreds pastor Bill sermon you can browse through our sermon archives to find some surgery looking you can search by title. Once you find the message you're looking for an online work you prefer, you can download the sermon and listen at your own. And remember all this absolutely free of charge. Once again our website FVC Nola.org forecaster go get hurt. Jason Gebhardt, thank you for listening to fellowship in order