This broadcaster has 536 podcast archives available on-demand.
Keep up-to-date with this broadcaster on social media and their website.
November 16, 2020 7:00 am
Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ is happening you're so happy to get the generic four days wages but not now, this doesn't seem right to me.
How can I get when I get pretty good morally. I attended church I show up for that guy ever did I get more personal view of what life is like. Notice Alianza so the last shall be first in the first way grace works joining us today on this additional fellowship of 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 again he shows us how God's word meets our work. Matthew chapter 19 in verse 27 Matthew 19 in verse 27. These verses at the end of 19 will set the stage for a parable that Jesus is about to teach is how we think we think a lot like Peter did. Verse 27 to Matthew 19. Then Peter said to Jesus, behold, we have left everything and followed you. What then will be for us.
I mean after all we give up everything for you.
I was a freshman. We had a business I give it up for you what. When we get is the way we think member. This is Peter thinking this is enough. Pharisee, this is Peter action I get something for this. Some of you have amazing testimonies. What I mean by that is this you may say to me you know I don't even remember a time in my life. I didn't trust Christ. I've always trust, sought means of always love the Lord and I've always counted on the good things you know I never did really terrible things all I can run around with the worst cry I never did any of that. What's in it for me see what I get for my sacrifice but I get tell me that's the way we think.
So Jesus says this great timing. He said truly, truly, I say to you who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious wrong, you shall receive. You shall sit upon 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel. Apostle your disciple said one of the 12 tribes.
I commend my kingdom.
You think I would remember who you are. Then he says this and everyone who has left house, his brothers, sisters, father, mother or children or forms for my namesake will receive many times as much, and 100 eternal life is another way of saying it.
Don't tell me what you've given up for me given up anything that you don't get back over and over and over and over again. Don't talk about what you gave up just the way we think we just think along those kind of wind when I'm done for you. This is no place for that getting eternal life not only getting eternal life, but pulses were joint heirs with Christ and what does he inherit everything so what else do you want why you even asking were asking because we do have a different view of life that he has.
We have a different view of people than he has.
Jesus is let me set the record straight on to make a statement now is teacher parable make a statement again. Here's a statement, but many who are first will be last and last will be first. That's great many who are first going to last the many or less can be first.
That's great when you think of that and I think if you're honest you said I don't think I like I don't like to limit teacher parable to try to teach a parable to you Peter and all of us look you have to be careful how you think and so he teaches this wonderful parable. The new 16 verses he talks about the participants, he said, for the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. A parable Jesus the kingdom of heaven. Almost every time you see a parable by the way just to figures in the parable, you need to figure out why one of the figures is God, the other figures you that's kind of the way the parable works now we know who the landowner is God. You see we put out there that's got gotchas.
Yeah, I would tell Jesus of Mattel. The parable he he said he is a landowner and he owns a vineyard know what's interesting about that is when you own a vineyard. You need extra labor at a couple times whenever you're clearing out new land, especially in Hill country.
There they have to terrace all the land up with the vineyards and you need a lot of labor.
You need people to cut it out. Take the stones out of the soil and build walls and you sorta get this tapering effect on the step effect on the hillsides. The other time you really need laborers is the harvest you got have as many people to harvest as possible because you gotta harvest it all.
As soon as you can when it's ready to be harvested. That's a parable that Jesus is using here and he says here that he was in the one early in the morning to hire laborers is to be 6 AM. You and I know what this is like drive to Lowe's or Home Depot early morning there guy standing out there right all they're doing is standing there what they want. They just want to work somebody has a contracting job here I am the one I will want to work. Give me a chance to work.
That's what happens here.
These people are very unskilled and unskilled labor unskilled labor, but there take a job if you want me to help harvest be glad to so that he goes on, it says says this he then says when he agreed with the laborers for the Narrows for the day. He sent them into the vineyard that we read over that knowing think about it much, but it's important to think about this. He tells all these unskilled workers.
I'll give you the nurse and if you think your biblical and innocence understanding Scripture go that's a day's wages. It is not for and unskilled labor. That's a day's wages of a Roman soldier every Roman soldier is paid at the nurse a day. Unskilled labor is not paid anywhere near that Jesus says all these guys all hire you and I'll give you generics now you got. I think if you're one of them all right. I'm getting more money than ever got for a day. I did he offer me and embarrass four days work. Absolutely I agree that's what Jesus talks about here. He goes on, and he says when he had agreed with the laborers for the nurse the day he sent them in the vineyard. Anyone about on the third hour, and so others standing idle in the marketplace. 9 o'clock is not o'clock in the morning now there still there. It also tells you about the need of each group they need to work the sky just in the lows they need to work. That's why they're there busting a long time open some of the pick might give him a job.
He says to those he said you also going to the vineyard. Now watch and whatever is right, I'll give you never said of the nurse is a whatever is right now it's 9 o'clock. Normally they come and get all the labor at six and then they leave. You never see anyone left but here comes a guy later 9 o'clock work for you want to get a pay as he said, whatever is right, I'm going over that some of the mayor said. Know what I even heard the guys at 6 o'clock. Siddique didn't harass.
So what are we going to get a nine.
I think this is a good deal for us is not done so ends up happening. He then says in verse five he says and they went about the sixth hour in the ninth hour did the same thing noon, 3 o'clock so still guys or 3 o'clock and he says we do want to work for me in going to vineyard what yeah I got out there what's right with your pay fairly all right.
3 o'clock and after three hours works immigrate, then it says in six and about the 11th hour he went out to find other standing around. Tell me how desperate these guys they been standing there, probably since the morning they might be old guys very unskilled maybe Gazan handicaps. I have no idea they're still there waiting all day. It's 5 o'clock work ends at six Jesus finds him notice.
Jesus ask of me says, why have you been standing idle all day long. They been there the whole day and they said no because no one's hired us.
We want to work, but there's no one to hire us so she says going to the vineyard to what yeah glad it takes 10 minutes to get to the vineyard 15 minutes you only working 45 minutes is going to pass by for 15 minutes for 50 minutes or 45 minutes were just going to go out there.
Why would this is great so they'll go out now, here's the story turns just a little bit.
He says when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to the foreman call the laborers and pay their wages, beginning with the last group 1st is a bother you if you're in the first group. Does that bother you wait wait wait wait wait 6 o'clock this guy was there is 45 minutes he worked there paying him first think I like that. That's our nature that's how differently we see people than the Lord does so he says be given to them first is says then when those hired about the 11th hour came, and they come they have no idea whether going to get 45 minutes work. He says payment. Dinero's what came of the nurse.
That's 12, the 15th putting on a work 12 to 15 times what a Roman soldier makes per hour. How great is that.
See if you are the recipient of grace how great his grace. This is great this is just great to see. That's the way it sounds. I didn't harass but that him and compare that when Christ said if you trust me, I'll give you eternal life. All your sins will be forgiven because all pay for the more is a lot better than this, that you responded. You see said that's the way it's going to be when those hired first came, they thought that there can receive more just love human beings are Jesus so clever that all of this seek what you were thinking that guy for 45 minutes and got a big harass.
What are we going to get 12 hours to get a boatload of money. This is going to be great already talking because her thinking the way we think well he says each one of them also receive the Dinero's is a bother you if you are part of that 6 o'clock group with that bother you. She got to be honest.
He says when they received it. Here's the word they what God so that God I don't like this.
I don't like this early I worked hard not right. Not fair. They said the last man have worked only one hour and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and scorching heat all the day, on it was hot. It was really hot for us. You're either begging for a job and I paid you more than you ever had before, but it was what we did for you that human beings he said he answered he said to them, our friend I'm doing, you know, wrong. Did you not agree to the dinners happily, did you not agree yeah but it's not right to do not understand grace. You understand about things about people at all.
He said take what is yours and go but I wish to give this last man, the same as you, because that's grace. He said it's not lawful for me, is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own can't God make the rules of salvation God's will. This God have the right to say how were saved.
Of course he does is the only one of those it's only God. He said I have the right, this is my I can do what I wish he says this this kind of art order is your envious because I am generous. See you envious disgrace bother you this, other people getting grace bother you see that's what's happening here. You were so happy to get the beast visionary four days wages but not now.
I'm bothered by this.
This doesn't seem right to me. How can I get what I get.
I mean, I've been I've been pretty good morally. I attended church.
I showed up more than that guy ever did. Should I get more says you don't understand grace of all, you have a completely different view of what life is like.
Notice how he ends it so the last shall be first in the first last. I told you this the way grace works now. Some application principles what we looked at this morning.
One God always initiates salvation from Zacchaeus. Jesus is he who one found the laborers vineyard owner God I got find you. For God so loved you. He sent his son into the world and he found God always initiates salvation. Grace always seeks and saves.
That's what grace does God alone establishes the terms of salvation, not a religious organization. No man God alone determines this. Thirdly, God redeems everyone who is willing what I mean by that. It's never too late. You can come at 5 o'clock and still receive the grace of God you can be as despicable human being is that Kia's and still receive the grace of God. Nothing in your past.
Nothing in your past life, the matter how old you are God's. As I offer grace to everybody is offered everybody all you have to do is receive it even receive it or not and then lastly God always gives us more than we deserve. Always that's the grace of God love these biblical stories are kinda easy for us to identify with Pharisees and scribes are bad guys. That's a parable.
I kind of understand it, but only talking about real life term to see whether grace bothers you are not you remember the story in the early 90s of Jeffrey Dahmer, Jeffrey Dahmer is a mass murder probably may be the worst in American history and a sense of what he did. He killed 17 boys and young men killed 17 of them picked up the bodies up in the parts and he ate part of the me cannibalized part of Dr. Jeffrey Dahmer is, he was given 17 life consecutive sentences to serve in a Wisconsin prison.
Okay, getting what he deserves. Right. This justice okay I found the story in the Oklahoman newspaper. This is when Dahmer died.
By the way, if it makes you happy.
Dahmer was bludgeoned to death by another prisoner in prison at the age of 34 when Dahmer died a I was a staff writer for the Oklahoman on never forget talking talking that they with Kurt Booth about his role in Dahmer's conversion.
I know Jeffrey was ready. Both said today all the angels in heaven are rejoicing because Jeffries come home boo said he had no doubt about the sincerity of Dahmer's conversion, he said on the great resurrection day am expecting to see him right along with Abraham and David and Isaac and James and John and all the saints will live right up the modern-day said Booth usually ministered to inmates or prisoners closer to home, but on April and April 1994 he caught a glimpse of Dahmer and TV and Dahmer mentioned that he wish he could find a little peace and boo said he said I sense there was a need in Dahmer's eyes, and I thought I know somebody can give him peace. His name is Jesus Christ. Boo send Dahmer a Bible correspondence course teaching the steps of salvation and Dahmer mailed back the answers and think both for the course.
Now you might say Yep it is a correspondence course really mean for sure that he's a believer, not necessarily, but I have a tendency to strongly believe it is. You see, back at the same time. This was all going on. I had a staff pastor in our church and his wife of some Racine, Wisconsin, and the men in her church, including her father had prison ministry and they witnessed the Jeffrey Dahmer and he assured his daughter that he was with Dahmer in the Dahmer had trusted Christ associate this up bother. She does that bother you that Dahmer could be in heaven see the reason I say that is this lady was on the wife of the staff pastor or church said what her father and the other men of the church went back to their home church and enjoy told the home home church of Jeffrey Dahmer income the Christ people were very upset. Bothered them.
They didn't like it.
Why disgrace upsets us. You see when somebody does something that despicable Jeffrey Dahmer in Zacchaeus's wealth is at key is in you and there's just no way you can apply grace to them.
The shortsightedness of that people is were all Jeffrey Dahmer Summerall Zacchaeus is God looks at us from his standard not the comparative standard to which ones of us are better than the others all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. That's all of us.
There is none righteous, no not one. We start talking about better people from God's perspective, there aren't any better people there just lost people say people and the difference between the two groups is the grace of God.
So whatever you do don't let grace bother you because if it does it doesn't come from the Lord becomes more flesh the spring father.
All of us have a little Pharisee inscribing us all of us because of her own sense of justice and fair play bothered sometimes by the idea of grace. You go out of your way in the word of God to teach us not to do that. There is a thief who is being crucified for his crimes and that day was with Christ in paradise. There are tax collectors like Matthew in Zacchaeus, who are an affront to their people have done terrible things. There is a woman caught in adultery. There are prostitutes all of the people to do things that we as we see ourselves as good people wouldn't do. But you go out of your way to bestow your grace upon them in the word of God so that we all understand that that's the way grace works. Grace pains all of us with the same brush. It offers all of us eternal life through Christ and I just pray father that we understand that if we are being bothered by this is not because of the word of God is because of our human flesh. I pray each of us come clean in our own heart. Ask ourselves the question, do I simply love receiving the grace of God, but there are those I wish would never receive because if that comes from us. Father, it certainly doesn't come from you. Love all of us the same. He died for all the sins we can all be read. We can all be because of the finished bathroom on the radio ministry of fellowship in the world. If you ever miss one of our broadcast or maybe you just like to listen to the message one more time. Remember the little great website called one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen the Fellowship in the Word online that website you will find on today's broadcast but also many of her previous audio program, had Fellowship in the Word. We are thankful for those who financially support our ministry and make his 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 a monthly with 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 BC Nola.org that SBC 10 oh LA.O RG at our website you will find hundreds of pastoral sermon you can browse through our sermon archives defined sensors are looking for. You can search by title. Once you find the message you're looking for.
You can listen online or if you prefer, you can download the sermon on listening room. And remember all this absolutely free of charge. Once again our website is BC Nola.org forecaster Bill Gebhardt and Jason Gebhardt. Thank you for listening to fellowship in order