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December 3, 2020 7:00 am
Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ, God highly exalted him, and bestowed on him a name which is above every name, especially at a time of over 19 and economic uncertainty in a national election.
We need to see Jesus Christ. I think one of the problems we often run into as we see Jesus in a benign sort of way and were all grateful that is the same manner that means that one day, no matter how I live my life now that a person might get to go to and that minutes but he is so much more than that. 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 in mind as a nation were facing an election, and shortly, at least in my lifetime. Maybe I'll history this may be the angriest most anxiety producing election for US Pres., so much so that, for the very first time in the history of Dallas theological seminary where I was trained.
They are offering on November 9 and all day class online for pastors just like me the name of the conference of their having is ministry in an angry culture and when they sent out the email they said this. How do we model Christ and are politicized polarize that outrage, culture is even possible to minister when you're also angry, especially when some of the angriest voices we hear belong to Christians with a resulting Fallot of an increased hostility toward Christchurch. Sometimes I fear that's for good reason. You don't want to miss this one day virtual interactive event hosted by the Hendrix leadership center on November 9 and then have a little subtitle called loving well when everybody's mad they recognize something a lot of anger and what's more importantly recognize there's a lot of anger in the church and that's what they want to address.
Unlike most Christians who have ever followed Jesus Christ in the history of the church. Unlike most Christians, even in today's world you and I have a privilege of being involved in the democratic process that's advantage that we have that's a privilege, though, that the somehow is skewed. I think a lot of the ways in which we think now clearly I would tell all of you that do follow your conscience as you engage in this process called the American democracy. This folly of conscious and get involved. It's an advantage that we have. But here's what I want to say to you this morning I want to give you one word to remember. Relax. Just relax and I want to give you the reasons for that. First of all, the Bible tells us to be anxious for nothing. Now notice that word. Be anxious for nothing now, does that include the upcoming election. I think so. And the Bible says don't be anxious about that. You need to relax about something like that and the reason is this Jesus Christ Jesus Christ and the video is he is the King of Kings, he is God incarnate, Satan has already been defeated. Victory has already been achieved. He is alive and he is here. That's what we have to remember I want to paint a picture of Jesus Christ for you this morning that can help you in this way. Let's start off by looking at Revelation 1916. Right now the end of the Bible.
No excuse for not finding it.
Revelation 1916. John is describing here in Revelation 19, the second coming of Jesus Christ and he says in verse 16 and on his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of Kings and Lord of lords has a name written and interesting that one is on his robe and one is tattooed on his thigh. Okay, so you don't forget you want to know my name. I'm the King of Kings and I am the Lord of lords hollowed to the Philippians and he said, God highly exalted him, and bestowed on him a name which is above every name, especially at a time of covert, 19, and economic uncertainty, and a national election. We need to see Jesus Christ for who he is.
I think one of the problems we often run into is we see Jesus in a benign sort of way and were all grateful that he is the Savior and I that means that one day, no matter how I live my life now that I trust my get to go to heaven and that will that be nice, but he is so much more than that is going to become abundantly clear as we go through some of these verses this morning. He is so much more than that and such a practical way. Go to Hebrews chapter 1 with me for a moment. Hebrews chapter 1, the writer of Hebrews says this first verse God, after he spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets and the many portions and in many ways, in these last days is spoken to us in his son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also made the world and he is the radiance of his glory and the exact representation of his nature, and he upholds all things by the word of his power while he says when he made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the Angels and he has inherited more excellent name than a I want to look at verse three there for a moment. He is the radiance of his glory and the exact representation of his nature's glory is not just a shadow of the glory.
He said he is the exact representation. The radiance of his glory and John got John's Gospel verse 14 John says the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only, who came from the father full of grace and truth. The glory of Jesus Christ, the glory of the son of God is unparalleled know why nothing has more glory than Christ. No one. He said it's an unparalleled glory, Randy Alcorn says this Christ desire for us to see his glory should teach us deeply what an unexpected compliment that the creator of the universe is gone to such great lengths at such sacrifice to prepare a place for us where we can behold him participate in his glory forever the glory of the global South of God. That's Jesus Christ more glory. Common his glory is unparalleled. Secondly, turn with me to Matthew chapter 28 Matthew 28 in verse 16. A famous passage. Starting in verse 16, Matthew writes this, he said, but the 11 disciples proceeded the gallery to the mountain with Jesus, a designated and when they saw him they worshiped him. Some were doubtful. And Jesus came up and spoke to them all authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, the son of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you low I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
Amazing. Verse 18, the first words he says and I think he probably says this for those who were doubtful all authority, not some I got a lot of authority know I have all authority I have all the authority that exist in heaven and on earth. There is no more authority than my authority, no king, no kingdom, no president, no prime minister, no one why was my authority. I have more authority than anyone.
So the first thing he says it's implied with all authority has been given to me is to you and I's surrender to his authority you surrender to his authority he has all of it. Secondly, do you embrace his mission for us. You embrace his mission. Go make disciples. Thirdly, he says let me tell you what you need to do when you make decisive teaching them all that I taught you.
That's all discipling is someone taught me and I teach you, then you teach someone else. That's how we all make disciples. Whatever you are born of the Lord, you teach the someone else. And lastly, he says, relying on his presence in my life low on with you always, even to the end of the age. As I said earlier, Jesus, and tucked away in heaven is right here is a lie when he's right here and he says all authority has been given to me. I live at the psalmist says in Psalm 2410. He said who is he the King of glory the Lord Almighty. He is the King of glory is glory is unparalleled. His authority is unrivaled. So who is this King Jesus go with me now to Matthew one, verse 23 very famous Christmas verse I was think about that. It seems of the great Christian Christmas narrative about the incarnation of Christ is so good, but we almost only ever talk about it at Christmas.
If I go that's a Christmas story that's not really true, is no more Christmas story, then the resurrection of Christ. There was death on the cross is an Easter story just talk about event. These are things that are part of who he is. So the angel was speaking in verse 23 says behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel well, which translated means God with us. That's his name will call his name Immanuel, God with us. Notice he doesn't say. And here comes a guy it's a good role model and he's a fine example to follow and is a pretty good teacher. He so far beyond that he is God with us and John Johnson in the beginning was the word word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning and through him all things were made, and without him nothing was made that has been made great creator God. That's him that's our King Paul said this to the Colossians, the son is the image of the invisible father same thing it said in Hebrews, the firstborn over all creation.
For in him all things were created things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities all things have been created through him and for him everything. Everything in the material world. Everything in the spiritual world. Everyone in the material world. Everyone in the spiritual so that created among I created a model for me is power is without limits.
He has no limits to his power is God. He's God with us. He said that's what he is able to do not want you to see how this plays out the possibility of an election to go with me to Daniel chapter 2 Daniel chapter 2 verse one says this now in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar.
Nebuchadnezzar had dreams and his spirit was troubled and asleep left Nebuchadnezzar two things. One, he is one of the greatest kings or leaders in the history of mankind.
Secondly, he is an ego maniac, that's really is.
Remember he makes a gigantic statue of himself and makes everybody worship.
It that's who Nebuchadnezzar is, but now he has a dream and this dream is really troubling him. So what he decides to do is to get together all of his wise counselors magician everyone and he says in his brief marketing.
In this way. He said the okay I want you guys to interpret it and I'm sure they probably went and we knew this, he said, but it's can be different this time I'm not telling of the dream you tell me the dream now then you interpreted okay, no wiggle room here so notice what they say in verse 10, the Chaldeans answered the king and said there is not a man on earth who could declare the matter for the king. Inasmuch as he says no great king or war has ever ask anything like this of any magician conjure Chaldeans, you can't do that. How do we fudge it is a how do we think it you can tell us anything and will tell you something back but now you want. That's the tell you what your dream was verse 12. Because of this the king became indignant and very furious and gave orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. All right, I'll kill you all that's amazing.
They're all going to die. Verse 14 then Daniel replied with discretion and discernment to area.
Talk. He said the captain of the king's bodyguard who had gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon, and he said to area the king's commander. For what reason is the decree from the king so urgent and then areata informed Daniel about the matter, so Daniel went in and requested of the king that he would give him time in order that he might declare the interpretation to the king. Now some really between the lines of the spring needed by Daniel hidden want those men to die hidden want to murder all the magician all the soothsayers all the accountancy to one of the murdered is wiser so urgent you give me a little time.
So that's exactly what happens. So in verse 19 it says then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a nightvision and then Daniel bless the God of heaven. God tells Daniel directly what the dream is and how to interpret. Then Daniel speaks it when he's addressing. He says this let the name of God. Be blessed forever and ever for wisdom and power belong to him and then this verse, it is he who changes the times and the E box. He removes kings and establishes kings and he gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to minimal understanding. It is he who reveals the profound and hidden things he knows what is in the darkness and the light dwells with him to you oh God my of my father's I give thanks and praise for you have given me wisdom and power. Even now you have made known to me what we requested of you, for you have made known to us the king's matter.
Verse 21 is an interesting verse he says it is here, you change the time and he pops he removes kings and establishes kings remain king I remove kings. I establish kings. I remove kings and I establish kings. I remove members and establish numbers. I remove Prime Minister's I establish Prime Minister's I remove presidents and I establish presidents. I do that not only we do that said, I why I'm sovereign over all the affairs of men. This is Nebuchadnezzar pagan King as pagan as a man could be so yeah he's on I do that but are something else there. That's really important for you to see that we often overlook in this verse, it is he who changes the times are in the box I been saying the last few weeks that America's changing see what we want to say you know why changing because of them out there.
That's why because of him up there is in complete control. This absolute complete control is that I change the times in the box. I want to think about this.
Maybe from a little bit different perspective here when you come to the times what what if this is the beginning of the end times. Some of you asked me at all the time. You always get the same answer those of known me long enough Nebraska and works you can get the same answer I have no idea. But is this the end times is the beginning of the end times. What if it is the beginning of the end times. Okay, let's assume that from now if you know your prophecy at all. Our eschatology at all. When you read about the end times. Tell me everything you read the Bible, but America nothing right, absolutely nothing.
Now there's a couple possibilities here are some people would say well, but America could be part of the European Union. The old Roman Empire and certainly possible is getting a little less probable as time goes on member when Americans first started saying that it was because guess where everybody that was in America was from Europe is that the way it's going now know that so is it possible that America could be in steep decline. Is that possible yes, and by the way, I've so mentally between services and I think he was right and you added that take the rapture of the church and in the church leaves Americo work. What is the standing of America. Now what is the culture like could be terrible.
All I'm saying is, what if this is the end times are you going to stop that when you go to the voting booth.
It we can stop it really didn't stop God and not what if this one.
If God is good and restore America. What there's going to be a revival in America okay same thing, though, are we going to do that, politically, if we make the right political choices, then God will do something I necessarily but God's going to do what God's going to do. That's the point. God is going to do what God is going to do. And I gotta be honest, I'm fine with that and so should you be he's God.
He controls the times of need. Pops he controls the kings power has no limits to pastoral on the radio ministry of fellowship.
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Yes, all of our listeners to prayerfully consider how you might help his radio ministry continuous forecast on this radio station by supporting a monthly fourth is the 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 of the 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 defined sensors are looking for, or you can search by title. Once you find the method you're looking for. You can listen online or if you prefer, you can download the sermon and listening and remember all this absolutely free of charge. Once again our website is FVC Nola.org forecaster Bill Gebhardt and Jason Gebhardt.
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