Inside These Walls, Part 2

Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhart challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ. Time somebody instead of the separated from God, not just now but for all eternity past the guarantee of having eternal life with God, the forgiveness of their sins because of the grace of God is you and I should be in all that should be of one single not because of any of this because of his love and grace is an amazing thing should be in on that always joining us today on this additional fellowship in the world Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana Pastor Bill got for now. Again he shows us how God's word meets it's hard to find church to teach the word of God that doesn't even make sense. That's the one vital thing every church should be doing and yet there are people and maybe your some of them you spent years or decades. In a church in your never taught the word of God. It didn't even matter what the word of God was devoted to the teaching of the word of God the vital learning experience from God. Paul wrote to Timothy and Titus to young pastors. He said to them, you need to teach sound doctrine.

You need to teach the work you need to preach the word whatever you do don't get sidetracked. You need to preach the word of God.

But is that happening hasn't happens while the history of the church, but I don't have very many per request for the future for the church myself, but let me put it this way. This may shock some of you but I'm lucky to be here forever. My time to go home will come. And when it does, I beg you, don't let somebody stand up you doesn't preach the word of God. Just don't do that if somebody stand up hero doesn't preach the word of God leave go find where someone preaches the word of God usually don't do that.

Don't be part of that. I don't don't be involved with all of that human ingenuity you see one other thing about this early church that I find so fascinating is they were totally dependent on God didn't have any technique when you read this section there's no techniques. There's no need things to do. There's no there's no coffeehouse in the lobby there isn't the reason any of that. How could they do church church is.

That said, this is the ingenuity of man. That's all that that's become man figuring out ways and we can stuff all the time and I agree stuff online all the time. Of all of these techniques that if I would just do the techniques you can attract more people. It's a sad thing. I mean, up until a few years ago I used to get all the time and read that one of the most important thing to really grow your church's money money money really that's important you and these these different groups would say.

And we know how to raise it were professionals raising money will come down here church you give us some time.

The service will visit people in homes and we guarantee will extract a certain amount of money from how revolting is that how disgusting is that. But that's what you need. I mean ever going to have a restaurant. The lobby we need money don't wait. I mean, isn't that what we do.

We need money. That's just in the ingenuity of man is this man trying every word. Can you see this is running rampant in America now they have everything you can possibly imagine. Were building $100 million facilities in the amount of evangelical believers in the countries in steep decline. Every year were not winning the lost, not happening at all. A lot of people think that's with doing churches. That's not what God says it all. Jesus is the that's man trying to build his church, I will build the church. The first thing that they have to have is the vital learning experience. He said that's absolutely important, they have to be saved. The redeemed community.

The they have to rely never on human effort they have to be a teaching church and then he says the next thing and the fellowship now.

That's our name fellowship yeah but it's not what you think. For so many of us what is fellowship. Regrettably, by the way, we always say there's a fellowship room at the end of the hall. I don't like that very much. I don't know if there's any fellowship going on in there at all.

That's not to. We think fellowships like coffee and doughnuts.

You know you just sit there and similarly when you have an fellowship. That's not what Philip Quinn you doesn't mean that all Quinn. Mia is a deep abiding partnership of people is a unity about holder place or go with me to John 13 John chapter 13 verse 34 John 1334 if you want to know what the heart of fellowship is this is it. John 1334 Jesus the knife the night before is crucified, says this to his disciples. He said a new commandment I give you this is no I'm going to commend it. I'm going to give it to you and us. He said that you love one another. I command you.

You have to love one another.

Agape noticed the condition of the love even as I have loved you, you also love one another.

How does Jesus love us sacrificially right is that I command you to love one another. That way, be honest about this is I you feel, is that really how you feel.

You come to church.

He said I love these people.

I really love a sacrifice for that I you feel or is it likely select is why I love a few of them that love me I love I love people that love me. I like people like me.

I tolerate people tolerate me and I dislike the people just like me is not of the Lord that's of you will love one another to love one another sacrificially to see just how far this goes in the context of this church so this go back to the book of acts. If you think that they had fellowship.

I think there's around 39 different one another's in the New Testament love one another. Forgive one another, exhort one another, admonish one another. Confess your sins one another, serve one another. It just goes on and on one another. It's all about one another. Why would we do that because we love one another and notice when Jesus spoke in John 13 knew what he said after he said what I just read by this all men will know you are my disciples, if you love one another way, I love you everybody out there will say I've never met a group of people like that.

Now they may not believe the gospel, but I bet you're wondering they will say those people love each other. Now let me ask you, do you think that's what people out there think about us or any church hall.

They love each other. I don't know about you, or maybe I'm just naďve, but I've never heard anyone tell me that was an unbeliever.

I've never had anyone say to me you know one thing about our say I've never seen a group people love each other like the people in the church because we don't. That's why because we don't.

He says that in that case all mental know.

Now they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship. He said in the breaking of bread and to prayer in the breaking of bread is interesting in that context because it's more likely what they were. There is probably the Lord's table in a moment. It will be the idea of taken meals together and then he says this and everyone kept feeling a sense of awe. Now, in this case you would not would to it's pretty easy because it says, and many wonders and signs were taking place of the apostles. The apostles had enormous sign gifts. They did all kinds of things. A gift of healing, each of Peter and Paul each raise the dead, they done some amazing things but really, if you think about it, here's all that happened there, God was at work so the people in all there were no gods at work. You and I should be in all because God still at work. Ask God still does it every time one of us every time another person believes the gospel of Jesus Christ is miraculous.

Every time somebody instead of being separated from God, not just now but for all eternity has the guarantee of heaven eternal life with God, the forgiveness of their sins.

All because of the grace of God. It's miraculous. You and I should be in all that we should be in while I'm in a public bathroom. He saved all of us and not because of any of us just because of his love and grace. He saved us some amazing things should be in that always, we were singing not long ago, how great is our God, right. I sure hope when you were singing it. You believed and were just mouthing the words how great is our God. Think of what he's done. We should be in all of this inside these walls. He then says, and those who had believed were together and they had all things in common and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. While that's whether fellowship shows now I will say this situation.

There's different than the situation you notice this happened at Pentecost, which is right after Passover.

There were Jews from all over the world in Israel or in Judah for the Passover. Many of them got saved many of the 3000 people from all over the part of the world from Alexandria in Egypt or for manioc there from Turkey or from a variety of places, and so once they got saved they got really excited which everyone does, and then they knew something they knew in their mind that Jesus had been assigned at ascended and asked one is coming back in their view, just like ours is coming back soon so why would I want to go back. Alexandria, Egypt of Jesus coming back and he's coming back right here and he's coming back writer. I want to be here somewhere to stay here. The only problem is now were all staying here know where we can live.

Who's going to feed us house is going to work and that was the great problem at the head and when those questions were asking what the rest of the body of Christ said will do it will do it.

We have partnership with these people. We love these people see also my stuff and give it to them will help people will go out of our way to serve one another would be glad to do that make us happy to do that.

You see our situations a little bit different, but our attitude should be any different at all, not in any sense of the word so it's God's design for us to live in fellowship with one another, and they began selling and that's an imperfect tense in the Greek it means I just kept on selling so one of the needed whatever somebody else needs. And why not me think of the group of people in the room right now. We all have the same eternal life. We have the same spirit of God we have the same power running through us. We have the same eternity for the look for to we believe in the same Christ we worship the same God were in the same church were all the same family. We have to fellowship now if you come here and many do. If you come here with this idea that no II that's not the way I see it I just want to be an isolated Christian is want to come get that a little bit.

Not saying to anybody unless they make me and then get on my way and go on with my life is not of the Lord of your flesh, that's not of the Lord as a whole got go to church.

He builds a church in a very different way than that. Then it goes on and says this, day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart. This is such an important part. They had a vital learning experience.

A vital relational experience, they have this fellowship and love for one another and everything their doings with gladness to great word there. Happy new joyful. One thing that should mark the church for anyone is not part of the church is just how joyful and happy we are is that Marcus, I hope so. I pray so that's what people should notice wow this is like a Kiwanis meeting these people are happy. These people are joyful, why would we be your child of God. Recipient grace you have eternal life. Why would you be happy we should be happy, of all people read the end of the book we went.

The worst thing that could happen you can happen you. I mean, just think of how many people out there are terrified of death, terrified of it. We should be maps of the body and present with the Lord. You see, that should make me happy. We should be joyful, you see that should Marcus. That's how people should see us. What a joyful group of people noticed. These are happy people who are giving up their own possessions and support other people and are happy to do it. It was like well okay if I have to I will is not the case at all. By the way when it comes to raising money what Paul right. The Lord loves in hilarious giver. That's why would never want someone to come and extract money from a congregation is Herat. It's heresy. To me it's wrong should be joyful when I stand up. Here are some windows we do this kind of thing all the time. This Mike a little too convicting but I think we have a need in the body we have a need some small piece of service within the church. The member most of the good stuff we do should be out there, but any other certain things we have to do and I have a need we need someone to do something nursery whatever it is we have a need. Literally I should be worried that you trample me to try to be the first one to get to do it. Is that what happens Hope somebody else goes that's that's not my thing. What is your thing.

I thought your thing is the love Jesus Christ loves people. Isn't that our thing isn't that what is supposed to be about us see it.

Should Marcus that way if that's the way we should be his people, and that's what he says if you look at them. He says they've been with gladness and sincerity of heart Mrs. they were praising God a warship no notice there praising God, but understand that wasn't in a worship service that InSync get ready go to worship service should praise God that you should. But that's not it.

In fact, where they were assembling early in the morning there were going to the temple I get thrown out of the temple eventually but at this time of going to the temple.

That's number the praise is taking place is taken place there and everywhere else you see everywhere else.

They praise God when I went to work.

They praise God when I had to milk the praise God because he understood what God is done for them the same as you and I we should be praising God and having no watches favor with all the people while they're having favor with all the people what people the people out there vital learning experience vital relational experience loving each other unconditionally demonstrating to each other in the way they love and the people out there said while what a group of people how different they are not what's interesting when you first read it. It looks odd it says and having favor with all the people in the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. So are you telling me that if we have favor the people God miraculously just saves people for us not as a very important part of it turn back to chapter 1 for a moment of acts acts chapter 1 verse seven Jesus is about ready to ascend the disciple say to them, and who wouldn't when you come back, just tell us when you coming back would like to know when you coming back when you come back when you coming back. Jesus is doing. Then in verse seven he says is not for you to know the times a Reeboks, which the Father has fixed by his own authority not to tell you that many says this but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit he said will come upon you, and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria, even to the remotest part of the world. Jesus, of the spirit comes in you, you're going to be my witnesses. So when they had favor with all the people. If you put together this way, the people would say out there would say to people like us, why are you so different why guy why do you love each other like this. Why do you like that Peter said to give an account for the hope that to me and these people gave the gospel with their words to people and the Lord added to their number day after day we see both their works in her words were in balance.

That's really what it takes both of those are in balance. That's the way it operated in the early church. So it comes down to this. When Jesus is speaking, he says, look, I meant to build my church, and the beauty of the first church was waiting get in the way of it was only up to God and so I want to make sure number one. Everybody has a vital learning experience taught the word of God because Vermont taught the word of God. I can't grow spiritually, Peter set up the grow in the grace and the knowledge of God. I need to grow the Scriptures allude to the fact that the word of God's our spiritual food by which we grow as people it has to be taught the word of God. Because if you're not taught the word of God. You're not growing. Suddenly, we need to have a vital relational experience clear media partnership. We need to love one another, even sacrificially love one another vertically. That's worship the God I have a relationship with God, and I worship. And then lastly we have to have a vital witnessing experience. We have to live our lives in such a way that people wonder about the hope it's innocent. We have to articulate the gospel to them. And the reason all that so important is because of this the most important thing about our church is not what happens in the most important thing about our church is what happens outside these walls whispering father are churches like any church. It's so easy to become myopic focus on ourselves.

Thinking about that the church exist for me. In fact it's going to be all about my needs being met the father we are a group of believers who are supposed to be deployed in the world that so desperately needs the person of Jesus Christ and the sacrifice of the cross on world that has a completely different destiny, unless they come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

That's what were supposed to be about.

We are to make disciples of people we are to go where they are. We are to leave them the Jesus Christ and then we are to teach them what Christ is taught us. Father I pray that we never alter this, that it's important to us that each and every one of the steps of the steps that are the most basic experiences of our church that we don't get sidetracked into the ingenuity of man in the various schemes and programs simply for a short term results rather than a long-term father think Jesus Christ will go to Mr. thank the pastor broke apart on the radio ministry of fellowship Lord, if you ever missed one of our broadcast or maybe you dislike of the sum of the message one more time. Remember, you can Google a great website called one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen to Fellowship in the Word online event website you will find on today's broadcast but also many of her 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 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 at fellowship monitored visit our website FVC Nola.org that FVC and oh LA.O RG at our website you will find hundreds pastor Bill sermon you can browse through our sermon archives to find sermon series are 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, you can do all this absolutely free of charge. Once again our website FVC Nola.org forecaster Bill Gebhardt and Jason got hard. Thank you for listening to fellowship in order