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January 25, 2021 7:00 am
Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ. My mind is stayed on God's greatness is power, his love for me is loyal receipt no notice divides what my mind is on. That's what I'm thinking about.
Guess what, I can't be doing at that moment, worrying about what's going to happen down the road 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 going faster now is once again he shows us how god's word or world god made a provision that said i changed and i will and so he sent his son christ love you so much you don't even know him. he knows you and he dies on the cross in your behalf. and then we find out that if we put our faith and trust in christ and his finished work on the cross, knowing our sins forgiven, but we are having bond and joint heirs with christ and all these things belong to all of us and then on wednesday night we sit wringing our hands about what might happen thursday at noon. how you do that we forget that's exactly what they did. they forgot and they begin to worry. the lesson is clear. god says look i'm going to meet your needs. daily, not annually, not monthly, not weekly, daily see had resources that they never envisioned can imagine how many of them walked arising how you were in the desert. we have to have many people in the desert. by the way, the other thing that he provided that i did mention that story.
water how to get water in a desert and gotchas understand the big rock 'n' roll line behind and i want to give you water the whole time you're there.
what yes god's provisions. you see how this works now that in mind this go to matthew six in the words of the lord. matthew chapter 6 and go from the time of the exodus to the time of christ and by the way, you still have people in this day worrying about the same thing. they worried about an exodus that we often never worry about and that is the very staples of life, food, water and shelter, clothing, those kinds of things jesus says in verse 25 of matthew six for this reason i say to you to not be worried about your life. there's the generalization that pretty general and it see if you said the jesus jesus. let me just ask you one thing, one of my entitled to worry about in it say anything that has nothing to do with your life. you do not worry about your life. what a statement.
do not worry about your life and then he goes on explains that he says as to what you will eat or what you will drink for your body as to what you will put on. is not life more than food and the body more than clothing. do not worry. that's an interesting word by the way, that word, worry is maryland not all it's a bird that's a verb for mccomb sommer rizzo rizzo means the divide and not always a form of the word noose which is your mind.
so what did jesus say worry is it divide your mind. that's what worried us in the implication of what jesus is saying this worry cleaves your thinking between the reality of now and some dreaded event down the road. that's a worry does it just cleaves that off, that's why. by the way, you can never be. you cannot be worrisome and content. you just cannot because contentment is a present state worry lives in the future. he was on get some good illustrations with it and he says in verse 31. do not worry then saying, what shall we eat and what will we drink and what will we wear for clothing. the late corrie 10 boom said this, she said, worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows it empties today of its strength. see that's what's so difficult about worry punishes us and it dishonors god see that's the thing kind of thing while you worrying when you see the big picture of what i've done what you worried about in the little picture that i can do or won't do for you. worrying takes a look at catastrophes and grounds is all coming unraveled. it's all coming unraveled and yet god says all things work together for your good to see all of it is all coming on right now with all the work together for your good. worry wonders if anyone is controlling in first timothy 615 god is called the blessed controller of all things.
worry whispers the slider you god doesn't know what you need. philippians 419.
god will take care of everything you need worry discounts and replies, you know you're on your own, it's you against the world. god says no i am sovereign over this world, jesus and yes you can have tribulation, but be of good cheer, be happy.
i've overcome the world see this message is really interesting in verse 34 jesus then says this so do not worry about tomorrow. it's always for the future. i love what he says is this for tomorrow will take care of itself.
each day has enough trouble of its own thing is not at all saying not know every days is going to be a happy day of circumstances. everything is good be wonderful. everyone's going to love you. everyone's going to be nine days.
you see, everything is going to be great you're never going have an acre of pain. nothing like that's ever going out lives can be fair, everywhere you go.
what world was that that's not reality it's a cursed planet for sinful people, he said, but don't worry about tomorrow.
you see the implications clear you don't have the resources for tomorrow's needs.
but tomorrow you will see, that's what god is saying with manna, but tomorrow you will i meet your need each and every day you gotta trust me just for today. how do we develop in our life. think there are three steps we can use to help develop this idea that so important to trust god for today told me to. isaiah 26 isaiah the prophet. 26. what can i do to help me trust god for the day drive worry out of my mind fill my mind, and with happiness and peace and hope. how does that happen with her. three things i think that we can do. one is this.
now you get here. roll your eyes, trying to pray more, pray more, what paul said pulse of the thessalonians, pray without ceasing. now if some of you came from ritualistic prayers. you gotta think like wall i can do that work. i have a life to live. i can't just be praying.
i can be saying our father over and over again. that's not praying that's number got that paul has in mind. he seemed constantly speak to your father about what's happening in your life today.
every despite not ceasing make prayer in a sense part of your thought life know what's what happens. he says in verse three he says the steadfast of mind. you keep in perfect peace because what he trust in you.
another translation the new king james version says you will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trust that's what prayer is. my mind is stayed on who god's greatness is power, his love for me is loyalty. you see, no notice if i sweat, my mind is stayed on. that's what i'm thinking about. guess what, i can't be doing at that moment, worrying about what's going to happen down the road.
you see, my mind and notice what happens.
he said whenever that happens in your life and you stay your mind on god, who he is and what he does. he said you will be in perfect peace really yes example, john hus, john hus, the great priest who had seen that absolute grace of god and the word of god and then was burned at the stake by the church and as they light the fire and houses being burned and you can just imagine what like that is. john hus is singing hymns how to get do that what you think is mind is stayed on god's peace. no i know against the something else yet understand about each day, though, as i said before, you don't have the resources for tomorrow's needs. you get them tomorrow when i heard a story like that about you, but i felt really guilty first time i read about house. i thought boy they think that kim and under make me like a five from me screaming like a little girl you know it's going to be awful because i couldn't see myself in the that's because it wasn't in god's grace for today is god's grace for today.
you might surprise yourself when that moment comes to see that's what god is saying it's a different kind of thing, he says, pray without ceasing.
even though i go through the valley of the shadow of death when there is, i will fear no evil shall have peace, why is your with me. you see, that's how this works.
that's what god's grace provides pray more, telling me now to philippians 4 in the new testament, philippians 4 first verse for we look at this often is one of my favorite in the new testament is a commandment which i love imperative mood. rejoice in the lord always again i say rejoice. paul to look like a bead on the board. much of this you rejoice at the amazing man's in prison and by the way, in verse six he says be anxious for nothing, but in everything with prayer and supplication. there is pray more, with thanksgiving, there's a gratitude let your requests be made known to god and the peace of god, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in christ jesus god my mind, the heart from what me. my worry my anxiety.
again, the promise of god. verse 10 but i rejoice in the lord greatly. he said that now, at last, you have revived your concern me but again pause in prison. indeed, you have concern before, but you lacked opportunity. now you can help me and then paul says this, not that i speak from one for i have learned to be content in whatever circumstances i am. i know how to get along in humble means.
i also know how to live in prosperity in any and every circumstance i have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need here is i can do all things women strengthens me pray more, that's for today.
want less, pray more want less. this is really hard for us to. this is really hard for us to want less and i'm not talking just about material things i'm saying want less of my will. you see, want less of my perspective i need.
want less. by the way you already admitted that because you sing it today. i'm sure you did.
i think at least read the words and mouth. you see, we know how much christ loves us right now he is given us everything that we have with them be studying the book of ephesians we find that we have every blessing that exist in heaven as yours. so why would you want more when more is there to want one glass. the great english preacher charles spurgeon said this enough for today is all we can enjoy your think about that. we cannot eat or drink, or where more than today's supply of food and clothing astounding that you may have 250 pair shoes, but very likely only when one pair today and that's all you can join today. by the way, that could come under you for this very night your life is expected of you. there's 249 pairs of you will not enjoy in the future. you see, want less. he said the surplus gives us he says gives us the care and burden of storing it and the anxiety that someone might steal it. he said one staff aids a trapper a bunch of staffs becomes a heavy burden. enough is as good as a feast and more than gluttony can enjoy enough is all we should expect but a craving for more. he said his ungratefulness when our father dies give you more when the father does not give you more be content with your daily allowance. pray more.
want less and one last thing. that's go to hebrews 4, hebrews 4 and verse 16 trust god for today by praying more and one thing last in the implication of the application of verse 16 live in the moment.
if there's something i've learned about our christian faith.
this is it.
live in the moment just live for today. it makes the biggest difference in the world and every aspect of christianity. notice here in verse 16 of chapter 4, the writer of hebrews says therefore let us draw near with confidence or go boldly. the king james said let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may be able to receive mercy and find grace to help in a time of need. know what's mercy you see, mercy is not getting what you deserve what's grace it's getting what you don't deserve.
now what does god say you come to me boldly to mike you come to the throne of grace.
okay what i do or give you mercy and grace.
i'll give you what you don't deserve and i'll not give you what did you deserve know what you think that would cover.
i think that covers everything you see, what is it, ultimately i mean what is the manner of my life. mercy and grace. that's what i need and he says look you have to live in the moment. i will provide it right then. heaven still has a manor house is the mercy and grace of god is given to every single day.
worry looks dimly into the future, but trust clearly sees what's available to me today god sends help when you need it. god's timing is always god's timing.
he sends help when you need it. we don't have the resources for tomorrow's problems with the wood tomorrow. these things are very important for us what we have is manna for today. but this living in the moment as every aspect of your life illustrated. joel henderson is a prolific writer of books. he was asked the question how in the world can you write so many books he said, i've never written a book that i would know how to write so many books of never written a book.
all i do is write one page each day you see that that's how it works one page each day. we looked on the look at all the things in your life you may have a terrible temper. you may have a file mouth. you say you and i just i've tried and tried to stink it overnight, and the idea of doing with my temper about a temporal model look i'm not asking to control your temper, for the rest your life.
i'm saying you have the resources the control your temper today you ever way of controlling your mouth today.
you see, that's what god is saying, i will provide what you need the grace and mercy you need today is what's wrong with new year's resolutions using new year's resolution is somewhere after you made a new year's resolution you keep this the thought that comes your mind. it's a i year. i don't think i can do this for i hear. don't just do it today. you see, that's the point guards is a look at my provide. i provide the mercy i provide the grace it's for today.
you can be facing any long-term challenge in your life and you will rob your happiness by worrying that you will never get through it. trust god for today. pray more. want less live in the moment and god promises you perfect peace which drives worry and anxiety out of your mind and fills your heart with joy and happiness respray father this day. i'm praying particularly for those who are worrying about something right now they have anxiety about something that's coming down the road. they have no peace. they certainly have no joy and happiness. father i pray that they understand from the principle of manna from the words of our lord jesus christ, that each day you will provide what we need you provided your mercy in your grace covers everything in our life. father i pray that these people struggling right now have the discipline to start just for today to pray more and to want less and the live in the moment. father i pray for all of us. the apostle paul said he had learned the secret of contentment.
it didn't matter what state he was in in a palace or in a prison cell whether he was healthy or had a thorn in the flesh whether people loved him or they hated him enough to try to kill him.
he said i have learned the secret of contentment that i can do all things through him who strengthens me. in other words, understood all of us need to understand this day for today christ is enough for us is pastor bill Gebhardt you ever miss one of our broadcasting or maybe you just like to 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 the fellowship and the word online event website you will find on with today's broadcast so many of our previous audio programs as well 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 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 bill delivered during a Sunday morning service at Fellowship Bible church visit our website FVC Nola.org that FVC and LA.O RG at our website you will find hundreds pastor bill 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 an online, or if you prefer, you can download the sermon on listening and remembering all this absolutely free of charge. Once again our website is FVC Nola.org for pastor. Bill Gebhardt unseasoned heart. Thank you for listening to fellowship in order