Why Should I Support Missions?, Part 2

Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ. Now what interesting is another thing I giving the mission is a happy if they gave him yet was needed for yes. Is it necessary for his Senate ring didn't break I'm good either way.

And that's the truth when it comes down to targeting our giving dimensions as needed is a necessary 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 is once again he shows us how God's word meets our work stone and left for dead snake. There's a picture content figure this is in his mid to late 60s and is probably walk somewhere between 4000 and 6000 miles in his ministry walked. I can imagine that may be very content walking through Turkey Greece pulse exam content.

All these things that have happened because I learned the secret he says of all of it. You see, it marks a certain spirituality holder place here and go with me to first Timothy first Timothy chapter 6 and verse six. Paul says this, but godliness actually is a means of great gain notice. Then when it's accompanied by contentment. In other words, you saying you want to know what the mark of spiritual maturity is godliness with contentment is a great game to be content that should Marcus if you think your spiritually mature believer and you're not content you're not a spiritually mature believer. Just think your you you just think you're pulse is now.

I said but if you can do that it'll make it make it to know what 47 for we brought nothing into the world so we can't take anything out of it either. Just a reminder, Paul realizes something.

What makes you really content stuff just love stuff. The more stuff you have the more content will be processed in a that's kinda shortsighted because the point will be when you leave your not taken any stuff with you and I are actually people who are really upset as their approaching death because they can't take their stuff with them.

You get to take her stuff. I'm eager to take some have sued the funeral home, put on the front of you either take that with you.

You'll get stuff brought nothing into the world you're leaving with nothing but Paul saying when I leave a meeting with contentment and by the way we write second Timothy, that's what he says I have fought the good fight. See, I made I'm content to be had me and probably just a few weeks or months, but I'm okay you see him content. He said if we have food and covering with these we would be content. He said the stop doesn't mean much to me. Jesus approach that on the sermon on the mountain said why do you worry about what you're going to wear what you going to eat waiting why your father knows what you need to see you, why seek first his kingdom and guess what Molly we added to because what you will be content. So you have to ask yourself and by the way when you see since the covert is begun, the amount the amount of pharmaceuticals are being sold to Americans because of their anxiety, stress, worry and fears is unbelievable. What does that tell you, not content were not content. I need something else. The soda make me content pulses well there is something else. Now back to Libyan passage that when you see this. It's interesting to me that he said I know how to get along with humble means and also know how to live in prosperity in any and every circumstance. I wonder secret being filled going hungry and having an abundance and suffering need that word contentment is interesting. It's a Greek word that means a certain city or town in Greece they call certain times this word we call contentment.

It means a town that doesn't need any imports endured to self sustain itself. It doesn't need anything from the outside to sustain itself as a town or city and pulsing. That's what you and I can be seen as knots and I denied all never said I don't want anything I don't want to prosper because when he did I was. He said I was content.

He said, but if I don't prosper them still content it has nothing to do with my contentment. It's kind of an interesting thing now. What's interesting about it too is that as he goes on here and he says he says this particular thing he said verse 13.

The key to what all I can do all things through him. He said he strengthens me secret.

That's a secret. What's your secret Jesus wider content of Jesus you mean, under any circumstances. Yes with her going to be had you. I'm content.

See that's what Christ offers you and I contentment think about on this point of view. If you have the Lord what could you have any more than that at all. You have everything and by the way, for those you are materially inclined, I would some of you probably are when you die, absent the body present the Lord what are you going to inherit everything and I don't mean you know a little farm on the North Shore and have it not only not I mean everything that's in the created universe. Your joint heir with Christ in us all his self that gives you events excite you that you're going to inherit everything you're going to frankly won't matter much. I don't think I if you got Christ I got everything I don't need anymore, but you and I are described as joint heirs with Jesus Christ. He said I do that I count on his strength. You see, that's the way this works. I have true contentment that's clearly one of the things it's missing in the church today. The evangelical church in America particularly is a discontented group unlike any other time in our history. I think for the first time in our history.

When you read about the church. We have always been described as believers until these last few years as sheep and up that's great description because his biblical all of us like sheep going astray. We he is our shepherd.

He is the good Shepherd. We are sheep now using the 23rd Psalm and are talking about the good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, and the 23rd Psalm. He talks about his relationship with his sheep if used one word to describe the sheep what would it be content.

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters his rod and the staff they comfort me. See other works there content were not called sheep anymore. When you see a lot of people calling us now. Special people write on the subject were call shoppers evangelicals are now called shoppers and the ideas we shop we shop our spiritual lives, just like we shop at Walmart or on Amazon were looking for the best deal for us.

We are shoppers in the whole mega church entity and United States Council and that the ideas they give you what you're looking for. And if you don't get it there.

Your CI don't think I like them going somewhere else. I want to go into. I find what I want one of the reasons for that is when the content there's no real contentment that we have now.

What's interesting is another thing are giving to missions as needed but is not necessary. Accidental Paul told is he happy that they gave him something. Yes was needed for yes. Was it necessary no color set of R&B content. If you send it great if you didn't drink I'm good either way. And that's the truth when it comes down to our giving to missions are giving to missions is needed is a necessary no. When I first came here. Years and years ago we had an early missionary banquet at a local hotel and the speaker was Paul Van Gorder, who was with daily bread, a very good speaker and he was speaking to missions now never forgot what he said all he said and usually a missions speaker at a missions conference is one of those a minute make you feel so guilty that that'll make you give money he can do that at all what he said was interesting. He said God is going to evangelize this world with Fellowship Bible church without Fellowship Bible church but want to be great to be part of what God's doing is exactly right. See that's the case, and when this works, it's if it's needed, but is not necessary God, still God.

God is still going to do what God's going to do. It's a privilege for us to be part of what God's doing. If you go back all the way to the book of Esther and Mordecai. Esther is living in the royal palace and Mordecai writes to her, and it's an interesting thing.

He says this to her.

He's he says this door. He said Mordecai told them to reply to Lester do not imagine that you're in the king's palace and you can escape any more than all the Jews. The idea the plan was to eliminate and to all the Jews he said discussing the king's palace. You might not be able escape for if you remain silent at this time, he said, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father's house will perish God of the livers people.

That's what he said but you're in the royal house so he says. And who knows whether you have not attained. He said this royalty for such a time as this. You need to be part of this you need to talk to the king on behalf of your people. But if you don't, God of the living room sits the same thing are supportive missions is needed but is not necessary but it's important for us. Secondly, are giving them our fourth we are giving the mission should be very intentional. Look at verse 14 he says nevertheless he said you've done well to share with me in my affliction.

You yourselves also know Philippians that at the first preaching of the gospel and I after I left Macedonia. No church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving. But you alone for even in Thessalonica you send a gift more than once to meet my needs.

Notice how intentional their giving was Paul just led them the Lord, and he moved on the Thessalonica and are sending Paul gifts to keep them going to spread the gospel are giving or even individually, should be intentional for the spreading of the gospel around the world. First John 317 and 18 says this. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need, but has no pity on him, he said, how can the love of God be in their children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and truth. Galatians 62 carry each other's burdens, and in this way, you fulfill the law of Christ. It's intentional. We we should be people that if we see needs. We meet needs. That's what we would do when you think of world missions.

One of the things we've decided to do the best we could. Of his last several years is he one of the support what I call multiplication ministries around the world. In other words, Caesar ministries we get a lot more bang for your buck.

A people who were going to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ for a long long time now we've supported Dallas theological seminary.

They train the men they send them out all over the world. A lot of the students are international I run sheet is international went back to Delhi. We support Dallas but since then we've taken on the support of Moscow seminary Moscow seminary as a Dallas gratis, as president and East training Russians to go into Russia and bring the gospel to the Russian people. We also support Jordan seminary in Jordan and then a Dallas graduate who has Jordan seminary and it he's training Muslims who are not Christians to going to the Muslim world and the lien was is the Christ. Well, that's great. That's multiplication. Now we find out that they're going to start a seminary in Delhi in India and some of the support that. What do these seminaries especially Moscow. Jordan and Delhi. They have everything they need gifted dedicated teachers, students that are converted growing in grace gifts and pastor teachers and evangelists. What are they lack money.

Electronic that's all they lack. You see, and so what while we here were here to send people in the ideas. The best we can do to make our contribution to help them spreads the gospel in Jordan in Russia and India and just imagine what that would be like you heard, Rajeev said the 35 million people in metropolitan Delhi can imagine. I mean New York City's is the little shantytown's not even close. How many of those you think are born again people very small group of grace, the need to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Unbelievably needed in that country.

See that's where we come in that subpart that we do.

That's what we do when ever we send that so makes it so important and lastly are giving to missions will be honored by God.

Notice how he picks this up. He says in verse 17 not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account very stellar McGinnis web joy. God's going to put this in your account seek that's important to God. He said nothing for me.

I don't care about that but for you. Jesus said member where your treasures are put your treasure ahead of yourself for your treasure in heaven, not on earth. That's exactly what Paul was saying, he said, but I have received everything in for one have an abundance. I am amply supplied having receiving the path of 90s what you have sent. Then he says this a fragrant aroma and acceptable sacrifice well pleasing to God and my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus wound. When you give the world missions when your own God says that's a sweet aroma to me that's a phrase that is certain sacrifices to him or sweet aroma. The sweetness of the aromas what the sacrifice accomplishes you see the death of Jesus Christ on the cross was a sweet aroma to the father is unbelievably agonizing for Christ. But why was it a sweet aroma. It gave human beings an opportunity to be saved and spend eternity with God. That's a sweet aroma. He said it's well pleasing to God is one of the things 10.

I want to do some the please God hear this.

He said that's a sweet aroma, and any said, my God will supply all your needs and even more.

You've heard this many times, but I'll say it again, you cannot give God but I wish it was a lesson everybody learned but some of us are so skeptical.

Some of us are like toddlers in our favorite word when it comes to our resources is mine mine mine. First we have to realize it's his. His is not mine, but the point of it is this know what Scripture says is what Jesus in Luke six. Give, and it will be given to you.

A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, he said no it will be poured into your lap. He said, for with the measure you use it to be measured back to you Jesus that if you give this much the God God gives this much back to you.

You can't God just looks for conduit someone he can work through and so this whole idea that you know I'm in no I have to say this. This is a warning. Some of you think this way so much your thing. Wait a minute you telling me that the Bible teaches that if I give I can make more money if you think that way I can make more money. Gotto see right through that you understand your motivation but the point of it is that's exactly what God is saying going to give it to Jesus at shaken press Don in your lap. Second Corinthians chapter 9 and God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good, that's a blessing of God. Why it's a Granger finite because I gave the spreading of the gospel. That's an important thing are giving to missions glorifies God that were glorifies the word Oaks and it means the weight of something God is pretty weighty. You see, whenever I we give the God that way. He demonstrates his weight. When we give the missions we demonstrate how much God's way carries with us if this is well pleasing to my father.

I'll be glad to do it seek that gives him glory. So having said these things that are giving to missions needs to be revived are giving to missions should be a great joy to us in our giving's the missions is needed but not necessary are giving to missions should be intentional in our giving the missions will be honored by God. Those are all really important things now I want to say something else that was a pastor really proud of a lot of very much so I mean in the past we have yearly programs for missions and all those things. That's all been in the past because a coven that we didn't have anything like that.

One of the concerns we had in the beginning it from the over a year ago was simply the concern will have no missionaries, nothing you people just kept giving the missions and changeable just stated its course that's pleasing to God that makes me feel great is a pastor. No one reminded you. No one said anything you want, you know no one is want nothing in this gave is a wonderful thing knows a thing. It makes you feel really good. As a pastor and so this last year is gone in a very God honoring way. Now for the rest of you if you never given the missions this morning. I'm just challenging you to examine your own art and ask yourself the question, why, why don't I see is very important to the spreading of the gospel around the world. It simple to be saved. A person needs a call on the Lord to call the Lord. A person has to believe for a person to believe they have to hear and for person to hear. There has to be a proclaimer to tell them. And if there's a proclaimer. Someone has to send him that you and me with the senders when it comes of the gospel around the world. The spring father. I lift up Rosie in a terrible situation in India right now to be unimaginable to us as Americans to go through with these people going through right now. But I do realize also father you can use these unbelievably adverse circumstances to share Jesus Christ, the hope of the glory of Christ.

I pray for Rajeev Ms. church and all believers in India that they use this opportunity to be able to demonstrate what it means. The first know Christ and secondly, to proclaim and to those who desperately needed.

Father, I thank you that we have a relationship with him and other missionaries over the world.

I thank you father that they're going or we can go in there proclaiming the same order.

We love with all of our heart. Father, I think that we would been faithful over these last years, always faithful to be able to support the gospel around this, may we continue to do so for a good figure. Christ pastor broke apart on the radio ministry of fellowship in the Lord. If you ever miss one of our broadcast or maybe you dislike listen to the message one more time.

Remember that 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 at that website you will find on with today's broadcast but also many of our previous audio programs as Fellowship in the Word. We are thankful for those who financially support our ministry and make this 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 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 of 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 you're looking 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 listen at your own. And remember, you can do all this absolutely free of charge. Once again our website is FVC Nola.org for pastor Bill Gebhardt and Jason Denhardt. Thank you for listening to fellowship in order