Smoothing Out The Rough Roads, Part 2

Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ. We are going to focus you know there yet.

The point is, it's there.

Can't wait to get there.

You know what's working to get there is Disney World Dr. home some but the drive there because they're so excited about the destination look going to the real magic in joining us today on this additional fellowship in the world. Pastor Bill Gebhardt Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of pro-survival church located in Metairie going Pastor Bill Gebhardt.

Now once again he shows us how God's word meets our disciples in Mark chapter 4 fishermen and want to see a gallery and the storm is unbelievable. They believe as fishermen are all better.*All that I die in the store I and meanwhile Jesus in the stern underneath in the ship little boat any sign asleep.

Okay, now he's with them. You see there's his presence. They promise them anything as what he said on going over to the other side. Now, when God incarnate, says one over the other side. Were we going to take but they don't believe that. So they wake them up in a safe, don't you care that were perishing, and he just looked at them and said you men of what little faith and many just looked at the scene went he still while they find out that the road when comes rough to smooth.

Just like that, but they didn't pass the test, they didn't do well with this at all.

They got preoccupied with the storm instead of preoccupied with the sleeping Lord you see in the boat so that's ends up what's happening.

God says that one can understand this.

Look at verse 35 of chapter 8 who will separate us from the love of Christ will tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, Megan's peril. The sword by the waiters are all rough roads. Every single one of those is a really really rough road. He said will that happen is a look at verse 37 in all these things we overwhelmingly conqueror through him who loved us what will prevail is we overwhelmingly conqueror, he said, I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, or things to come. The powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any created thing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our what's causing I believe in the presence of the promise of God. I believe in the presence and the promise of God. What's I created for Paul, peace.

That's peace how much peace do you have in a rough road situation in your life is him telling if you have any piece you don't believe this. You don't have any piece he says will come right here. I can do this for you.

I can handle this for you. The second shock absorber is are our focus must be on our destination, not the trip or the rough road we have to focus on the destination. As believers we see this over and over. The word of God. Look at Romans eight verse 18. Notice what Paul says here, he said, I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed. Us through some of the watch. I consider that the sufferings that's a rough road of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is going to be revealed to us what you doing that I'm focused on the destination no go with me to second Corinthians chapter 4 second Corinthians 4 and notice how he picks up the same idea and what he says. He says therefore verse 16 he says therefore he said we do not lose heart bye-bye what's one of the first things you do on a rough road lose heart boy or am I going to do, how my going to get out of this we lose heart will bounce all around you see all we have is the body on the frame when an old dirt road. All were doing is bouncing. What we really need the roads of New Orleans. The roads are bad not fear. Just imagine want to be like to live in Lakeview without shock of he says. Therefore, we do not lose heart.

But though the outer man is decaying at the inner man is being renewed day by day possible, but further down is like now and he he he tells Oliver something that into you get old enough, you won't understand the want to rollup this verse is truly meant.

The outer man's decaying can't stop it. We call it aging is nothing we can do but notice what he says about the rough road for momentary, light affliction is producing for us the eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison again while we look not at the things which are seen, that's the rough robot with the things are not seen. That's God for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen are eternal. He said I just focus on the destination my son to think of how would be a good way to give a good illustration of this is what I think would work. Have you ever driven from New Orleans to Disney World with kids in your car, communicate, and when you're going.

The kids are focused you know think we there yet are we there yet, but the point is, it's there. We can't wait to get there. You know once we going to get when were there. This is going to be great were Disney World not to drive home some completely different, but the drive there because they're so excited about the destination look, why don't we.

We were going to the real magic kingdom. You see why Otley you see why Otley to be absent from the body to be present with the Lord.

The worst thing that could happen to us can happen to us if you read the end of the book we went all those things are the say the same thing, the destination, it will be worth it all. When we see Jesus why isn't that a perspective when the road gets rough.

Why don't we focused on the destination.

That's the second thing that he tells us the third shock absorber that he tells us is that we need to focus on all the good things and the blessings God has given us in this life we need to think about all the good see once the road gets rough. All we think about what's rough, but we don't think about all the good things that God has for us again.

I want to go back to Ecclesiastes chapter 9 Solomon again back where we started. Ecclesiastes 9 but this time in verse seven. See what Solomon says, as I as I try to think about life in the big things of the meaning of life and how important it is and all that number member Solomon is a guy that already knows that everything that everyone else is important isn't you see, he knows that he's wealthy beyond belief. He's got all kinds of projects he has amazing reputation with everybody. He's tried everyplace or that the world offers in spades. He has tried everything he said all of it is vanity. None of it produces what you should have seen the realize that without God, nothing else matters.

So here's what his conclusion is about our temple, like those starting in verse seven he said go then eat your bread and happiness and drink your wine with a cheerful heart for God is already approved to work.

Enjoy your life.

This is the good parts.

Notice he says let your clothes be white all the time and let about the oil be lacking on your head. What he means there is whatever you going to go out in that world you put on your white clothes. You see, try to keep close white that will but we put on you and you anoint your head with oil, you're looking pretty good.

You do that, then he says this enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which is given you and your son. I love that this enjoy your spouse God's giving his spouse enjoy spouse by the way, it is a man who had a thousand wives and concubines wrote that interesting him he realize he had missed something, he says, whatever your hand finds the dude doing with all your might, for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom. And she'll we are going this is your only shot. Whatever you do do with all your might see carpe diem. Seize the day. Enjoy the day. The old hymn counter blessings name them one by one. Instead of saying what you don't like about the road we don't do this if we have two or three things are aggravating as that's all we talk about think about.

We have 100 great things and we don't think about or talk about those all is is you have to do that. That's what you have to do. You see, I don't have to know where the road is going to enjoy the ride. I don't have to. My goal was not to know every detail about my future. My goal was to hold the hand of the one who does stay close to me knows where you see I wanted I want to be part of today I want to count my blessings. So God's presence in God's promise to Brian. The destination counter blessings in the present and the last thing one more thing I want to say about that third appointment.

I want you to see from a different point of view. My go to Philippians chapter 4 Philippians 4 Paul brings us into the New Testament. And this is important for us as usual rough road. He's in jail more likely he thinks is going to be executed. He gets out this time and the next time he goes and execute them anyway. But he's in. He's he's in a rough road when you have a rough road your what would be worse than be incarcerated, waiting a death sentence. He said that's where I met so he said I'll write a letter to the Philippians, why am in and guess what the theme of the S joy. How do you do that. You see, how can you do that you understand because he I fully understand.

Exhibit got instead I ride one shock absorbers. It looks rough to you but not to me. I see things differently.

Notice what he says in verse four he says rejoice in the Lord always again I say rejoice. He said look I need you to be as joyful as I am joy he said later gentle spirit be known to all men.

The Lord is near. She's got the shock absorbers. So then he says this. Be anxious for nothing. So how many things up all worry about nothing with that describe you sue anybody can be anxious for nothing, he said in everything by prayer and supplication.

That's the prayer and the emotional content of the prayer with thanksgiving, let your request be known the mind known to God for your heart out to God, but I gotta take some if you going to use as a shock absorber. Yet the thank God before he answers the reason you think I before he answers it takes faith the thank God before he enters you see because here's the point. If God says yes that's the answer you want right then you think God, but shouldn't you, thank God. If he says no or wait who see if you say no that's that's not a good answer than what you're saying is he's not a good God please God.

It is good is is I think of right now. That's what Paul says about notices he goes on then he says, look, let me tell you my mental framework. Finally, brother, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence in anything worthy of praise dwell on these things in the middle of a rough road you do that, I'd like this is difficult sometimes and I but it can be done. I don't know about you but sometimes if I wake up in the middle of the night no matter what the elements are the rough progress when mine goes right to the rough road boy. For me this is awful. I feel terrible you know I don't what's happening me over these last couple years, it changed in that area like the middle of the night.

I just look at my wifely minister thanking God may still have her use of the relationship I have other people to love and I start thinking that way and what happens when I do that I go to sleep. And if I don't I lay awake. See, I mean it really it's it's how you think you see, it's how you think so he says that no notice he says in verse 10, but I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me.

Indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak from one I've learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am love this verse understand the context because if you were so joyful about being in prison waiting a death sentence you guys heard about it and you love me and you want to help me in that great. He said I know you always want to help me but now you have an opportunity could you think I might be going out is it isn't that great seal. Paul works. He's a man without anxiety or worry you see earlier in the letter he's asked if you had a choice. Paul, would you rather be a lot stay alive a new ministry would read it.

Be dead and go with the Lord. Sam thought about that but thinking about it. I'd rather be getting a little that's the destination but he said for your sake of the Lord wants me to be glad to stay. Now, if that's what you really believe what can life due to you. Nothing he said.

Imagine when a sentence Paul and said I gotta tell you Baltimore guide going to be beheaded… Get all my afraid you see what he has to shock absorbers they work for him noticed he set up learned the secret of being content in whatever circumstances a man I don't how to get along with humble means. I know how to live in prosperity in any and every circumstance among the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering. What is the secret Paul. Verse 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

My secret.

I can do all things through him the strength you see I believe in the presence and power of God in my life would appall get those thoughts from my from Paul got of Christ.

You see, got of the spirit of God, he got of God. That's why good duties I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Paul, how do you get your mind focus just on what the good, the Hon., pure sleep with my mind. I just trust him.

I can do all things through him a strengthens me.

You see, Paul understood how important this is to focus on the good things of life. And so what you have is God's presence and God's power create peace. The focus on the destination creates hope and now being preoccupied with the good things going on right now the blessings you have now that produces joy and then the last one we need to find comfort in God's presence because he loves us so much go with me to first Peter chapter 5 and by the way, once again, if you know the Bible. What's the theme of first Peter suffering about rough roads. The whole book. Hope this was about the rough roads of life. Notice what he says that in verse seven he says, casting all your anxiety on him for casting at all on him all your anxiety all your work. Give it all to God while NY well because he is God he can handle it.

He could say that that's not what he says. He says, casting all your anxiety on him because he cares for you to meeting thought. I don't know if you think about it I think about it quite often, but I'm off. How could he love me like that, but he does. He loves you the same way. I mean, when you think about. That's an amazing thing.

He's always loved you and he always will. There's nothing you could do whatever may God love you more and there's nothing you could do never make him love you less. Just love you how little you give me the anxiety I love you. How many parents would want to be able to take the anxiety of a child under themselves. So the child could have peace. All of us would gotchas other than for you because I care for you. I mean, that's an amazing thing when you think about it.

I love the passage of say it often in the Old Testament. When I say what he says I written your name in my hand. I just love that it what you mean, that's how much that's how personal this is to me.

You see, nobody on earth loves me as much is God's, or you that you give us cast your cares on me. He said I'll take him just cast your cares of me said I'll take them rough roads are going to come. You see, said be one of a sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary the devil prods about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour you sent me rough roads you and I have an enemy was real and powerful, and there's nothing he knows about you.

He knows your weakness working over but notice he said resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world is not hard for look rough roads are coming all of us believers of that rough road for 2000 years, Christians been martyred in every generation, worldwide it's always been rough. Notice what he says in verse tenant after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself perfect, confirm strength and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. He goes into a doxology as I got this given to me because I love you and so we see how this works. God gives us for shock absorbers want some of the road unnecessarily. But you have to bounce around if you could have a smooth ride. You have to believe in God's presence in God's promise.

You have to focus on the destination, not the trip. You have to get be thankful for the blessings that God is putting your life in the good things in your life right now and you have to remember just how much God loves you. I want to be a very bad news but you got rough roads ahead of you and so do I.

And you have a choice to make and you can become frightened. You see, you can become frightened. You can worry you can be full of anxiety and fear, and you can even become bitter or you can allow the shock absorbers to change you.

Instead of being all those things will be a person that has peace beyond all understanding whole certitude of the future joy in the moment of the circumstances and the comfort of the love of God. That's what is provided for us.

Thank God for his shock absorbers. The spring father. This is a difficult area for us as believers because when the road is smooth. We will listen were happy were listening.

We get reinforced by the truth. But the problem is when the road gets rough. Father, we forget the truth we become preoccupied with the suffering and the pain and we allow the bumps in the road to set our framework the framework of the way we approach our lives and we become frightened and full of anxiety and worry, and eventually father would become bitter father I pray that we don't let that happen to us, but I have prayed that we understand your relationship with us that you will not necessarily take us off of the rough road that you will make our rights if we just for our good Christ and pastor broke apart. If you ever miss one of our broadcast or maybe you just like listening to the message one more time.

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