What Do You Want To Be, Part 2

Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ is a very important place to start.

So often we don't we aspire. We see people may categorize them as the holder of a quality person that I got subsets of mai tais in the past, only two kinds say people got 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. Let's join Pastor Bill Gebhardt now is once again he shows us how God's word are oral once I was teaching it just said, you know, wherever sin abounds.

Grace abounds all the more, and I remember person seated at question. Are you saying that a Christian could actually just keep sitting. I said I are you saying that Christian could do really terrible since it still be saved. I said I am well that's just ridiculous. You can't do that and you can stand but not big ones. What is that that's legalism as simple legalism.

You see a person to be saved as long as they do little things but if you do some big drought and think of the history of the church.

Just think of the way it was an amazing thing. How many of you grew up with the whole idea. For example, whether persons are Christian or not they committed suicide. Doesn't matter what they were, they merely go to hell.

People said that you see that Jesus didn't die for that horrible effecting back in medieval days they used to behead the person they put them in the great so that that make sure to cut their heads off. That's just religion. Notice it said pulse is the other part of the verse. He said in order to bring us into bondage. That's all.

Another gospel is bondage when someone tells you believe in Jesus but you got to do something there something you gotta do you keep doing this. If you do you'll get saved is bondage in Jesus is of no value pieces, but we do not yield to this objection to them for even an hour possible to how much influence they had over me at nine. Actually, not, not even in our pieces of the truth of the gospel remain with you, he said, but from those who were of high reputation. Now notice this can be Peter, James and John, he says, but from those who were of high reputation. I love Paul what they were.

Makes no difference to me is that I don't care what Peter, James and John to make a difference to me said because God shows no partiality. Amazing, and religion. How we show partiality is an amazing how we give each other titles and some people are more important than other people.

A hierarchy like all the really important people look as of the important people you can tell they even dress. Importantly, they were little more religious than me.

He's got some of the people that way. Paul said I'm not that impressed that Peter, James and John were there with me and then when I look at them like any other person, he says. Notice that he says well those were whoever were of reputation contributed nothing to me.

So what did Peter and James and John add to Paul nothing positing that anger me nothing fat when you read one. By the way Peter is giving a dread in his letter is writing about Paul and he says you know Paul writes things that I don't quite understand.

He said he has the right some really deep stuff.

Well, he says. On the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised. Just as Peter had been to the circumcised, for he who effectually work for Peter and his apostleship to the circumcise if actually work for me also to the Gentiles and recognizing the grace that had been given to me. James and Cephas, and John who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship so that we might go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised God often you spiritual people to confirm your calling, whatever it is and they did.

There was a harmony between them. The only thing they ask Paul in verse 10 is they only ask us to remember the poor, the very thing I was a good they did everywhere. Paul when he took up collections for the poor saints in Jerusalem. There was a famine in the land and the poor believing Jews were being ostracized by the community. They were starting supposed that I do and then I could to help. So your pre-conversion days. Don't limit you in serving God and God will prepare you to fulfill his calling in your life and God walking spiritually will confirm his calling on your life. Whenever I finish those main points I want to ask you something. It doesn't sound like you to you so when I often think is when you hear about the apostle Paul. Does that sound like you sending for so many of us like that and some like me at them like me all I can even identify with that. That sounds like the apostle Paul.

Okay, it might sign like missionaries or full-time pastors.

These points seem to work for them. But what about for me. You see, I don't see how that works for me while I think the problem is not going to be the text. I think the problem is maybe perhaps a new seat when asking the beginning. What is you want to be. How do you want to be used greatly of God where Hopper specifically what your ministry, what is it you do for the glory of God. You see, we think of it, it's easy to identify in certain terms, but not so easy for the everyday Christian, they find it like I don't identify with this well maybe because you have a failure to see your own ministry turn to first Corinthians 1st Corinthians chapter 1.

The one thing that was written in Paul's letter to the Galatians that I want you to be part of your life. Is this look. There are no celebrities in Christianity. There are no 18 people and then beating people. There's no stars. There isn't any, is a very important thing to understand because our human nature is the want to make people that so Paul is going to give us under the inspiration the Holy Spirit sort of an overview of all of us as a group. Verse 26 of chapter 1 he said, consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, but God has chosen the foolish things of this world to shame the wise God's chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things that are strong and the base things of the world and the despised God's chosen the things that are not.

He said that he might nullify the things that are so that no man bows before God, there is an assessment of us as a group. Let's see if you can fit into this group. You're not wise you're not mighty you're not noble you're foolish you're weak your base your despised. Can you make that cut list and you think maybe you qualify for that. You see, that's us know we want is a no no no I mean apostle Paul is way up there Billy Graham's like, way, way up there does not not at all. He's in this group just like you are just like I am well this group. You see, from a human point of view were not the most impressive group of people on the planet. We are to God. Notice verse 30, but by his doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us the wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written. Let him who boasts boast in the Lord God just loves it this way none of us bring much to the table and in fact when it comes our salvation. None of us bring anything to the table just her faith in what he gave us that's it. Paul says that's a very important place to start and so often we don't we aspire. We see people we categorize them as their whole different quality person that I am not God's point of view of said so many times in the past, only two kinds of people on this planet, or say people and there's lots people exit God's point of view, that's it. All the other stuff is man-made, so maybe you don't see yourself in your ministry. You see, maybe you don't see your uniqueness in the ministry turn to first Corinthians chapter 12 first Corinthians chapter 12 and verse 12. Paul wants to describe all of us now as I read through this and when you try to figure out where you might fit in the body of Christ. He's going to use the image of the body human body, and he says were all in that body.

The body of Christ. He said even as the body, he says, even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body. Though there are many, are one body, so also is Christ is approved by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. It is a matter for Jews or Greeks, whether we were slaves and free. We were all made to drink of one Spirit, he said, but the body is not one member, but many that your civil what wisely rightness because the problem in Corinth was that some people said you know. Look, I'm not really that happy with who I am in Christ. I want to be like him I would be like her. I would have their gift. That's what they were doing. You don't really understand this is just one body. Now watch what he says then he said of the Ford says because I am not a hand, I am not part of the body is not for this reason, he said any less part of the body if the ear says because I'm not and I I'm not part of the body is a not for this reason any less part of the body. If the whole body were an eye is an interesting thought were with the hearing be if the whole body were hearing were with a sense of smell be, but now he says God has placed the members each one of them. That's us in the body.

How, just as he desired.

In other words, the ministry that God is called to do is based on exactly why God has gifted you to do a stick he has you placed now. He said if they were all one member. He says over the body be, but now there are many members but one body, and I cannot say to a hand.

I don't have any need of you. Or again ahead to the feet. I have no need of you on the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body would seem to be weaker are necessary pieces in those members of the body which we deem less honorable. He said on these we bestow more abundant honor and are unseemly members come to have a more abundant C- he says whereas our seeming members have no need of it. But God has so compose the body, giving more abundant honor to the member which lacked so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may be he says have the same care for one another just so to summarize, if amusing them. Some of us. My role was to be the mouth okay as you all know and that's a role but it's not anymore important.

Some of your hand. Some of your feet. Some of you are the liver. Some of you in the pancreas. Some of your gallbladders, some you see what I mean, that's what we all are.

We make up one body now from the world's point of view and from the Corinthian point of view. All I want to be the mouth I want to be the mouth. That's how you serve Jesus pulses that's not the way it works well. God honors the unseemly part of the body, more so then he honors the mouth. In other words, God sees each individual is more important than me ask you something which you what happens.

For example, if your mouth stopped moving. You simply don't talk. What happens if your heart stops beating. When I was of your kidneys fail. You see, what's the most important part of your body. The part you don't see God says that's exactly right.

That's the most important part of my body, the church, because that's the part I honor that's why when it comes to the judgment seat of Christ on them tell you this, and I mean this with all my heart. I think people will be amazed because you going to give an account for the life you live for Jesus Christ and so many people think 400 and I hope I'm not behind in the line behind like Billy Graham. Billy Graham goes up there and I got start talking to him. Then I get up there and oh I believe with all my heart. There will be people will be more honored by God for all eternity, who no one ever heard of, but to God. There are people who make intercessory prayer for God's kingdom for God's ministries for God's people almost nonstop. That's what God was asked on the dude that's their ministry, and I have a hunch that he may say to them, well done good and faithful servant and a much greater way than he will say to many of the people or the mouse you see, we don't. We have to get that every single one of us every single one of us has a ministry God has called us to. They gotta watch out about this because we have a tendency to do that as soon as you're with and I need a ministry. I want the pastor ever sums give me a ministry now is not the way ministry is decided. God gives each one of us is read on 12 a giftedness to do that ministry you what we did with it.

Back in the 70s and 80s 90s. We we took inventories.

We would pass out everybody in the church questionnaire to fill out the questionnaire and then use it without your gift that's ridiculous, that's completely give you what I have questionnaire how do you know what you should be doing easy. Be faithful and obey God, and it be clear to you. Where's your burden. You see what your burden. It's easy to see all you have to do is live your life Lord and what ever your special gift. And this is becomes evident and a lot of it is something nobody ever sees you see, it's that kind of ministry. There are people that are encouragers. As I said before, there are people who have the Paul writes the gift of faith. By the way, don't look at spiritual list of gifts there. 19 in the New Testament that are listed but not one place to see list all 19 so that tells me something that tells me there's not one complete list he would've written it down if there was, how many gifts are there. I think I believe God gives each one of us in it an interesting and special way.

But see what all God is saying is with the gift is all the work.

By the way, the word gift is the word carless which is grace. God says look you serve me I'll give you the grace to do it. That's all you serve me a give the grace to do it. You see, that's what God is saying you never see you never have to worry about am I going to make this am I not gonna make this God.

God has given every one of us ministry is placed every one of us in the body of Christ. Each one of us unique.

If all your burden anyone faithful to the Lord to find out what it is. Some of you may have a filter to see your ministry. Secondly, I hate to say this but for many of us we've never given ourselves to ministry, for God. That's the whole point. This go back to Galatians one is class person when you look at verse I skip verse 10, Paul wrote this for my now seeking the favor of men of God, he said. Or am I striving to please men. He said if I if I were still trying to please men.

He said I would not be a bondservant of Christ. You see as you like your life who you trying please don't let me tell you some of what men mean there it means others, and it means you my living for others. My living for me or my living for God's deposit on the trying to please others. I'm not trying to please Paul. I'm not seeking the favor of others.

I'm not seeking my favor. I am only seeking the favor of the Lord. You see, that's the question for many of us. We never really give ourselves to be used by God. We never do you ask yourself what are your goals, your real goals in life of a secular.

I mean, your primary top goals of a secular on a personal or spiritual using a primary top goals of your parent. What are your primary goals for your children. The primary goals you have. I don't mean almost as a lot of the schools are good, but what your primary goals for so many of us will make it to get a good education.

I want my kids to get a good career path and get a good job. I want them to find a good compatible person to marry. I want to make a life for himself. Again, I like in the know the Lord and I like him to see was the question what's first in your life that your children know the Lord and after they know the Lord that they walk with the Lord that they have Christian character that that characters evident. You see, is that the top priority of your life or is it a under the priority. See what my seeking the favor of here. I seek first the favor of men, or of myself, but I seek first the favor of God to very important question for us to ask you see when Paul ended, he said if I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bondservant of Jesus Christ.

What a bad translation misses the bad translation that's notorious bondservant words to us unit means slave slave are you comfortable that slave you see we have a tendency to sin.

I like servant they serve. But this is in God's assessment of Paul. This is Paul's assessment of his relationship with God.

God calls Paul a child of God, because you and I are his children.

What you call the relationship between you and God pulses. I call it to us, slave no missing when John MacArthur writes about this he said Scriptures prevailing description of the Christian's relationship with Jesus Christ as a slave master relationship, he said, but do a casual read through of the your English New Testament and you won't see it there is of the reason for this is simple as it is shocking. The Greek word for slave has been covered up by being mistranslated almost every single English version going back to both the King James version and even the Geneva Bible that he says predated it, though the word slave do loss appears in the New Testament hundred and 24 times it's translated slave once in the King James most modern translations only do slightly better.

It almost seems like there's a complete conspiracy is that instead of translating do loss of slave. Almost all of our English translations consistently substitute the word servant in its place.

Ironically, the Greek language has at least 1/2 a dozen words it can mean servant, do loss is not one of them. Whenever it is used both in the New Testament, secular Greek literature.

It always and only means slave. Then he says this while it is true that the duties of a slave in a servant may overlap to some degree there is a key distinction between servants and slaves, servants are hired. Slaves are owned. That's why Paul calls himself a slave. I'm not harming working for Jesus. He bought me he redeemed me I belong to. I'm a slave noticed God doesn't say your muchly pulses to God, I'm your slave was.

I mean, I'm all in. I'm all in completely all in. You see, maybe you've never given yourself the ministry. To that extent, maybe fill them, see yourself as a viable minister of Jesus Christ. Whatever it is. It really comes down to you. My grandson may not be an artist and there some reason for that one is by the time is nine. I'm sure his interest change maybe 8 1/2. Secondly, you may not have enough talent as an adult you and I know what kind of talented take to be a professional artist and thirdly he may just buy through life realize that I never can support myself or support a family by being an artist of some going to have to do something else. He may never be what you saying right now would like to be, but if you are saying I want to be greatly used of God as a Christian if that's what you're saying there's only one thing that can stop you. You spring father, I fear that so many believers see ministries like the apostle Paul's or Billy Graham's and they say that's what calling is.

That's what a ministry is the father.

We all have ministry were all part of the body. We've all been uniquely experienced and gifted by you and may not be something that other people see it may be simply that we make intercessory prayer for others it may be simply that we given support other sacrificially to advance the kingdom of God. But whatever it is father it strategically important to you.

So father I pray for each and every one of us to examine our own heart and ask ourselves, do we know how we most effectively conserve the Lord Jesus Christ. Do we know father what is it that burdens our hearts for ministry, for the glory of our Lord and if we know that father through your spirit. Give us the power and the courage to act as we pray for our and for your Christ pastor broke your heart on the radio ministry of fellowship Lord, if you ever miss one of our broadcast or maybe you just like listening to 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 at that website you will find on today's broadcast but also many of our previous audio program is at Fellowship in the Word. We are thankful for those who financially support our ministry and make this broadcast possible. Yes, all of our listeners to prayerfully consider how you might help his 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 delivered 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 the sermon series you're looking you can search by title. Once you find the message you're looking for. You can listen online or if you prefer, you can download the sermon and listen at your own. And remember all this absolutely free of charge.

Once again our website FVC Nola.org for pastor broke your heart disease and heart.

Thank you for listening to fellowship in order