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August 19, 2021 8:00 am
Today on the Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ.
Why did God allow this to happen to me. Is he doesn't care about me.
See, that's exactly what they said it's very normal human response you not care the person of Jesus you want to say my life followed me for these months or years that is see if you follow Christ enough ever asked that joining us today on this additional Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt Fellowship in the Word of the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana join Pastor Bill Gebhardt now is once again he shows us how God's word are do not kill the body but are unable to kill the soul. He said rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul said he want to fear anybody you fear God, and he said these are the beginning of God-fearing people you see said you fear God, don't you fear by making duty don't fear anybody they could just kill your body or anything. I think they could just kill your body. He then goes on and explains it. He says are not two sparrows sold for sent yet not one of them will fall to the ground and he says apartment from your father ever think of that. He said God is involved. Every single time a sparrow falls ground hundreds of millions arrows of billions and billions of and just right now as I'm speaking somewhere in interior Africa sparrow answers yes Jesus point sovereign. I go over everything, even a sparrow falling and then he says even more though. Notice he says the very hairs of your head are all numbered. That's a funny thing is that everything you ever think about that.
I said this earlier. I was thinking about the first service but just came to me. I thought I would never do this with God because usually I think once you're in the presence of the Lord, you don't really want to be too funny with them that way but I know I could name anyone of you and he would give me the number of hurting her. We want a game that would be name of person you name the head number of hairs. What would Jesus say that it tells you first of all just gone to what his omniscience is it's it's almost beyond it is beyond our belief. It's just unfathomable for us to somebody would know that much. Then he says this so do not fear you are more valuable than many sparrows. Not only is God's offer. Not only is God I miss you Nisa, but you have tremendous intrinsic value to God.
You see, you mean a lot to God. He's assuring them of God's presence. He is confident, trying to give them confidence in God's power and he is trying to secure them in God's love and he says and when you have that you will not fear. You see what Jesus didn't do here. He didn't tell the disciples. When you go out and they take you into court to give you a get out of jail free card. You see he didn't say any of that. He said whenever they do this to you.
Don't fear them see anyone we would want often is local and what would rather have them is not do anything to us. He says no it doesn't work that way when a cursed planet in the real world turn back with me now to Matthew six, Matthew chapter 6 intake something much more mundane. Matthew chapter 6 sermon on the Mount, and at the end of the chapter, verses 27 to 34.
He said he looked don't worry about what you wear.
Don't worry if you have clothing to wear. Don't worry if you have food to eat.
Now, by the way that to us would be the necessities of life in on my talking about being worried about being arrested and flogged because I'm proclaiming Christ.
Now I'm just trying to eat and get through the day.
And Jesus said don't worry about that, whatever you do don't worry about going worry about that. So he says in verse 31. Do not worry then saying what you what we eat what we drink what we were for clothing. He said the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, he said, your heavenly Father knows that you need these things, we mean. He said seek first his kingdom and his righteousness. All these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow.
Tomorrow will take care of itself. And then something none of us like to hear each day has enough trouble don't. I thought there would be no trouble. I don't want trouble knows that every day is going to have its own trouble now wanted to see what Luke adds that this and go with me now to Luke chapter 12 Luke chapter 12 same message in Dyna versus 3031 and 32 in verse 30, Luke says this he says for all" in Jesus for all these things. He said the nations of the world eagerly seek but your father knows that he said you need these things seek first his kingdom. These things will be added to you.
But Luke add something he says do not be afraid to not be afraid now that me tell you some if you have enough food in the shelter or clothing. Would you fear you see Jesus said that if you're a follower of mine. I just really don't be afraid there's nothing to fear here. He says do not be afraid, little flock, for your father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.
Wow one verse four different images. First he calls us a little flock. So what we know he is our shepherd.
That's what were the flock, he said, don't be afraid, little flock. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. See Psalm 23 and this sermon on the Mount passage our hand in glove.
He said your father your father not only is the Lord, my shepherd, but he's is God's. Also, my father, he said your father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. My father is not just the shepherd is not just my father.
He's king. We know later Scriptures King of Kings and Lord of lords, and he will gladly give us the kingdom.
That word gladly is great. That word is the word joyfully. God says I'll joyfully give you the whole kingdom. So don't worry.
You seek is my shepherd is my father is my king.
Don't worry, I'm giving you the whole kingdom is astounding how this works even. Don't be afraid of men who could even kill you. Don't be afraid of the sustenance of life, provide was something else we can identify with here. Go with me to Mark chapter 4, Mark chapter 4.
What about mother nature Mark four verse 35. Mark writes this on that day when evening came, he said to them I let us go over to the other side and leaving the crowd. They took him along with them in the boat. Just as he was in other boats were with them and there arose a fierce gale of wind and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up, and Jesus himself was in the Stern asleep on a cushion.
This is an incredible storm. By the way, Jesus would have to be aware that it is in the sternest envelope the waters coming in a boat it's going down where he is previously know what's interesting about this. We know there are four sailors on that at least four yeah Peter and Andrew and James and John. The professionals, but apparently they're terrified now look what happens when fear grips us. It says they woke him and they said to him, teacher, a rabbi, do you not care that were perishing. That's what fear does for the believer in Jesus Christ.
That's what fear does have seen over and over again. How could this happen to me. Why did God allow this to happen to me.
You see, doesn't God care about me. See, that's exactly what they said it's very normal human response you not care that we are perishing, you know, if you were Jesus, you'd want to see you don't think I care you looked at my life. You followed me for all these months or years now and you know think I care is that what you're saying. You see, if you follow Christ enough. You never ask that question. Is it when you're following Christ should never say I don't think he cares he is proven it with his life and his words he cares. It says he got up, rebuked the wind and said harsh. Be still, I have a hunch that he didn't quite say with much enthusiasm. He didn't have to rush.
Be still, and the wind died down and became perfectly calm and he said this is the more important question. Why are you afraid why every time you and I as believers in Jesus Christ have for our lives. Jesus asks the same question, what are you afraid why why are you afraid look up assured you of God's presence. I'm giving you confidence in God's power of secure you and God's love. What are you afraid she don't you believe me. You see, they want to say whoa Lord we have I ever misspoken to you see Jesus always means what he says says what he means always so look back on verse 35 Jesus said, let us go over to the other side now. Jesus said that your follower, what's the one thing you can absolutely be assured of their going to the other side seen were not going on and you don't seem to care. I love the response is exactly what Jesus would've wanted out of this verse 41, they became very much afraid very much is not good. It's the word phobia for fear but it may God make a phobia, they became big time fearful. Now the really afraid to see mega phobia.
He says they became very much afraid and they said to one another.
Who is this that even the wind and the sea obey him, the son of God have told you this I mean you see me do all kinds of things I feed 5000 I walk on water. I can raise the dead, come on, because I said harsh.
Be still notice one thing it's just what Jesus said in Matthew 1038. He said you know you need to fear. You need to fear God and so who now are they really afraid to really afraid of God is don't be afraid of storms. I guess I just don't be afraid of hurricanes, don't you know that I know don't you know that don't you know that I'm here you see don't you have the assurance of my presence. Don't you have confidence in my power don't join to secure my love to give you the whole thing in getting all of it.
You see, the longer I follow Christ, the more I trust him. The longer I follow in trust Christ the more I love him.
20 John Roden, first John perfect love casts out fear. Jesus is follow me and you'll have faith and love in me and he said and you will cast out the fear.
Let me illustrate this. Go to Romans eight with me for just a moment. The apostle Paul, not in the Gospels.
If you sit up all of you had a pain-free problem free ministry anything Paul would've said he wonders an angular left like that. See, I don't know.
They beat me with rods they stone me and left me for dead been bitten by poisonous snakes have been shipwrecked and know my family disowned me. Yeah, I've had pretty going going time. I have a thorn in the flesh, by the way that I keep entreating the Lord please let it go and he said no but notice what Paul says in that context. Verse 18. Chapter 8 he said, I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that is what I mean is that I take Jesus at his word sees that I believe Luke 12. He said he's going to give me the whole kingdom.
I don't even compare the two.
You see, Paul was in pain and I'm sure he had agony and I'm sure he might've had tears of pain, I can tell you one thing Paul never was it not afraid he has no fear. He's not afraid, just think how we could use in our lives. There are so many things out there to make us afraid and he says look if you follow me close enough you won't be afraid you might not have a pain-free problem free life. You will have fear is your companion notice possible. Let me give you perspective of wife 828 we know that God causes all things to get to work together for the good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose. Apostle that's kind of how I see it everything God is sovereign.
You see he's on this in an omnipotent any sovereign over all work together for good.
I just trust them with that. So Paul said look me tell you what I really mean here. Why am not afraid. Verse 35 who will separate us from the love of Christ.
You see what's going to make me not love Christ, and if I have enough love for Christ. It dries out the fear. This is why am not afraid he somewhat could overcome that he said were tribulation while tribulation is a big word. It covers everything he said or distress, or persecution, or starving to death, or nakedness, or peril, or sword that's execution he so do you think any of that will make me afraid it won't.
Exhibit won't. He said verse 37, but in all these things we overwhelmingly conqueror through him was love this. I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, more powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is set.
I'm not afraid I'm not afraid to going to the head of I'm not afraid. You see, I'm not afraid.
Absent from the body's present with the Lord.
I'm not afraid you see that over and over again becomes the mantra of all the things we could use in our life. Just think how wonderful would be to have a life on this planet. In this day in your life with no fear. I'm not afraid doesn't mean it's going to be without pain or without problems, but I'm not afraid that's what he say following Jesus drives at fear last passage, Jesus speaking he should have the last word. John 16 after all this time it Jesus spent this the night before the crucifixion. He asked his disciples in you and me this great question in verse 31 uses. Do you now believe people you do you believe me when I speak. You see, do you believe that's all masking.
Do you believe in. Then he says in verse 33 these things I have spoken to you, so that in me you may have peace.
I thought maybe you have no problems, no pain. That's magic, that's not Christianity.
He said in a piece these things I have spoken to you, so that in me you may have peace in the world you have tribulation, there's a promise. Jesus, you have tribulation, if you're in the world and our lives are all marked by that. Then he says, but take courage.
I've overcome the world. You see, have overcome the world. I've said this over all the years, over and over again, but some these things are really wonderful things when it comes to not being afraid. What Jesus is saying is look.
The worst thing that could happen to you can happen to you. You have to live by that. You have to believe that were sent over the years like look up at the end of the book we when you see you need to do that you need to get a perspective of it, not because it will be painful, it will be not because not much sorrow and tears. Of course there are but you don't have to be afraid you see perfect love casts out fear.
Following Jesus drives away our fears, whispering father.
I'm convinced that somebody in this very room the day is dealing with fear. Fear of something. There are so many things that can make us afraid in this world in which we live. The father I pray that they are reassured by the word of God and by Jesus himself, that they don't have to be afraid.
You see father I can be poor but not afraid. I can be unhealthy but not afraid. I can be lonely but not afraid.
Father I pray that the words of Jesus in your spirit, which challenge all of us. The next time that we feel are sopping full of worry and anxiety and fear that we hear the words of Jesus asking us why are you afraid father I pray that our response to a Mrs. because Lord we have not enough faith. Father, I think you for this tremendous blessing Jesus to live in a fallen without how I covered it for myself comfortable.
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