Fear - Part 2

Today on the Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ I pronounce a death sentence upon myself at the hands of God for my tone, it would be easily the most serious way you could take the Lord's name God chill me up about curses nine. Why would he do this frame, she refuted spiritual amnesia as you remember anything on the Jesus taught seen Jesus deliver them in the past doesn't matter now though free fear is 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 Pastor Bill Gebhardt now again he shows us how God's word meets our work fascinating. Verse 33. The people saw them going and recognize them and ran there together on foot from all the cities and got their head that Jesus and the disciples when Jesus went ashore, he saw a large crowd, he felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. He began to teach them many things. When it was already quite late, his disciples came to him and he said this place is desolate and it's already quite late, send them away so that they may go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something be there's a practical guy Jesus teaching and byways teaching 5000 men. So there's likely 12 13,000 with women and children in nursing look at this crowd that told them to go and so you can find an evening meal for themselves. Now you gotta love Jesus response. He said to them I you give them something this.it's always your freedom to see the disciples look at each other like notice the response to they said, shall we go and spend 200 Mary on bread and give them some the if we just gave him a piece of bread. It cost us two thirds of a year's wages. We then get money like that even he send them how many loaves do you have go look and when they found out they said we have five loaves and two fishes and 12 13,000 people. He commanded them to all sit down in groups on the green grass they sit down in groups of hundreds and 50s, and a took five close to face looking up to heaven, he blessed the food broke the lows and Giving them to the disciples to set before them, and he divided up the two fish among them all.

They all wait and all were satisfied and they picked up 12 full baskets of broken pieces and also fish. There were about 5000 men who ate the low not that's a pretty phenomenal thing that he wants and understands who could do that for me, son of God to do any shoes and them did he have to use them.

No creatures created the food in front of the people enemy yes, but he wants to use them. In fact, when I'm telling you is this. He did this feeding primarily nothing.

The people for the disciples. Let me ask you some. Have you ever reaching here.

Have you ever missed a meal you commit will miss in the middle. I know some of you believe you can't, but you can. I so because they do not miss the mill that evening. Of course it's not about that.

This is abide Jesus speaking to his disciples. He's demonstrating to them is power to understand the power that I have not noticed as soon as he's done with it. He's now going to do to them what he does to us is going to test you. You see, he's going to test you to see whether yet fear controls your heart or faith. Control charts can be test seat and you can't test by hand raising hands or writing on a piece of paper. Even now, if I tested all you yet almost all of you would all succeed. How many of you believe in Jesus you doing how you see yeah then when something happening in your life. Why are you afraid to. Why are you afraid that's what you say you believe she gives a real test.

Now, this one's funny it says immediately immediately so as he's done right there. She tells him it Jesus made his disciples get into the boat.

Now this is funny remember the last time they were in the boat and tested he say, let's go together and about all habits, skilled Jesus makes them.

He forces them. That's what the Greek word means. He forced the boat that you could see them talking were in a boat.

Again, this is this is in Oklahoma for us to learn about and I got into the boat. I get to go ahead of them. On the other side to Bethsaida while he himself ascending the crown away and after bidding them farewell. He left among the left for the mountain to pray and when it was evening the boat was in the middle of the sea and he was alone on land seeing them straining at the oars for the wind was against them at about the fourth watch of the night.

This is dead in the middle of the night. Think of is Jesus on the mountain there and the boat is right in the middle the night Jesus sees straining at the oars give any idea how how dark it is 2000 years ago the Sea of Galilee in the middle night Jesus sees the that somehow your part. Jesus, I don't think they could probably see the Hannah from the face Jesus could see.

So when Jesus sees them stringy dealers.

He comes to them walking on the sea and he intended to pass my that's his intent is this book what you trying to show that what this so here comes Jesus walking on water. CP just want to say hello is just want to say hello to with that. Should that encourage them. Yes, it should. His intent was just to walk by that should be enough. It wasn't when they saw him walking on the sea they suppose that it was a ghost while it's quite an inference of is a ghost, why people don't walk on water apparently goes to see people and they cry out, and when they saw him they were what terrified. What would what should've they been encouraged. Hey, it's Jesus walking on water. I think this might go well you see no there terrified, they now we had one feared and replaced another fear with it and immediately he spoke to them and he said, take courage, it is. I do not be afraid. You know every time you and I are afraid. That's what he says to us every time to courage me I'm right here. Don't be afraid. Seeing weed norm. Just like the disciples and as a reason for as you see in a minute. He got into the boat with them.

The wind stop.

They were utterly astonished, for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the lows. The heart was hardened. So where's the problem heart was our problem start Jesus trying to do open heart surgery on he's trying desperately, desperately to soften their hardened heart is not working. There's a test was a great F minus total failure. Just like yours is mine is sometimes F minus could put together law spiritual amnesia fear versus takes heart overall heart and we fail whenever we experience fear. This time though Jesus wants to go by just a little bit differently. Go with me this time.

Back to Matthew 26 Matthew 26 verse 69 here's another test this time as Peter. This test is the arrest of Jesus you know garden of Gethsemane. They come and arrest them now is going to all these illegal trials first before Caiaphas. You see, this is all happening. How are the disciples feeling about all this pretty much terrified and fearful. If this is a by Peter. Peter shows a little more courage. He follows them to the place where he is going to try and it says that in verse 69 now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard and a servant girl came to him and said you to wear with Jesus, the Galilean know what is she servant girl. What's that mean zero impact and authority in our culture. None. He's a man. He doesn't answer the woman in a culture Jesus servant. He doesn't answer to a servant. She just says you two are with him and he said he denied it before the mall and said I do not know what you're talking about. What is that that's a boldface lie. He lied completely.

Why is afraid. That's why he's afraid he lied.

No watch, then it says when when he had gone to the gateway another servant girl saw him and said to those who were there this man was with Jesus of Nazareth again.

He denied it with an oath, my goodness, the Jesus ever teach his disciples about oath, he said, don't ever take an oath that your gaze be Azinger nays. Nace Jesus peters going to take an oath. I swear to God what a stack of Old Testament is a I don't know what you're talking about. Why would he do that is afraid.

Fear while I watch. He then says a little later bystanders came up and said to Peter shortly. You two are one of them for even the way you talk gives you a way you got it Galilean accent and that would pick right up that would be just like any strong accent her own country. They said that then he began to curse and swear, while in that word for curses along word. It's cut them a tonsil cut them a tonsil is what it means.

It means I pronounce a death sentence upon myself at the hands of God. If I'm not tone the truth. That's what it means. It would be easily the most serious way you could take the Lord's name in vain.

God kill me up on the atonement he cursed and swore for mind oath to this. Why, why would he do this is afraid she would feared it spiritual amnesia. Does he remember anything you want to Jesus… Has he seen Jesus deliver them in the past doesn't matter now though, I'm afraid. Fear is gripped me while amazing that this so what's his grade at half is not doing well. Then we have the next test I just talk about this. The crucifixion nice hang on across how the disciples do whatever they are, they were hiding out all except John right they were hiding out. Why were they hiding out there afraid once again there afraid they have fear about this except for John, head of interestingly think about it.

John got some media blessing the Lord member at the cross. He looked the Johnny said, behold your mother and he puts Mary and John's care at that time also kind of think about this the other tankers member Judas was the betrayer. The other 10.

All were martyred was John no John lived to a ripe old age. John wrote the gospel of John.

Revelation 1st, second, third John. It's interesting, John pass, but the other 10 F minus same as before each and every time. So what you have fear in a sense is part of our fallen nature the words of Jesus should give us encouragement you see confidence and peace.

The power of Jesus should also give us courage competency because Jesus has power over everything Jesus will test us to see if our faith will ever get control over fear.

In this case, when he tested us. They filled every time so this is I don't mean this to discourage you because this is where I hope we get positive our faith in one particular thing can change your life completely when it comes the fear as it did the disciples go with me to John chapter 20 John chapter 20 verse 19. John writes this so when it was evening on that day the first day of the week when the doors were shut where the disciples were white why with the door shut to say that for fear of the Jews. Are they still afraid wool boy, Jesus came and stood in their midst. Here's his first words.

Peace be with you when they have future what to say, peace be with you.

That's what Jesus brings in our life. Peace. He says and when he had said this, he showed them both his hands in his and his side in the disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord and again Jesus said to them, peace be with you as the father sent me.

I'm gonna send you just back to Matthew Ted I'm sending you out. Peace be with you while that's amazing. It's more than that.

After this moment the disciples were never afraid again. Never change the world.

They change the world.

10 of them were martyred for their faith with no fear.

They want afraid of anything. Why he saw the resurrected Christ. See, they saw the resurrected Christ that mentor them every word he spoke was true everything you said everything you taught us, it's true.

He is raising the dead ones like this all the sudden fear leaves their hearts. Peace reigns in the heart all because they saw the resurrection now when you became a Christian and you believe the gospel. There's one thing you had to believe you stated to yourself and to God that you believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Otherwise, you're not a Christian.

If you're Christian you believe in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the resurrection, so you already say you believe this because I know what something with thinking about look the disciples got rid of the fear because they saw. They saw him race the day I didn't oh okay this is kind of verse 29 Jesus speaking 29 John 20 Jesus said to him, because you have seen me. Have you believed. Blessed are they who did not see yet believe women are very special category. It's better to have never seen a raised and believe it, then, is to have seen them raised and believe it.

That's what Jesus is saying, so you can use the excuse qualified Athena know you said you believe it because when you became a Christian, you have to believe it because the resurrection is the key to having met the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians. If Christ isn't raising the dead we are to be more pitied than anybody in the world. Why do people pity us because we believe a lie. There is no Christianity without the resurrection of Christ is the heart of it all. But once you believe in the resurrection of Christ, that cornerstone of your faith can cause fear to leave you. You see, it makes such a difference and I don't think we realize it. I think when we get in fearful circumstances immediately as locator says we get spiritual amnesia will even think about it.

I'm just afraid you see that I am terrified one of you see what you terrified of, I mean David wrote Psalm 23.

Even though I go through the valley of the shadow of death. What I will what fear no evil swore your freedom. You see, that's an ultimate fear to watch the fear of death. That's an ultimate fear. But here's the reality of it. You are going to die and so my numb some of us ago suddenly somewheres ago. Slowly, summers ago.

Tragically, Jesus never promises our going. He does promise where were going. You see, that makes such a difference.

Online afraid.

That's why for someone like Saul of Tarsus who finds Jesus on the road to Damascus. When Jesus speaks to them there. He knows he's what raising the dead. Paul knows that, so that's why when the Philippians of the Paul Paul if you were given a choice whether to leave now, or stay longer, what would you do, because wealth was my choice. I leave now, I know from going. I really don't now, but he said for your sake I be happy to stay here if you resurrection. The fact that we are eternal beings. This is crucial wants to understand.

When you save yourself. Christ is raising the dead he's alive, using every word you spoken to us is true wealth. It's true, why did he speak to us over and over again. Fear not, fear not, fear not you yeah you don't understand Jesus. I'm pretty fearful situation in seen in his words mean nothing we can do that and you can believe his words because he was raised from the dead, you have nothing to fear but fear itself (father, we realize that fear is a formidable opponent. We live on a cursed planet among sinful people and building to that is a certain amount of violence suffering pain. That's why we get to the eternal state.

There's no more sorrow no more tears in the circumstances we allow to overwhelm us that we do get spiritual amnesia. We forget the words of Jesus Christ. We forget the power of Jesus Christ in our lives and we fill our hearts with fear. Father I pray the next time we face situations that could be considered fearful to us that we remember that the disciples change completely.

Once they realize that he was raising the dead. We believe that with all our heart. Now we have to live based on that belief. The next time we face fear. We want to say that is formidable but my Lord is raising the dead. His words are true and I have nothing to fear. Father if we can overcome fear with faith. What a blessing it would be to us how much more wonderful and quiet our lives would be so father I pray to open heart surgery on us. This open our heart heart for the sensitivity and needs for the word of God. We don't have anything different because we been listening to Pastor Bill Gebhardt on the radio ministry of fellowship in the world.

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