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May 2, 2022 8:00 am
Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ talking about here is not just talking about your little see what you view the world by seeing the world a body was already you see in your values are in accordance with that, then you're a prisoner of the circumstances of life, and he said that's your problem, but even more so you find yourself loyal to that and this loyal to God and most of us want to believe that I can survive this make me want and I'll show got I got pneumonia, but he says no you can't.
Joining us today on this additional fellowship in the world Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana Pastor Bill Gebhardt now again he shows us God's word meets our work.
Russia invaded the sin I have something else to worry about and be upset about. By the way just to help you think along those lines. See inflation rate in United States right now is the highest it's been since 1980. So if money is what you like to worry about than you can worry about money a little bit. We live in a world that seems to be full of worry and anxiety. I mean, you hear the newscasters talking about the mental health of Americans and how bad it's been since the beginning of what is that about. That's our anxiety.
And I worry someone wrote this, they said that anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind.
If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained, given notice that when you start really worrying and staying a lot of anxiety in your life you can think of anything else that you wake up at two or 3 o'clock in the morning what to think about the same thing. We've even added to our vocabulary about anxiety and worry in our country when I was a kid, I heard my mom and dad talk about someone's having a nervous breakdown. I don't have that much anymore, but now we use different terms retell by being stressed out or having a panic attack. The idea of how much anxiety and worry. We have met with Meyer the two Christian psychiatrist out of Dallas that had the largest Christian counseling clinic in the world for many years wrote a book, and anxiety.
And they said in their book that that anxiety is easily the most common mental disorder. They have ever treated in all the clinics, anxiety, worry filled people and we worry about almost everything we what we worry about money, how to get it how to keep it will last. We worry about our job will I get a job can keep my job.
That type of thing we worry about our health. I mean, some of us worry so much about her health.
It consumes us everything is about our health and as you get older. Some of us worry about potential health issues.
What if I get cancer what you have cancer not but what if I got it when I get Alzheimer's. What what if I got it and we worry about stuff like this. We worry about our children. Obviously we worry about their safety. We worry about their peer groups. We worry about how they're going to turn out a little worry about our marriages. I've actually had people that I did premarital counseling with that were worried, and whether their marriage will last no. We have even started yet. You know, but there worry. What if it doesn't last.
We worry about ourselves, our own life.
A lot of us worry about that all the time where my here for they made a difference in anybody's life is a reason that I'm here and we worry about another problem with that is. As Christians it's a the context of our faith is exactly the opposite of everything I've said so far Jesus Christ commanded us.
Do not worry. Paul and Peter both wrote be anxious about nothing. No wiggle room at all.
So here's the Lord in the two apostles and are telling us there's and should be no anxiety, no worry in our lives at all so obviously in this series I think maybe God wants to do some open heart surgery, generous about this hallway idea of anxiety and worry. First of all let me just say what is worry worry is to be uneasy in the mind to fill anxious about something or to fret. Interestingly, it comes from an old English word which means to strangle. That's the word worry to strangle and that's kind of what worry God is asserted to strangle as our thought life strangles her mind. It's painful, thinking, worry has an enormous effect on us. Dr. Charles Mayo said this worry affects our circulation, our heart, our glands in our whole nervous system.
It has a profound effect on our general health. So if you worry about your health, you make your health much worse. So might be a self-fulfilling worry for you.
The other thing is our worry is not really about truth.
You and I don't really worry about things. The real you know that it's it's amazing there's a bunch of the studies last when I've just seen as this one. 40% of the things we worry about never happen at 40%, 30% of the things we worry about her in the past and can never be changed. So 70% of what we worry about is in the pastor never happened.
12% of the things we worry about his criticism by others against us, which are mostly not true 10% of the things we worry about our health which gets worse and creates more stress for her health.
And we worry about it, and 8% of what we worry about her about real problems I will have to face 8% 92% of what we worry about his intro 8% is but when we worry it doesn't seem to mind the question comes not do what we do. This why are we still vulnerable as Christians to before worry and anxiety miss my opinion but I believe it's because of how we see life. I believe it's our view our world view of what life is what our values are. I believe that what ends up happening is we believe that our values and what we would call the real world out there. I believe that those things become the basis of our life and that our happiness is based so often on one of the circumstances in which we live.
So if you give us great circumstances you see and everything is good with you with your spouse with your kids with your neighbors with your friends stop Mark is doing great for you. The boss is giving you a raise you. Don't worry much.
The only problem with that is that life is ever-changing and sooner or later life's going to set you back in some way or another effect in all these particular areas. Life is so uncertain and so immediately when your circumstances change you. And I begin to start worrying again, but having everything of the uncertainty of life, hurricanes happen now were worried that they may happen more often than he did.
Well, it doesn't matter how often they happen. If you get hit by one as we all know you're planning to in your mind to worry about hurricanes happen pandemics. We know happen worse happen.
Violent crime watch the news every day happens economic up people throughout the history of man happens a terrible diagnosis is given to someone every day. Every day you're getting a terrible diagnosis from your kids make very poor decisions and have to face the consequences on a regular basis.
Marriages do collapse and fall apart and this a shot. Some of you, but there are actually people out there that don't like you see us true. That's just true. That's life in Jesus went to speak about that he's he's incident situates it's our view of life that causes us to worry, not circumstances. Go me to Matthew chapter 6 and verse 24 Matthew chapter 6 and verse 24 the middle of the sermon on the Mount, and I'll be honest, I just taught on this.
I probably have thought the sermon on the Mount 10 times in my ministry and I never saw connection. It was here.
I never saw that may speak the depth of Scripture or the lack of depth of me. I'm not sure which one it speaks to, but it speaks I found out this past week. In verse 24 Jesus says something he says no one can serve two masters who either hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. And then he says you cannot serve God and wealth that seems what's it what's he talking about what is really talking about here is not just God and wealth he's talking about your worldview.
See what you view the world be like what are your values. She was with Jesus saying, so if you see the if you see the world around you is all there is. You see in your values are in accordance with that, then you're a prisoner of the circumstances of life, and he said that that's your problem, but even more so you can find yourself loyal to that worldview and disloyal to God and most of us, but I want to believe that verse.
Most of us want to think not. All I can serve God and wealth just make me wealthy and also got. I can do both. But he says no you can't.
That's what Jesus says I noticed in the next words in verse 25 for this reason CP ties what is going to say about worry too that verse. For this reason you have the wrong worldview. You see, you see it differently. He said for this reason, a 25 do not be worried.
This commandment he said about your life. I command you not to be worried about your life because your problem is in verse 24 verse 28 and why are you worried about clothing.
Verse 31. Do not worry that is a what shall we eat, what shall we drink verse 34.
So do not worry about tomorrow.
Tomorrow take care of itself. While he goes into this whole idea that because our basic value system is wrong. We worry, what does that ultimately mean love our life is not out there our lives, not of our flesh, our lives in God our lives in Christ. That's my life that's the single most important thing in my life that becomes the standard by which I assess everything in my life. Everything, and because I don't do that. I worry. You see, I end up working in other words, what he saying in a different way. Is this. If the basis of my life is this God is sovereign, I've never worry CR issue is you'd say if I asked how many people believe God is sovereign.
Most of you, if not all of you bring your hand but I don't know if you really believe that to be a test. If you believe God is sovereign and as I got one this morning. I hope you see this, you would worry. Anyone have any anxiety if that's what you believed.
You see, it's a way way hot. How do we do this because my life in God. Now when I say God is sovereign, then we give you some ideas and I ran into this week I want to see just how sovereign the word of God says God is first God is sovereign over the entire creation of the universe. Psalm 103 19 the Lord is establish the throne in heaven. His kingdom extends to everything. Everything is sovereign over the entire earth over our physical world. Psalm 135. He does whatever he pleases in heaven and earth in the season, all the ocean depths. Matthew five but I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be like a father in heaven since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good and he sends rain to the righteous and unrighteous got a sovereign universe got us on our planet got a sovereign of the lives of men and women over the affairs of nations. Job 12.
He makes nations great, he destroys him. He extends the boundaries of nations, and he disperses them.
Psalm 22, for the Lord is King and he rules over the nations.
Psalm 66 he rules.
By his power, he watches the nations stubborn, rebels should not exalt themselves. He knowingly rose over the nations. He rules over people and over you and me. He sovereign is what the psalmist says in Psalm 139 you're talking to God. Your eyes saw me when I was an unborn fetus all the days ordained for me were recorded in your scroll before one of them came into existence when I was a fetus got something and he already knew because he knows everything he knew exactly every day I'd be on earth.
And when I would be not on earth anymore. Knowing how pretty you sovereign. He sovereign over every aspect of that of your life. Paul writing to the Galatians number member Paul was Saul of Tarsus, he persecuted the church. Then he converted on the road to Damascus incomes great apostle 120 rights to the Galatians he says I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my nation and extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.
But when the one who set me apart from birth and call me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his son to me so that I could preach him among the Gentiles. So from God's point of view. Paul's point of view as I converted when on the road to Damascus. What about from God's point of view. I called him from the time he was born to be a preacher to the Gentiles, that means means God sovereign. You see, God is completely sovereign in this the outward failures or successes of men. Psalm 75.
He says God speaking. Do not be pride and of the wicked. Do not be so confident of victory. Do not be soon certain you of one do not speak with your head held so hi for victory does not come from the east of the Western from the wilderness for God is the judge he brings one down exults another. Luke 152. He has brought down the mighty from their thrones. He is lifted up those in a lowly position, even things are accidentally wise. Proverbs 1633 the dice are thrown in the lab, but every decision comes in the Lord will Matthew 1030. Even all the head hairs on your head are numbered by talk about that all the times I find it funny because as you know, but she's arranging that's an ever moving number. You know, but in any time for any person God wants to exact.
That's how sovereign is that's the point of the verse how sovereign Izzy.
He sovereign over everything.
Everything in your life about protecting the righteous Psalm for I will lie down and sleep peaceably for you, Lord, because you make me safe and secure.
Psalm 63. You are my deliverer under your wings. I rejoice. My soul pursues you.
Your right hand upholds me. Romans 828 and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose as a hard verse for us. Everything worked for the good for us. How could he do that sovereign is completely sovereign.
Romans 838. I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels in the rollers and the things that are present, nor things that come the powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will ever separate love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. While said this before. What an amazing verse when my favorite phrases is this nothing you do whatever God because God love you more, nothing and nothing you do whatever because of the love you less, nothing will ever separate you from. That's a sovereignty at work in supplying the needs of one's of God's people. Deuteronomy 83 so he humbled you by making you hungry and feeding you with unfamiliar manna to make you understand that mankind cannot live by food alone. But everything comes out of the Lord Jesus used in the temptation.
If you remember after you facet two. That's a real world perspective versus what we think when it comes something like food. Philippians 419 and my God will supply all that you need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. How can he do that sovereign over everything. And then this incredible prayer. Philippians 4, six and seven do not be anxious about anything. Instead, let your request be known to God in prayer and petition with Thanksgiving and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding is going to guard your heart that becomes extremely important verse for us this morning. Go me, not a Philippians Philippians chapter 4.
Let me say this, these verses below in being written out Paul's imprisonment and I he thinks is going to be executed. He doesn't get executed this time he gets executing the second imprisonment, but he thinks is going to be now.
He's been falsely charged, so let me just hypothetically put you in a situation you been falsely charged and convicted your put in prison now after your put in prison falsely charged.
I would ask you, how would you feel when you find out there. They're perhaps going to execute. How would you feel would you feel an anxiety.
Seriously, would you feel any anxiety at all. I want to tell you what Paul felt no anxiety. I don't mean a little, I mean zero. He felt no anxiety. In fact, the theme of the book of Philippians is not about how do you deal with terrible circumstances. The theme of the book of Philippians is joy.
Paul talks about all the joy that he had so he writes this verse to them out of prison, where he might be executed. His anxiety and worry level was zero. None at all. In fact, early in the book. In the early chapter, Paul says that if you give me a hypothetical situation.
Paul missed and ask if you and a choice of whether living on or dying right now. What would you choose pulsatile that's easy. I'd rather die right now. What that your choice, I mean all of us write all of us want to go to heaven. None of us want to go tonight to see what I mean. That's the way this works for us. That's just the way we see this pulse is no abscess in the body present with the Lord. No more sorrow no more tears forever with my Lord I do choice. That's what I take. He said, but if for your sake. God wants me here. I'd be glad to stay here and be your teacher think that's the sovereignty of God in Paul's like that's all he sees it so he says to them out here in verse six of chapter 4 be anxious for nothing again a commandment, but in everything by prayer after treating the Lord with petitions and then a keyword and supplication. The word supplication means an emotional response. In other words, pour out your heart to God. Let them know how you feel if the situation you're in, warns tears cry. You see what I mean if you're really afraid tell. He said you can do that you could print your humanity to me. I'll let you pray your humanity to me just pour out to me so petite, prayer, and then supplication and then the thing that changes the self with Thanksgiving. Now that is completely backwards to your thinking and mine often because I know that, could you tell me you when I hear your Thanksgiving when you get what you want isn't God is in Jesus.
Good I pray for is any good.
He is good then take much faith to say that God says no you think me up front before you get it or not getting you think me before you get it why what I think of now because you believe that I'm sovereign and I love you and I'm right here and you believe so why not think God in the beginning he sovereign over everything. So when I think the one I'm praying pastoral giver on the radio ministry of fellowship in the Lord. If you ever miss one of our broadcast or maybe you just like to listen to the message one more time. Remember, you can Google a great website called one place.com that's one place.com can listen the fellowship and the word online at that website you will find on with today's broadcast but also many of our previous audio programs is that Fellowship in the Word. We are thankful for those who financially support our ministry and make this broadcast possible. We ask all of our listeners to prayerfully consider how you might help his radio ministry continuous broadcast on this radio station by supporting a monthly fourth is the 100 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 pastoral sermons. You can browse through our sermon archives defined sensors are looking you can search by title.
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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 pastoral go-cart. I'm Jason Gebhardt. Thank you for listening to fellowship in order