We Apply The Word Of God, Part 1

Today on the Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhart challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ that the whole difference is not about hearing the word is not is about acting on the word hearing on the world will give you almost virtually no value at all. I would imagine were people in Jesus day just like today that would affect the way toward understand when you were in Galilee.

I was in Galilee I heard everything you said you said you were the temple and spoken I was there I attended everything you said. I even ordered CDs and it's of no value to you. The only way your face going to grow is on the basis of whether you act upon the word of God joining us today on this additional Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill your part Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana going to have to go get her now again shows us how God's word.

Our world when I became a Christian in my early 20s I had an insatiable appetite for the word of God hours upon hours reading Scripture I can remember virtually grabbing every book I could find on Christianity and I listened to literally hundreds and hundreds of hours tapes someone teaching the word of God. When I found out was in a relatively short time I had more biblical knowledge than most of the people that I knew that it attended church for years and years and so I began to teach. I began to teach in Sunday schools and then small group studies in people's homes, including my own, and that led me to start preaching in churches in my mid-20s all different denominations all over Western Pennsylvania. From that we decided to move on the Dallas Texas to pursue my theological studies at Dallas theological seminary, more knowledge and more understanding how wonderful tools and the reason I went there I wanted to study Greek and Hebrew. I later learned to regret that decision. Not really. And then I was at Dallas. I took a course it was called the Christian home.

It was taught by Dr. Howard Hendricks, probably the man who had a greater effect on my life than any other person. God is ever used and in that Christian home course which dealt with parenting in Mary Jane and all those kind of things.

Dr. Hendrix said one sentence as only he could.

The penetrated my heart in an unforgettable way. He said the kind of Christian that you are in your home is the only kind of Christian, you really are and I can remember thinking while I never thought of that. I always thought it had to do with reading the Bible. I always thought it it was studying all these books, I thought it had to do with my teaching and preaching ministries about was the core of my faith, and there were something else I knew as soon as he said those words.

I was a lot more impressive behind the pulpit than I was in my home those words by Dr. Hendrix did more to grow my faith than all of the Greek all the Hebrew all of the theology that I studied at Dallas seminary. I'm very grateful for those disciplines they have served me well over all these years, but it was the application of truth.

The truth of the word of God, that because my faith to grow. Last time I said I wanted to start a series and do a series on your faith grows when we always hear these wonderful stories about people have phenomenal amount of faith we make them heroes. We talk about this great faith and how they endured, and what they accomplished and I said last time that maybe we are to stop admiring people's faith and become people of great faith ourselves and I said that I believe that God uses five different experiences or circumstances in life to afford you and me the opportunity for your faith to grow. The first one is what will be talking about this morning when we apply the truth of the word of God. The second line is when we take advantage of providential relationships that God puts into our lives. Thirdly, when we commit ourselves to private discipline in our personal time with the Lord. Fourthly, when we pursue a personal ministry to serve the Lord in the serve others, and last, when we assess the pivotal circumstances of our life. These unique things that we go through both really good and some of them really tragic and really terrible.

Today I want to talk about when we apply the word of God. I want to go to Matthew chapter 7 Matthew chapter 7 the end of the sermon on the Mount. The sermon on the mount called the greatest sermon ever preached the least.

The one written down by our Lord Jesus Christ and or something about the sermon on the mount, and all other sermons that Jesus preached. What is amazing to me is what is missing in those sermons. You see, we are been trained and we think that that the key or the core of really good preaching and teaching.

Is this really in-depth, theological, exegetical, expositional treatment of a text and we deal with all the nuances of word meanings and grammar and syntax and we delve into the deep areas of theology, Jesus wants none of that.

He just wants to talk in a really practical way. In fact, every time he preached it was about practicality application. Living your life. And so when he finishes this great sermon in verse 24 chapter 7 he says therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them. The NIV says, puts them into practice. Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them. He said they may be compared to a wise man who has built his house on the rock and he said when life gets tough, the rains will come. The winds are blowing all that but it won't move. And then he goes on, and he says in verse 26.

Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them.

That person, he said, is like building a house on sand. When life gets tough.

You just swept away. In fact, the whole difference is not about hearing the word. It's not. It's about acting on the word hearing on the world give you almost virtually no value at all. I would imagine there were people in Jesus day just like today that would assert what weight Lord you understand when you were in Galilee. I was in Galilee I heard everything you said when you get to Judea I heard what you said you went to the temple and spoken I was there I attended everything you said. I even ordered CDs. Jesus said, did you act on you.

Act one. You don't act on it.

It's of no value to you.

The only way your face going to grow is on the basis of whether you act upon the word of God and this sermon is unlike anything they had ever heard this go back to the very beginning of a chapter 5 and you just know is going to go somewhere where no one expects it. Jesus starts on verse three and says blessed happy joyful content. He said blessed are the poor in spirit who want to sign up for that. You see who wants to be poor in spirit.

Blessed are those who mourn no no no no no see in their world was. Blessed are the religious you see the religious people are so impressive they attend all the facilities do all the rituals they obey all the religious laws and God is so impressed with them that God says sure, come on and have a relationship with me your very impressive.

That was the world of the scribes and Pharisees that is the world of religion today. Jesus is basically saying no porn spirit.

Those who mourn, in fact, he sets up a whole sermon in verse 20 of chapter 5 when he says, for I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of absent this before when I read that verse.

I think all women fainted. I believe that men gasp because nobody in that culture would've said I don't even compare to the religiosity of a scribe or Pharisee.

No one does. These are the keepers of the lobby even add loss to God's law. Jesus said if you don't have more righteousness in them.

You don't have a chance. While he said let me explain what I mean and what he goes on explain is they really don't have righteousness. You see, they have self-righteousness.

They have religious righteousness but they don't have the righteousness that God honors notice verse 21 he says you heard that the ancients were told, you shall not commit murder. Everybody kinda knows that.

That's when the 10 Commandments we got that, he says, and whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court. That's right, we prosecute people commit murders know what would Jesus does. But I say to you everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court.

Whoever says to his brother you good for nothing shall be guilty before the Supreme Court.

And whoever says you fool, shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell didn't like that none of us like that seat, let me ask you ever been angry at anybody ever today. This weekend sure you see when Jesus says something like that when ends up happening is that all of your categories are disrupted because Jesus Christ just said what you have to understand the depth of your sin and it's not just a matter of whether you have not murdered anybody.

You remember the rich young Lord came to Jesus. What must I do to inherit eternal life. Jesus said, keep the law anybody say I have capital that we know he probably didn't because you can bear false witness, and is probably lying but the point of it is is that they thought that way. But when Jesus is anger that changes everything you mean. If I have anger. I have enough sin to go to hell yes that's what Jesus said she that's disruptive that's problematic but is not done. They goes on.

He says in verse 23 therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering. He says there and be before the altar, and go first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.

Why got the whole merit was in bringing my offering our ties and offerings as would happen in Jesus day Jesus is know that has very little merit. You see, if you have a broken relationship with God or you have a broken relationship with someone else, you need to repent of that get the relationship right then Gotto accept your offering right back to a heart issue, no notice what starts happening almost our thinking when it is almost impossible. This is terrible.

I like the religious view. All I have to do is show up that isn't changed by the way people actually believe that they just show up, you know. And if you go enough, Sundays, and you do enough to give a few dollars you see in you stand when they tell you to speaking about when everything is done if you just do it, then God's gonna say that's it that's all I wanted from you Jesus thing is not the case at all. He says in verse 27 you heard of their said, you shall not commit adultery. I said you everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery in his heart while now it's getting uneasy. He said if your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out throw it from far from you, for it is better to lose one of the parts of your body than your whole body to be fronted out see that something about the word of God and we see this when the word of God gets very personal with you.

It's intrusive and you don't like it. In fact many times when Jesus spoke instead of having great background music at the end of it, and everyone singing just as I am, and everybody coming forward to get saved. What was the response they picked up rocks and they said let's kill the guy. Let's run them off time from over a cliff that was response.

Why because the things that he says doesn't go down well with us. You see, it really doesn't he doesn't speak in those nice religious categories that we want them to verse 31 it was said whoever sends his wife away.

Let them give her certificate of divorce in their culture, especially for men. It was just as easy or easier to get a divorce and it is the day any Jewish man could divorce his wife for any reason whatsoever if he just wanted to we could know what would Jesus is against that culture.

But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife except for the reason of unchastity which is porn the he said makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. What yes in Matthew 19. They call many repeats it again, but he gives it even a little bit more emphasis in Matthew 19 it says the same thing and it's so found his own disciples came to him afterwards and said you know what I think is better never to get married if you have to stay married to seat that's interesting, but that told you the cultural pool on what's happening. It tells you exactly how they felt. What Jesus thing is completely different than this. He said in verse 33.

Again, you've heard the engines were told you so not make false files but you shall fulfill your vows to the Lord, but I said you make no oath at all, either by heaven, for his throne of God or by your for it is his footstool over his feet were by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King Norrie said so you make an old lease is by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. He said how about this, that your statement be yes or no.

Anything else is evil when they got a lot. I swear I swear holy Jerusalem. I make Jesus don't go into that and why you can keep she's going right to the heart of the matter with us. No one never talk like this. He says in verse 38 you have heard that it was said, and I for nine, a tooth for tooth by what we say the same thing in our culture today. You push mail push back.

I will initiate a but you push me up was your back because that's the way we are. But notice, but I say to you, do not resist an evil person, whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other to him.

Also, if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt better have your coat. Whoever forces you to go 1 mile, go to with them give to him who ask of you, and do not turn away from him and wants to borrow from you consider everyone else is more important. You see, this goes against our nature, but is exactly what Jesus Christ is saying the truth of it all is verse 43 you have heard that it was said to you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.

But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, you find a struggling in America doing this with the day were starting to be persecuted by our government and us that are praying for them and loving them. We basically tell them we hate them. Jesus is now you can do it that way was not done in chapter 6 he goes after hypocrisy.

First, he does in chapter 5 the depth of your sin is now in chapter 6 he deals with hypocrisy and he says beware of practicing a righteousness before men to be noticed by them. Otherwise you have no reward with your father's in heaven and that amazing. He knows our heart, in that it interesting that whenever you do something wonderful and especially if you do something religious and wonderful. Somebody has to see you have to have somebody else see it, you need somebody to patch on the back and say noticeably. The example that he uses he says. So when you give to the poor do not sound the trumpet before you, he said, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the street so that they may be honored by men know what's the point. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. He said when you give to the poor do not let your left hand over your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret, and your father who sees in secret. He said what is done in secret will reward you.

We don't like that and you can see nothing's changed our culture.

I mean it's an astounding thing, but I would say the majority of building programs in Christendom and evangelical churches as well is if you get enough will name a whole wing with your name will put a plaque in the hallway for you it is given up and will put a plaque there and that's wonderful and all of us will say wow that was impressive but would Jesus sing another one without that. I want to tell you something that your reward in full. Don't expect anything from God. Zeus runs against the grain.

He said when you pray you not to be like the hypocrites they love the stand and pray in the synagogues on the street corner so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. When you pray going to rent a room.

Be quiet and just pray between you and the Lord, and he said and then he goes on, he says, and by the way, when you pray, don't do what religious people are doing don't do. We don't whatever you do don't repeat over and over the same prayer is, in fact, when you pray this make it short and sweet and so he gives us an example of a short sweet prayer that is never been repeated and in what we do. 2000 years repeated it 10 million times. He said don't repeat your prayers. Let's repeat this one is astounding when you think of it all goes against the grain and all goes against with the way were naturally wired. He says in verse 16 he says when you fast, do not put on a gloomy face the hypocrites do, they'll neglect by their parents so that they will be noticed by men and that they are fasting is a true essay do they have their reward in full. To me, going fast in their day. By the way they were not even taken trouble and putting it under their eyes on the cheeks scene and walking rods are like I'm so spiritual I'm fasting your faster Jesus is great you got reward somebody might.

He says that when you fast and knowing her head with oil and wash your face comb your hair, put on your makeup so that your fasting will not be noticed by men but by your father who is in secret, and your father sees in secret what is done, you reward you is completely diametrically opposed. Do not store up for yourselves. Jesus treasures on earth where the moth and rust destroy where the thieves break in and steal.

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither the moth and rust.

He says, destroys, and where the thief does not break in and still he said look I want to tell you something about money. Verse 24 no one can serve two masters.

They will either hate the one I love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth you want. Many of you say in your heart.

I can I can I can serve you can't then it gets personal. In verse 25 and says, for this reason I said you do not be worried about your life as a way you either wear your drink or your body where you put on. He said life's a lot more than food and the body more than clothing is what gets the heart of it, don't worry usually don't worry if IT says it an imperative mood command stop wearing why because of me. Stop worrying and start trusting me. That's what he does when it says by the way, he says in verse 27 he gets pragmatic and who of you by being worried can add a single hour on those life see house were going to help you live longer. It may help you live shorter but it can help you live longer, he said, is of no value. Then he says verse 31.

Do not worry, then about what we should we do what we drink, or what we will where he said the unbelievers eagerly seek all these things, your heavenly father knows you need all these things is if you seek first his kingdom and his righteousness. All these things will be added to you.

He says, so do not worry about tomorrow.

Tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. I love that he's about. Don't worry about tomorrow. You got enough trouble today focusing on today that he tasted the scribes and Pharisees in chapter 7 verse one don't judgment shall be judged is whatever measure you use auto use on you, then a great person.

Verse three. Why do you look at the spec he said that his brother's eyes and do not notice the log pastor broke your heart on the radio ministry or fellowship nor if you ever missed one of our broadcast or maybe you just like the smoother message one more time. Remember the good a great website called one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen the fellowship and the word online that website you will find on with today's broadcast so many of our previous audio programs as well have Fellowship in the Word. We are thankful for those who financially support our ministry and make this broadcast possible.

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