WEBVTT 00:00:00.380 --> 00:00:04.059 This morning we are concluding the book of Galatians. 00:00:05.000 --> 00:00:08.520 The emphasis of Galatians is live free. 00:00:09.080 --> 00:00:09.940 Here's a pop quiz. 00:00:09.960 --> 00:00:16.239 I didn't plan this, but anybody know what verse the theme for our Galatians book of Galatians comes from? 00:00:17.440 --> 00:00:19.740 What is it? 00:00:19.880 --> 00:00:20.320 Five one. 00:00:20.420 --> 00:00:20.780 There we go. 00:00:20.900 --> 00:00:20.920 We. 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:22.150 We have a prize somewhere. 00:00:22.300 --> 00:00:22.910 I'll give to you later. 00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:23.620 Oh, it's on the. 00:00:23.900 --> 00:00:24.520 It's on our bulletin. 00:00:24.840 --> 00:00:24.960 That's good. 00:00:25.700 --> 00:00:26.640 She cheated. 00:00:26.880 --> 00:00:27.500 Just kidding. 00:00:27.860 --> 00:00:28.300 It is. 00:00:28.580 --> 00:00:29.600 It's the theme of our church. 00:00:29.980 --> 00:00:30.080 Christ. 00:00:30.620 --> 00:00:32.530 Christ has set us free. 00:00:33.160 --> 00:00:35.000 And the idea of the book of Galatians is this. 00:00:35.620 --> 00:00:37.680 God didn't come to make bad men good. 00:00:38.560 --> 00:00:40.490 He came to bring dead men to life. 00:00:41.700 --> 00:00:43.060 Jesus has set us free. 00:00:44.240 --> 00:00:45.720 And the reason Paul writes this book. 00:00:45.860 --> 00:00:49.180 This is the first letter Paul wrote the second book of the New Testament to ever exist. 00:00:49.700 --> 00:00:56.890 And one of the things that he finds out very quickly after the gospel is preached in the region of Galatia, is that people are taking what Jesus has done on the cross, 00:00:57.080 --> 00:01:03.940 and they're adding religion to it, and they're robbing the beauty of what Jesus has done on their behalf by dying on the cross for their sins. 00:01:05.379 --> 00:01:07.320 Thinking they need to do more. 00:01:09.300 --> 00:01:14.460 The beauty of the message of the cross for us as people is that we aren't working for God's acceptance. 00:01:15.960 --> 00:01:17.020 But we work from his acceptance. 00:01:19.180 --> 00:01:22.450 Jesus has set you free in a way that no religion can ever do. 00:01:23.860 --> 00:01:27.280 And that freedom in Christ brings us joy in that relationship. 00:01:27.460 --> 00:01:34.860 You know, as you journey through the book of Galatians, you find in the first four chapters, Paul just sets the idea of what it means to be free in Jesus, the justification of 00:01:34.880 --> 00:01:39.440 what Jesus has done on the cross, that you might be reconciled to God for all eternity. 00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:43.720 As you put your faith in what Christ has done for you. 00:01:44.940 --> 00:01:49.560 And the tone of the book elevates from justification to sanctification. 00:01:51.500 --> 00:01:56.280 Meaning it's not just about Jesus saving you, but also you growing and maturing in Christ. 00:01:58.120 --> 00:01:59.450 God's not finished with you. 00:02:00.280 --> 00:02:01.000 Thank God, right? 00:02:04.260 --> 00:02:09.270 God desires to do great things through you and in you and to walk with you. 00:02:09.820 --> 00:02:11.500 Not just in eternity, but today. 00:02:12.480 --> 00:02:13.920 That's what salvation brings. 00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:21.080 Galatians tells us in chapter three, Paul asks the question as they're living religiously, how did you receive the spirit? 00:02:21.100 --> 00:02:23.460 Was it was it by law or by faith? 00:02:23.540 --> 00:02:31.320 If it's by faith and continue to walk in faith and he recognizes us for something for us as believers, when you trust in Jesus, God indwells 00:02:31.320 --> 00:02:32.240 you with His Spirit. 00:02:32.440 --> 00:02:34.980 The Bible says he seals you with the spirit. 00:02:35.060 --> 00:02:40.460 That's God's guarantee that when you enter in eternity, you will see him face to face. 00:02:41.520 --> 00:02:44.500 And that spirit is with you. 00:02:44.600 --> 00:02:46.100 To grow you, to mature you. 00:02:47.360 --> 00:02:49.540 That you reflect the beauty of who Christ is in this world. 00:02:50.920 --> 00:02:52.880 So when God created you, he made you in his image. 00:02:53.080 --> 00:02:55.760 And you, being in his image are image bearers of Christ. 00:02:55.940 --> 00:03:00.550 And through the power of His Spirit, Christ is made known in this world. 00:03:02.200 --> 00:03:04.480 God created you to reflect his glory. 00:03:05.940 --> 00:03:12.400 Bible says in Galatians chapter five, we saw last week at the very end of the book or very end of the chapter, he talks about the fruit of the spirit. 00:03:12.720 --> 00:03:18.140 In verse 22 he says, When the Spirit of God comes into your life, this is what it looks like. 00:03:18.140 --> 00:03:18.600 When he has control. 00:03:19.000 --> 00:03:26.100 He says, walk in the spirit, and you will not gratify the lust of your flesh, but instead the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, 00:03:26.140 --> 00:03:27.680 peace, patience, kindness, gentleness. 00:03:27.960 --> 00:03:30.900 It tells us against such things there is no law. 00:03:32.040 --> 00:03:34.040 It's the freedom that Christ has brought to you. 00:03:35.400 --> 00:03:40.160 If God is moving in your life, the result should be that fruit. 00:03:41.160 --> 00:03:44.740 His Spirit reflecting his glory in this world. 00:03:45.900 --> 00:03:51.300 You know, when I look at ideas like that within scripture, I'm always the so what guy? 00:03:51.500 --> 00:03:52.520 I mean, what does that mean? 00:03:53.800 --> 00:03:54.920 Love, joy, peace, patience. 00:03:55.140 --> 00:03:58.080 I mean, I can I guess I can run out of this building and saying, I'm a fruit. 00:03:58.120 --> 00:03:59.310 You know, I'm a fruit. 00:04:01.840 --> 00:04:03.450 Maybe that's the problem with Christianity. 00:04:03.860 --> 00:04:06.420 Sometimes more people act like fruits than live like the fruit. 00:04:06.600 --> 00:04:07.000 You know what I mean? 00:04:08.820 --> 00:04:11.280 Hmm'hmm. 00:04:11.600 --> 00:04:15.460 Paul's desire for us is that we display that glory in our lives. 00:04:15.620 --> 00:04:22.700 And he even told us in chapter five and verse 26, the very last verse in this portion of Scripture, he says, let us 00:04:22.780 --> 00:04:23.920 not become conceited. 00:04:24.460 --> 00:04:28.580 And we talked about the purpose of Paul's usage in the word conceited last week. 00:04:28.880 --> 00:04:31.520 And it literally means empty of glory. 00:04:33.180 --> 00:04:35.580 God desires to display his glory through you. 00:04:35.660 --> 00:04:39.580 And Paul is begging the believers, don't be empty of that glory. 00:04:40.940 --> 00:04:42.940 You are God's method to reach this world. 00:04:44.460 --> 00:04:48.300 You think in this world, where would you perceive that God would work? 00:04:48.300 --> 00:04:50.570 And my answer would be where his spirit exists. 00:04:51.880 --> 00:04:59.280 And the response then to that would be, well, if you're a believer in Christ, His spirit dwells within you, in the place that God's glory would be most 00:04:59.280 --> 00:05:02.300 seen as the transformation he makes upon our hearts. 00:05:04.320 --> 00:05:10.140 And so, Paul, and this section of Scripture in chapter six begins to allow. 00:05:11.140 --> 00:05:12.580 The rubber to meet the road. 00:05:14.220 --> 00:05:19.020 You know, he's a tangible idea of, the fruit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness. 00:05:19.880 --> 00:05:24.500 And all of us can say we love until there's someone hard to love and all of us can say we're patient until you have kids, right? 00:05:24.960 --> 00:05:25.100 And. 00:05:26.920 --> 00:05:29.720 But the fruit of the spirit is intended to be manifested in every situation. 00:05:31.360 --> 00:05:33.320 And Paul says this in chapter six. 00:05:33.840 --> 00:05:39.310 And if you want to know what that looks like in tangible lifestyle ways, I'm going to share it with you. 00:05:40.820 --> 00:05:46.020 Chapter six is the mark of the way a believer should manifest the Spirit of God moving in his life. 00:05:47.380 --> 00:05:48.660 And Paul does it in two ways. 00:05:48.760 --> 00:05:55.720 In the first first ten verses he talks about this and practical living and the last section of the Bible beginning in verse 11. 00:05:55.860 --> 00:05:58.330 He starts talking about it in theological concepts again. 00:05:59.760 --> 00:06:07.200 But when Paul talks about how we should live for the spirit, the emphasis that he places is not on accomplishing tasks, 00:06:07.780 --> 00:06:11.200 but living for Christ in relationships for him. 00:06:12.880 --> 00:06:19.240 In the primary focus of good works isn't about accomplishing a task, but rather reaching hearts. 00:06:21.080 --> 00:06:22.900 We didn't build a building to build a building. 00:06:23.040 --> 00:06:30.590 We built a building that people could gather together, and God's heart could communicate to us what he desires for us and people and seeking his face. 00:06:31.660 --> 00:06:33.650 God is after you and me. 00:06:34.000 --> 00:06:36.070 God is after my heart and yours. 00:06:37.780 --> 00:06:43.640 And so when Paul opens up in this passage of Scripture, he explains a responsibility that exists for the church. 00:06:43.640 --> 00:06:48.080 If the Spirit of God is alive in your midst, this is what it should look like. 00:06:48.220 --> 00:06:55.500 And so he says to us in verse one, brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore 00:06:55.500 --> 00:07:02.630 such a one in a spirit of gentleness, each one looking to yourself so that you too will not be tempted. 00:07:04.020 --> 00:07:06.620 If I were just to say a summation of verse one. 00:07:08.220 --> 00:07:12.040 The idea of the Spirit of God moving within the believers of God happens in the context of relationships. 00:07:12.800 --> 00:07:16.850 In verse one is telling us this believers restore others gently. 00:07:19.840 --> 00:07:22.430 We tend to be good at telling people when they're wrong. 00:07:24.240 --> 00:07:26.100 And sometimes we're bad at doing that gently. 00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:28.960 The purpose is this. 00:07:31.220 --> 00:07:34.240 You don't have someone's heart, but you have someone's ear. 00:07:35.200 --> 00:07:39.500 The Holy Spirit is in charge of their heart, and you have the opportunity to speak into their ear. 00:07:41.520 --> 00:07:48.160 The gentleness of that speech allows the Lord just to move within our hearts, rather than you become their Holy Spirit for them. 00:07:49.260 --> 00:07:53.720 You have access to people's ears, but the Holy Spirit has access to people's hearts. 00:07:55.020 --> 00:07:56.200 Do this gently. 00:07:57.700 --> 00:08:00.380 He sends in this emphasis of this passage of Scripture. 00:08:00.380 --> 00:08:06.640 He says that the people that are to do that are you who are spiritual, you who are seeking after God. 00:08:06.860 --> 00:08:08.160 There is no plan B God. 00:08:09.080 --> 00:08:13.580 God established his church, and the church is the method to mature believers in Christ. 00:08:14.900 --> 00:08:15.980 It's not up to someone else. 00:08:16.040 --> 00:08:17.980 It's up to me and up to you. 00:08:19.180 --> 00:08:20.370 And so we do this gently. 00:08:22.980 --> 00:08:25.550 You know, sometimes people think about what they desire for churches. 00:08:26.240 --> 00:08:28.620 Some people want, big, giant churches. 00:08:30.620 --> 00:08:31.700 And I would say this regardless. 00:08:33.980 --> 00:08:35.080 If you take care of the depth. 00:08:36.260 --> 00:08:37.590 God takes care of the breath. 00:08:39.390 --> 00:08:41.960 And some churches go a mile deep and an inch wide. 00:08:42.059 --> 00:08:44.300 Other churches go a mile wide and an inch deep. 00:08:44.300 --> 00:08:49.420 But if you focus on your relationship with Christ and encouraging the body, the results are up to him. 00:08:50.440 --> 00:08:52.370 Whatever God wills, that's what we'll have. 00:08:54.700 --> 00:08:58.700 Believers restore each other gently when the Spirit of God is at work. 00:08:58.720 --> 00:09:05.920 You know, the interesting thing about this passage of Scripture is that the possibility of this verse existing doesn't happen unless 00:09:05.920 --> 00:09:10.820 the body of Christ lives in unity and in close relationship with each other. 00:09:12.180 --> 00:09:13.460 If I'm a stranger to you. 00:09:14.780 --> 00:09:17.750 Chances are I'm not going to have a platform to come and communicate this way. 00:09:19.080 --> 00:09:26.100 And so the encouragement to you is invite your pastor over when you're having steak, and then invite the rest of the church over when you're having hot dogs. 00:09:26.380 --> 00:09:26.480 Okay. 00:09:27.220 --> 00:09:28.220 But be in unity. 00:09:29.740 --> 00:09:34.640 Live in relationship with each other for the encouragement of the Spirit of God moving within us. 00:09:34.840 --> 00:09:38.800 The second thing he says is this in verse two, believers bear heavy loads. 00:09:38.860 --> 00:09:42.280 He says, bear one another's burdens and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. 00:09:42.620 --> 00:09:48.440 If you want to know what the law of Christ is, Jesus gave it very simply in Mark chapter 12, verse 29 to 31. 00:09:49.540 --> 00:09:50.350 This is the law. 00:09:50.520 --> 00:09:55.430 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and love others exist in the context of relationship. 00:09:56.140 --> 00:10:03.580 When you help bear one another's burdens, this is a burden that's suppressing an individual that when you do that, you're displaying 00:10:03.580 --> 00:10:07.700 the mark and the beauty of who Christ is through the Spirit of God that's working within you. 00:10:09.660 --> 00:10:10.930 This is what I believe about burdens. 00:10:12.700 --> 00:10:18.320 I believe God gives us burdens that we that are too big for us to bear. 00:10:19.560 --> 00:10:22.070 But I believe God gives us burdens that aren't too big for him to bear. 00:10:24.660 --> 00:10:30.960 You know, when God gives us burdens in our lives, if God's going to help us bear those burdens and live through it. 00:10:32.320 --> 00:10:33.370 The way that God shows up. 00:10:34.280 --> 00:10:34.990 It's through his church. 00:10:36.520 --> 00:10:39.940 We've already said God's Spirit, the presence of His Spirit is within his people. 00:10:41.160 --> 00:10:48.300 And when we help bear one another's burdens, we're being the mark of the Lord, helping one another lift these weights up off our 00:10:48.300 --> 00:10:48.680 shoulders. 00:10:50.620 --> 00:10:53.020 The third is this believer's take spiritual inventory. 00:10:53.380 --> 00:10:57.800 Paul kind of lists these as proverbs for us, so we can just see what it looks like for the spirit as it works in our lives. 00:10:57.880 --> 00:10:58.580 He says in verse four. 00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:01.940 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 00:11:02.040 --> 00:11:09.060 But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not 00:11:09.060 --> 00:11:10.950 in regard to another. 00:11:13.040 --> 00:11:16.340 The idea is, if you want to compare yourself and your spiritual growth to anything, look to Jesus. 00:11:19.300 --> 00:11:20.700 Paul lists the fruit of the spirit. 00:11:20.880 --> 00:11:24.130 Not that we look to another believer and think, I'm better than them, so I'm doing okay. 00:11:24.320 --> 00:11:26.780 But so we simply ask internal questions within ourselves. 00:11:27.020 --> 00:11:29.420 Is that fruit of the spirit being made known in my life? 00:11:29.560 --> 00:11:31.740 And if I'm weak, it's time for a fruit check. 00:11:34.280 --> 00:11:35.030 Where do I need to grow? 00:11:37.040 --> 00:11:42.320 And we said this last week, but when the fruit of the spirit comes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness. 00:11:42.680 --> 00:11:48.020 When those things are being made known in our life, when the spirit is present within our lives, he doesn't just do one fruit at a time. 00:11:48.040 --> 00:11:52.230 When the spirit is present, all of those fruits are present at once. 00:11:54.220 --> 00:12:01.380 And believers have the tendency to take a spiritual inventory to see where they're growing and maturing in the Lord and challenging themselves 00:12:01.380 --> 00:12:02.560 in the relationship with God. 00:12:02.580 --> 00:12:09.900 And can I tell you, whenever you take this inventory of your life and you examine yourself and how you're growing in Christ, the answer should never be try 00:12:09.900 --> 00:12:10.400 harder. 00:12:10.460 --> 00:12:14.880 The answer should be submit and surrender to Jesus even greater. 00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:17.300 It's his spirit moving in you. 00:12:17.820 --> 00:12:18.740 It's not by your power. 00:12:18.900 --> 00:12:19.520 It's by his. 00:12:21.580 --> 00:12:27.670 And God calls us to walk in the spirit, or to surrender to the spirit, to allow him to have control of your heart. 00:12:30.040 --> 00:12:37.060 Fourth is this he tells believers in verse five, for each one will bear his own load, and the thought is this 00:12:37.060 --> 00:12:39.560 believers carry a backpack. 00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:45.700 You look at the concept of what Paul says in this opening passage in verse two. 00:12:45.700 --> 00:12:50.450 He tells us to bear one another's burdens, and then he tells us not to bear one another's burdens, to do it on your own. 00:12:50.620 --> 00:12:50.680 What? 00:12:50.920 --> 00:12:52.150 What is Paul talking about? 00:12:52.760 --> 00:12:53.340 He's crazy. 00:12:53.540 --> 00:12:54.200 No he's not. 00:12:55.420 --> 00:12:58.380 The thought that Paul carries is better evidenced in the Greek. 00:12:58.460 --> 00:13:05.560 When Paul is communicating this, he's saying to the believers, when someone is under a suppressive weight that they can't lift off in their life, 00:13:05.860 --> 00:13:11.390 you as believers gather around that individual and help them with that suppression. 00:13:12.180 --> 00:13:13.380 But in verse five he's saying this. 00:13:14.180 --> 00:13:17.020 The burden that we carry as believers also can be compared to a backpack. 00:13:18.620 --> 00:13:21.660 Matter of fact, the text renders more of a soldier's backpack that he cares in the battle. 00:13:23.100 --> 00:13:25.610 Every one of us in this room has a backpack to carry. 00:13:26.660 --> 00:13:27.650 Every one of us has responsibility. 00:13:29.200 --> 00:13:32.440 Every one of us has particular ministries and giftedness that God has given us. 00:13:32.660 --> 00:13:34.360 We all have a backpack. 00:13:34.460 --> 00:13:39.580 God's desire for you in this world is not that you become a taker, but that you live as a giver. 00:13:39.780 --> 00:13:46.090 He tells us in Genesis 128, be fruitful and multiply and subdue the earth. 00:13:46.880 --> 00:13:48.080 God created you for a purpose. 00:13:49.620 --> 00:13:51.020 That purpose is made known as his. 00:13:51.640 --> 00:13:56.660 This glory is displayed through you in this world, being created in his image. 00:13:59.260 --> 00:14:06.380 As a father, you can think of your responsibility as a, as a husband and as a parent to raise 00:14:06.380 --> 00:14:12.180 up your children and train them in the way that they're to go in the in the workplace or in your community. 00:14:12.440 --> 00:14:13.820 What God would desire. 00:14:13.820 --> 00:14:14.860 We all have a backpack. 00:14:16.820 --> 00:14:23.240 In one of us in this room that wants to raise a child to in his 30s, living in your basement on a couch, playing video games all day. 00:14:23.260 --> 00:14:26.140 You know that's not that's not what God calls us to do. 00:14:26.220 --> 00:14:32.050 He wants us to be effective in this world and serving him and living for him. 00:14:32.480 --> 00:14:32.840 Understand. 00:14:32.860 --> 00:14:39.920 There's always struggles that we go through, and there's a need for the body of Christ to encourage each other and to lift one another up in the times that we go through those burdens. 00:14:40.060 --> 00:14:43.430 But God gives us responsibility in this world to live for him. 00:14:44.820 --> 00:14:46.700 To be fruitful and multiply. 00:14:48.360 --> 00:14:51.400 I think even as a child, what God has placed his responsibility on to you. 00:14:51.400 --> 00:14:56.700 It tells us in the book of Ephesians that God calls children to honor their parents. 00:14:56.800 --> 00:14:59.100 And the question you can ask young people to your parents. 00:15:00.100 --> 00:15:04.000 Mom, dad, what I'm doing in this world, do you feel honored by my life? 00:15:05.760 --> 00:15:07.480 Am I honoring to you? 00:15:08.160 --> 00:15:08.720 We all. 00:15:09.920 --> 00:15:12.430 Have a backpack that we carry. 00:15:13.300 --> 00:15:20.340 Paul goes on and says this in verse 6 to 8, When the Spirit of God is at work, not only are we concerned with each other and encouraging 00:15:20.340 --> 00:15:27.520 one another and lifting one another up, but it says in verse six, those who are taught the Word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with 00:15:27.520 --> 00:15:28.120 them. 00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:29.280 Don't be misled. 00:15:29.540 --> 00:15:31.160 You cannot mock the justice of God. 00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:33.380 You will always harvest what you plant. 00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:39.260 In verse eight, those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. 00:15:39.480 --> 00:15:43.920 But those who live to please the spirit will harvest everlasting life from the spirit. 00:15:46.120 --> 00:15:51.720 Paul saying this in verse six, the context of the Greek is dealing with money. 00:15:54.400 --> 00:15:58.260 Paul is saying, as you're blessed, give. 00:15:58.340 --> 00:15:59.800 He mentions in a few contexts. 00:16:01.020 --> 00:16:07.840 He says, first, take care of the pastors or the elders, the ones who serve the church as their blessings. 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:09.550 Spiritually, they need to eat. 00:16:10.580 --> 00:16:15.940 I appreciate that in church it's always, well, it's not always. 00:16:16.200 --> 00:16:21.490 But I'll tell you, the tendency of pastors when you talk about money is to feel like you're about to enter into something taboo. 00:16:22.640 --> 00:16:22.940 I don't care. 00:16:25.320 --> 00:16:25.980 And honesty. 00:16:27.420 --> 00:16:30.410 People that get mad about money aren't giving anyway. 00:16:32.800 --> 00:16:33.660 It's the truth. 00:16:34.680 --> 00:16:38.060 Nothing's going to change unless the spirit of God's work. 00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:43.860 Bible saying in this passage, When God's Spirit is working, people give. 00:16:45.440 --> 00:16:46.920 Because they understand what they're giving for. 00:16:48.600 --> 00:16:51.440 Their eyes are on a greater prize than just the retirement. 00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:57.120 You know, we work so hard within our lives to earn a retirement for, what, 15 years? 00:16:59.110 --> 00:17:01.180 But greater than that, you're working for an eternity. 00:17:01.180 --> 00:17:02.600 That's going to last forever. 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:12.460 I'm Paul saying, when God's doing something good and there's people who are serving in the capacity to meet the 00:17:12.460 --> 00:17:14.440 needs of the of the people within the church. 00:17:15.560 --> 00:17:16.609 Make sure their needs are met. 00:17:18.220 --> 00:17:24.020 You don't ever want a pastor wearing rags for clothes while everyone else drives in their fancy cars to their home. 00:17:24.310 --> 00:17:27.490 It's an indication of where our spiritual condition is in Christ. 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:30.600 I don't know. 00:17:30.740 --> 00:17:32.080 Take that for whatever it's worth. 00:17:32.800 --> 00:17:34.480 Wherever you end up, even in a future church. 00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:38.280 The reason that the Bible talks about money. 00:17:38.340 --> 00:17:40.220 It's an indicator of where we are in Christ. 00:17:40.460 --> 00:17:41.930 Jesus talked about money more than anything. 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:46.230 It's an outward display of what's happening within our hearts. 00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:52.680 And Paul, the emphasis of this is that Paul is educating the believers in this passage of Scripture. 00:17:52.680 --> 00:17:59.780 If you understand the background of where these people are coming from, those who came out of a Jewish religion were used to being taxed for their faith, and 00:17:59.820 --> 00:18:05.020 so they had this place that they would give, and those that came from a gentile religion were paying fees. 00:18:05.040 --> 00:18:07.140 And now they're walking into this church and they're thinking, what? 00:18:07.180 --> 00:18:07.860 Where is this? 00:18:07.880 --> 00:18:08.990 Where is the tax and the fees? 00:18:09.180 --> 00:18:10.180 Man, we don't do that. 00:18:11.980 --> 00:18:14.780 Bible says this that God desires a cheerful heart when he gives. 00:18:16.540 --> 00:18:23.160 Bible calls those who understand what Christ has called us to in this world, to think of ourselves as stewards of his money rather than owning anything. 00:18:23.600 --> 00:18:24.920 We are accountable for it. 00:18:26.320 --> 00:18:34.060 And to be quite honest, when you look at the standard of the New Testament, when the church existed, there's their standard of giving was beyond sacrificial, in 00:18:34.060 --> 00:18:34.280 my opinion. 00:18:36.020 --> 00:18:39.680 I'm the 10% was a small shadow of what the New Testament church was doing. 00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:45.260 And Paul recognizes there is a need for that, but he goes beyond that. 00:18:45.460 --> 00:18:52.520 The purpose of giving isn't just so the church leaders can get their bills paid, but so that the people of God don't miss out on what God 00:18:52.520 --> 00:18:53.880 desires to do. 00:18:54.800 --> 00:18:58.320 I mean, he says it in verse seven and eight, you're going to reap what you sow. 00:18:59.640 --> 00:19:03.950 Give so that you can be a blessing and give so that you can be blessed. 00:19:04.440 --> 00:19:08.740 You're working not just for a retirement for 15 years, but a retirement for your entire life. 00:19:10.780 --> 00:19:13.720 Give. 00:19:14.140 --> 00:19:15.300 On Wednesday. 00:19:16.760 --> 00:19:21.160 Had the opportunity to go up to a meeting with biblical ministers worldwide. 00:19:21.160 --> 00:19:25.820 They're going to gather all of their missionaries together throughout the state that are planning churches in the state of Utah. 00:19:26.280 --> 00:19:28.820 And before I go, I always dive through the statistics on the state of Utah. 00:19:29.400 --> 00:19:34.510 I want to see Christ in Utah, and I want to see churches in every city in Utah. 00:19:34.580 --> 00:19:35.120 But listen to this. 00:19:36.180 --> 00:19:42.640 In the state of Utah right now, there are still at least 26 cities that have never had a Christian, mainstream Christian church. 00:19:44.500 --> 00:19:46.840 If you look at Utah County population statistics. 00:19:48.980 --> 00:19:53.100 5% of the Christian population in our county is in this room. 00:19:55.830 --> 00:20:01.640 If anyone should see the need and what God can do with that, it has to be this room. 00:20:03.360 --> 00:20:05.100 Can I give you some stats just on churches? 00:20:05.320 --> 00:20:12.400 Because of where we're growing as a church, we're getting to the place where we need to become independent on ourselves and not depend on mission support to help us out. 00:20:13.520 --> 00:20:18.060 In the average church in America, once you get to between 80 to 90 people can support a pastor. 00:20:19.180 --> 00:20:23.040 I recognize there's different stats for Utah's as to why it's different. 00:20:23.140 --> 00:20:23.160 Once. 00:20:23.460 --> 00:20:30.500 Once a church hits an average of 100 people, the average giving across America for a church of 100 people in attendance on Sunday, which we've been beyond since we've been 00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:32.110 in this building, is about $8,000. 00:20:34.360 --> 00:20:36.100 State of Utah is a little bit over $6,000. 00:20:37.620 --> 00:20:44.880 State of Utah tends to be a little lower because we're a younger age people group, and we've got kids at a at a younger age, and so families don't 00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:47.380 quite have or kind of pinching the pennies sometimes. 00:20:48.120 --> 00:20:51.730 I don't want to make excuses for anybody, but I'm just saying average for Utah. 00:20:51.820 --> 00:20:52.520 That's what it tends to be. 00:20:52.520 --> 00:20:55.060 And if you look at our church average or below that. 00:20:56.760 --> 00:21:03.780 And the only reason I'm bringing that up is I'm at a we're at a place now where we have depended on churches across the country 00:21:03.780 --> 00:21:05.400 to help us out, to get this work going. 00:21:06.200 --> 00:21:06.300 Right. 00:21:07.160 --> 00:21:14.620 And now I just made a trip back east and when I'm explaining to people how big we are, they're looking at their church thinking, you 00:21:14.620 --> 00:21:15.030 guys are bigger. 00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:18.310 Like, why are you here? 00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:21.170 And I give them there's some explanations for it I'm not going to dive into. 00:21:21.540 --> 00:21:26.640 But it's a responsibility to us to say, hey guys, we're in Utah and we see the need better than anybody. 00:21:27.940 --> 00:21:31.720 If anyone should understand how much should sacrifice it should take, it should be us more than anyone. 00:21:32.860 --> 00:21:38.010 We shouldn't expect someone else to meet the need when we ourselves are living in it, and should set the example for it. 00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:39.560 It's the truth. 00:21:40.880 --> 00:21:44.500 If a church doesn't sustain here, it's on us. 00:21:45.920 --> 00:21:47.380 It's not on anybody else. 00:21:49.120 --> 00:21:49.260 Well. 00:21:49.300 --> 00:21:54.160 It's been wonderful that God has blessed us with so many people who've wanted to give to this ministry and see the need. 00:21:54.360 --> 00:21:57.500 Sometimes I wonder if it's even beyond our desire to meet the need. 00:21:59.340 --> 00:22:00.280 Paul says that. 00:22:01.400 --> 00:22:03.540 When the Spirit of God is at work, the people just see the need. 00:22:03.620 --> 00:22:07.490 They know what Jesus has done in their heart and what Jesus can do in the hearts of people. 00:22:07.660 --> 00:22:08.850 And they just want that proclaimed. 00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:15.520 And whatever it takes, we're looking to be a blessing and to be blessed. 00:22:16.380 --> 00:22:17.070 And so we give. 00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:24.200 Last is this, he says, and in verse nine and ten, I don't have it on here, do I? 00:22:24.300 --> 00:22:24.540 Oh y'all do. 00:22:25.020 --> 00:22:25.620 Verse nine and ten. 00:22:25.700 --> 00:22:29.800 So let's, let's not get tired of doing what is good at just the right time. 00:22:29.880 --> 00:22:32.560 We will reap a harvest of blessing if we do not give up. 00:22:32.560 --> 00:22:40.620 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to those in the family of faith. 00:22:42.520 --> 00:22:45.640 Paul saying this we all have hardships. 00:22:47.340 --> 00:22:48.620 We all go through difficult circumstances. 00:22:50.800 --> 00:22:52.540 God knows your weaknesses. 00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:58.250 And he uses this adversity to draw us closer to him. 00:22:58.360 --> 00:23:03.680 And in that adversity we find life is blessed through him. 00:23:05.580 --> 00:23:08.780 Believers live for Christ in this passage in all circumstances. 00:23:11.260 --> 00:23:12.980 When it's easy to love you. 00:23:13.300 --> 00:23:17.070 Love when it's difficult to love you love. 00:23:18.280 --> 00:23:24.310 And the Christian faith, love and compassion are the finest apologetic we have. 00:23:25.280 --> 00:23:32.460 The most astounding characteristic of Christianity is the ability to love and forgive the 00:23:32.460 --> 00:23:32.560 enemy. 00:23:34.440 --> 00:23:40.480 You think about Jesus on the cross next to the thief as he's being mocked and he says, you will be with me in Paradise? 00:23:41.360 --> 00:23:45.160 Jesus, as he's hanging on the cross, begs and says, father, forgive them. 00:23:45.160 --> 00:23:46.840 They know not what they're doing. 00:23:47.500 --> 00:23:51.980 Jesus tells us, and it tells us in Romans five eight that God demonstrates his love for you. 00:23:51.980 --> 00:23:58.200 And while you're still a sinner, Jesus loves you over and above your sin. 00:23:59.360 --> 00:24:01.000 Jesus loves. 00:24:01.360 --> 00:24:01.640 In life. 00:24:01.840 --> 00:24:02.720 There are people who do evil. 00:24:04.200 --> 00:24:07.880 There are people who return good for good and evil for evil. 00:24:08.920 --> 00:24:11.620 And there are people who turn evil for good. 00:24:12.320 --> 00:24:13.240 And those are God's people. 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:15.910 And that's the message of our cross. 00:24:17.400 --> 00:24:24.500 The emblem to us, to mark to us as people that when God is moving, he can take some of the most grotesque things, 00:24:24.560 --> 00:24:29.520 such as a cross in human history, and turn it to the most glorious things for his good name. 00:24:32.560 --> 00:24:35.870 Love, compassion, and forgiveness in the midst of adversity. 00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:41.960 Paul marks those things as evidence of the life of the believer and the spirit moving within them. 00:24:43.320 --> 00:24:50.440 But he goes on in verse 11, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 00:24:51.380 --> 00:24:54.720 Paul's training or concluding this passage of Scripture. 00:24:54.720 --> 00:25:01.680 He's moving to the theological, the practice of the fruit of the spirit, to the theological thinking of what he's communicated throughout the book of Galatians. 00:25:03.320 --> 00:25:07.500 He says in verse 11, listen, this is so important that I'm writing this myself. 00:25:07.660 --> 00:25:11.440 Some people believe that Paul had this problem with his eyes, that he that he couldn't see. 00:25:12.180 --> 00:25:13.110 But he gets this end of this passage. 00:25:13.420 --> 00:25:15.060 This book starts with Paul just pounding it. 00:25:15.180 --> 00:25:16.140 He's like, ah, take this. 00:25:16.600 --> 00:25:17.140 And he comes to the end. 00:25:17.140 --> 00:25:18.300 He's like, hey, take it again. 00:25:18.600 --> 00:25:19.500 You know, he's writing this down. 00:25:19.820 --> 00:25:20.520 Big letters. 00:25:20.520 --> 00:25:23.780 You can imagine a kid with a crayon I can't see, you know. 00:25:24.060 --> 00:25:25.220 So they're looking at him. 00:25:25.260 --> 00:25:29.620 Paul, we've got so much parchment, I don't know, but Paul's Paul's writing this huge. 00:25:29.840 --> 00:25:30.340 He's like, look at this. 00:25:30.680 --> 00:25:31.590 This is so big. 00:25:31.640 --> 00:25:32.860 I can see it with my bad eyes. 00:25:32.900 --> 00:25:33.670 I want you to read this. 00:25:34.340 --> 00:25:41.360 Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ, for 00:25:41.460 --> 00:25:42.250 those who are circumcised. 00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:50.440 And I even keep the law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised, so that they may boast in your 00:25:50.440 --> 00:25:52.100 flesh. 00:25:52.520 --> 00:25:58.290 Poles recognizing something for us and saying, I want you to remember the interest of what religion is about. 00:25:59.560 --> 00:26:00.540 Interests of religion. 00:26:01.400 --> 00:26:02.980 Isn't interested in the cross of Christ. 00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:07.000 Religion doesn't need the cross of Christ. 00:26:08.860 --> 00:26:10.990 Religion will underplay the cross of Christ. 00:26:12.340 --> 00:26:14.960 Matter of fact, every religion in the world has something to say about Jesus. 00:26:15.340 --> 00:26:18.350 Islam says Jesus never even died on the cross, but he was a person. 00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:27.940 The cross of Christ is unnecessary to them because they don't see the need for their lives as Jesus died for their sins on that cross. 00:26:28.640 --> 00:26:32.250 That's where everything happens for the Christian life. 00:26:34.680 --> 00:26:41.880 People who don't get it don't understand their need for the cross, and rather than suffer for it, they'll forsake it for the for the community of 00:26:41.920 --> 00:26:42.860 religion that they're creating. 00:26:44.180 --> 00:26:51.390 And their interest then, rather than boasting in what Jesus has done on the cross, is boasting in their own accomplishments of what they've done. 00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:53.660 Look how good I am. 00:26:53.860 --> 00:26:55.620 God has to love me, everyone. 00:26:55.620 --> 00:26:56.660 I'm better than them. 00:26:56.660 --> 00:26:58.680 I'm the most lovable thing he's ever created. 00:26:59.240 --> 00:27:06.360 And I got to say, if we're living life to please God by what we do, you and God are 00:27:06.360 --> 00:27:07.520 going to be sorely disappointed. 00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:10.420 It's the cross. 00:27:13.120 --> 00:27:15.540 And so he says in verse 14, this should be the interest of believers. 00:27:17.100 --> 00:27:18.420 But may it never be that I would boast. 00:27:18.740 --> 00:27:21.460 Except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:27:22.600 --> 00:27:25.600 Through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. 00:27:26.280 --> 00:27:31.150 For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 00:27:33.740 --> 00:27:36.200 A believer's interest is to boast in Christ, to the point. 00:27:36.520 --> 00:27:40.000 Paul even says in verse 17 that he sacrifices everything for. 00:27:42.220 --> 00:27:44.600 You think about the way that Paul is communicating to us? 00:27:46.120 --> 00:27:48.760 Through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. 00:27:49.940 --> 00:27:53.280 The life that he's lived by the mark of what Jesus has done in him. 00:27:55.060 --> 00:27:58.800 Can I tell you as Christians this morning to those who put their faith in Christ? 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:03.140 The most important step you take for Jesus isn't the first step. 00:28:04.140 --> 00:28:04.800 It's the last step. 00:28:06.860 --> 00:28:07.770 To get to the end of your life. 00:28:09.140 --> 00:28:13.320 It's finished well by faith, trusting and surrendering to His spirit that he moves within your heart. 00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:22.820 Paul's recognizing in his life, even in this passage of Scripture, that whatever circumstance it takes, whatever sacrifice is there in verse 00:28:22.820 --> 00:28:26.220 17 he says, my body bears those marks for the sake of Christ. 00:28:28.020 --> 00:28:33.240 Verse 16, it says this, and this is the mark of what happens in the life of a believer, in those who will walk by this rule. 00:28:33.540 --> 00:28:37.160 Peace and mercy be upon them and upon the Israel of God. 00:28:40.500 --> 00:28:42.800 Paul saying this for the life of the believer. 00:28:42.800 --> 00:28:44.610 Paul is going to mention grace as well. 00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:51.220 Well, we said in the very beginning, as Paul started the book of Galatians, he says, Grace and peace marks your life. 00:28:51.440 --> 00:28:55.000 And the idea is this if you know God, you know peace. 00:28:55.120 --> 00:28:58.000 And if you don't know God, you don't know peace. 00:28:58.520 --> 00:29:00.140 Christ rules the heart. 00:29:00.140 --> 00:29:12.260 Christ sets you free. 00:29:12.280 --> 00:29:12.280 And in your relationship with the Lord you are free indeed. 00:29:12.280 --> 00:29:12.280 And there is peace. 00:29:12.280 --> 00:29:12.280 And in that piece we've discovered mercy. 00:29:12.280 --> 00:29:15.680 Whatever happens in the Christian life, good or bad. 00:29:16.200 --> 00:29:18.700 The good news for you is you win. 00:29:19.820 --> 00:29:22.850 If tomorrow is a struggle, in the end, you win. 00:29:23.900 --> 00:29:26.680 And if tomorrow you see Jesus, you win. 00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:30.160 It's all about the peace of knowing. 00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:33.880 Regardless of what happens to me in my life, I have won. 00:29:33.880 --> 00:29:37.760 And there is peace, and there is mercy in that relationship with Christ. 00:29:37.900 --> 00:29:44.900 And so Paul says this to conclude the passage, he says, from now on, let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the 00:29:44.900 --> 00:29:48.160 brand marks of Jesus, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:29:48.380 --> 00:29:49.780 Be with your spirit, brethren. 00:29:50.140 --> 00:29:50.560 Amen. 00:29:52.280 --> 00:29:59.380 And it's as if he's saying to the believers, listen, you think circumcision is so important rather than let your body get cut up for that purpose in 00:29:59.380 --> 00:30:06.680 religion, let it be abused for the sake of Christ, that by far more is worth greater glory than anything you're going to accomplish 00:30:06.680 --> 00:30:07.560 in religion. 00:30:07.800 --> 00:30:08.460 Amen. 00:30:08.580 --> 00:30:10.820 It's about what Jesus has done to set you free. 00:30:11.640 --> 00:30:16.520 There is peace, there is mercy, and Christ has set you free. 00:30:16.540 --> 00:30:17.580 Indeed. 00:30:19.460 --> 00:30:22.620 This morning as I go over this passage and I'll just say this in conclusion. 00:30:24.960 --> 00:30:27.640 I'm not saying read chapter six and figure out how to be good. 00:30:29.880 --> 00:30:33.020 I'm saying, read chapter six and figure out how to surrender your life to Christ. 00:30:35.720 --> 00:30:39.530 Bible says this in Ephesians chapter two and verse ten. 00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:44.380 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. 00:30:46.560 --> 00:30:48.780 God cares too much about you to leave you alone. 00:30:48.780 --> 00:30:52.320 He desires to do great things through you and in you. 00:30:53.680 --> 00:30:58.480 You usually get to the end of a passage like this, and I give you some little step that you can go out and do within your life. 00:30:58.540 --> 00:30:59.680 And I got to the end and I thought, there's no need. 00:31:00.820 --> 00:31:02.200 That's what Paul did already. 00:31:03.900 --> 00:31:05.420 For us as believers. 00:31:06.040 --> 00:31:07.560 This is the call to you. 00:31:07.560 --> 00:31:10.180 You've read this passage, you've seen the fruit of the spirit. 00:31:10.180 --> 00:31:12.880 You've seen what Paul says in Galatians chapter six. 00:31:13.060 --> 00:31:18.380 But this is what we walk away knowing with, is that God desires to do great things in us and through us. 00:31:18.380 --> 00:31:23.420 And as we see the need for the Lord, we stand for the Lord, even if we bare it within our bodies. 00:31:23.540 --> 00:31:31.180 Because knowing Christ brings such grace and mercy and peace and freedom, that if there's anything in this world worth proclaiming, it's 00:31:31.220 --> 00:31:32.850 got to start with Jesus. 00:31:34.560 --> 00:31:36.020 You are a church family. 00:31:37.960 --> 00:31:45.180 You cannot even begin to live what Paul talks about in these passages of Scripture, unless you're serious about your walk with him and desire to 00:31:45.180 --> 00:31:47.190 see that made known in the life of one another. 00:31:48.760 --> 00:31:52.010 Seek his face and encourage each other.