Galatians 5:18-24 – Post Message Follow Up

The message from the current Galatians series dealt with chapter 5:16-26. This was a big passage to deal with and the focus was mostly on living the crucified life. Within this text though there are several words that can and should be identified further. The first list is what Paul calls the works of the flesh. These works of the flesh are what characterizes a person’s life apart from Christ. The NASB says that those that practice these things will not inherit the kingdom of God. In the Greek there are two different words that can be translated practice. One is the occasional doing; while the other is the habitual practice. It is the second word that Paul uses. So what he is saying is that a person who has these things as a continual characterization of their life will not inherit the kingdom of God.  Paul is not saying that a person who commits one of these sins is doomed. What he is saying is that these things are incompatible as a lifestyle with a person that has been born again. In verses 18-21 Paul mentions 15 things. I am going to break these down into four categories. There are others who done things similar. One helpful thing about these categories is that we see there is a broad range of issues and since Paul ends his list with and things like these he is not giving an exhaustive list of sin.

• Immoral Sins
• Sexual Immorality- The Greek word is porneia. This sexual immorality includes any acts of sexual intercourse not sanctioned by God. That of course would mean anything outside of marriage. That would include adultery and fornication.
• Impurity- This is speaking most generally of a filthiness of mind and heart.
• Sensuality- Other versions use the word debauchery. This is a love for sin that is so rampant that there is no shame before God or man in what they are doing. 
• Religious Sins
• Idolatry- Idolatry is anything that is worshipped above God.
• Witchcraft- Most translations use the word sorcery. In our day and age witchcraft probably brings the meaning closer to home. At the root of this word is drug. Drugs where used in occult practices all the time. Tampering in the occult is a serious thing in the Bible.
• Relational Sins
• Enmities- This is a hatred of mind.
• Strife- Strife may better be understood as the outworking of enmity. The hatred of mind leads to hateful actions.
• Jealousy- Jealousy is wanting something that someone else has.
• Fits of anger- This is an uncontrollable temper.
• Disputes- This is a self-seeking, selfish ambition.
• Dissensions- This is the action that causes divisions. It is unfortunate that this is so many times the story of God’s people.
• Factions- Factions is related to dissensions, may be separated by the idea of cliques.
• Envying- Envying is similar to jealousy, but carries with the idea of holding grudges.
• Social Sins- I have called these social sins because of the problems they cause in society in general and families in particular.
• Drunkenness- Although a lot could be said, this is also pretty self-explanatory.
• Carousing- Carousing means wild parties or more literally orgies.

After Paul gives a list of things that will not characterize the life of the believer he then says but in verse 22. Yes those things before will not be a lifestyle of the person that has been born again. With that he gives a good list of those things that will characterize a follower of Christ. This fruit of the Spirit is singular so this is supposed to be a collective whole. We need to be growing in each of these areas, but it is not a list that we pick and choose from. One helpful thing to do is to incorporate these things into our prayer life and ask the Christ would be so formed in us (Galatians 4:19) that these individual aspects are becoming more and more evident.

• Love- Earlier Paul mentioned that the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: you shall love your neighbor as yourself (Galatians 5:14). Love is extremely important and one of the most telling signs of a person’s conversion. Of course biblically speaking love is not referring to some emotional state or a warm fuzzy feeling but conveys a clear decision or choice to love someone. The word is the Greek agape that is used to describe God’s love for us. We don’t love God, others or the world simply because we feel like it or it makes us feel good. We make the conscious decision to love someone.  
• Joy- Joy is used over 50 times in the New Testament. Joy is a state of happiness based on spiritual realities. The one thing that needs to be distinguished is that this feeling or state of happiness is not based on the circumstances around us. An example that could be used that relates to sports enthusiasts would be the happiness/ despair experienced during a game. One minute you are elated because things are going good for your team and the next you are in despair because so quickly things have changed. That is NOT an example of biblical joy. Joy is rooted deeply within our hearts and flows from the Spirit of God working in our lives. Being based on spiritual realities means that we look beyond the circumstances around us and can still be filled with joy.
• Peace- The word for peace speaks of a binding together. Everything is in place. This peace is manifested in a tranquil mind. This is a state of calmness, even in the face of difficulty. The peace that we get from the Spirit means that anxiety or fear is not things that we should be experiencing. Jesus on one occasion said that we should not be troubled because He was giving us His peace (John 14:27) and on another occasion He said that He had spoken these things so that we would have peace (John 16:33). When we examine the life of Christ we see a man of peace. He was never worried, but always trusted in God. Even in the face of Satan He was at peace. Facing Pilate and the Jewish leaders who were seeking His death He still was at peace knowing that all things would work according to the Father’s plan. 
• Patience- I am not sure if Paul’s intention was to use these first four as building on one another but there is some truth to it. Love is supreme. If we truly love God with all our heart it should produce a joy that is incomprehensible. This joy should also lead us to a peace that is able to stand against the most difficult of circumstances. Now if we have all three of these working in our lives patience will be a little easier to exhibit. Patience is always something that people say they struggle with. But when we think about it, peace leads to patience. It may be true in most circumstances that if we are lacking patience that we are also lacking the peace of Christ. I read a good definition of patience one time as a “clam willingness to accept situations that are irritating or painful.” Have you ever been irritated? Have you accepted it with patience? The calmness comes from our peace and willingness to accept situations that are irritating or painful. This comes from both our trust in God that He is working and our desire to be like Him (Colossians 3:12-13). God is patience personified. He is patient with us and humanity although we continue to reject Him, rebel against Him and shame His name.
• Kindness- Kindness speaks about a tender concern for others. This does not mean that our convictions are thrown out the window.
• Goodness- Goodness speaks about a moral and spiritual excellence. This excellence also includes with it a sweetness and kindness. There is difference in being morally upright and being filled with goodness. Our actions can be morally upright or morally good, but we may not have with it a kind attitude or caring heart. Goodness includes the kindness of the heart with the spiritual and moral excellence.
• Faithfulness- Faithfulness is being trustworthy both to God and others.
• Gentleness- Gentleness includes meekness. This gentleness does not mean that there will never be a time that we are not upset about something. One way to put it would be that we are only angry at the right time and we never get angry at times when we are not supposed to. Again we must remember that meekness does not mean weakness. Gentleness is used in the New Testament a variety of ways. It is used when correcting someone that is in error (2 Timothy 2:25), which obviously means that there are times that we have to take a stand. We are to share Christ with others with gentleness (1 Peter 3:15-16). So gentleness speaks more of our attitude in doing the things that God’s wants us to. Even if sometimes those things are difficult. 
• Self-Control- Self-control is mastery over one’s desires and passions. Self-control is essential for living in the world, but not being of the world. Jude 23 sums it up good: “save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.” If we hate even our garments polluted by the flesh then we must learn to exercise self-control as we live for Christ in the world; saving some and having mercy on others.

May the Lord of heaven and earth grant us the strength to continually surrender to His Spirit so that His fruit is an ever increasing reality and the desires of the flesh be an ever decreasing reality in our lives.

Missional Church

Here is a really good article. It is short and adapted from a message by Matt Chandler at a recent Acts29 Boot Camp for Church Planters. I have taken the main bullet points and made a few comments. As many of you know our goal is to be a missional church. Maybe that is a new word for you, but here are the main bullet points from the message and article:

-          In a missional church the Leaders job is to equip people for ministry. This is huge. In most church settings the leaders do the work of ministry and most of the people reap the benefits. But according to the Apostle Paul the entire body is to do the work of ministry while the leaders equip the people to do that. Read Ephesians 4:11 to see Paul talk about this.

-          For the Church Body to grow each part must be working properly (See Ephesians 4:16.) The reality is that if a church body is not growing (and more of this emphasis is spiritual growth) then the problem is likely two fold- church leaders are not equipping and the people (Paul says each part) are not working properly. Which they will not work properly if they are not growing.

-          Is the congregation full of missional people or just dead weight? Matt Chandler talks about doing a survey in their church two years ago and only 10% of the people knew what their spiritual gift was. The number of people in attendance is not that important if we are failing to move them into a missianal lifestyle. A lifestyle that is using their gifts and encouraging and challenging them to grow in holiness to the glory of God.

As for me I am excited about our future as a missional church, but that also means each of us must continue to be on mission for Jesus, committed to growing like Him and sacrificially giving of ourselves so others can find His kingdom. If we all keep it up and keep our eyes on Christ tremendous fruit for the fame of His name will be the result.

Robert Murray McCheyne on giving and the poor

Now, dear Christians, some of you pray night and day to be branches of the true vine; you pray to be made all over in the image of Christ. If so, you must be like him in giving. A branch bears the same kind of fruit as the tree…An old divine says well: “what would have become of us if Christ has been as saving of his blood as some men are of their money?”

Objection 1. “My money is my own” Answer: Christ might have said, “my blood is my own, my life is my own”…than were should we have been?

Objection 2. “The poor are undeserving.” Answer: Christ might have said the same thing. “They are wicked rebels against my father’s law: shall I lay down my life for these? I will give to the good angels.” But no, He left the ninety-nine, and came after the lost. He gave His blood for the undeserving.

Objection 3. “The poor may abuse it.” Answer: Christ might have said the same; yea, with far greater truth. Christ knew that thousands would trample His blood under their feet; that most would despise it…yet He gave His own blood.

Oh, my dear Christians! If you would be like Christ, give much, give often, give freely, to the vile and the poor, the thankless and the undeserving. Christ is glorious and happy and so will you be. It is not your money I want, but your happiness. Remember His own word: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Robert Murray McCheyne (1813-1843) Sermon 82.

What is More Important?

 

From page 22 of Chapter 2 of “Radical” by David Platt

“Both our diagnosis of the situation and our conclusion regarding the solution fit nicely in a culture that exalts self-sufficiency, self-esteem and self-confidence. We already have a fairly high view or our morality, so when we add a superstitious prayer, a subsequent dose of church attendance and obedience to some of the Bible, we feel pretty sure that we will be alright in the end.

Note the contrast, however, when you diagnose the problem biblically. The modern-day gospel says, ‘God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. Therefore, follow these steps, and you can be saved.’ Meanwhile, the biblical gospel says, ‘You are an enemy of God, dead in your sin, and in your present state of rebellion, you are not even able to see that you need life, much less to cause yourself to come to life. Therefore, you are radically dependent on God to do something in your life that you could never do.’

The former sells books and draws crowds. The latter saves souls. Which is more important?’

 

Is God’s Word Enough

From Page 26 of “Radical” by David Platt

“Despite its size, sixty believers have crammed into it. They are all ages, from precious little girls to seventy year old men. They are sitting either on the floor or on small stools, lined shoulder to shoulder, huddled together with their Bibles in their laps. The roof is low, and one light bulb dangles from the middle of the ceiling as the sole source of illumination.

No Sound system.

No band

No guitar.

No entertainment.

No cushioned chairs.

No heated or air-conditioned building.

Nothing but the people of God and the Word of God.

And strangely, that’s enough.

God’s Word is enough for millions of believers who gather in house churches just like this one. His Word is enough for millions of other believers who huddle in African jungles, South American rain forests, and Middle Eastern cities.

But is his Word enough for us?”

A question we will be discussing on Wednesday in Chapter 2 of Radical will be: If all the comforts and conveniences of our church culture were washed away, would God’s Word be enough for us? Is it enough now?

Radical: Taking Your Faith Back from the American Dream

In preparation for our upcoming Bible Study on the book Radical by David Platt I was stuck by statements from two teenagers preparing to go and start churches in villages in places that have no churches. These two young men are from a country where it is illegal to share your faith. Let me share with you the two short paragraphs: “Ling said to me, ‘I have told my family that I will likely never come back home. I am going to hard places to make the Gospel known, and it is possible that I will lose my life in the process.’ Shan added, ‘But our families understand. Our moms and dads have been in prison for their faith, and they have taught us that Jesus is worthy of all our devotion.’”

I have three short questions for all of us:

Is Jesus worthy of all your devotion?

Are you teaching your children that he is worthy of all their devotion?

What would you do if your children came to you and said I am leaving to take the Gospel to hard places, I will likely not return home and I might even die proclaiming Christ to others?

If we would not support our children in the third question, than can we really say yes to the first two?

Here is a link to an answer from Jim Elliot when his parents did not want him to go to Ecuador.

Here is the event listed on facebook.  

A Life Seeking Holiness ~ Living Continuously in the Presence of God

  One of my favourite verses is from David and it has great encouragement and implications for our personal and corporate pursuit of holiness. In (Psalms 27:4 ESV) he says One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple. Let’s just go through this verse and make some comments.

1.      One thing I have asked- David had one main goal in his life (will get to that goal in a moment) and he understood that he needed to seek after that goal. Asking wasn’t enough, he knew that if it was really important he needed to ask and seek. David was going to let nothing get in his way of this godly desire. He would pursue it, he would preserve, and he would not give up until he got it. We all know from personal experience that the things we really want that we will stop at nothing to get it. We will climb any mountain, hurdle any obstacle to obtain it. We can see the same thing in the Gospels. Mark 2:1-5 tells the story of the paralytic man that needed to get to Jesus. There were so many people around that his friends could not get him to the Lord. Yet, they knew that his only hope for healing was getting to Jesus. They did not let the crowd get in the way. They climbed to the roof, dug through the ceiling and lowered the crippled man down to Jesus. Nothing would stop them. Jesus saw their faith, healed the man and forgave his sins. That which is really important we will continually pursue! So what was so important to David that he would persistently seek after it?

2.      Dwell in the house of the Lord- Just why was being in the house of the Lord so important? It wasn’t because of the location; it was because the house of the Lord represented the place that God’s glory dwelt. It was the place of God’s presence! David’s desire more than anything else was God Himself. David was a man after God’s own heart and agreed with Paul that all other things are rubbish compared to knowing Him (Philippians 3:7-11). Do you desire God more than anything else? If we answer yes, than we will not let anything get in our way. What does this have to do with holiness? Simple! Holiness is a key to dwelling in God’s presence. God is absolutely holy and He cannot stand to look at sin. Therefore, we cannot continue in sin and remain in God’s presence. We have a choice: pursue sin without God’s presence or pursue holiness in God’s presence! As we seek after God and seek to remain in His presence we need that perseverance mentioned earlier. There will always be things competing for our time. But when it is all said and done we have no excuse for not seeking after God. I have heard people talk about how they are so busy that they have no time for God! No time to read His Word! No time to pray! No time to study! No time to serve! We all have time to do these things, we have to make the choice and decide that the things of God outweigh everything else. It may mean some adjustments in our life, but it is due able and it is worth it. What is hindering your pursuit of God and His righteousness? In our pursuit of holiness we need the same kind of persistence and desire. Is this really a good application of this text? It is if we continue to follow the text.  

3.      Gaze upon the beauty of the Lord- Think about what it means to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord. The first thing that comes to my mind is worship: being in the presence of almighty God and worshipping His splendour and majesty. Look at another verse that says something similar: (Psalms 63:2-5 ESV) So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, This awesome worship is not the only thing that David has in mind. True worship and adoration will also lead to inquiring of the Lord. Combing these two passages together we could say worship and growing. Adoring Christ in His majesty and growing in the knowledge of His Word. The Scripture is full of verses like this that show the importance of learning and knowing God’s Word and many times in the Psalms they are connected with some form of worship and adoration (See these additional verses in Psalm 119: 12, 15, 23, 26-27, 33, 48, 68, 71-72, 78, 97, 108, 124, 131, 148). This combination of worshiping and learning reminds of the story of Mary in the life of Jesus (Luke 10:38-42). As we look at David and Mary we a see commitment to sit at the feet of the Lord ready to hear from Him. Is there anything else greater than this?

Conclusion: As we follow David’s example we see a life that is continually in pursuit of God’s presence, God’s worship and God’s Word. When this happens it translates into a life devoted to Christ, His Word, His kingdom and His church! Let this be a reality in us Lord and let your glory radiate from us!

Profile of a Lukewarm Christian 17

Lukewarm people probably drink and swear less than average, but besides that, they really aren’t very different from your typical unbeliever. They equate their partially sanitised lives with holiness, but that couldn’t be more wrong. 

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. (Mat 23:25-28 ESV)

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Mat 7:21 ESV)

Profile of Lukewarm 16

Lukewarm people do not live by faith; their lives are structured so they never have to. They don’t have to trust God if something unexpected happens – they have their saving account. They don’t need God to help them – they have their retirement plan in place. They don’t genuinely seek out what life God would have them live – they have life figured and mapped out. They don’t depend on God on a daily basis – their refrigerators are full and, for the most part, they are in good health. The truth is, their lives wouldn’t look much different if they suddenly stopped believing in God. (Luke 12:16-21, Amos 6:1)

And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” (Luk 12:16-21 ESV)

“Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the first of the nations, to whom the house of Israel comes! (Amo 6:1 ESV)

Profile of Lukewarm 15

 Lukewarm people are continually concerned with playing it safe; they are slaves to the god of control. This focus on safe living keeps them from sacrificing and taking risks for God. 

 

 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, (1Ti 6:17-18 ESV)

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Mat 10:28 ESV)