Easy Company at the Cubs game Friday

Galatians 6:11-18
11 Look at what large letters I use as I write to you in my own handwriting.

• Amanuensis – Paid scribe or secretary
• The large letters were either because
• 1) Paul had issue with his eyes and it was easier for him to see himself or
• 2) Paul was making an emphasis on his final statement.
• DON’T MISS THIS
• It’s not a matter of 2 different doctrines… It’s a matter of 2 different “ways of life.”
• Bondage or Liberty
• Legalism or Freedom
• Walking by the Flesh or Walking by the Spirit
• Living for self or Living for others
• Now Paul adds to this list:
• Receiving praise from men or giving glory to God
• He is dealing with motive, and there is no greater need in our churches today than for an examination of the motives for our ministries.
• We know what we are doing, but do we know why we are doing it?
• A good work is spoiled by a bad motive.[1]
• In this paragraph Paul presents three “marked men”
  1) The legalist (Gal. 6:12–13)
  2) The Lord Jesus Christ (Gal. 6:14–16), and
  3) The Apostle Paul himself (Gal. 6:17–18).[2]
  

12 Those who want to make a good impression in the flesh are the ones who would compel you to be circumcised —but only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.

• Salesman vs Ambassador
• Politicians vs Sincerity
• Campaign vs Missions
• What were the tactics of the salesmen (Judaizers)?
• Their argument might have run something like this: “Yes, of course, Jesus died on the cross, and that is a great example of God’s love.
• But if you want to be saved and really belong to the true Israel, then you must do something more than merely rely on that past event.
• Yes, Jesus was the Messiah, and he did a lot for us.
• But now it is up to you to complete what he began.”[3]

13 For even the circumcised don’t keep the law themselves; however, they want you to be circumcised in order to boast about your flesh.

• He is condemning them for their dishonesty.
• They had no intention of keeping the Law, even if they could.
• Their reverence for the Law was only a mask to cover their real goal: winning more converts to their cause.
• They wanted to report more statistics and get more glory.[4]
• 1 Samuel – David wanted to marry Saul’s daughter Michael. The price was 100 Philistine (gentile) foreskins.
• David brought 200 foreskins to Saul.
• Paul describes the Judaizers as:
• 1) Braggarts
• 2) Compromisers
• 3) Persuaders
• 4) Hypocrites

14 But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world.

• Jesus mentioned 45 times in Galatians.
• That is 1/3 of the passages in Galatians contain a reference to Jesus.
• Wounds of circumcision vs wounds of the cross.
• Cross as a symbol of Paul’s faith.
• We wear crosses and collect crosses.
• It was a way of death.
• Actually the Latin word crux was regarded as an expression so crude no polite Roman would utter it in public.
• In order to get around this difficulty, the Romans devised another expression, “Hang him on the unlucky tree” (arbori infelici suspendito).[5]
• But what the world regards as too shameful to whisper in polite company, a detestable object used for the brutal execution of the bottom of society, Paul declared to be the proper basis for exultation.[6]
• Why would Paul glory in the cross?
• Because the cross is empty…
• Christ defeated the cross.
• Not only was Jesus crucified… but the world was crucified…
• The earth groaned… the god of this cosmos is the evil one… notice had been served.
• We have been crucified… even we are aliens to this world system.
• It’s not supposed to make sense to us.
• Don’t get so worked up… stay focused on your calling.

15 For both circumcision and uncircumcision mean nothing; what matters instead is a new creation.

• If you are going to be a marked man… be marked as a new creation!
• “The new creation implies a new nature with a new system of desires, affections, and habits, all wrought through the supernatural ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. No spiritual gymnastics, no twelve-step program on the deeper life, no quick-fix “How-to-Be-a-Better-Christian” seminar can produce this kind of transformation. Paul’s emphasis was on the act of God in effecting a new thing. This is the result of faith working by love leading to holiness culminating in a life filled with the Spirit.”[7]
• You take circumcision… I’ll take the cross.

16 May peace come to all those who follow this standard, and mercy to the Israel of God!

• Paul: “I know I get a little worked up talking about this stuff… but really… I only am passionate about you and Christ in you. I want you to have peace.”
• Paul knew the Church stood in great conflict with society.
• Not much has changed today.
• We will always be in conflict.

 17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, because I bear on my body scars for the cause of Jesus.

• “If your religious celebrities have any scars to show for the glory of Christ, then let them be shown. Otherwise—stop bothering me!”[8]

18 Brothers, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. [9]

• Band of Brothers
• GRACE! Not “the Law of Moses,” but THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST!
• No more need be said, because that says it all.[10]

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 725). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 725). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[3] George, T. (1994). Galatians (Vol. 30, pp. 436–437). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 726). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5] George, T. (1994). Galatians (Vol. 30, p. 436). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[6] George, T. (1994). Galatians (Vol. 30, p. 436). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[7] George, T. (1994). Galatians (Vol. 30, p. 438). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[8] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 727). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[9] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ga 6:11–18). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[10] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 728). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

A Funny Little Story About Hymns and Praise Songs
          By Author Unknown
An old farmer went to the city one weekend and attended the big city church. He came home and his wife asked him how it was.
“Well,” said the farmer. “It was good. They did something different, however. They sang praise choruses instead of hymns.”
“Praise choruses?” asked the wife. “What are those?”
“Oh, they’re okay. They’re sort of like hymns, only different,” said the farmer.
“Well, what’s the difference?” asked the wife.
The farmer said, “Well it’s like this … If I were to say to you, ‘Martha, the cows are in the corn,’ well that would be a hymn. If, on the other hand, I were to say to you, ‘Martha, Martha, Martha, Oh, Martha, MARTHA, MARTHA, the cows, the big cows, the brown cows, the black cows, the white cows, the black and white cows, the COWS, COWS, COWS are in the corn, are in the corn, are in the corn, in the CORN, CORN, CORN, COOOOORRRRRNNNNN,’ then, if I were to repeat the whole thing two or three times, well that would be a praise chorus.”
As luck would have it, the exact same Sunday a young, new Christian from the city church attended the small town church. He came home and his wife asked him how it was.
“Well,” said the young man, “It was good. They did something different, however. They sang hymns instead of regular songs.”
“Hymns?” asked the wife. “What are those?”
“They’re okay. They’re sort of like regular songs, only different,” said the young man.
“Well, what’s the difference?” asked the wife.
The young man said, “Well it’s like this … If I were to say to you, ‘Martha, the cows are in the corn,’ well that would be a regular song. If on the other hand, I were to say to you,
Oh Martha, dear Martha, hear thou my cry
Inclinest thine ear to the words of my mouth.
Turn thou thy whole wondrous ear by and by
To the righteous, glorious truth.

For the way of the animals who can explain
There in their heads is no shadow of sense,
Hearkenest they in God’s sun or his rain
Unless from the mild, tempting corn they are fenced.
Yea those cows in glad bovine, rebellious delight,
Have broke free their shackles, their warm pens eschewed.

Then goaded by minions of darkness and night
They all my mild Chilliwack sweet corn chewed.
So look to that bright shining day by and by,
Where all foul corruptions of earth are reborn
Where no vicious animal makes my soul cry
And I no longer see those foul cows in the corn.

Then, if I were to do only verses one, three and four, and change keys on the last verse, well that would be a hymn.”

Galatians 6:1-10
1 Brothers, if someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so you also won’t be tempted. 2 Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But each person should examine his own work, and then he will have a reason for boasting in himself alone, and not in respect to someone else. 5 For each person will have to carry his own load.
6 The one who is taught the message must share all his good things with the teacher. 7 Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap, 8 because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 9 So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, we must work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.[1]

Galatians 6:6-10
6 The one who is taught the message must share all his good things with the teacher.
 - Paul is talking about sharing material goods for those who are teaching the Gospel.
 - Not a tax like the Jews were required to pay to their rabbis.
 - Leavener is not interested in taxing you a percentage or pressuring you to buy a ticket to the show.
 - If the teacher is sharing “good news”, people will gladly share their good things.
7 Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap, 8 because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 9 So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, we must work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.[2]
 - Goods… not just money… are given to “Leavener”.
 - Once they are given… there are no strings attached.
 - Even the government understands that principle. (designated gifts vs unrestricted gifts).
 - I have a pre-determined salary just like you do.
 - The goods that come into our ministry do not determine my take home pay.
 - The passage says to share goods with the teacher.
 - It doesn’t say the counselor, the crisis manager, the burden carrier.
 - My desire is to focus on the Word and teach the Word.

Galatians 6:1-5
1 Brothers, if someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so you also won’t be tempted.
 - “caught” – 2 points of view
 - Either caught by someone else doing something wrong.
 - Or caught by the sin itself… Like a cheetah on a gazelle.
 - Either way, the “brother” is surprised or overtaken.
  - “spiritual” – Those who are walking with and by the Spirit vs those who are acting “religious”.
 - “gentleness” – A product of the Holy Spirit. (5:23)
 - “tempted” – 2 points of views
 - Either that the person restoring falls into the same temptation.
 - Or that person becomes completely judgmental and places their self above the wrong doer.
2 Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But each person should examine his own work, and then he will have a reason for boasting in himself alone, and not in respect to someone else. 5 For each person will have to carry his own load.
 - Not the Law given to Moses but Jesus’ interpretation of the Law of Moses.
 - “Love the Lord… Love your neighbor as yourself.”
 - “burden” – Heavy load

 - Today, is the day when we hear over and over… “Never forget”.
 - “Never forget” what?
 - What they did to us?
 - Those who lost their lives?
 - How our lives were changed?
 - How there was a deeper sense of community and family bonding?
 - Tomorrow will be 9/12 and we will go about our business as normal.
 - It is all about perspective…
 - Line up – From the most positive person in the room to the most negative person in the room.
 
When you are struggling and you are seeking advice, you will do 1 of 3 things:
1) You will find someone (it may take you a few 
people) to sympathize with you and They will say 
what you want to hear. Someone that agrees with 
you no matter if you are right or wrong.
2) You will go to someone for wisdom in a situation 
and you will receive good advice but you come up 
with every excuse not to pursue that advice. You 
continue down the same path of destruction. 
3) You will go to someone for wisdom, understanding and comfort and they will walk with you through the situation.

 - Wisdom – See life from God’s perspective.
 - Therefore it would make sense to know God.
 - Advice for a successful marriage…
 - Magic trick – Advice - “Walk by the Spirit”
 - You either walk by the flesh or walk by the Spirit.
 - Galatians 5
 - So when people contact me it usually because of unwise behavior… otherwise known as foolishness… otherwise known as chasing selfish desires.
 - So if they contact me, they are confessing their foolish pursuit.
 - And I am going to point out to you that you are acting foolish by it being about yourself.
 - I will encourage you to pursue God and walk by the Spirit in you.
 - I will do this for a season…
- Think back to the bowling night when I was sick and those folks got hammered and then eventually divorced and none of their peers intervened in the process... why should that situation end up on my docket?
 - Some falsely believe freedom is for the flesh rather than the spirit
 - I expect to go through ups and downs with you… I get that we still have a flesh suit and bad habit patterns.
 - My prayer is that you will see others around you that can do the same.

• “The First Time” - MercyMe

[1] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ga 6:1–10). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ga 6:1–10). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.