Faith in Real Life

Galatians: SOAR! Faith Without Limits "The Gospel, Grace, Freedom"  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  46:43
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Morning Prayer
- Author Unknown
Dear Lord, So far I've done all right. I haven't gossiped, haven't lost my temper, haven't been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or overindulgent. I'm really glad about that.
But in a few minutes, God, I'm going to get out of bed. And from then on, I'm going to need a lot more help.
There are certain times that walking in the Spirit is a little more simple than others… BUT Real Life can make it difficult to live out this Faith we have.

What is Real Life???

Taxes...
Time Changes...
Heartaches...
Disagreements...
Politics…
Situations that don’t have black and white resolutions
People… real life involves dealing with people!
Our passage today as we look at Faith in real life deals with relating to “one another” in the Spirit...
Walking in the Spirit is easier when we look at allowing the Spirit to work in us (a vertical interaction)
It gets more difficult when we have to allow the Spirit to work through us (a horizontal interaction)
This whole walking in the Spirit is not just for us… it involves those around us!
Consider this as we look at what Paul is stating to the Galatian churches… Galatians 5:26-6:10
Galatians 5:26–6:10 NASB95
Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another. Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each one will bear his own load. The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
Paul is telling us several things...
Don’t do these things...
Do these other things...
Consider the internal motive!
Paul begins with

The “Do Not’s” of walking in the Spirit.

We can have these tenancies in our christian walk
We can be boastful… this is pride / building up ones self rather than others, or better yet Christ!
Galatians 5:3-5 is dealing with the boastful heart!
We don’t boast in order to bring others down
Rather we take a look at our deeds / actions / life
Is there good things? GREAT! don’t be deceived… this is not you but the Spirit in you!
Examine your work it says… Then take pride in what God has done through you… Romans 12:3
Romans 12:3 NASB95
For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

One should see God working in his or her life!

We boast in what God has done… NOT in regard to what we see in others… OTHERWISE it creates:
Challenging among one another (to provoke or to irritate)
Envying one another (to experience a feeling of ill will due to real or presumed advantage experienced by someone else)
Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 759). New York: United Bible Societies.
Boasting brings up this in the body of Christ and with others… This is not how one should walk in the Spirit, yet we are tempted to BECOME this way with one another.
Instead of Boasting… Humility,
Instead of Provoking…Gentleness,
Instead of Envying… Contentment or Kindness.
Paul transitions now to what one should do as he or she walks in the Spirit!

Do… Restore the brother or sister in sin.

“Even if” they are caught in “ANY” sin
Christians sin, we fall short still.
Restore this individual...
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 75.5 ἐξαρτίζω; καταρτίζω; κατάρτισις, εως; καταρτισμός, οῦ

to make someone completely adequate or sufficient for something

Help them get back on track
Walking in the right direction
Work through the sin struggle they are dealing with
Those who are “spiritual” walking with Christ well (not perfect)
Spirit of Gentleness
Do not do this this carelessly… One does not help another sinking in quicksand without watching his own step!
They are caught in this sin, be careful so you are not as well
Unlike this first directive, (being for the spiritually stronger) the next is for all of us...

Do… Bear one another’s burdens.

Not all things we go through are sin… in fact many are burdens we carry.
What is a “Burden”???
A hardship in life
A time of sorrow and grief
Heaviness that comes through life...
So often we place burdens on one another by the things we say or do to one another.
When people are around you… is their burden made lighter or heavier?
When we DO this we fulfill the law of Christ… Mark 12:29-31
Mark 12:29–31 NASB95
Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ “The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
To bear the burden with someone requires you to walk with them...
It takes time
It takes effort
It takes the whole church family… NOT just a few.

Do… Care for your teachers.

Throughout the scriptures you will find scriptures that state the responsibilities of spiritual leaders, pastors, teachers, elders
It is clear that God holds a pastor to a higher level
The responsibilities of the pastor are many and great BUT
There is also a responsibility for the church body… verse 6 speaks to this.
Pastors are a part of the body
One who has needs and burdens
This church body has been such a blessing to my wife and I (thank you)

Paul transitions from what one should do to The Internal Motive behind what we do.

Don’t think you can make a fool of God.
On the outside one might be looking good, internally turning up his nose at God.
Don’t fool yourself thinking God does not see or will not address this in your life.
Paul goes to an agriculture phrasing… sowing and reaping.
What you plant, that is what you will harvest!
Illustrate movie “Second Hand Lions”
garden planted, each row with a different seed package
each row sprouted up corn, the package made no difference on what was really planted.
Are we doing what we do in the flesh or spirit?
if in the flesh… we will grow weary
if in the Spirit… He will carry us through

Encouragement in what is to come!

In these last two verses Paul includes himself (Us / We)
Life is difficult for all of us!
We don’t do this alone… the Holy Spirit… the Family of God!
Paul challenges how we should live life… (LIFE is the Opportunity!!!)
Do good to all!
Family first, make the body of Christ priority in your doing good.
I love the song, “They will know we are Christians by our love”
to those around us but especially to one another… Restore, Share the Burdens, Care, and Love with a pure heart!
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