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Our theme for 2021 is “Redeeming the Time”
Today we wrap up this series on Paul's letter to the Galatians is entitled “No Longer What You Used to Be”
Becoming a follower of Christ is not just a matter of following a religion, it is a supernatural transformation.
You are no longer what you used to be.
The Galatians were people who came to Christ on Paul’s first
and second missionary journeys and the churches that they started.
Meanwhile, there were these Jewish teachers that were following Paul’s trail trying to convert the people back to the old way of Judaism.
They were causing these young Christians to doubt everything that they believed and were taught.
And most of all, causing them to doubt what God had already done in their lives and the change that occured.
So Paul had to remind them of the powerful encounter that they had with Christ and that they are no longer deceived.
He had to tell them that they are no longer inferior - say it with me, “I am adequate, I am competent and my life is meaningful!”
He told them that they are no longer cursed because Jesus reverses the curses and because the blessing is stronger than the curse.
And he told them that they are no longer captive because they have the key to unlocking their inheritance in Christ.
Then he gave them the powerful message is that they are no longer slaves because they have a choice - we have a choice!
Last we we heard that we are no longer bound.
We are free people.
Free to live and free to love.
We are not defined by boundaries, we are defined by movement toward a goal - that goal is Christ.
We are free to follow the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit leads us to Be more like Jesus.
Freedom is essential for healthy relationships.
When people are free, love is voluntary - a gift to be received and enjoyed.
It’s a healthy give and take.
It’s not all about me -nor is it all about you.
It’s about us helping each other to become what God created us to be.
It’s about a living, loving fellowship with God and each other.
You were never meant to do this on your own - you are no longer alone.
One day, a frustrated teacher decided to pull out all the stops.
He decided to take a risk and take a personal interest in each one of his students.
The teacher concluded that “the cold facts” were not enough to attract the interest of his students.
The only thing which would break down the walls of apathy was the power of relationships.
Months later, his class was the most exciting class in the entire Sunday school.
When one of his students was asked what made the difference, the reply was: “Before, our teacher just read us the Bible stories.
Now, we have so much more—he challenges us to act out the stories in the Bible and to join him in doing so.
For the first time, we feel like we are ministering together.”
We are ministering together - we are moving toward jesus together.
In Galatians chapter 6, Paul tells us to stand together, to sow kindness and to stay focused on our goal.
Stand together.
Tim Doering of Netzer tells the story of a valuable life lesson learned while playing soccer for Moody Bible Institute.
The team was not winning even though they had some great players.
They were not working together.
So the coach would make them run laps.
If they did not finish under the time allotted, they would have to run more laps.
But to build the team, the rule was made that they would have to run the additional laps if even one teammate did not finish in time.
They had to cross the line together.
So the faster runners began to hang back just to cheer each other on.
The goalie was not as fast as the other players.
So they would carry him if necessary, just to cross the line together.
That’s what it took to become a team and to start winning games.
Look out for others , but watch yourself.
Paul is bringing correction to the Galatian churches, but the correction is not going to stick unless it is embraced by the whole church.
Someone might say, “that was meant for someone else, I’m not the problem.”
Yes, but that attitude is part of the problem!
If you are in the woods with your friends and there are man-eating bears.
The saying goes that you don’t have to be faster than the bears.
You just have to be faster than your friend.
But isn’t that a problem that you would sacrifice your friend to get away from the bear?
What Paul calls a “transgression” here is not willful sin.
The tense in the Greek is passive meaning it is something done to a person - or something that catches them off guard.
Like Gentile believers getting circumcised because they are told it will make them a better Christian.
Somebody should really do something about that!
But then there is the other side of things - when you go around correcting people - you set yourself up to be the one who needs it.
Can you receive correction as well as you give it?
In Elijah House we teach that when you judge other people you set yourself up to repeat what you have judged.
So there is reason to be careful!
You want to find that balance between doing what is right in bringing correction, but without being condescending.
Always keep in mind that it could just as well be you.
Next time it might be you!
If you are truly spiritual - you will also have humility.
Faith is not a competition.
To win we cross the line together, we need to think as a team.
This is difficult, especially for Americans because we are so individualistic and so competitive.
Sure we do team things, but we also think in terms of who is the best on the team.
Who is the MVP?
Who has the best statistics or makes the most money?
Who is the best actress or the best supporting role?
Who is the most popular or voted most likely to succeed?
Translate that into the church?
Who has the biggest/ most recognizable name?
Who is the most influential, has the most followers on their social media or podcast?
Who really “wows” the audience at the conference with their testimony, their prophecy or their miracle stories?
Who is the most spiritual?
How do you even measure spiritual?
Is it in terms of spiritual gifts, anointing, or ability?
Is it because of how your feel when you are around them, like they are on a cloud or something?
Is it because they have God on speed dial?
In Gal 6:1, then, “those who are spiritual” are identical with those Christians who walk in the Spirit, are led by the Spirit, and keep in step with the Spirit
It sounds like Paul measures spiritual in terms of love and more specifically, empathy.
To be spiritual is to love - that’s the law of Christ.
And to love is to feel - to feel deeply and to really care.
Instead of outdoing the other person we join them in whatever they are experiencing - that’s the burden bearer.
A burden bearer empathizes - meets a person on their level and lifts them up.
That may mean lifting them up by encouraging them.
Or it may mean lifting them up to the throne of God in prayer.
The point is that burden-bearers may not always be seen as the most spiritual - they may not be seen at all.
But they are the ones doing the heavy-lifting in the Kingdom.
Be an asset and not a liability.
Paul tells the Galatians to bear one another’s burdens, but then, jut three verses later, he tells them to bear their own burdens - so which is it Paul?
Well, first I would like to point out that if you are not able to bear your own burdens, you are not going to bear anyone else’s.
You have become a liability rather than an asset.
So why didn’t he start with that?
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