WEBVTT 00:00:00.590 --> 00:00:03.189 It is great to see all of you today on this Sunday 00:00:03.189 --> 00:00:06.150 morning. I'm thankful to be here to preach. Of 00:00:06.150 --> 00:00:09.970 course, it is a great honor any time I get to 00:00:09.970 --> 00:00:13.890 preach to my church family. And I just want to 00:00:13.890 --> 00:00:18.190 just extend here a thankful piece of gratitude 00:00:18.190 --> 00:00:21.190 for you guys. I'm just so thankful for you. for 00:00:21.190 --> 00:00:22.890 all of you, for this church family, thankful 00:00:22.890 --> 00:00:26.370 for Pastor Joe and for Shay and of course Joel, 00:00:26.710 --> 00:00:28.609 just the ways that they lead this church, so 00:00:28.609 --> 00:00:31.370 thankful for the deacons and how faithfully they 00:00:31.370 --> 00:00:33.149 serve and of course all of you church family 00:00:33.149 --> 00:00:36.770 members who just give so much to what we're doing 00:00:36.770 --> 00:00:39.109 here and you see what we're doing is so much 00:00:39.109 --> 00:00:42.789 more than just a social gathering. We see the 00:00:42.789 --> 00:00:45.310 eternal impact that the Lord is doing. and you 00:00:45.310 --> 00:00:46.990 guys are a part of that. And it's just a privilege 00:00:46.990 --> 00:00:48.590 to be a part of this church. So I'm thankful 00:00:48.590 --> 00:00:51.250 to open the word of God with you guys to get 00:00:51.250 --> 00:00:54.689 together today. After Pastor Joe mocked me, I 00:00:54.689 --> 00:00:57.530 thought it was time to end my Nazarite vow and 00:00:57.530 --> 00:01:02.009 get a haircut. So I will not be mocking Pastor 00:01:02.009 --> 00:01:04.329 Joe. I will turn the other cheek from the pulpit 00:01:04.329 --> 00:01:07.090 today. I would also mention that I've not had 00:01:07.090 --> 00:01:09.629 a cup of coffee, so the reliance on the Holy 00:01:09.629 --> 00:01:13.319 Spirit today will be of the utmost extent. But 00:01:13.319 --> 00:01:15.400 I'm thankful, of course, to deliver the word. 00:01:15.439 --> 00:01:17.879 Two things before we open God's word. First, 00:01:17.980 --> 00:01:20.219 Jordan and Katherine White are now officially 00:01:20.219 --> 00:01:23.920 married as of yesterday. And we're thankful that, 00:01:23.920 --> 00:01:26.719 yeah, you can clap for that. Just celebrating 00:01:26.719 --> 00:01:31.140 the gift that that is of marriage. And we're 00:01:31.140 --> 00:01:32.900 thankful for them as they begin their new life 00:01:32.900 --> 00:01:36.079 in Arkansas. And just wanted to make a note about 00:01:36.079 --> 00:01:37.840 that. Secondly, I wanted to make a note. Some 00:01:37.840 --> 00:01:40.500 of you guys are familiar with Camp Gilead and 00:01:40.500 --> 00:01:43.859 the Mallory family. Wanted to make a note that 00:01:43.859 --> 00:01:47.659 this last week, Kimberly Mallory, the director 00:01:47.659 --> 00:01:49.540 with her husband, Josh, she just went home to 00:01:49.540 --> 00:01:52.140 be with the Lord. She's been battling for many, 00:01:52.239 --> 00:01:55.680 many years, some critical illness, cancerous 00:01:55.680 --> 00:01:58.019 diseases, and a lot of pain, a lot of struggle. 00:01:58.260 --> 00:02:00.359 And in light of the hardship of her going home, 00:02:00.920 --> 00:02:04.530 the pain is gone. She is with her savior. and 00:02:04.530 --> 00:02:06.549 that is worth thanking the Lord for and worth 00:02:06.549 --> 00:02:08.310 just thanking her for her life. So I just wanted 00:02:08.310 --> 00:02:10.370 to make a quick note about that. I know people 00:02:10.370 --> 00:02:12.770 from Bellevue Community Church were very familiar 00:02:12.770 --> 00:02:14.990 with the Mallories and maybe even some of you 00:02:14.990 --> 00:02:17.389 have friends and maybe you know the Mallories 00:02:17.389 --> 00:02:19.849 personally. So just wanted to make a quick note 00:02:19.849 --> 00:02:23.729 about that and just extend just prayers for the 00:02:23.729 --> 00:02:26.169 Mallory family, for Camp Gilead, and of course 00:02:26.169 --> 00:02:27.750 thanking the Lord for saving her and bringing 00:02:27.750 --> 00:02:30.710 her home. So with that note, let's open our Bibles 00:02:30.710 --> 00:02:34.610 to Galatians chapter six. Galatians chapter 6 00:02:34.610 --> 00:02:37.069 and in doing that I want to start by posing a 00:02:37.069 --> 00:02:40.509 question for us all. What is a gospel -shaped 00:02:40.509 --> 00:02:44.870 church? Or we could say a gospel -shaped family. 00:02:46.189 --> 00:02:49.349 Is it a church that merely knows the indicatives 00:02:49.349 --> 00:02:52.909 and the truths about the gospel? Is it simply 00:02:52.909 --> 00:02:55.729 a truth that knows that God is gracious and loving 00:02:55.729 --> 00:02:59.789 and all holy and powerful and good? Is it a church 00:02:59.789 --> 00:03:03.379 that Reads the Bible and preaches the Bible every 00:03:03.379 --> 00:03:07.900 single week or is it that and more? What I believe 00:03:07.900 --> 00:03:10.539 God's Word shows us is that mere head knowledge 00:03:10.539 --> 00:03:14.199 is not enough Knowing truth knowing the depths 00:03:14.199 --> 00:03:18.099 and the riches of theology and doctrine pales 00:03:18.099 --> 00:03:22.560 in comparison to the true experience of Applying 00:03:22.560 --> 00:03:26.659 those graces and knowledges in our lives. That's 00:03:26.659 --> 00:03:29.400 what I believe God's worth sets forth A church 00:03:29.400 --> 00:03:31.960 that knows the doctrinal truths is one thing, 00:03:32.180 --> 00:03:36.500 but a church that is experiencing and delighting 00:03:36.500 --> 00:03:39.759 in the truth that is found in Christ is entirely 00:03:39.759 --> 00:03:43.000 another thing. And this is what Galatians, I 00:03:43.000 --> 00:03:46.659 believe, sets forth for us, is that we find a 00:03:46.659 --> 00:03:50.919 Christ, we find a Savior, we find a God who is 00:03:50.919 --> 00:03:54.000 abundantly gracious, but that grace does not 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:56.639 leave you and I the same. It is a grace that 00:03:56.639 --> 00:04:00.370 is transforming. There's a redemption that is 00:04:00.370 --> 00:04:03.449 like the one of Exodus, but it is cosmic. It 00:04:03.449 --> 00:04:06.530 is eternal. We've been freed from sin's power. 00:04:06.650 --> 00:04:09.689 We've been freed from the law's demands on our 00:04:09.689 --> 00:04:12.409 lives. That's what Galatians chapters one through 00:04:12.409 --> 00:04:16.509 four show us is just how amazing this gospel 00:04:16.509 --> 00:04:19.870 is. In fact, how unique it is, how exclusive 00:04:19.870 --> 00:04:22.430 it is. There's no gospel like it. And if we ever 00:04:22.430 --> 00:04:24.550 think that we could come up with another gospel 00:04:24.550 --> 00:04:28.529 or any angel or any man, we deserve to be anathematized, 00:04:28.529 --> 00:04:32.509 as Paul says in Galatians chapter one. Jesus 00:04:32.509 --> 00:04:35.589 is the one Messiah. He's the Messiah that's embedded 00:04:35.589 --> 00:04:37.889 in the Old Testament, the messianic figure that 00:04:37.889 --> 00:04:41.269 goes all the way back to Genesis chapter three. 00:04:41.649 --> 00:04:43.709 And like Israel, we have been redeemed by the 00:04:43.709 --> 00:04:46.600 spiritual bonds. of slavery through the work 00:04:46.600 --> 00:04:51.100 of Christ. And all of it has been done by God's 00:04:51.100 --> 00:04:54.939 grace. Can I get an amen? Amen. The question 00:04:54.939 --> 00:04:59.079 then for us is this. If the gospel is truly this 00:04:59.079 --> 00:05:04.839 amazing, this powerful, this marvelous, what 00:05:04.839 --> 00:05:10.879 now? What now for us? This is what Paul shows 00:05:10.879 --> 00:05:14.889 us in Galatians 5 and 6. Galatians five and six 00:05:14.889 --> 00:05:18.949 is about having a clear understanding as to how 00:05:18.949 --> 00:05:24.069 the gospel shapes the way that we live. It's 00:05:24.069 --> 00:05:27.709 the category of now sanctification. If we have 00:05:27.709 --> 00:05:30.069 been justified by faith through our union with 00:05:30.069 --> 00:05:32.750 him and his righteousness and his death and all 00:05:32.750 --> 00:05:35.430 the freedom that comes with that, what kind of 00:05:35.430 --> 00:05:38.910 life then is produced and what kind of life will 00:05:38.910 --> 00:05:43.319 be brought about through that union with? Christ, 00:05:43.379 --> 00:05:45.420 maybe another way to say it is this is how we 00:05:45.420 --> 00:05:49.699 apply the grace of God in our lives. What does 00:05:49.699 --> 00:05:53.759 it really look like to have the Holy Spirit in 00:05:53.759 --> 00:05:57.879 us, working through us? And what we find, of 00:05:57.879 --> 00:05:59.759 course, as I said earlier, is that it's so much 00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:04.300 more than intellectual Christianity. It's so 00:06:04.300 --> 00:06:06.459 much more than that, although knowledge matters 00:06:06.459 --> 00:06:08.699 because we are, of course, sanctified by the 00:06:08.699 --> 00:06:11.079 grace and knowledge found in Jesus Christ. We 00:06:11.079 --> 00:06:13.389 don't want to undermine that. While at the same 00:06:13.389 --> 00:06:15.230 time, the Christian life is so much more than 00:06:15.230 --> 00:06:19.050 just good works, is it not? That's not what Paul 00:06:19.050 --> 00:06:21.730 sets forth in Galatians 5 and 6. What we find 00:06:21.730 --> 00:06:26.610 is something much deeper. The gospel brings true 00:06:26.610 --> 00:06:30.829 heart transformation. And that heart transformation 00:06:30.829 --> 00:06:34.750 brings radical change to the outlook of your 00:06:34.750 --> 00:06:38.079 life. And even the very manner in which you live 00:06:38.079 --> 00:06:40.620 your life, the way that you speak, the way that 00:06:40.620 --> 00:06:43.339 you think, the way that you act, all of it is 00:06:43.339 --> 00:06:46.819 now centered on your identity as one who is a 00:06:46.819 --> 00:06:51.399 son of God. This is what Paul shows us, and today 00:06:51.399 --> 00:06:53.860 we're gonna see a little bit more in Galatians 00:06:53.860 --> 00:06:56.879 six. And I wanna start by reading in verse one 00:06:56.879 --> 00:06:59.699 together. And the goal this morning, we're gonna 00:06:59.699 --> 00:07:02.860 read verses one through 10. We have communion 00:07:02.860 --> 00:07:05.519 today as well. And I wanna keep an eye on the 00:07:05.519 --> 00:07:07.139 time as well. We're gonna just get as far as 00:07:07.139 --> 00:07:09.699 we can today. And we're gonna just trust that 00:07:09.699 --> 00:07:11.439 wherever we end, that's where the Lord has us. 00:07:11.740 --> 00:07:13.459 And maybe I'll get to come back soon and finish 00:07:13.459 --> 00:07:16.100 this in a two part series. But let's start by 00:07:16.100 --> 00:07:18.600 reading in verse one of Galatians chapter six 00:07:18.600 --> 00:07:22.920 with all of this in mind. Paul writes, brothers, 00:07:24.300 --> 00:07:27.779 if anyone is caught in any transgression, you 00:07:27.779 --> 00:07:31.139 who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit 00:07:31.139 --> 00:07:35.339 of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself lest you 00:07:35.339 --> 00:07:38.540 too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens and 00:07:38.540 --> 00:07:41.819 so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks 00:07:41.819 --> 00:07:44.579 he is something when he is nothing, he deceives 00:07:44.579 --> 00:07:48.000 himself. But let each one test his own work, 00:07:48.300 --> 00:07:50.540 and then his reason to boast will be in himself 00:07:50.540 --> 00:07:53.500 alone and not in his neighbor, for each will 00:07:53.500 --> 00:07:56.600 have to bear his own load. Let the one who is 00:07:56.600 --> 00:08:00.180 taught the word share all good things with the 00:08:00.180 --> 00:08:03.680 one who teaches. Do not be deceived. God is not 00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:06.779 mocked. For whatever one sows, that will he also 00:08:06.779 --> 00:08:10.379 reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will 00:08:10.379 --> 00:08:13.519 from the flesh reap corruption. But the one who 00:08:13.519 --> 00:08:16.319 sows to the spirit will from the spirit reap 00:08:16.319 --> 00:08:19.660 eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing 00:08:19.660 --> 00:08:23.240 good. For in due season we will reap. If we do 00:08:23.240 --> 00:08:25.879 not give up, so then, as we have opportunity, 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:29.459 let us do good to everyone and especially those 00:08:29.459 --> 00:08:35.850 who are of the household. of faith. The doctrinal 00:08:35.850 --> 00:08:39.269 point that I believe Paul shows us here in these 00:08:39.269 --> 00:08:44.649 ten verses is this, that the gospel shaped life, 00:08:45.210 --> 00:08:50.029 we could say the grace -filled life, is a life 00:08:50.029 --> 00:08:55.049 marked by deep commitment and care for the spiritual 00:08:55.049 --> 00:08:58.230 well -being of others. I'll say that one more 00:08:58.230 --> 00:09:01.889 time, that the gospel shaped life is a life marked 00:09:01.889 --> 00:09:07.070 by deep commitment and care for the spiritual 00:09:07.070 --> 00:09:09.649 well -being of others. And when I mean others, 00:09:09.710 --> 00:09:13.809 I mean other believers, namely. This is what 00:09:13.809 --> 00:09:16.450 Paul says is that God's design for the Christian 00:09:16.450 --> 00:09:19.409 life is that we are to be involved in a local 00:09:19.409 --> 00:09:21.730 church, to be connected with other believers 00:09:21.730 --> 00:09:24.809 who are striving, who are serving, who are giving 00:09:24.809 --> 00:09:27.629 of themselves, who have also been saved by the 00:09:27.629 --> 00:09:31.080 grace of God. And as a believer, It is in God's 00:09:31.080 --> 00:09:34.679 abundant kindness, not only just to save you, 00:09:34.919 --> 00:09:39.139 but also in this life to give you a new family. 00:09:40.019 --> 00:09:41.840 To give you the privileges that come through 00:09:41.840 --> 00:09:44.860 being a part of others who are in Christ. To 00:09:44.860 --> 00:09:46.840 give you the spirit with others who have the 00:09:46.840 --> 00:09:49.980 spirit, who also desire to walk by that spirit 00:09:49.980 --> 00:09:54.019 all for the glory of Christ. To give you a family 00:09:54.019 --> 00:09:57.480 that you can call your own. And when a church, 00:09:58.269 --> 00:10:03.210 has believers like this. When you and I are living 00:10:03.210 --> 00:10:06.590 in the grace of God, in the gospel which is sanctifying 00:10:06.590 --> 00:10:10.730 us, which shapes us, which inspires us, which 00:10:10.730 --> 00:10:14.389 stirs our hearts, what we find is that we find 00:10:14.389 --> 00:10:18.590 ourselves becoming a gospel -shaped church. Or 00:10:18.590 --> 00:10:20.750 we could say a gospel -shaped church family, 00:10:20.769 --> 00:10:24.350 one that is marked by deep mutual commitment 00:10:24.350 --> 00:10:27.350 and care for the spiritual being of those within. 00:10:27.639 --> 00:10:31.159 with one another. This is what I've been praying 00:10:31.159 --> 00:10:33.120 would happen for our church all the more and 00:10:33.120 --> 00:10:34.799 I wanna just encourage you today that you guys 00:10:34.799 --> 00:10:38.600 have done very well in this. I really do believe 00:10:38.600 --> 00:10:41.960 our church is unique in this, that we have applied 00:10:41.960 --> 00:10:46.080 these gospel truths in our local church context 00:10:46.080 --> 00:10:48.240 well and my encouragement, my plea is that we 00:10:48.240 --> 00:10:53.340 would see this done all the more. That we would 00:10:53.340 --> 00:10:57.580 go further in this. that we would be this kind 00:10:57.580 --> 00:11:01.399 of church that we see here in Galatians chapter 00:11:01.399 --> 00:11:04.500 six. But before we do this, we need to recognize 00:11:04.500 --> 00:11:08.639 this simple truth, this simple presupposition 00:11:08.639 --> 00:11:11.059 behind all of this. And it's this recognition 00:11:11.059 --> 00:11:17.019 that you and I need. Not just should, not just 00:11:17.019 --> 00:11:21.019 might or want, you and I need godly men and women 00:11:21.019 --> 00:11:24.179 in our lives to help us live the Christian life. 00:11:25.439 --> 00:11:28.299 And on the other side of that, they do need you. 00:11:29.460 --> 00:11:32.379 They need your commitment. They need your care 00:11:32.379 --> 00:11:35.360 for their souls as well. And this is what we 00:11:35.360 --> 00:11:37.600 see in our text today. How the gospel shapes 00:11:37.600 --> 00:11:41.820 the dynamics of church life. How the gospel shapes 00:11:41.820 --> 00:11:44.460 the way we view our relationships with each other. 00:11:44.679 --> 00:11:47.960 In Galatians 6 verses 1 through 10, the Apostle 00:11:47.960 --> 00:11:50.700 Paul calls believers, he's calling us, I believe 00:11:50.700 --> 00:11:54.860 today, to apply the grace of God in five primary 00:11:54.860 --> 00:11:59.179 ways as we seek to live a life that is shaped 00:11:59.179 --> 00:12:02.720 by the gospel in this church family. Five primary 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:04.860 ways that we seek to apply the grace of God. 00:12:04.980 --> 00:12:07.379 The first for us, if you're taking notes, it's 00:12:07.379 --> 00:12:11.500 found in verses 1 and 2. In verses 1 and 2, I've 00:12:11.500 --> 00:12:14.279 given this a thought here that I believe Paul 00:12:14.279 --> 00:12:19.320 is showing us, and it's this, to gently edify 00:12:19.320 --> 00:12:22.860 your weak brother. The first way we apply the 00:12:22.860 --> 00:12:25.399 gospel, we apply the grace of God in our lives, 00:12:25.940 --> 00:12:30.820 is by gently edifying your weak brother. You 00:12:30.820 --> 00:12:32.820 guys can see in verses one and two, there appear 00:12:32.820 --> 00:12:36.620 to be two different cases, two different kinds 00:12:36.620 --> 00:12:40.559 of situations that believers could potentially 00:12:40.559 --> 00:12:43.759 find themselves in. In verse one, Paul shows 00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:45.840 us that there is someone who we could identify 00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:50.799 as the spiritually trapped believer. And secondly, 00:12:50.960 --> 00:12:54.659 Paul addresses the spiritually burdened believer. 00:12:55.779 --> 00:12:58.639 With all of this, he begins this text by an address 00:12:58.639 --> 00:13:01.159 calling them brothers, which he recognizes being 00:13:01.159 --> 00:13:04.299 another, a deeper understanding to our family 00:13:04.299 --> 00:13:07.480 orientation as a church, calling each other brothers 00:13:07.480 --> 00:13:12.110 and sisters. But in this first verse here, identifying 00:13:12.110 --> 00:13:17.350 this conditional, almost hypothetical situation 00:13:17.350 --> 00:13:20.149 of a spiritually trapped believer. I want you 00:13:20.149 --> 00:13:22.169 to notice what Paul says. Look with me in verse 00:13:22.169 --> 00:13:27.690 one. Paul says, if anyone is caught, like an 00:13:27.690 --> 00:13:29.789 animal that's been ensnared or a bird that has 00:13:29.789 --> 00:13:33.370 been caught under some sort of trap, it appears 00:13:33.370 --> 00:13:36.539 that Paul is saying here, that believers are 00:13:36.539 --> 00:13:40.299 able to be tempted and caught in the snare of 00:13:40.299 --> 00:13:44.720 sin, to be taken by surprise. Some of the Galatians 00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:48.340 were like this, believing lies of the false teachers 00:13:48.340 --> 00:13:53.639 as the legalists. And as the, the, the pharisaical 00:13:53.639 --> 00:13:56.399 false teachers came into Galatia, they were seeking 00:13:56.399 --> 00:13:59.940 to smuggle in works into faith and distorting 00:13:59.940 --> 00:14:02.580 the entire gospel. And what the Galatians found 00:14:02.580 --> 00:14:07.190 themselves in was a situation of dire need. And 00:14:07.190 --> 00:14:09.830 not only were they caught by a certain doctrine, 00:14:09.870 --> 00:14:11.490 but I believe that their lives are beginning 00:14:11.490 --> 00:14:15.490 to see the implications of that heretical lie. 00:14:16.370 --> 00:14:19.649 Maybe you have felt this before. As a believer 00:14:19.649 --> 00:14:22.649 in Christ, you can just feel like maybe you can't 00:14:22.649 --> 00:14:26.370 say no to a certain sin. Maybe there's a sin 00:14:26.370 --> 00:14:28.470 in your life that you've struggled with greatly 00:14:28.470 --> 00:14:32.870 in your life. Maybe it's pride, lust. selfishness, 00:14:32.870 --> 00:14:36.409 I mean this is how sin works. If you're not aware 00:14:36.409 --> 00:14:40.049 of the inner workings of sin, what does sin want 00:14:40.049 --> 00:14:43.429 to do? It wants to kill you. And it knows it 00:14:43.429 --> 00:14:46.570 can kill you when it can ensnare you, when it 00:14:46.570 --> 00:14:50.490 can strangle out the spiritual life that you 00:14:50.490 --> 00:14:54.450 have. I think this is common amongst many believers 00:14:54.450 --> 00:14:56.889 and we're good at hiding it. We're good at showing 00:14:56.889 --> 00:14:59.549 up on Sunday and just having a face and acting 00:14:59.549 --> 00:15:01.470 like everything is fine, but our hearts have 00:15:01.470 --> 00:15:05.809 not been walking with the Lord. Sin is always 00:15:05.809 --> 00:15:08.190 on the hunt. Our flesh is always crouching, ready 00:15:08.190 --> 00:15:10.529 to pounce, seeking an opportunity. It wants to 00:15:10.529 --> 00:15:14.110 ensnare and entangle to render you ineffective. 00:15:14.269 --> 00:15:17.269 Now, maybe to clarify this, what I believe Paul 00:15:17.269 --> 00:15:21.149 is not saying here is this. I do not believe 00:15:21.149 --> 00:15:24.039 Paul is speaking of someone who is. unwilling 00:15:24.039 --> 00:15:26.379 to repent. That would be someone that we recognize 00:15:26.379 --> 00:15:29.539 as being an unbeliever. What I believe Paul is 00:15:29.539 --> 00:15:31.700 speaking of here is someone who has made the 00:15:31.700 --> 00:15:34.320 profession of faith, who has come to Christ in 00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:37.860 repentant faith, who is now seeking to live the 00:15:37.860 --> 00:15:40.340 life of holiness and obedience to God's Word 00:15:40.340 --> 00:15:43.879 to submit more and more to the Lordship of Christ 00:15:43.879 --> 00:15:48.100 in their lives, but is struggling. We are sinners. 00:15:49.709 --> 00:15:52.110 This individual, what does Paul say? Well, there 00:15:52.110 --> 00:15:56.289 are those who could be caught having a difficult 00:15:56.289 --> 00:15:59.649 time wrestling with how to get through certain 00:15:59.649 --> 00:16:02.529 sin due to a lack of spiritual maturity and strength 00:16:02.529 --> 00:16:07.350 in their lives. Maybe this is you today. Well, 00:16:07.350 --> 00:16:10.690 there's encouragement to you. For all of us, 00:16:11.370 --> 00:16:13.330 because I believe at some time and in some way, 00:16:13.330 --> 00:16:15.049 if it hasn't happened yet, we have all found 00:16:15.049 --> 00:16:18.190 ourselves in this situation. And as we plead, 00:16:18.309 --> 00:16:20.429 and as we pray to the Lord, and as we look to 00:16:20.429 --> 00:16:23.850 Christ for our strength, by God's grace, he provides 00:16:23.850 --> 00:16:27.490 a remedy. And where is it found, church? He gives 00:16:27.490 --> 00:16:30.669 it in the church. He gives it with one another. 00:16:30.710 --> 00:16:33.529 Look at what he says right after this. He says, 00:16:33.610 --> 00:16:36.669 if we're caught, then what? If we're caught in 00:16:36.669 --> 00:16:41.070 any transgression of any kind, of any sin, you 00:16:41.070 --> 00:16:47.240 who are spiritual should restore him. I mean 00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:51.120 that's the remedy. The word restore means to 00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:54.139 mend or repair. A few years ago I was in college 00:16:54.139 --> 00:16:58.820 and I had a really bad ankle injury. I actually 00:16:58.820 --> 00:17:02.659 broke my ankle playing basketball and my ankle 00:17:02.659 --> 00:17:04.599 went backwards. It was bad and I had to go in 00:17:04.599 --> 00:17:06.799 and get surgery and they had to go in and they 00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:10.059 had to set the bones back in place and it was 00:17:10.059 --> 00:17:14.400 not pleasant at all to say the least. But that's 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:16.380 kind of the idea here with this word restore. 00:17:16.500 --> 00:17:20.400 It's like there is spiritual surgery being done 00:17:20.400 --> 00:17:26.039 on the soul of this weak, caught believer. You're 00:17:26.039 --> 00:17:29.440 setting him straight. You're edifying him. You're 00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:32.099 building him up. You're bringing him back from 00:17:32.099 --> 00:17:34.720 that transgression that he's been caught in. 00:17:34.740 --> 00:17:36.660 I don't know about you, but I want a friend like 00:17:36.660 --> 00:17:41.670 that. I want someone in my life. To pull me out 00:17:41.670 --> 00:17:43.609 of the pit when I'm there a friend who's there 00:17:43.609 --> 00:17:46.789 for me when I'm stuck or spiritually numb who 00:17:46.789 --> 00:17:49.130 can help me fight the flesh who can help me walk 00:17:49.130 --> 00:17:53.390 by the spirit Do you have a friend like this? 00:17:53.990 --> 00:17:56.829 Who reminds you who you are in Christ that although 00:17:56.829 --> 00:17:59.529 you're a sinner You are a son by virtue of your 00:17:59.529 --> 00:18:02.450 union with Christ and you have freedom from sin. 00:18:02.450 --> 00:18:06.029 You can say no to it We need people like that 00:18:06.029 --> 00:18:10.059 in our lives and if the Lord doesn't Right now, 00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:12.000 I have a friend for you like that in your life. 00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:14.019 Let me just encourage you with this, that you 00:18:14.019 --> 00:18:17.519 can be that to someone else today. I mean, this 00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:19.700 is part of discipleship. This is part of shepherding 00:18:19.700 --> 00:18:22.519 one another. This is part of small groups, Bible 00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:26.000 studies. Everything is to apply these truths 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:31.319 in our lives. But notice also there is a manner 00:18:31.319 --> 00:18:33.299 in which we are called to restore one another. 00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:35.920 Look down in verse one, Paul says as we're restoring 00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:38.619 those who are spiritual, those who've maybe lived 00:18:38.619 --> 00:18:40.920 a Christian life a little longer, maybe even 00:18:40.920 --> 00:18:43.299 endured through certain transgressions and sins 00:18:43.299 --> 00:18:46.279 and trials, he says to do it, this restoration 00:18:46.279 --> 00:18:50.519 process, in a spirit of gentleness. I think it's 00:18:50.519 --> 00:18:52.859 so easy for us to just wanna drop the hammer, 00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:55.839 to wanna just start swinging, be angry, to be 00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:59.549 upset, to forget that as... we are sinful people 00:18:59.549 --> 00:19:02.869 and how we are called to forgive not just seven 00:19:02.869 --> 00:19:06.490 times, but seven times, 70 times, it's easy for 00:19:06.490 --> 00:19:11.210 us to lose patience. It's so easy for us to let 00:19:11.210 --> 00:19:13.710 our pride and our ego and our frustration get 00:19:13.710 --> 00:19:16.109 in the way, especially as a pastor, you don't 00:19:16.109 --> 00:19:18.369 feel like your congregation or your students 00:19:18.369 --> 00:19:20.049 or your people are where you want them to be, 00:19:20.049 --> 00:19:23.210 so you drop the gentleness and you just start 00:19:23.210 --> 00:19:25.710 bringing anger and hope that that will change 00:19:25.710 --> 00:19:29.650 their lives. But what Paul says is much different. 00:19:30.930 --> 00:19:33.650 As a mature believer or as a brother in Christ 00:19:33.650 --> 00:19:35.809 or spiritual father or mother, you are called 00:19:35.809 --> 00:19:41.809 to walk with this entangled and snared brother 00:19:41.809 --> 00:19:45.650 or sister with much gentleness, with much meekness, 00:19:45.650 --> 00:19:48.809 with a guiding hand like a surgeon who is carefully 00:19:48.809 --> 00:19:52.509 making repairs of the soul. This is not a quick 00:19:52.509 --> 00:19:57.480 process. Sanctification takes time. I was reminded 00:19:57.480 --> 00:19:59.940 this week of Jesus and how he restored Peter 00:19:59.940 --> 00:20:05.160 after he betrayed Christ so gentle, yet so effective. 00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:08.700 But there's another condition that he also gives 00:20:08.700 --> 00:20:11.759 us in verse one. Not only are we to do it in 00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:14.759 a spirit of gentleness, but Paul also says that 00:20:14.759 --> 00:20:18.599 we must, what, verse one, keep watch on yourself. 00:20:20.180 --> 00:20:23.140 This is so vitally important to keep in mind, 00:20:23.140 --> 00:20:27.740 church. In our endeavor to restore one another, 00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:31.319 we cannot let our own guard down. We cannot become 00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:34.960 so preoccupied with the sin and temptation of 00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:37.400 another brother or sister in the goodness of 00:20:37.400 --> 00:20:39.259 all that is, in the kindness, in the role that 00:20:39.259 --> 00:20:42.480 we're called to fulfill in that, that we turn 00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:46.539 a blind eye to our own sin and our own susceptibilities 00:20:46.539 --> 00:20:49.799 to temptation. We are called to keep watch. We 00:20:49.799 --> 00:20:52.420 need to keep one eye looking back at ourselves. 00:20:53.509 --> 00:20:55.690 There's nothing more I believe that Satan would 00:20:55.690 --> 00:21:01.130 want to do than to take the good of what you 00:21:01.130 --> 00:21:03.769 are doing with another believer, but then cause 00:21:03.769 --> 00:21:08.289 that to lead you into sin. So we must keep guard. 00:21:08.329 --> 00:21:11.130 We must watch out. This is all wrapped up here 00:21:11.130 --> 00:21:14.089 in this first verse for this ensnared cop believer, 00:21:14.089 --> 00:21:16.589 and I'm thankful that we have a remedy for that. 00:21:16.589 --> 00:21:18.930 But also notice in verse two, under this idea 00:21:18.930 --> 00:21:24.029 of edifying the weak brother, this point of restoration. 00:21:24.349 --> 00:21:27.150 Paul in verse 2 transitions and he gives us another 00:21:27.150 --> 00:21:30.329 situation. He shows us the spiritually burdened 00:21:30.329 --> 00:21:33.009 believer. Slightly different from the spiritually 00:21:33.009 --> 00:21:35.630 trapped or ensnared believer. Look at verse 2. 00:21:35.690 --> 00:21:38.849 Paul says this. He says that we need to bear 00:21:38.849 --> 00:21:41.509 one another's burdens. It's not a conditional 00:21:41.509 --> 00:21:44.250 statement. It's not a hypothetical situation. 00:21:44.670 --> 00:21:48.119 This is reality now. And notice, it's not just 00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:50.880 for one brother or for a certain individual. 00:21:50.940 --> 00:21:53.960 This is general for every believer. We are called 00:21:53.960 --> 00:21:58.859 to bear, to uphold, to come underneath the weight 00:21:58.859 --> 00:22:05.799 of one another's burdens in our lives. In context, 00:22:06.839 --> 00:22:09.299 this could be referring to believers dealing 00:22:09.299 --> 00:22:12.259 with the weight of their own flesh. That is certainly 00:22:12.259 --> 00:22:15.890 true, is it not? Living in sin and temptation 00:22:15.890 --> 00:22:20.509 for a believer is a weighty thing. Despite knowing 00:22:20.509 --> 00:22:22.589 all that you have been forgiven of in your sin, 00:22:22.650 --> 00:22:24.710 you feel guilty, you feel ashamed that you would 00:22:24.710 --> 00:22:28.890 dishonor the name of Christ. So this most, I 00:22:28.890 --> 00:22:31.769 would believe, certainly includes sin, but I 00:22:31.769 --> 00:22:33.789 also believe it can just refer to the normal 00:22:33.789 --> 00:22:38.509 burdens of life as well. Trials, the loss of 00:22:38.509 --> 00:22:41.990 life, poverty, abandonment, persecution, I mean, 00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:46.960 Paul knew this, did he not? He needed others 00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:49.500 in his life. He had Christ, his sufficiency was 00:22:49.500 --> 00:22:52.019 from him, but he also knew the gift that having 00:22:52.019 --> 00:22:56.000 a brother like Timothy or Silas was, or having 00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:58.579 someone like Barnisman who was of great encouragement 00:22:58.579 --> 00:23:01.980 to him, all of this to help carry the burdens 00:23:01.980 --> 00:23:04.640 and the heaviness that often come with life. 00:23:04.700 --> 00:23:07.660 We know this church. The Christian life is not 00:23:07.660 --> 00:23:09.960 just us on a beach in Hawaii with a guitar and 00:23:09.960 --> 00:23:12.500 a ukulele singing, singing the hymns for eight 00:23:12.500 --> 00:23:14.700 hours every single day and every single night, 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:18.299 right? As we live the Christian life, as we're 00:23:18.299 --> 00:23:20.579 faithful to God's word, as we are proclaiming 00:23:20.579 --> 00:23:23.339 the gospel of Christ, there are burdens with 00:23:23.339 --> 00:23:26.900 that. The burdens that we are called to carry 00:23:26.900 --> 00:23:30.000 and thankfully not alone, we can lean on one 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:35.480 another. This is what the grace of God. will 00:23:35.480 --> 00:23:38.160 naturally prompt your heart to do. You recognize 00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:42.579 this, church. You recognize how great the burden 00:23:42.579 --> 00:23:45.759 of your sin was and how Jesus restored and rescued 00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:51.759 you from your sin. And the more that truth becomes 00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:54.960 real, the more you experience that in faith, 00:23:55.339 --> 00:23:57.380 and the more you delight in that, the more it 00:23:57.380 --> 00:24:00.539 becomes an impression on your heart, the more 00:24:00.539 --> 00:24:03.220 you will desire and delight to do that for others 00:24:03.220 --> 00:24:08.630 as well. This is how we really show our love 00:24:08.630 --> 00:24:10.730 for each other, right? Paul says right after 00:24:10.730 --> 00:24:13.529 this, this is how we fulfill the law of Christ. 00:24:13.609 --> 00:24:16.150 In chapter five, right before this in verse 14, 00:24:16.210 --> 00:24:18.049 for the whole law is fulfilled in one word, you 00:24:18.049 --> 00:24:19.809 shall love your neighbor as yourself. This is 00:24:19.809 --> 00:24:24.609 how we do that, church. It's by coming alongside 00:24:24.609 --> 00:24:26.730 our brothers and sisters, we pray together, we 00:24:26.730 --> 00:24:29.269 serve together, we fight together, we cry together, 00:24:29.349 --> 00:24:33.269 we even die together if it comes to it. All for 00:24:33.269 --> 00:24:37.650 the name of Christ. Maybe to end this point because 00:24:37.650 --> 00:24:39.450 I know this was gonna be the longest one in order 00:24:39.450 --> 00:24:42.789 to do this There's something that needs to happen. 00:24:42.869 --> 00:24:45.849 Well, I think first for us practically it's this 00:24:45.849 --> 00:24:49.309 Seeking restoration with other believers. It 00:24:49.309 --> 00:24:52.869 demands openness It demands honesty. It demands 00:24:52.869 --> 00:24:55.789 transparency with other believers into the struggles 00:24:55.789 --> 00:24:59.779 and the burdens of your own life My call for 00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:01.940 you today church is this, in light of this text, 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:04.900 find trustworthy spiritual men and women. Seek 00:25:04.900 --> 00:25:09.079 accountability from them. Ask them to come after 00:25:09.079 --> 00:25:11.119 you with gentleness if they see sin in your life. 00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:14.220 Share and confess areas where you feel that your 00:25:14.220 --> 00:25:18.480 flesh may be pulling you the most. Maybe on the 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:20.619 other side of this it's this, be the spiritual 00:25:20.619 --> 00:25:24.259 leader who desires to carry burdens and see your 00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:28.410 brothers and sisters in Christ restored. Be intentional 00:25:28.410 --> 00:25:31.390 with other believers go deeper with them. Don't 00:25:31.390 --> 00:25:33.569 just talk about sports Don't just talk about 00:25:33.569 --> 00:25:35.509 the things happening in life. Those things are 00:25:35.509 --> 00:25:37.750 good It's good to talk about these things, but 00:25:37.750 --> 00:25:40.829 get real with one another Talk about spiritual 00:25:40.829 --> 00:25:42.809 things get into each other's lives open the Bible 00:25:42.809 --> 00:25:45.029 together and commit yourselves to one another 00:25:45.029 --> 00:25:49.450 This is how we can walk by the spirit with integrity 00:25:50.839 --> 00:25:53.259 And hopefully if you've experienced the transforming 00:25:53.259 --> 00:25:56.420 grace of God in your life, you desire to have 00:25:56.420 --> 00:25:58.799 this accountability in your life to help you. 00:25:59.059 --> 00:26:02.299 We leave no men behind. Secondly, this morning, 00:26:03.059 --> 00:26:06.039 secondly, as we seek to apply the grace of God 00:26:06.039 --> 00:26:09.259 in our lives, as we are people who are in Christ, 00:26:09.779 --> 00:26:14.180 not only do we need to gently edify your spiritual 00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:16.680 brother or our spiritual brothers, but secondly, 00:26:17.180 --> 00:26:19.930 we apply it this way, rightly estimate. your 00:26:19.930 --> 00:26:24.609 spiritual condition. Rightly estimate your spiritual 00:26:24.609 --> 00:26:26.670 condition. In verses three through five, Paul 00:26:26.670 --> 00:26:31.470 does give us another layer to this burden sharing 00:26:31.470 --> 00:26:35.509 and restoration process. He says, for if anyone 00:26:35.509 --> 00:26:39.289 thinks he is something when he is nothing, he 00:26:39.289 --> 00:26:43.109 deceives himself. I mean, it's pretty straightforward, 00:26:43.329 --> 00:26:47.710 right? Nothing will cloud our judgment more in 00:26:47.710 --> 00:26:52.619 our lives than pride. It's true. Pride is so 00:26:52.619 --> 00:26:55.140 dangerous. If you have a high view of yourself, 00:26:55.180 --> 00:26:57.380 what does Paul say? Well he says, you are deceived. 00:26:58.180 --> 00:27:01.000 If you think you are something, when in reality 00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:04.900 you are nothing. I don't think Paul here is being 00:27:04.900 --> 00:27:08.119 self -deprecating. I think Paul is just establishing 00:27:08.119 --> 00:27:11.799 the reality that apart from Christ, what do we 00:27:11.799 --> 00:27:15.500 have? We have nothing, we have no glory of our 00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:19.099 own. We will live this life, we will die, and 00:27:19.099 --> 00:27:22.089 apart from Christ, The glory that we supposedly 00:27:22.089 --> 00:27:24.230 had in this life will remain here on earth and 00:27:24.230 --> 00:27:27.369 we will be nothing more than a name But in Christ 00:27:27.369 --> 00:27:30.509 there is reason to boast so for the wine maybe 00:27:30.509 --> 00:27:32.349 even you today if you think you're something 00:27:32.349 --> 00:27:36.569 I Know the feeling I know I know what that feels 00:27:36.569 --> 00:27:38.470 like the tendency to think that man. I'm really 00:27:38.470 --> 00:27:41.250 something today I'm really I'm doing good today. 00:27:41.750 --> 00:27:44.250 Yeah, a lot. Yeah, I like what I see I'm something 00:27:44.250 --> 00:27:48.349 right now. Yep. I like that No, Paul says you're 00:27:48.349 --> 00:27:52.559 a fool You're nothing. You have been completely 00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:57.079 duped. We need to have a right estimation. We 00:27:57.079 --> 00:27:59.779 need to have a right view of ourselves. This 00:27:59.779 --> 00:28:02.119 is what Paul was so focused on in all of his 00:28:02.119 --> 00:28:05.819 New Testament epistles. He states this so plainly. 00:28:05.920 --> 00:28:08.200 In Romans 12 .3, Paul says, for by the grace 00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:10.779 given to me, I say to everyone among you not 00:28:10.779 --> 00:28:14.279 to think of himself more highly than he ought 00:28:14.279 --> 00:28:17.710 to, but to think with sober judgment. In fact, 00:28:17.769 --> 00:28:19.710 the Proverbs are full of this. The Old Testament, 00:28:19.750 --> 00:28:22.490 remember Proverbs 3 .7, be not wise in your own 00:28:22.490 --> 00:28:27.349 eyes. Fear the Lord. Let's fear the Lord, right? 00:28:27.470 --> 00:28:29.769 Okay, yeah, Philippians 2, 3 through 4, Paul 00:28:29.769 --> 00:28:32.829 also says, do nothing from selfish ambition or 00:28:32.829 --> 00:28:36.470 conceit, but in humility count others more significant 00:28:36.470 --> 00:28:38.789 than yourselves. And of course, the familiar 00:28:38.789 --> 00:28:43.430 verse in James chapter 4 verse 6, God opposes 00:28:43.430 --> 00:28:48.880 the proud. but gives grace to the humble. If 00:28:48.880 --> 00:28:50.819 you wanted to do a study through 2 Corinthians, 00:28:50.839 --> 00:28:52.599 I would encourage you to do so and just look 00:28:52.599 --> 00:28:55.500 at how Paul viewed his ministry in his own life. 00:28:55.980 --> 00:28:58.599 His sufficiency in 2 Corinthians 3 .5 was not 00:28:58.599 --> 00:29:01.200 in himself, but his sufficiency was from God. 00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:06.480 He viewed his own life as a jar of clay, as a 00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:09.940 trash bin, as a toilet, so that the surpassing 00:29:09.940 --> 00:29:12.619 power of God in the message of the gospel would 00:29:12.619 --> 00:29:16.759 be exalted and not him. He says in 2nd Corinthians 00:29:16.759 --> 00:29:19.160 10, 17, and 18, let the one who boasts, boast 00:29:19.160 --> 00:29:22.759 in the Lord. In 2nd Corinthians 11, 30, if I 00:29:22.759 --> 00:29:25.839 must boast, I will boast in the things that show 00:29:25.839 --> 00:29:30.839 my weakness. Man, this is not how we think. It's 00:29:30.839 --> 00:29:34.779 not how I think. But for Paul, what God spoke 00:29:34.779 --> 00:29:36.680 to him and revealed to him was this, my grace 00:29:36.680 --> 00:29:40.579 is sufficient for you. For my power is made perfect 00:29:40.579 --> 00:29:45.029 in weakness. Why? we often struggle in the Christian 00:29:45.029 --> 00:29:50.029 life is because we are so susceptible to forgetting 00:29:50.029 --> 00:29:55.890 this church. But how, in light of this estimation 00:29:55.890 --> 00:29:58.730 of being weak in ourselves, being strong in the 00:29:58.730 --> 00:30:02.730 Lord, I wanna ask, how does this relate to our 00:30:02.730 --> 00:30:07.900 text here in Galatians 6? I mean. How does having 00:30:07.900 --> 00:30:11.200 a realistic view of ourselves relate to what 00:30:11.200 --> 00:30:14.319 Paul says here in verses four and five? Well, 00:30:14.319 --> 00:30:16.500 let's look what he says. He says we deceive ourselves 00:30:16.500 --> 00:30:19.039 if we think we're something, right? But verse 00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:23.539 four, let each one test his own work, and then 00:30:23.539 --> 00:30:27.759 his reason to boast will be in himself alone 00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:31.019 and not in his neighbor. Isn't that interesting? 00:30:32.299 --> 00:30:34.480 Paul's saying, yeah, the boast will be in you, 00:30:34.740 --> 00:30:37.029 not in your neighbor. I mean, I think there's 00:30:37.029 --> 00:30:38.849 a couple ways that we can understand this. First, 00:30:38.950 --> 00:30:41.750 I think it's simple that if you think you're 00:30:41.750 --> 00:30:45.950 something when you're nothing and you really 00:30:45.950 --> 00:30:48.049 have some pride and you think that you can carry 00:30:48.049 --> 00:30:50.890 the burdens of other believers, oh my friend, 00:30:51.549 --> 00:30:54.630 you are deceived. You are not gonna do well in 00:30:54.630 --> 00:30:57.529 that endeavor. I wish you well. You're like that 00:30:57.529 --> 00:30:58.930 guy at the gym who's like, hey dude, I'll spot 00:30:58.930 --> 00:31:01.150 you, man. I got you right here, let's go. the 00:31:01.150 --> 00:31:03.289 guy's just got huge weights on both sides, and 00:31:03.289 --> 00:31:04.529 you're trying to spot him, the guy can't get 00:31:04.529 --> 00:31:05.730 the weight up, and then you're trying to pull 00:31:05.730 --> 00:31:07.309 the weight, and you can't get it up either, and 00:31:07.309 --> 00:31:10.230 it's just chaos, right? You know, that's kind 00:31:10.230 --> 00:31:11.730 of the idea. We could understand it that way. 00:31:11.869 --> 00:31:14.269 Prideful people are not helpful in burden bearing. 00:31:14.809 --> 00:31:18.069 We need humble people. But there's another side 00:31:18.069 --> 00:31:19.869 to this that I think Paul is also addressing, 00:31:20.390 --> 00:31:26.049 and it's this. It appears that the way Paul speaks 00:31:26.049 --> 00:31:30.369 of confidence in boasting here, maybe in a more 00:31:30.369 --> 00:31:33.349 nuanced fashion as opposed to maybe 2nd Corinthians 00:31:33.349 --> 00:31:36.910 and other texts. It appears as if Paul is saying 00:31:36.910 --> 00:31:40.730 that believers can think that they are doing 00:31:40.730 --> 00:31:45.190 much better spiritually than they actually are 00:31:45.190 --> 00:31:51.049 by virtue of those that are helping carry the 00:31:51.049 --> 00:31:53.390 burdens for them in their own life. You guys 00:31:53.390 --> 00:31:56.930 tracking with me? They think they are strong 00:31:56.930 --> 00:32:00.089 when in reality They just have spiritual individuals 00:32:00.089 --> 00:32:03.769 in their life who are carrying far too much of 00:32:03.769 --> 00:32:08.630 their burdens for them. They think that they're 00:32:08.630 --> 00:32:11.410 really walking in the spirit, yet they are doing 00:32:11.410 --> 00:32:13.509 it vicariously through the spiritual walk of 00:32:13.509 --> 00:32:15.130 those around them. And I think this is a great 00:32:15.130 --> 00:32:19.170 deception. And this is why Paul caused us to 00:32:19.170 --> 00:32:25.630 test, right? Let each one test, examine his own 00:32:25.630 --> 00:32:28.569 work. Really take a good look put put it under 00:32:28.569 --> 00:32:30.450 the heat put it under the light right now your 00:32:30.450 --> 00:32:33.269 soul your spiritual reality the condition of 00:32:33.269 --> 00:32:36.849 where you are at Apart from anyone helping you 00:32:36.849 --> 00:32:40.869 just be real with where you are at Believe that's 00:32:40.869 --> 00:32:44.170 what Paul is saying. Where does your confidence 00:32:44.170 --> 00:32:48.349 come from? Does it come from those around you? 00:32:48.910 --> 00:32:51.750 Or does it come from your own faith in Christ? 00:32:52.190 --> 00:32:55.190 Maybe you've helped someone move before and you're 00:32:55.190 --> 00:32:57.529 helping carry a couch. You've got four guys carrying 00:32:57.529 --> 00:33:00.009 this big couch. You never know how to get it 00:33:00.009 --> 00:33:01.650 through the door. It takes like five times to 00:33:01.650 --> 00:33:03.769 get through the door, you know? The guy who owns 00:33:03.769 --> 00:33:05.650 the couch calls his buddies over. Everyone lifts 00:33:05.650 --> 00:33:07.609 the couch, and then everyone's lifting, carrying, 00:33:07.650 --> 00:33:10.210 and then all of a sudden you realize, wait, he's 00:33:10.210 --> 00:33:13.170 not even lifting anything. He's just got his 00:33:13.170 --> 00:33:14.970 hands on the couch, and he's the guy that owns 00:33:14.970 --> 00:33:17.190 the couch, right? I mean, you know what I'm talking 00:33:17.190 --> 00:33:19.049 about, guys. We carry the couches. We help each 00:33:19.049 --> 00:33:20.390 other move, especially you young adults. You 00:33:20.390 --> 00:33:22.170 do it like every other weekend, it feels like, 00:33:22.670 --> 00:33:26.000 right? I mean, this is the deception, right? 00:33:27.180 --> 00:33:29.660 The four other guys are the ones lifting. The 00:33:29.660 --> 00:33:32.480 one, his hands appear like he's lifting, but 00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:36.240 he is not. If a brother or sister in Christ is 00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:39.400 helping restore you or bear the burdens in your 00:33:39.400 --> 00:33:42.079 life, this is an amazing thing. But Paul gives 00:33:42.079 --> 00:33:47.200 us this reminder that the obligation is still 00:33:47.200 --> 00:33:50.099 on you to seek repentance and spiritual strength. 00:33:51.609 --> 00:33:53.809 At the end of the day, you cannot rely merely 00:33:53.809 --> 00:33:56.609 on the spiritual walk of others so much that 00:33:56.609 --> 00:34:01.670 you neglect your own walk in the Spirit. If you 00:34:01.670 --> 00:34:04.970 fail, if you fall, if you walk away from the 00:34:04.970 --> 00:34:07.769 Lord, it's not their fault at the end of the 00:34:07.769 --> 00:34:09.809 day, although they may have had a part to play 00:34:09.809 --> 00:34:13.409 in it, it is your fault. You bear the penalty, 00:34:13.530 --> 00:34:16.670 you bear the responsibility. This is why we must 00:34:16.670 --> 00:34:19.340 test our work. This is why we must examine our 00:34:19.340 --> 00:34:21.880 life. This is why we must take action as others 00:34:21.880 --> 00:34:25.139 are helping us so that our confidence, as Paul 00:34:25.139 --> 00:34:28.900 says, would not be in our neighbor, but would 00:34:28.900 --> 00:34:32.639 be in our self alone, in our faith that is in 00:34:32.639 --> 00:34:35.340 Christ individually, not corporately. You guys 00:34:35.340 --> 00:34:40.900 tracking with me? Others may help carry the burden 00:34:40.900 --> 00:34:42.619 for you, but at the end of the day, it is your 00:34:42.619 --> 00:34:44.599 burden to carry. It's like in Pilgrim's Progress, 00:34:44.639 --> 00:34:48.869 right? No one carries the heavy burden on Christian's 00:34:48.869 --> 00:34:53.570 back except Him. Evangelist points the way, others 00:34:53.570 --> 00:34:56.590 provide help, but at the end of the day, Christian 00:34:56.590 --> 00:34:59.989 must carry his own burden and only Christ can 00:34:59.989 --> 00:35:05.190 ultimately take it away. So what with all this? 00:35:05.329 --> 00:35:07.309 Well, how you view yourself will impact the way 00:35:07.309 --> 00:35:10.210 you live your life. For Paul, he did not see 00:35:10.210 --> 00:35:12.750 himself as anything or anyone special, right? 00:35:13.460 --> 00:35:17.139 This is why he says, each will have to bear his 00:35:17.139 --> 00:35:21.780 own load in verse five. For Paul, he had his 00:35:21.780 --> 00:35:25.079 own ministry and his own bearing of his own life 00:35:25.079 --> 00:35:29.159 and ministry and us similarly today. So it's 00:35:29.159 --> 00:35:31.900 that balance for us church that we want to bear 00:35:31.900 --> 00:35:34.599 with one another's burdens. And as we do that 00:35:34.599 --> 00:35:36.480 together, as we're bearing with one another's 00:35:36.480 --> 00:35:39.199 burdens, as we're carrying the life. burdens 00:35:39.199 --> 00:35:41.880 and struggles and trials that come each day. 00:35:41.880 --> 00:35:44.599 We also recognize that we gotta go. Like I gotta 00:35:44.599 --> 00:35:47.500 get after it today. Like I got a family to take 00:35:47.500 --> 00:35:50.320 care of. I've got a spouse to love. I've got 00:35:50.320 --> 00:35:53.420 a job I gotta do. I've gotta be on mission for 00:35:53.420 --> 00:35:57.019 Christ. Like these are things that we take personally 00:35:57.019 --> 00:36:00.619 on an individual level as we seek to live for 00:36:00.619 --> 00:36:05.369 the Lord and it all demands humility. So I don't 00:36:05.369 --> 00:36:07.250 even ask you this morning to examine and test 00:36:07.250 --> 00:36:10.570 your life a little bit as you are bearing the 00:36:10.570 --> 00:36:12.489 burden on your own, even the trials that God 00:36:12.489 --> 00:36:15.650 has sovereignly placed in your life. God's infinite 00:36:15.650 --> 00:36:19.809 wisdom with each of us to give us specific things 00:36:19.809 --> 00:36:24.969 that we struggle with. It's for a purpose. We 00:36:24.969 --> 00:36:26.630 don't get prideful in that. We trust Him with 00:36:26.630 --> 00:36:28.989 that. But we need to have a right estimation 00:36:28.989 --> 00:36:31.489 of our own spiritual maturity in areas where 00:36:31.489 --> 00:36:34.619 we need to grow. Third, Third, in verse six, 00:36:35.179 --> 00:36:38.059 as we apply the grace of God more in our lives 00:36:38.059 --> 00:36:41.840 together as a church, third, we are called to 00:36:41.840 --> 00:36:47.119 generously encourage the faithful teacher. Generously 00:36:47.119 --> 00:36:50.019 encourage the faithful teacher. As a pastor, 00:36:50.039 --> 00:36:52.219 I know this can be always something that's a 00:36:52.219 --> 00:36:55.019 little odd, and I'm almost thankful that Pastor 00:36:55.019 --> 00:36:56.579 Joe's not here preaching this, because I get 00:36:56.579 --> 00:36:58.780 to just encourage him while he's not here with 00:36:58.780 --> 00:37:02.489 you guys. Look what Paul says in verse six. How 00:37:02.489 --> 00:37:04.989 do we apply the grace of God, the gospel, in 00:37:04.989 --> 00:37:07.090 the way we live with one another? Well, he says, 00:37:07.510 --> 00:37:10.429 in regards to the teacher of the word, let the 00:37:10.429 --> 00:37:16.730 one who is taught the word share all good things 00:37:16.730 --> 00:37:19.449 with the one who teaches. The word share there, 00:37:19.630 --> 00:37:22.670 it's actually the word, it's the root from that 00:37:22.670 --> 00:37:25.809 is koinonia. But you guys remember the word koinonia 00:37:25.809 --> 00:37:28.510 is the word fellowship. It's the word for the 00:37:28.510 --> 00:37:31.929 gathering, right? The participation. It is the 00:37:31.929 --> 00:37:34.909 support that we all have through our faith in 00:37:34.909 --> 00:37:39.070 Christ. And Paul is calling all believers to 00:37:39.070 --> 00:37:42.510 consider what they can offer to the one who teaches 00:37:42.510 --> 00:37:44.989 them the word. I mean, you think it's simple. 00:37:45.050 --> 00:37:49.050 We all need encouragement. We all do, but certainly, 00:37:49.329 --> 00:37:52.869 most definitely, the preacher and teacher of 00:37:52.869 --> 00:37:56.579 the word needs encouragement. Who better to provide 00:37:56.579 --> 00:38:00.340 that support than from the one to whom he teaches, 00:38:00.599 --> 00:38:03.860 right? I mean, that is the object of Paul's point. 00:38:03.900 --> 00:38:07.380 The one who is taught is to deliver the sharing, 00:38:08.420 --> 00:38:12.639 the encouragement that is generous. But also 00:38:12.639 --> 00:38:14.860 notice here, I think this is also a great reminder 00:38:14.860 --> 00:38:16.639 for us. The one who teaches, what is he called 00:38:16.639 --> 00:38:19.719 to teach? Well, Paul says in verse six, he is 00:38:19.719 --> 00:38:23.179 taught, he is called to teach the word. I mean, 00:38:23.199 --> 00:38:25.440 this is why we teach the Scriptures, the Word 00:38:25.440 --> 00:38:27.980 of God, every Sunday, church. This is not a TED 00:38:27.980 --> 00:38:31.599 Talk. This is not a podcast. This is not just 00:38:31.599 --> 00:38:33.880 a time for me to just get you motivated to go 00:38:33.880 --> 00:38:37.420 live your life and do well. It's not a time for 00:38:37.420 --> 00:38:39.980 me to make promises and over -promise things 00:38:39.980 --> 00:38:42.119 to you in your life that are not found and anchored 00:38:42.119 --> 00:38:45.960 in the truth of God's Word. It is time to unleash 00:38:45.960 --> 00:38:49.539 the Scriptures. And that's what the teacher, 00:38:49.860 --> 00:38:53.019 the faithful teacher will do. He will teach the 00:38:53.019 --> 00:38:56.360 word of God. And in doing that, as you and I 00:38:56.360 --> 00:38:58.559 have been taught the word of God by many faithful 00:38:58.559 --> 00:39:01.119 teachers for years and years, I was reminded 00:39:01.119 --> 00:39:03.679 just this week of the people that God has brought 00:39:03.679 --> 00:39:05.539 into my life who have taught me the word, either 00:39:05.539 --> 00:39:09.400 from the pulpit or in small group settings, classrooms, 00:39:09.940 --> 00:39:13.559 whatever it may be, giving me understanding to 00:39:13.559 --> 00:39:17.170 who our God is through the scriptures. And I'm 00:39:17.170 --> 00:39:19.710 just so grateful for them. And I want to encourage 00:39:19.710 --> 00:39:21.369 them in the way that Paul says we can encourage 00:39:21.369 --> 00:39:30.190 them is this. Share all good things. Share. Give. 00:39:31.429 --> 00:39:33.750 And notice what we're to give. Not just good 00:39:33.750 --> 00:39:37.889 things, all good things. It's a call to be generous. 00:39:39.010 --> 00:39:41.530 Things that are not bad that are good. What kind 00:39:41.530 --> 00:39:43.800 of things? Well, various kinds of things. I think 00:39:43.800 --> 00:39:45.519 this could be spiritual things. I think it could 00:39:45.519 --> 00:39:48.199 be relational things. I think it could be material 00:39:48.199 --> 00:39:51.139 things. Whatever you think would encourage and 00:39:51.139 --> 00:39:54.320 enable the teacher of the word to keep going. 00:39:56.260 --> 00:39:58.559 That is what you should pray about sharing with 00:39:58.559 --> 00:40:03.159 the teacher of the word. We see this theme throughout 00:40:03.159 --> 00:40:05.079 the New Testament regarding full -time teachers 00:40:05.079 --> 00:40:08.260 and pastors. The scriptures tell us in 1st Timothy 00:40:08.260 --> 00:40:10.940 5, 17, let the elders who rule be considered 00:40:10.940 --> 00:40:14.039 worthy of double honor, especially those who 00:40:14.039 --> 00:40:17.719 labor in preaching and teaching, as well as in 00:40:17.719 --> 00:40:20.320 1st Corinthians 9, 13 and 14. Do you not know 00:40:20.320 --> 00:40:22.019 that those who are employed in the temple service 00:40:22.019 --> 00:40:25.159 get their food from the temple? In the same way, 00:40:25.519 --> 00:40:27.579 the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the 00:40:27.579 --> 00:40:30.579 gospel should get their living by the gospel. 00:40:32.880 --> 00:40:34.719 You know, it could be seen in a lot of ways. 00:40:34.739 --> 00:40:37.320 It could be something massive, of course. I think 00:40:37.320 --> 00:40:39.019 that's where our minds go. It could be a massive 00:40:39.019 --> 00:40:41.199 gift of great benefit to a minister of the word. 00:40:41.699 --> 00:40:43.960 But church, I would also call you to consider 00:40:43.960 --> 00:40:50.420 to not underestimate the power of a simple encouraging 00:40:50.420 --> 00:40:55.639 text or card or message. Doesn't even have to 00:40:55.639 --> 00:40:57.519 be to one of your pastors. Just anyone who has 00:40:57.519 --> 00:40:59.440 shared the truth to you before through the word 00:40:59.440 --> 00:41:04.110 of God. Just thank them. I mean, that is encouraging. 00:41:05.090 --> 00:41:06.829 If the Spirit of God has worked in your heart 00:41:06.829 --> 00:41:09.550 through that agent that God has placed in front 00:41:09.550 --> 00:41:13.050 of you from his word, share all good things, 00:41:13.110 --> 00:41:17.869 whatever that is, do it. That's what Paul is 00:41:17.869 --> 00:41:21.309 saying here. That's what he's pleading the Galatians 00:41:21.309 --> 00:41:25.550 and with us to do. Wouldn't you find this encouraging 00:41:25.550 --> 00:41:28.090 if you were a teaching, if you were a teacher 00:41:28.090 --> 00:41:33.860 or a discipler of others in the truth? I think 00:41:33.860 --> 00:41:36.019 by doing this church, that by encouraging and 00:41:36.019 --> 00:41:39.559 sharing what we have with faithful Bible teachers, 00:41:40.880 --> 00:41:44.480 this is a very practical way for you to be involved 00:41:44.480 --> 00:41:46.840 in gospel partnership. You are using what God 00:41:46.840 --> 00:41:50.380 has given you for something bigger than yourself, 00:41:50.380 --> 00:41:53.619 and this is highly encouraging. So with that, 00:41:53.780 --> 00:41:55.460 my call and what Paul is calling us to is that 00:41:55.460 --> 00:41:58.480 we support faithful teachers, not as way of payment, 00:41:59.079 --> 00:42:03.409 but participation in gospel ministry. and do 00:42:03.409 --> 00:42:05.449 it in a variety of ways, however God has blessed 00:42:05.449 --> 00:42:09.570 you, let's be that kind of church. Well, there's 00:42:09.570 --> 00:42:13.510 two more points, but we are out of time today, 00:42:13.650 --> 00:42:16.730 church. Maybe Pastor Joe will let me come back 00:42:16.730 --> 00:42:19.090 and we'll do the fourth and fifth point another 00:42:19.090 --> 00:42:20.829 time, but let me pray for us and then we're gonna 00:42:20.829 --> 00:42:28.869 go to a time of communion together now. Our father, 00:42:29.110 --> 00:42:33.269 we. are reminded this morning of the immense 00:42:33.269 --> 00:42:35.590 privilege it is to be a part of your church, 00:42:36.309 --> 00:42:39.409 to know you, to be found in you, to have a righteousness 00:42:39.409 --> 00:42:42.170 not of our own, but that belongs to your son, 00:42:42.170 --> 00:42:45.809 Jesus Christ. It is inspiring, Father. It is 00:42:45.809 --> 00:42:49.210 motivating. What grace we have received from 00:42:49.210 --> 00:42:51.550 you that we cannot even fathom fully in this 00:42:51.550 --> 00:42:53.449 life. But Father, I pray that that knowledge 00:42:53.449 --> 00:42:56.489 of your grace and kindness would not stick merely 00:42:56.489 --> 00:42:59.530 in our heads. but that it would transform us 00:42:59.530 --> 00:43:02.650 from the heart in the way that we love one another, 00:43:02.690 --> 00:43:04.809 in the way that we care for one another, the 00:43:04.809 --> 00:43:07.869 way that we come alongside one another in our 00:43:07.869 --> 00:43:09.650 church. I wanna be that kind of church father, 00:43:09.769 --> 00:43:13.369 the church that you desire for us. So Lord, we 00:43:13.369 --> 00:43:16.030 pray for help in this, we pray for wisdom, that 00:43:16.030 --> 00:43:20.110 you would walk with us as we seek to give you 00:43:20.110 --> 00:43:22.510 glory in everything that we do as we submit to 00:43:22.510 --> 00:43:24.530 your will. We pray all this in your son's name, 00:43:24.909 --> 00:43:25.210 amen.