No Longer Fatherless

Passage: Galatians 4:1-7

Point
1. “When we were children we were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world”.
2. “When the fullness of time had come, God sent His son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law so we might receive adoption as sons”.
3. “God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father,”. So we are no longer slaves but a son and a heir through God”.

Personalize
We are living in a society were there is an ever increasing amount of homes without fathers. It is estimated that 40 percent of children in America are fatherless. This condition will create a society void of homes without the nurturing and guiding qualities of a father. In my life, my father was a strong foundation I could go to when I faced a decision or need. If the car broke down he was the first one I called. If I was making a decision about my future, I would always pass it by him for his input. After my father died this left a void in my life.

Even more than our relationship with our biological fathers, when we are without Christ we face a tremendous void. We are missing a son and father relationship with our Heavenly Father. Without our heavenly Father we face life under the task master of the law. We live our lives void of meaning and purpose. Jesus Christ has changed this condition. We were redeemed from the task master and we have now become sons and daughters of God. The Galatians passage states that we now cry out “Abba Father”. This is an intimate relationship to call God “our Father, our daddy”. We are no longer fatherless but we now have a Father who loves us and seeks to guide us.

Prayer
Lord, we praise you for sending your Son to redeem us from the law so we would receive our sonship in your kingdom. We also rejoice in the intimacy we have been given through the Spirit of Christ as we are reminded daily of our son relationship with you. We seek to walk as “sons and daughters” and no longer as slaves of the law.

We Identify with Christ

Passage: Galatians 3: 23-29

Point
1. The law was our guardian until faith was revealed in Jesus Christ, now we are no longer under a guardian.
2. We are now sons of God and heirs of Abraham through faith in Jesus Christ. We have been baptized in Christ and clothed in His sonship.
3. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Personalize
Jesus Christ evens the playing field. There is no longer “slave or free, male or female” we are all one in Christ. We live in a world that seeks equality in government, the market place, and in community affairs. Equality comes in our commitment to a common focus and values. In the Christian life our equality comes in our single focus on Christ. Our value is no longer determined by our political party, sexual makeup, or social status. We who are in Christ find the freedom from cultural definitions and barriers.

Our value as an individual and our identity comes solely through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus gives us a new identity and purpose that supersedes all other definitions of ourselves. Our culture does not determine our identity. Our careers do not produce significance, and our marital status does not give us value. I recently listened to a podcast by Timothy Keller on Sexuality and the Church. In this message he shared the radical views of Paul that our relationship with Christ changes it all. We choose to marry or remain single not for personal fulfillment but solely on the basis of what will serve the kingdom best in our lives and mission. We are now identified with Jesus Christ. We are sons and daughters of God.

So how do we live out this principle, “our identity comes solely from Christ”? Paul lets us know that there is “neither Jew or Gentile, male or female, nor free or slave”. We choose to obtain our identity from Christ and not our religious views, sexual drives, or social status. We choose Christ as the “flag we fly”. He is the sole reason for our existence and our faith is based solely on Christ. The Gospel is our message and we now identify ourselves as “followers of Christ”. We are baptized in Christ, thus we are immersed in His identity and purpose for our lives.

Prayer
Lord, may we seek our identity in Christ. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit so we may know the fullness of Christ and His purposes for our lives. We choose to be known by Christ. Cloth us with the righteousness of Christ so others may see our good works and know we are sons and daughters of God.

The Promise

Passage: Galatians 3:15-22

Point
1. God made a covenant (promise) to Abraham that he would bless his offspring, that is Jesus Christ.
2. The law which came 430 years later does not make void the promise or annul it. If the inheritance comes by the law it is no longer a promise.
3. The law was added because of the sins of man until the promise would be fulfilled in Christ. Righteousness does not come through the law but through faith in the promise as revealed in Christ.

Personalize

God made a promise to Abraham as recorded in Genesis. “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”. (Genesis 12:2-3)

The promise God made to Abraham was that “…in you all the families of the earth will be blessed”. We as the adopted sons and daughters of God through Christ are to be part of the blessing. As we move throughout the nations we are to be a blessing to the world. In all we do we should seek to bless others and glorify our Heavenly Father.

How do we bless others in the name of Christ? I believe it can come in many forms from a kind smile to the man driving the bus to giving a kind word to the lady working at the check out counter. It also goes beyond the simple acts of kindness but also takes on the works of Christ, “heal the sick, cleanse the leaper, encourage the broken hearted”. Let us seek to bless others in the name of Christ.

The promise made to Abraham but was fulfilled in Christ. The law kept individuals in check and showed them how to respect God and other individuals. It mandated being a blessing. When Christ came the law was no longer needed and through Christ the promise was fulfilled and the blessing was spread through all who follow Christ.

Prayer
Lord may we live by faith in your promise to trust in Christ. May we also be a blessing to others as You give us the opportunity.

Curse was Lifted

Passage: Galatians 3:10-14.

Points
1. If we try to live by the law we will be cursed because we must keep all the commands.
2. We are not justified by the law but “the righteous shall live by faith”.
3. Jesus took on the curse for us: “cursed is one who is hanged on a tree” so that we would receive the blessing of Abraham and the promised Spirit through faith.

Personalize
We are in Kyoto for our 30th anniversary. It is a city full of temples. As we walked the streets this evening we were struck not only by the many temples but also the man made structures which people look to for hope. We read a sign, in English of course that said “learn the meaning of birth and joy”. What they are missing is the real answer. Instead they look to man made structures and fountains (see below) for answers. It reminds me of the well that will run dry but Christ offers the eternal well that will never run dry.

Jesus Christ has lifted the curse through the cross. Our debt was death and Christ took death, even death on the cross. We no longer live by the law but. Ow we live by faith in Jesus Christ. He has delivered us from the impossible task of keeping every law and being bound by endless rules and obligations. Now we can walk in freedom as we fully trust in what Christ has done on our behalf.

Prayer
We praise you for lifting the curse of the law. We fully desire to walk in the fellowship of your Spirit and in the freedom found in Your Son, Jesus Christ.

Remain in Faith

Passage: Galatians 3:1-9

Points
1. Paul was wandering why they had been mislead to think they received a right relationship with God and the Spirit by the works of the law rather than by faith.
2. They began with the Spirit, this they should remain in the Spirit and not be sustained or perfected by the flesh.
3. “Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness”. Individuals of faith will be sons of Abraham because God told Abraham “In you all the nations be blessed”.

Personalize
The Gentiles began their walk with Christ not through the law but by placing their faith in Jesus Christ. It was in their faith that they were made right with God and not through the works of the law. It is hard for us to believe that nothing else is required to received the Holy Spirit and the blessings of the Christian life beyond faith. Martin Luther in his commentary on Galatians wrote: “But this we must needs learn, that forgiveness of sins, Christ and the Holy Ghost are freely given unto us at the only hearing of faith, notwithstanding our horrible sins and demerits. And we must not weigh, how great the thing is that is given, and how unworthy we are of it (for so should the greatness of the gift, and our unworthiness terrify us); but we must think that it pleaseth God freely to give unto us this unspeakable gift, unto us, I say, which are unworthy, as Christ in Luke saith: ‘Fear not little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give unto you (lo, to give unto you, saith he) the kingdom’”.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit, Christ and forgiveness are given to us not because of our own merit but because we have placed our faith in Jesus Christ. We are justified and blessed only because of God’s grace given through Jesus Christ. Our value comes from what Christ has done for us. We do not have to seek our value through good works or lawful acts, because our value comes through our faith placed in Jesus Christ alone. It is God who chooses the good gifts He provisions are not based on our actions or activities but solely because of the cross of Christ. Let us begin our walk in faith and continue in faith trusting Our heavenly Father to provide all we need.

Prayer
Lord help us to continue our walk with you by continuing in faith and not turning to personal works or efforts. We solely place our trust and confidence in Jesus Christ.

Crucified with Christ

Passage: Galatians 2:15-21

Points
1. Paul was born as a Jew and not a Gentile sinner, yet a person is not justified by works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ. No one will be justified by the works of the law.
2. We die to the law so we might be alive to God. We do not nullify the grace of God because if we received righteousness through the law then Christ died for no purpose
3. We have been crucified with Christ, we no longer live, but it is Christ who lives in us. The life we live we live by faith in the Son of God who loved us and gave himself for us.

Personalize
Paul wrote: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”. The pursuit of a right relationship with Christ does not come from our own efforts but comes in our death. Our pursuits are futile and will end in defeat but when we yield fully to Jesus Christ then we will experience life and victory. We love religion because it promises fulfillment if we do the right things or perform certain acts. It is a practice in what is tangible and visible. Religion may result in action but it also ends in death. The good news of the gospel reveals that our actions are not the way to life but our dying to self is the path to forgiveness and fulfillment.

We come to the Christian life in death. We die to our own efforts to live a righteous life and we yield to Christ’s efforts as revealed on the cross. How can this be? Our death leads to life? Jesus is the answer. His death, on our behalf, will lead to life abundantly and eternally. He paid a price He did not owe but in doing so gave us the reward of righteousness that we cannot obtain on our own. Scripture reminds us that we are to “be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect”. This is impossible for us and the only answer is the perfectness of Jesus Christ the perfect sacrifice. So when Paul says “it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me”, we understand it is in Christ alone that we have the hope to be in fellowship with our heavenly Father and to live the life He has for us.

“I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”. Jesus loved me first and gave Himself for me. His love was not based on my own abilities or my own character, but Jesus Christ chose to love me and give himself for me. I have heard it said that “there is nothing I can do that will cause Jesus to love me any more or any less”. Jesus is the originator of His love and he has chosen to bestow it upon us, in spite of our own achievements and actions. It is in this realization that we understand our Christian life finds its source in Jesus Christ alone and not in our own efforts.

Prayer
Lord we choose to be crucified with Christ and to surrender our agenda and will. We commit our lives to Your purposes and plan. We ask that You will exalt Christ within our lives and give us the insights to walk by faith in Your Son who loved us and gave Himself for us.

Christ Controlled

Passage: Galatians 2:12-14

Point
1. When Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, Paul confronted him.
2. Peter was eating with the Gentiles but when men came from James he withdrew as not to be seen eating with the Gentiles and because he feared the “circumcision party”.
3. Paul points out that Peter, Barnabas and others were being hypocritical because they had been living like Gentiles but when Jews came they acted differently. These actions were not in step with the truth of the gospel.

Personalize
The gospel reveals there is neither “Jew nor Greek, male nor female”. Our salvation and our value solely comes from our relationship to Jesus Christ. Salvation and sanctification is not found in the religious practices of the law or in the absence of them. Jesus Christ’s surrender of his life on the cross is the message of the gospel. It is in Christ alone that we receive salvation. Paul was concerned that Peter and others were acting as hypocrites because they change their “song” when others are around. They had been living and eating with the Gentiles but now when the Jewish Christians show up they change. They were pressured not to live as free men but as men directed by the expectations of others.

As I reflect on this situation with Peter and Paul I wander what directs my life? Am I truly free in Christ that I am solely under the leadership of the Holy Spirit or am I driven and controlled by the cultural expectations of the country, city, or church I find mind self? Can I say that Christ has set me free and I walk by faith in the one who loved me and gave Himself for me? I would have to be honest and say that I find myself often directed by the “heart idol” of wanting to please others. Like Peter, I find myself being shaped by the expectations of others rather than walking in the freedom of Christ. Peter denied Jesus three times so that he would not be seen by others as being a disciple of Christ. Now he was denying his freedom in Christ so that he would not be seen as one of the Gentiles.

The expectations of others can be a strong influence in our lives. As children there were always those kids who were “in the group” and others who were not. For many they were always an outsider and never found themselves as “one of them”. As adults and Christians we are influenced by the expectations of others and our culture. We truly desire to be free in Christ, but the pressure to be “one of them” influences us, even into adulthood. To live in freedom we must be willing to destroy the “heart idol” of pleasing others. Our only significance will be found in pleasing our heavenly Father, who is not a task master but He wants us to walk with joy and freedom. Today, may we choose to not be hypocritical and may we walk in freedom no matter what pressure and expectations we face.

Prayer
Father we want to be guided by Your Holy Spirit and not the expectations of our culture or others. We surrender our reputation to you. May we walk in the freedom we have received through Christ and may He be the Lord of our life. Break down the “heart idols” that so easily control us. Be the master of our lives and direct our path.

Mission After 50

Passage: Galatians 2:1-10

Point
1. Due to a revelation, Paul returned to Jerusalem and began to proclaim the gospel he had been preaching to the Gentiles.
2. Some were sent to spy out the message of freedom that Paul was proclaiming in order to bound them to the Jewish practices of circumcision and other law requirements. Paul did not yield to their pressure so they would maintain the gospel of freedom.
3. Paul was entrusted to share the gospel with the uncircumcised Gentiles, while Peter was to share with the circumcised. They were also encouraged by James and the other pillars of the church to remember the poor in their ministry.

Personalize
Today is my 50th birthday. This birthday is a new marker in my life. Unlike previous birthdays Melody and I face the coming years as “empty nesters”. We greatly miss the presence of our children and being involved in their daily lives, but at the same time we are excited about what God has set before us. Many say fifty is the new forty. I am not quit sure what they mean, except that it is a marker in life that you not only look back and see where you have been but you look forward at the remaining year’s God has given you. If I am given the chance to serve till I am 75 then I will have 300 months or 9,125 days or 219,000 hours remaining. I am not sadden by this perspective but motivated by the chance to serve in ways I have not done so previously. It is a new day and with it comes new opportunities to proclaim the gospel to those who have not heard. I am not sure where the next twenty-five or fifty years will take me but I am excited by its prospects.

Paul’s message to the Gentiles was one of freedom. The gospel was not bound by legalism or liberalism. The gospel is Christ offering the free gift of salvation to all who would believe. While some sought to stifle his message and attempted to require the law to become a follower of Christ, Paul remained true to the message of freedom. He proclaimed the message to some influential individuals in Jerusalem to reassure himself that he he had not run in vain. Paul did receive confirmation of his message from James and other leaders in the church of Jerusalem. His message was made clear and his mission was affirmed to “proclaim the gospel of freedom to the uncircumcised Gentiles”.

Our confidence does not come from the approval of men but from the truth of God’s word. Paul was clear on his message and he would not allow the ideas of other to distort the message. Today on my fiftieth birthday, I commit to not be distracted in the remaining years of my ministry. I desire to proclaim the Gospel to whoever God gives me the opportunity. Like Paul, I want to remain true to the message and when all is complete I want to know that I did not run my race in vain but for the purpose of Christ. It is easy to loose site of the message, but as we daily live by the Gospel we will discover a new perspective and purpose to share this good news with others.

Prayer
Lord, give a vision for the ministry years ahead. I truly desire to finish strong in proclaiming the Gospel of freedom to others. In this new season of life, I ask that you reveal where and to whom you want me to declare the good news of Jesus Christ.