Take It Personally
Galatians 4:8-20
INTRODUCTION - Don Shula, coach of the Miami Dolphins,
was talking to a reporter about a player’s mistake in practice. He said, “We
never let an error go unchallenged. Uncorrected errors multiply.”
Then the reporter said, “Isn’t there benefit in overlooking one small flaw?”
Shula said, “What is a small flaw?” I think about that all day long. What is
a small flaw? I see that with my children. I’ve let a lot of things slide by
because I was too tired. I didn’t want another confrontation. But uncorrected
errors do multiply. You’ve got to face them some day. You might as well face
them on the spot. If I could do it over again with my children, I’d face the
errors on the spot. It’s easier on them and on you. That works in relationships
with anyone. If there’s something under the surface, something you sense, you
might as well just bring it right out. Face it right then. Success lies
in the details. Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph
your work with excellence.
THESIS: A mature believer must confront others lovingly with the truth.
· Paul’s tone changes from a preacher/apostle or formal argument to a loving parental figure and friend.
· He makes a very personal appeal (VERSES 8-16)
· – First, in light of their regression into idolatry – In effect, they have made the ceremonial law an idol and left behind the Gospel of Grace. (Verses 8-11)
· Next his personal appeal finds expression in the depth of their personal relationship and reception of Paul (Verse 12-20)
· This relationship was evident in the way he had accommodated himself to them (verse 12)
· This relationship was evident in their care of him in his illness (12)
· This relationship was evident in the way they received him as “an angel of God, as Christ himself”
· They had great joy in his ministry to the point of plucking out their eyes for him.
· Paul brings the point to a logical conclusion – HAVE I BECOME YOUR ENEMY BY TELLING YOU THE TRUTH….WHEN WE REACH THAT POINT WE ARE IN TRULY HARD HEART SITUATION
· CONTRAST WITH THE JUDIAZERS (VERSES 17)
· PAUL’S PARENTAL LOVE (VERSE 18-20) - … dear children (tekna mou, an expression found only here in Paul’s epistles), Paul compared himself to a mother in the throes of birth pangs.
· Change in metaphors occurred with the expression until Christ is formed in you. Paul longed for these believers to be transformed into (morphoôtheô, lit., “take on the form of”; cf. morpheô in Phil. 2:6-7) the image of Christ.
· Romans 12:1-4 I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
APPLICATION: A mature believer must confront others lovingly with the truth.
Do you know how to do that? Do you see how vital it is today?
If you were asked what you would call a person who believes in astrology, reincarnation, and the possibility of communicating with the dead, your answer would probably be a "New Ager."
Well, according to a new book, these
are just some of the beliefs held by people who call themselves “born again
Christians”—which go to show that simply calling yourself "born
again" doesn't make it so.
In his book, Spiritual
Marketplace, sociologist Wade Clark Roof chronicles the shift in religious
attitudes in contemporary
Unfortunately, syncretism has found
its way into evangelical circles, as well. Roof says that many people who
describe themselves as "born again Christians" actually hold beliefs
that are at odds with biblical Christianity.
Some 25 percent of those interviewed
in Roof's study believe in the possibility of communicating with the dead. A
third of them believe in reincarnation and astrology; and, half say they
believe in psychic powers.
Moreover, half said, "the
various religions of the world are 'equally good and true.'" This prompted
Roof to characterize this brand of so-called born-again Christianity as
"markedly different" from earlier varieties. Or as columnist Terry
Mattingly puts it "born again... doesn't mean what it used to mean."
It also tells us that polls of born-again voters can be very misleading.
WE MUST CONFRONT THE CULTURE IF WE WILL SEE A RETURN TO CHRIST…
THE CHURCH MUST BE CONFRONTED IF WE WILL RETURN TO THE REFORMATIONAL PRINCIPLE OF SOLA SCRIPTURA
INDIVIDUALS WHO LEAVE BEHIND THE FAITH MUST BE CONFRONTED IF THEY WILL WALK IN THE TRUTH…
DO YOU KNOW HOW?
CONCLUSION:
A mature believer must confront others lovingly with the truth.
HOW WILL YOU DO THIS…HOW WILL YOU RECEIVE THIS…
TAKE IT PERSONALLY…