["Pomp and Circumstance"]
You
Good singing, let's sing it out on the second page number 65
Oh
The money
What a joyful thought that my lord I'll see
And with kindred save them forever me
Oh
Let's sing it out on the last with the blood wash wrong
Oh
Great singing welcome to Verdi Baptist Church. Let's open up in a word of prayer father God
Thank you so much for this church Lord
Thank you for these people coming out here in a Wednesday evening to serve you
I pray they are singing to glorify you Lord pray that you'd bless the service and the preaching and come in Jesus name
I pray amen
Please turn your song books page number 153
Page number 153, we're gonna sing how firm a foundation
And let's sing it out on the first
No, let's let's restart my bad
Oh
Shall your strength ever be
We shall I grace also fish it shall be my supply
Let's get out on the fourth
All my people shall
Oh
Great singing
Amen all right. Well, let's go ahead and take our bulletins tonight
We'll look at some announcements real quickly
If you do not have a bulletin just raise your hand and one of our ushers can get one for you
If you need a bulletin just put your hand up and we will get one for you the verse this week Ephesians chapter 6
And verse 4 and he fathers provoked not your children to wrath
But bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord and of course that was due to
Father's Day if you open up your bulletin there, you'll see our service time Sunday morning service 10 30 a.m
We do invite you to be with us on Sunday morning
Of course on the Lord's Day for church Sunday evening service at 6 p.m
And then of course, we're glad you're here for our Wednesday evening Bible study
And if you look at our sowing times our main sowing times on Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. And then we have additional sowing times on
Thursdays and Fridays and
Sundays Thursdays at 6 and Fridays and Sundays at 2 p.m
And if you are a first-time guest if it's your first time here at Verity Baptist Church
We're glad you're with us
We have a gift we'd like to give you as you walk out of the church building tonight
If you go out our main foyer, you'll see a little table set up and on that table, you'll see
these little gift bags, please grab one on your way out as a gift from us to you and
Brother Shaw's not here tonight because his wife is in labor, which is why this bag has nothing in it
We'll let him slide on that one, I guess
I'll
deduct that from his pay
But anyway, usually there's a gift in there for you if you want to grab one on your way out
You're welcome to do that
And if you would take a moment to fill out the communication card, we would appreciate that as well
We'll just let that be how about that?
Family integrated church, of course children infant always welcome in the service
We do not separate children from their parents for any reason
We do have by the baby rooms and daddy rooms available for your convenience all the rooms have comfortable seating and monitor set up
So you can watch the service and listen to it
So if you have a child that's been distracting during the service or if you need some privacy would encourage you to use those
rooms as needed
Baptisms if you need to be baptized, please let us know you open up your announcements your bullets is there
Of course, we had Father's Day on Sunday. We gave out the t-shirts and that was a good day
The discipleship class begins on Sunday, June 25th at 5 p.m
So if you've not signed up yet, you'd like to sign up
We'd love for you to do that. And then we have our 4th of July picnic on Tuesday, July 4th at 3 p.m
We're gonna have a water balloon fight for the kids volleyball games for the ladies softball games for the men fireworks
So just
Make sure that you are aware of that and then of course if you're able to bring a grill or if you'd like to grill
You can sign up on your communication card
and if you are able to bring a side dish or a dessert you can sign up in the
foyer ladies weight loss accountability group they started today and
That went well homeschool group or I'm sorry. I'm sorry a choir. They have practice on Sundays at 5
Don't forget about that and there's other things there for you to look at
Please don't forget to turn your cell phones off or place them on silent during the service
They're not distraction to anybody. If you look at the back of bulletin birthdays and anniversaries for the month of June this week
We had Ezekiel no test was birthday on June 19th. Miss Ava Rodari had a birthday yesterday, June 20th
Miss Melanie Gonzalez had a birthday on June 20th again as well and
Evan Smith has a birthday letter this week on June 24th praise report money matters. All those things are there for you to
Look at and I think that's it for all of the announcements
So we're gonna go ahead and sing the chorus of the week not the course of the week
We're gonna sing page number 63. We're just all off tonight page number six three
What a day that will be as we prepare to receive the offering page number 63
There is coming a day and we'll go ahead and sing it out on the first
There is coming
a day
when no
Heartache shall come no more clouds in the sky
No more tears to dim the eye
All is peace
forevermore
on that happy golden shore
Glorious day that will be
What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see
And I look upon his face the one who saved me by his grace
When he takes me by the hand and leads me through the Promised Land
What a day
Glorious day that will be page number 63 sing it out on the second
No
sorrow there
No more
Curdens to bear no more
Sickness no pain no more
fighting over there
and forever
I will be
with
What a day glorious day that will be
What a day
That will be
Jesus I shall see
Upon his face the one who saved me by his grace when he takes me by
The Promised Land what a day glorious day that will be
Amen
Good singing we'll have the guys come up and help us with the offering at this time
And let's go ahead and bow our heads and have a word of prayer. Heavenly Father Lord
We do thank you for allowing us to gather together tonight Lord
We pray that you'd bless the offering the gift and the giver and Lord
We pray that you'd bless the time set aside for prayer and of course for the preaching of your word in Jesus name we pray
Amen
You
Amen all right well, let's go ahead and take our prayer sheets tonight
We'll go through our prayer list if you did not get a prayer
sheet on your way in just raise your hand and one of our ushers can get one for you if you need a prayer list
Just put your hand up, and we will get one for you
And of course the way you add a request to the prayer sheet is through your communication card on the back of the card
Make sure you mark whether it's private or public if it's private only I will see it if it's public
We'll put on the prayer sheet. If you don't mark it. We'll do our best to figure it out
We'll usually don't put those on there
They are added in the order that they are received and they are removed after a couple of weeks, so please make sure that you
Write another request if you'd like to have it on there longer
and I do of course want to highlight to be in prayer for Miss Ava Rodari and
she's in labor now and
They did have some complications, so just be in prayer for that and that
Everything would just turn out well of course and that they would have wisdom and discernment to know what decisions to make so please be
In prayer regarding that let's go ahead and take these requests the Lord
I'll pray out loud, and I ask that you would follow along in your mind in your heart. Let's pray together
Heavenly Father Lord we come to you
Tonight asking for these requests from our church family and we begin with these requests dealing with health
Brother Vladi praying for his friends Scott's health and
recovery and
The Coffey family praying for brother Anthony's recovery from surgery
And I got a text from brother Anthony today saying that it went well
And we I think before that and what we pray that you help him as he recovers and gets better
Miss Andrea McQueen praying for her friend destiny
That the remaining four weeks of her radiation treatment would be successful
Also the maples family playing for praying for Joe Junior's health and that he would just continue to get better
Brother Graham Scott praying for the healing of his for his father's surgery and the complications he had and
Brother David Noltezco praying for his grandmother's health and recovery after surgery as well
Miss Christine Ortiz praying for her sister Judy who has cancer and also praying for her own health and
Miss dogma praying for her pain and also for her son-in-law's test results that they would come back negative for his cancer recheck
we're praying for little you're at sea and for her health and you would strengthen her and be with her and
We're praying for miss angel kabuntala our missionaries wife in the Philippines who's undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer
What we ask for all these individuals we pray that you put your healing hand over them
We pray that you would heal them if it's your will
We ask that you'd give them all wisdom and discernment to know what to do and wisdom and discernment to the doctors as well
And of course we pray for the ladies in our church that are expecting
For miss Rebecca for miss Kiki for miss Selena and for miss melody that you'd give them all healthy pregnancies with no issues
No complications, and of course we lift up
The radari family miss Ava specifically
Lord as she's in labor now and
There have been just some complications Lord
We just pray that you would help miss Ava to be okay help the baby to be okay that there would be
That they would be able to get these complications under control or we ask that you'd give them wisdom and discernment to know what?
To do with the different decisions. They need to make we pray that you would help everything to turn out well
Regarding that and Lord we pray for these that have requests regarding their families for the Montel Johnson praying for Isabel
That she would be able to live with them permanently for the Darryl praying for his parents transition to a new home
Elwin seltzer praying for his son's Isaac and David's application process and
Also miss Christine Ortiz praying for comfort for the Dupree family who recently lost their son brother
Salvador praying for his family as well what we ask for all these individuals. We pray that you would help them and be with them
That you would guide them also pray for these that have requests regarding their own spiritual growth Chris Scott
praying for spiritual growth and
continual grace and
Miss Christine and brother Salvador both praying for their walk and their faith as well
we pray for these that have financial needs for the Darryl praying for his housing needs and
Also, miss Christine Ortiz brother Salvador praying for their financial needs as well Lord
We pray that you would help them and bless them and we pray for these that are having requests for
Salvations for loved ones miss Natalie praying for the salvation of her husband and the family and
Miss Christine Ortiz praying for the salvation of her children and grandchildren miss dogma praying for her
Daughter and her family's salvation as well where we ask for all these individuals
We pray that you would touch their hearts that the Holy Spirit would work on their
Hearts and that a soul winner would communicate the gospel clearly to them that they might
Be saved and Lord we pray for these that are asking for travel mercies
Miss Laura Beth praying for travel mercies for her family's trip to Mexico on June 26 through July 4th and
Miss dogma praying for her daughter and her son-in-law's safety while they travel as well Lord
We ask that you would give these individuals safe travel bring them home safely
And we pray for these that have unspoken requests miss Andrea McQueen and miss Natalie
miss Kimmy
Brother George miss cricket miss Diana Pasquale
Brother Salvador and miss dogma all having unspoken requests and Lord, you know what their petitions are
You know what they're asking for we pray that you would answer
According to your will and then Lord we pray of course for our church
We pray for the prison ministry and their families the hundreds of inmates that are being
ministered to through that
ministry Lord we pray that you continue to grow it and help in and
Minister to them and mister their families we pray for the upcoming red hot preaching conference. We pray Lord that you would
Prepare the preachers as they come to preach and prepare our hearts as we receive the preaching Lord that
this would not only be an exciting conference, but that it would be a
Conference that would allow us to grow and learn to draw closer to you
Then of course we pray for our church plants in the Philippines Manila Pompang and be cool and for our church here in Sacramento
You continue to bless our church and strengthen our church
What do we ask that you'd meet with us tonight as we take another portion of scripture and study it out together in Jesus name?
We pray amen
Please open up us to Galatians for
Galatians chapter 4 if you need a Bible you can put your hand up and a nurse who might be in your Bible
Galatians 4 if you need about keep your head up brush will come by
Galatians
4 ruin the entire chapter as our custom
Galatians forming the first number one
Now I say at the air as long as he's a child different nothing from a servant though. He be Lord of all
But as under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father
Even so we when we were in children. We were in bondage under the elements of the world
When the fullness of the time was come
God sent forth his son made of a woman made under the law
to redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons and
Because your sons got us in for the spirit of his son into your hearts crying Abba father
Wherefore there are no more servants but a son and if a son that an heir of God through Christ
How be it then when he knew not God he did service unto them which by nature are no gods
But now after you have known God or rather are known of God
How turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements once you desire again to be in bondage?
He observed days and months and times and years. I'm afraid of you lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain
Brethren I beseech you be as I am for I am as he are you have not injured me at all
You know how through infirmity of the flesh. I preach the gospel unto you at the first in my temptation
Which was in my flesh he despised not nor rejected
Received me as an angel of God even as Christ Jesus
Where is then the blessedness he spake of?
Fry bear record that if it had been possible
You would have plucked out your own eyes and I've given them to me
Am I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth
They zealously affect you but not well. Yeah, they would exclude you they might affect them
But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing and not only when I am present with you
My little children of whom I travel in birth again until Christ be formed in you
I desire to be present with you now and it changed my voice for I stand in doubt of you
Tell me you that you that desire to be under the law
Do you not hear what do you not hear the law?
For it is written that Abraham had two sons the one by bond made the other by a free woman
But he who was of the bond woman was born after the flesh, but he of the free woman was by promise
Which things are an allegory for these are the two covenants the one from the from the Mount Sinai
Was generous to bondage which is agar for this agar is Mount Sinai in Arabia in
Answer to Jerusalem, which now is and is in bondage with her children
But Jerusalem, which is a above is free, which is the mother of us all for it is written
Rejoice thou bearing that bearers not break forth and cry now that travel is not
For the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband now we brethren as Isaac was are the children of promise
But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the spirit even so it is now
Nevertheless what saved the scripture?
Cast out the bond woman and her son for the son of the bond woman shall not be heir with the son of the free
Woman, so then brethren we are not children of the bond woman, but of the free
Let's pray Heavenly Father. Thank you for this evening
God, I thank you for your word and for our church from that's here as he pleased me with us tonight
God as he pleased me their pastor to strengthen him and from her spirit. We love you in Jesus name pray. Amen
Amen
Alright, we're there in Galatians chapter number four
and of course, we are in a Bible study on Wednesday nights going through the
Book of Galatians verse by verse chapter by a chapter and
Last week that we were in the book of Galatians. We
Dealt with verses 1 through 7. So we're gonna just of course pick up right where we left off and tonight
We're going to actually cover verses
8 through 20, so we're not going to cover the rest of the chapter. We're just going to cover
the middle section of the chapter and
We'll give the last part of the chapter. It's its own sermon
But just as I've been doing recently, I'll go ahead and kind of give you the two headings up front
Because these several verses Galatians 4 8 through 20 can be divided into two different
sections or two different
Headings the first would be verses 8 through 11 and if you're taking notes
And I always encourage you to take notes on the back your course of the week
There's place but write down some notes
You could give it verses 8 through 11 this this heading Paul's doubts
For the Galatians Paul's doubts for the Galatians and then
Verses 12 through 20 you could give it this heading Paul's hopes for the Galatians
So we'll see verses 8 through 11 Paul's doubts
For the Galatians or of the Galatians and verses 12 through 20 Paul's hopes
For the Galatians and of course if you've been with us through the study in Galatians
You know that the book of Galatians has been quite a hostile book
This epistle this letter that Paul wrote the Galatians has not been very nice. In fact, he has
Rebuked them sharply on several things. And of course if you've been with us
you know that we've been talking about the themes of the book of Galatians and
The the the themes have to do with what's going on and what's happening is that Paul?
Started these churches in this region of Galatia. He got them saved. He got them discipled. He got them growing
He got them organized and they started these churches and then when Paul left the Bible
Is recording for us the fact that these Judaizers?
From Judea from Jerusalem have came to Galatia and they have brought in false doctrine
They are bad-mouthing the Apostle Paul. They're
Criticizing Paul and they are teaching that in order to actually be a Christian
You not only have to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, but you also have to keep the laws of Moses or the Mosaic law
they're trying to bring these New Testament Gentile Christians under the
Idea of Judaism and adding that to Christianity and of course
They're attacking the gospel the because they're teaching that you have to add the laws of Moses to salvation
So they're attacking salvation by grace through faith
They're attacking the Apostle Paul and and these are the themes that we're dealing with in this book
And that's why Paul has been coming
That's why he wrote the book of Galatians is to correct some of these problems and he's been coming at them kind of hard
and the reason I bring that up is because you need to understand the context of the verses we're going to look at and that
Is the context in which we find ourselves Paul spent some theological verses verses 1 through 7
Trying to correct them and he's going to use in the next portion some theological verses to continue to correct them
but he takes a break in verses 8 through 20 from his logic and intellect from the
Theology that he's expounding and he really just speaks to them from his heart in these verses and we see Paul's heart
Towards these people that he cares about as he is correcting them
So let's begin here with Paul's doubt
Of the Galatians and I want you to notice there in verse 8 that Paul thought that they were saved and notice
He speaks about them before they were saved or before their salvation Galatians chapter 4 in verse 8
He says this how be it then when he knew not God and this is a reference to them not being saved
When he knew not God you did service unto them which by nature are no gods
And what he's talking about is the fact that the Galatians being Gentiles before they were saved
They were worshiping idols and he's bringing this up and saying when ye knew not God
Ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods
And of course you'll notice the capital G there on how be it then when you knew not God
That's the true God the God of the Bible
He says which he did service unto them which by nature are no and then of course you notice the lowercase G
gods these would be
Idol worship or those that are not truly
deity and and and it might even be referencing of course devils and demons and he's
Bringing up the fact that before they got saved they were worshiping that which by nature are no gods
He said you were worshiping idols, which are not God now actually brought this up last week, but we're here in this text
So I want you to just see it again
He brings up their idol worship and then in verse 9 he says this but now
After that you have known God or rather are known of God now, we're gonna come back to that phrase
Here in a minute, but I just want you to notice the the the point that he's making he he says
How be it then when you knew not God verse 8 referring to before they were saved
He says but now after they have known God or rather known of God saying now that you are saved
He says how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly
Elements where unto ye desire again to be in bondage
So he says now that you know, God you are turning again to the weak and beggarly
Elements he said you are turning to some elements
You remember last week we talked about the fact that that word element is a reference to a portion or a piece
It is a part of something and he says you are holding on to a portion of
Something that is weak and beggarly now we I spent the entire sermon last week on this
I'm not gonna spend a lot of time on it proving it to you tonight
You can go back and listen last week's sermon if you need to but we learned that what he's referring to is the Old
Testament law the Old Covenant and he's saying look the Old Covenant was weak and was a week and beggarly element
He says the Old Covenant was simply a portion or a piece or a part of a bigger thing
He said the Old Covenant was never meant to be the full thing or the full picture
He said it was a shadow or a figure of better things to come now
What's interesting and I say again we preached on that last week
But what's interesting and I pointed this out last week as well. Is that he is
Equating they the fact that before they were saved they were worshiping idols to now that they're saved going back
to the Old Testament
Mosaic laws, he's equating those as
Almost the same thing. He says look how be it then when he knew not God you did service unto them
Which by nature are no gods he says but now after that you have known God or rather are known of God
How turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements where unto you desire again to be in bondage?
And of course the bond is there it's not being brought under the bondage of the law
So it's interesting to me that he brings up
Them going back to the Old Testament mosaic law and he's equating it to how before they were saved when they were worshiping idols
And again, I won't spend a lot of time on it
But I'll just bring it up to answer the question because I think it's something that if you think about it
You might be confused by it
but the reason that he brings that up is this because the
Mosaic law like we've already said like I preached about last week the Old Testament law was a component
It was a part of something much bigger. It was not meant to be the thing
It was not ever meant to be the thing that would bring us salvation
It was only something that would prepare us
it was our schoolmaster if you will to bring us to Christ and what the reason he compares that to
Them which by nature are no gods is because for the Gentiles in the same way
God revealed himself through creation God revealed himself through conscience
God revealed himself through nature and that is why every single
Society and every single group of people that has ever existed on this earth have always believed in some sort of a deity or some
Sort of a God they by nature human beings are not atheists
They only become atheists when they go to some sort of higher education and get brainwashed to believe that garbage by nature
God put it in us that there is something
bigger and better and greater and something that created all of us but that conscience and that
Creation being the thing that puts in us by nature. We know that there is a God that's only a part
That's only an element
That won't get you the whole way
That might get you to believe in in a God or in lowercase G God
But you not only need the revelation of God through creation
You also need the revelation of God through the Word of God
Because it is the Word of God that brings faith by the Bible says that
Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God
It is the Word of God that reveals the name which is above every name the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
So he's comparing those for a reason because he says you were holding on to something that was only partial
Creation taught you that there was a God but you needed the other part
You needed the rest of the story and he says in the same way now
You're going back to the Mosaic law, which has only given you a figure or a shadow of the greater thing
Which was the Lord Jesus Christ?
and again
It's just and I only bring that up or make a big deal about because I want you to understand why it is that he's making
Those equations the why he's saying that the weak and beggarly elements are being come of that which is bondage
Which is the Old Testament law and comparing it to?
That which by nature are no God. So that's the the the theological reason why he brings it up
Let me give you just real quickly kind of an application there in verse 9
He says this but now because remember in verse 8 he talked about back when you were not saved
But in verse 9 he says after you want God save he says but now and I love how the Apostle Paul
words this and it's interesting to me because the way he words it kind of causes you to pause and
To take a look at it. He says but now after that ye have known God
He says but now
after that you have known God and then it's like the Apostle Paul stops and kind of thinks about what he just said and he
Kind of corrects himself he says but now after that you have known God and then he pauses and says or let me say it
This way rather are known of God
And you say why is it that Paul?
Stops himself when he says but now that you're known of God and then he kind of pauses and makes a correction
He says or rather are known of God you say why does he do that?
Well, he does that because of the fact that salvation is not us knowing God but salvation is us being known of God
It's us being known by God
Keep your place on Galatians 4 go to Matthew chapter 7 just real quickly first book in the New Testament
Should be fairly easy to find Matthew chapter 7
Now, let me answer this as well
Because we obviously are King James only around here
We believe the King James Bible is God's inspired preserved inerrant word of God and
Someone might look at this and say well, it looks like the apostle Paul kind of made a mistake here
He started to say one thing and meant to say another thing. Why didn't he just cross this out? Why is it still there?
Why why is is this sort of like he makes a statement and then he kind of corrects the statement?
He says but now after that you have known God or rather are known of God
Let me just say this it's not it's not like it's a huge mistake
Obviously even if you want to I don't know that we should even call it a mistake
but the the reason that I believe
That the the Holy Spirit allowed Paul and I would say even directed Paul to say the words after that
You have known God comma or rather are known of God is for the same reason. We're talking about it right now
It's to highlight something for us. I said necessarily wrong to say are known after that you have known God
Well, here's the thing to be known of God. You kind of have to know who God is, right?
But without faith that is impossible to please him for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is
The rewarder of them that diligently seek him
So it's not necessarily wrong to say that you have been known of God
But Paul wants to put the emphasis in the right place and he kind of pauses and stops and corrects himself
So that we the reader would stop and think why did he just say that? Why did he just make that point?
Why did he take the time to say but now after that you have known of God?
No, let me say it this way or rather are known of God. Why would he do that?
I believe he did that to highlight it. So that two thousand years later on a Wednesday night
I would pick it out and bring it up to you
To show us that he's saying look I want to clarify I want to be clear
Salvation is being known of God. He have known God, but he said really it's that you are known of God
You say I think you're making a big deal about this. We'll go to Matthew chapter 7
Look at verse 22
Matthew chapter 7 verse 22 in Matthew 7 22. We have the Lord Jesus Christ speaking. The words are in red, of course
It's the mouth the words coming out of the mouth of the Lord
And here's what he said about the day of judgment Matthew 7 22
He said many will say to me in that day Lord Lord
Have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils and in thy name done many wonderful
Notice this word works
Jesus prophesied that on day of judgment
There will be many people who will stand in front of them and they will begin to list off all their good works
He said many will say to me in that day Lord Lord
These are the reasons they're saying why they should be allowed to go to heaven and why they should not be sent to hell
Why should you not be sent to hell according to these people?
their answer is because we have we not prophesied in thy name in
Thy name have cast out devils and in thy name done many wonderful works
Now it sounds like these are like good people
Religious people. I mean, obviously they're they're they're not saved. We know that
But it's they're not like axe murderers. I
Mean, they they're saying look we spent our life prophesying in thy name casting out devils and and and doing many wonderful works
But notice the answer verse 23 and then I will profess unto them. I
Never knew you. I
Never knew you depart from me he that were iniquity see the truth is this
Salvation is not necessarily. Do you know God salvation is being known by God?
The question is not do you know God the question is does God know you?
Because you can say well, I'm religious I go to church I
Engage in religious activity, but if he says I never knew you
Sorry, I don't know you I know you but but I don't know you and this is why Paul says but now after they have known
God or rather are known of God
This is why I always make the joke and and it's not a big deal and it's a little bit of just semantics
But I think it's interesting because we as human beings always want to turn things around and make things the wrong way
we like to say religious people like to say oh everything changed when I found Jesus and
Whenever people say that to me, I always chuckle in my mind and think to myself. I didn't know Jesus was lost
Because the truth is and isn't it funny that what the Bible teaches is that Jesus came to seek and to say that which was lost
It's funny how we always like to turn things around. I found Jesus as if he was lost actually. No, he found me
It doesn't matter if you know God does God know you
Because what we need to understand is this and we'll get to it later in our text
In fact, you can go back to Galatians chapter 4 if you would but here's what we need to understand
Salvation is being known by God
Discipleship is knowing God and evangelism is making God known
The reason that Paul
Makes this big deal about it is because today people want to teach that if you want to go to heaven you better know God
You better get close to God. You better understand God
You better read the Bible and you better get do the things that God wants you to do and look God
Wants you to get to know him after salvation
But before salvation, it does not matter how religious you are. It does not matter how many church services you go to
It doesn't matter how many times you get baptized or how many times you read the Bible. It does not matter how religious you are
Lord have we not prophesied in thy name and thy name have cast out devils and then I named on many wonderful works
And it does not matter if he never knew you
So today people want to emphasize well we need to get to know God and that's salvation and look I'm all about getting to
Know God, but before you get to know God, how about being known by God known of God?
Let's make sure that he doesn't say I never knew you
But then he says you're one of mine
So Paul kind of makes this little play on words here just to bring our attention
He says but now after that ye have known God or rather. Let me correct it. Let me clarify our known of God
He says how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements weren't he desire again to be in bondage
Why don't you notice that?
Paul is is is referring here to the fact that he thought that they were saved
He makes comments regarding what he thought before they were saved how they were worshiping that which by nature are no gods
And now after salvation he says but now I believe that ye are known of God or rather are known of God
But then I want you to notice that Paul also now doubt their salvation
notice verse 10
Well, actually look at verse 9 just just to get the context but now after that you have known God or rather known of God
He said how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements where until ye desire again to be in bondage
You say well, how do you know that's referring to the Old Testament Mosaic law?
Well, here's how we know because in verse 10 he says he just got done saying
How turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements where until ye desire again to be in bondage and then in verse 10
Which is in the context he says here's how you're getting yourself back into bondage ye observe days and months and times
and years
What is that a reference to that is a reference to the Old Testament?
Ordinances of the Mosaic law and
Look we as New Testament Christians no longer keep the Old Testament ordinances should not keep the Old Testament ordinances of the
Mosaic law let's run some verses just to look at this go to Colossians chapter number two
Colossians chapter 2 you're there in Galatians
You'll go past Ephesians Philippians into the book of Colossians Colossians chapter 2 Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians Colossians chapter 2 look at verse 14
Colossians 2 14 notice the Bible says blotting out the handwriting of ordinances
It's interesting and it's important for you to note that it says ordinances here because today
there are those who teach that when Jesus came he got rid of the entire law all the law and
That statement is not necessarily wrong
It depends what you mean by the law
Because what Jesus got rid of was the Mosaic law
Referring to the Old Testament covenant that God made with the children of Israel
But the laws that were just like the criminal
moral laws
He didn't really change his mind on that
He didn't he didn't repeal thou shalt not steal
Thou shalt not bear false witness thou shalt not commit adultery though. Those are still
Inact and in play you say well, what did what did he remove? He removed the Old Testament religious
ceremonial
Ordinances the context of a temple and a priesthood and the things that go along with that
That is what the word ordinances and ordinance is something that is done religiously
ritually symbolically
Notice Colossians 2 14 blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us
Now people say well, why did why were the ordinances against us?
Because remember we talked about it last week
The New Testament is a more intimate covenant in the Old Testament. God was the father of a nation in the New Testament
God is my
Personal father I can go to God through prayer and say our father we can say our father which art in heaven
In the Old Testament, they had a temple in the New Testament. I am a temple in the Old Testament
They had a priesthood in the New Testament. I am a priest
So the ordinances were against us keeping us at a distance from God
But in the Bible says blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us
Which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nailing it to his cross
that's why I always think it's interesting people say, you know, Jesus said on the cross it is finished and
People like to just make up stuff, you know
What was finished and they just make up all sorts of things what what was finished and the most I?
Would say maybe the most famous thing people like to say that Jesus said regarding it is finished is
The fact that I say well the work that needs to be done for salvation
It was finished the problem with that. Is that salvation is believing on the death burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ
And
At the cross when he said it is finished. She still had not been buried and he definitely had not yet resurrected
And the Bible says that we must confess with our mouths and believe in our heart that God hath raised them from the dead
So it is finished cannot be referring to the work needed for salvation
Because it was certainly not finished if that's what you're referring to
The thing is you don't have any context to say what he was talking about because he simply said it is finished
But when you look at the Bible and you study what the Bible tells us about what was actually finished on the cross
Here is something that you could probably actually look at and say this might have been what Jesus was talking about
blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was
Against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nailing it to his cross
Doesn't it make sense that Jesus would say right before he died it is finished
You say what finished the Old Testament
The Old Covenant you say I don't know. I think you're kind of you're kind of
You know, maybe maybe
Stretching that a little bit. Okay. How about this? He said it is finished
he gave up the ghost and then the the the the
separation between the Holy of Holies and the Holy of rent
The curtain that separated man the priest from being able to access the Holy of Holies in the temple
rent
It was divine vandalism
So, I don't know. I just think that when he said it is finished. He was just talking about the Mosaic law. It's done
It is finished the blotting out of the hand writing of ordinances that was against us
Which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nailing to his cross
And if you don't like my interpretation, that's fine. You don't have to argue
We don't have to argue about it. But let me just say this. I got a verse to you
Verse 15 having spoiled principalities and powers. He made a show of them openly triumphing over them in it
Now that is the context that had nothing to do with the sermon. That was all for free. I
Just brought all that up to give you the context because that is the context of verse 16
He says let no man therefore judge you in meats
the word meats referring to food
The biblical word meat means food
we usually think of meat as flesh but the Bible use the word flesh for that let no man therefore judge you in me or
Drinks or in respect of an holy day or of a new moon or of the Sabbath days
What is this referring to it is the ordinances that were being kept as part of the Old Testament covenant
That God made at Mount Sinai with the children of Israel
Go to Hebrews chapter 9 you're there in Colossians
If you just flip over past 1st 2nd Thessalonians, 1st 2nd Timothy of Titus
Then you have Philemon and then you have the book of Hebrews
So skip the t-books 1st 2nd Thessalonians, 1st 2nd Timothy of Titus
And then you'll have the book of Philemon, which is a small book and then the book of Hebrews Hebrews chapter 9
Look at verse 10 Hebrews chapter 9 and verse 10 notice what the Bible says which stood only in meats and drinks
and diverse washings notice it and carnal ordinances
Colossians 2 14 said blotting out the handwriting of the ordinances that was against us
here which only
Which stood only referring to the old covenant in meats and drinks and divers washings and Cardinal ordinances
imposed on them notice until the time of
Reformation so we see that we are not to keep those Old Testament
Ordinances now what there are certain things that have been repealed
From the Old Testament to the New Testament and all of them have to do with the priesthood
The temple the priests and all the things associated all the rituals the meat the drinks the divers washing the Cardinal ordinances
All of that has been done away. So let me just give you some applications. We do not as a New Testament believers
We're not supposed to keep the dietary restrictions of the Old Testament
You can eat pork
You can eat shellfish you can eat I don't know a rabbit I don't know whatever you want you can eat it
But here's what's interesting. Is that people today still there are groups of people that still follow the dietary restrictions
Obviously the Judaizers Judaism the Jews, but it's not just the Jews so-called and I use the the term so-called
Purposefully so-called Christians also keep the dietary restrictions like the seventh the seventh-day Venice
They keep the dietary restrictions obviously the Hebrew roots movement
Keeps the dietary restrictions Mormons now, they don't keep the Old Testament dietary restrictions. They just came up with their own weird restrictions
But you know the Mormons don't drink coffee or whatever don't drink coca-cola, which I think is a sin
Don't you know they they they they have these dietary restrictions
That they keep and impose. How about this the Catholics?
I mean the cocks have a 40-day period
Called Lent where they don't eat certain things or whatever. I thought Lent was something you pull out of your belly button, but I don't know
They they but they have these restrictions
and you know the Bible says be careful about Bible calls anyone that tries to restrict what you eat as
As doctrines of devils and of course we're talking about religiously here. Okay, not not like a diet. Okay, some of you are like praise the Lord
We're not supposed to keep Old Testament holidays
We're not supposed to keep the Sabbath day again Judaism seventh-day Adventist Hebrew roots women
There's Baptist thing that that keep the Sabbath day as the holy day and look
These are things that we are not supposed to observe you observe days and months and times and years
He says let no man therefore judge you and meet on drinks on respect of an holy day or of a new moon or of
the Sabbath days he says these are things that were done until the time of
Reformation so they were keeping those Old Testament ordinances
obviously
They're being influenced by the Judaizers and then I want you to notice go back to
Galatians chapter 4 in verse 11 as a result of that. He says I am afraid of you. I
Am afraid of you
And of course the Apostle Paul is using that term a little differently than the way we would use it today today
What we would probably say is I am afraid for you
Or I'm oh you're making me afraid I'm afraid of what's gonna happen to you
He says I am afraid of you
He says lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain
What is it that the Apostle Paul is afraid of he is afraid that they're not actually saved
He's doubting their salvation
Look at look skip down just real quickly to verse 20 just to show you
The same thing in a different verse
Galatians 4 20 I
Desired to be present with you now and to change my voice
Notice what he says he says for I stand in doubt of you
He said I am afraid of you in verse 11. He said I stand in doubt of you in verse 20 now
Here's what's interesting to me. Is that here we have the Apostle Paul
Arguably the greatest Christian who ever lived under the Lord Jesus Christ
Definitely the greatest evangelist preacher pastor whatever, you know church planner
Wrote most of the New Testament or major part of the New Testament
I mean one of the greatest Christians who's ever lived and we see him doubting
somebody's salvation but notice
That when he doubts their salvation, it's different than when most people today doubt somebody's salvation
I
Because I want you to notice that Paul doubted their salvation because of what they were believing or what they were now believing
Today most people doubt people's salvation because of their lifestyle
and I want you to notice that those those are not that is a that is an incorrect way of
understanding salvation if
Somebody has a clear testimony of salvation
They leave our church and let's say they leave it they start committing. They start living a really wicked lifestyle. They they start
You know drinking and smoking and doing drugs and and fornicating or whatever. They're just living a really bad lifestyle
You know, my mind's never gonna say like oh man. I'm not even sure if they're saved
That's what most people think
But that's wrong
and if that's what you think, you know
You had to ask yourself. Why do you think that because that might reveal something about what you think about salvation
And you can say like well, I just don't think that anybody could be saved and live such a bad lifestyle
Okay, how about lot in the Bible?
It was literally it's probably one of the worst characters in the entire Bible
and if you and I read the story of lot in the book in the in the in the book of Genesis and
That's all we had. We would all think that law was a reprobate. That's what we would think
So, why don't we think that because the New Testament tells us that he had a righteous soul
That he vexes righteous soul
So obviously look save people if they do wrong
They have if they're if they're actually saved they have a Heavenly Father's gonna chastise them that's gonna punish them
We understand all that but look you we should not look at people's
Lifestyles and then say well, I think they are saved or they're not saved
Obviously
Unless they're doing something that actually is reprobate
like an unnatural sin
That should not be you you say you then when when would you doubt somebody, you know?
Here's the point if somebody leaves this church and lives a wicked lifestyle
I'm not gonna necessarily doubt their salvation, but if somebody leaves this church and because of Mormon
You see what I'm saying?
You're like but but they're living a great life. I mean, they're not doing anything, but they're not even drinking coca-cola
Yeah
But I would doubt their salvation because they've changed what they believe
Do you understand the difference and that's what Paul Paul saying like hey you guys are changing what you believe
He said I'm afraid of you. He said I send him down of you. Now. Here's the interesting thing Galatians a very negative book
Paul had a positive book called Philippians from that one
Philippians he's just like rejoicing the Lord. He's like you guys are great. You guys are awesome Galatians negative book
Here's another negative book first and second Corinthians
Very negative books, but they're negative for two different reasons
Galatians is negative because he's correcting
Theological doctrinal beliefs that they're wrong on
Corinthians is negative because they're living bad lifestyles. They're allowing fornication and sin in the church. They're just not very good Christian
Here's what's interesting never in first and second Corinthians does he say I don't even know if you guys are saved. I
Mean they got fornication and drunkenness and all sorts of sin of being allowed in the church never says that Galatians
They've got bad Judaism doctrine. He's like, I'm starting to wonder if you're even saved
So that should teach us something about doubting some of you
So I should look if somebody leaves this church and and becomes a Hindu or a Catholic. Yeah, I'm gonna wonder like were they even saved
But if somebody leaves and they're just in drunkenness or whatever. Yeah, you know, maybe they were saved
maybe they weren't saved but that should not really cause us to doubt somebody's salvation because the truth is that
Christians can get backslidden and they can live in sin
but here Paul is saying I'm doubting your salvation based off what you believe and
Since salvation is what you believe that makes perfect sense
so we have Paul's doubts for the Galatians and
Then in verses 12 through 20, we have Paul's hope for the Galatians
Why don't you notice first of all Paul's strong leadership verse 12 brethren I beseech you be as I am
He says be as I am for I am as he are you have not injured me at all
Now the reason that he says you have not injured me at all is because Paul is defending the fact he's trying to explain to them
I'm not rebuking you because I'm offended
He said you didn't offend me
because oftentimes when when Paul
is
writing a letter that's that's very harsh or hostile or rebuking or when a pastor
Preaches maybe something that rubs you the wrong way or you don't like people
sometimes they like to just kind of like think oh, well, he must just be mad at me and
Paul is saying like I'm not mad at you
He said you've not injured me at all
He said I actually care about you. And what we see here is a strong leadership
He says I beseech you he says be as I am
Be as I am that's Paul's strong leadership and there's something that's common in
The epistles of Paul go to first Corinthians if you would first Corinthians chapter 4 you go backwards
You have Galatians then second Corinthians and first Corinthians first Corinthians chapter 4 and look for any for all of us
Who are in any sort of leadership position? This should be humbling for us
Think about yourself as a leader
And I don't care what leadership position you are if it's a husband with a wife or a wife with children or at work or
As a pastor, can you as a leader say this to your followers be as I am?
Be as I am
Because you know a lot of leaders what they like to say is do what I say, but not what I do
But Paul didn't say do what I said and not what I do
He said do what I said and do what I do
He said be as I am
That's strong leadership first Corinthians 4 16 wherefore notice what he says to the Corinthians
Wherefore I beseech you be ye followers of me
Notice first Corinthians 11 in verse 1 first Corinthians 11 verse 1 he says be followers of me
Even as I also am of Christ
And look there is a place for human leadership
Obviously, we should all be following Christ, but it's okay
Like Paul says to follow a human leader be followers as me even as I am as I also am of Christ
in
Philippians
3 17 you can go there if you like you learn first grantees or if you got your place in Galatians after Galatians you have
Ephesians and Philippians Philippians 3 17 brethren be followers together of me and mark them which walk
So as ye have us for and and sample
It's a powerful statement for a leader to say be as I am and look this should be our goal in life
Our goal is leaders our goal
It's always interesting to me that people who are weak leaders or our novice to leadership
They always want to put a bunch of burdens on their followers
And they want to put burdens on their followers that they themselves have not done or have not met
Look, this is not right. We as leaders should always be able to say be as I am
Do what I'm doing. I lead by example
Be as I am it reminds me of Gideon you don't have to turn there
But in Gideon and judges chapter 7 in life of Gideon the Bible says this and I just love it regarding leadership
judges 716
He says this and he divided 300 men into three companies and he put a trumpet in every man's hand
With empty pictures and lamps within the pictures and he said unto them
Look on me and do likewise and behold when I come to the outside of camp
It shall be that as I do so shall ye do and that's good leadership
when a father can say to his sons as I do so shall ye do look on me and do likewise when a pastor can say
To his people be as I am when a mother can say to her children do what I'm doing
But would we have the guts to say that to our followers or would we be embarrassed? Don't do what I do
See when you tell your kids be as I am mom
When you tell your kids be as I am dad, then you you better be a good example
And we see Paul's strong leadership here
And he's he cares for these people
He just got done saying like I'm not even sure if you're safe based off the things you're saying to me
But he says you know what I beseech you be as I am
Prime as he are you've not injured me at all
Then he says in verse 13
He begins to remind them of their prior love for him
See the Galatian churches really loved Paul. He went there and got them saved. He discipled them
Notice what he says. He says ye know how through infirmity of the flesh. I
Preached the gospel unto you at the first he says, you know that when I came and preached the gospel to you
He said I was very sick through infirmity of the flesh. He said I was sick
Physically, but I came and I preached the gospel unto you at the first and my temptation which was in my flesh
Ye despised not nor rejected but received me as an angel of God even as Christ Jesus
He said even though I showed up and I wasn't the best and I wasn't feeling the greatest and I had this infirmity of flesh
He said you didn't despise me. You didn't reject me
He said you received me as an angel of God even as Christ Jesus received me as an ambassador
of the Lord Jesus Christ
Now they're rejecting Paul and they turned against them because the Judaizers have turned them against Paul, but Paul's reminding them
Hey, you used to love me
Notice verse 15, where is then the blessedness you speak up?
For I bear you record that if it had been possible
Ye would have plucked out your own eyes and have given them to me
Now, let me just quickly kind of go off on a little bit of a rabbit's road just for a second
but go to 2nd Corinthians chapter 12 and
and
Let me say this that the Apostle Paul and his writings wrote about this infirmity in the flesh that he had in
2nd Corinthians is called his thorn in the flesh and
Galatians seems to indicate because 2nd Corinthians doesn't really tell us what his thorn in the flesh was
But Galatians seems to indicate that his thorn in the flesh was something to do with his eyes
2nd Corinthians 12 5 says this
This is Paul writing to the Corinthians 2nd Corinthians chapter 12 verse 5 of such and one will I glory yet of myself
I will not glory but in my infirmities for though I would
Desire to glory I shall not be a fool for I will say the truth
but now I forbear lest any man should think me above that which
He seemeth me to be or that he heareth of me notice verse 7 and lest I should be exalted above measure
Through the abundance of revelations there was given me a thorn in the flesh. That's the infirmity
He mentioned in verse 5. He says the messenger of Satan to buffet me lest I should be exalted above measure
He says I was I had this thorn in the flesh and then in Galatians chapter 4 go back to Galatians chapter 4 in
verse 13 he says you know how through infirmity of the flesh and
And again, we don't we're not told what it was
But it seems to indicate that it has something to do with his eyes because in verse 15
He says wherein then the blessedness you spake up for I bear you record that if I if it had been possible
You would have plucked out your own eyes and have given them to me
So he said what he's saying is you love me so much that if it was possible
You would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me. Why would he say that?
Obviously there must have been something wrong with his eyes and they loved him so much
That he said there was a time in
Our lie and in my ministry where you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me
But now your heart is far from me Paul is saying and he's bringing up the fact that they used to love him
Let me give you one other reference regarding his eyes go to Galatians chapter 6
look at verse 11
Galatians chapter 6 in verse 11. He says you see how large a letter
You
see how large a letter I've written unto you with mine own hand and
Here Paul is saying again bringing up. I believe his eyes
He says you have seen how large a letter and I don't know that this could be really
Regard he's not referencing the size of the book because book of Galatians only six chapters
There's other books. He wrote that were longer and larger than that
So it's not a reference to the the length of the book you say well what when he says you see how large a letter
Well, it's either a reference to the physical how large the letters physically are because he's writing this
We've seen in other epistles that he dictated but he said I've written unto you with my own hand
So he's either saying look I wrote this with my own hands. Why you're getting so big
Because he had bad eyesight
Or maybe he's just referring to the fact that he doesn't normally write
Even six chapters worth of something with his own hand because of his eyesight, but both are
Reference to his eyesight so we see that his throne of the flesh might have been something with his eyes
But again the point that is being brought up is that they used to love him
In fact, they loved him so much that if they had been possible
He says there in Galatians 4 go back to Galatians chapter 4 if you would if it had been possible
You would have plucked out your own eyes and I've given them to me
That's their prior love but now look at their current contempt verse 16
Am I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth and you know, it's sad
But oftentimes when you tell people the truth it makes them become your enemy
Proverbs 25 27 to 6 you have to turn there says this faithful are the wounds of a friend
the kisses of an enemy are deceitful and
You know when somebody is telling you something that is truthful and maybe it hurts you
You might want to instead of thinking well, they must they must hate me or they must be offended at me
He says you have not injured me Paul says
It might just be that they love you enough to tell you the truth
Pay for the wounds of friend, but I can understand Paul's
Heart here and I and I can understand cuz he's saying you used to love me. He said I got to say
He said I got you baptized. He said I discipled you
He said if it had been possible
You would have plucked out your own eyes and I've given them to me, but he said now things have changed
He says am I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth and I and I will tell you this in ministry
Over the last 12 years in ministry. My wife have learned this lesson
unfortunately more times than we'd like to admit the fact that you can just tell when people their hearts get hard when they get
Backslidden when they hear gossip maybe or they believe something that's not true and you can and you can tell when they kind of turn
from you
They start loving money. They start loving the world. They love start loving sin in the flesh
They they stop loving God and you can just tell and sometimes you want to look at something to say man
There was a time when you you would have done anything for this church
But am I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth
And you know, you should guard from them
You should guard
Never be one of these people that that gets up, you know, the Bible says great
Peace have they that love thy law. Nothing shall offend them
We should love the truth
You say what? What if the truth hurts?
You should love the truth. Hey, don't lie to yourself
Don't allow yourself to be lied to even if the truth makes you feel bad about yourself
Always embrace the truth and when somebody is standing up and telling you the truth, you gotta say that person loves me
I don't like it, but that person loves me
This is what our brother Oliver Deacon was preaching about on on Sunday night, but never be the person who can't take correction. I
Mean, I know a little bit about this because I've corrected a lot of people in my life
it's literally in my job description and
I've had a lot of experience where I brought a lot of people into my office. I brought man after man
I'm talking over the last 12 years man after man after man into my office and I'm usually
Extremely kind and extremely respectful and usually when I have to correct somebody I'm like hey, brother
I love you
I'm not against you but this is something I got to talk to you about and
XYZ and there have been men who you can nobody likes it, but there have been men who you can tell
They're just like oh man pastor. I'm sorry, you know, I didn't realize I did it and and and and and they and then there's other
managers like
And I think to myself wow, you're weak
Because that's weak
Not being able to receive correction and then I think myself you're not gonna last you very long
Because if you're not strong enough if you're not secure enough if you're not mature enough to receive correction
You will not last very long in an independent fundamental Baptist King James preaching the Word of God Church
And Paul looks at these people he said there was a time when you would have plucked out your own eyes and you had given
To the me them to me
But now you have turned on me am I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth
We see his
Strong leadership and then real quickly as we finish up. We'll see their weak leadership
notice verse 17
Paul's talking to the Galatians. He says they who's the they the Judaizers?
He says they zealously affect you but not well
He says they zealously affect you. He says look I'm telling you to be like me
I'm telling you you used to love me
You were right with God and you were right with me and he said we need to get back there
But he's telling them you are weak. You are a weak leader
Why because they have allowed someone to influence them who's not good for them. I
Want every teenager to listen to me very carefully
He's saying you are weak. You are weak. Look, please. I'm not trying to offend you kids you young people
I mean honestly everyone needs to listen to me, but some of you I've already lost you so it's whatever but you young people
Please listen to me. You are mentally weak when you are
Allow those to influence you and it's not good for you
They said look over 17 they zealously affect you but not well
He says they're influencing you they're affecting you. In fact, they're very zealous and their effect to you, but it's not well
He said it's not good
Yeah, they would exclude you that he might affect them
Do you see that?
You young people listen to me when there's a relationship and a friendship where one person just constantly
Influencing you to do they're there. They got a lot of influence on you. They've got a lot of
Influence in your life, but not well
They zealously affect you but not well
They zealously affect you but not well. Yeah, they would exclude you that he might affect them. You can't get them to do right
You try to get them to do right and they're like no. No, we don't want that
Do you understand what I just said?
Bad
Influences in a church like this young people who are saying hey watch this movie. I'm hiding it from my parents
Hey, watch this listen to this music. I'm hiding it from my pain. Hey, I'm drinking this
I shouldn't be drinking or smoking this. I shouldn't be smoking
They're influencing you and you just allow it into your heart. You're weak
And then you try to influence it. Hey, how about we don't talk about that? How about well, let's go soul-witting like I don't want that
You said what do you do with that? Look, I wish some of you young people would just grow a backbone and have some respect
for yourself
And just tell them look
I'm not I'm not your caddy
I'm not your butler
I'm not just gonna let you just run the show here
You're you're not gonna influence me to do that, which is wrong. They zealously affect you but not well notice verse 18
They were not only weak because they allow someone to influence them who was not good for them
But they were also weak because they could only do right when a strong leader was present
Look at verse 18, but it is good to be zealously affected
He says look there's nothing wrong with letting people influence you nothing wrong with that at all
It is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing
Don't allow people to influence you who make you worse
Don't allow people who to influence you who
Who are influencing you and that which is not well make sure they influence you in a good thing notice
Look at it young people look at it last part of verse 18 and not only when I'm present with you
He said look you're only strong when I'm around Paul says and
If you're only strong when the pastor's around when the pastor's wife's around when those tabs around
When mom's around or dad's around if you're only strong when somebody else is strong around you then you're not strong
You're weak
If you can only do right
When someone who's strong in leadership is around that's what he's saying
They zealously affect you, but not well
It is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing
But not only when I am present with you Paul says he says why don't you do right even when I'm not around?
Why don't you develop enough strain and character in your life to say no? I'm not gonna let you affect me
No, I know you're a loser. I don't want to listen to that. I don't want to hear that keep that to yourself
These elves they affect you but not well, yeah, they would exclude you but they might affect them
But it's good to be as I was the affected always in a good thing, but not only when I'm present with you
Let's finish this up. He says there in verse 19
My little children who might prevail in birth again
Until Christ be formed in you
Here we find the goal of the Christian life
What is the goal of Christian life look at it last verse 19 my little children of whom I travail in birth again
She says look I'm starting to doubt your salvation, but I thought I got you saved
He said my little children whom I travail in birth again
He says until Christ be formed in you you say what is the goal of the Christian life? It is that Christ be formed in you
For whom he did foreknow Romans 8 29
He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son that he might be the firstborn among many brother
What is the purpose of the Christian life after salvation?
Well salvation is this that we are known of God
But then discipleship is that we would know God why that we might have Christ be formed in us
We are trying to be formed to the image of Christ conformed to the image of his son
And then Paul says there in verse 20 I desire to be present with you now and to change my voice
For I stand in doubt of you
Paul says look, I'm rebuking you and I'm correcting you but it's not because I want to
Because I have to it's because I need to
He said I would like to change my voice
Then I'd like this. I'd like to write you a letter like I wrote the Philippians about how great they're doing
But he said I said in doubt of you
He says look our goal is to know God
To be known of God for salvation to know God for sanctification and then to make God known your soul
To be conformed to the image of his son
That you say until when how long we're gonna do this until Christ be formed in you
Every day every day trying to be more like Christ more like Christ until when until Christ be formed in you
That is the purpose of the Christian life, let's bow our heads in that word of prayer. Heavenly Father, Lord we love you
We thank you for your word and thank you for this passage of Scripture. Lord I pray that you would
Help us
Help us to know that salvation is being known of God
That he would know us that he would never say to us depart from me I never knew you
Sanctification is to know God
God is the goal to know him to walk with him
That I may know him in the power of the resurrection
And then Lord I pray you'd help us to realize that our goal is to make God known
Help us to make this these themes in our lives. We love you in the matchless name of Christ. We pray
Amen, we're never the Moses come up and lead us in a final song
Just want to remind you that if you'd like to sign up to either bring a side dish or a dessert for the 4th of July
Picnic, we've got the clipboards in the forest
So, please make sure you go by there and if there's anything we can do for you
Please let us know. We'll have brother Moses come up at this time
Please turn your song books page number 401
Page number 401
Sing set my soul fire
Page 4 0 1 and let's see it out on the first set my soul
For thy holy word
Burn it deep within me let your voice be heard
Billions broken
In this day
I will
Witness
My soul
Set my
Make my life
Darkness
Let's sing it out on the last set my soul
I've
Strive
And my soul
I
Make my life
For thy word
Our Lord
Great singing can I please sad for the RJ closes an order prayer?
You