Galatians

Jesus' coming on a donkey symbolized humility and peace. It's not necessarily what the people expected but it is what they needed! How can we follow His example?

The entire letter to the Galatians has been a reminder, again and again, that there is only one way to build toward an eternal future, and that is to place your investment into eternal hands. Those are the hands of Jesus. We cannot live a life of sin, which is by default an investment into sin, and pay lip service to Christ and expect to live in the blessing of God today and for eternity. Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 

I cannot tell you how many times I have known pastors, elders, and other well-meaning people in their churches brought down by the very thing they are trying to step in and prevent in the life of another person. I have known people to get into affairs with the people they were trying to council out of having an affair. I have known people sucked into crippling gambling addictions who were introduced to the world of gambling when they reached out to help someone caught up in gambling. The same goes for pornography, financial schemes, and other places where the person was never tempted to sin in that particular area until they got involved to help someone struggling. Why does this happen? How can we prevent this from happening. Galatians 6:1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 

In order to do God's will, we cannot rely on ourselves. Thus, Paul tells us to walk by the Spirit! But what does he mean with that? How can we walk by the Spirit?  Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

Today we are looking at some things which can cut in on you and keep you from obeying the truth  as you run the race of faith. And, like yeast that works its way through the whole of the dough, these things are all related to one another to make up the impossibly inedible loaf of salvation through our own works and self-righteousness. Galatians 5:7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?e more?

Discipleship is a core aspect of discipleship. A common danger in that journey is that believers start turning back to the earthly principles. How does the fact that God knows them save them from that danger?A lot of what it means to be happy, to be content – not complacent – but content, to have joy take place within our hearts and minds. To be sure, our physical situation affects how we feel about love, faith, hope and joy, which is why the Bible says if you are a slave and can gain physical freedom you should do so – but the physical is also temporary and that which is temporary is not a place to put eternal hope. Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.