Galatians 4:8-20

Introduction

Who am I?

Swapping with Pastor Tony (Kingdom Picture)

In prep this week….

Because I am not your pastor…

The heart of a preacher… A. We give a message or instruction B. We see the excitement C. Sometimes immediate heart change…. D. Then far to often you go back to living as you once did. E. Somehow the preacher is often to blame…

When our faith goes only as far as never being challenged… we are missing it.

Paul is writing to an audience that he cares for deeply.

It breaks his heart to see them turn away from the Lord.

Big idea: You have been set free.. so why would you walk in bondage.

Read and Pray

The Theology

Galatians 4:8–11 ESV

Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? You observe days and months and seasons and years! I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.

Your Transformation:

1) You did not know God

A. Hardened hearts.

B. Living outside Gods will

2) But now you do…

A. Your hearts have been redeemed

B. You have been made Righteous

C. You have the Holy Spirit.

3) So why why would you live like you once did? (Weak, Worthless, Elementary)

Letter Jacket

Why would a slave choose to be enslaved again? (You have been released from bondage)

Contextually being bound by the Law.

Why do people turn back: 1) We are not walking with the Lord 2) We have limits to what we will do for God. 3) We are concerned with our own will for our life rather than Gods. 4) The Gospel never took root in our hearts.

Their backstory is interesting…

What does turning back look like in your life:

Living in Sin

Legalism

Reliance on the self.

The Backstory

Galatians 4:12–15 ESV

Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong. You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me.

when you heard the gospel you recieved it fully…

Bodily ailment background (Stoning in Acts 14)

Paul came in weakness…

They heard the Gospel displayed through his weakness.

You totally got it…

You would have done anything for me…

You would have done anything for the preacher…

Gouge your eyes out.

Do you remember? How confident you were in what you believed?

Think back to the zeal you had at your own conversion…

Are you as quick now to submit yourself to the Lord?

Your condition before the Lord is the same…

Jesus made your righteous then and now…

The Heart

Galatians 4:16–20 ESV

Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

But Now…

You treat me like an enemy…

The Situation: 1) Making more of right living than living by faith.…

2) submitting yourself to something other than the word of God

3) What are you anchored to?

The Preacher brings truth:

The Word of God (Scripture)

Instruction

Shepherding

What does it benefit us to do this?

Without calling… nothing could sustain us.

Truth is easy to receive when it benefits you…

We so easily deny it when it doesn’t.

This Breaks Pauls heart…

In the last few years I have experienced this more than ever: 1) Walking with friends through church hurt… 2) Hard pastoral care cases. 3) Many that wont even talk to you about it…

Closing Application:

Have you anchored yourself firmly to the Lord?

1) Personal 2) Situational 3) emotional