GALATIANS 5:1 | HOLD YOUR GROUND
Kyle Gilstrap
Galatians : No Turning Back • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 42:54
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INTRO
INTRO
ILLUSTRATION: Have you ever played tug o war?
ILLUSTRATION: Have you ever played tug o war?
At the camp I grew up going to, it was a staple each week.
One of the nights, there would be a rough and tough night with some rough and tough games.
One of those games was tug-o-war.
They would pull out a 50 or 60 foot rope and we would have cabins of kids go against other cabins.
At the end of the night, it would climax with the counselor competition.
You would have all the guy counselors from one team against all the guy counselors from the other
And then the girls would go.
One year, someone got the idea that they should have all of the girl counselor against all of the guy counselors.
Now normally the guys would have won hands down, but that year there were almost twice as many girl counselors as there were guy counselors.
But we still thought we would win, because the anchor on our side was Big Ray.
Big Ray was around 6’ 4” and well over 300 pounds of pure farm boy muscle.
I remember watching Ray wrap that rope around his waist and turn the opposite direction in anticipation of the whistle.
And when that whistle sounded, the unthinkable happened.
It wasn’t even close… Ray dug his feet into the ground and all of the guys pulled with all there might… and every one of the guys got pulled forward onto the ground.
The girls ran away with competition literally.
The last thing I remember seeing was Big Ray being drug across the ground by a team of cruel girl counselors!
EXPLANATION: Paul has just finished walking through a historical, then allegorical, and ultimately personal example of what it was to be in bondage rather than living in the freedom of Christ.
EXPLANATION: Paul has just finished walking through a historical, then allegorical, and ultimately personal example of what it was to be in bondage rather than living in the freedom of Christ.
And as we come to chapter 5, v.1 has a word that ties us back to what he just said.
In fact, it wasn’t until 1551, that chapter and verse break downs were first added, and while they are certainly a blessing to make sure we are on the same page, literally.
There are a few occasions that I’m convinced the chapter break was in the wrong spot.
This is important because as you read the Bible, you can think that a thought has reached it’s conclusion at the end of one chapter, when in reality it continues on into the next.
Such was the case here in 5:1.
Paul uses the were “therefore”
Anytime you see the word “therefore” in the Bible it’s good to ask the question, what is it “there for”
In this case it is tying what Paul has just discussed in chapter 4 to what he is going to say in 5:1
You see the people Paul was writing to were dealing with the struggle of those who were bringing the temptation of their old life and old ways back into the lives of these new believers.
They were trying to get them to slip up and to compromise on their beliefs and biblical positions.
I guess we could say, they were trying to cause them to loose their ground.
APPLICATION: Friend, not much has changed since Paul wrote those words here in Galatians.
APPLICATION: Friend, not much has changed since Paul wrote those words here in Galatians.
The world would like nothing more than to see you give up ground.
There is a constant pulling against believers to just turn back from following Christ and give in to the flesh.
The world constantly bombards those who call themselves “Christian” with opposition.
Whether you are at work or at the grocery store, it seems like the social and political agendas of a work anti-christ culture are constantly trying to get at you.
And unfortunately, I have seen more than a few Christians who once stood faithfully for the truth, but today are no longer standing.
I have watched as friends, even some in ministry, who once stood boldly for Christ, but there lives and their families have been chewed up and spit out by this world.
It was just like Big Ray getting drug across the ground… it was an ugly site, and you are left wondering, how did that happen?
This morning, I want to challenge each follower of Christ here this morning to HOLD YOUR GROUND!
Don’t become a statistic.
Don’t become a sermon illustration.
Don’t be the person or the family that is in church this Sunday but in a month or a year from now you’ve dropped off the face of the earth!
Hold you ground!
This morning, I want to take a few minutes to look at this challenge from the Apostle Paul here in Galatians, and I want us to see how you can hold your ground this morning.
V.1a, STAND FAST
V.1a, STAND FAST
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
EXPLANATION: Paul challenges these young believers with two words at the beginning of v.1… “Stand fast”
EXPLANATION: Paul challenges these young believers with two words at the beginning of v.1… “Stand fast”
The words literally give the idea of holding your ground!
ILLUSTRATION: Tressa looking at the window at the trampoline being picked up by a whirlwind with the kids on it.
ILLUSTRATION: Tressa looking at the window at the trampoline being picked up by a whirlwind with the kids on it.
You would think I would have learned, but I didn’t.
It was like a month later that the trampoline was caught by the wind, blown across the yard, and bent over a metal fence.
Why? Because it wasn’t staked into the ground.
We recently got a new trampoline, and one of the first things that I did… I staked it into the ground.
APPLICATION: Christian, if you are going to stand fast, you better be secured!
APPLICATION: Christian, if you are going to stand fast, you better be secured!
You better staked down.
EXPLANATION: But don’t miss this… it is vital to stand fast in the right thing!
EXPLANATION: But don’t miss this… it is vital to stand fast in the right thing!
Look at what Paul says to stand fast in… “the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free.”
Don’t forget what Paul had been talking about in the previous chapter.
Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
He says, you were ensnared, enslaved!
But when you accepted Christ as your Savior, you were freed from those old things!
You don’t have to be in bondage to them anymore!
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
You’ve been liberated by the grace of Christ… now stand in that liberty!
APPLICATION: We have a lot of Christians that are passionate to stand…
APPLICATION: We have a lot of Christians that are passionate to stand…
They are passionate to stand when it comes to politics
They are passionate to stand when it comes to their children’s athletics
They are passionate to stand for the freedom to hunt where we want to hunt.
And listen, it’s not bad to stand for things as long as it doesn’t go against God’s Word.
But here is the thing, you are willing to stand for all those things, but you are silent when it comes to standing for Christ!
Standing up and proclaiming about the liberty that you are able to enjoy in Christ because you have been saved!
When it comes to that, you fall silent.
One of the sad realities of our day it was have Christians who are champions of conservatism… but they are cowards of Christ!
ILLUSTRATION: Friend, there have been millions upon millions of Christians who have lived through the centuries, but the reality is, many of them we know nothing about.
ILLUSTRATION: Friend, there have been millions upon millions of Christians who have lived through the centuries, but the reality is, many of them we know nothing about.
Do you want to know who we do know about… the ones who stood for Christ!
I was reading yesterday of accounts of people down through history who boldly stood for Christ, and paid the ultimate price for Him!
APPLICATION: Friend, we live in a time where standing for Christ and the Gospel costs you virtually nothing… and yet we refuse to stand.
APPLICATION: Friend, we live in a time where standing for Christ and the Gospel costs you virtually nothing… and yet we refuse to stand.
For most of us, to stand for Christ could mean the loss of a few friends
It could mean the feeling of an awkward situation
It could mean the expense of a few moments of our precious time.
But the reality is standing for the Gospel, costs us so little!
ILLUSTRATION: Just this past week there were two separate occasions in which I was having a conversation with someone I had met.
ILLUSTRATION: Just this past week there were two separate occasions in which I was having a conversation with someone I had met.
We were talking freely, and after a few minutes of conversation, I tried to turn the conversation and invited them to church.
On both occasions, the conversation wrapped up shortly after the invitation.
A little over a week ago, I was on a job installing cabinets when a guy came up and began a conversation with myself and the pastor friend who was helping install.
This guy brought up church and began to talk about it… so we began to talk to him about Jesus dying for his sins.
The guy didn’t get saved that day, but we planted a seed.
Friend, I’m grateful for those seeds that I was able to plant in people’s lives over the last couple weeks
But unfortunately, I could tell you of far more times that there were opportunities to talk to people about Christ, and I didn’t take them.
I didn’t stand.
APPLICATION: Paul knew what it meant to stand for Christ.
APPLICATION: Paul knew what it meant to stand for Christ.
He was so impassioned by it that he wrote verses like Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Friend, there is no more important place to pound your stake deeply into the ground, than into the ground of Gospel.
If you are here today and you’ve never received the Gospel, I hope you will receive it today.
If you haven’t received the Gospel, I hope you will ask God to make you passionate about it, and firm in it!
If we are going to HOLD OUR GROUND we must STAND FIRM
V.1b, AVOID ENTANGLEMENT
V.1b, AVOID ENTANGLEMENT
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
EXPLANATION: Paul challenges these believers, “Stop getting tangled up in the old ways that keep you in bondage.”
EXPLANATION: Paul challenges these believers, “Stop getting tangled up in the old ways that keep you in bondage.”
ILLUSTRATION: The sheep that got entangled in the fence netting
ILLUSTRATION: The sheep that got entangled in the fence netting
That sheep had no doubt seen other sheep get caught in the fence before.
She certainly wasn’t the first sheep.
But here she was, entangled again in that fence.
APPLICATION: Christian, can we just get real here this morning?
APPLICATION: Christian, can we just get real here this morning?
I want to see every believer hold their ground.
And yet the story is told over and over and over again of those who have gotten tangled up in their flesh and fallen victim to sin.
But how does that happen?
I mean do people just wake up one day and they are in someone else’s bed?
Do people just blink their eyes and they find out they are on trial for murder?
Did the drunk driver who just took someone’s life just happen?
I’m always stunned when someone who was once a faithful Christians seems to have just fallen off the edge suddenly.
You know, I think the life of Samson gives us some insight into what happens so many times.
ILLUSTRATION: I was reminded of his life this past week when Will and I and a couple of the other guys went and heard a message from his life.
ILLUSTRATION: I was reminded of his life this past week when Will and I and a couple of the other guys went and heard a message from his life.
You know, Samson had everything going for him.
He had the hand of God on his life.
And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him.
And the Spirit of the Lord began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.
But as you read through the life of Samson, you find a man who over and over again in his pride and selfishness limited the opportunity for God to use him.
And when you reach the end of his story you find him bound in the palace of the Philistines as a captive, with his eyes gouged out.
And ultimately Samson takes his only life in an act of revenge.
And we can ask the question, where did it begin?
How did he get to that point?
I believe the answer is found all the way back in Judges 14:1
And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.
It all began when Samson let his eyes look where they never should have been looking.
ILLUSTRATION: How did David a man after God’s own heart end up as an Adulterous, lying, murderer?
ILLUSTRATION: How did David a man after God’s own heart end up as an Adulterous, lying, murderer?
And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.
David was a place he shouldn’t have been!
EXPLANATION: You see when the Bible talks about being entangled, it carries with it the idea of being ensnared.
EXPLANATION: You see when the Bible talks about being entangled, it carries with it the idea of being ensnared.
When a snare trap is set, you try to put it in a place that it is somewhat hidden.
You don’t want it to be obvious to the animal that you are trying to catch.
APPLICATION: Friend, the snares of sin don’t present themselves as decisions that are waiting to destroy your life!
APPLICATION: Friend, the snares of sin don’t present themselves as decisions that are waiting to destroy your life!
You would avoid it if that was the case.
No, the snares of sin are subtle and disguised.
Disguised as “just a good time”
Disguised as “it’s just a little anger”
Disguised as “It’s not that big of a deal”
Disguised as “Just a little sin”
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
Something that we may deem as so small, can do great damage!
ILLUSTRATION: Ryan Hart went into his local Arby’s restaurant and I am confident that he ordered a beef and cheddar.
ILLUSTRATION: Ryan Hart went into his local Arby’s restaurant and I am confident that he ordered a beef and cheddar.
He was enjoying his sandwich when all of the he found in his sandwich the tip of a finger.
While someone was slicing the meat, they had sliced off the tip of their finger but didn’t communicate and before anyone knew what had happened, the sandwich had been served.
Ryan simply removed the finger and continued eating… NO!!!
But why not… it was just the tip of a finger… it wasn’t even the whole thing!
You see it only takes something small to do great damage.
APPLICATION: Here soon, Paul is going to dive into the root of this struggle, our Spirit vs our flesh.
APPLICATION: Here soon, Paul is going to dive into the root of this struggle, our Spirit vs our flesh.
You know what our flesh tells us… It’s just a little sin.
It’s just a little bitterness
It’s just a little lie
It’s just a little pornography
It’s just a few curse words
It’s just a little anger
It’s just a little gossip
It’s just a little pride
It’s just a little disobedience to parents
It’s just a little drugs and alcohol
It’s just a little sin!
But your flesh will never show you the end result!
You see at the end of each of those excuses for just a “little sin” there are broken lives, broken marriages, broken children, broken families, broken churches!
EXPLANATION: And Paul mentions a little word that we can’t miss because it’s so important!
EXPLANATION: And Paul mentions a little word that we can’t miss because it’s so important!
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
He says there “be not entangled AGAIN…”
Because Paul knew that the truth is we all of sins that we struggle with more than others.
APPLICATION: There are some of you that you don’t struggle with something that someone else struggles with.
APPLICATION: There are some of you that you don’t struggle with something that someone else struggles with.
I mean we talk about drugs and alcohol and your feeling pretty good.
You despise gossip and love to squash it at the first opportunity.
But there is something that the Holy Spirit will bring to your mind if you’ll let Him and all the sudden you’re going… “Oh ya… that.”
Friend, avoid the snares! What out for the traps!
Don’t get entangled again!
Make Psalm 1:1-3 your theme
Blessed is the man That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season; His leaf also shall not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Don’t put yourself in that place where the temptation is there to fall!
Avoid it at all costs!
Your family is worth it!
Your marriage is worth it!
Your relationship with Christ is worth it!
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
This morning we needs some dads and husbands who will decide to purposely hold your ground!
To stand firm and avoid entanglement
We needs some moms and wives who will decide to hold your ground!
We need some young people who will decide to hold your ground!
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Christian, when everyone else is bowing like those in the days of Nebucadnezzar, may you choose the path of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and hold your ground!
When the rest of world is worshipping the false God’s of the day, my you choose the path of Elijah and see victories through the power of God because you hold your ground!
When the world stands against you and threatens you, may you choose the path of Daniel and be cast into the lions den because you purposed to hold your ground!
When everyone else is living in fear of what is next because Pharaoh’s army is approaching from behind, and the red sea is in front, may you choose the path of Moses who held his ground and proclaimed, “stand still and see the salvation of the Lord!”
Friend, choose the path of boldness for Christ, and come what may, purpose to Galatians 5:1
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Christian, HOLD YOUR GROUND