Am I Doing It For God? (2)

Walking In Freedom  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented
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Galatians 1:10-19.

Introduction

The section of Galatians between verse 10 and verse 24 focuses on an explanation Paul gives to the accusations of agitators concerning his ministry and message
The epistles can be viewed as documents that provide answers without providing the questions
Meaning, we can look at the content as responses to something that was brought to the attention of the author
The answer Paul gives to the brethren influenced by the opposers, seeks to validate and authenticate his ministry and the origin of his teaching
It is likely that in order to discredit Paul’s message and elevate theirs, they turned to depreciating the value of Paul apostleship and preaching
They probably tried to suggest that Paul is only repeating what he heard from the other apostles
They probably suggested that Paul did not get any revelation from God, he was most likely taught whatever he now preaches
They might have even suggested that Paul is lying only to get in good favour with you brethren
Paul answers these supposed charges proving in three (3) ways that the attacks on him and his work were baseless and empty
Paul makes an appeal. The nature of these appeals are MOTIVATIONAL, CHRONOLOGICAL & TRANSFORMATIONAL
MOTIVATIONAL - Consider what drives me
CHRONOLOGICAL - Consider where I have been
TRANSFORMATIONAL - Consider who I was
It is the first appeal that warrants our attention.

What drives you as a disciple of Jesus?

What gets you up in the morning and sets you on your day?
What sustains you things around you are bleak?
What consumes your thoughts, efforts and resources?
What is that thing that is really hard to miss or pull away from?
What is that thing that you don’t like to put on the back burner?
What is that thing that you will commit to even when inconvenienced?

Is that thing Jesus?

Galatians 1:10 “10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.”
This verse is really a continuation of vs. 8-9. It gives reason for a seemingly hard word
Paul’s motivation is Jesus, making the statement (a tough one for the people) one that ultimately pleases God.
Meaning, that if Paul was ever in a position to to choose between pleasing God and pleasing the people - he will always choose God
They are trying to discredit and he argues, “I Am Doing This For God”
He gives a tough word, but “He’s doing it for God”

#1 - The Favour of Men

“For am I now seeking the favour of men or of God? Or am I striving to please men?
Am I seeking the favour of men?
This word is translated ‘persuade in the KJV’ this highlights the activity of the verb
It’s translated favour here to emphasize the product/end result of the persuasion
Paul is really arguing that he is not seeking the favour or the approval of men, but of God
Man is fickle, unpredictable, and unstable - I am not seeking man’s approval
Paul is saying I am trying to win God over, I’m doing this for His approval, not yours
Paul wrote about this:
1 Corinthians 11:1 “1 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.”
Philippians 3:8 “8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,”
These statements show that Paul was not a people-pleaser
1 Thessalonians 2:4 “4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.” - the perimeter surrounding Paul’s apostleship was mind to please God.
APPL. This should be the same for us!
I cannot serve as a faithful disciple whilst being a captive to the desires of others
You cannot serve two masters, you will love one and hate the other Mt 6:24.
We cannot commit to Christ and simultaneously bend to the dreams and demands of others
I must commit to ONLY pleasing God!
People-pleasing answers the question: How concerned am I with myself?
Am I so consumed with my advantage, my affirmation, my feelings, my desires - that I am not concerned about what God wants?
Sometimes pleasing God means a period of loss or lack
Philippians 3:7 “7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.”
Galatians 1:14 “14 and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions.”
Paul is saying i had some things that satisfied me, and pleased other people but when God came calling - I started living and serving to please Him
Even though it was hard, I was afflicted, stoned, faced loss - But I needed to please God
APPL. Would I still serve if my name doesn’t get called, if they don’t give me a reward, if I receive no praise or appreciation - will I still seek to please God?
This is crucial in discipleship. We need to have disciples that are fixated on satisfying God, not themselves or other people!
APPL. Not seeking man’s approval doesn’t mean in a lack of ACCOUNTABILITY (“God is my judge”, “Christ is your boss”, “You can’t make me do this or that”)
You might be “Right” but your first name is not “always”
You’re still accountable to the scripture - “Examine yourself, whether you are in the faith” - 2 Cor 13:5.
It is clearly understandable why Paul would be against a “Christ-plus” doctrine - it leads to a boasting in the flesh (Gal 6:12-13) - it does not lead to a devotion to Christ
God set me apart (vs. 15) - Now I’m His exclusively
I am not trying to please man - that’s why I can put my accolades, ancestry, traditions, my pride
THE DANGERS OF PLEASING MAN
Your integrity with God’s word is compromised (Gal 1:6-7)
You run the risk of developing a carnal, self seeking spirit (Gal 6:12-13)
You run the risk of harming the development of faith (yours and others) (Gal 5:16; 4:19)
You run the risk of displeasing God (vs. 10 this is his point here)

You cannot do the two

Paul says if I was doing one, I couldn’t do the other (vs. 10b)

#2 - The Favour of God

Paul’s argument is:
God turned me around (vs. 13)
God became my objective (vs. 14)
God gave me a new purpose (vs. 15)
That’s why I don’t seek to satisfy their desires or gain their approval

Then he adds, “I would not be a bond servant of Christ”

Paul says, “if I were still trying to please men” - which tells me this is what he was doing
Acts 22:20 “20 ‘And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing by approving, and watching out for the coats of those who were slaying him.’”
They liked him then (when his actions pleased them), but the moment God got him, he became their enemy
APPL. Some people are around because they tolerate you. They tolerate you until you say or do something they don’t agree with - Stay on purpose, don’t give into the temptation to bend to people’s desire especially if God has something to say on the matter
Friends, family members, even in the church
The word bond-servant comes from the Greek term doulos which referred to a slave/servant of the house
[Slave here is not the same as those in the Trans-Atlantic trade]
This is a very interesting description for a man preaching “freedom in Christ”

This phrase “bond-servant” tells us who Paul is doing this for

[These are all things that was expected from a doulos.]
God is my MASTER - We can be in a space where we want “Saviour” Jesus but not “Master” Jesus - Romans 6:18 “18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”
He gets to set the terms and conditions - and He is not constrained by us
God wants my SUBMISSION - Philippians 2:6–7 “6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.”
Humility leads to obedience - this is why you haven’t been obedient to the will of God. This is why constantly fight the scripture and fight lessons/sermons that cut you, you’re humility needs addressing
Humility leads to emptying (divest yourself of power) yourself - It’s hard to be lead when you think you don’t need anything. It’s hard for God to pour into a full cup. It’s for you to see God do it, if you still think you could do it. It’s hard for God to save you, if you don’t think you need saving
God wants my DEPENDENCE - a doulos had to put their full weight on their master, he provided their needs [even if it was a wife]
God wants us to put our full weight on God Philippians 4:19 “19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
God wants my COMMITMENT - He doesn’t want me to start and not finish Galatians 2:19 “19 “For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.”
What’s driving you in your life?
These questions expose us, but they give us an opportunity to correct if I have strayed from God
Who is your master? Who are you trying to please?
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