It's Time to Grow Up

Introduction

There are certain pictures which capture Paul’s imagination that he uses again and again: human birth and growth was one of them, Here he uses the image with reference to mental and intellectual development rather that to physical growth. If we are to look for a link with the argument of chapter 3, it is probably to be found in the thought of the child’s being led to and from school by the tutor, but only while he or she was still a minor.

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ILLUSTRATION

In the movie The Avengers, an unexpected threat, led by the villain Loki, emerges that threatens global safety and security. Nick Fury, director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., needs some urgent help to pull the world back from the brink of disaster.

In one particular scene, Loki has an encounter with the Hulk. As the Hulk blasts through a window, he intentionally crashes into Loki, slamming him against a wall. As Loki scrambles to his feet, the Hulk begins to advance toward him.

"Enough!" shouts Loki. "You are all beneath me," he defiantly proclaims. "I am a god, you dull creature, and I will not be bullied by …"

Suddenly, while he is still speaking, the Hulk snatches Loki by the ankle and slams him on the floor five times.

As Loki lies on the floor, barely able to breath, his eyes fixed upward as if to say what just happened?, the Hulk walks away, looking back over his shoulder. The Hulk scowls as he says, "Puny god."

Big Idea: “You make a puny God”

Three ways we make ourselves into our own God.

1) Living in a state of childishness

2) The difference between knowing God and being known by God

3) We are fare-weather follower’s of Christ.

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Galatians 4:1-7

1. Are you someone who embraces your adoption status or do you prefer living as a child?

The state of the OT church: it was like an under age child, and it was used accordingly being kept in a state of darkness and bondage, in comparison of the greater light and liberty which we enjoy under the gospel of Christ as adopted children of God. It’s like when you first got your license to drive, you pull it out and show it to all your friends with great pride and anticipation. Eventually it doesn’t become that big a deal anymore, it’s gets shoved back in your wallet or way back in your purse and forgotten about until someone asks for you to identify yourself. We should be like the kid who just got his drivers license everyday of our lives.

Illustration

We are like an six-year- old boy with a broken Toy.

Imagine an six-year-old boy playing with a toy truck and then it breaks. He is disconsolate and cries out to his parents to fix it. Yet as he's crying, his father says to him, "A distant relative you've never met has just died and left you one hundred million dollars." What will the child's reaction be? He will just cry louder until his truck is fixed. He does not have enough cognitive capacity to realize his true condition and be consoled.

In the same way, We lack the spiritual capacity to realize all we have in Jesus. This is the reason Paul prays that God would give Christians the spiritual ability to grasp the height, depth, breadth, and length of Christ's salvation (; ). In general, our lack of joy is as Shakespeare wrote: "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves" (Julius Caesar, , Scene 2). We are like the eight-year-old boy who rests his happiness in his "stars"—his circumstances—rather than recognizing what we have in Christ.

A Child wants his way, and wants it now!

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Children in the OT - God’s greatest gift and guarantee of the covenant with Israel was that of children. Despite every other gift, Abraham felt at a complete loss without children. In early biblical times immortality was linked to living on through children who carried on the name of their parents. We also see all through the OT where God favors the younger child over the first born.

In “for we know in part and we prophesy i n part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish way. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”

*The elementary principles pass away once we move from childhood status to child of God. We used to reason from a child’s perspective now we reason from a child of God’s perspective. We are fully known by God.

Our insecurity regarding our acceptance with God is at the heart of why we make idols.

We look at our knowing of Him (which fluctuates so much) instead of His knowing of us in Christ.

We are desperately trying to firm up a positive self-image by using our idols. Paul reminds us that the gospel shows us that we don’t need to make ourselves beautiful or lovable to God; He already knows us.

In ancient times coming of age was a big deal. A Roman child-heir was a minor under guardian until age 14, and was still to some degree under guardianship until the age of 25. Until the youth could exercise complete, independent control over his estate.

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The Adopted child

What are these ‘elemental spirits’? The Greek word is stoicheia, ‘elements’. , in Greek as in English, the word ‘elements’ has two meanings.

First, it can be used in the sense of ‘elementary’ things, the letters of the alphabet, the ABC which we learn at school.

It occurs in this sense in . If this is Paul’s meaning here, then he is likening the Old Testament period to the rudimentary education of the people of God, which was completed by further education when Christ came. “You need Milk, not solid food.”

By calling the law an “elementary principle,” Paul was giving the teachers from Jerusalem a remedial education.

Second, the way in which the word ‘elements’ can be interpreted is in regards to the universe. These were often associated in the ancient world with either the physical elements (earth, fire, air, and water) or with the heavenly bodies (the son, the moon and the stars), which control seasonal festivals observed on earth.

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

The adopted Child dies to the elementary things of the World.

vs. 20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you still submit to regulations?

Here the word is associated closely with philosophy and tradition.

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Christ came at the right Time

We can now see that the Church of God could not have endured gospel light earlier than the day of Christ’s coming; neither would it have been well to keep her in gloom beyond that time. There was a divine fitness about the date that we cannot fully understand.

Why is the period in time right for Christ’s coming. Various factors combined to make it such.

1).It was a time when the Romans had conquered and subdued the known inhabited earth, when Roman roads had been built to facilitate travel and Roman legions had been stationed to guard them.

2). It was a time when the Greek language and culture had given a certain cohesion to society. At the same time, the old mythological gods of Greece and Rome were losing their hold and power over the people.

3). It was a time when the law of Moses had done its work of preparing men for Christ, holding them under its tutelage and in its prison, so that they longed ardently for the freedom for which Christ could offer them.

v.4

When time had come in human history, and it their own experience - “God sent his Son”. It is the Son who makes us “of age”.

NOTE: notice that God’s purpose in coming was both to ‘redeem’ and to ‘adopt’; not just to rescue from slavery, but to make slaves into sons.

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How does the Son make us of age?

The Adopted Child has a claiming moment

First, by redeeming those under the law” (v.5), removing all penalty or debt. As slaves we are obligated to keep it, but we cannot.

He removes the charges against us that we are incapable of removing ourselves.

Second, by producing for us “the full rights as sons” (v.5) Through Christ we receive “sonship”. This is a legal term. As a wealthy man we could take one of our servants and adopt him. At the moment of adoption, he ceases to be a slave and receives all of the financial and legal privileges within the estate and outside in the world as the son and heir. Though by birth he was a slave without a relationship with the father, without a home, now he receives the legal status as son. It is a new life of privilege.

For us to understand what God sent His son to do, we need to travel to an ancient slave market to appreciate redemption, and to an ancient wealthy household to grasp the concept of sonship. Only together do they give us a complete picture of what Christ has accomplished for us.

“You are Sons”

Our sonship comes by promise, by the operation of God as a special gift.

In other words we are set apart for the Lords purpose by His own sovereign grace and doing.

This honor and privilege comes to us by faith.

We are moved by the Spirit to claim our adoption.

By the indwelling presence of the Holy spirit, witnessing to our sonship. No other qualification is needed. as we pray.

verse 6 - “God sent the Spirit”

First, the Spirit leads us to call out “Abba Father”. The Greek word krazdon is a very strong word that means a rending, loud cry. It refers to deep and profound passion and feeling.

Second, “calls out” refers to our prayer life. Just as a child does not prepare speeches to his or her parents, so Christians experiencing this work of the Spirit find a great spontaneity and reality in prayer. Praying is no longer mechanical or formal, but filled with warmth, passion and freedom.

Third, the phrase “calls out” demonstrates a sense of God’s real presence. Just as a child calls out automatically to the nearby daddy when there’s a problem or a question, so Christian experiencing this work of the Spirit feel the nearness of God.

Fourth, calling out “Abba”, is a baby-talk word meaning, “Papa”, or “Daddy” . It signifies a confidence of love and assurance of welcome. Just as a young child assumes that a parent loves them and is there for them, and never doubts the security and openness.

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Illustration

”God takes Joy in the Joy of His Children” Most of you spend Christmas day surrounded by your families. Possibly you have a large family -ten or twelve are at home on that day, with a grandchild or two. I will tell you what your greatest joy is on that day: it is to see the happiness of your children and to mark how they enjoy what you have given them. They are only little children, some of them still creeping on the floor, but they please you because they are so pleased with themselves. The squeal of a little child brings delight to your heart, it give us joy to see such joy in those we love.

Now suppose your sons and daughters all come marching in on Christmas day in a downcast, gloomy state of mind - cold, loveless, joyless. Suppose they do not enjoy anything, but grumble at you and at one another. You would be so sad and wish the day would soon come to an end. This illustrates how we see our heavenly Father delights in the delight of His children and is glad to see them grateful and happy, and acting as children should do toward such a Parent.

“Into our hearts” - Note that it does not say into our heads or brains. The Spirit of God undoubtedly illuminates the intellect and guides the judgement, but this is not the beginning or the main part of His work. He comes chiefly to our affections. He dwells within the heart, for with the heart man believes and is Saved. The heart is the center of our being, and therefore the Spirit occupies this great place and vantage point in our lives.

What have the rights of sonship given to us?

1) You have an intimacy of relationship.

2) You have confidence and Boldness . We don’t walk in fear of anyone or anything; our Father owns the place! God will honor us as He honors His one and only Son. We live with heads heads held high. Our sonship removes the fear of missing fulfillment or losing approval that is at the root of much of our disobedience.

3) You have a change of status

*God sent His son that we might have the status of sonship, and He sent His Spirit that we might experience Sonship.

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Paul Gives 2 Comparisons

Gospel Faith and Worldly religion (v 8-11) This shows the difference between knowing about God, i.e. worldly organized religion and knowing God which is true Gospel faith. Gospel ministry and Worldly ministry (v.12-20). This shows how the gospel practically affects our relationships with others.

This is one of the most important and remarkable insights of the whole book.

The whole point of the book of Galatians is a warning not to adopt a biblical legalism.

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Galatians 4:8-11

Gospel Faith and World Religion

The basic principle of the world is that we need to save ourselves.

We will worship what we think we need to fulfill ourselves, to give us “life”.

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ILLUSTRAION

Neuroscientist tell us that artificial intelligence is closer that we think. It is agreed upon that by most scientist that withing 50 years that technology will have advanced to the point of being a superhuman intelligence. The machines will independently enhance themselves. They won’t necessarily be malicious but “are so much more competent than we are that the slightest divergence between their goals and our own could destroy us.” Since the beginning of history humans have constructed and served gods of our own design. The end result has always been destructive when we willfully turn from the true God.

If we put our greatest hope in gaining wealth, we will be controlled and enslaved. We will be completely under the power of money. If we are not doing well at gaining it, we will be devastated. And even if we do get “enough”, we will be disappointed, and seek more. If we treat things that are not gods as though they are, we become slaves to them spiritually.

*Without the Gospel we must be under the slavery of an idol. Perfect example is Jesus story of the two brothers in . A father had one very immoral, younger, Prodigal son, and one very moral elder son. Both of them wanted control of the father’s wealth but did not want the father. Both were alienated from the father’s heart. At the end of the story though, the immoral son repents and goes in to the father, while the moral one stays outside in anger.

If anything, religion is more dangerous than the idolatry and slavery of irreligion, because it is less obvious. The irreligious person knows he is far away from God, but the religious person does not.

The Galatians were busy taking special day’s of the month and seasons of the year for festivals, ceremonies of the Old Testament. They would not know that they were far away from the father.

THE ASSURANCE OF BEING KNOWN

2. Are you someone who knows God or are you known by God?

“To know” in the Bible means more than intellectual awareness. To know someone is to enter into a personal relationship with him or her.

Illustration

Have you ever been impressed with someone’s great knowledge or wisdom, or their discerning motives, or someone who just seems to get it on a different level? Have you known or do you know someone who just seems to get you and have a great intimate knowledge of what makes you tick? My wife and I have now been married over 30 years. She knows the good, the bad, and the ugly about Mark Hoover. She’s seen me at my best and at my worst. I would say she has a deep intimate knowledge of what makes me tick. However compared to being known by God it’s like being impressed with first grade math and quantum mechanics. The two levels of knowledge do not compare.

We can go to the moon. Human beings are quite amazing creatures, and it’s right to know that and give God praise for it. But it’s not an accident that  begins with, “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name” (verse 1), then celebrates man in the middle, and then comes back and ends, “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name” (verse 9).

If you have succeeded, as I have, in not telling everybody everything, you haven’t succeeded with Jesus. He knows absolutely everything about you. There are no secrets.

Someone who is known by God doesn’t live their life looking in the rear view mirror.

So then, Paul says: ‘It’s not so much your regard and love for God, but rather His regard and love of you, that really makes you a Christian.’ Paul says in that ‘anyone who loves God does so because God knows them and loved them first.’ That is, He has set His love on us in Jesus. Our knowing of God will rise and fall depending on many things. But God’s knowing of us is absolutely fixed and solid.

The great central basis of our Christian assurance is not how much our hearts are set on God, but how unshakably His heart is set on us.

Deeper than knowing God is being known by God. What defines us as Christians is not most profoundly that we have come to know him but that he took note of us and made us his own.

Being known by God is another way of talking about election—God’s freely choosing us for himself, in spite of our not deserving it. It the kind of knowing referred to in : ‘You only have I known of all the families of the earth.’ God had chosen Israel as his people, though they were no better than any others.

*Note when Paul say’s in 1 Corinthians that those who ‘love God’ are ‘known by God’. He is highlighting that this is not a loveless knowledge. He is reminding us that everything they have is owed to God’s sovereign and divine initiative. “For God so loved the World,” He loved us first and best. We are called to love the Lord our God with all of our hearts, with all of our souls, with all of our minds.

Someone who is known by God will finds their greatest Joy in Him.

The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary Joy

JOY. The experience of deliverance and the anticipation of salvation provide the most significant occasions for rejoicing among the people of God in the OT. The coming of the Messiah, who delivers his people and brings salvation becomes the basis for rejoicing in the NT. The response of joy, gladness, or happiness is not only a deep inward feeling, but is expressed in celebration when God’s people gather together.

Joy is the fruit of being in a right relationship with God! It is not something people can create by their own efforts. The Greek word for pleasure is the word from which we get our word “hedonism,” the philosophy of self-centered pleasure seeking.

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Gospel Ministry and Worldly Ministry

3.Are you someone who is a fare-weather fan or are you a committed follower?

Paul was a man who had poured himself out time and time again for the sake of ministry of Christ, even unto death. Paul is looking back on a time when his gospel ministry flourished in Galatia, and when the relationships between him and the young Christians were healthy and strong.

A commited follower embraces the truth even when it hurts.

“I became like you” (v12). A ministry that’s energized by the gospel is flexible, meaning it’s leaders come and truly live among the people they are seeking to reach and adopt their ways and love them. One of the marks of a legalistic, works-righteous mindset is that it is inflexible, and obsessed with details.

Gospel ministry is transparent:

“Become like me”. Our words are not enough to persuade others about the truth of Christ. People have to be able to look into our hearts and lives, to assess how we handle trouble, how we deal with disappointment and interruptions, how we conduct our relationships, how we feel and act, so that they can see whether Christ is real.

Truth relates to KNOWLEDGE, is used in the OT in two senses (1) Intellectual, dealing with facts of something to be true of false. (2) far more common deals with moral truth as the attribute of a person. The very nature of our Christian faith rests on the Truth!

Gospel ministry looks for opportunities in hardship.

Problems become possibilities. “It was because of illness,” he reminds the Galatians, “that I first preached the gospel to you” (v13). That most likely means he was in Galatia either because of a detour from his planned itinerary or because of a delay in his planned schedule. Either way, he was not planning on preaching the gospel to them. But the illness caused it to happen.

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v. 14 Now we have a change. The joy and satisfaction they used to feel for him is gone: “What has happened to all your joy?”

Just like when Jesus rode into Jerusalem the last time they were singing his praises, “Hosanna to the king,” and just a few days later they were crying “Crucify Him.”

v.15 They now begin to see Paul as a hostile agent When he says: “Have I now become your enemy?”

verses 12-16 show the Galatians that while he has not changed his message or his ministry, the church’s response to him has - since they are now under the influence of ministers who have a very different message from his, because they have very different goals in mind.

Two Goals of Two Ministries

Worldly ministry wants teachers who follow and glorify themselves.

Better translated as: “They are flattering and making much of you, so that you will flatter and make much of them.”

A gospel energized ministry does not need to have fans who are emotionally dependent on their leaders. It seeks to please God, assured of salvation through faith. Just as they are calling the Galatians to earn their salvation through works, so they are earning their salvation through works. This means that they need, emotionally, to have people who emotionally need them. They need their disciples to be wrapped up in their leaders, obeying and adoring them.

A committed follower lives by honesty not flattery.

Gospel ministry wants teachers who glorify Christ.

Unlike his opponents Paul is not telling the Galatians what they would like to hear. He is telling them “the truth” and he is being condemned for it. Paul is in anguish as a mother in child birth over the church.

NOTE: People who follow personalities in church life, mindlessly following they hype!

The gospel frees us from the need for people’s approval and adoration so that we can confront and anger the people we love if that is what is best for them. And although it does not always work, this is the only kind of communication that really changes people. If you love a person so selfishly that you cannot risk their anger, you won’t ever tell them the truth they need to hear.

If, on the other hand, you tell a person the truth they need to hear but with harshness and not with the agony of a someone who truly loves them, they won’t listen to it.

But if you speak the truth with lots of love evident at the same time, there is a great chance that what you say will penetrate the heart and heal their lives.

A gospel ministry is marked by living honest, not spin, image and flattery. This kind of gospel ministry is costly to the minister. It is not always easy for those they are ministering to. But it is based on the truth; it is pointing to Christ; and it is eternally worthwhile.

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CLOSING

The concept of substitution lies at the heart of both sin and salvation. For the essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting himself for man.

—author and theologian John Stott

"The worst thing about our puny God, as the Scriptures has so tirelessly point out, is that they are utterly useless when you need them the most."

When I was a kid we used to play this game called king of the hill. Any small hill would do for the purposes of the game. One player would stand on top of the hill while the others would try to drag you off of your high and lofty place of supremacy. The goal was to try and stay on top of the hill as long as possible without being knocked off.

What Hill are you standing on today? or What is the hill you are trying to climb so that you can be the king of your own hill?

You see the truly committed follower of Christ knows whose on top of the hill and embraces his role as the adopted child of THE KING of the HILL. The truly committed follower of Christ finds their greatest joy in life is that we know Jesus, and know that we are known by Jesus.

Is it ENOUGH!

Is it enough for you today? Stop playing childish games with God. It’s time to grow up and embrace your status as an adopted Child of the King.