Untitled Sermon (5)

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Our worlds is full of rules and regulations. Everywhere I go there’s rules to be followed and procedures that I had to stay in line with. If you don’t know what I am talking about go to your local DMV or airport security. The moment you don’t do what they tell you to do, it breaks out in havoc. We as Christians aren’t exempt from this and we too have some rules to obey. I have seen certain churches or denominations place additional rules onto Christianity. For instance, I recently found out about the Book of Discipline in the Methodist group. How it was explained to me was that it was their statement of faith and shouldn’t be placed over the Bible. However, if you didn’t comply with the additional rules that inside this book then your not representing their faith.

I have seen repeatedly time and time again faith groups try to place all these rules on their people. Unfortunately it just leads people to rebel. Don’t get me wrong, rules are good. Rules should be set in place because it causes order to things and does allow a level of ease to the process of things. If things went according to all the rules then life would be like an assembly line plugging and playing during certain events. Then at the end we would be a finish product.

However, humans are defiant rule breakers. We have broken every rule ever placed throughout the history of our existence. The Israelites remind me of the game my kids play called “I win.” They make the absurd rules that only allow them to win. Then when they win they gloat in it. For instance, my kids would play this game and full honesty I did place this game into motion. My kids would race to the car and the first one to place their seat belts on first is declared the winner. Well my son is the oldest and fastest so he is usually declared the self proclaimed winner. Then he usually gloats all the way home of how awesome he is because he is the winner.

Anyone who has kids I’m sure has played a game or two called “I win.” Now there are no prizes or actual rewards for this game, and I’m fascinate on what kids would do to be self proclaimed winners. My kids would battle to the death if I created a game that would present one winner. Literally death...... I think the Isrealited got this self proclamation during the New Testament era. The Pharisee's gloated on their status and walked around showing off to everyone that they were “winners.” They looked down on everyone else and they placed all these extra rules on their people. When a person broke one of these rules they would chastize them and prove to them that they were losers. Let me show you what I mean. Open your bibles to -

The Holman Christian Standard Bible Chapter 6

12 Those who want to make a good impression in the flesh are the ones who would compel you to be circumcised —but only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even the circumcised don’t keep the law themselves; however, they want you to be circumcised in order to boast about your flesh. 14 But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world. 15 For both circumcision and uncircumcision mean nothing; what matters instead is a new creation. 16 May peace come to all those who follow this standard, and mercy to the Israel of God!

17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, because I bear on my body scars for the cause of Jesus. 18 Brothers, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. •Amen

I believe that Paul wrote to the church of Galatia warning them about these self-proclaimed “winners.” Start with Verse 12. Paul is talking about the Jewish leaders who demanded believers had to be circumcised, based on the writings from Deuteronomy. The Jewish leaders would tell others that if they were not circumcised then they were not really Jewish. Also, gentiles who typically were not circumcised couldn’t be welcomed into any type of worship because they didn’t have this procedure complete. It’s a step where the leaders looked down on the new believers and began boasting in their accomplishments. When they started to show off these extra step they did, it started leading the leaders in to self glory. These church leaders began to transition the focus away from God and onto them selves. They started to lift themselves up and lower God.

You see theses church leaders began displaying their badges of honor. They began to display to the public that they were different from everyone else. Now don’t get me wrong, when you become re-born you should be living your life differently. But their actions are what was different. In the military there are a select group of people that go to extreme levels of training to earn the title Special Forces. These guys are the elite of the elite, tough of the toughest. These guys are some bad dudes..... Since I have spent over a decade in the military I have gotten to know a lot of these guys. When you see them in their uniforms there is immediate something different about them. They have more patches and tabs and other cool things that they wear. However, through my time of know these guys they are one of the most quietest and humble people I have met.

They don’t gloat over the things they have achieved. They don’t marvel of the patches, tabs and other cool things. They remain humble because they know what all of those extra cool things cost them and their families. You see when you become the best there is a cost to you in whatever you do. Athletes have to sacrifice time for their workouts and diets. CEO sacrifice holidays and after-work times to dedicate to work. Parents sacrifice sleep and brain cells trying to understand common core math. But when these church leaders sacrifice something they gloated on it and forgot the sacrifice that Jesus did for them. They used these badges to push down the gentiles or non-circumcised believers, treating them like second class.

This repression is everywhere, but the one place it shouldn’t be is in church. Paul states it in another book - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The repression also acts in a reverse model too. Many Pastors get placed on a pedestal when they are recognized as a leader in the church. They feel that they have to carry the burdens of everyone else and have to bring a 5-star sermon every week. Let me be the first to tell you that every Pastor, Rabbi, Priest, etc experience temptations and are battling their own personal demons. We are all human and there is nothing special about us, because we are all sinners. I have seen many times where religious leaders lead there people into doom for more self glory.

The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.All have fallen short of the glory of God.

My wife and I actually experienced this repression in a church. Years ago I was a Youth Pastor at a small church. The Assosicates Pastor’s wife went up to my wife and asked her if she’s saved. Of course my wife said, “yes.” The Pastor’s wife said, “well have you been baptized?” My wife wasn’t and the Pastor’s wife immediately exclaimed that she wasn’t save and that she was just self proclaiming salvation. It crushed my wife, because she was immediately treated like an outcast and not valued. This is what the leaders were doing and look at verse 13.  For even the circumcised don’t keep the law themselves; however, they want you to be circumcised in order to boast about your flesh.

The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.

The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.

You see there are people that are believers who will boast about your imperfections to help promote themselves. This is called self glorification. Some of you out there could probably imaging a time where someone put you down to try to make themselves look better. I’m almost certain sometimes in your lives you’ll experience a time where someone will make you feel lesser about yourselves. Actually, you don’t have to look very far. Just turn on Facebook or the TV. Self image is driving beauty industry to one of the leading industries in the world. A study shows that 53% of 13 year old girls say they aren’t happy with their bodies and 78% of 17 year old girls aren’t happy with theirs. Women are striving to be the girls on the magazines. Don’t worry guys we aren’t exempt from this. Sport nutrition has a billion dollar industry because many guys try to be that one althele or body-builder. They push their bodies to extremes to try to have the physical phsyics . Instead of living healthier and satisfying lives Americans are striving to have more. Paul had a revelation and shows how the would should live.

Continue to Verse 14 and 15-

14 But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world. 15 For both circumcision and uncircumcision mean nothing; what matters instead is a new creation.

The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.

Paul saw that self proclamation and self glorification meant nothing. He was a Pharisee and he persecuted Christians. The was the poster child of Pharisees and repressed Christians. But once he got that relationship with Jesus he saw that he was nothing. He saw that nothing meant more than Jesus dying on that cross. You see our badges of honor mean nothing compared to Jesus’ marks. Our greatest achievements are nothing compared to God’s glory. Paul shows us that there is nothing of value on this world, because Heaven should be our goal. Instead of focusing on worldly desires, we should focus on how we can increase God’s family. You see nothing matters beyond the cross, because Jesus lowered himself so all can come to him. He showed us that we don’t need special permissions or special rules to be saved.

He died a criminal’s death to show that God came to the lowest class of people. God reached to the depths of humanity in attempt to save everyone. Jesus showed this when he washed the feet of disciples. He completed the lowest of low servant’s task for his disciples. He told his disciples that he was to serve Man and to redeem Man back into the image God desires them.

Paul is telling the church of Galatia that no one or nothing matters more than bearing the marks of Jesus. He concludes this book by showing that his desire is to bear these marks. These marks are Paul’s marks of Honor, but it came at a huge consequence of our savior being crucified. With all the self proclamation and self glorification, the Jewish church couldn’t see the true miracles become done and the massive healings that Jesus was doing. Instead, they saw a radical disrupting their church and rocking the pedestals that they stood on. They saw that this humble man was causing a paradigm reversal!

Paul saw that his true salvation was only through Jesus! You see the simple message is that there is nothing else worth our time and energy if it isn’t according to God’s plan. Isiah 64:6- tells us that our badges of honor are nothing. It says, “All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment. It doesn’t matter what clothes we wear, or cars we drive, of profession we have. We are all just polluted garments to God. What makes us different is that we choose to wear the marks given to Jesus.

and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment;

When we surrender all these things and receive the power of the cross, then we transition from a polluted garment to righteous children of God. When we stop repressing others and realize that we were just like our brothers and sisters chained to sin. We realize that we are not better than them. Instead we switch from thinking they need things like a diet, makeup, a makeover and say they need to know Jesus. That is when you will wear these markings and become glorious in God’s eyes.

We need to start living our lives according to the last verses. 17- From now on, let no one cause me trouble, because I bear on my body scars for the cause of Jesus. 18 Brothers, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”

The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.

Let nothing bother you because we are now children of God. We have recieved this gift of God and we want to share this grace of Jesus Christ with everyone.

The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.There is nothing shiner, or newer that should be more than God. Also, Jesus said