Dont Conform, Be Transformed 21 November 2021

Sermon Notes

Galatians 4:8–20 NKJV

8 But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. 9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain. 12 Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. You have not injured me at all. 13 You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first. 14 And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. 15 What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth? 17 They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them. 18 But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you. 19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, 20 I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.

Galatians 4:17–20 NLT

17 Those false teachers are so eager to win your favor, but their intentions are not good. They are trying to shut you off from me so that you will pay attention only to them. 18 If someone is eager to do good things for you, that’s all right; but let them do it all the time, not just when I’m with you. 19 Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives. 20 I wish I were with you right now so I could change my tone. But at this distance I don’t know how else to help you.

“Once again, only Christ can create within us the ability to love one another in this Christ-like manner. This was at the heart of Paul’s instruction—namely, seeking Christ and salvation by faith rather than by the works of the law. In other words, only the power of the Holy Spirit working through faith can create these abilities in us, not our own obedience to the law.” Fesko, J. V. (2012). Galatians. (J. D. Payne, Ed.) (p. 128). Powder Springs, GA: Tolle Lege Press.

“A true servant of God does not “use people” to build himself up or his work; he ministers in love to help people know Christ better and glorify Him. Beware of that religious worker who wants your exclusive allegiance because he is the only one who is right. He will use you as long as he can and then drop you for somebody else—and your fall will be a painful one. The task of the spiritual leader is to get people to love and follow Christ, not to promote himself and his ministry.” Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 708). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Observations

How do false teachers manipulate God’s people?

They pretend they care about you but are only hurting them. (17)

They exclude them from a healthy Relationship with Jesus. (17)

They Seek loyalty from them. (17)

They are inconsistent in their service to them. (18)

They stunt their spiritual growth. (19-20)

Sermon Outline

There are things that we can be zealous for that will benefit us spiritually.

Just like there are things we can be zealous for that are not beneficial to our spirtual growth.

How do we determin what is good and what is not good for us?

We can compare spiritual growth to our physical health condition.

We can eat maccas and chocolates until the we are fully satisfied and we can do that zealously. But is clearly is not good for our health.

We can choose to commit long hours to our work and be satisfied with the financial reward after that. But it clearly is not good for our health and our relationships.

We can choose to be committed to being busy at church as we slot time there as an add on to our already busy schedules; and we can be satisfied in it. But it clearly is not good for our health, relationships and testimony.

The truth is being zealous for something religious doesnt mean we grow spiritually.

This is evident in Christians who see no need to read their bible for the purpose of learning something fresh and challenging.

There can be a hunger for watching and reading stuff for the purpose of information which satisfies our quest, but we can do those things zealously but have no spiritual value.

Sometimes there will be people who come into our churches who are very vocal and even at times sound really convincing.

They can be convincing and at the same time they can be intimidating.

Churches will tend to be divided and conquered by those who have the greatest influences or possibly the loudest voices.

For Paul, he was well aware of what these Judiazers where not only upto, but what they were doing to the church as a whole.

He had heard of the influence of the Judiazers upon the believers there, and under the Holy Spirit’s leading, wrote this letter to reach out to them.

And he reaches out to us also.

There is nothing wrong with being zealous as long as it is zealous for the right things.

Therefore...

Be zealous for an intimate personal relationship with Jesus as it is only in this place that we can be the people God has called us to be.

So why do we need to be zealous for Jesus rather than religion?

Because people cannot stop spiritual growth when you abide in Christ.

But they can manipulate you if you focus on religious ideologies.

Here are three reasons why we should stick with Jesus personally than anyone else.

Jesus alone matures us. (19)

It is more favourable to lean into Jesus than anyone else. (17)