Do Good Unto All Men

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A message looking at God's Promise to those who minister.

Notes
Transcript
Galatians 6:7–10 (KJV 1900)
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Pre-Sermon Ice Breaker

A woman visits her husband in prison. Before leaving, she tells a correction officer: “You shouldn’t make my husband work like that. He’s exhausted!” The officer laughs and says, “Are you kidding? He just eats and sleeps and stays in his cell!” The wife replies: “He just told me he’s been digging a tunnel for months!”

Introduction

Throughout 2022 we have been exploring a variety of themes - Prayer, Worship, Fellowship, Evangelism, Discipleship and Ministry.
We began our discussion of ministry in Ephesians 2:10
Ephesians 2:10 (KJV 1900)
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Here we found that the reason we were saved, was so that we could do good works. Do you ever get tired of doing good? In care-giving professions like doctors, nurses, chaplains, etc. we have a term for this “compassion fatigue.”
“Compassion Fatigue” is a condition characterized by emotional and physical exhaustion leading to a diminished ability to emphathize or feel compassion for others. How can we overcome “Compassion Fatigue” in ministry.
Some of you may be familiar with the name Abraham Maslow. Maslow was one of the pioneers in the field of Psychology. Maslow is best known for Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, a concept presented in his 1954 book, “Motivation and Personality.” The hierarchy has five levels Psysiological (Hunger, thirst, shelter, etc.) Safety (Security, protection from harm, etc.) Social (affection, belonging, acceptance, friendship) Esteem (also called ego - dealing with status, recognition, Aattention) and finally Self Actualization (Doing things).
But long before Abraham Maslow, there lived another man who spoke about motivation. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he wrote about his inspiration for doing what he did. His self-actualization was found, not in finding himself, but in losing himself to Jesus. We know him as the Apostle Paul. He writes to us about his motivation for ministry. Here in Galatians 6:7-10 Paul shares with us about God’s promise to those who engage in ministry. Let’s look at it together today.

Body

I. The Principle of Ministry - vs. 7-8

Galatians 6:7–8 KJV 1900
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Paul begins with a warning - BE NOT DECEIVED.
Some times others deceive us. Some times we deceive ourselves. Paul warns us to not be deceived because GOD IS NOT MOCKED. This literally means that God turns his nose up at the idea that is opposite of this principle of Scripture.
Simply stated, WHATSOEVER A MAN SOWETH, THAT SHALL HE ALSO REAP!
This truth is often applied to giving. TV preachers are imploring you to plant your seed in their ministry so that you can reap a harvest. But in the context Paul is speaking here it means so much more than just giving money. It speaks of giving yourself. Whatever you invest your time, your talent, your tithe in will bring reap a result the question is what will you invest in? What will you sow into.
Paul expands this idea further by stating - HE THAT SOWETH TO THE FLESH SHALL OF THE FLESH REAP CORRUPTION. He echos the words of Scripture.
Job 4:8 KJV 1900
Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, And sow wickedness, reap the same.
Hosea 8:7 KJV 1900
For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: It hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: If so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.
The good news is that the converse is also true - HE THAT SOWETH TO THE SPIRIT SHALL OF THE SPIRIT REAP LIFE EVERLASTING.
Hosea 10:12 KJV 1900
Sow to yourselves in righteousness, Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground: For it is time to seek the Lord, Till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
We find this truth illustrated even in science. Newton’s 3rd law of physics states - For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

II. The Promise of Ministry - vs.9

Galatians 6:9 KJV 1900
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
2 Corinthians 4:1 KJV 1900
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2 Corinthians 4:16 KJV 1900
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

III. The Practice of Ministry - vs 10

Galatians 6:10 (KJV 1900)
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Jesus was our example
Acts 10:38 KJV 1900
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
1 Timothy 6:17–18 KJV 1900
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
James goes as far as to say to do anything less is sin.
James 4:17 KJV 1900
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Jesus says this is the secret to true greatness
Mark 10:43–44 KJV 1900
But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

Conclusion

“Compassion Fatigue” is a condition characterized by emotional and physical exhaustion leading to a diminished ability to emphathize or feel compassion for others. How can we overcome “Compassion Fatigue” in ministry.a
“Compassion Fatigue” is a condition characterized by emotional and physical exhaustion leading to a diminished ability to emphathize or feel compassion for others. How can we overcome “Compassion Fatigue” in ministry?
In Galatians 6:7-10 we have observed the Principle of Ministry, The Promise of Ministry and the Practice of Ministry and learned that through Jesus example we know that God bring us a harvest if we remain faithful and continue to do good to those around us. Will you decide today to keep working, keep sowing, keep doing good so that we will reap a harvest here in Bedford?
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