Galatians 4:12-20
The Heart Of A Shepherd
A bus driver and
a minister were standing in line to get into heaven. The bus driver approached
the gate and Peter said, "Welcome, I understand you were a
bus driver. Since I'm in charge of housing, I believe I have found the perfect
place for you. See that mansion over the hilltop? It's yours.
The minister heard all this and began to stand a
little taller. He said to himself, "If a bus
driver got a place like that, just think what I'll get."
The minister approached the gate and Peter said, "Welcome,
I understand you were a minister. See that shack in the valley?"
Peter had hardly gotten the words out of his mouth when the irate
minister said, "I was a
minister, I preached the gospel, I helped teach people about God. Why does that
bus driver get a mansion,& I get a shack?"
Peter
responded, "Well, it seems when you
preached, people slept. When the bus driver drove, people prayed."
I
hope there is no sleeping going on this morning – But really I share that story
as a reminder – All Ministers – All called to ministry
A)All Ambassadors of Christ – what we do here is
going to play a part in what we do THERE in heaven
B) The Passage we are looking at today is one where
Paul gets incredibly personal –
1)
Thus
far in our study of Galatians we have been listening to Paul the Apostle / Paul the
THEOLOGIAN / Paul fighter & defender of faith
C) But here in Ch.4 We hear Paul
the MAN / Paul the PASTOR / Paul the Passionate lover of souls [V.20 - TONE – not mad heart broken – garden]
1)
What
we see here in Paul – should be true of all of us –who desire to make an impact
upon people’s lives & who understand we are ALL called to be Christ
Ministers
In
this passage we see 5 Characteristics
of a true Shepherd or minister Look at all 5 today
A)#1 V.12 A true Minister becomes like the people he
is ministering to
Brethren, I urge you to
become like me, for I became like you. You have not injured me at all.
B) When Paul came to the region of Galatia – he came
wearing the garments of his freedom in
Christ
1)
For
so many years – Paul had been a slave to the Law – But then one day on the Rd
to Damascus – he discovered what it was like to be a Son
C) He wants his Galatian converts to become like him
– Enjoying their freedom in Christ – Not living under the Law { Not living like
slaves
When
Paul came into the region of Galatia he became like them as a gentile – He ate
their food – He lived among them-
A) Purpose to show them Christ 1 Cor 9:19-22
For
though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I
might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win
Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those
who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law(not
being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win
those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win
the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
B) Paul adapted to his surroundings – didn’t compromise – but he was mindful of who he was
seeking to minister to
1)
He didn’t want to offend them w/ his liberty or put off with his
discipline – So he adapted that he might win them !!!!
C) It is interesting when you consider the Life of
Christ – Jesus didn’t put on this RELIGIOUS attitude
– with those he ministered to
1)
He
was called the friend of Sinners – The religious leaders wondered why he ate
& drank with such People.{ Ans – He wanted to reach them
A)We are to be Salt & light – Light seen – salt
tasted in order for it to be affective { Means Rub
shoulders & interface with unbelievers
B) Unbelievers need to see us as normal people – who go
thru normal things so that they can see the affect of Christ in our lives
1)
Careful
not to project a Holier than thou – mentality :
[Blake]
C) Yugo Pool halls –
Not suggesting compromise – hang out in bars or do drugs – [ Chuck on music ]
1)But understand as foreign as it might be for you –
do that – just as foreign for them to come to Church { Start on Neutral ground
D) So Paul became like the people he was ministering
to – He adapted to his environment
#2 V13-15 A true
minister share the gospel despite his Physical afflictions
You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel
to you at the first. 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. 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
B) Some suggest that he contracted malaria while
traveling through the low, swampy regions of Pamphylia
1)
and
decided to go up into the higher and healthier area of
Galatia and minister there for a while until he was better
C) It is believed that the type of malaria that Paul
suffered from affected his eyes – perpetual Pinkeye –
always oozing & running / Painful
1)
Wasn’t
just painful for Paul – but it was painful for others to look at
Paul’s bodily condition was such that the normal
response to it was that it left people repulsed
A)But the believers in
Galatia did not despise or reject Paul
because of his affliction, as repulsive as it was.
B)Rather they received
Paul and were deeply moved that despite his condition he would still share with
them & inter act with them
1) They were so grateful for his life & ministry
that if possible they would have given him their own eyes to help him.
C)The
Pt. I want to make in this is that Paul still shared the gospel despite his
physical affliction – He lived among them – didn’t hide
1) And despite the fact that He looked grotesque much of
the time he didn’t let that hinder him from Preaching
Now I point
this out because we live in the age of excuses
A)And a lot of Christians
will use a physical infirmity or emotional set back as an excuse for not serving Christ
B)I can’t do that or I
can’t get involved there – because of ………..
1) Think of Joni Erickson Tada – She Allowed God to use
her life & weakness as a Platform for his strength & Glory
C) Paul did the same
& the Galatians loved him for it !!!!
1) He wasn’t perfect guy – He wasn’t Handsome Hunk – He
had hang ups and issues – But he didn’t let that hold him back – neither should
we
Sometimes
people will say things to me Like: I just don’t know how to be a good father
or husband – My dad was lousy / My mom …….
A)Look at Jesus – little Children – gentle – Seen me seen
the father
B) Look to Jesus & lean on the HS - Don’t make excuses for your lack
1) Jepthath – All dysfunctional – not an excuse – But it is an opportunity for God
to reveal his strength / His Power / His wisdom – seek Him
C)
Side note: Paul didn’t just live among them
- He preached – need to do both !!!
1) So #2 Paul
Preached the gospel despite his physical affliction
#3
V.16 A true Minister of the Gospel tells the truth even at the risk of being
rejected
A)These people who loved Paul for coming to them
despite his physical weakness & sharing the truth – had a Change of Heart
B) Now Paul asked in bewilderment, Have I therefore become your enemy by telling you the
truth?
C)The Galatian believers who had succumbed to the
Judaizers heresy were guilty of spiritual defection.
1)Nothing tears the heart
of a faithful pastor, teacher, or missionary more than seeing someone he has led
to the Lord turn away from the faith.
D) How much more does such defection grieve the Lord
Himself?.
Many
people appreciate a preacher or teacher only as long as he says what they want
to hear.
A)But the minute that he says something that
addresses their sin / or challenges their lifestyle – Don’t like him anymore
B) Suddenly the Pastor becomes the enemy – that is what
happened to Paul
C)The believers in Galatia had once greatly admired Paul, but now they looked on him as their enemy,
1)
All
because he confronted them with the truth about the genuine gospel of God,
which had saved them,
D) And all because he pointed out that the false teaching of the Judaizers, led them back into the bondage of legalism.
Listen
if you are going to be a true Minister for Christ – You must share the truth in
love
A)In this age of tolerance – there is way to
much emphasis placed on accepting
people – trying not make waves – don’t want to offend
B) Result we can sugar
coat the message – for the purpose of wanting people to like us
C) Avoid talking about sin / unequally yoked – or the crucified life because that might offend or make people feel uncomfortable
1)
Just
going to keep everything Positive & Generic -
D)Listen if I every start doing that – I want you to
promise me that you will leave the Church & go somewhere where the full
word is preached
Listen
you need to be leery of what you read & what you listen to if there is an
absence of an emphasis on the Crucified life
A)If there is a lack or absence on the subjects of
Denying self or Dying to self – Be leery { Not a
complete message
B) IN the same way if there is a lack of emphasis on
the grace of God and the work that the HS wants to do in you & thru you –
Be leery
1)
Not a balanced Message
C) See those subjects are major themes that are woven together in the NT – they Permeate the Teaching of Jesus & the Apostles
1)
Therefore
they need to be major themes in the Church today
So a
true minister is one who becomes like those He is ministering to/ He preaches
despite his Physical affliction / Shares the truth… ..rejected
A) #4 V.17-18 A true
minister doesn’t serve for selfish gain
They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them. But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you.
B)Paul
admits that the legalists zealously courted the Galatians; Legalism often comes
wrapped in a cloak of “love.”
1) But the end result is for no good.
C)The term translated COURT
carries the idea of taking a serious interest in someone and was often
used of a man pursuing a woman.
1)The Judaizers talk like they really care for
you," Paul was saying, "but they are
false suitors who have no genuine love for or interest in you or your
welfare."
D) They in reality were no better than a man who
pursues a woman purely for sex – only to dump her after she has been conquered
Many
cults use a technique informally known as “love bombing.” They overwhelm a prospective member with attention,
support, and affection.
A)But it isn’t really a sincere love for the prospect; it is really just a technique to gain another member.
B) Christians – and legalistic groups among Christians – can use the same technique in some way or another.
C)There are also those
in the Church - that prey upon the body of Christ.
1)
They are really not evangelistic. They
are really not out reaching the world.
D)They are only trying
to persuade the Christians to their particular doctrinal view or position.
E)And
their whole life and ministry is only to change people’s thoughts to agree with
their doctrinal position.
1) They consider it a great big
prize when they can win you over to
their persuasion. And they are very
zealous. Very persuasive
F)
But there is a selfish & prideful nature to their approach
A true minister is not ought to build his own kingdom –
He wants to build the kingdom of God
A)He
is Zealous for Good things – Biblical things See People grow !!
#5 V.19- A
true minister is in it for the long haul.
My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,
A)Paul likens himself to a “mother” who gave spiritual
“birth” to the Galatians he calls them (my little children).
1)But their situation
made him feel as if he must bring them to Jesus all over again (for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you).
C) In other words - "You
have already experienced the new birth, but now you are acting as if you need
to be spiritually born all over again.
One commentator put it this way - You make me feel like a mother who has to deliver the
same baby twice."
D)But
however abnormal and tragic their spiritual condition, Paul would not forsake
them until Christ was formed in them
1) He was in it for the long Haul- He wasn’t into birthing Children and then leaving them to fend for themselves –
E) He was committed to seeing them grow & be formed into the image of Christ – That is the goal of Christianity – Rom 8:29
More
than giving you a purpose for living / More than giving you a new outlook on
life / More than your personal happiness / More than service
A)The GOAL OF God the FATHER for your life & mine
is to make us more like Jesus
B)Everything that happens to us focuses on that one supreme purpose.
1) His primary concern is for developing our Character – Christ like
C)At
home – Represent Jesus to Kids – to your Neighbors / At work / at Play / In
ministry
1)
God is committed to that work of transformation in you
& me !!!
D)Why is that the goal ? The world desperately needs
to see Jesus – God wants them to see Him in us
1) The world desperately needs to hear Jesus – Hear
Him in us
How does
that Transformation take place ?
Rom 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore,
brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do
not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of
God.
YEILDED & SURRENDERED
2 Cor 3:18
18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror
the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to
glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.