"Do Gooders" with an Outward Focus" - Galatians 6.9-10 - 141228AM@TBC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo9CqazSUc4

Introduction

1. Have everybody stand to read the TBC Church Covenant

The covenant of the church is as follows:

o  We, the Members of this Church … covenant together, God helping us…

o  That as strangers and pilgrims we will refrain from fleshly lusts. (I Peter 2: 11)

o  2. That we will put away from us all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven us. (Eph. 4:31-32)

o  3. That as we have opportunity, we will do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. (Gal. 6: 10)

o  4. That we will remember them who have the rule over us who speak unto us the Word of God. That we submit to the loving oversight and discipline of the Members and officers of this Church of Christ. (Heb. 13:7, 17)

o  5. And that we will give as God has prospered us, not grudgingly, or of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. (I Cor. 16:2; II Cor. 9:7)

o  2. Review Covenant

5commitments of the church covenant

1. STRANGERS with a heavenly home.

2. FORGIVERS with a tender heart.

3. DO GOODERS with an outward look.

4. FOLLOWERS with a submissive spirit.

5. GIVERS with a generous joy.

Today I would like to focus our attention on #3.

o  3. OT Story illustration

Jonathan asked David to promise “ to not cut of your kindness to my house forever.”  1 Samuel 20.14-15

&   2 Samuel 9.1 ff
“Is there still anyone from the house of Saul that I may show kindness to?”

Instructions to the kids

o  6. Big Idea

“Let us do good.” 

With an outward (and upward) look.

I.  Context:

1) The book…

…having launched their Christian experience by faith, seem content to leave their voyage of faith and chart a new course based on works of the law…

3.1-3  Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?

5.13  …do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

2) The Passage

] 5.16, 25 ff.  “walking in the Spirit”  which path are you on? 

vs. “walking in the flesh” conceit and envy v. 26

not just about reforming actions  The key is not the works but the Spirit

The G.O.S.P.E.L.  Transformation not just reformation

] 6.2 “one another”

] 6.8  “lasting investments”

2) After

] 6.12  Contrast with circumcision and those who want to “make a good showing in the flesh”

As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

] 6.13 And in contrast with verse 2, laying the laws burdens on others they can’t carry themselves

For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.

Read the Text:

Galatians 6:7-10  esp.10  (nkjv)

⁷ Do not be deceived,

God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

⁸ For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption,

but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

⁹ And let us not grow weary while doing good,

for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity,

let us do good to all,

especially to those who are of the household of faith.

¹¹ See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! ¹² As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. ¹³ For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 

II. Key Ideas:

A. v.8 Sowing to the Spirit for eternal benefit vrs to the flesh

] his own…  G1438 - heautou: himself, herself, itself, themselves

] flesh… G4561 - sarx: flesh (the soft substance of the living body, which covers the bones and is permeated with blood) of both man and beasts; fig.  denotes mere human nature, the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence, and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God

niv84—sinful nature; wuestnt—evil nature; nlt—sinful nature

1 Corinthians 15.42ff

⁴² So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.

B. v.9 Hope of a Harvest

Do not lose heart… “The word faint kjv  is from ekluo (eκλυο) which was used of reapers overcome by heat and toil. The word means “to relax effort, to become exhausted physically.” --Wuest Word Studies

nasb—grow weary; kjv—faint not; nkjv, rsv—not lose heart; esv, niv84, nlt—not give up; wuestnt—become enfeebled through exhaustion and faint

&   Hebrews 10.23-25   Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, ²⁵ not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

C. Doing good to all

] do…  to toil (as a task, occupation, etc.), (by implication) effect, be engaged in or with, etc

nasb--let us do; wuestnt— let us be working that which is good to all,

] good… G18 - agathos: "good" (in any sense, often as noun)  “describes that which, being "good" in its character or constitution, is beneficial in its effect; it is used”  --Vine’s Exp. Dict.

!  “The word good is preceded by the article.

&   Heb. 13:16  For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. ¹⁵ Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. ¹⁶ But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

 to all / everyone

to someone. It is intentional. 

Generous and liberal.  To all kinds of people.

  D. Especially to the household of [the] faith

] especially…  G3122 - malista: (adverbially) most (in the greatest degree) or particularly

] household…  G3609 – [οἰκεῖος]  oikeios: belonging to a house (domestic) or family (kindred); belonging to, adherents of

Eph. 2.19 "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household [οἰκεῖοι - oikeioi] of God; "

1 Tim. 5.8 “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house [οἰκείων - oikeiōn], he hath denied the faith..."

nasb--those who are of the household of the faith; niv84--family of believers; nlt—family of faith… 

 “It is easier to write out a check for a starving child halfway around the world than to share the burden of our next-door neighbor who talks too much.”  --Eugene Peterson in Traveling Light via Chuck Swindoll

 "Charity begins at home.”

III. Motivations:

A. Sowing to the Spirit 6.8

(to walk in the Spirit 5.16)

Sanctification through humble faith, not proud works  Gal 3.3

Our self-gratification whether through the works of the flesh (5.18-21) or the making a good showing in the flesh is empty and decaying.

Titus 3.14 And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.

B. The Love of Christ

to fulfill the law of Christ  v.2

The legalist is not interested in bearing burdens. Instead, he adds to the burdens of others (Acts 15:10). This was one of the sins of the Pharisees in Jesus’ day: “For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers” (Matt. 23:4).     —-Wiersbe, Warren W.: The Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, Ill. : Victor Books, 1996, c1989, S. Ga 6:1

to follow Christ’s example “who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil,” Peter to Cornelius and others in Acts 10.38

C. Hope of reaping

“to reap in the right time”

When we look away from ourselves to where Christ is seated in heaven and set our affections there, we sow a fruitful seed that yields an eternal harvest.

1 Corinthians 15.58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

IV. Applications:

“Is there anyone that I may show kindness to?”

Intentional:

] This is more than random acts of kindness done on a whim.

] Just as God hates a heart that devises evil, He loves a heart that devises good.
Proverbs 6
¹⁶ These six things the Lord hates, …¹⁸ A heart that devises wicked plans,

] This is intentional, generous, frequent work. 

Attentive: 

] What do you look for when you walk into church building?

] Do you know your neighbor?  Are you looking for opportunites?

Motivated: 

] By Christ’s love for us and His example of an outward look toward others.

] The expectation of reaping in God’s time

“Sometimes spiritual fainting is caused by a lack of devotion to the Lord. It is interesting to contrast two churches that are commended for “work, labor, and patience” (1 Thes. 1:3; Rev. 2:2). The church at Ephesus had actually left its first love and was backslidden (Rev. 2:4–5). Why? The answer is seen in the commendation to the Thessalonian church: “Work of faith, labor of love, patience of hope.” Not just work, labor, and patience, but the proper motivation: “faith, love, and hope.” How easy it is for us to work for the Lord, but permit the spiritual motivation to die. Like the priests of Israel that Malachi addressed, we serve the Lord but complain, “Behold, what a weariness is it” (Mal. 1:13).”  --W. Wiersbe in BEC

The motivation is KEY

Not just good works in the flesh for the flesh

] Do you have a patient hope for eternal life?

] Do you have a firm faith that God will supply an eternal harvest?

] Do you have a living love of Christ for you  as your motivator?

1 Thessalonians 1

2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, 4 knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.