Bible Study - Glue (4) - Stick with Service - Galatians 5:13-15; 6:1-5, 10 - May 17, 2015

Bible Study – Glue (4) – Stick with Service – May 17, 2015

This is lesson four (4) in our series entitled “Like Glue: Make Relationships Stick.”

Our focus scripture is Galatians 5:13-15; 6:1-5, 10.

Seize the opportunity to serve.

Today how do we view service in the world and in the church? How often do we walk into a business and employees are talking to each other or texting and ignoring the customer? As members of a church do we as church members reach out to visitors, the community around us and within our congregation with an attitude of service? As Christians, do we serve as the result of our relationship with CHRIST with a loving attitude or out of necessity or begrudgingly?

Consider the attitude of the conscientious employee versus the employee who is just filling a spot and the Christian who is obedient to the calling of CHRIST versus a Christian in name only.  A person whose desire is to serve seeks the opportunity to serve and is vigilant.

JESUS came to earth to serve. HE did not do HIS will but HE did the will of HIS Father. HE set the example of obedient service for all Christians.

The key is for Christians to look around to see where GOD is working and when they see GOD working it is their invitation to join HIM in HIS work. GOD opens the eyes of opportunity.

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Christians in Galatia. After establishing the church in Galatia, Paul left but while he was gone the Judaizers came to Galatia. The Judaizers were Jewish Christians who taught that a person had to first become a Jew and obey the Mosaic Law and be circumcised before he could become a Christian. 

Paul was greatly concerned how the Gentile Christians were so easily duped into accepting the teaching of the Judaizers. The Judaizers taught that JESUS only came for the Jews, therefore, a person had to first become a Jew before he or she could become a Christian. This was an issue with the Gentiles.

Paul had taught that faith in CHRIST was all a person needed to become a Christian and he or she was free from the ritual of following the Mosaic Law. But Paul cautioned that although free from the dictates of the law they were not to follow the dictates of the flesh. Through their love relationship with CHRIST, they, in turn, would love their neighbor as themselves thus fulfilling the desires of GOD for their lives. Let’s explore!

Let’s read Galatians 5:13-15:

13 For you were called to be free, brothers; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself. 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.

Paul made it clear that Christians were called to freedom but not to be free to serve the flesh but to serve one another. When Christians have the attitude of loving others as they love themselves their attitude toward others will change. They will have unity and will not be hostile to others. They will see others as opportunities to obediently serve as led by the Holy Spirit.

How do we as Christians look at our neighbor? Some we love and adore but others?

Our love for others reflects our relationship with GOD through our relationship with CHRIST. If we consume one another then we cease to exist. So what is important? The Apostle addressed this in the following scriptures:

Galatians 6:13-15:

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.

Romans 12:2:

2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Transformation into the image of CHRIST is to be the focus of all Christians.

Our focus scripture fast forwards to clarify how Christians are to deal with issues among the church body as we read our next scripture. Christians were not to allow fellow Christians to live like they wanted, even though they had freedom, but there were times when discipline was necessary.

Let’s read Galatians 6:1-5:

1 • Brothers, if someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so you also won’t be tempted. 2 Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But each person should examine his own work, and then he will have a reason for boasting in himself alone, and not in respect to someone else. 5 For each person will have to carry his own load.

The Apostle Paul addresses fellow Christians by referring to them as “brothers.” If a fellow Christian was “caught” in any “wrongdoing,” those who were Spiritual should restore the perpetrator with a gentle Spirit. Christians must be held accountable by “those who are Spiritual” not the Spiritually blind.

Here we have several things:

-         The word “caught” can mean that the one caught was surprised that he or she ended up entangled in wrongdoing. It can also mean that someone suspected that a certain Christian was doing something wrong and a trap was set and it caught the Christian. The idea is not to catch the person to do him or her harm but to restore.

-         Wrongdoing captures the idea of either an unintentional or purposeful offense.

-         Restore carries the idea of counseling and helping the perpetrator bring the wrongdoing under his or her control.

-         A gentle Spirit. This Spiritual person is not to be judgmental but to focus on restoration as he or she seeks wisdom from GOD to counsel the perpetrator. Usually a person who has a gentle Spirit has been caught up in wrongdoing and gotten through it a much wiser person. Such a person has compassion for others and desires for the perpetrator to be restored. It captures the essence of “but for the grace of GOD there go I.” Just living in the world can teach us to avoid certain things in life; we don’t necessarily have to experience them.

-         Keeping a close eye on ourselves lest we be tempted to fall victim to temptation is critical. When the blind lead the blind both fall into the ditch. If the person trying to help another person is tempted, then he or she is little or no value to the person he or she is attempting to help. All Christians are sinners saved by “grace.” Christians are not to measure themselves using another Christian as their standard but the true measure and standard is CHRIST.

-         Carry carries the idea of “removal,” “to take up,” “endure,” to come along the side of the perpetrator with wise counsel and support. The purpose of being available to the perpetrator is to help lighten his or her load or burden. Often having someone to talk to helps relieve the struggles in dealing with situations.

-         Paul wrote that carrying one another’s burdens fulfills the “law of CHRIST. What is the “law of CHRIST?” CHRIST summed it up in Matthew 22:37-40: 37 He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important command. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.” It is all about relationship. First, Christians must be in an intimate relationship with GOD through faith in CHRIST. Such an intimate relationship produces unity because the Christian is intimate with the true vine, CHRIST, which produces fruit. The Christian is ready to serve because he or she realizes that GOD’S handiwork is flowing through him or her. Christians realize that the results they see being manifested, is not about them but they are about GOD’S plan and purpose being achieved.

-         The greatest danger of all is for the Christian coming to the aid of another person caught in wrongdoing is for the Spiritual person to pat him or herself on the back and think “I do not have that problem.” That is when the restorer must keep a very close eye on him or herself. A Christian should never become complacent or think he or she can never fall victim to sin or wrongdoing. That is when Christians are the most vulnerable.

-         Each Christian has his or her hands full just taking care of his or her burdens and often need help.

The Apostle Paul segue ways to application.

Let’s read Galatians 6:10:

10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, we must work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.

Seize the moment. Opportunities give Christians an entry point to become involved in the lives of others. Christians must work for the good of all, especially fellow Christians. But the statement “good for all” applies to all humans as GOD gives the opportunity but giving special attention to fellow Christians.

Working for the “good of all” is often a very tall order. It is doing the right thing when it comes to discipline and counsel but in a wise manner so as not to cause major harm in the true Spiritual body. Working for the “good of all” is doing so at the right moment in time. Christians are to seize the opportunity at that instant because the opportunity may never open up again.

Christians need to have such an intimate relationship with GOD that as they see HIM working, they are ready to seize the moment when the opportunity presents itself.

GOD’S desire is for every Christian to be made in the image of CHRIST. 

JESUS said that HE did or said only the things GOD told HIM to do or say. 

JESUS was intimate with GOD, HIS Father and that is why Christians must be intimate with GOD their Father through faith in CHRIST. As GOD speaks and shows us what HE is doing that puts us on alert to respond as HE gives opportunity. It is exciting to see GOD’S hand at work through us as HE leads us.

Once Christians have this experience, they must be careful not to rush headlong into situations which they need to wait upon the LORD. That knowledge comes with growing and maturing Spiritually through the process of sanctification. Blessings!!!