King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Chapters: Galatians Chapters 4-6
Message: We Shall Reap Unless We Faint
Hello My Friend,
These past few days have been trying on my spirit, I have roller coaster faith, am not really happy, and just want to throw in the towel and give up and no matter how much I pray or praise God it is not enough. There is a song that keeps playing in my mind, Hear My Heart, this is the chorus, [When there are no words to say and no prayer that I can pray, hear my heart. When I don’t have strength to try and I’ve cried all I can cry, hear my heart. Cause you know every fear and every doubt I cannot speak, You know all the ways I need you and all the ways I’m weak. So I’ll be quiet so you can hear my heart.]
God, reminded me that while I do mess up from time to time, I am no different than any one of the men and women of God who are written in His Word. Well, I have to say that that made me even more emotional and wondering why God is so merciful to me. Then God, gave me this reminder also, [Galatians 6:7-10 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 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. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.]
It does not matter if we are tired and weary and feel like giving up sometimes, God, knows what is truly inside us and we may end up falling and getting up a thousand times in our walk with Christ, the important thing to remember is that we are saved by the grace of God through our faith in His Son. As we come to the end of the reading of Galatians, Paul, gives us a pretty awesome and perhaps a little overwhelming revelation into those who receive Christ as their Saviour.
[Galatians 4:1-7 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.]
[because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son] In other words, God, had already predestined that He would give His most precious creation, which is mankind, His Spirit and not only that, make them one of His own sons and daughters through their faith in His only begotten Son. Now, many Christians have good intentions, they mean well when they offer guidance, but if they are not careful they often hinder, rather than help a person’s faith. The problem comes when, without realizing it, they become judgmental and enforce what is written in the Law, which by the way, none of us are able to keep. And that was Paul’s biggest concern for writing this letter to the Galatians.
[Galatians 4:10-16 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. 11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. 12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all. 13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. 14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. 15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. 16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?]
[Am I therefore become your enemy,] Paul, is saying that until he confronted them with the truth of their mixing the Law with grace they were right there by his side, even willing to lose an eye to protect him, but now he is seen as an enemy. If there is one thing that we need to stand firm on is that while we are to respect the Law of Moses we are still under the Law of grace and no one needs to banter us about stance, [Colossians 2:18,20-22 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?]
Yes, even though we are children of God and not servants, we do serve God through His Spirit and not our flesh. Jesus set us free from the Law at the cross, if we are living a life of sin after we are saved, then we should expect that our body would suffer for it. Just think about this, Christ does so much more than save our soul from hell when we accept Him as our Saviour, and we thank Him by staying in bondage to our flesh? This is what Paul is reminding the Galatians, we are no longer under the Law, but that does not mean that we are free to life in sin, doing that only holds us in bondage.
[Galatians 4:21-24,26 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.]
[but he of the freewoman was by promise.] Before Christ came, those who wanted God in their lives had to confess sin and bring a sacrifice to God continuously in order to be redeemed and make atonement for their sin. Jesus, settled that once and for all when He became the sacrifice, and therefore, we are to remove ourselves from that bondage, even if that means we let go of things that hinder us.
[Galatians 4:28-31 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.]
[we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.] This applies to all believers of Christ, not only in our being joint heirs with Him, but children of Abraham as well, [Genesis 22:16-18 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: 17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.]
As saved born again Christians we must understand that it is okay to disagree at times because the Holy Spirit directs all as they are able to bear. So, what one sees as something acceptable another may not and that is perfectly fine unless it is in regards to the Gospel as any belief or doctrine that alters or changes the Gospel in any way is not acceptable by God. In the case of the Galatians, they were adding circumcision to salvation and Paul goes on to address this.
[Galatians 5:1-8 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. 7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? 8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.]
[to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.] Paul, is referring to those who were getting circumcised believing that it was necessary in order to keep their salvation. First of all; we cannot pick and choose what commandments we want to follow out of the Law, if we are going to account to one then we are accountable for them all. And two; we cannot mix the Law with grace, again, that creates another gospel, which is not acceptable to God, and there is a warning to all who do.
[Galatians 5:10-15 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. 11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. 12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you. 13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.]
[if ye bite and devour one another,] Let me tell you, there is more strife and judgment in the Church among one another than there is among those in the world. I remember when I first dedicated my life to Christ, I was sitting in a Bible study class where a woman who recently got saved asked a question about psychological reasoning about sin and instead of answering it in an empathetic way she responded rather harshly, and that woman never returned. You cannot reach people and show them how to get out of sin by casting harsh judgment upon them because they do not know any better. We are all guilty of committing one of these sins that are manifested of the flesh.
[Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.]
[they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.] Just think about that statement, all of these sins of the flesh have nothing, but pride, ego, and lust attached to it, and if you truly want Christ in your life, then we will not desire the things of the flesh. Paul, is not saying that those who cheat on their spouses or are alcoholics cannot be saved, he is saying that these are the very things that keeps a person from seeking repentance. I can account that it is possible for a truly saved person to get caught up in sin, but since they belong to Jesus, they will eventually return to Him, which leads them to become great testimonies, walking in the Spirit.
[Galatians 5:22-25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.]
[they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.] By allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us we are no longer bound to the Law, meaning we are justified by our faith in Christ, not by the works of the Law. However, the Holy Spirit that indwells us wires us to walk in the Spirit and even enjoy it. And let me tell you, there is a joy that comes from letting go of the people and things that expose us to the works of the flesh and avoiding them by walking in the Spirit. None of us are without sin, therefore, let us not hinder those who are seeking Jesus, and let us also not become weary in our walking in the Spirit either. Paul, stresses the importance of this.
[Galatians 6:1-6 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For every man shall bear his own burden. 6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.]
[For every man shall bear his own burden.] I know this sounds like a contradiction, but it is not, while we are help each other out by whatever means the Holy Spirit leads us, we must also keep ourselves in check so that we do not get weary and end up falling ourselves. Paul, concludes his letter with that advice.
[Galatians 6:12-17 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. 17 From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.]
[lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.] Every scar that we get as we walk our lives with Christ shows Christ through us. There is no joy that the world can obtain better than what we get through Christ, knowing He is with us every step of the way is all the hope we need in this life. Christ set you free when He died on the cross for you, if you believe that then, there is hope for you to get out of any situation you are in. He can bring you out of bondage, however, you must let Him help you. Put your trust in Him and He will set you free, [John 8:31-32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Galatians 4:6-7 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.]
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, Thank You for giving Your life on the cross for me. Thank You, for saving my soul, and setting me free from the bondage of religion and dead works that could never have saved me. Lord, I do not want to use my liberty for my flesh, rather to give honor and glory to You by living my life through You. Lead me and guide me, cover me with Your mercy, grace, and protection. Remove from me the desire to walk in my flesh and give me Your strength to walk it Your Spirit, for He indwells in me. Let me be a witness and testimony of Your power, and teach others the importance of knowing You as their Saviour. May Your Light shine through me more with each and every scar. I pray these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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