Who Did Hinder You? – Page 3 – I'm Following Jesus

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, 2019
Chapters: Galatians 4-6
Message: Who Did Hinder You?

Hello My Friend,

We can praise God that we are still free to open a Bible and preach about Christ. A lot of countries do not have that luxury. In fact, they are not even allowed to carry a Bible, if anyone were to get caught with one, it would be taken and burned. This is, of course, Satan’s attempt to destroy the very words of God to keep them from being told. And let me tell you, even with God’s Word right in front of us, Satan is attempting to destroy its truths in the way it is being taught. This is what is being done with God’s Word in churches today, and actually has been since Moses penned down the first five books of the Bible, which are known as the Law. We must understand that God designed the Bible so that we never stop reading it, and learn something new each time, but if what we are being taught goes far off the path of what we know is true, then we need to get off that path because they actually hindering us from the truth. “For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?” – Galatians 5:5-7.

“who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?” I will tell you that empathy is not one of my strong suits, I can thank several people of whom have taken advantage of my good graces for that. However, God will guide me when there is someone sincerely hurting who just needs some guidance from a nonjudgmental, godly perspective. 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 who really is desperate for some kind of hope. The problem comes when, without realizing it, they do become judgmental in that instead of showing them the love of Jesus, they enforce law, which by the way, none of us are able to keep. As Paul continues his letter to the Galatians he reminds them that it was Jesus who set us free from the Law.

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?” – Galatians 4:4-9.

“how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements,” Paul is asking them why they would return to ceremonial law, which was never really able to set the free, and hold themselves in bondage to it. Jesus set us free from the Law at the cross. Amen! Paul ensures this. “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 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. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.” – Galatians 5:1-4,10,13-15.

“that he is a debtor to do the whole law.” Okay, so, we are all sinners saved by grace, but the second one thinks that you have to act or do exactly as so and so, then that is no longer justified by grace, but by the Law. 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 and instead of answering it in an empathetic way she responded rather harshly, and that woman never returned. Of course, we are not to use our liberty of Christ setting us free from the bondage of sin as an occasion to feed our flesh, but we are to love them as Christ loves us. And besides, none of us are without sin, remember, the woman caught in adultery? Jesus said let the one who is without sin cast the first stone, and they all fled (John 8:7). You cannot reach people and show them how to get out of sin by ganging up on them, and casting harsh judgment upon them, you reach them by showing them the love of Jesus. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” – I Corinthians 6:9-11.

“And such were some of you:” None of us are without sin, and Jesus has really rescued some of us from a huge pit. Therefore, let us not hinder those who truly are seeking Jesus, and our help to get out of the pits they may be in. Paul even addresses how we are to handle those who are living in sin, and seeking help to overcome it.

“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. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden. 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. 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. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 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. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.” – Galatians 6:1-5,9-10,12-15.

“But let every man prove his own work,” Here is the key, we are responsible for our own actions, if we take care to remove the sin from our lives then we will not be so judgmental of others. And then, we can come to them with our concerns for them, and be able to help them through the love of Jesus, just as He does with us. “that they may glory in your flesh.” Do you see what it is all about, why they enforce rules on you that they do not follow themselves? This is to make themselves look good. Let me tell you, the number one reason people are quick accuse you is because they are trying to hide their own sin from being exposed. This is why Jesus had to tell us to remove the beam or sin from ourselves before we judge someone about what we assume is theirs. “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” – Matthew 7:3-5.

“and then shalt thou see clearly” You see, much of what we assume is sin may not be at all. Yes, we all should abstain from the appearance of evil, but what we see as evil may not necessarily be evil. People see what they want to see, and that may not always be the truth of the matter. This is why we need to take care to make sure we remove those beams in our eyes so that we can see what is really going on, if we are quick to judge before we know the matter, then we are the ones who turn out to be the fools. As Paul asked, “Who hindered you that you did not obey the truth? The key to our not hindering others is actually for us to not hinder ourselves. Then we will see more clearly, and not be so judgmental of others. The only way we can stop hindering ourselves is by walking in the Spirit to begin with. “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.” – Galatians 5:16-18,22-26.

Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for Your endless mercies and grace to save a sinner like me. And thank You for Your truths that show me exactly what I ought to be doing to be able to not only fellowship with You, but be one of Your very own children. And the only way we can do either is by accepting Your Son as our Saviour. By grace, through our faith in Your Son, we know we are saved, and not of our works. Your love for us is truly unconditional, nevertheless, we who are saved take care to learn Your Word in humble adoration to give thanks for all You have done for us. Lord, Lead us and guide us, let us not forget that we are not under the Law, but grace, therefore, we learn to walk in Your Spirit as to not fulfill the lusts of our flesh, rather the fruit of Your Spirit. As we walk with You, let us not hinder others from coming to You, but show them Your love through our actions. And let us not hinder ourselves with anything that we might be doing that is displeasing to You. Lord, I love You and ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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