Text: Galatians 4:12-20, Title: A Glimpse of a Shepherd’s Heart Date/Place: NRBC, 4/15/07, AM
A. Opening illustration: Lynn Anderson, in "They Smell Like Sheep relates this story: “Several years ago in Palestine, Carolyn and I rode a tour bus through Israel’s countryside nearly mesmerized as the tour guide explained the scenery, the history, and the lifestyle. In his description, he included a heart-warming portrayal of the ancient shepherd/sheep relationship. He expounded on how the shepherd builds a relationship with his sheep—how he feeds them and gently cares for them. He pointed out that the shepherd doesn’t drive the sheep but leads them, and that the shepherd does not need to be harsh with them, because they hear his voice and follow. And so on… He then explained how on a previous tour things had backfired for him as he was giving this same speech about sheep and shepherds. In the midst of spinning his pastoral tale, he suddenly realized he had lost his audience. They were all staring out the bus window at a guy chasing a ‘herd’ of sheep. He was throwing rocks at them, whacking them with sticks, and siccing the sheep dog on them. The sheep-driving man in the field had torpedoed the guide’s enchanting narrative. The guide told us that he had been so agitated that he jumped off the bus, ran into the field, and accosted the man, ‘Do you understand what you have just done to me?’ he asked. ‘I was spinning a charming story about the gentle ways of shepherds, and here you are mistreating, hazing, and assaulting these sheep! What is going on?’ For a moment, a bewildered look froze on the face of the poor sheep-chaser, then the light dawned and he blurted out, ‘Man. You’ve got me all wrong. I’m not a shepherd. I’m a butcher’” This poor unwitting fellow had just provided the tour guide and all of us with a perfect example of what a ‘good shepherd’ is not.”
B. Background to passage: After speaking of their adoption as sons in the early part of this chapter, and encouraging them to act like it, not returning to bondage under the law, Paul warns them of turning away from the gospel of grace. This is the beginning of the transition from theological argument to practical application of these truths. And what Paul does is beg and plead with them in a pastoral sense not do turn away from grace. And while there is no commendation in the letter, there is obviously a great concern that Paul has for them. This gives us some understanding to the heart of Paul, and to the relationship that a pastor should have to the flock, and vice versa.
C. Main thought: In this text we will see four aspects of Paul’s concern as a shepherd to this faltering flock.
A. Understanding and Knowledge
1. In this portion of the letter Paul expresses an intimate knowledge of these people. It is obvious that he had spent a considerable amount of time with them. Maybe he could picture some of their faces as he wrote. He said that “I have become like you.” In this he meant a Jew becoming a Gentile, but I think we can stretch it based on the rest of this passage. As a shepherd he also had a good knowledge of what was going on in the congregation. He spoke of the Judaizers “courting” the believers. He knew about their intentions and motivations. He was wise and discerning in the situation. The Hebrew word for preacher also meant one who gathers knowledge and wisdom.
2. Pro 27:23, Ps 78:72,
3. Illustration: Marriage is also hindered without understanding and knowledge between spouses. Formulated by Einstein as his Theory of Relativity. “Do you understand this theory?” It was a bad moment for me, but I did not hesitate in replying, “No, sir.” You could have heard a pin drop. I braced myself and waited. And then the slow words of the professor: “Neither do I, Mr. MacArthur. Section dismissed.” -Gen. Douglas MacArthur
4. You can see that there is to be an open and honest relationship between the sheep and the shepherd. And this really applies to anyone who is ministering to someone else. Even in cases of sin, such as this present issue, there is to be transparency and honesty. Without good knowledge and honest communication, genuine Christian fellowship cannot be achieved. And that is hard for some of us. Not everyone just tells everybody everything on there minds. There should be a respect for the office and the person of the shepherd, but not a difference in class. We are all brethren together, and I am just like one of you,
B. Fondness and Affection
1. We also see that Paul had a great fondness for them and genuine affection toward them. He remembered how they received him, even as Christ, still being impressed. He testified that they would have given him their own eyes to fix his infirmity if they could. Later he called them my dear children, speaking as a mother; using a word that was a term of endearment. Finally he told them that he longed to be with them, so that he wouldn’t have to speak so harshly. Paul genuinely love these believers, and it seemed evident that at one point they loved him too.
2. Acts 2:44-47, 1 Pet 1:22, 4:8, 1 John 3:14, 16, John 13:35, 15:12, Rom 12:10, Eph 4:2, 1 Thess 2:8,
3. Illustration: care groups at Wake Cross Roads when Erika had surgery, and we have really experienced that here since we have come, talk about when Johnny was having heart surgery,
4. There should be not only knowledge and respect between the shepherds and the sheep, but also an abundance of Christian love. Not the “I love them, but don’t like them” have to kind of love. But a love that flows from the transformed life loving another transformed life with a common brotherhood. We should commonly go out of our way to minister to others among our congregation.
C. Brokenness over Sin
1. And it was because of this knowledge and affection that we see the next thing, and that is brokenness. Paul was broken over the sin that had invaded the congregation. He was crushed that Satan had come in and begun to destroy what he had begun. He was concerned that individual lives might be in eternal danger because of the corruption in view here. He asked them if he had become an enemy. He was hurt that they had only pursued righteousness and pure doctrine in his presence, but stopped in his absence. The last line says that he has doubts, but that word really means confusion or bewilderment. He is thinking, “man, did I not teach you anything.” This is why it is crucial to stay in the word inside an outside of the church.
2. 1 Cor 5:2, 2 Tim 4:10, Jude 1:22-23,
3. Illustration: Thomas Jefferson founded the University of Virginia. The misbehavior of students led to a riot in which professors who tried to restore order were attacked. The following day a meeting was held between the university’s board, of which Jefferson was a member, and defiant students. Jefferson began by saying, “This is one of the most painful events of my life,” suddenly he was overcome by emotion, and burst into tears. Another board member asked the rioters to come forward and give their names. Nearly every one did. Later, one of them said, “It was not Mr. Jefferson’s words, but his tears.” Just like the student was moved by Jefferson’s brokenness, so is God by ours. When we are truly broken and sorry for our sins, this leads to repentance, “Nothing tears at the heart of a faithful pastor, teacher, youth worker, teacher, church member, or missionary so much as seeing someone he has led to the Lord turn away from the faith. How much more does such defection grieve the Lord Himself.” – MacArthur, “They were guilty not only of sheep stealing but also of soul butchering. This is why Paul could not simply shrug his shoulders, shake the dust off his feet, and move on to some other venue where he would like be more appreciated.”
4. Whether the sin is in the leadership or the congregation, we should be broken over the invasion of sin into the life of a believer. And much like Paul, we cannot stand by and watch our fellow believers walk blindly down the tunnel to the slaughterhouse. Our love should compel us to intervene and help save others from destruction. Our love should compel us to weep and pray for God to intervene. Cast aside feelings of self-righteousness, and replace them with “if not for the grace of God…” When was the last time that you wept over sin and the spiritual destruction that someone is bringing on themselves, not over circumstances? When was the last time that you warned a sinning brother or sister with a tear in your eye?
D. Single-mindedness in Purpose
1. And this is probably the most important truth of all. Paul’s goal was to see Christ formed, or shaped in them. This word means to take shape as a piece of clay in the hands of a potter on the inside and outside. Paul says that he is willing to go through labor pains again to bring this about. He wants Christ to shine through their lives. And he will labor, preach, teach, intervene, warn, pray, beg, plead, and do everything else in his power to ensure that Christ is ultimately formed in them!
2. Col 2:6, Rom 8:29, 2 Cor 3:18,
3. Illustration: “that they who know anything of religion know it is a vital union with the Son of God – Christ formed in the heart.” – George Whitefield, I ordered a book to read the other day called, “Think Like Jesus,” Gandhi was actually considering becoming a Christian. He was attracted by the life and teachings of Jesus. Gandhi attended the services of a church in Pretoria, South Africa. He later wrote, "The congregation did not strike me as being particularly religious; they were not an assembly of devout souls, but appeared rather to be worldly-minded people going to church for recreation and in conformity to custom." Christianity, he concluded, could not add anything of value to Hinduism.
4. This is the goal of God in all of our lives. Every experience that we have is shaping us if we will let it. This is the goal of all ministry that we do. To see Christ in other people. To have them look like, talk like, act like, speak like, walk like, think like Jesus. As a pastor, this what I want to see, Christ in you. As a teacher, friend, or church member, this is what we want to do. This happens by faith and through the Spirit of God transforming us. If we lack this quality, we may actually push others away. Is Christ being formed in you? Is he being formed in the lives of those in your family, in your SS class, in your DT class, in this church? Do we look like the One whose name we bear?
A. Closing illustration: “The church needs people who in listening to their pastor, listen for the message of Christ, and pastors who, in laboring among the people, look for the image of Christ” – John Stott, “May God grant the church today ministers of the gospel possessed of the constancy of Paul, ministers of God who will not turn and run at the first sound of opposition, but who will lovingly stand their ground, weeping, pleading, praying until Christ be completely formed in the precious souls that have been given to their charge.”
B. Recap
C. Invitation to commitment
