FOLLOWING JESUS INTO THE UNKNOWN 2018 - Help Others on the Road
January 28, 2018
Galatians 6:1-10 (p. 813)
Introduction:
I remember a couple of years ago being at Mom’s on a Friday to cut grass and the riding mower wasn’t acting right…and before you call me a wimp about using a riding mower…it’s almost 3 acres. The engine was running fine, but the transmission was slipping and the belt needed to be adjusted…the first step was to take off a cover plate…not a problem…the second step was to get both rear wheels off the ground…problem!!! I tried lifting one side and scooting a cinder block under it with my foot…I tried (not intelligently) to pick up the back end and set it on the cinder block alone. It was too heavy to move by myself. It was too big of a job for one person.
So, I went inside and got my big brother Sam. We lifted the rear of the tractor together and set it on the cinder block…then after I adjusted the pulley and belt we lifted the tractor blade off the block and put it on the ground. Sam is an awesome big brother. He even took Mom and I out to eat after I was done. After we got through I thought, you know, there are some things that are just too heavy for someone to carry alone…It’s the Christian principle we see here in Galatians 6…when it comes to sin, spiritual burdens and struggles, some of them are too big for us to carry alone.
King Solomon writes as the preacher in Ecclesiastes 4:9-10: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. If one falls down his friend can help him get up, but pity the man who falls and has no one to help him get up.”
“Pity the man” (I hear Mr. T’s voice in the back of my head… “Pity the Fool.”)
VIDEO OF MR. T “I PITY THE FOOL”
The guy who stumbles, he trips, he’s hurt…He’s fallen and he can’t get up.
He’s alone…no first alert button, the cell phone’s out of reach, he’s hurt bad and there’s no one to help him out…could it get any worse? Well maybe if some thugs showed up, beat the stuffin’ out of him and stole his wallet…and left him all alone.
As we follow Jesus into the unknown it’s essential we realize that others are on the same journey. They’re on the same road with us…and sometimes they need help.
They need:
I. RESCUE FROM A DEADLY TRAP
I don’t know why it happens, but many times when someone falls into the trap of sin people respond with judgment criticism and condescension…the cold shoulder and ostracism.
And folks, I’m not saying that we should treat sin lightly…It cost Jesus His life on a cross.
But, what I am saying is…when He was given the opportunity to throw rocks…he chose forgiveness.
I just don’t believe that we should treat other sinners as if we’re not!
The Apostle Paul uses a word picture in our text in regard to someone caught in sin…the original Greek word means a “snare.” The animal steps into the loop and before they know it…it tightens around their leg and holds them securely.
“Brothers (He’s speaking to Christians), if someone is caught in a sin…you who are spiritual should restore him gently.”
Satan isn’t nearly as powerful as God, but he is powerful and we are warned in scripture to be aware of his schemes and to be self controlled and alert…Why? “Our enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
He’s not Garfield, he’s no kitty cat…He’s a hungry, angry, wild beast looking for a kill.
We get a clear view of how he operates in Ephesians 6:10-12
EPHESIANS 6:10-12 (p. 817)
Satan plans, he schemes, he works with his demonic forces laying traps, setting out snares.
And we know for sure, “someone’s gonna get caught.” We know because every single one of us has stepped into that snare…I’ve yet to meet a Christian whose told me…“Yep, got baptized and been perfect since that day!”
So let’s address what happens when a Christian is caught in sin and also how spiritual men and women respond.
As long as we live in this body here on earth we will be prone to sin, even after the Holy Spirit moves in, sin still attracts my flesh and it’s desires…we are drawn to quick pleasure and instant gratification…even if it only lasts a “season” or could have consequences.
It’s why we get caught…and there are times Satan’s snare is more likely.
1st when we’re babies in Christ…newer Christians with not a lot of foundation or roots. In fact I often warn new believers…be careful because after your commitment publicly here at Church, Satan’s gonna test that commitment privately in the world.
The 2nd is close to the list…it’s after a spiritual commitment…Satan will test it…and God will let it be tested…After Jesus’ baptism came, the wilderness and Satan’s temptations. Often when God’s Spirit moves in us to take the next step…following Jesus into the unknown Satan wants us to trip over worldly stuff early in the journey.
And the 3rd scares me the most when it comes to the church…it’s when we get so proud of who we think we are that we believe “no snare or trap” will catch us. It’s why God’s word warns: “Pride goes before the fall and a haughty Spirit before destruction.” (Proverbs 16:18)
Arrogance is the greatest hindrance to a Spiritual heart.
When Paul writes this warning, it’s a powerful guideline for us as Christians.
“But watch yourself or you also may be tempted…If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to someone else.”
When you become critical, judgmental and haughty as a follower of Christ, and refuse to gently restore the fallen brother or sister…it’s going to be devastating when your son gets arrested, or daughter gets pregnant, or marriage falls apart.
It’s so easy to feel OK about yourself if you compare your relationship to Christ with someone whose caught in sin…God’s Word warns…be careful about using this method of evaluation…it makes you arrogant…and you sure can’t lovingly restore the fallen with a heart like that.
Each of us, in Christ, have two loads to carry…our own, our lives, our relationship with God, using the gifts and talents He’s give us…and the 2nd load is our brother or sister’s in Christ, who is trapped under a burden too heavy for them to lift on their own.
But there is an aspect to being caught in sin that must be addressed
II. SECRET AND HIDDEN SINS ARE ENSLAVING
“Do not be deceived, God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature from that nature will reap destruction, the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” (v. 7-8)
There is a huge difference between falling into sin and living in sin.
You might fall into a mud puddle, but it’s not the same thing as wallowing around in it.
What happens when we sin? We break God’s law…we need to repent and be cleansed…Jesus has promised to do that.” 1 John 1:9 says: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Then it goes on and says, “If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His Word has no place in us.”
This passage is written to Christians…Sin is still a struggle…the remedy is repentance and confession…the result is cleansing and freedom…hiding our sin, company our sins to others, keeping a secret life…creates arrogance, distance to God and others…it’s enslavery.
“Me…struggle with sin? Not anymore!!! that statement says, “God you’re a liar!”
“God…look at their sin! It’s a lot worse than mine…that statement says: “I think a lot of myself.”
Listen to what John writes in His first letter.
1 JOHN 3:4-10 (p. 856)
That doesn’t take a theology degree to understand…“No one who is born of God will continue to sin…because God’s seed remains in them…They cannot go on sinning because they have been born of God.”
Either we are pretending to be Christians or we’ve been born again and God’s Spirit dwells in us…God doesn’t lie…so each of us struggle with sin…and we have two choices.
Live in authentic relationship with Jesus letting confessions break it’s chains, we share life with others who struggle with sin just like us. Our desire and our goal is to be holy as our Father is holy…when we stumble…we run to Him for cleansing, we help others avoid the same traps and help them out when they get caught…restoration is the goal…not condemnation.
Or, we live our lives in continuous sin…we remain addicted to internet porn (hidden behind closed doors naturally). We pretend to love our wives like Christ loved the church…but treat them with harshness and criticism privately…we pretend to be upright, white collar perfect example’s of what church goers are…all while we present one thing to the community…the God who sees everything, and nothing in all creation is hidden from…knows…It’s unconfessed, hidden from people, disguised with pride…as Paul the Apostle says: “It’s become our Master.”
A genuine authentic walk with God involves a very real daily battle with sin. Jesus knows that…He’s called us to “know His truth and be set free”…we have a victory through Christ…and a Spirit that reminds us to be Holy when we are not.
It would be easy to give up and give in…or pretend…That’s why our text ends with:
“Let us not become weary in doing good…there will be harvest for and authentic Jesus follower. Because that’s true…look for who you can serve…look for the next opportunity to do good…to all people…but especially to other Christians who are trying to take the next step toward Jesus.
[One of the greatest heartbreaks of the 1988 winter Olympics was the story of speed skater Dan Janzen. Just hours before his race his sister lost her battle with Leukemia. She’d battled it for 9 years. Heartbroken he took the track to race for his sister…when the gun sounded, he sprinted from the starting line only to have his skates lose traction causing him to slam into the protective barriers in the 1st corner. 4 days later in the 1000 meter race…he fell again. Our entire country mourned for him and with him. Dan received thousands of letters. Sports Illustrates carried the story of one of them…It came from Mark Arrowood, a disabled young man from Doylestown, PA Mark wrote…
Dear Dan, I watched you on TV. I’m sorry you fell 2 times.
I am in the Special Olympics. I won a gold medal just after my dad died.
Before we start the games we have a saying that goes like this:
“Let me win, but if I can’t win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
I want you to have my gold medal. I didn’t like to see you not get one.
Try again in 4 more years!
Inside the envelope was a gold medal for the track and field event from the Special Olympics.
He did…He won 2…and inside the presentation case at his home…hang 3.]
May we have the spiritual heart of this young man…when people fall may we be willing to surrender our gold medals so they can get back up and try again.
