Introduction:
I remember when I was in fifth grade I got myself in a lot of trouble with three other kids who really didn’t like me. We constantly fought day after day. Sometimes I would win, most of the time they would. This went on for a long time until one day as I was walking home from school the three kids came out of nowhere and jumped me. As I fought back I felt a large grip on my shirt behind me. I turned to see who it was hoping it was a grown-up trying to stop the fight, but it wasn’t. My heart sunk when I saw the older brother of one of the kids I was fighting. He slammed me into the side of his truck and punched me right in the cheek and warned me not to ever mess with his little brother again. I went home crying as the side of my face swelled up. I went to my room to lay in my bed until my parents got, but my brother came in to see what was wrong. Now you got to know that my brother was not the nicest big brother in the world. As a matter of fact he picked on me constantly reminding me that I was five years younger than him. I thought he was going to make fun of me for getting beat up, but he did something I never thought he would do. As soon as I told him what happened he ran out of the house. I ran after him to see what he was up to, but it was hard to catch up. Finally I got to a park and found my brother on top of the older kid that punched me. I could not believe it. My brother actually went out of his way to protect me. He never had done that before. I discovered at that moment my brother cared about me and was willing to fight for me.
In life we might be stabbed in the back by our so-called friends, or maybe even by our own family. This becomes a very uneasy time for us especially when it comes to our trust for other people. In the last two weeks we have learned who Christ is and who we need to be as Christians. This morning we will learn more about who we need to be, but also on how we can help our brothers as well. Galatians chapter 6 verses 1 through 5, teaches us three ways on how to do this. Once we are able to learn and apply these three ways, then we too will be fighting for our brothers. Let’s Pray.
I. When your brother is down, restore him (Galatians 6:1)
Galatians 6:1 reads, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted (NIV).”
As I was reading this passage I found myself coming back to the word restore. I felt compelled to investigate this word further, so I did. Now watch what happens when I share with you exactly what the writer of Galatians was trying to say. First I will read to you verse one again. Galatians 6:1 reads, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted (NIV).”
The Greek word for Restore is “Katartizo, kat-ar-tid’-zo which is a derivative of Artios, ar’-tee-os an Adjective that means fitted, complete, perfect (Strong’s Number: 739). Kat-ar-tid’-zo is a verb that means to render, i.e. to fit, sound, complete, to mend (what has been broken or rent), to repair, to complete, to fit out, equip, put in order, arrange, adjust to fit or frame for one’s self, prepare ethically: to strengthen, perfect, complete, make one what he ought to be (Strong’s Number: 2675).” Now that you have a better idea what the writer was saying about the word restore, let me read the verse a third time. Galatians 6:1 reads, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted (NIV).” Wow! What a difference it makes to know what is actually being said here. The verse isn’t saying we need to help our brother out of the sin, but instead we need to complete him, perfect him, equip and strengthen him. Notice the writer is talking to those who are spiritual. That’s you and me. A spiritual person isn’t just a preacher or some powerful man or woman of God. No. A spiritual person is one who believes in God and renews themselves through forgiveness of sin by God’s grace. This means, hopefully that this message is for all of us. Restoring something is not an easy task, especially restoring it to perfection. My brother in law has a 1940’s Willy’s wagon. This is something he has had since I have known him, so atleast 9 years. It doesn’t run, because the engine is shot, and even if the engine was good there are no wheels attached and no seats inside either. As a matter of fact the whole car is missing except for the frame and the body. He is supposedly going to restore the vehicle. Restoring becomes so hard when you can’t find time to do it. But time isn’t necessarily the issue is it? Restoring takes work. Hard work. And a lot of it. Is this the same as restoring our brother when he is down in his sin? Maybe. But notice what else the writer says. Do it gently. With ease. It’s easier for us to point out the problems in our brothers lifes that help them get out of those same problems. Restoring with ease takes a divine intercession with God. You cannot restore your brother by yourself.
II. When your brother is weak, carry him (Galatians 6:2)
Galatians 6:2 reads, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
The Greek word for Bear is “Bastazo, bas-tad’-zo which is a verb that means to take up with the hands, to take up in order to carry or bear, to put upon one’s self (something) to be carried, to bear what is burdensome, to bear, to carry, to carry on one’s person, to sustain, i.e. uphold, support, to bear away, carry off (Strong’s Number: 941).”
“That law or commandment, Ye shall love one another; or that, Do unto all men as ye would they should do unto you. We should be as indulgent to the infirmities of others, as we can be consistently with truth and righteousness: our brother’s infirmity may be his burden; and if we do not choose to help him to bear it, let us not reproach him because he is obliged to carry the load (Clarke, Adam).”
“Two brothers worked together on the family farm. One was married and had a large family. The other was single. At the day’s end, the brothers shared everything equally, produce and profit.
Then one day the single brother said to himself, “It’s not right that we should share equally the produce and the profit. I’m alone and my needs are simple.” So each night he took a sack of grain from his bin and crept across the field between their houses, dumping it into his brother’s bin.
Meanwhile, the married brother said to himself, “It’s not right that we should share the produce and the profit equally. After all, I’m married and I have a wife and children to look after me in years to come. My brother has no one, and no one to take care of his future.” So each night he took a sack of grain and dumped it into his single brother’s bin.
Both men were puzzled for years because their supply of grain never dwindled. Then one dark night the two brothers bumped into each other. Slowly it dawned on them what was happening. They dropped their sacks and embraced one another (Source Unknown
From Brian Cavanaugh’s More Sower’s Seeds).”
Bearing your brothers burdens shows how much more you want to help him. It is a very important task for us to do as Christians. I can’t tell you how many times I needed someone to bear mine for a while.
III. When your brother is ready, teach him (Galatians 6:3-5)
Proverbs 6:3-5 reads, “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 somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.”
Albert Barnes a Bible scholar wrote in his notes on the New Testament that “The design of this passage is to prevent men from forming an improper estimate of themselves, and of the opinions of others. Let a man feel that he is soon to stand at the judgment-seat, and it will do much to keep him from an improper estimate of his own importance; let him feel that he must give an account to God, and that his great interests are to be determined by the estimate which God will affix to his character, and it will teach him that the opinion of the world is of little value. This will restrain his vanity and ambition. This will show him that the great business of life is to secure the favour of God, and to be prepared to give up his account; and there is no way so effectual of checking ambition, and subduing vanity and the love of applause, as to feel that we are soon to stand at the awful bar of God (Barnes, Albert).” What this means is that it is easy for someone to become depressed about his bad doings just as it is easy for one to become big headed about his good doings. The writer is talking to both types of people in these three verses. As the spiritual one we are to restore and carry our brother, but we are to give God all the credit and not be tempted to take it for ourselves. By doing this it becomes evident that we weren’t looking for praise from anyone in this matter, but instead we were actually wanting to help because we genuinely care for our brothers and sisters out there. This is how we are to teach our brother. He can see that he does not have to compare himself to us. He has been fully restored and we even helped carry his burdens to this point, now he is ready to take on his own load without us.
A little boy was overheard talking to himself as he strode through his backyard, baseball cap in place and toting ball and bat. “I’m the greatest baseball player in the world,” he said proudly. Then he tossed the ball in the air, swung and missed. Undaunted, he picked up the ball, threw it into the air and said to himself, “I’m the greatest baseball player ever!” He swung at the ball again, and again he missed. He paused a moment to examine the bat and ball carefully. Then once again he threw the ball into the air and said, “I’m the greatest baseball player who ever lived!” He swung the bat hard and again missed the ball. “Wow!” he exclaimed. “What a pitcher!”
Conclusion:
God has been our helper since he created man and woman. He has given us Jesus to be an example of what it means to restore, carry, and teach our brother. We know we still have Jesus to talk with who will intercede for us.
