“THE ONLY THING THAT COUNTS” Gal. 5:1-12
INTRO – A man was going to bed one night when his wife told him that he had left the light on in the garden shed. She could see it from the bedroom window. He told her that he had not been in the shed all day. He looked out the window himself and saw thieves in the shed stealing his belongings. He called the police, but they said that no officers were in the area, so there was no one available to catch the thieves.
He said OK, hung the phone up, counted to 30, and then called the police back. “I called you just a few seconds ago b/c there were people in my shed. Well, you don’t have to worry about them now b/c I’ve shot them all.” Within 5 minutes, there were half a dozen police cars in the area, a SWAT team, the works! They caught the burglars red-handed. One of the policemen said, “I thought you said you shot them.” The man replied, “I thought you said no one was available!”
Life is all about priorities. Some of our priorities will be different based on our age and our needs. Lots of studies have been done about the priorities and needs of different generations.
- Seniors – born before 1930 – 35 million
o AKA “the power builder generation”
o Grew up in mostly rural society
o Fought in WWII
o Experienced the effect of the Great Depression
o Became a self-sufficient generation
o High degree of patriotism
o Knowledge of Xnty may be more denominational than biblical – more of a club they joined – just as they joined other respectable civic or community organizations – than a relationship.
- Builders – born between 1930 and 1945 – 39 million
o AKA “the silent generation”
o Taught to be seen and not heard
o Sensitive to the mindset and values of others
o Generation that was ready to take hold of the American dream – a house, a car, a good job w/ a growing corporation.
o “Don’t rock the boat. Just get on it and become a success.”
o Married early in life, followed by a large number of divorces
o Philosophies and convictions formed early in life and not going to change much
o But even though this generation may say that they have life figured out, their hearts still have the inner restlessness that G put there – they know there is more to life than a good job, a nice home, a secure world.
- Boomers – born between 1946 and 1964 – 76 million
o Grew up an indulged and protected generation
o Born in days when service stations were service stations – attendants washed your windshield when they pumped your gas
o TV became a strong influence
o Went through Vietnam War, campus unrest, hippie movement, free speech, free love, and the Jesus movement
o Got caught up in the greedy ‘80’s
o The “Me” generation
o The “change-the-world-with-a-cause” generation
o Want to know how Xnty works, primarily how it works “for me in my life” – will it help w/ my finances, my divorce and my children, my career?
- Gen X – born between 1965 and 1981 – 44 million
o Have been called all kinds of names – and they hate every one of them – Gen X (X is an algebraic term that can stand for anything), the whine generation, the boomer shadow, the nowhere generation, the “Why me?” generation.
o Generation w/ low self-esteem
o Many grew up w/ divorced parents, blended families.
o Latchkey kids
o Grew up watching MTV
o Low level of trust for any group or institution
o A fixer generation – trying to repair what they feel the boomers broke – they want marriages that last. Children are important.
o Moral relativism affects their thinking
- Bridgers – born since 1981 – 64 million
o AKA “the echo boom” or “generation Y”
o Long for stability
o Have a desire for what worked in the past
o Believe that there are no absolutes
o They are into “faiths” and any faith will do – very tolerant of others’ beliefs and faith systems – “God is whatever works for you.” (Newsweek, May 8, 2000, “Searching For a Holy Spirit,” pg. 61)
o The internet generation
o They want values and stability, but wonder if such things are possible
o Want to be a part of a community of believers, not just an institution
Isn’t it amazing to think about how different we all are? And b/c we are all so different, our needs are different and our priorities are different. Can be a real point of conflict and dissension, especially within the church.
- in the way we worship
o Traditional or contemporary?
o Hymns or praise songs?
o Organ or guitar?
- in the way we witness
o Mass crusades?
o Door to door?
o Relational/friendship evangelism?
- in the way we disciple others
o BYPU and CTU?
o Small-group?
o One on one mentoring?
o Accountability groups?
- in the way we serve
o Take one position and stay in it forever?
o Short-term commitment?
o Social ministry – homeless, mission trips, construction?
- in the way we fellowship
o Punch and cookies after church?
o Supper clubs?
o No place for that type of thing in the church!
But there must come a point in all of our lives, no matter what generational group we belong to, no matter at what station of life we find ourselves, when we consider what our first priority must be – the one thing that really counts – “faith expressing itself through love” (v. 6b)
I. FAITH
A. Some of you Boomers and Gen X-er’s remember George Michael’s hit in 1987, “Faith.” “You gotta have faith…” Faith in…?
i. Good works?
1. Many place their faith in their good works
a. Church attendance
b. Tithing
c. Treating others right – trying not to hurt anyone
d. Helping others
e. Be good spouse, parent, grandparent, son/daughter, citizen, employee, church member
2. All good and honorable EXTERNAL things.
a. We ought to do these things. But we MUST not trust in them for our salvation and our acceptance by G.
3. But just as P warned the Galatian not trust in the external requirements of the law for their salvation, we, too, must not trust in the “externals” of our lives for our salvation and acceptance by G.
a. Anyone who does this has “fallen from grace” – v. 4.
b. Does not mean that they have lost their salvation.
i. “The issue in eternal security is not our ability to hold onto what G has given us, but His ability to hold on to us.” (Max Anders, Holman NT Commentary, Gal., Eph., Phil., Col., pg. 70)
c. Means that they have “fallen out of the sphere of G’s grace.” (Wiersbe, pg. 715).
i. “The phrase, ‘you have fallen away from grace’ should be understood, not in the sense that grace has been taken away from the Galatians, but in the sense that they have turned their backs on it.” (Anders, ibid)
d. To live by grace means to depend on G’s abundant supply of every need.
e. To live by Law means to depend on my own strength – the flesh – and be left to get by w/out G’s supply.
ii. G’s grace!
1. This is where we need to rest – in G’s grace.
a. His abundant supply of my every need.
b. His unending forgiveness of my every sin.
c. His incredible faithfulness even when I am unfaithful and faithless.
d. His amazing strength given to me in my weakness.
e. His powerful love poured out into my life when I am so unlovable.
2. This is why Jesus came!
a. “From the fullness of His grace, we have received one blessing after another. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus X.” (John 1:16-17)
i. “For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.” (v. 16 NAS)
II. EXPRESSING ITSELF
A. Expressing ourselves is an important part of our lives.
i. All want to be heard.
ii. All want to feel that our opinions and viewpoints and perspectives are important.
1. Art company in MA – “Express Yourself”- “Express Yourself was created with the belief that the arts provide a natural and healthy means for students to express themselves. Our focus is on the student’s own creative process, building self-esteem, celebrating cultural diversity and working collaboratively with others.”
2. “Express Yourself Newsletter” – “…will give you the tools you need to add your authentic voice to the new critical consciousness that we believe can heal our badly bruised world. At the core of this new critical consciousness are people engaged in genuine dialogue with each other…expressing their truths, thoughts, and feelings.”
B. As believers, the truth that needs to be expressed through our lives is our faith in G’s grace and love for us and for all the world.
i. How does your faith in G’s grace and love express itself?
1. In your worship.
a. Is your worship of G deep and authentic?
i. Intimate and personal?
ii. Fervent and passionate?
iii. Absolutely necessary to your life?
b. When your faith is in G’s grace and not in your own good works and yourself, your worship will be all of these.
2. In your service to G.
a. Is your service to G joy-filled and fulfilling?
i. A source of encouragement and inspiration to others?
ii. Bringing honor and glory to G?
b. When your faith is in G’s grace and not in your own good works and yourself, your service to G will be all of these things.
3. In your growth as a Xn.
a. Are you growing in your study and application of G’s Word to your life?
b. Are you growing in your personal prayer life?
c. Are you growing in holiness and purity?
d. Is there are growing desire to be more like X in your life? Are you “running a good race” (v. 7)?
e. When your faith is in G’s grace and not in your own good works and yourself, you are growing as a Xn.
III. IN LOVE
A. OK, so even after all this study of Galatians and the futility of trying to keep a bunch of commandments and laws, you still find yourself wanting to do that.
i. Still want to keep commandments and laws.
ii. Still have to have the rules and regulations in your life.
B. Then, keep this commandment:
i. “’Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’ Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your G w/ all your heart and w/ all your soul and w/ all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these 2 commandments.’” (Matt. 22:36-40)
C. When the passion of our lives is to BE a person who loves G and loves others, we will DO the things that go along with that passion.
i. We will be obedient to His commands.
ii. We will be serious worshippers.
iii. We will be serious students of the Bible.
iv. We will be serious prayer warriors.
v. We will be serious witnesses.
vi. We will be serious about living a life of holiness and purity, a life set apart to glorify Him and serve Him.
vii. We will be serious about not doing things that will damage our fellowship with G and others; that will bring damage to His reputation; that will damage His Church; that will cause others to stumble.
CONCLUSION – Joe White, PK speaker – when it is all said and done, the only thing that matters, the only thing that counts, is which side of the cross you are on.
- On one side, the thief who discounted Jesus’ ability to save him. Did not believe that Jesus was really who He said He was. No faith in G’s grace hanging right there beside him.
- On other side, the thief who cried out to Jesus in his moment of desperation, his moment of need. Knew that he could not save himself. Had to trust in the grace of G that Jesus promised to him in the final moments of his life.
“Your priorities must G first, G second, and G third, until your life is continually face to face w/ G and no one else is taken into account whatsoever. Your prayer then will be, ‘In all the world there is no one but You, dear G; there is no one but You.’” (Oswald Chambers)
