The Book Of Galatians – Chapter 5:7-11 Message 18 – Disobedience; Division; Study Of Leaven; Stumbling Blocks Series

THE BOOK OF GALATIANS – CHAPTER 5:7-11 MESSAGE 18 – DISOBEDIENCE; DIVISION; STUDY OF LEAVEN; STUMBLING BLOCKS

We continue this vital study of Galatians so that our faith is secured in the realities of faith, and not pushed around by the whims of men and false teaches. These Galatian Christians nearly broke Paul’s heart by wandering away and into false doctrine that would negate their faith. Let us continue in Chapter 5.

[A]. NOW IT IS TIME TO FACE THE MUSIC

{{Galatians 5:7 “You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?”}}

In chapter 1 Paul condemned those who had brought these Galatians into the snare of slavery – {{Galatians 1:8-9 “Even though we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, SO I SAY AGAIN NOW, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, LET HIM BE ACCURSED.”}}

The repetition here means a strong emphasis and Paul makes no bones about this. Those wanting to bring these believers under the slavery of the Law of Moses, opposed faith and substituted works. Making them keep the Law of Moses and the Sabbath and circumcision is the exact opposite of what Paul was preaching.

Just picture if Paul was in their midst. He would look disappointingly at them and ask who had hindered them; who had pestered them to lead them astray? At the heart of this departure was disobedience to the truth. Adam was disobedient to the truth. Romans and Galatians are closely connected especially Romans 4 and 5.

The word hindered means to obstruct; to cut into the flow and disrupt it; to impede your progress. The first part of the verse confirmed the state that the Galatians had deserted the truth. They ran well; walked well with the Lord. Now they go in the opposite direction. Paul would line them up and ask who had done this to them, but of course he knew. This was to cause the Galatians to examine themselves.

One of the names for Satan is Beelzeboul, lord of the flies, or lord of the dung heap, and it stands for putridness and contamination. That is the destruction and division the enemy causes. The good seed has been sown and the enemy creeps in to sow the tares among the wheat (new converts). It is the same everywhere.

We have the same today. A certain group comes in and says you must keep the Sabbath day. Another comes and tries to force experience and emotionalism and a second blessing, a second baptism, on the people. Others come along, of Paul, of Apollos, of Peter, to carry the saints away in a certain direction. We must be very vigilant.

[B]. GOD IS NOT THE AUTHOR OF DIVISION/HERESY

{{Galatians 5:8 “This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you.”}}

Of course, the Lord is not to blame for disruption in the church or among the flock. The sheep are settled for the night in the sheepfold and the enemy of souls creeps in and causes mayhem among the saints with heresies and deception. {{2 Corinthians 2:11 “in order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.”}} I have a series on Sermon Central on this very subject and here is the link if you want to look at various ways the devil uses to achieve his purposes of corruption.

https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon-series/we-are-not-ignorant-of-satans-devices-or-schemes-sermon-series-from-ron-ferguson-23578

Whether it is the behaviour of people inside the church, or practicing things that are not biblical, or destructive heresies, do not attribute any of that to God because – {{1 Corinthians 14:33 “for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”}} Verse 8 above says that it is God who calls you. But sadly, it is Satan’s agents that are whispering in your ear with all sorts of heresies, and diversions and practices not edifying to the work of the Lord.

[C]. LEAVEN – INFILTRATION – PERMEATION - INSIDIOUSNESS

{{Galatians 5:9 “A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.”}}

This is only a small verse but its meaning is deep. The teaching of leaven is a key theme in scripture and its relevance has been marked all through history.

In the bible leaven is a type of evil. Consistent and accurate always, and I would like to trace a few instances of that.

(a). 13 times in the 12th chapter of Exodus, leaven occurs in the verses. The association of leaven as a symbol of evil begins here and it was stressed over and over that the Passover feast in Egypt was to consist of unleavened bread. The very first reference in scripture is here – {{Exodus 12:8 “They shall eat the flesh that same night, roasted with fire, and they shall eat it with UNLEAVENED BREAD and bitter herbs.”}}