Monthly Archives: April 2024

Abundance, Bible, Blessing, Fruit, Gospel, Scripture, Witnessing

WHAT DID HE SAY?

GALATIANS 4:27

“For it is written: ‘REJOICE, INFERTILE ONE, YOU WHO DO NOT GIVE BIRTH; BREAK FORTH AND SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR; FOR THE CHILDREN OF THE DESOLATE ONE ARE MORE NUMEROUS THAN THOSE OF THE ONE WHO HAS A HUSBAND.’”

Famous quotes are often used to drive home a point someone is trying to make. Sometimes those quotes sound a little strange out of its context. Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death” is an example. I mean, who says that? Only someone who is prepared to fight for his freedom. We will see a quote today that if taken by itself may sound a bit strange. Let’s see how Paul used it.

In today’s verse, Paul is quoting Isaiah 54:1. Why? He is using this verse to show how the Gentiles were going to be used in the kingdom of God far and above what the Jews would be. Sure, it all started in the Jewish nation, but through Jesus the love of God spread to all the Gentile world. That “infertile one” represented these Gentiles who now have given birth and can rejoice in the Lord.

APPLICATION

For me, this verse shows the importance of disciple making. We are commanded in Matthew 28:18-20 to go and make disciples of every nation. It is not just about making converts. It goes beyond that. We need to teach these believers how to make other believers. Just as the Gentiles spread the good news to their neighbors, we are to do the same.

Jesus told us in Mark 16:15, “‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.’” Later in this letter to the Galatians, Paul says this in 6:9. “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Are we all sowing seed? Are we reaping a harvest? Well, just like a farmer, sometimes we reap better crops than other times.

Let me encourage you today to take to heart the promise we find in today’s verse. The formerly barren one gave birth. You may feel barren today in regard to your witnessing, but you can change that by submitting to the Spirit Who is within you. Let Him guide you to those who need to hear the Word. Then share it boldly. God is the one who produces the harvest. Watch Him work.

Father, I am so thankful that Your salvation extended to me. Use me to spread the Gospel to others.

Standard
Abiding, Bible, Blessing, Eternity, Heaven, Home, Promises, Scripture

UP ABOVE

GALATIANS 4:26

“But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother.”

As I write this blog, the U.S. is preparing for its first total solar eclipse since 2017 and the last one for another 20 years. I may or may not see the next one, depending on how long the Lord allows me to linger here on earth. It’s too bad that all those people wearing those special eclipse glasses won’t see what is really happening in the heavenlies. Let’s talk about that.

Paul is referring to the heavenly Jerusalem when he says “the Jerusalem above.” The word “above” is the Greek word ano, which means things above, heaven, the heavenly region. Paul’s eyes were fixed heavenward, not on the earthly Jerusalem which represented the law and slavery and burdens. He wanted the Galatians to look up at their heavenly home which is accessed only through Jesus.

APPLICATION

There are several verses that point us to that heavenly Jerusalem or heavenly abode. Colossians 3:1-2 tells us, “1 Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth.” Jesus told us in John 8:23 that He was not of this world. He was from above. “And He was saying to them, ‘You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world.’”

Then we have direct mentions of the heavenly city in other passages. John told us in Revelation 21:2, “And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” One more – Hebrews 12:22. “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels,”

Do you see it? Are you looking up? Let the solar eclipse that happened remind you of the heavenly city that awaits us as believers in Christ. We need to keep looking up, but not be so heavenly minded that we are not any earthly good. We need to share this message of God’s heavenly kingdom and the way to access it. So, take off those eclipse glasses and see who you can invite.

Lord, I am thankful my home is not here. I will live one day with You in that heavenly city.

Standard
Bible, Different, Freedom, Law, Scripture

NOT LIKE THE OTHER

GALATIANS 4:25

“Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is enslaved with her children.”

When my children were small, they loved to watch Sesame Street. One of the little jingles they played along with a teaching moment was “One of these things is not like the other, One of these things is not the same…” I can still hear that tune in my head. It helped the kids recognize like images or pictures and to notice differences. A simple but needed skill.

Unlike Sesame Street, Paul is not pointing out differences in today’s verse. In fact, he is doing just the opposite. He is telling us Hagar represents Mount Sinai (the place the law was given to Moses by God) and that “corresponds to the present Jerusalem.” The Greek word for “corresponds” only occurs here and means to file in rank with, to march together. In other words, they were in lockstep, inseparable.

APPLICATION

In Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, he says this about the name “Hagar.” “…the Arabians according to Paul (who had formerly dwelt among them, Galatians 1:17) called the rocky Mount Sinai by a name similar in sound to הגר ( i.e. rock)…” Here’s a little math formula for you: Hagar = rock = Mount Sinai = Jerusalem = the Law = slavery. That is essentially what Paul is saying here and in Galatians 4:21-31.

We don’t want to be like that, do we? Romans 6:14 says, “For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under the Law but under grace.” I love what the author of Hebrews (whom I personally believe was either Paul or Barnabas) says in Hebrews 10:1. “For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the form of those things itself, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually every year, make those who approach perfect.”

Praise be to God! We are not like Hagar or like Mount Sinai or like Jerusalem or like the Law. One of these things is not like the other – that’s us in Christ. We are no longer bound to the things of the law. We are no longer required to keep all those rules and offer meaningless sacrifices. We are free in Jesus.

Lord, thank You for making me different than others and declaring me free in Jesus. 

Standard
Allegory, Bible, Chains, Devil, Encouragement, Freedom, God's Will, Holy Spirit, Law, Scripture, Slaves

ALLEGORY PART 1 – HAGAR

GALATIANS 4:24

“This is speaking allegorically, for these women are two covenants: one coming from Mount Sinai giving birth to children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar.”

I have to admit that I am not a grammatical genius. If you have read many of my blogs, you have probably already figured that out. Right? So, I looked up the definition of allegory. “It is a figurative sentence or discourse, in which the principal object is described by another subject resembling it in its properties and circumstances.” – Webster. Thank you, Mr. Webster! I am sure we all understand it now.

Paul tells us plainly that he is going to be speaking “allegorically.” This Greek word is only used one time in the New Testament. It literally means to speak publicly something other than. Paul is going to be comparing the story of Hagar and Sarah, Ishmael and Isaac to our slavery to sin and our freedom in Christ. This allegory is not to imply in any way that the Old Testament story is not true. You can use an historical truth allegorically to make a point, which is what Paul has done here.

APPLICATION

Now that I have bored you to tears with the English lesson on allegories, how do we use today’s verse in our lives? Well, let’s focus on the topic of this first part of the allegory – Hagar. Who was she? She was a servant girl of Sarah’s. But she was more than a servant. She had been given to Abraham by Sarah to try to conceive a child which would satisfy God’s promise to give then a child. God never instructed them to do this. They just decided to “help God along.”

This first part of the allegory isn’t very encouraging. Hagar and Ishmael represent slavery to sin. Even after Hagar gave birth to Ishmael, she was still a servant. Nothing had changed. You and I are slaves to sin until we come to Jesus. We have no power to resist. We have no way to escape the devil’s schemes. There is no hope. We can’t “perform” our way out of sin. We have to have the chains broken.

Praise be to God we have a “chain-breaker.” He is Jesus, the Righteous One. He is the One to whom we run for freedom. Paul is so aware of this. He now sees how bound to sin he was while he was under the law, which is also represented by Hagar. Paul wants these Galatians to be free in Christ, not bound to the law. In the same way, God wants us to be free in Jesus. Are you free today?

Lord, I am thankful You gifted men like Paul to write under the inspiration of the Spirit to give us these truths.

Standard
Abiding, Bible, Blessing, Promises, Remembering, Scripture, Security

THE PROMISE

GALATIANS 4:23

“But the son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise.”

I love it when someone promises me something that I know they can deliver. As a full time missionary, when someone promises to support me financially, I put my trust in the Lord to remind them to do just that – begin supporting me. When it is someone I know has the potential to fulfill that promise, it is even more exciting. God promises to take care of His servants. That’s what I am holding on to.

Paul continues the analogy of Isaac and Ishmael in today’s verse. This time he points to the promise made to Abraham and Sarah to have a child. Do you remember the story? Genesis 18:10 says, “He said, ‘I will certainly return to you at this time next year; and behold, your wife Sarah will have a son.’ And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him.” Simple enough, right? But remember they were both advanced in years. This would be a God thing!

APPLICATION

Let’s talk about God things. These are things that happen that can only be explained as God doing them. When that happens, we have the opportunity to bear witness to our Lord. He has given us so many promises in Scripture. Let’s look at a few. In Joshua 1:9 we read, “‘Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified nor dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.’” How about Isaiah 40:31? “Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.”

I could continue listing those promises. Do a search yourself. Make a list of them. Claim those promises each day. God’s promise to us is to take us to heaven one day. That promise is not because of anything we’ve done, however. It’s all based on His precious Son’s sacrifice for us. As we place our trust in Him, He makes us that promise. And His promises never fail (Joshua 21:45).

Lord, I trust Your promises to come true in my life. I just need to wait on You.

Standard
Bible, Bondslaves, Freedom, Satan, Scripture, Slaves

A TALE OF TWO SONS

GALATIANS 4:22

“For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and one by the free woman.” 

This verse reminds me of the Charles Dickens’ classic, A Tale of Two Cities. It begins with this quote:

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way…”

Do you see the analogies there? The opposites? Paul, in his own way is going to compare two opposites in the next several verses. One was Isaac, the son of Sarah, who was born free. The other was Ishmael, the son of Hagar, who was a slave of Abraham. Thus, Ishmael was born into slavery. This is the comparison we will see played out over the next several days.

APPLICATION

Now, hold it a minute, Carl. I am not a slave to anyone. Really? If you are not walking in the Spirit, you are slave to sin. Romans 6:16 says this, “Do you not know that the one to whom you present yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of that same one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?”

Slavery isn’t just chains and cells. Slavery is bowing to the will of the flesh. Paul is going to compare freedom in Christ and slavery under the law. Believe me, he understood the slavery of the law because he had personally bound people with it as a Pharisee. He knew the hopelessness of it. And we can put ourselves under legalistic rules and regulations and lose our freedom in Christ.

But let me encourage you today to be “free indeed.” Free yourself from the lure of sin. Free yourself for self-inflicted laws. Let Christ lead you into true freedom in Him. Shake off the shackles that the evil one wants to tie you down with. He has no power over you. But through Jesus, you have power over him. Hallelujah!

O God, my Father, I am so thankful I have been born into freedom through Your Son.

Standard
Accountability, Bible, Choices, Devil, Listening, Obedience, Scripture

ARE YOU LISTENING?

GALATIANS 4:21

“Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the Law?”

Sometimes we get so excited about something that we forget to think about what we are doing. For example, buying a new car. When you go to that dealership and see all those beautiful, shiny cars, you lose all rational thought (lol). Sure, they can “put you in” one of those beauties today and you can drive it home. But part of that deal is you now have to pay the price – every month for years. You are a slave to that car loan.

Paul begins an analogy today that will last the rest of chapter 4. He is going to be comparing the sons born from Hagar and Sarah. The story will develop over the next several days. Bottom line – slavery and freedom. In today’s verse Paul asks the Galatians if they are really listening to what the law is requiring of them. The Greek word for “listen” is akouo, which means to hear to understand. Paul is asking them if they really listening to the requirements of the law, are they really going to sign on that dotted line.

APPLICATION

This applies to us so well. We “sign on” to the newest fads and trends without ever thinking about the long term results. All we need is Jesus. Jesus told us so in John 14:6. “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” He wasn’t bragging or being egotistical. He was simply speaking the truth.

I love 2 Corinthians 5:17 because it shows us what we need. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” All that old stuff we clung to just goes away. We don’t have to lean on it. All we need is Jesus who has made us into a new creation. Don’t listen to the whispers of the evil one who wants to keep you in bondage.

What will you do with your freedom in Christ? How will you serve your new Master, one for whom you serve willingly? He is not a cruel taskmaster. No, He loves us and leads us. He never pushes us. And don’t let this freedom scare you. He’s there to walk you through it. He has a plan. Listen to Him.

O Lord, I want to tune my ears to hear only Your voice.

Standard
Abiding, Bible, Confidence, Doubts, Freedom, God's Will, Holy Spirit, Salvation, Scripture

PERPLEXING BEHAVIOR

GALATIANS 4:20

“but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone of voice, for I am at a loss about you!”

We have all seen new believers who get saved and on fire for Jesus only to revert back to their old behaviors as soon as they move away or start hanging with their old crowd. Compare it to a drug addict who gets all cleaned up in rehab, makes vows or promises and then goes right back to the drugs as soon as they are out of rehab. That kind of behavior can make you raise some doubts as to their sobriety in the first place.

Perhaps I need to remind you that when Paul wrote this letter to the Galatians, he was not with them. He had invested much in them and now, since he has been gone, their behavior is perplexing to him. He is confused as to why they would have deserted the teachings he had given them on the Christ life just because he was no longer there. The phrase “to change my tone of voice” means Paul had much rather speak about them with confidence than doubting.

APPLICATION

The Greek word used for “I am at a loss” is aporeo. It means to be perplexed or in doubt. It is used over in 2 Corinthians 4:8. “we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;”Now, let me quickly say that I don’t think Paul was doubting their salvation. He had seen the Holy Spirit work in their lives. Unlike during the Old Testament days when the Holy Spirit would enter and leave someone, in Christ, once the Holy Spirit has come into our lives through salvation, it remains.

However, we can refuse to submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit and get into some awful pickles. In John 16:13-14 Jesus tells us why surrendering our will to the Spirit is so important. “13 ‘But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take from Mine and will disclose it to you.’”

Don’t you want to know what Jesus is trying to tell you? I sure do. Then we have to stop all this perplexing behavior and surrender to the Spirit. Before you make a decision or do anything, ask the Father in heaven. He will direct the Spirit to inform you. I believe that. Stop acting on your own whims. They usually fail us. He never will.

Father, I do not want to live a perplexing life. I want my life to be centered in Your will.

Standard
Babies, Bible, Birth, Growth, Maturity, Scripture

BIRTH PAINS

GALATIANS 4:19

“My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you—”

I will never forget watching my wife give birth to our children. I was in the room with her for both. With our first, she had an epidural which blocked most of the pain. With our second there wasn’t time for that. Watching her in pain broke my heart but I knew it had to be done. She couldn’t keep that baby inside of her forever. I also knew she would soon forget that pain when she saw that baby and got to hold it. The birth pains were worth it.

Paul uses the analogy of giving birth to compare the pain he had endured in “giving birth” to these Galatians in the faith. Witnessing and discipling can be laborious tasks, even for those in full time ministry. But we should all have the same heart as Paul – it is worth it to see them grow into maturity in Christ. That is what is meant by “until Christ is formed in you.”

APPLICATION

Who are you “giving birth” to right now? Are you purposely pouring into a new believer? We all, as believers in Jesus, should share what He has taught us and given us. We need to labor as Paul did. 2 Timothy 2:2 is a verse we use quite often in our ministry. “And the things you heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” Multi-generational growth!

Whether you do that one-on-one or in a small group, start “giving birth” to those young believers, those who are brand new to the faith. They need your wisdom in how to apply God’s Word to their lives. Or maybe you are the one who needs someone laboring over them. Reach out to someone and ask them to mentor you. There are a lot of great tools out there for that.

Especially for you men out there – check out the curriculum we use in Every Man A Warrior (www.everymanawarrior.com). It is designed to take a small group of men through a three book course built just for men. It’s practical, relevant and life changing. We have thousands of men around the world who have seen their lives change and then had the opportunity to lead other men through the course – making disciple makers. Just labor for Jesus and see what He births through you.

I want to labor for You, Lord. Use me in the lives of other men to grow them spiritually.

Standard
Abiding, Bible, Commitment, Dedication, Following, Obedience, Scripture, Surrender

WHEN THE CAT’S AWAY…

GALATIANS 4:18

“But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable way, and not only when I am present with you.” 

You’ve heard that expression – When the cat’s away, the mice will play. Some people will only do what is right when someone is watching them. As a former supervisor, I had some employees like that. They were model employees as long as I was observing. But the moment I was out of sight, they would stop doing what was expected of them.

Paul seems to be saying something like that to the Galatians. I love how Barnes explains this. He says Paul was saying this. “You were exceedingly zealous in a good cause when I was with you. You loved the truth; you loved me. Since I left you, and as soon almost as I was out of your sight, your zeal died away, and your ardent love for me was transferred to others. Allow me to remind you, that it would be well to be zealous of good when I am away, as well as when I am with you. There is not much true affection in that which dies away as soon as a man’s back is turned.”

APPLICATION

Does that describe you? Are you zealous only when you think God is watching? I hate to tell you, but He is always watching. There is never a moment He does not know where you are and what you are doing. That reminds me of Psalm 139. Look at verses 7 through 12. “7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. 9 If I take up the wings of the dawn, if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will take hold of me. 11 If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, and the light around me will be night,’ 12 Even darkness is not dark to You, and the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.”

Do you get the picture? God knows where you are. God knows what you’re doing. He expects us to love and obey because He loves us, not because He is standing over us and demanding it. Give Him honor today by your blind obedience to Him. Obey Him simply because you love Him. Just think of what He did because He loves you.

Father God, I want to be zealous for You at all times.

Standard