Do You Have A Ministering Heart? (Galatians 4:12-13)
GIST: If we have a ministering heart, our lives should be truth-portraying, culture-crossing, and moment-seizing.
This morning we’re coming to a bridge of sorts in our study of Galatians. It can be looked at as the transition from the doctrinal section of the letter into the application section. My original plan was to preach all the way through to verse 20 today. However, toward the end of the week, I was studying a book by Tim Keller, and he drew out several points from verses 12-13 that really struck a chord with me but also led me down a path that would make more sense to cover in a separate Sunday… especially for the sake of your time ☺️. And truthfully, these were words I needed to hear this week as well. Therefore, though these words are my own, I am wholeheartedly indebted to Pastor Keller’s insights this week and want to give credit where it is due ☺️.
From my study, it seems like most consider this section (verses 12-20) to be very ministry driven. It speaks to the nature of not only pastoring, but also the nature of what serving God sincerely should look like for every believer. Next week, we’ll look at some of the struggles that come with this life and how we should face this. This morning, we’re going to dig more into what it should look like if we really have a ministering heart, if we’re really trying to share Jesus with the people around us. That being said, I’ll give you my gist then we’ll pray and dive in. Gist: If we have a ministering heart, our lives should be truth-portraying, culture-crossing, and moment-seizing.
I. Truth-Portraying
Verse 12 starts with a statement that, frankly, can be a bit jarring. “12[a] Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am…” Paul makes these kinds of statements throughout his letters, For many, they can be rather off putting. How brass is it in the context of Christian living to tell people to follow your example? I mean, Jesus could do that? But Paul wasn’t Jesus. He wasn’t a perfect man. Doesn’t this reek of arrogance. Out of context, it definitely could. We have to remember the big picture here though. Paul had been hitting again and again how important it is to remember salvation is all about Jesus rescuing us with His grace and not us doing the right kinds of things. It’s in that context that he begs them, which is the implication of the word translated entreat, to follow his example.
He came to them not as one who was under the law—not as a perfect man, not as someone who had it all together—but as one some who had experienced life-transforming grace and let it change everything! In fact, as we’ll discuss more in a moment, he came to them in a time of great need. He was clearly either very sick or very injured when he arrived in these cities. And we all know when we’re sick and tired is when we’re at our best...right? ☺️ Not at all! That’s when we struggle most. That’s when our guard is down. That’s when our character is tested. So for Paul to say, look at who I was when I came to you and be like that, he’s not elevating himself to the level of Jesus, but rather expressing that even in weakness his life is only and always about Jesus. That’s why when he came he pointed them to the truth of the Gospel, their need for Jesus to rescue them, and nothing else.
If we have a ministering heart, we have to have a heart that has been so transformed by the truth of the gospel that we live it. We can’t do anything until that change is real. We’re not the hope the world needs. Jesus is, so we need to surrender all to Him...every day. A ministering heart is truth-portraying. It’s our life! And a ministering heart is→
II. Culture-Crossing
Look at the rest of that sentence. “12 Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong.” That last sentence is connected more to what we’ll cover next week, so we’re going to put it on a shelf for now and focus instead on the “for I also have become as you are part”. This is another one of the types of statements Paul frequently makes that can be misconstrued. These were pagan worshipers of false gods. Paul didn’t become like them in their sin. What he did do, however, was come to them with a message of salvation that was unfettered from cultural expectations. Let me explain, contrary to what the Judiazers were doing, which was calling for them to become Jewish in order to be truly saved, Paul came to them with the message of grace, the message of Jesus’ salvation, that had nothing to do with becoming more Jewish. He lived amongst them, but didn’t expect them to become more like him in personality, or interest, or customs.
Man, we need to remember this. Salvation isn’t connected to culture. Being American is a key to becoming a Christian. Acting like what you’re familiar with, dressing like you, talking like you, doing what you do—none of that saves someone. That doesn’t mean people can live as sinfully as they want and still be Christians, but it does mean people might live very God-honoring lives that look nothing like yours...and that’s ok. I can tell you, if any of you visited with the Belarussians I grew up around, you’d find much of what they do weird. They’re not weirder than you ☺️, but their lives are very different. Do they love Jesus though and serve Him? Absolutely. In fact, I want to be as committed as many of them.
If I have a ministering heart, I’ll go to people who need Jesus longing for them to come to know Him not hoping they become more acceptable in my sight. And a ministering heart is also→
III. Moment-Seizing
Look at the insight we get in verse 13. “13 You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first…”. Paul acknowledges that the reason he was where he was for as long as he was...was because of something he hadn’t expected and definitely wasn’t looking to go through! (Whew, that sentence was a mouthful ☺️.) He got sick and his plans were altered by that. However, rather than sulk, he took the opportunity presented to him to share Jesus. Why? Because that’s what his whole life was about. It didn’t matter where he was or why. He knew his purpose was sharing Jesus with people who needed rescued. Our purpose is the same. Let me just hit a two observations here I’ve made before (but always need reminded of), then we’ll let our three driving points sink in for our takeaways.
1. You might not be where you want to be, but you’re exactly where He’s placed you in this moment. We’ve more than established that life hasn’t been ideal this year. Nonetheless, wherever you are is where He plans to use you at this moment. That doesn’t mean you’ll be here forever, but neither will the people you have an opportunity to reach. So remember→
2. There is no such thing as wasted time unless you waste it. I’ve jokingly described 2020 as a mulligan year, but it’s not a wash… unless we let it be. A ministering heart will recognize that every day and every circumstance is ordained by God. God made this day. It’s going to be good. God made this day. He’s doing something in it. Will you join Him?
Ok, so let’s just recap as our→
TAKEAWAYS
A ministering heart is→
Truth-Portraying. How real is His grace-transformation in your life, regardless of external circumstances?
Culture-Crossing. How willing are you to go to people for Jesus?
Moment-Seizing. Can you remember these two truths this week?
1. You might not be where you want to be, but you’re exactly where He’s placed you in this moment.
2. There is no such thing as wasted time unless you waste it.
No comments:
Post a Comment