Galatians 6

 
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  • January 29, 2009 11:51 PM Tony wrote:
    A man reaps what he sows. We try hard all our lives to do what is right. To do what is morally correct. To support and provide the best we can. To teach and instruct the best we know how. We do not reap what we sow! We reap what God has predestined us to reap. We reap whatever Gods big plan is. He knew us before we were born. He knows the number of hairs on our heads. He knows the number of days down to the second of our lives. How can we reap what we sow when the fields are in His control? I work hard, I trust people, I give all I can. I believe what goes around comes around. I guess you do reap what you sow in some areas. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. I get so tired of trying to do good yet if you give up it just gets worse. We have to continue to fight the battle, continue to have faith, continue to trust in God. What else do we have? No faith, no trust, no fight equals one hard life. Life is tough and it gets tougher ever day. I have been absent from the blog for awhile, I have no reason, just excuses.
    15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. We have a chance for a new creation this Sunday with Dustin. Dustin, you think it is hard now, not to scare you, but it only gets harder. the more you learn and understand the more accountable you will be. This is a journey, a life long journey. Be prepared for some bumps in the road, for some serious potholes and some washed out roads. It is worth it I believe. Like I always say, if the bible was the greatest book of fiction ever written, and we all followed it, what harm would it do?
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    1. January 30, 2009 8:46 AM Rich wrote:
      "I bear on my body the marks of Jesus." Tony, you (and Mac and JB and Rick and Dustin and me) also bear on our bodies the "marks of Jesus" in the good that we choose to do (when we make that choice). In this area I think most of us have 2 problems.

      First, we think our "reward" should be here on earth. Unfortunately, the reward that we are all seeking is that we will someday be in heaven with God for eternity: "the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." It is hard to feel that reward. It is more of a "hope" than a reward. But that is where faith really comes in. And Tony I believe you have faith. In fact, I believe you have a very strong faith. The world tells you to leave your wife. The world tells you that you could be so much 'happier' leaving the past behind and going to something else. You are a funny guy, a sensitive guy, a hard working guy who provides for his family. You have other opportunities, but instead you choose to do what you know in your heart is right from God. And everyday you get up and continue to do what is right. You fall once in awhile (like all of us) but you also pull yourself back up and get back on track. You share deep feelings and struggles with us here and with Mac and Rik when you hang out with them. I encourage you to hang in there. You will be 'rewarded' for your faithfulness. Don't give up, don't "become weary in doing good."

      Second, we don't realize that we make choices for or against God all the time. When we make the choice to hang out with our son or daughter, we choose God. When we make the choice to forgive our spouse or child, we choose God. When we make the choice to be kind to a co-worker, neighbor, or friend, we choose God. When we do what our boss says or when we especially go above and beyond just because our integrity says that doing a great job is better than doing a bad job, we choose God. And on and on. I think we all focus way too much on the bad we do and forget the good we do. Once in awhile, we should spend some time looking at Galatians 5:22 (what comes after the sin list): "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law" and we should see where we in fact have some of these qualities in our life. Compare yourself to some people you know in the area of selfless love (perhaps towards your spouse or child who has hurt you countless times in countless ways), in joy (we as men singing and smiling at church or talking with each other at breakfast last week about something other than booze and women/sex), and each of the others in the list. Fact is all of us do exhibit these qualities and if we hang in there and see that we are growing in these qualities, we will show them even more.

      I say "bear the marks of Jesus" with pride. These marks are both the choices we make to do good as well as the fruits of the spirit we display.
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      1. January 30, 2009 10:12 AM Dustin wrote:
        Tony, I really didn't know what to say to you. But after reading Rich's post back to you(and all the rest of us)i started thinking.

        One Tuesday night you had a job that was going to pay you(i think). You called and said that you weren't going to make it. Then 20-25 minutes into the study you walked through the door. You said "i had to re-prioritize". You decided that our study was more important than making money (right then) to support your family. Now im sure, but i don't really know, that you went back the next day and completed the work.

        What im trying to say is i have seen your Faith in Jesus. That night you put Jesus first. I have also physically seen your love for Jesus. And i don't want to say that i want to be like you but i do want to have that same love and faith in Jesus that you have.

        I know that my journey is going to be a tough one. But i am willing to make it. I know that i will fall (hopefully not away)and i also know that you TONY will be there to pick me up when i fall. I know that we will all be there for each other when someone falls.

        Tony, i need you IN the water with me on Sunday. Don't worry, i feel that Rick and Lamont will be able to do ALL the talking. But I need YOU!
        Reply to this
    2. January 30, 2009 1:29 PM Johnbob wrote:
      Hi Tony,

      I understand some of your emotions regarding this scripture. In terms of reaping what you sow, I think it is limited to what he is discussing in this book espcecially regarding Galatians 5:19 - if you are sowing to please yourself and you sinful nature, you will reap the fruits of it. I believe Hollywood paints such a false picture of reality in this area. If you just think about songs - it is amazing what is on the radio - it is also completely bogus. One song from about a year ago is from Nickelback called 'I Want to be a Rock Star' and it talks mostly about all the sex and drugs he will be able to indulge in as part of that lifestyle. I thought about writing alternative lyrics about overdosing, dui, getting vd, etc. because that is the fruits of that lifestyle. And more recently, Kidd Rock sings a crossover hit called 'All Summer Long' which talks about some innocent things but mostly about (you guessed it) sex ('making love to our favorite song') and drugs ('smoking funny things'). In reality, you should put in unwanted pregnancies, abortions, future addictions, dui, jail, etc. That is reality.

      So I don't believe this verse is talking about in every area of your life - like someone becoming rich through an inheritance or lottery - they didn't sow a thing. And I don't believe it is talking about a one time act - like other scriptures we have looked at, it is talking about a lifestyle of sin vs. a lifestyle of following the Spirit. I don't think that we reap what God has predestined us to reap. For example, I believe I am probably the most sinful person here when it comes to some of the impure thoughts that pop into my head. There are times that I have indulged and sinned, but for the most part I just say 'Jesus is Lord' and move on. Without God in my life, I would just indulge all the time - which would have me reaping horrible things such as some of the stuff mentioned above. But as I follow the Spirit and crucify that sin, I can have a good, loving, and 'faithful' relationship with my wife. So I am reaping what I sow in this area - it has been and will continue to be my choice.

      I sense in your last couple posts that things aren't going well and that you haven't reaped what you have sown. I had a real hard talk with my son two weeks ago that really shook me (I think I blogged about it). I left there feeling depressed, a failure as a father, guilty, etc thinking of all the things I had sown with him. It took me a while to process it, but I came to the conclusion that I can really only control me - that even if I am not the perfect husband and father, I try, by golly, and I will cling to the hope that one day it will pay off. So my son doesn't want to be a christian right now - that hurts, but all I can do is pray for him and be there when he decides he wants to be right with God. It seems that you are your family's only hope. And whatever mistakes you have made in the past as a father and husband (cont'd)
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      1. January 30, 2009 1:36 PM Johnbob wrote:
        then all you can do is be broken about it and move on. I am not sure what all is up with your family, but you and Rich are my heroes for persevering through your family struggles. I really really enjoyed our breakfast and thought you were really hilarious. Maybe we could plan a camping trip or something - just us men - I believe in spending lots of time with our family, but I also am desperate for brother time - large quantities of it. You refer to it as well Tony when you talked about not being connected. Unfortunately, I need to get back to work. Do y'all have any thoughts about camping or something more extended than a breakfast?).
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        1. January 30, 2009 3:47 PM Sam wrote:
          CAMPING!!!!! You MUST be kidding! Spend YEARS 'camping'. Ya know, all that ARMY stuff in sleeping bags with snow falling in the middle of the night, mosquitoes as big blue-birds in Kentucky, snakes and scorpions in the deserts of Iraq and Saudi Arabia, and rain drenched clothes to put in in the morning when the temperature ranges in the 40's. CAMPING? uh......NO!!!!
          That's why I own an RV! (It's for sale, by the way.)

          I like games....board games, card games, games I created on the computer (like Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Wheel of Fortune, Family Feud, Deal or No Deal, Bible Trivia and so forth. In a WARM room somewhere. Where the food is not runny eggs and pukey green lima beans and coffee that is actually a liquid, not a solid. Maybe we can get together sometime and do THAT kind of stuff vice this thing you call camping....
          Cold
          And
          Miserable
          Playing...
          It's
          No
          Good
          Reply to this
  • January 30, 2009 6:55 AM Sam wrote:
    Verse 17: "Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus." Here's my interpretation of this strange verse:
    Looking back over the whole book of Galatians, Paul’s apostleship and his message have both been challenged, and now he in essence says, I have defended both of these (being an apostle and the message of Jesus dying for our sins and saying 'FINISHED!') in the past six chapters…stop troubling me. As a final proof of my commitment to the Lord Jesus, remember that I bear His brand-marks on my body. The word marks comes from the Greek, 'stigma'. The word had various uses: Slaves in the temples in the town of Phrygia (this is mentioned in Acts 2) of which the Galatians were probably familiar, were attached for life to the service of the temple, and were branded with the name of God. The name was the 'stigma' or 'mark'. Slaves and soldiers were branded on their bodies, the names of their masters and commanding generals. The marks (stigma) of the Lord Jesus were the scars that were caused by the scourgings, the Roman beatings, and the stoning at Lystra which Paul had received.
    So you can see why he is saying this. "Man, I have been through all of this for Christ, I'm getting old and tired, but I still have my faith. So listen to everything I have written, and go bother Satan instead of me or other Christians."
    Do you feel sometimes being 'troubled' by other so-called Christians who just don't understand the matter of grace and that Jesus put the need for us to do any works to death on the Cross? I do. I see people, even in 'our' churches who say that you must be with the body when they meet, you must tithe, you must pray every day, you must do this and you must do that. WRONG. I am FREE to do those things as I please, not obligated to do so. Christ died for ALL of my sins, past, present and future. My only 'must' is to not live like 'this' (see last night's blog----verse 21). My salvation has already been 'worked out' by Jesus on the Cross, I don't have to 'work out anything' for MY salvation. So, quit troubling me about things which you (not YOU, but church leaders) say I must do to remain saved. HOWEVER, DO HELP me stay out of that life of which Paul warns in verses 19 and 20. Help me fight Satan. Help me fight sin. Trouble me with THAT kind of help, for I too, bear the marks of Christ (although not as serious as Paul).
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    1. January 30, 2009 10:31 AM Dustin wrote:
      How did your study,sermon,class go last night?
      Reply to this
      1. January 30, 2009 3:54 PM Sam wrote:
        Well, thank you. The crowd is a unique one. Two folks in their mid-sixties, their (grand?) son, new to bing a Christian, their blind son, two single ladies in their 60's, a cop and his wife, and me and mine. Diverse audience, diverse interaction, which was good. We got as far as verse 10 in chapter 1. I am teaching after obtaining a 12 week set of lessons on the book of Galatians from a friend of mine. Superb material. However, they want me to teach for only THREE weeks. I try to hit the highlights and get discussions going. I believe, however, next week, it will go faster. I tried something last night which none of them had done for years, if at all. I had three of them, including the blind man, read the 6 chapters, each having 2 to read, aloud to everyone else who put their Bibles away so they could listen as if they were part of the original Galatian audiences as Paul's letter was being read to them. Some liked this, some fell asleep!!! I think it is a good thing to HEAR another person (and not necessarily on DVD) READ a chapter or a book to you. You will HEAR something I bet you'd miss in reading it, maybe 100 times. Just a different kind of exercise. Recommend you try it sometime.
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    2. January 30, 2009 1:44 PM Dustin wrote:
      Which book is next? i dont want to do what i did last weekend and read timothy all the way through titus, then come in on monday and find out i read the wrong book. Even though it was still good for me to read.
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  • January 30, 2009 9:36 AM rik wrote:
    restore him gently...
    I think this has been missed in the past. it we are caught in sin it, most likely, means we did not confess it. If we catch someone in sin our first reaction often times is SHAME ONE YOU! This is because we are not thinking spiritually. If we are thinking spiritually we will restore him gently, out of love, compassion and the like.

    3If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself...

    It is a difficult thing to think you are the one spiritual enough to restore a brother caught in sin and not think to highly of yourself at the same time. what a tight rope we walk.

    Then he can take pride in himself...
    so there are times when one can take pride in ones self. some where in that tight rope we can, after testing ourselves, look in the mirror and say well done. (though, I wouldn't advise doing this very often )
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  • January 30, 2009 9:42 AM rik wrote:
    this Sunday at Northriver's facility we will be baptizing Dustin sometime during service. I encourage all of you to come out to be a part of the biggest day of his life. All of you have played a key role in his spiritual growth and should take pride in this Great Day. Come see our brother be born into a new creation. 10,000 angels will be rejoicing!

    320 Austin Ave.
    Marietta ga 30060
    10am.
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    1. January 30, 2009 10:27 AM Dustin wrote:
      Thank you Rick, if any one needs directions there is a map at:

      www.nrcoc.com

      I look forward to see you all there!
      Reply to this
      1. January 30, 2009 1:00 PM Johnbob wrote:
        Unfortunately, I will be out of town, but I will be with you in spirit.
        Reply to this
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