GRACE UNCOVERED 8
Galatians 3:1-5

"Spiritual Power"

April 13, 2008 - EPC - Kevin Hale

 

It is so natural for people to desire to HELP God out in some way.  We do not want to think that we owe God something.  So we begin to add stuff to salvation because it is hard to think that Jesus is enough.

 

Then Jesus died for nothing and Paul was not about to stand by and let them render the gospel useless.

 

How a man is made right with God and how does a man remain right God?  As we looked last week God looks at us not only as forgiven but also just as I had lived like Christ.  Not just as I am but as He is.

 

Illustration: Kid late gives valid excuse and you justify them.  They are guilty but you choose to see them innocent.

 

We are no less guilty but God now sees us as if are as righteous as His Son or lived like He lived.

 

Paul lived the Christian life based on being accepted by God period.  We are crucified with Christ but he lives in me by faith.

 

Illustration: Saint Augustine  ...She said it is I he said but it is not I.  I am not the man you used to know I do not need your embrace...  He has control not because he is trying but because Christ is in control and living in him.

Galatians 3

¹O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you ^£that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed ^£among you as crucified? ²This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? ³Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? ⁴Have you suffered so many things in vain-if indeed it was in vain?

⁵Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?-

 

We have massive amount of literature and media about spirituality.  Not God's Spirit or even morality but a mystical spiritual world. 

 

Now Paul is teaching about Justification and sanctification and TRUTH.

 

Spiritual reality is based on the truth.  You might ask OK then how do I live the Christian life if it is not rules etc.

 

What does it mean that the Spirit lives in me?  We trust Christ by FAITH and then we live out this faith through the Spirit that now lives in us just like Jesus lived in this world.

²This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?  YES

⁵Therefore He who supplies (provided) the Spirit to you and works miracles among you,

 

The Spirit is capitalized here because the Holy Spirit is never an "IT".  2 Cor. 3:17  

 

¹⁷Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

2 Peter 1:4.

⁴by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

 

Galatians 4:6

⁶And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"

 

• 1. The Spirit lives inside you.

 

When the bible speak about the Spirit taking residents inside the believer it means far more than what people say when they say they are spiritual.

 

Knowing what you have been given and the power of the spirit is the key to your living a life of power.

 

Most never come to realize the fact that God takes up residence inside you by way of the Spirit.  I speak that too many and they say OK.  That's it?  OK.  There is nothing more valuable or powerful; that that and all you can say is OK.

 

That will stagger you when you get it.

 

• 2. You receive the Spirit.

 

You receive the Spirit. (3)  WE must understand who the Spirit is and what we have in Him.  One plan fact from scripture is simply this:  Either you have the Spirit or you don't.

 

Paul challenges then that did they get the Spirit by works or by faith.

Now many think that there are classes of believers.  Some that have it and others that are waiting for a second blessing of him.  This is something that takes you to a new life in Christ but that contradicts scripture.

The Christian life begins with the Spirit and without the Spirit there is no life.

 

Romans 8:9

⁹But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 

         

Titus 3:5

          ⁵not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

 

          We are mad alive by the Spirit and kept alive and live the Christian life BY the Spirit.  Sometime people speak about a second blessing and or a filling other than salvation but we simply do not believe that here.

 

The Christian life begins and is continued by the Spirit.  We are not given part of the Spirit and some other time we get more.

 

It is all faith and about his finished work on the cross and God then sees us righteous.  You are asked to pray for it and beg for it and hope that you will get it.

 

This reduces the work of Christ and makes Jesus not enough.  We learn as well we are to be filled continually not  just one time.  FROM BELIEVED TO BELIEVING.

 

• 1. Power comes from the Spirit working in your life.
• 2. Without the Spirit you do not have life.
• 3. How did they receive the Spirit?

¹O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you ^£that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed ^£among you as crucified? 

 

Now they did see him physically did they? NO.  Paul wrote it in graphic detail or painted a picture with words.

We need to read the bible passionately.  Paul did more than give them rules and facts but told them a story and the significance of what Jesus had done on that cross.

 

Eph. 1:18...the eyes of their hearts were enlightened.

 

Sometimes we can know stuff but it takes a long time to sink.  I know my dad is gone to heaven but it really has not sunk in or the eyes of my heart has not fully opened.

 

I know many times I will stand here time and time again I will be moved to tears because the eyes of my heart will be opened.

 

So many come and watch us sing and day dream and never have the eyes of your heart opened.

 

What about PERSONAL faith not your parents faith.

 

He was put up for you it is you not your mom or dad.  It is for YOU.

 

So many come for years and see it all and taste but never eat.

 

How do we receive the Spirit? (2)

 

Was it by the law or by faith in what you have heard? (3)

 

The secret to the power of the Spirit is when they quit trying to perfect or complete themselves through their own efforts and realized that Christ had done it all for them and they now everything they needed to live the life of Christ.

 

Trust him and not yourself.  This is the key.  To mix grace with your works is deadly.

 

We will never experience the power of the Spirit in our lives if we continue to try and do in the flesh what God began in the spirit.  We must be believing and obey the TRUTH.

Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? ³Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? ⁴Have you suffered so many things in vain-if indeed it was in vain?

 

It does not come any other way.  One commentator put it this way - Oh, you dear idiots.  Phillips

 

Just trust Him.  You cannot fake trust.  Paul speaks to the Romans households and tells them they ALL are called to carry the gospel.

Paul speaks in 2 Cor. 7 about divorce and instructs the Believing partner to let the unbelieving partner GO.  Notice he does not call the unbelieving partner an unbeliever.  They function as an unbeliever.  We cannot judge hearts but only the actions.  I know by what I see coming from you.

 

Paul confronted Peter because he was not walking IN LINE with the gospel.

 

Why do we get so defensive when we are criticized or corrected?  Many times it is because we strive to complete ourselves with our goodness rather than trust Christ completely.

 

Some of you will never come to the front at invitation anymore?  You will not come and get some counseling.  That may well be a sign of self righteousness and avoiding truth.

 

We try and go home and try harder and only become angry and mean.

 

Repent and go back and trust Christ in the Gospel.  He is your righteousness so quit trying to use it to make you feel good.  Do not add to it is foolishness.

 

Stand in HIM alone. 

 

We are to spread the Gospel and make disciples.  We have 20 individuals that have requested to have someone show them how to walk with God.  Pray, study, grow etc.  Where are you?  So many of you have excused yourself because it is too much work.  I need you to step up.  The gospel should push you to serve Him.

 

Mark is going to have a meeting with these 20 and others and anyone who will come and let him train you quickly  on Wednesday nights.

 

What is God speaking to you about RIGHT now?  Maybe you're a believer but you are not believing.  The power of the spirit is released as you OBEY the truth. 

 

Believer where is the joy and peace and contentment and fruitfulness?  Are you trusting him for your walk and growth?  As you obey the power of the Spirit will be evident.