“DO NOT BECOME WEARY IN DOING GOOD” (Outline)
July 19, 2009 --
PENTECOST 7 --
Galatians 6:1-10
INTRO: Greatness in God’s kingdom differs far differently compared to the standards of greatness in this world. Too often all too many only look at the numbers. The bigger the numbers means greater the success. So, often, the mega-churches (large numbers) grab the headlines from our media in our success oriented society. But God’s measure of greatness is just the opposite. Jesus reminded his disciples not to worry about their importance or standing or success according to men. "Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all" (MARK 10:43,45). Greatness in God’s kingdom is to continue to do good with humility.
“DO NOT BECOME WEARY IN DOING GOOD”:
I. For the family of believers,
II. Even for all humanity.
I. DO GOOD FOR THE FAMILY OF BELIEVERS
A. Verse 10. Paul recaps the first nine verses. It sounds strange to encourage good among believers.
1. Paul writes this way because he is speaking to them about spiritual goodness among believers.
2. Verse 1a. Sin happens. It happens in every congregation. Spiritual people will help to restore.
3. God’s family wants believers to be careful in helping each sinner. Show sin. Restore gently.
B. Verse 1b. Paul warns all to be careful unless they are tempted into the same or even worse sins.
1. Verse 2. Carrying other’s burdens fulfills Christ’s law, which is love. Love works humbly.
2. Verse 3. All have sinned. All have fallen short. Not one sinner is better than anyone else.
3. Verse 4a. Each one is accountable for own shortcomings. Each examines own actions.
4. Verses 4b, 5. Each will carry his or her sin. There is no pride in being sinful. Sin humbles.
C. Verse 6. There were no commands concerning giving in New Testament. Gladly give and share.
D. “Do not become weary in doing good” especially to the family of believers. Yes, even in the family of believers there is going to be sin. There are going to be spiritual needs that need to be met. Our text this morning is concerned with the spiritual far more than earthly needs of the believers. Our desire in “doing good” will also want to concentrate on helping our fellow believers with his spiritual needs. "But if you do warn the righteous man not to sin and he does not sin, he will surely live because he took warning, and you will have saved yourself" (EZEKIEL 3:21). Even the righteous sin. Help them by warning them to turn from wickedness, rebellion, and sin. Help them so they may see their sin, repent, and live!
E. Believers will want to be forgiving. This is not normal for our sinful nature that lives in us. But we do have the example of Jesus to strengthen us. "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity" (COLOSSIANS 3:13,14). Be forgiving. “Do not become weary in doing good”. The disciples even asked if forgiving 7 or 70 times was enough. If you are keeping track of your forgiveness for others you are not really being forgiving. God’s love forgives.
F. For what purpose are believers to be so forgiving? Forgiveness reveals the love of Jesus for all of mankind, especially the family of believers. Forgiveness brings the family of believers, God’s church, together with a certain sense of joy and rejoicing. "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for every-thing, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (EPHESIANS 5:19,20). The world ought to see in each of us the forgiveness of our loving Lord in our treatment of the family of believers. “Doing good” by forgiving reveals the light of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let your light (forgiveness) shine to the glory of God.
“DO NOT BECOME WEARY IN DOING GOOD” especially for the family of believers.
II. DO GOOD EVEN FOR ALL OF HUMANITY
A. Verse 10. “Do good to all people”. This statement goes beyond even those in the family of believers.
1. “All people” includes those who may even take advantage of the charity of Christ’s family.
2. Verse 7. God knows the hearts of all. God is not mocked. God will judge every deceiver.
3. Verse 8. From nature one can only reap what he plants, not something different.
B. Sowing different seeds produces very different results. There is earthly sowing and spiritual sowing.
1. The benefit from sowing only to please the sinful nature is temporary and ends in destruction.
2. Sowing spiritual seed produces that eternal harvest that endures forever. God’s grace blesses.
3. Verse 9. Believers are motivated to carry on, not growing weary. There is an eternal harvest.
C. Believers are not to give up on their fellow man. Help them at every opportunity, verse 10a.
D. God’s Word was written thousands of years ago. God’s Word is still alive and active for our lives today. Looking around we find it difficult to love those who do no love God. We may find it difficult to help those who will not help themselves. We are reminded that God’s love for others needs to start within us. God’s love grows in us as his word is planted in our ears, minds, and hearts. "Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you" (HOSEA 10:12). This is God’s encour-agement for us to begin each day of grace with God’s love planted and growing in our hearts.
E. We are reminded that our hearts of stone have been miraculously changed into hearts of flesh by the grace of our Lord God Almighty. Our loving Lord needs us to continue to have a heart and a hearing that is willing to listen and to follow. So what are we to do? What are we to do with this faith that God has so graciously and freely given us? "Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?"(ISAIAH 58:7). In our day and age people give up on their own flesh and blood. God’s gifts of children are often treated as possessions. Sometimes these blessings of God are even considered to be an inconvenience. There can be resentment leading to rejection. How shameful and sad, sad, sad.
F. Our Lord asks believers to the shining examples above and beyond the rest of the world all around us. Believers are to show love to those who are not so loveable or even likeable. This is a sign of the believer. For even pagans know how to love their family and friends. More is expected of every believer. "But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked" (LUKE 6:35). Note that God “is kind to the ungrateful and wicked". This phrase also includes believers. At times people will indeed take advantage of the charity of us as believers. We do not like it. Some may even take advantage of us because they see in us the light of Christ. That is not bad. Being taken advantage of does not make us feel good. It may not even seem to be fair. But we will want to remember that God does not treat us as our sins deserve. God always want to show us mercy. So we help.
CONC.: Our gracious God and loving Lord shows his kindness even to the “ungrateful and wicked”. Therefore we “do not become weary in doing good”. Do good especially for the family of believers. We always need spiritual help and encouragement. Do good also for all of humanity even to those who stand opposed to God and his word. All need to see God’s love. Only believers can reveal God’s love to an unbelieving world. Do this all for the glory of God. "Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us" (1 PETER 2:12). “DO NOT BECOME WEARY IN DOING GOOD”. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
SERVICES: 1:00pm @ NCF Min. (Sat) / 12:00pm @ NCF Medium (Sun) / 9:30am @ Redeemer (Sun)
BIBLE STUDIES: TUES. -- 6:00pm (Min) + 7:30pm (Med) @ NCF / 10:55am @ Redeemer (Sun)
/ Sunday radio broadcast @ 9:05am on KQNK 106.7FM or 1530AM
PENTECOST 7 readings:
EZEKIEL 2:1-5;
2 COR. 12:7-10;
MARK 6:1-6;
(PSALM 143)
