Marked By The Master
Galatians 6:17
When I was a kid my uncle worked on a farm. One summer I was there with him and the ranch hands gathered a bunch of young bulls together into a pen. Then they ran them into a chute and caught their head in a rack. Then they pulled out a flaming hot iron with the farm's logo and placed it on its hindquarter and branded that bull for life. If that animal got loose or if he were stolen you could tell who he belonged to by the brand that he wore.
In the commercial society that we live in we are programmed to think of certain companies when we see their brand or logo. When you are driving down the street and you see ram horns coming at you.. you know that the vehicle is a RAM. When you see a gold bowtie you know that the vehicle is a Chevy. And best of all when you see a blue oval coming in your direction you know that a FORD! When you see an elephant standing on two legs wearing a polo shirt you know it is "Big Al" and he is representing the Crimson Tide. When you see an Eagle or a 6 foot tall Tiger (also walking on his back legs) who's name is Aubie you think of the Auburn Tigers.
When you are watching a Baseball, Football or Basketball game and you see that little white duck walk across the screen introducing a trivia question you automatically think of AFLAC. When you see that little green gecko lizard with an Australian accent you don't even have to hear him say Geiko, you already know who he represents.
Each person here wears a mark... you are branded in one way or another. There are some positive brands that people may put on you. They may see you as:
A good man or a good woman.
You may be branded as being:
• ...Kind.
• ...Sensitive
• ...Angry
• ...Rude
• ...Happy
Some may recognize you as being:
o A great mother
o A devoted friend
o A helpful neighbor
You have heard the phrase "he would give you the shirt off his back". That is a mark in your life. That is what people see when they see you!
There are some negative brands that people are labeled with- One night a teenage girl brought her new boyfriend home to meet her parents, and they were appalled by his appearance: leather jacket, motorcycle boots, tattoos and pierced nose. Later, the parents pulled their daughter aside and confessed their concern." Dear," said the mother diplomatically, "he doesn’t seem very nice. "Oh, Mom," replied the daughter, "if he wasn’t nice, why would he be doing 500 hours of community service?" http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/the-mark-of-a-servant-jeff-strite-sermon-on-salvation-168726.asp
One of the benefit's of being a long term pastor is that the people in the community begin to associate you with the church. When I go to a football game, a car show, a yard sale or just down to the store... people see me and even if they don't know my name they associate me with Stockdale Baptist Church. That is a brand that I am proud to wear! But more important that that mark or brand is the fact that on December the 7th, 1997 I was branded by Christ! Throughout eternity I will bear the "Mark of my Master!"
Whether you know it or not you wear a "Mark" today! You are either saved or you are lost. And if you are saved then you have been "Marked By The Master". I would like to take some time an look at Galatians 6:17 and preach on this thought "Marked By The Master"
Notice the phrase "I bear the marks"... this literally means I bear the "stigma" of Jesus Christ.
"Stigma" refers to "a mark pricked in or branded upon the body"
In ancient times a slave would be "branded" with the "mark" of his master.These "brands" or "marks" made it clear who they belonged to.Paul was being accused by the Judaizers. Some were accusing him of not being a true preacher, not being a God called man, not being an apostle, In their minds he was not worthy of apostleship. They believed if Paul were truly an apostle he would have everybody follow the Jewish laws of circumcision and other rituals. Paul faced great persecution from these people. Verse 17 is Paul's response to them - "From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. "
Paul had literal "marks" in on his body, he had been wounded, beaten, bruised, broken, and stoned. People could say what they wanted... PAUL HAD THE SCARS TO PROVE HE WAS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST! When Paul made his first trip into the Galatian region he was stoned and left for dead in Lystra. Throughout his life after his conversion Paul faced many dangerous situations and he SUFFERED MUCH!
- 2 Corinthians 11:24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
Yes... Paul was truly "Marked By The Master"... What about you? Is there visible evidence that you are a slave that belongs to Jesus Christ in your life? A Christians we are "bond-slaves" of Jesus Christ and our lives are marked by Him! Being called a Christian is a "stigma" that began at Antioch (Acts 11:26) What we wear as a badge of honor actually began as a term of derision!
Though" Christian is a label or a brand that we wear, there is much more involved in what Paul is speaking of in this verse. This is not just a title that we are given or a logo that we can put on and take off. When you are TRULY "Marked By The Master" It is a life that is permanently branded by the Lord Jesus! And when Jesus brands you there will be visible evidence!! - 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
I. Is Your Life Marked By Faith
Paul was willing to suffer and endure the pain and agony that caused those scars in his body because he had FAITH in his Lord!Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
He had faith that Jesus was crucified for him... He had faith that Jesus would sustain him no matter what persecution he encountered... He had faith the Jesus was the one accomplishing the great works in his life.
Paul had spent his life in the Jews religion, he was as religious as a man could be but he was trusting in his own righteousness and works for salvation. He spent his time fervently persecuting the early church and trying to destroy it. He preached against Jesus and was la leader in the violence against may early Christian martyrs. The he was walking down Damascus road intent to bring Christians bound to Jerusalem to persecute them and something amazing happened.Jesus showed up and called his name! SAUL, SAUL why do you persecute me? ....that very moment changed his life forever. Paul walked away from the rituals and ceremonialism that he had known his whole life, and he put his faith and trust in the Lord Jesus to saved him for all eternity! And Paul was saved and justified BY FAITH!
Galatians 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
What about you? do you have the common misconception that you can work your way into heaven by doing enough deeds?Nothing is father from the truth! You can never do enough good deeds... SALVATION IS THROUGH FAITH ALONE!! If you are truly a Christian, it all begins with faith! If you are a slave of Christ the you will bear the mark of faith! Paul's faith did not end on Damascus road.. His life was marked by faith from that point forward. That is how he could endure all of the persecution!
If you bear the mark of faith it will continue throughout the remainder of your life. You not only have the faith the Jesus saved you, you can live with faith that Jesus will sustain you no matter what you may encounter in this life!
Not only did Paul bear the Mark of Faith, He also bore the mark of faithfulness! What about you?
II. Is Your Life Marked By Faithfulness
Faithfulness is defined as - steady in allegiance or affection...DEVOTION!
The life of Paul is one that was marked by devotion to his Lord. From the time he was saved trouble began. He was living in no man's land...The Jews rejected his conversion and his message, The Christians were afraid of him and didn't really trust him. Then he suffered physical persecution. He was in and out of prison for the rest of his life. no matter what he faced he never walked away. He never said "said things were better before I met Jesus". He never returned to his old life, he remained faithful to the one who loved him and gave himself for him,
There are so many people who have came through this church and done the opposite.They came down and prayed a prayer and began walking in the right direction and things were good...for a while Then trouble came and they walked away! They said it is not worth it and they went back to what they knew.
Many of the people in Galatia went right back to what they had been delivered from! But praise God there are some FAITHFUL SERVANTS OF CHRIST! There are some who are devoted to their Master NO MATTER WAHT COMES THEIR WAY! These are the ones who like Paul comprehend the sacrifice of Jesus, They know they never could have made it on their own! They know they were lost and on the road to Hell and Jesus sought them and bought them and changed them forever!
What about you? If you life marked by Faithfulness to Your Master? Do you serve Him in the good times and the bad? Or maybe things got difficult and you just turned and walked away. If you are truly His you life will be MARKED BY FAITHFULNESS!
III. Is Your Life Marked By Fervency
Fervency - exhibiting or marked by great intensity of feeling : zealous. This word speaks of passion! As you survey Paul's epistle to the Galatians you can see the fervency or passion in his words.
Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Paul had passion for the message of Grace! Paul had a passionate concern for the converts at Galatia! Paul had passion for serving his master! Throughout the new testament you can find the great passion that Paul possessed! When Jesus got a hold of Paul and transformed him it changed every aspect of his life. Paul was a man who lived with a burden for lost people! Not only did Paul believe that Jesus was real Paul believed in Hell and he didn't want people to go there!
What about you? You claim to be a Christian! You like to fly that banner and wear that brand but is there any REAL evidence that you are truly one of Christ's. Are you real or just a chap imitation? If you have truly been Marked by the Master then you will have a burden for lost souls. You will have passion and fervency in your service to Christ
Do you bear the mark of fervency? Not only did Paul have faith, faithfulness and fervency his life was marked by fruit! So I ask you:
IV. Is Your Life Marked By Fruitfulness
Back in Chapter 5 Paul told us about "the fruits of the spirit"
He stated that the Holy Spirit produces certain fruits in our lives: - Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Self-Control...... This is the proof of the Spirit life! These "fruits of the Spirit" are marks that will be seen in the life of a believer. It is also an indicator of salvation! A lost man will never truly posses all of the fruits of the Spirit apart from Christ! I ask you to take a moment and take a test... which list describes you better?
1. Are you living a life that is marked by - sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these
2. Are is you life marked by - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
You say that you are saved...I hope so but the scriptures tell us that there WILL be fruit in the life of a believer! Are you LED by the flesh or are you LED by the Spirit?
The verb “led” indicates voluntary submission
-YOU make the decision as to WHO will lead you!
- YOU decide if you are going to listen to your FLESH!
- YOU decide if you are going to be submissive and obedient to the SPIRIT!
In order to bear this fruit you must be saved and you must be fully surrendered to the Lord Jesus. It was because Paul was SPIRIT LED that he faced the danger, trouble and persecution that he did! If he were in the flesh he would have fled as a result of fear! These Judaizers were trying to undermine his authority and question his apostleship. Paul says LEAVE ME ALONE! I BEAR THE MARKS!
If you are Truly Marked By The Master you will bear the mark of fruitfulness!
V. Is Your Life Marked By Focus
Notice that Paul said I bear the marks of Christ. Paul faced what he faced to bring honor and glory to his Savior. Notice what he said in - v14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
Paul knew that his wants and desires did not matter, but he was willing to go wherever he was told to go, he was willing to do whatever he was toild to do, he was focused on pleasing his master!
Dr. Zodhiates says that this word means more than just a servant. It describes someone “who is deprived of his personal freedom and so becomes fully an instrument in the hands of his master. His is one who can never say ‘No’ to his master”. Many Christians want a casual relationship with Jesus, where He is an advisor, but not the authority of their lives.
This is not the case... WE ARE SLAVES OF THE MASTER!
When you are a slave: your wants don't matter, your desires don't matter, you like and dislikes don't matter, your goals and aspirations do not matter...a slave only exists to serve the master. Folks our purpose in this life is to being honor and glory to our Master! Do you want to know the meaning of life? Do you really want to know why we are all here? IT IS TO BRING HONOR AND GLORY TO THE FATHER! Is your focus in this life to bring glory to the Master? If it is not then there are some changes that need to be made in your life!
As we close I ask you to examine your life?
Have you truly been "Marked By The Master"
