Grace for the Journey - Galatians 6:6-18

A little bit far away, some of you are nice and close, but that's okay.

You're here, and I'm here, and it is so good to see you.

Some of you I haven't seen physically for a long time,

so it is good to see you in person.

Just to remind you this morning that as we gather, there are toilets.

If you can, if at all possible, just wait until the very end.

Ladies at the far door and men through the double door.

When we leave this morning, we can leave either through the fire exit down there,

or the fire exit down here.

And our encouragement is to just congregate outside the door, just behind that wall.

There's a nice green area outdoors.

We can catch up, we can chat, find out how each other is doing, and encourage one another.

I'm not sure if the coffee guy is there this morning.

There was a coffee seller there last week.

So you can even do him a good turn and buy yourself a cup of coffee and chat with people.

So my encouragement as we begin is to turn to 1 Corinthians chapter 1.

1 Corinthians 1 · chapter mention

1 Corinthians chapter 1.

1 Corinthians 1 · chapter mention

So this is just going to be helpful for us as we set our theme and our focus this morning.

So 1 Corinthians chapter 1.

1 Corinthians 1 · chapter mention

What we're going to do is I'm going to read some verses,

and then we're going to play a song, which the words you will see on the screen,

and the encouragement is just to listen to the song, reflect on the words, and meditate.

We're not going to be singing this morning,

but just to use those words to help us focus our hearts and our minds upon the Lord Jesus.

So 1 Corinthians chapter 1 and verse 26.

1 Corinthians 1 · chapter mention

So our question this morning as we gather is,

what are you boasting in?

Where's your confidence, and where's your assurance?

Verse 26.

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.

So it's saying think about what you were before Christ enabled you

to turn to him in faith and repentance.

Well, not many of you were wise by human standards.

Not many were influential.

Not many were of noble birth.

We were just ordinary, everyday kind of people.

Verse 28.

But God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things and the things that are not

to nullify the things that are so that no one may boast before him.

Verse 31.

Therefore, as it is written,

let the one who boasts,

boast in the Lord.

It's not about us today.

It never is.

It's all about the Lord Jesus Christ,

his death for us,

his resurrection from the grave,

defeating death,

giving us a new life,

a new creation,

and a new eternal destiny in his kingdom.

We gather together today

because the Lord Jesus has enabled us to do so.

And we boast in him that joyful confidence in all that Christ is.

So, we're going to play a song now.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus.

Let's use this song.

Meditate on the words.

Think about it.

Reflect.

As we focus our minds and our hearts to him.

Amen.

Amen.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus.

Look full in his wonderful face.

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of his glory and grace.

Turn your eyes to the hillside

Where justice and mercy embrace

There the Son of God gave his life for us

And our measureless death was erased

Jesus, our glory and our prize

Jesus, our glory and our prize

We adore you, our Savior ever true

Oh, Jesus, we turn our eyes to you

Turn your eyes to the morning

Turn your eyes to the morning

And see Christ the lion away

And see Christ the lion away

What a glorious dawn

Fear of death is gone

For we carry his life in our veins

Jesus, our glory and our prize

Jesus, our glory and our prize

Jesus, our glory and our prize

We adore you, our glory and our prize

We adore you, our Savior ever true

Oh, Jesus, our glory and our prize

Oh, Jesus, we turn our eyes to you

Turn your eyes to the heavens

Our King will return for his own

Every knee will bow

Every tongue will shout

All glory to Jesus

Oh, Jesus, to you we lift our eyes

Jesus, our glory and our prize

Jesus, our glory and our prize

Jesus, our glory and our prize

We adore you, we hold you

Our Savior ever true

Oh, Jesus, we turn our eyes to you

Oh, Jesus, to you we lift our prize

Jesus, to you we lift our prize

Jesus, we lift our prize

Jesus, our glory and our prize

We adore you, behold you

Our Savior ever true

Oh Jesus, we turn our eyes to you

Oh Jesus, we turn our eyes to you

Let's pray together

Father, as we gather together as your people today

We want to turn away from all pride

From all notions of self

And we look afresh as we have just been reflecting and meditating upon the Lord Jesus

We thank you that because of him

We can come to you as our Father

We can gather together as your people

United together

Through the Lord Jesus Christ

Thank you that in him

Because of his death for us

Our sin is dealt with

All our past

All our guilt and shame

All our concerns for the future

Everything has been paid for and dealt with

Once and for all

There is nothing left for us to do

Except to boast

In the Lord Jesus Christ

To say thank you

For his work on our behalf

Living the perfect life for us

Dying our death for us

Rising again from the grave

Ensuring our eternal destiny is secure

That eternal kingdom

The new heavens and the new earth

Where everything will be put right

Father, we thank you so much

For all that you have done for us

In Christ today

And we ask that as we humbly turn

From ourselves and turn to you

That you would pour out your Holy Spirit

Upon each one of us today

That you would speak to us afresh

Through the words we hear

As we read

As we listen

And as later we reflect

And think upon the Lord's death for us

As we celebrate the Lord's supper

That you would use all of these things

Engage all of our senses

So that we may understand better

Who you are

What you have done

And what it means to follow you

Father, we are grateful

We are thankful

For you today

Thankful for one another

For our brothers and sisters

In Christ

So help us today

We pray for those of our church family

Who can't be with us

Father, encourage them

As they later listen

To the recording of this gathering

That they would be blessed

And they would be built up

And in no sense, Father

Will they feel distant

But be part of your church family today

Father, we pray that you would help us

As a church

To love one another well

In these days

To find good ways

To encourage

And to support

We thank you, Father

For the love

That is shown

We thank you for the way

In which people

Are encouraging

And looking out

For each other

And we pray that this will continue

In greater measure

As we spur one another on

To love

And good deeds

So we thank you

For today

Thank you for your blessings

In Jesus' name

Amen

Well, the children are going to leave

In just a minute

For those who are going to Sunday school

Before you do

What you're going to do is

You're going to just move

To the nearest blue area

And then you're just going to walk

Nice and slowly

Round to the back

And to the door

Where you will go

To Sunday school

But before you go

Just a reminder

At the end

So that the children

Can come out

If the ladies are needing the loo

If you could just hold on

For a minute more

And let the children out

And then you can use the loos

If you need to

And we're going to pray for you now

For the little ones

So let's pray for them

As they go to their class

Let's do that now

Our Father God

We thank you again

For the family

Of your church

For your people

Gathered here today

We pray for the

Little ones amongst us

We know it's been

A hard time

And a difficult

Number of weeks

And months

Missing friends

Missing

Being able to go out

And see people

And play

That's been hard

And so we pray today

That you would encourage them

To see that in you

Father

You are unchanging

You are always

With us

No matter what we may go through

No matter what we feel

In our hearts

Even the things we can't

Explain or understand

You know

And you understand

And you give us

The help

That we need

Because you are

A big

Great

And mighty God

I pray

That you would help

The children

As they go to their class

That they'll listen well

And that they will hear

Great truths

About the Lord Jesus

And that it will encourage them

To fix their eyes

Their minds

And their hearts

Upon him

Today

So bless them

As they go

And bless us

As we

Remain here

In Jesus name

Amen

Okay children

So just to one side

And then

Cherry will be

Helping you out

So as they do that

Let me encourage you please

To turn to Galatians

Galatians 6 · chapter mention

Chapter 6

In our Bibles

Galatians

Galatians 6 · chapter mention

Chapter 6

We're going to read

God's word

Before Ralph

Comes and speaks

So Galatians

Galatians 6:6

Chapter 6

Verse 6

To the end of the chapter

So

You've been following online

We've been working

We've been working our way

Through this great letter

To the Galatians

And we come to the end

To a conclusion

And Ralph is going to wrap

Everything up for us

Going to teach us this morning

So we're going to read

And then

Hand over to Ralph

So let's hear

God's word to us

This morning

Galatians 6

Starting

At verse 6

Nevertheless

The one who receives

Instruction in the word

Should share

All good things

With their instructor

Do not be deceived

God cannot be mocked

A man reaps

What he sows

Whoever sows

To please their flesh

From the flesh

Will reap destruction

Whoever sows

To please the spirit

From the spirit

Will reap eternal life

Let us not become weary

In doing good

For at the proper time

We will reap a harvest

If we do not give up

Therefore

As we have opportunity

Let us do good

To all people

Especially

To those who belong

To the family

Of believers

See what large

Letters I use

As I write with you

With my own hand

Those who want

To impress people

By means of the flesh

Are trying to compel you

To be circumcised

The only reason

They do this

Is to avoid

Being persecuted

For the cross of Christ

Not even those

Who are circumcised

Keep the law

Yet they want you

To be circumcised

That they may boast

About your circumcision

In the flesh

May I never

Boast except

In the cross

Of our Lord

Jesus Christ

Through which

The world

Has been crucified

To me

And I

To the world

Neither circumcision

Nor uncircumcision

Means anything

What counts

Is the new creation

Peace

And mercy

To all

Who follow this rule

To the Israel

Of God

From now on

Let no one

Cause me trouble

For I bear on my body

The marks of Jesus

The grace of our Lord

Jesus Christ

Be with your spirit

Brothers and sisters

Amen

Thank you Johnny

It is good to

Be back with you

All this morning

We had a good run

In the book room

At our house

For a few months

Johnny and myself

But it is much better

With all of you

I can tell you that

No offence Johnny

I am just going to

Turn to the book

Of Galatians

Myself here

Galatians chapter 6

Galatians 6 · chapter mention

And just make sure

The

Nope

Sorry I can't see

What's

I'm going the wrong way

Aren't I

That's right

Isn't it

Yeah

Okay

Thank you

So just as we begin

I'm just going to ask

For the Lord's

Help and the enabling

Of the spirit

This morning

Our heavenly father

We thank you

That we are gathered

Here this morning

As your people

The Israel of God

Those who come

To worship you

Those who love you

Because we have

Been loved by you

We are the

The new creation

And so Lord

We ask for your

Help now

That we would hear

From your word

That your spirit

Would be at work

In our hearts

And father

Give me strength

For the task at hand

Amen

Oops

I'm still going

The wrong way

Aren't I

Okay

A large scale

Public health crisis

Reveals much

About a culture

And a society

We like to imagine

All things about

Ireland

And being Irish

But when pressure

Is applied

To everyone

And to everything

At once

Cracks can begin

To appear

Our now

Former teacher

Leo Varadkar

In one of his

Many speeches

He said

These words

Good words

I believe

We need to

Maintain

Social solidarity

Unity

And a sense

Of community

In this time

Of trial

And on the other

Hand

He was ready

To enact

Draconian laws

To lock us

All down

Stop us

In our cars

Curtail our freedom

To meet people

The call

To solidarity

And community

On one hand

The power

Of the state

And of the law

In the other

And I wonder

Which one does

Leo really think

If either of them

Gets a country

Through a pandemic

Why the need

For both

Solidarity

And the force

Of the law

Why both

Well there's no

Guarantees

Over the long term

About countries

We know that

Kingdoms and countries

Rise and fall

Pandemics

Wars

Upheavals

Natural disasters

Have wiped out

And dismantled

Countless

Empires

Let alone

Thinking about

Little

Little Ireland

Just a hundred

Years old

Communities

And societies

That seem to us

Invincible

Think of the

Soviet Union

Can fall away

Very rapidly

Communities

Can just

Collapse

We find the

Church community

Under the same

External pressures

That our country

Is under

Our society

Our way of life

As the Christian

Community

Goes back

Two thousand

Years

To Jesus

Christ

And even

Further

When we

Consider

The beginning

Of humanity

There has always

Been the people

Of God

Those who

Worship God

Those who

Loved God

Those who

Are called

By God

So the church

God's people

Is an enduring

Community

Surviving

And growing

Over thousands

Of years

So what

Is it

That will

Keep

This

Church

Going

Or what

Is it

That will

Keep

The church

Going

Do we

Need

Leo's

Playbook

The call

For community

In one hand

With the law

Book in the other

And we just

You know

A little

Christian life

Is really

Need a little

Bit from

Like column

A

And a little

Bit from

Column

B

And you

Mix them

Together

And that's

How you

Keep

The community

Going

That's how

You keep

The lights

On

Two paths

Well there

Are indeed

Two paths

For church

Communities

To walk

Two ways

To try and

Keep it all

Together

And we see

That in this

Passage

Paul has

Pleaded

At each

Step

Through this

Letter to the

Galatians

That we

Follow the

Means of

Grace

Follow the

Means of

Grace to

Keep the

Church

Community

To keep

Us on

The path

To keep

Us on

The journey

Follow the

Means of

Grace

Which he

Calls in

Some places

The means

Of the

Spirit

Or the

Way of

The

Spirit

Or living

By the

Spirit

The same

Thing

Grace and

Spirit go

Together

From start

To finish

The other

Path

Is the

Means of

Law

Keeping

To impress

Others

Which is the

Same as the

Means of

The flesh

So law

Keeping to

Impress

Others

And the

Flesh

Or we

Have the

Means of

Grace

Which is

The means

Of the

Spirit

And life

By the

Spirit

And Paul

Talks in

This section

About sowing

And reaping

To make the

Differences

Really clear

For us

So let's

Look again

At the

Passage

In verse

Seven

Do not

Do not

Be deceived

God

Cannot

Be

Mocked

A man

Reaps

What he

Sows

Whoever

Sows

To please

Their

Flesh

From the

Flesh

Will reap

Destruction

Whoever

Sows

To please

The

Spirit

From the

Spirit

Will reap

Eternal

Life

Two

Ways

To live

Two

Ways

To sow

And two

Ways

To reap

We all

Have fundamental

Commitments

In our

Lives

And those

Fundamental

Commitments

Are either

Paul says

Ultimately

To the

Flesh

Or

Ultimately

To the

Spirit

What we

Sow

To

Is what

We will

Reap

From

And as

The church

Community

As the

Church

Our

Commitment

Must be

To grace

And to

The Spirit

On our

Journey

Together

Look back

As I said

This is all

Through the

Book

And as we

Finish Galatians

It's good to

See that

Thread that

Runs all

Through

If you

Turn back

With me

To chapter

Three

And verse

Three

Galatians

Chapter

Three

And verse

Three

Paul

Speaking to

The church

And maybe

Rightly

Frustrated

He says

Are you

So foolish

After

Beginning by

Means of

The Spirit

Are you

Now trying

To finish

By means

Of the

Flesh

You've

Started

With the

Spirit

And now

You're

Trying to

Finish

With the

Flesh

Or turn

Over

The page

To chapter

Five

And verse

Seven

This is how he

Describes what

Was happening

You were running

A good race

You were running

A good race

Who cut in

To keep you

From obeying

The truth

Verse

16

In the

Same

Chapter

Chapter

Five

So

I

Say

Live

By

The

Spirit

Live

By

The

Spirit

And you

Will not

Gratify

The

Desires

Of

The

Flesh

And again

We come

To chapter

Six

And verses

Seven

And eight

Do not

Be deceived

God

Cannot

Be

Mocked

A man

Reaps

What he

Sows

Whoever

Sows

To

Please

Their

Flesh

From

The

Flesh

Will

Reap

Destruction

Whoever

Sows

To

Please

The

Spirit

From

The

Spirit

Will

Reap

Eternal

Life

Do not

Be deceived

God

Cannot

Be

Mocked

We

Are

All

Investing

All

The

Time

We

Are

All

Sowing

All

The

Time

And we

Sow

Somewhere

What we

Do

With

Our

Time

We're

Sowing

That

Somewhere

We

Plant

Our

Hours

And our

Days

As we

Walk

Through

This

Life

Into

What

We

Value

From

Cradle

To

The

Grave

We're

Making

Those

Decisions

All

The

Time

With

Our

Time

We're

Sowing

It

Somewhere

And we're

Sowing

Our

Money

And our

Finances

And our

Gifts

To

Something

We're

Buying

Things

That

Please

Us

We

Are

Sowing

And we

Are

Reaping

We

Are

Sowing

And we

Are

Reaping

We

Are

Sowing

And we

Are

Reaping

To

Something

Or

Somewhere

To

Either

The

Flesh

Or

To

The

Spirit

To

Either

Self

Or

Christ

Listen

Again

To

The

Two

Paths

Whoever

Sows

To

Please

Their

Flesh

From

The

Flesh

Will

Reap

Destruction

Whoever

Sows

To

Please

The

Spirit

From

The

Spirit

Will

Reap

Eternal

Life

And so

When the

Pressure

Comes

On

As it

Has

Done

In

These

Past

Months

We

Are

Revealing

Our

Heart

Commitments

To

God

And we're

Revealing

Them

To

One

Another

In

This

Community

And we

Are

Revealing

Them

To

A

Watching

World

And

God

Cannot

Be

Mocked

There's

A

There's

A

Givenness

That's

What

That

Means

There's

A

Givenness

To

The

Way

God's

World

Works

Even

With

All

Of

The

Sin

And

Anti

God

Things

There's

Still

A

Givenness

To

How

The

World

Works

Because

As

You

Sow

You

Will

Reap

There

Is

A

Cause

And

An

Effect

Element

Or

Sowing

And

A

Reaping

Will

Show

Us

Where

Our

Hearts

Lie

And

The

Path

That

We

Are

On

Firstly

The

Path

Of

The

Flesh

Says

Whoever

Sows

To

Please

Their

Flesh

From

The

Flesh

Will

Reap

Destruction

Now

The

Word

Flesh

Is

A

Very

Flexible

Word

In

The

Bible

I

Don't

Know

How

Many

Times

You

Come

Across

And

You're

Like

What

Does

It

Mean

Here

Well

Just

Explain

Flesh

Can

Literally

Mean

Skin

And

Bones

You know

Just

Just

The

Literally

As

We

Think

Of

The

The

Flesh

The

Flesh

The

Body

It's

Also

Sometimes

Used

As

A

Way

Of

Saying

That

Someone

Is

A

Human

Being

They're

Of

The

Flesh

The

Flesh

Of

Adam

They're

A

Human

It

Can

Also

Be

Used

To

Refer

To

The

Part

Of

Us

As

Christians

That

Is

Prone

To

Still

Sin

So

We

Can

Talk

About

Battling

The

Flesh

As

A

Believer

And

So

We

Need

To

Look

Very

What

It

Means

And

Here

I

Think

It's

Primarily

It's

Being

Used

In

Another

Way

I

Think

The

Best

Way

To

Understand

Flesh

Here

Is

An

Individual

Settled

Opposition

To

The

Way

Of

Christ

As

They

Live

For

Themselves

An

Individual

Settled

Opposition

To

The

Way

Of

Christ

As

They

Live

For

Themselves

Because

Paul

Is

Drawing

A

Very

Strong

Distinction

Isn't

He

Between

Sowing

To

The

Flesh

And

Reaping

Eternal

Life

It's

Flesh

Versus

Spirit

Is

Is

Really

Self

Versus

God

And

Paul

Spells

Out

What

Flesh

Living

Looks

Like

In

The

Church

In

Verse

12

And

13

Those

Who

Want

To

Impress

People

By

Means

Of

The

Flesh

Are

Trying

To

Compel

You

To

Be

Circumcised

The

Only

Reason

They

Do

This

Is

To

Avoid

Being

Persecuted

For

The

Cross

Of

Christ

Not

Even

Those

Who

Are

Circumcised

Keep

The

Law

Yet

They

Want

You

To

Be

Circumcised

That

They

May

Boast

About

Your

Circumcision

In

The

Flesh

The

Path

The

Path

Of

Impressing

Others

People

Are

Big

And

God

Is

Quite

Small

On

The

Path

Of

The

Flesh

What

Others

Think

Is

Our

First

Thought

At

Any

Sign

Of

Controversy

Or

Pressure

Verse

12

We

See

That

In

The

Church

In

Galatia

What

This

Looked

Like

Because

You

Could

Impress

Others

By

Compelling

People

To

Be

Circumcised

Joe

Joe

Over

There

Never

Been

Circumcised

Calls

Himself

A

Christian

Comes

Every

Sunday

But

He's

Never

Had

The

Snip

I'm

Not

Impressed

With

Joe

Really

Doesn't

Seem

To

Live

For

Jesus

Completely

Avoids

The

Topic

Of

Circumcision

When

He

Comes

Up

Not

Even

We

Each

Have

Things

That

We

Insist

On

We

Each

Have

Things

That

We

Insist

On

Sheila

Sheila

Doesn't

Give

10%

Of

Her

Income

To

The

Church

Little

Birdy

Told

Me

It's

It's

It's

In

It's

In

The

Bible

Can't

Believe

She's

Not

Doing

It

I

Mean

What

She

Playing

At

The

Rest

Of

Us

Have

To

Carry

The

Burden

It's

A

Disgrace

If

I'm

Honest

Quite

Selfish

Really

Brings

Our

Whole

Church

Down

And

I

Can't

Even

Be

Convinced

Or

Sure

That

She's

A

Christian

When

She

Doesn't

Do

That

I'm

Going

To

Have

To

Bring

It

Up

So

That

We

Can

Bring

Her

In

Line

With

Church

Practice

Outside

Pressure

Can

Come

On

Churches

To

Conform

To

Avoid

Persecution

And

Improve

Our

Standing

With

The

World

And

The

Community

Outside

We

Shift

Whole

Churches

And

Denominations

Can

Compromise

On

The

Bible's

Teaching

Julie

Still

Thinks

Women

Shouldn't

Have

The

Right

To

Choose

Well

I'm

Glad

Our

Church

Came

Out

In

Support

Of

The

Abortion

Referendum

If

Jesus

Was

Here

Today

He'd

Campaign

For

It

He'd

Campaign

For

The

Very

Same

Very

Sad

That

Julie

Is

Arguing

On

This

Doesn't

She

Know

That

Churches

Change

Over

Time

We

Gave

Up

Slavery

Nobody

Argus

On

That

Anymore

We've

Caught

Up

On

This

Whole

Women's

Rights

Thing

Finally

But

Not

Julie

Still

Insists

That

Abortion

Is

Wrong

And

Both

These

Examples

Of

Insisting

On

Say

An

Internal

Matter

Like

Tithing

Within

The

Church

Or

Insisting

That

We

Move

Our

Views

And

Say

That

Killing

The

Unborn

Is

Right

They're

Both

Ultimately

A

Form

Of

People

Pleasing

Whether

It's

Inside

Or

Outside

The

Church

People

Are

Big

In

Our

View

What

They

Think

Ultimately

Matters

But

As

It

Says

Here

Verse

Thirteen

It's

A

Fool's

Errand

To

Chase

Popular

Opinion

Like

This

Not

Even

Those

Who

Are

Circumcised

Keep

The

Law

If

They

Want

You

To

Be

Circumcised

That

They

May

Boast

About

Your

Circumcision

In

The

Flesh

People

Pleasing

Becomes

Hypocrisy

Whether

That's

The

Internal

Church

Law

Keeping