WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.040 I don't know if you watched it last night, you probably didn't, you probably have better things to do. 00:00:04.540 --> 00:00:07.940 But on Channel 4 last night they started their new reality TV show. 00:00:08.300 --> 00:00:12.120 It's entitled Eden, which tells you everything you need to know about it. 00:00:12.380 --> 00:00:19.699 The idea is that they sent a various array of people off to a Scottish island to try and recreate a paradise world. 00:00:21.460 --> 00:00:28.440 Now my wife kind of gave up after not quite the end of episode 1, because she rightly could see where it was all going to go. 00:00:29.380 --> 00:00:33.079 It's not going to be paradise at all. People are already squabbling and arguing. 00:00:33.980 --> 00:00:34.859 Why is that? 00:00:35.960 --> 00:00:39.060 Of course the answer is the problem with the world is not out there. 00:00:39.579 --> 00:00:45.520 It's not in those people shooting people on the streets of America or blowing up people on the beaches of France. 00:00:46.280 --> 00:00:47.659 The problem is in here, isn't it? 00:00:48.340 --> 00:00:49.980 The problem is with the human hearts. 00:00:50.079 --> 00:00:55.320 As one theologian once put it in the 16th century, man is turned in on himself. 00:00:55.320 --> 00:00:57.600 As human beings, we're turned in on ourselves. 00:00:58.159 --> 00:01:00.340 Focused on our own desires, our own needs. 00:01:01.259 --> 00:01:04.920 But God's great plan is to make a new people. 00:01:05.200 --> 00:01:06.219 To renew us. 00:01:06.540 --> 00:01:08.359 To turn us the right way around again. 00:01:08.960 --> 00:01:11.500 And that's what we've been seeing in this book of Galatians. 00:01:11.740 --> 00:01:12.980 Chapter 1, verse 4. 00:01:13.400 --> 00:01:16.700 It's that Christ has delivered us from this present evil age. 00:01:16.740 --> 00:01:18.680 From this age of people turned in on themselves. 00:01:18.680 --> 00:01:22.540 Now for those who trusted in Christ, we're being made new. 00:01:23.380 --> 00:01:28.060 If you were here last week, we saw the conflict that the Holy Spirit provokes. 00:01:28.600 --> 00:01:31.220 The Holy Spirit lives in every believer in Christ. 00:01:31.340 --> 00:01:34.940 There's this conflict between our old natural nature, the flesh. 00:01:35.480 --> 00:01:38.280 And this new nature being created by the Spirit. 00:01:39.180 --> 00:01:41.580 Having spoken about the conflict the Spirit provokes, 00:01:41.820 --> 00:01:47.440 this week Paul is talking about the community that the Spirit promotes around us. 00:01:47.439 --> 00:01:51.120 We see that starting in verse 25, this great command. 00:01:51.799 --> 00:01:55.399 If we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 00:01:56.359 --> 00:02:00.259 Everyone who has faith in Christ has the Holy Spirit living in us. 00:02:00.579 --> 00:02:01.319 Leading us. 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:04.700 And our job is to keep in step with the Spirit. 00:02:05.340 --> 00:02:08.439 The image here is like a marching band, if you like. 00:02:09.400 --> 00:02:10.939 Have you ever seen them marching along? 00:02:11.259 --> 00:02:15.300 Everyone keeping in step as they play their instruments and beat their drums, whatever they're doing. 00:02:15.300 --> 00:02:19.040 Well, the Holy Spirit sets the pace in our lives. 00:02:19.460 --> 00:02:23.760 We're to march to his beat, not dance to the tune of our own selfishness. 00:02:25.400 --> 00:02:28.120 And that's why verse 26 is a natural warning. 00:02:28.960 --> 00:02:33.360 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another and envying one another. 00:02:34.860 --> 00:02:36.300 See, why do we become proud? 00:02:37.500 --> 00:02:39.040 Why do we provoke other people? 00:02:39.039 --> 00:02:44.120 It's because we have pride in ourselves and our own achievements and we're running life our own way. 00:02:44.979 --> 00:02:48.739 But if we know we're only put right with God through faith in Christ Jesus, 00:02:48.859 --> 00:02:50.739 which Paul has been arguing about all the way through, 00:02:51.479 --> 00:02:52.819 then we've got nothing to be proud about. 00:02:53.479 --> 00:02:54.479 We've achieved nothing. 00:02:54.879 --> 00:02:57.199 There's nothing in our record that makes God accept us. 00:02:57.579 --> 00:03:01.120 And so, being conceited, envying one another, provoking one another, 00:03:01.859 --> 00:03:02.780 that should all go. 00:03:02.780 --> 00:03:06.000 And instead we should walk in step with the Spirit. 00:03:06.919 --> 00:03:11.379 Now, the Spirit's great work is to help us fulfil the command to love. 00:03:11.479 --> 00:03:12.920 So, you look back up to verse 14. 00:03:13.780 --> 00:03:17.979 Paul tells us the whole law, the whole Old Testament law is fulfilled in one word. 00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:20.400 Shall love your neighbour as yourself. 00:03:21.159 --> 00:03:22.759 That's what the Spirit is enabling us to do. 00:03:23.039 --> 00:03:27.300 The very first fruit of the Spirit, in verse 23, is the fruit of love. 00:03:27.360 --> 00:03:28.719 He creates love within us. 00:03:29.000 --> 00:03:32.639 Now, how does that love work out in the Christian community? 00:03:32.780 --> 00:03:33.560 In the church. 00:03:34.400 --> 00:03:37.919 Well, Paul's going to explain that now in verses 1-10 of chapter 5. 00:03:38.620 --> 00:03:40.080 And he can sum it up in two words, really. 00:03:40.699 --> 00:03:42.740 Humility, verses 1-5. 00:03:43.039 --> 00:03:46.439 Humility, and then generosity, verses 6-10. 00:03:46.500 --> 00:03:48.300 That's the expressions of love we have here. 00:03:49.139 --> 00:03:51.060 Let's first of all look at that humility there. 00:03:51.620 --> 00:03:52.939 Humility in serving others. 00:03:52.979 --> 00:03:53.740 Look at verse 1. 00:03:54.520 --> 00:03:57.719 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, 00:03:57.900 --> 00:04:02.280 you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. 00:04:03.640 --> 00:04:10.819 See, love is demonstrated with this humility of wanting to see the fallen Christian restored. 00:04:11.699 --> 00:04:14.840 That word for restored there is the same word used for fixing nets, 00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:17.959 or mending a broken bone in other places in the Bible. 00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:20.579 It's about helping someone back to Christ, 00:04:20.699 --> 00:04:24.339 back to the wholeness that only Jesus can offer. 00:04:24.500 --> 00:04:26.100 Sin spoils, sin breaks. 00:04:26.100 --> 00:04:27.720 We need restoration. 00:04:29.180 --> 00:04:32.980 So this humility and love is shown in trying to restore a believer. 00:04:34.939 --> 00:04:36.280 It's everyone's job. 00:04:36.400 --> 00:04:38.500 The spiritual here are not just some elite. 00:04:39.400 --> 00:04:41.680 Rather, it's everyone who has the spirit in them. 00:04:41.760 --> 00:04:43.480 Everyone who's truly trusted in Jesus. 00:04:44.200 --> 00:04:46.100 Is to help restore one another. 00:04:46.100 --> 00:04:49.600 And of course, Jesus is our model here, isn't it? 00:04:50.700 --> 00:04:52.800 He is the one who came and restored us. 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:56.400 When we were sinners, he didn't shout from heaven and say, 00:04:56.900 --> 00:04:58.560 pull yourself together, do better. 00:04:59.760 --> 00:05:01.720 Rather, he came in humility. 00:05:01.720 --> 00:05:04.140 And restored us. 00:05:04.480 --> 00:05:06.040 By dying for our sins. 00:05:06.540 --> 00:05:08.660 Rising to new life that we can have new life. 00:05:10.620 --> 00:05:12.980 But with this humility in restoring others, 00:05:13.060 --> 00:05:15.580 there comes a personal accountability as well. 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:17.160 Look at the end of verse 1. 00:05:17.800 --> 00:05:20.300 Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 00:05:21.840 --> 00:05:23.960 So we're all open to temptation, aren't we? 00:05:23.980 --> 00:05:26.020 We still live in this present evil age. 00:05:26.400 --> 00:05:27.820 A world marked by temptation. 00:05:27.819 --> 00:05:30.259 When we're helping someone else, 00:05:30.339 --> 00:05:32.860 it's easy to fall into temptation to be proud. 00:05:33.259 --> 00:05:34.480 Oh, I haven't done what they did. 00:05:35.379 --> 00:05:37.860 Or perhaps to fall into the temptation to gossip. 00:05:38.879 --> 00:05:40.899 Maybe even to fall into the same sin. 00:05:41.819 --> 00:05:45.319 How many pastors have gone to help out married couples 00:05:45.319 --> 00:05:46.839 where the husband was having an affair. 00:05:47.500 --> 00:05:49.120 And they've ended up having an affair with the wife. 00:05:49.860 --> 00:05:50.420 Who'd been left. 00:05:51.279 --> 00:05:52.839 We have to watch over ourselves. 00:05:54.379 --> 00:05:55.839 So here's the first characteristic. 00:05:55.839 --> 00:05:58.219 Humble restoration of the forward. 00:05:59.039 --> 00:06:01.759 But secondly, there's humility in helping the burden. 00:06:01.859 --> 00:06:02.659 Look at verse 2. 00:06:03.239 --> 00:06:04.699 Bear one another's burdens. 00:06:05.619 --> 00:06:07.679 And so fulfil the law of Christ. 00:06:08.399 --> 00:06:10.639 We all have many burdens to carry in life, don't we? 00:06:11.359 --> 00:06:12.519 For some it's ill health. 00:06:13.079 --> 00:06:14.979 For others it's caring for someone with ill health. 00:06:15.620 --> 00:06:16.979 For some it's not having a job. 00:06:17.099 --> 00:06:19.339 For others it's having a job where there's too much to do. 00:06:21.279 --> 00:06:24.359 Yet we're called to bear one another's burdens. 00:06:24.360 --> 00:06:27.800 As the Spirit creates love in us, he enables us to do that. 00:06:28.220 --> 00:06:30.360 And again, that's what Jesus did for us, wasn't it? 00:06:31.780 --> 00:06:33.780 He bore our burden of sin. 00:06:34.759 --> 00:06:37.319 He carried our griefs and transgressions. 00:06:38.240 --> 00:06:42.460 And today, as our great high priest, Jesus stands in heaven praying for us. 00:06:43.300 --> 00:06:45.100 Giving us grace as we turn to him. 00:06:46.500 --> 00:06:47.660 Let me give a practical example. 00:06:47.780 --> 00:06:51.560 Three years ago, just over three years ago now, I was in hospital for about six weeks. 00:06:51.560 --> 00:06:58.199 And every day I was in hospital, the church I was part of that time brought meals for my family. 00:06:59.160 --> 00:07:01.339 And that meant some people drove many miles to do that. 00:07:01.399 --> 00:07:02.399 Because people were very spread out. 00:07:03.300 --> 00:07:04.079 It was amazing things. 00:07:04.139 --> 00:07:05.680 I got well enough to be able to talk to people. 00:07:06.199 --> 00:07:09.040 To be able to tell the doctors and nurses what my church family was doing. 00:07:10.100 --> 00:07:11.920 They were bearing my wife's burdens. 00:07:12.060 --> 00:07:13.199 Bearing my family's burdens. 00:07:13.199 --> 00:07:16.939 That can be a challenge for us, can't it? 00:07:16.939 --> 00:07:17.500 It's not easy. 00:07:17.899 --> 00:07:18.800 It's never convenient. 00:07:19.819 --> 00:07:25.060 But as the Spirit creates love and humility in us, we look to others' needs and not our own. 00:07:25.879 --> 00:07:28.659 And Paul gives us an incentive for doing this in verse 2, doesn't he? 00:07:29.539 --> 00:07:33.919 Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. 00:07:33.920 --> 00:07:37.520 It's a funny thing to say really in this letter, isn't it? 00:07:37.780 --> 00:07:42.400 If you've been following it all the way through, he's saying, you don't have to obey the law of Moses. 00:07:43.020 --> 00:07:45.640 But now he's saying, this is how you fulfill the law of Christ. 00:07:46.100 --> 00:07:46.800 What's he on about? 00:07:48.020 --> 00:07:54.920 Well, the law that the Galatians were tempted to fulfill was a ceremonial law of getting circumcised, of obeying Sabbaths. 00:07:55.480 --> 00:07:58.060 Of doing the Old Testament ceremonial law. 00:07:58.780 --> 00:08:00.220 Now all of that was redundant now. 00:08:00.220 --> 00:08:02.660 Because all of that pointed to the coming of Jesus. 00:08:04.040 --> 00:08:07.940 But when Jesus came, it's not like God had no concern for how we live. 00:08:08.740 --> 00:08:12.280 Rather, Jesus came to fulfill all that law pointed forward to. 00:08:13.580 --> 00:08:15.740 Not only in the ceremonies, but in his life. 00:08:15.860 --> 00:08:17.900 As he lived the life of love and all to live. 00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:22.940 And he, of course, sums up the whole law by giving us a command. 00:08:23.620 --> 00:08:25.480 The command to love our neighbours as ourselves. 00:08:25.640 --> 00:08:26.680 It's repeated there in verse 14. 00:08:26.680 --> 00:08:32.159 And he told us, he told his disciples to follow the pattern he'd given. 00:08:32.960 --> 00:08:34.500 John 15 verse 12. 00:08:34.960 --> 00:08:36.360 This is my commandment. 00:08:36.840 --> 00:08:39.440 That you love one another as I have loved you. 00:08:40.320 --> 00:08:42.299 Greater love has no one than this. 00:08:42.799 --> 00:08:45.019 Than someone lay down his life for his friends. 00:08:46.259 --> 00:08:49.820 As we bear one another's burdens, we're in a sense laying down our lives. 00:08:50.440 --> 00:08:52.320 To help other people carry their burdens. 00:08:52.320 --> 00:08:58.640 It's a little mini picture of what Christ has done on a huge scale for us. 00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:03.379 So this is what the humility is to look like. 00:09:03.460 --> 00:09:05.960 It's humility in lovingly restoring the fallen. 00:09:06.500 --> 00:09:09.639 It's humility in lovingly bearing one another's burdens. 00:09:10.919 --> 00:09:14.100 And thirdly, it's humility in evaluating ourselves. 00:09:15.419 --> 00:09:16.120 Verse 3. 00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:20.259 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 00:09:20.720 --> 00:09:23.039 But let each one test his own work. 00:09:24.439 --> 00:09:26.460 It's easy for us to think we're doing alright, isn't it? 00:09:26.460 --> 00:09:29.519 As human beings, we love to compare ourselves to other people. 00:09:30.400 --> 00:09:32.720 Oh, I'm doing better than Bob over there. 00:09:33.420 --> 00:09:34.660 I'm at church every week. 00:09:34.780 --> 00:09:35.660 I at least pray. 00:09:35.780 --> 00:09:36.660 I read my Bible. 00:09:38.540 --> 00:09:40.519 But the danger is we deceive ourselves. 00:09:41.980 --> 00:09:44.160 It's Jeremiah chapter 17 verse 9. 00:09:44.160 --> 00:09:48.420 The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick. 00:09:49.280 --> 00:09:50.420 Who can understand it? 00:09:51.480 --> 00:09:54.840 So Paul says part of our humility is a humble evaluation of ourselves. 00:09:54.840 --> 00:09:58.139 To check realistically how we are and how we're doing. 00:10:00.060 --> 00:10:03.080 The language here is the idea of testing. 00:10:03.840 --> 00:10:07.660 Like a jeweler might hold a precious stone up to a light to examine it. 00:10:07.879 --> 00:10:09.160 See if it's genuine or not. 00:10:09.899 --> 00:10:11.480 So we have to test ourselves. 00:10:12.420 --> 00:10:15.600 We're to look for objective evidence, not merely subjective feelings. 00:10:17.600 --> 00:10:19.700 See, naturally as human beings, what's our inclination? 00:10:19.700 --> 00:10:26.080 Naturally our inclination as human beings is to judge others and serve ourselves, isn't it? 00:10:26.759 --> 00:10:27.800 That's our default setting. 00:10:28.620 --> 00:10:31.520 We judge others, well they're no good, and we serve ourselves. 00:10:31.600 --> 00:10:32.379 I get what I want. 00:10:33.540 --> 00:10:35.820 But the spirit is turning us the right way back again. 00:10:36.340 --> 00:10:38.259 So we no longer turn in on ourselves. 00:10:38.600 --> 00:10:41.100 So instead we serve others and judge ourselves. 00:10:41.700 --> 00:10:44.940 We serve others and judge ourselves instead of judging others and serving ourselves. 00:10:44.940 --> 00:10:49.040 That's how the spirit is turning us round the right way. 00:10:50.020 --> 00:10:52.000 And you see why we should do that at the end of verse 4. 00:10:52.100 --> 00:10:53.580 Let each one test his own work. 00:10:54.080 --> 00:10:58.240 And his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbour. 00:10:59.560 --> 00:11:00.820 Now what's Paul meaning there? 00:11:00.920 --> 00:11:02.400 Well, let me tell you what he's not meaning. 00:11:02.880 --> 00:11:03.940 He's not meaning boasting and saying, 00:11:04.020 --> 00:11:04.960 Whoa, look what I've done. 00:11:05.100 --> 00:11:05.740 I'm so good. 00:11:06.860 --> 00:11:09.340 You can see that because of the context here for a start. 00:11:10.120 --> 00:11:10.980 He's talking about humility. 00:11:11.140 --> 00:11:12.260 He can't be encouraging pride. 00:11:12.259 --> 00:11:15.379 Also he's talking about life in the spirit. 00:11:16.319 --> 00:11:20.399 So everything that every good that we do is through the spirit's power. 00:11:20.519 --> 00:11:23.059 So it's not getting proud about what we've done. 00:11:24.539 --> 00:11:27.539 But also if you look over, if you look carefully at that verse, 00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:29.100 when does Paul say we're going to boast? 00:11:30.840 --> 00:11:31.559 Verse 4. 00:11:32.100 --> 00:11:35.240 His reason to boast will be in himself. 00:11:36.200 --> 00:11:39.039 It's not that we boast now, it's we're boasting in a day to come. 00:11:39.539 --> 00:11:41.600 The day the Lord Jesus comes back. 00:11:42.679 --> 00:11:45.059 Because that's the day we have to bear our own load. 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:47.059 Our own responsibility. 00:11:47.399 --> 00:11:48.120 Our own accountability. 00:11:49.139 --> 00:11:50.700 For the places God has put us. 00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:52.919 Responsibilities God has given us. 00:11:54.759 --> 00:11:55.960 Each one has that load. 00:11:56.039 --> 00:11:57.299 I'm a father, a husband. 00:11:58.220 --> 00:11:59.419 An elder in a church. 00:12:00.379 --> 00:12:02.179 These are responsibilities God has given me. 00:12:02.740 --> 00:12:05.080 These are a load I bear gladly. 00:12:05.080 --> 00:12:09.080 And on the day of judgment I'll be accountable for those things. 00:12:10.500 --> 00:12:14.280 You see what Paul is ultimately boasting in here is not merely himself or the spirit's work. 00:12:14.820 --> 00:12:18.120 He's boasting in Christ through whom he has everything. 00:12:18.200 --> 00:12:20.300 Look over the column to verse 14. 00:12:20.299 --> 00:12:26.359 Far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:12:27.479 --> 00:12:30.699 By which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. 00:12:30.700 --> 00:12:34.140 So our boasting is not about our own achievements. 00:12:34.259 --> 00:12:35.759 Our boasting is Christ-centered. 00:12:36.500 --> 00:12:38.580 Praising God for all his good works. 00:12:39.020 --> 00:12:40.680 Which we're enabled to do by his grace. 00:12:40.679 --> 00:12:44.299 And that's why we're to test ourselves. 00:12:44.819 --> 00:12:47.500 So on judgment day there may be no surprises. 00:12:48.139 --> 00:12:49.239 We may stand firm. 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:53.039 So here's the first aspect of what it means to keep in step with the spirit. 00:12:53.839 --> 00:12:55.559 We're to serve one another in love. 00:12:56.679 --> 00:12:57.439 And humility. 00:12:58.299 --> 00:12:59.519 Humility in service. 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:01.579 Humility in restoring the fallen. 00:13:02.279 --> 00:13:03.719 Humility in helping the burden. 00:13:04.699 --> 00:13:06.679 Humility in evaluating ourselves. 00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:08.199 Not judging others. 00:13:09.059 --> 00:13:10.299 But as well as humility. 00:13:11.079 --> 00:13:12.479 Paul then talks about generosity. 00:13:13.059 --> 00:13:14.099 In verses 6 to 10. 00:13:15.599 --> 00:13:18.679 But first of all verse 6 talks about generous support for teachers. 00:13:19.159 --> 00:13:20.419 That the one who is taught the word. 00:13:20.819 --> 00:13:22.559 Share all good things with the one who teaches. 00:13:23.479 --> 00:13:25.439 From the beginning of the Christian church. 00:13:26.159 --> 00:13:27.799 It has been the expectation that those. 00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:30.579 Who are set aside for the work of teaching. 00:13:31.339 --> 00:13:34.059 Can receive financial support from those who are taught. 00:13:34.679 --> 00:13:35.919 Because it's an important thing. 00:13:36.579 --> 00:13:37.719 And I'm thankful for the churches. 00:13:38.099 --> 00:13:39.459 That have paid for me. 00:13:39.460 --> 00:13:41.320 So I no longer have to make toothpaste. 00:13:41.680 --> 00:13:43.019 But I can preach the good news instead. 00:13:43.100 --> 00:13:43.920 That's my old job. 00:13:44.500 --> 00:13:45.180 I don't miss it. 00:13:45.259 --> 00:13:45.759 It was fun. 00:13:45.879 --> 00:13:46.580 But I don't miss it. 00:13:46.580 --> 00:13:52.180 But that's just a specific example of the kind of generosity. 00:13:52.800 --> 00:13:53.440 That we're to show. 00:13:53.940 --> 00:13:55.379 Look on to verse 7 and 8. 00:13:55.960 --> 00:13:56.860 Do not be deceived. 00:13:57.020 --> 00:13:58.280 God is not mocked. 00:13:58.660 --> 00:14:00.000 For whatever one sows. 00:14:00.180 --> 00:14:01.060 One will also reap. 00:14:01.759 --> 00:14:03.500 For one who sows to his own flesh. 00:14:04.139 --> 00:14:05.620 Will from the flesh reap corruption. 00:14:06.259 --> 00:14:06.560 In other words. 00:14:06.600 --> 00:14:09.440 If you invest in fulfilling your own selfish desires. 00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:12.940 That will go all the way to corruption ultimately in eternity. 00:14:13.940 --> 00:14:15.480 But the one who sows to the spirit. 00:14:16.160 --> 00:14:19.220 The one who invests in all that spirit leads us to do. 00:14:20.500 --> 00:14:22.960 From the spirit will reap eternal life. 00:14:22.960 --> 00:14:26.600 So part of this general exhortation to generosity. 00:14:26.820 --> 00:14:29.340 Comes with this call for genuine watchfulness. 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:32.860 And watch over our desires and ambitions. 00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:34.840 Again. 00:14:35.620 --> 00:14:37.100 We're checking ourselves. 00:14:37.220 --> 00:14:39.280 That we're marching to the spirit's tune. 00:14:39.379 --> 00:14:41.240 Rather than dancing to our own selfishness. 00:14:42.060 --> 00:14:43.360 We need to be complacent. 00:14:43.460 --> 00:14:44.160 Not watchful. 00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:49.300 See here as everywhere. 00:14:49.460 --> 00:14:50.399 In the New Testament. 00:14:51.220 --> 00:14:53.300 It's faith alone that saves us. 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:56.340 Faith alone saves us as we trust in Jesus. 00:14:56.780 --> 00:14:58.840 But saving faith is never alone. 00:14:59.740 --> 00:15:00.960 Because as we trust in Jesus. 00:15:01.100 --> 00:15:03.100 The Holy Spirit lives in us and changes us. 00:15:03.100 --> 00:15:05.120 So while it's faith alone that saves. 00:15:05.379 --> 00:15:07.000 Saving faith is never alone. 00:15:07.540 --> 00:15:10.180 That should be seen in our lives. 00:15:10.259 --> 00:15:10.960 In our generosity. 00:15:11.500 --> 00:15:12.639 In this particular case. 00:15:13.680 --> 00:15:15.300 So there's a question for us all here isn't there? 00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:18.899 As we look at verse 7. 00:15:20.440 --> 00:15:21.399 Are we being deceived? 00:15:22.580 --> 00:15:24.320 Because God will not be deceived. 00:15:25.040 --> 00:15:27.100 Are we genuinely sowing to the spirit? 00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:30.300 Or are we living selfish lives to the flesh? 00:15:30.299 --> 00:15:35.139 Well this generosity looks like generous support for those who teach the Bible. 00:15:35.740 --> 00:15:37.299 Genuine watchfulness over ourselves. 00:15:37.459 --> 00:15:38.019 And thirdly. 00:15:38.599 --> 00:15:41.799 A generous goodness to all believers and to others. 00:15:41.859 --> 00:15:42.679 Look at verse 9. 00:15:43.539 --> 00:15:45.359 Let us not grow weary of doing good. 00:15:45.939 --> 00:15:48.740 For in due season we will reap if we do not give up. 00:15:50.019 --> 00:15:51.279 So then as we have opportunity. 00:15:51.439 --> 00:15:52.559 Let us do good to everyone. 00:15:53.019 --> 00:15:55.299 And especially to those who are of a household of faith. 00:15:56.519 --> 00:15:57.939 Doing good can be hard work. 00:15:58.019 --> 00:15:58.279 Can't it? 00:15:58.279 --> 00:16:02.100 That's why charities talk about compassion fatigue. 00:16:02.740 --> 00:16:05.079 So we're bombarded with advertisements for people in need. 00:16:05.699 --> 00:16:07.600 They're worried about tiring us all out. 00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:08.600 So we grow weary. 00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:14.500 But Paul has a very big incentive here for not getting weary. 00:16:15.579 --> 00:16:17.500 He says in due season you will reap. 00:16:17.839 --> 00:16:19.059 If we do not give up. 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:20.980 What is that due season? 00:16:20.980 --> 00:16:24.920 Or the sense in which we benefit now. 00:16:25.440 --> 00:16:26.580 The joy of giving. 00:16:26.759 --> 00:16:29.420 The joy of Jesus says we're blessed to give and to receive. 00:16:30.580 --> 00:16:33.860 But ultimately we'll reap the greatest rewards. 00:16:33.940 --> 00:16:35.899 The fullest reward when Jesus comes back. 00:16:37.139 --> 00:16:39.080 What an amazing reward to hear our Saviour. 00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:40.379 The one who died for us. 00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:41.980 Say well done. 00:16:42.279 --> 00:16:43.720 Good and faithful servant. 00:16:43.940 --> 00:16:45.700 Come enter into your master's happiness. 00:16:45.700 --> 00:16:49.480 See here's the great cure of compassion fatigue. 00:16:50.420 --> 00:16:52.120 It's not to look for ease now. 00:16:52.900 --> 00:16:56.280 But to look for the life to come when Christ comes back. 00:16:57.300 --> 00:16:59.140 And given that harvest we can reap there. 00:16:59.220 --> 00:16:59.860 What should we do? 00:17:00.400 --> 00:17:01.300 Well verse 10. 00:17:01.860 --> 00:17:03.100 As we have opportunity. 00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:04.920 Let us do good to everyone. 00:17:04.920 --> 00:17:07.960 We can't do good to absolutely everyone. 00:17:08.920 --> 00:17:10.900 But there are some people God brings into our lives. 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:11.240 Aren't there? 00:17:11.500 --> 00:17:12.720 Who we have opportunity to help. 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:17.539 Where sometimes we happen to have some money we can use to help others. 00:17:18.360 --> 00:17:19.860 But Paul does give a priority here. 00:17:20.420 --> 00:17:21.400 Do good to everyone. 00:17:21.800 --> 00:17:23.200 But we have a special responsibility. 00:17:23.880 --> 00:17:26.460 Especially to those who are the household of faith. 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:29.519 So our spirit enabled generosity. 00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:32.560 Begins in the global church. 00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:35.359 Begins with God's people around the world. 00:17:36.159 --> 00:17:38.279 And overflows to others as well. 00:17:39.919 --> 00:17:42.039 So the world longs for that genuine community. 00:17:42.159 --> 00:17:42.460 Doesn't it? 00:17:43.179 --> 00:17:45.159 Community marked by loving service. 00:17:45.819 --> 00:17:46.819 By generosity. 00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:50.079 That's why Channel 4 has started Eden. 00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:51.359 I tried to. 00:17:52.159 --> 00:17:53.960 The hope will be this new community. 00:17:54.399 --> 00:17:58.779 Where there won't be the frictions and tensions and aggravation and selfishness. 00:17:58.779 --> 00:18:00.200 That we see in the world. 00:18:00.200 --> 00:18:05.500 But human beings cannot create that community on our own. 00:18:05.620 --> 00:18:05.860 Can we? 00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:10.680 What the Holy Spirit of God does as we trust in Christ. 00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:12.799 A few years ago I lived in America. 00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:13.900 My wife and I lived in America. 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:15.059 Our first child was born there. 00:18:16.080 --> 00:18:17.059 We were students in seminary. 00:18:17.120 --> 00:18:17.940 We didn't have a huge amount of money. 00:18:19.220 --> 00:18:21.720 We had some wonderful neighbours who were also students in seminary. 00:18:21.980 --> 00:18:23.080 We lived in seminary housing. 00:18:23.420 --> 00:18:25.980 And they had probably less money than we did. 00:18:25.980 --> 00:18:29.620 My parents were coming to visit us and saying we didn't have enough room in a car. 00:18:29.900 --> 00:18:32.620 To go and take my parents and our baby daughter around. 00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:34.680 And so we were looking into hiring a car. 00:18:35.019 --> 00:18:36.099 And Dave and Melissa looked and said, 00:18:36.380 --> 00:18:38.420 Baby, darling, you take our people care. 00:18:39.299 --> 00:18:40.099 It's only for a week. 00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:40.799 You have ours. 00:18:40.900 --> 00:18:41.900 We'll borrow your little car. 00:18:42.039 --> 00:18:42.819 We will work at work. 00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:47.059 And time and time again, on a number of occasions, 00:18:47.480 --> 00:18:48.980 they would come and babysit for us. 00:18:49.220 --> 00:18:50.279 So that we could go out. 00:18:51.019 --> 00:18:52.240 They were generous for their time. 00:18:52.339 --> 00:18:53.460 They were generous for their possessions. 00:18:53.460 --> 00:18:55.940 It was a loving community. 00:18:57.539 --> 00:18:59.759 And that was because of the Spirit at work. 00:19:00.120 --> 00:19:01.680 Creating that community. 00:19:02.279 --> 00:19:04.500 Remaking us in God's image. 00:19:05.799 --> 00:19:08.299 Bearing his fruit in our lives. 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:10.940 So in our life together, 00:19:12.420 --> 00:19:12.880 Paul says, 00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:14.360 Keep in step with the Spirit. 00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:16.799 As he creates this love in you, 00:19:17.360 --> 00:19:18.559 let that love be seen 00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:21.340 in your humility and your generosity. 00:19:21.339 --> 00:19:23.740 Let's pray.