The Amish Voice 2
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Backsliding people need appeal after appeal, for they are walking
a dangerous course when they turn their backs upon God. Also, a
backsliding person is usually alienated from his minister: he wants
little to do with the minister when he is turning away from God. The
Galatian churches went even further. False teachers and critics of
Paul had begun to attack Paul personally, both his person and his
ministry. They were tearing down his character every way they
could. There was great danger that the churches would reject his
ministry; therefore, Paul had to do all he could to stop the mess and
save the churches from destruction and apostasy. The present
passage is an appeal for the believers to
remember and restir their
affection for the minister of God.
OUTLINE:
1.
Treat the minister of God as a brother (v.12).
2.
Welcome the true minister of God (vv.13-16).
3.
Guard against and reject false ministers (v.17).
4.
Receive the true minister—always (vv.18-20).
1.
TREAT THE MINISTER OF GOD AS A BROTHER (v.12).
Remember that some in the churches of Galatia were criticizing and
attacking Paul. But note several significant facts.
1.
Paul called them brothers: he did not treat them as enemies,
not even as antagonists. He did not murmur, gripe, complain, or even
attack them. The very opposite is true: he sensed and expressed deep
brotherly affection for them.
2.
Paul
beseeched
them; that is, he was not commanding or
instructing, but he was begging and pleading from the heart of a true
minister of God.
3.
Paul begged them to be as he was, for he had become one of
them. He had always loved and cared and shown affection for them,
and he wanted them to do the same for him—not to abandon and
turn against him and his ministry.
It should be noted that many commentators understand Paul to be
saying that he had become as they were, that is, a Gentile; therefore,
he wanted them to remain as he was, a Gentile who trusted Christ,
and not to turn to Jewish law in seeking God’s approval.
4.
Paul assured them that what they had done had not injured
him: he held no bitterness, anger, or malice against them.
APPLICATION 1:
The heart of a true minister is clearly seen in verse twelve: love,
affection, kindness, and care for a people who had become critics of
the minister of God.
APPLICATION 2:
Believers must heed the appeal of the minister of God: “Be as I am
in affection and love—do not abandon and turn away from me.”
ILLUSTRATION:
Several Christian men who had been touched by the Lord decided to
do something practical for their pastor: pray for him. What is so
unusual about that, you might ask. Well, for one particular pastor, it
was a brand new sensation.
These few laymen had just returned from a Bible study that
encouraged them to approach their pastor and tell him that they were
committing to pray for him on a regular basis. They liked their pastor
but had never thought that such a “great man of God” needed their
awkward prayers. After all, they were just laymen and
he
was the
pastor.
During their appointment with their pastor, they shared with him
what God had led them to do. In response to their offer, the pastor
took a deep breath and told them a sad truth: “In all of my fifteen
years of being in the ministry, no group of men have ever come to
me to tell me that they were praying for me.” He was truly touched
by their Christian love; and make no mistake about it, from that day
forward he preached, pastored, and prayed with a greater confidence
knowing that he was not in the battle alone.
Does your pastor know that you are praying for him?
2.
WELCOME THE TRUE MINISTER OF GOD (vv.13-16).
There are three areas in which true ministers should be welcomed.
1.
True ministers should be welcomed in their witness. Note: the
Galatians had welcomed Paul when he first preached the gospel to
them, and they had readily responded to his message. They did not
question his call to preach nor the message he preached. There was
no criticism nor censoring of his person or preaching. Their arms
were wide open and their hearts were receptive.
Note that Paul was appealing for the same spirit of welcome and
receptivity now. No other spirit should ever characterize God’s
QUESTIONS:
1.
Do you think of your pastor as a brother? Do you treat him as a
brother?
2.
Do you need to change your attitude toward your pastor? If yes,
in what way?
3.
What can you do for your pastor to show him your love and
appreciation?
