The Amish Voice 3
people—not toward the minister of God—not toward any child of
God.
2.
True ministers should be welcomed even in the infirmities and
weaknesses of their flesh. Too often, this is not true. Churches and
believers sometimes abandon and ignore the minister of God when
he is stricken in body or spirit. When Paul first went to the Galatian
churches, he was stricken with some infirmity. Just what the
infirmity was is not known, although the best guess seems to be
some serious eye problem (v.15). The point is that the Galatians . . .
did not despise him
did not reject him
received him as an angel or messenger from God Himself
This last fact stresses just how wide open the welcome was to
Paul. There was no lack in receiving and caring for the minister of
God. They would have even plucked out their own eyes and given
them to Paul if they had been able.
3.
True ministers should be welcomed in the truth they proclaim.
Paul had been proclaiming the truth: a person is justified by faith and
not by law nor by works—not by trying to earn God’s acceptance by
doing good deeds here and there. Was the church going to treat Paul
as an enemy because he had told them the truth?
APPLICATION:
How many churches turn against the minister of God because he
preaches and tells the truth? The church must always welcome the
minister who speaks and proclaims the truth.
“
Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness;
and hold such in reputation” (Ph.2:29).
ILLUSTRATION:
If the minister of God tells the truth, will he be exempt from
persecution? John wished it were so. Let’s hear his painful story:
John was a man of God who had forsaken all to follow
Christ. He was willing to go wherever God wanted. It
looked like a golden opportunity for a young minister. This
congregation wanted him, and he felt led to the church.
Right up front he told the congregation that he would never
compromise the truth. And they replied, “Pastor, that’s
great! We’re sure glad to have you with us.”
As the years went by, the truth from God’s Word put the
congregation in the fork of the road. There is an old saying
that the truth hurts. Instead of responding in repentance to
the Lord, many in the church began to shift the blame for
their guilty hearts to the pastor’s sermons.
The result was tragic. John was spiritually tarred and
feathered. The people were looking for something that would
tickle their ears. To his credit, John refused to give in to the
pressure, counting the truth more important than acceptance
by man.
3.
GUARD AGAINST AND REJECT ALL FALSE
MINISTERS (v.17).
Note that the false teachers (Judaizers, religionists) were zealous in
their teaching, and they were out to secure as large a following as
possible. Note how they went about it: by excluding the people,
trying to cut them off from the minister of God. They not only
sought people through the merits of their own teaching, but they
attacked and tore down the minister in order to alienate the people
from him.
Note the difference between what the Christian minister (Paul) was
doing and what the false teachers were doing. Or, to put it in the
form of a question: What is the difference between the evangelistic
efforts of the true minister of God and false teachers?
False teachers seek to focus people upon law, works, effort,
ritual, ceremony, observances, sacrifice, rules, and regulations—
upon something that requires man to work at being good or
doing good in order to become acceptable to God.
The true minister of God seeks to focus people upon God
Himself: His love, honor, and praise—upon the fact that God
Himself has provided the way for man to become acceptable to
Him, and that way is through His Son Jesus Christ.
“
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in
sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening
wolves” (Mt.7:15).
“
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter
times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to
seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in
hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot
iron” (1 Ti.4:1-2).
4.
RECEIVE THE TRUE MINISTER—ALWAYS (vv.18-20).
Paul said that the church should always welcome ministers who
seek to do well, ministers who labor for the church’s welfare. Note
that he was encouraging the church not only to accept his ministry
QUESTIONS:
1.
What responsibilities do you have to your minister? Are you
satisfied that you are doing all you can and should for him?
2.
Put yourself in your minister’s shoes for a moment. Have you
given him the freedom to speak the truth? What things in your
life could be barriers to enhancing your relationship with him?
3.
Have you made a commitment to pray for your pastor in areas
where he might be weak? When he asks you to pray for him, do
you?
QUESTIONS:
1.
What things does a false teacher focus upon? What does a genu-
ine Christian teacher focus on?
2.
Would you consider yourself to be “easy prey” for a crafty false
teacher? Why or why not?
3.
What sort of protective barriers does your church have in place
in order to protect the sheep from wolves (false teachers)?
