It is a very good thing to honor the mothers among us.
“Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also and he praises her, saying: “Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all.” (Proverbs 31:28-29).

For many, however Mother’s Day is one of the hardest days of the year.  Some women who grew up dreaming of being a mother have not yet seen that dream fulfilled.  Some mothers have children who have broken their hearts.  Some miss mothers who have passed away. Some had mothers who abused or abandoned them.  Some mothers wrestle with guilt because of their sins and failures.  Some may wonder, “Does God care?”

This Sunday morning we are going to look at the life of Hannah, a mother in Israel.  Through her story we will learn that God’s Word is sufficient, not just for women who are living the mothering dream, but for all women (and men).  Even when we face great difficulties we can turn to God’s Messiah who delivers his distressed people.  Yes, God cares.

Paul has exhorted us to love each other in various ways – walking in the Spirit, bearing the fruit of the Spirit, fulfilling the law of Christ, and bearing one another’s burdens.  Finally he takes a principle from nature – sowing and reaping.  When we love we sow to the Spirit and reap blessing (eternal life).  Sowing to the flesh, including hurting others, reaps death.

Paul also adds two further (and necessary) exhortations – that we do good to all people (not just believers, but especially believers), and that we don’t lose heart in doing good (because the harvest will come).  Wise people sow wisely now in anticipation of the day of reaping. Fools live for the moment and reap the consequences.

In this week’s text Paul will remind us not to let pride stop us from serving God by serving one another (6:3-5).

Paul reminds us to bear the financial burdens of those who instruct us (6:6 – an awkward verse for a paid preacher to publicly expound!). Should we support our pastors/teachers? If so, which ones? How much should they be paid? What are some pitfalls into which both teachers and congregations can stumble?

Some think that the most spiritual people are like monks who separate themselves from the world to live a life of contemplation.  Others may think that the scholar who shuts himself up in his library pursuing theological knowledge is the most spiritual.

Paul, in Galatians 6:1-2 teaches that those who are truly spiritual do not separate themselves from the community, but rather draw near to others in love.

Because Christ has taken our burden of sin and guilt, we joyfully bear one another’s burdens, even the burden of restoring those who sin.

We will learn how the Spirit helps us to mortify fleshly desires and what we can do practically to continue to walk in line with the Spirit Who has given us life and indwells us.

In this Sunday’s message we shall see how Jesus proves His claim by raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:28-44).  In our passage we also see Jesus’ sympathetic humanity in the shortest verse in the New Testament: “Jesus wept.” (John 11:35); and we see His deity as He speaks and the man who had been in the tomb for four days lives.

Just as David, the anointed one of God, went forth into battle to conquer Goliath, an enemy against whom his fearful people were helpless and afraid; Jesus has come into the world to conquer death on behalf of God’s helpless and fearful people (Hebrews 2:14-15).

In spite of the undeniable miracle or resurrection which has taken place some refuse to believe (John 11:47-53).  May God open the eyes of many to submit themselves to our Lord Jesus Christ.

In addition to building our faith in the person and work of Christ, these verses speak to us concerning God’s purposes in our hardship.  Mary and Martha watched their dear brother die as they wondered why the Lord Jesus did not come to heal him.  God had a purpose in their trial, just as He has reasons for the trials we face.  Jesus also was facing a great trial, as he drew near to the ordeal of the cross.  He was determined to submit to the Father’s will for the Father’s glory.

Jesus also offers words of comfort for those who face death.  He is the resurrection and the life.  Those who believe in Him have been given everlasting spiritual life and will one day be raised in glory because of Jesus’ work on our behalf.  Do you believe this?

While the deeds of the flesh are plural, the fruit of the Holy Spirit is singular.  We will both examine the individual aspects of the fruit of the Holy Spirit the way you might look upon the various facets of a perfect diamond.  We will also speak of how we can cultivate this fruit in our lives and in the lives of others.

This leads to the question: How can we overcome the powerful desires of our flesh, including selfishness and pride, so that we can bear fruit for God which reflects the character of Christ?  We need help!

Thankfully, we have been given a Helper, the Holy Spirit, Who indwells us and gives us a renewed nature.  Because the flesh remains, a battle rages in our hearts, but as we walk by the Spirit the flesh is subdued and we are able to bear fruit for God.

I am very excited that we will be considering the work of the Holy Spirit in some detail over the next few weeks as we cover Galatians 5:16-26.  We need to know more of the Spirit’s work in our lives!

This week we will focus on verses 16-18 which will address questions including:

• What does it mean to walk in the Spirit?
• How can we know if we are being led by the Holy Spirit? Should we expect to feel something?
• How in practical terms does the Holy Spirit help us to prevail in spiritual warfare?

What is the nature of our freedom in Christ? Scripture teaches that we are free in two different senses. We are free from the bondage of trying to keep the law in order to merit salvation (which is Paul’s theme in Galatians 1:1-5:12). We are also liberated from bondage to sin so that we are able to keep God’s law by lovingly serving each other (Paul’s theme in 5:13-6:10 also see Romans 6:17-18). This new liberty is empowered by the Holy Spirit (5:16,18,22ff).

The order is important. First comes what God has done for us – providing a salvation which is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Then comes what we do for God – serving and obeying Him, not to earn His favor, but out of our love for Him Who first loved us (1 John 4:19).

While the emphasis of Scriptural teaching about our freedom in Christ is perfect, professing Christians often go to one extreme or another. Some wrongly want to begin with Galatians 5:13ff emphasizing our duty to God. Others end with Galatians 5:12 and don’t want to be exhorted to obey God. These challenges are not new in our day. Luther, who very much emphasized God’s grace in salvation writes, of the problems he faced nearly 500 years ago.

There is danger on either side… If grace not be preached no man can be saved for it is faith alone that justifies & saves. On the other side, if faith be preached .. men understand the doctrine of faith carnally and draw the liberty of the Spirit into the liberty: flesh… serving their own lust they give themselves to covetousness, pride, envy & such other vices. The grief hereof makes me sometimes so impatient that I could wish such swine, which tread such precious pearls under their feet, were yet remaining under the tyranny of the pope.

My prayer is that this passage will inspire us as a church to love and serve one another all the more, with joy and grace, in light of God’s great love for us in the gospel of Christ.

I look forward to what we can learn about the Lord and his ways from the story of Ehud tomorrow, and I would encourage you to take a look at it before the service (Judges 3:12-30). Psalm 2, 108, and 110 can help you prepare your heart as well.

This Sunday we will resume our study in Galatians.  Paul is battling false teachers who have tried to put the Galatians back under the slavery to the law, even though Christ has set us free.  Paul exhorts the believers to stand firm in their freedom and warns them that if they return to the law they will lose Christ (or fall from grace).  You can’t add human works to the gracious work of Christ.  If you choose to seek salvation by law, you must keep the last perfectly.
The way of salvation is of the Spirit, not the flesh. We are saved by faith, not works. And we have a great hope of perfect righteousness received from God as a gift.  This gracious salvation by faith is what matters, not outward ceremonies.

This section also serves as a transition to the final section of the epistle as Paul reminds us that true faith will produce love.

Last year I wrote a booklet, “Help! I Need a Church” which addresses the issue of why the church is important in God’s plan and what biblical criteria should be used in choosing a church.  Many professing Christians struggle because they do not have a solid connection to a good church.  Some select a church based upon criteria which are not biblical.

My plan this Sunday is to explain from Scripture the ideals for which we are striving in Grace Bible Church with the hope that each of you will join with us in exalting and serving our Savior.

John the Baptist was just such a preacher, yet the multitudes came to hear his preaching and to be baptized. God sent John as the forerunner of Jesus. John’s message was simple – “repent for the kingdom of heaven is near”.

Having covered Matthew 1 and 2 over the past two weeks, tomorrow we will complete our mini-series on the coming of the Son of God by proclaiming the gospel in Matthew 3.  We will also be reminded that baptism is not given based upon who your physical parents are, but based upon personal repentance (and faith).  Finally, we will consider the significance of Jesus’ baptism.

Time haven’t changed that much in 2000 years.  On the same day on which twenty children were gunned down in what should have been a safe place (a school), far more unborn children (in Connecticut alone) were killed in what should be a safe place (their mother’s womb).  Sadly, the politicians and media who shed tears for the slaughter of the innocent children of Newtown, like Herod, don’t seem to care about the slaughter of the unborn innocents.  Such evil events shows the world’s need of a Savior Who brings redemption.

Matthew 1 establishes that Jesus is the Messiah, the true king of Israel. He has come to establish an everlasting kingdom of peace and righteousness.

Our text tomorrow, Matthew 2, sets forth three possible responses to Jesus, the King.
- Some, like Herod, are openly hostile towards Him.
- Many, like the great majority of the Jews in Jerusalem, are indifferent.
- A few, like the Magi, worship Him.

Why is this genealogy (and others) included in Scripture?
How does this genealogy reflect God’s grace?
Why are the women included?
Why is Joseph’s genealogy given?
How does Matthew 1 address our celebration of Christmas?

On Sunday, Lord willing, we will look at Luke’s record of Simeon and Anna in the temple (Luke 2:22-38) and see what reasons they give for the incarnation. I have found this passage encouraging and challenging as I think about its implications for how we personally view the gospel and share it with others.

In preparation for Sunday’s message will you read Luke 1:1-2:38? It will be helpful background for the sermon.

If you’d like to meditate on some of the Old Testament context, Isaiah chapter 40 and 51-52 would be very helpful as well.