Elijah's Great Victories....

 

 “Elijah’s Great Victories….”

1 Kings 18:41-46; 19:1-9

 

SUBJECT: DEPRESSION                                                                      

THEME: Proper rest is found in Jesus Christ even during bouts with Depression.

Matthew 11:28, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

INTRODUCTION:

I recently read about a successful businessman who was battling deep depression. He called his pastor and informed him of what he was going through.  He said-with a note of desperation in his voice-"I'm in deep trouble. I feel as if I'm living with a heavy; wet blanket over my head. I can hardly breathe. I don't want to get up and face the day's activities. My motivation is at an all-time low. I can't even think clearly. I'm feeling immobilized. I can't even function properly in my business." (Dr. Gene Getz)

It didn't take long to discern that this gentleman was terribly depressed.   The struggles he'd gone through over the past several years, no doubt brought this on.  The pastor’s diagnosis was confirmed by a Christian counselor; exactly as the pastor had anticipated.  His friend was plagued with chemical depression--an imbalance of our body's own chemicals, brought on by extreme stress.

The good news is that he responded quickly to medication and counseling—and was able to once again cope with the challenges he faced in life. It also helped him to establish some new spiritual goals.

Depression is A Common Human Experience

1 Cor. 10:13, There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

All Christians face times of depression even some of God's choicest servants. Elijah certainly demonstrates this reality. What may be surprising is that Elijah's bout with depression came after his greatest spiritual victory.  It happened suddenly and seemingly without warning. But in retrospect, it was predictable.

MESSAGE:

I.  ELIJAH’S EMOTIONAL HIGH.

1 Kings 18:39-44, And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God. [40] And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

    [41] And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. [42] So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, [43] And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. [44] And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.

GREAT VICTORIOUS EXPERIENCES.

   A.  ISRAEL’S REPENTANCE.  18:39-40

        1. Through Their Words.  

Following Elijah's great spiritual victory on Mount Carmel, he had great hopes for revival in Israel. Understandably so! The people responded in masse and acknowledged that the Lord was the one true God (see 1 Kings 18:39).

       2. Through Their Works.

Their punitive  actions against the prophets of  Baal also indicated their desire to turn from their idolatrous ways (see  vs. 40).

    B.  AHAB’S RESPONSE.   18:41

Ahab's response encouraged Elijah the most.

       1. Ahab’s Humility.

The king's heart appeared soft and humble before the Lord. Following his utter defeat, Ahab's countenance must have reflected horrible dejection and weariness.

Rather than condemning the king, Elijah encouraged him to return to his royal tent and regain his emotional and physical strength. "Get thee up, eat and drink," Elijah said, "for there is a sound of  abundance of  rain" (vs. 41). In other words, Elijah was telling Ahab to cheer up! The drought was over.

      2. Elijah’s Hearing.

What Elijah actually "heard" at that moment was in his heart. With the "ear of faith" he knew  rain was on its way, even though there were no visible clouds, no thunder, and no lightning. But Elijah knew there would be! His knowledge of God's will enabled him to "hear" things others couldn't hear. God had spoken, and the fire from Heaven was just the beginning of what God had promised would happen. (Dr. Gene Getz)

    C.  ELIJAH’S RAINS.     18:42-46

As Ahab went off to “eat and drink," Elijah once again made his way to the top of Mount Carmel to pray and wait for God to send rain. From that vantage point, he and his servant could look over the vast expanse of the Mediterranean.

          1. His Prayers      Vs.  44

1 Kings 18:44, And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.

 Elijah instructed his servants seven times to climb to a lookout point to see if there was any evidence of the coming storm. The seventh time, the servant returned with a positive report. He had seen " a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand." (v.44).

          2. His Proclamation.   Vs 44

This was all the visible evidence Elijah needed. He told Ahab to get his chariot ready and to head for Jezreel before the rain became so intense it would be impossible to travel (see v.44). Suddenly, "the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. (Vs. 45).

II.   ELIJAH'S MARATHON RUN.

1 Kings 18:45-46, And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. [46] And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.   

As Ahab rode off to Jezreel in the blinding rainstorm, a strange thing happened! The power of the LORD came upon Elijah, and he tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel (v.46). 

A.  WHERE WAS AHAB’S RUNNER?

Ahab's security team had probably vanished. A key member of that team was Ahab’s personal runner-a man who ran out ahead of his chariot to make sure the road was clear. Considering the shocking events that had just transpired on Mount Carmel as well as the mass execution of the prophets of Baal, it's understandable why the designated runner went into hiding.

Imagine Ahab's surprise when Elijah suddenly became a part of his security team. Though the king could barely see through the blinding storm, he no doubt caught glimpses of Elijah-head bowed low and his cloak flapping in the wind as he braved the elements and led the king's chariot over winding, muddy roads back to Jezreel. (Dr. Gene Getz)

B.  AN IMPOSSIBLE FEAT

Keep in mind that the distance from Mount Carmel to Jezreel-where Ahab had his summer palace-was nearly twenty miles. In view of Elijah's age, this was an impossible feat for an old man. The Lord had suddenly shifted His presence and power to Elijah, not to harm Ahab, but to help him! This must have been very reassuring to Ahab at this moment in his life. 

C.  IMAGINE FACING JEZEBEL

Another reason the Lord enabled Elijah to run ahead of Ahab's chariot relates to what the king would face when he returned to his palace. Jezebel would be waiting! Ahab would need all the emotional support he could get to stand up to this wicked woman and her four hundred prophets.

III. ELIJAH’S DEVASTATING DISAPPOINTMENT.

1 Kings 19:1-2, And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. [2] Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.          

A.  AHAB’S REPORT.

Things did not turn out as Elijah had anticipated. His hopes were dashed. When Ahab reported on the Mount Carmel experience, Jezebel was livid (see 1 Kings 19:1-2)! Ahab— weak man that he was-would not stand up to his wicked queen.

B.  JEZEBEL’S RESPONSE.

Imagine how Elijah felt when he received the following message from Jezebel: "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time." (v.2).

Elijah was hoping for a positive report that Jezebel had listened to Ahab, and had humbled herself before Almighty God. But not so! Like the pharaoh of Egypt, she hardened her heart. She only became more entrenched in her pagan ways and more steeped in her idolatry. Flying into a rage, she threatened to kill Elijah!

In the midst of her intense anger, Jezebel did not lose complete rationality. To unleash her fury on Elijah would put her own life in danger. She knew that the children of Israel had responded positively to what had happened on Mount Carmel. She was well aware of what they had done to the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal. Emotions were running high. Consequently, she knew she had to give Elijah a way out. This is why she gave him twenty-four hours to get out of town! (Dr. Gene Getz)

 

The Spirit Sets Us Free 2

“The Spirit Sets Us Free 2”

Gal. 5:13-14

SUBJECT: GRACE AND CHRISTIAN LIVING

THEME: Living the Christian life in freedom involves receiving Christ’s real-world uprightness by faith and not by mere mechanical obedience to rules. We are set free from the curse and the control of the law to liberty that does not warrant permission to sin, but rather to mature responsibility and holiness before God. To live by grace, through faith, gives us a free and satisfying Christian experience, and the Holy Spirit is the secret to “everyday life.”

INTRODUCTION:

1. Freedom from our Sinful Nature Results in Service to our Lord and Others. 

2. Legalism Does Not Positively Influence our Wicked Nature.

3. The Holy Spirit Does Impact and Conquer our Sinful Nature.

This paragraph is perhaps the most crucial in the entire closing section of Galatians; for in it we discover three ministries of the Holy Spirit that enable the believer to enjoy liberty in Christ.

MESSAGE:

The Spirit Enables Us to Fulfill the Law of Love (Gal. 5:13-15).

We are prone to go to extremes. One believer interprets liberty as license and thinks he can do whatever he wants to do. Another believer, seeing this error, goes to an opposite extreme and imposes his laws on everybody. Actually, something quite different from license or legalism results in true Christian liberty.

A.  THIS IS OUR CALLING.  Vs. 13, For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty;”

B.  WE MUST HEED A CAUTION.  Gal. 5:13

This is where we need to pause and clarify to avoid confusion.  

C.  WE MUST NOTE A CONTRAST.  Vs. 5:13

Galatians 5:13, For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

     1. A Warning to Heed.  

A warning about falling again into slavery (captivity, compulsive behaviors, feeling trapped, and frustrated), in this case the warning is changed into the demand not to allow this freedom to become an excuse for sinful self-indulgence. Here the contrast is between self-centered indulgence and the serving of one another in love.

1. Compulsive behaviors are repetitive actions that you feel driven to perform to relieve anxiety. You might feel like you “have to” do them, even if they do not make sense. Common examples include excessive hand washing, checking locked doors, or arranging items in a specific order. (See Mayo Clinic)

2. People living with obsessive behaviors often describe feeling trapped in a frustrating cycle. These actions rarely bring satisfaction but rather act as temporary tools for managing overwhelming stress or intrusive thoughts. (See Mayo Clinic)

3. Compulsions are generally driven by fear or anxiety. They feel urgent and hard to stop. This is partly why the Bible addresses this problem so often offering solutions to compulsive behaviors by addressing the root emotional pressure, renewing the mind, and relying on Christ’s power rather than self-reliance. These verses provide practical steps to break free from these cycles. (See Gal. 5:1; Phil. 4:6-7)

The life of legalism includes not only the Ten Commandments, but a set of regulations that Bible believers follow today. They tell you where you can’t go, and what you can’t do. ^[a]

     2. A Paradox to Understand. 

It is ironic that, having discouraged the Galatians from becoming slaves to law, Paul should now encourage them to become slaves of one another--for that is what the word "serve" means. It is a paradox, but the paradox is instructive. The Galatians are to be slaves of one another, though this slavery is not at all like the first. In fact--this is the paradox--it is the Christian form of being free. (Dr. W. W. Wiersbe)

The Bible teaches that real freedom is freedom from sin’s control, not freedom to sin. When people use freedom to do bad things, it is called license. These are ways we may apply these ideas of liberty to daily experiences: 

• Focus on others: Instead of just doing what you want, you should care for your fellow church members, your neighbors, or coworkers.
• Avoid bad habits: Do not let your selfish desires, like being mean, ‘sassy’, or egotistical, control you. A craving or goal where your primary focus is on your own gratification, often without considering the impact on others will naturally trigger conflict. Carefully distinguish between healthy self-care and harmful selfishness by whether your actions build up or harm those around you.
• Do godly good: You put love into action. That is loving others by doing good deeds instead of just using words or using them for certain outcomes—transactions. It means showing kindness, serving people without expecting a reward, forgiving others, and helping those in need. Such love is like a circle: God gives love to you, and you share that love with others.

Christian liberty does not permit sin; it rather encourages loving service. Love is seen as the motive of all Christian behavior, whereas under law, the motive is fear of punishment. Findlay says: “Love’s slaves are the true freemen.”^[b]

      3. A Slavery to Avoid.

Slavery to sin is involuntary and terrible; a person is born into sin (Ps 51:5) and cannot escape it on his own (Rom 7:18). Slavery to law, which comes by choice, is foolish and burdensome. On the other hand, slavery to one another is voluntary and a source of deep joy. It is possible only because Christians are delivered through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit from the necessity of serving sin in their lives.

1. “Slavish behaviors,” however, in modern churches refer to practices where members blindly obey leaders or follow unwritten rules out of fear, rather than out of genuine faith or freely and willingly. This creates an environment where control and dependency replace healthy spiritual growth.

2. In contrast, healthy churches promote love, freedom, and mutual respect. But slavish behaviors turn the ‘churches’ into places of work, debt, and control. Much like a cult uses fear to keep members compliant, these toxic behaviors abuse religious trust to manipulate people.

3. They may welcome you in with loving arms and excitement. But as you become more regular a new expectation arises that is not grounded in biblical ideas. There is more focus on the ‘church,’ the buildings and its structures. It becomes less about a place to celebrate our faith in Christ and building one another up in the Lord to more focus on ‘raising money’ and the ‘facilities.’ Membership classes, expectations that you will bring in new people, more financial gain for those few in power, and increased loyalty to the ‘church’ are typical features of such ‘ministries.’ Child of God this is not what Jesus started and is a part of today!

Members are afraid to express personal concerns regarding issues with leaders or resolve conflict due to fear they will be ostracized, shunned, gaslit, or mistreated by the ‘church.’ Again, this slightly resembles ‘commitment’, but it is actually enslavement.

D.  HERE IS OUR COMMANDMENT. Gal. 5:13

This leads to a commandment: “By love serve one another” (Gal. 5:13). Beloved, this is the imperative of service to Christ!

    1. Liberty is Expressed by Love.

The key word, of course, is “love.” The formula looks like this:

• liberty + love = service to others
• liberty - love = license (slavery to sin)

Use your spiritual freedom not for selfish desires, but to humbly and sacrificially care for one another.

ILLUSTRATION: “I have an extra day off this week,” Carl told his wife as he walked into the kitchen. “I think I’ll use it to fix Donna’s bike and then take Larry on that museum trip he’s been talking about.” “Fixing a bike and visiting a museum hardly sound like exciting ways to spend a day off,” his wife replied. “It’s exciting if you love your kids!”

Real care for others is an action, not just a feeling, and helping others should be motivated by genuine compassion rather than an obligation or a desire for personal gain, manipulation, notoriety, competition, money, or some perceived advantage. 

     2. Law is Fulfilled by Love. Gal. 3:14, “For all the Law is fulfilled in one word….”

The amazing thing about love is that it takes the place of all the laws God ever gave. “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” solves every problem in human relations (see Rom.13:8-14). If you love people (because you love Christ), you will not steal from them, lie about them, envy them, or try in any way to hurt them. Love in the heart is God’s substitute for laws and threats. Whether harsh laws established by mere human leaders, or ancient Old Testament laws that seem unfair to us today. God condemns leaders who create bad, oppressive laws. However, ancient Old Testament laws that modern readers find morally difficult or overly severe show how everything is summarized by genuine love for Him and our fellow man.

“When our children were small, we lived next to a busy highway, and the children knew they would be spanked if they went near the road. As they grew older, they discovered that obedience brought rewards. They learned to obey not only to escape pain but to gain pleasure. Today they live in different metropolitan areas and all of them drive. But we neither threaten nor bribe them in order to keep them safe. They have a built-in discipline of love that regulates their lives, and they would not deliberately hurt themselves, their parents, or other people. Love has replaced law.”—Dr. W. W. Wiersbe

1. On a much higher level, the Holy Spirit within gives us the love that we need (Rom.5:5; Gal. 5:6, 22). Apparently, the Galatian believers were lacking in this kind of love because they were "biting and devouring one another" and were in danger of destroying one another (Gal. 5:15). The picture here is of wild animals attacking each other. This is proof that law cannot force people to get along with each other. No matter how many rules or standards a church may adopt, they are no guarantee of spirituality. Unless the Holy Spirit of God is permitted to fill hearts with His love, selfishness and competition will reign. Both extremes in the Galatian churches—the legalists and the libertines—were destroying the fellowship.

2. This mentioning of the word “law” is most instructive, because it shows that despite all Paul has said, there remains a sense—a principle—in which the requirements of the law are a proper concern for Christians. This does not mean that the Christian is to make progress in holiness by once again setting up a system of rules and regulations. No…nothing in the last half of Galatians or any other part of the NT suggests this. Still, it means that the essential ends of the law will be met in those who, being called by God and being filled with the Spirit, allow God to produce the Spirit's fruit in our character. The foundational goals, purposes, or destinations of the “law”—the core goals that guide us, the primary purposes of a legal stipulation—is personal spiritual growth.

Paul quoted Leviticus 19:18 and stated that the entire Law was summarized in this single command to love their neighbors. Jesus affirmed the same truth (Matt. 22:39; Luke 10:25–28). But Paul also wanted to show that Christian love is the “fulfillment” or “the carrying out” of the Law. The apostle developed this point in Romans 13:8–10.^[c]

CONCLUSION:

Beloved, the Holy Spirit does not work through emptiness or nothing. He uses means like the Word of God, prayer, worship, giving and the fellowship of believers to build us up in Christ. The believer who spends time daily in the Word and prayer, and who yields to the Spirit’s operations, is going to enjoy “liberty” and will help build up their church. The Glory of God will be manifested through our lives, and it need never fade nor be suppressed. The more we develop our relationship with Christ, the more we reflect His glory.  The more we study the Scriptures the more His image should be reflected. And the more we allow the Word of God and the Spirit of God to change our lives, the more we will be transformed into the men and women God wants us to become. Yes, the light of Jesus Christ should shine through our lives every moment of every day! (See Dr. W. W. Wiersbe)

So, the great evidence of our walking by the Spirit or being filled with the Spirit is not some private mystical experience of our own, but our practical relationships of love with other people. Since the first fruit of the Spirit is love, this is only logical. But it is easy to talk about “love” in an abstract and general way; it is much harder to get down to concrete, specific situations in which we really demonstrate our love for one another.

Charles Spurgeon warned that unholy churches are a disaster to the world. He famously declared that avowed atheists are less dangerous than pastors who subtly promote false teachings. He believed this compromises the Bible and destroys the true Gospel. In 1887, Spurgeon led the “Down Grade Controversy”. He strongly criticized churches that traded orthodox beliefs for worldly, modern ideas. He called these shifts “downward.” He left the Baptist Union when many leaders tolerated or promoted this spiritual drift. (See Puritan Board)

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^[a] J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary, electronic ed., vol. 5 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997), 187.

^[b] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1892–1893.

^[c] Donald K. Campbell, “Galatians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 606.

The Spirit Sets Us Free 1

“The Spirit Sets Us Free 1”

Gal. 5:13-14

SUBJECT: GRACE AND CHRISTIAN LIVING

THEME: Living the Christian life in freedom involves receiving Christ’s real-world uprightness by faith and not by mere mechanical obedience to rules. We are set free from the curse and the control of the law to liberty that does not warrant permission to sin, but rather to mature responsibility and holiness before God. To live by grace, through faith, gives us a free and satisfying Christian experience, and the Holy Spirit is the secret to “everyday life.”

INTRODUCTION:

1. Freedom from our Sinful Nature Results in Service to our Lord and Others. 

“Liberty” (Gal. 2:4, 4:26, 31; 5:1), is almost entirely about freedom from sinful domination—practical terms related to an ethical life. The true nature of Christian freedom is only through the life of the Spirit and by the Spirit's power enabling us to refuse the desires of our sinful nature. Service or “love” is both to God and man (Gal. 5:14).  (Dr. W. W. Wiersbe)

2. Legalism Does Not Positively Influence our Wicked Nature.

No amount of legislation can change people’s basic sinful nature. Legalism is the practice of relying on strict, man-made rules or external laws rather than inner transformation; it utterly fails to change our human nature. Instead of fixing our deepest flaws, it simply hides them behind a ‘mask’ of good to acceptable behavior. Beloved it is not rules on the outside, but love on the inside that makes the difference (Gal. 5:14). We need a different power within, and that comes from the Holy Spirit of God.

3. The Holy Spirit Does Impact and Conquer our Sinful Nature.

   A.  The Presence of the Spirit within.

There are at least sixteen references to the Holy Spirit in Galatians. When we believe on Christ, the Spirit comes to dwell within us (Gal. 3:2). We are “born after the Spirit” as was Isaac (Gal. 4:29). It is the Holy Spirit in the heart who gives assurance of salvation (Gal. 4:6); and who enables us to live for Christ and glorify Him. (Dr. W. W. Wiersbe)

   B.  The Personality of the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is not simply a "divine influence"; He is a divine Person, just as are the Father and the Son. What God the Father planned for us, and God the Son purchased for us on the cross, God the Spirit personalizes for us and applies truth to our lives as we yield to Him.             

This paragraph is perhaps the most crucial in the entire closing section of Galatians; for in it we discover three ministries of the Holy Spirit that enable the believer to enjoy liberty in Christ.

MESSAGE:

The Spirit Enables Us to Fulfill the Law of Love (Gal. 5:13-15).

We are prone to go to extremes. One believer interprets liberty as license and thinks he can do whatever he wants to do. Another believer, seeing this error, goes to an opposite extreme and imposes his laws on everybody. Actually, something quite different from license or legalism results in true Christian liberty.

A.  THIS IS OUR CALLING.  Vs. 13, For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty;”

We see our calling:

     1. We Are Called to Liberty.   Gal. 5:13

We are free people in Christ. We are free from the guilt of sin because we have experienced God's forgiveness. We are free from the penalty of sin because Christ died for us on the cross. And we are, through the Spirit, free from the power of sin in our daily life.

True Christianity is showing that the freedom we have been called to in Christ is a responsible freedom that leads to holiness of life. Yes! But this is a freedom to serve God and others as love dictates!

     2. We Are Called from Law.  Gal. 5:8

We are also free from the Law with its demands and threats. Christ bore the curse of the Law and ended its tyranny once and for all. We are “called unto liberty” because we are “called into the grace of Christ” (Gal. 1:6). Grace and liberty go together, but not law and liberty. (Dr. W. W. Wiersbe)

Beloved, what about a faith without law being sufficiently strong enough to resist the immoral wickedness of pagan practices? Every Child of God is morally and ethically obligated to live in the freedom of God’s Spirit.  The Grace of God insists on moral and ethical behavior for us who enjoy the freedom which Christ gives. First, the phrase “have been called” expresses a complete idea meaning independent of any other added statement, "called by God to be people of his own" (“calleth,” vs. 5:8). Secondly, this preposition “unto,” points to the condition upon which God had called us: they were "called" upon with the understanding that they should be in a state of liberty. So just as Eph 2:10, “Created in Christ Jesus “unto” good works.” Likewise, God calls us in Christ to be free. 1 Thes. 4:7, For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

B.  WE MUST HEED A CAUTION.  Gal. 5:13

This is where we need to pause and clarify to avoid confusion.  

    1. Liberty is Not a License to Sin. Vs. 13, ... only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh . . .

Having explained our calling, Paul then issues a caution: "Don't allow your liberty to degenerate into license!"   This, of course, is the fear of all people who do not understand the true meaning of the grace of God. "If you do away with rules and regulations," they say, "you will create chaos and anarchy."       

• Liberty is the freedom from the power and guilt of sin. It allows believers to live righteously through the Holy Spirit.
• License is the freedom to sin. It is an abuse of grace that uses God’s forgiveness as an excuse for fleshly desires.

    2. Liberty Is Not an Opportunity to Sin. (Gal. 5:13) “an occasion”

Paul says that the Christian is not to allow this freedom in Christ to become a beachhead for the armies of indulgence to gain a foothold in his life. The meaning of the words “an occasion” is "a starting point or base of operations for an expedition," it refers to an “opportunity” (see 2Cor 11:12).

“Liberty” (Gal. 5:13) means having freedom from the old rules. However, this freedom is not a pass to do wrong. Instead, the goal is to use that freedom to serve others with love. Think of it like being set free from prison. You are not free to break more laws. You are free to build a good life and help your friends.

To those who have been accustomed to regard law as the only controlling factor that stands in the way of self-indulgence and a free rein in sin, and to those who have not been accustomed to a high standard of ethics, the teaching of Christian liberty might easily mean that there is nothing to stand in the way of the unrestrained indulgence of one’s own impulses. Paul often during his ministry, had his hearers react in this way to his teaching of grace.^[a]

    3. Liberty Can Be Abused to Permit Sin.

Of course, the danger of manipulating liberty is real, not because God's grace fails, but because men fail of the grace of God (Heb. 12:15). Since there is the “true grace of God” (I Peter 5:12), then there is also a false grace of God; and there are false teachers who are “turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness,” (Jude 4). So, Paul’s caution is a valid one. Christian liberty is not a license to sin but an opportunity to serve.

1. Reflection immediately shows us that a "freedom" which allows a man to obey the passions of his lower sinful nature is a miss usage of the term “Christian Liberty;” it is not that freedom “wherewith Christ hath made us free.”  Such emancipation hands its victims completely over to the slavery of sin (John 8:34; 2 Peter 2:18, 19).  Peter, in his First Epistle, addressed (see 1 Peter 5:12) and ratified Paul’s statement (1 Peter 2:16). “The flesh” is not to have its own way, but it is to be mastered by the Spirit. (Dr. W. W. Wiersbe)

2. 1 Peter 2:16, As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

3. “Flesh” (Gal. 5:13) refers to anything a person is and is capable of as a sinful fallen depraved individual apart from the unmerited intervention of God’s Spirit in his life (v. 16). This is even seen in modern churches.  

4. When modern churches mistake sinful license for liberty, they trade holy freedom for self-indulgence. True liberty empowers believers to reject sin through love. License perverts grace. It replaces the lordship of Christ with the rule of self. (See SBC Voices)

5. The Danger in Modern Churches

• Over-emphasizing Grace: Some churches teach grace without truth. They fail to mention the call to repentance and personal holiness.
• Abandoning Truth: Pastors may avoid preaching against sin to stay culturally relevant or avoid offending the congregation.
• Subjective Morality: Believers claim that the Holy Spirit allows them to do things the Bible directly forbids.

6. The Biblical Correction

• The Apostle Paul warned the early church about this exact mistake in Galatians 5:13. (See Berean Bible Society)

For these reasons I do not personally fellowship or interact with these misguided ministries and apostate ‘churches.’ It is not that I am superior or even ‘better’ in some way, please don’t misunderstand me, but God has graciously given me a respect for Him and His ways first above all else. I must respect “thus saith the Lord” entirely to the best of my ability. I must live to please Him as my priority. God is the ultimate reality to me; I am foremost answerable to Him! God and His Word are opposed to these behavior patterns that characterize these modern churches. All believers would be wise to be more loyal to Christ and what the Scriptures really teaches.  

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^[a] Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 3 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 148.