As it may please God to help
us this evening. We'll continue our meditation
in the epistle of Paul to the Galatians in the fourth chapter
and this evening we'll Concentrate on verses eight and nine And
I thought I would just read these verses foot first before we read
a small portion of Scripture So verses eight and nine in the
fourth chapter of the epistle of Paul to the Galatians How
be it then? When ye knew not God, ye did
service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that
ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye
again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire
again to be in bondage? I thought then we would turn
to the prophecy of Isaiah chapter 44 and we'll read a few verses
in that chapter which shows to us the fallacy of turning really
to just these fallen idols of this world. So the 44th chapter
of Isaiah and we'll read from verse number 9 to verse 20. They that make a graven image
are all of them vanity, and their delectable things shall not profit,
and they are their own witnesses, they are not, nor know that they
may be ashamed. Who hath formed a god, or molten
a graven image, that is profitable for nothing? Behold, all his
fellows shall be ashamed, and the workmen, they are of men. Let them all be gathered together,
let them stand up, yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed
together. The smith, with the tongs, both
worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh
it with the strength of his arms, yea, he is hungry, and his strength
faileth. He drinketh no water, and is
faint. The carpenter stretcheth out his rule, he maketh it out
with a line, he fitteth it with planes, and he maketh it out
with a compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according
to the beauty of a man, that it may remain in the house. He heweth him down cedars, and
taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself
among the trees of the forest. He planteth an ash, and the rain
doth nourish it. Then shall it be for a man to
burn, for he will take thereof and warm himself, yea, he kindleth
it, and baketh bread, yea, he maketh a God, and worshipeth
it. He maketh it a graven image,
and falleth down thereto. He burneth part thereof in the
fire, with part thereof he eateth flesh, he roasteth roast, and
is satisfied, yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Alaha, I
am warm, I have seen the fire, and the residue thereof he maketh
a God, even his graven image. He falleth down unto it, and
worshipeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me, for
thou art my God. They have not known, nor understood,
for it shut their eyes that they cannot see, and their hearts
that they cannot understand. And none considereth in his heart
Neither is there knowledge, nor understanding, to say, I burned
part of it in the fire, yea, also I baked bread upon the coals
thereof, I roasted flesh and eaten it, and shall I make the
residue thereof an abomination? Shall I fall down to the stalk
of a tree? He feedeth on ashes. A deceived
heart hath turned him aside. that he cannot deliver his soul,
nor say, is there not a lie in my right hand? So we've read
those verses together this evening really because these verses in
Galatians that we've read speak really of that which is false
and because the Apostle tells us having already encouraged
us in the seventh verse, where he says, whereof thou art no
more a servant, but a son. And if a son, then an heir of
God through Christ, which of course is very wonderful and
blessed. And then he says, how be it then,
when ye knew not God, ye did serve unto them, which are by
nature are no gods. But now, after ye have known
God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak
and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?'
So the Apostle is really directing us to be very aware that we must
not allow ourselves to turn again to the things of this world,
the things of time. In the context, of course, in
this Galatians, the apostle is really speaking about the difference
between the law and the gospel. And he was reminding the Jews
how they had been wonderfully delivered and wonderfully blessed
to turn away from the law, which was of works, which could never
save them, and to come to the knowledge of the glorious Gospel
through the life and death of the blessed Saviour, the Lord
Jesus Christ. And so here we have these words
set before us in these verses. Howbeit then, when ye knew not
God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
And I suppose all of us have fallen into that trap and have
obeyed the cunning devices of Satan and have turned away from
God to worship idols. And it may not be quite the same
as we read together in that 44th chapter of Isaiah, but nonetheless
there is that looking to the poor things of time. And how
we've read together, there's a prophet points out how they
did this and they did that and they enjoyed this and they did
that, And then they did not really worship the true God at all.
And so what a blessing it is for us tonight if we are made
aware of the problems which exist today. Not like perhaps like
the Jews who were turning away again from the freedom that was
in Christ and were entangled again with the yoke of bondage. And that's why the Apostle really
directs them to such words as this. when he says, but now after
that ye have known God, or rather are known of God. And it's very
significant, isn't it, that the apostle speaks like that, because
of course we do know God, but we only know God if we are known
of God. We cannot know God without being
known of God. And what a blessing that is when
the Holy Spirit shows to us the great and wonderful truth that
this is, are known of God. And if it is so, how then, how
do we turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto
ye desire again to be in bondage? Well, the beggarly elements really
of course refer to the poor things of time. And they are beggarly
elements. And the effect of turning to
them brings us into spiritual bondage. Because what happens
is, we find that we're serving the devil, rather than serving
the gracious God. And how necessary we are reminded
of these things today. Just like the Jews had to be
reminded of it in their day. You see, they couldn't seem to
free themselves from the law which they'd been under, which
they were told, of course, if they kept the law, They would
be right and just but of course they never could keep the law
and therefore they were always dependent upon the grace of God. Well today we are dependent also
upon the grace of God and we should be very thankful to realise
it and therefore to be constantly on our guard that if we are sons
of the Most High God that we do not turn again to the poor
things of time And we found serving them, which bring no profit,
maybe a little things for this world, but my friends, no spiritual
profit. The only profit we can have is
in the things of God concerning our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
And at this end, how important it is that we are concerned that
we found growing in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ. And that growth is through the
gift of God. And what does that do? That directs
us to the Saviour, directs us to all that He's done in that
great and glorious plan of salvation to redeem our souls. How humbled
we should be and how concerned we should be that we are not
left to turn again to the beggarly elements of this world. The Apostle, again, when he spoke
to the Thessalonians, in the first epistle, and the first
chapter, the ninth verse, he says this, For they themselves
show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye
turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God. Well,
what a blessing if that is our situation. And surely, if it
is, we should be on our guard and be very concerned not to
turn again to those beggary elements. And then the apostle, when he
spoke to the Romans, he wrote to them and he said, who changed
the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and served the creature
more than the creator. Again, we bless God, of course,
for creation, but we are not to look upon it as our God, we
are to look to the creator. who created all things. We ought
to look to the great God. We may marvel at the things in
nature, the men of the world marvel at the things of nature,
but we must look above that. We must look to the Creator,
the great and glorious God who created all things and not be
left to ourselves, who just turned to ourselves and looked to ourselves
The Lord Jesus spoke very solemnly when he was on the earth, and
in the Gospel of Matthew we read this, Many will say to me in
that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? Sounds
very good, doesn't it? And in thy name have cast out
devils. Again sounds very good. And in thy name done many wonderful
works. And then when I profess unto
them, I never knew you. Depart from me, ye that work
iniquity. The reality is that people rely
on their religion. They rely on their works. They
rely on what they're able to do, rather than looking to the
glorious work of the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. And the Apostle, when he wrote
to the Corinthians, encouraged us with these words, he said,
Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament, not of
the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter killeth, but the
Spirit giveth life. And it is the work of the Holy
Spirit that you and I must have, and must desire to have, and
pray for, and rejoice when It is given to us, not of works,
lest any man should boast. So let us rejoice in the truth
that we have the evidence, as we spoke last time, of the adoption,
being found a son and being able to truly call out Abba Father. And then remember what the Apostle
says to just make us consider How be it then, when ye knew
not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods,
but now, after ye have known God, or rather are known of God,
how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto
ye desire again to be in bondage? Because they do. They bind us
up, and there's no life, and there's no freedom. But may we
know the wonderful blessing of being free in Christ.