Amazing Grace – Week 7 (10-22-23)
Amazing Grace
October 22, 2023
Barren, Broken & Blessed
Galatians 4:19-20
My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
Matter of Fact ==> Heart to Heart
Strange Turn
- Gospel & Foolishness -> Abraham
- Care & Concern -> Slave Women & Free woman
What is going on?
Galatians 4:21
Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says?
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Exodus 19:5-6; 8
Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’
… “We will do everything the Lord has said.”
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The Promise <———— 430 years ————> The Law
Galatians 4:22
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.
Sarah was barren: Barren = Worthless
Ultimately the story is about trust or a lack of trust in God’s plan, purpose & timing.
The problem is we see impossibility where God sees endless possibility and it scares us away from choosing faith.
Our job & God’s job
God —> Your job is not to orchestrate & arrange human history, to work all things for good.
You & me —> Have Faith & Follow
Galatians 4:23-26
His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise. These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.
2 Slave = 2 covenants
#1 Slave Women: Hagar —> Sinai —> Moses
Sarx – Flesh
#2 Free Woman (don’t get a “two” directly)
Born –> The Promise (Spirit)
Sarah —> Barren & Worthless
Isaiah 54:1
“Sing, barren woman,
you who never bore a child;
burst into song, shout for joy,
you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
than of her who has a husband,”
says the Lord.
Galatians 4:28-31
Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. 30 But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” 31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
Galatians 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
I wonder if what he truly wants is you empty handed?