e for e first do I might e [Applause] spe down I e e e e e e e how are you enjo [Music] your e they right that's okay e e [Applause] e e [Music] [Applause] [Applause] good morning everyone morning welcome to the thank you welcome to the Gathering of hasper Baptist Church after 12 weeks on sabatical and over 12,000 km of travel I added it up last night I can't tell you how glad my family and I are to be back among you we were certainly blessed to gather with lots of different local churches and lots of different places but we have longed to sing with you to pray with you to read God's word with you to sit under the preaching of God's word with you to worship with you and so all we might all glorify God God together with you that's why we're here this morning to worship our Triune God in the Splendor of his majesty you're invited to do so again this evening at 5:00 P PM as one of our elders Mike stalks will be teaching on attributes of God his mercy and his grace so I invite you to to be here and be blessed by our brother's labor and then between this morning and this evening service there is a picnic in forb Park which is just two minute walk that way if you didn't bring some lunch go grab some come join us in the park I look forward to beating someone at spikeball so uh you can come for that uh some other events forthcoming in the life of our church there's a future mission trip info night this Wednesday here at 700 p.m in the hall so there are plans to go to Quebec and plans to go to Scotland the best place on the planet so if you're interested in that you can come and uh find out more information there's a men's meat and meat August 10th at the C and home you can figure that one out if you don't know what I mean by that and then ladies the following Saturday August 17th there is a guest who is coming to your campfire take two so details are available in the weekly bulletin or by contacting the church office on those um events as we turn to our call to worship this morning we certainly do so with heavy hearts as a congregation for we grieve deeply with miam and David and Daniela who unexpectedly lost their husband and father this past week we will pray for them later in our service we mourn also with our brother Steve who lost his father and in addition to those sorrows there are myriads of sufferings and sins that we lament from this past week alone uh part of my week was catching up on everything that's been uh happening and I got partway through that and I just learned about so many challenges that we face as we battle against the world and the Flesh and the devil and uh my heart is heavy about those things so as we begin our service today A Psalm has been chosen songs have been chosen to help us express what may well be going on inside of us yet which at the same time rightly turn us to the hope that we have in God through our Lord Jesus Christ so I'm going to invite you to stand and listen to Psalm 130 before we are LED in prayer and song So Psalm 130 the song that we're going to sing after this is based on this Psalm so listen to this song of a sense Psalm 130 this is what the word of God says out of the depths I cry to you oh Yahweh oh Lord hear my voice let your ears be attentive to the voice of my please for Mercy if you oh Yahweh should Mark iniquities oh Lord who could stand but with you there is forgiveness that you may be feared I wait for Yahweh my soul Waits and in his word I hope my soul waits for the Lord more than Watchmen for the morning more than Watchmen for the morning oh Israel hope in Yahweh for with Yahweh there is steadfast love and with him is plentiful Redemption and he will redeem Israel from all his inequities brothers and sisters this is the word of the Lord thanks be to God would you pray with me and add your Amen to mine when I say in jesus' name at the end let's pray together Lord we bow before you this morning every one of us a sufferer every one of us a sinner grateful that your spirit has inspired such words as we've read so that we know how to talk to you when we are bowed low in this world while we wait for Christ to return and make all things new would your Same Spirit help us take and use these words in worship so that we can sing even if our voices are ragged the words can only squeak out or tears line our faces help us to Worship You from places of sorrow and even if that is not our default this morning help us to minister to those who mourn by singing these truths at the top of our lungs so that others hear them ReSound in their own ears and so may you help us encourage and admonish one another even as you are worshiped Among Us be glorified oh great God we ask in jesus' name amen [Music] remain standing As we sing Lord from sorrow deep I call when my hope is Shen torn and ruin from the fall hear my desperation for so long I plad and prayed I come to my resue even so the Thor remain still my heart will praise you stores within my trbl soul questions without aners on my faith these pillows r be now my shelter why are you cast down my soul hope in him who saves you when the fires have all grown cold caus this heart to praise you [Music] my life be Tor from every worldly pleasure when all I possess his grief God be then my [Music] be my vision in the night Be My Hope and refuge till my faith is turned to sight Lord my heart will praise you oh my soul put your home in God help my rock I will praise him sing all sing through the ring storm you're still my God my salvation oh my soul put your home in God my help my rock I will praise him sing Oh sing through the ring St you're still my God my Sal [Music] what gift of Grace is Jesus My Redeemer there is no war for heaven now to he is my joy my righteousness and freom my steast love my deep and boundless peace to this I hope my hope is only Jesus for my life is B to oh how strange and divine I can sing all is fine yet not but through Christ in [Music] the night is dark but I am not forsen or by my side the savior he will stay I labor on in witness and [Music] reing for in my need his power is dis to this I hold my shepher will defend me through the deepest Val he will all the night has been one and I shall overcome yet not but Christ in [Music] [Music] me no F I dread I know I am forgi the future sure the price it has been paid for Jes Jus fled and suffered for my par and he was raised to overthrow the gra to this I hold my sin has been defeated Jesus now and ever is my oh the change are released I can sing I am free yet not I but through Christ in [Music] me with every breath I want to follow Jesus for he has said that he will bring me home and day by day I know he will renew me until I stand with joy Before the Throne through this I hope my hope is only Jesus all the glory ever more [Music] to when the grace is complete till my li shall rep yet not I but through Christ in when theace is complete till my li shall rep not but through Christ in yet not I but through Christ in [Music] me beautiful singing you may be [Music] seated before we continue in worship with the reading of God's word and prayer I do want to encourage you to make every effort to either attend the burial for Richard which is tomorrow at 2:30 here at New Hope Cemetery just a few moments from where you're sitting Miriam wanted our church family to know that anyone who wishes to be there and is able uh they would gladly receive so 2:30 tomorrow for the burial for Richard and then 700 p.m. will be the funeral here in our church building on Thursday uh there's a lot of people involved with camp that uh would be welcomed to be at the funeral and and want to be at the funeral so uh we are doing an evening service on Thursday at 7 so please make every effort uh to support our sister and um her children in the midst of their [Music] sorrow as for scripture reading this morning it comes from Isaiah chapter 54 should be on page 614 of the Pew bibles if you wish to take one and follow along Isaiah 54 why this passage well because it is quoted in the text that Pastor Caleb will preach from Galatians later in the service and as he will explain against the backdrop of two women representing two covenants two states two ways to live we have this Rich Assurance of God's stunning love that he promises to Lavish on his people listen to Isaiah 54: 1-10 sing Oh Barren one you did not bear Break Forth into singing and cry aloud you who have not been in labor for the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married says Yahweh and en large the place of your tent and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out do not hold back lengthen your cords and strengthen your Stakes for you will spread abroad to the right and to the left and your Offspring will possess the Nations and will people the desolate cities fear not for you will not be ashamed be not confounded for you will not be disgraced for you will forget the shame of your Youth and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more for your maker is your husband Yahweh of hosts is his name and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer the god of the whole earth he has called for Yahweh has called you like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit like a wife of Youth when she is cast off says your God for a brief moment I deserted you but with great compassion I will gather you in overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you says Yahweh your Redeemer this is like the days of Noah to me as I swore that the Waters of Noah should no more go over the Earth so I have sworn I will not be angry with you and will not rebuke you for the mountains May depart and the hills be removed but my steadfast love shall not depart from you and my Covenant of Peace shall not be removed says Yahweh who has compassion on you this is the word of the Lord thanks be to God pray with me again oh Lord even as we thank you for such stunning Assurance of your Covenant faithfulness to your Covenant people my prayer this morning is that you would still us and settle us with these promises of Your unfailing Love towards us in Christ Jesus we have just just heard that you are the God of Angel Armies that you who alone are the Holy One you who alone are the god of the earth you who alone are the one who purchased us from the slave market of sin you who alone are as a perfectly faithful husband you promise to love us with an everlasting love you promised to love us with a steadfast love that will never apart from us so that we can say with confidence that neither death nor life nor angels nor rulers nor things present nor things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor anything else in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our lord The Creation itself could come undone your love for us would remain though it may feel as if our world gets turned upside down and inside out though we Face Life's greatest losses and worst of agonies help us cling to this the peace we have with you through Jesus Christ is as sure and steady as ever so settle us and still us with this bright hope and would you the god of Hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing this about you and your love so that by the power of the Holy Spirit we would abound in hope in particular Lord we pray this for those who sorrow and suffer among us we pray for Miriam who has lost her husband and who will bury him tomorrow for David and Daniela who have lost their father and will stand with their mom at a gravide and later in the week at a funeral help us to love them well by joining in their Thanksgiving for Richard's life and faith and walking with them in love as we look with them to the hope of the resurrection and life that our lord Jesus Jesus is we thank you Lord for bringing them back to us and for so quickly and graciously returning Richard's body to Canada so that they might go through this journey of grief without tremendous delay thank you Lord for being able to set eyes on them and wrap our arms around them and care and love them we pray also that by the power of your spirit Steve and lesie would abound in the hope of your love and the recent loss of Steve's father and also while Lesley's dad is in hospital and his time on this Earth is short be merciful to her as she travels this week to El Salvador so that she might be able to see her dad before she goes to be with you we pray also for pastor Kevin and lyanna's Trust in your love to increase through his recovery and future procedures we Rejoice that Kevin is with us this morning we pray your blessing on lyanna while she travels with her family and we pray you would continue to heal our brother and give him wisdom as he gradually resumes his ministry this week following his heart attack we pray that Pastor Caleb and Brianna would settle deeper into your steadfast love in their next two weeks of vacation Grant rest to them both as they enjoy concentrated time with Nathan and Samuel and while Caleb's sister Ashley is here we thank you for Caleb and Brianna for this couple in our midst especially we thank you for the ministry they have undertaken these last 12 weeks in my absence bless the labors of their hands with much abiding fruit For Your Glory we ask oh Lord and refresh them while they are apart from us we pray we also ask that you would bless the labors of those who serve this past week and who will serve this upcoming week in Camp HBC as we cry out to you this morning with Thanksgiving for your Everlasting Love We realize so many have never even heard of the love that you demonstrated in the death of Christ for our sins that we might be forgiven and reconciled to you as your children oh Lord as brothers and sisters of old heard Isaiah 54:2 enlarge the place of your tent and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out they expected great things from you oh Lord and they attempted great things for you may we be like them for there are kids and families without the gospel in our very own City there are even more without the gospel in Quebec where some of us just were and there are even more without the gospel in places like tokon noima Island in Japan so spread us abroad to the right and the left so that there would be born again offspring of Abraham near and far even as we ask you to quiet us with your love help us not to keep quiet about your love embolden us inflame our Zeal and use us so that many more would hope in your love in the midst of suffering and sin as we can in Christ this morning and for this oh Lord we thank you that no matter what you remember your Covenant forever and we praise you for this in jesus' name and all of God's people say amen as we continue in worship this morning we have opportunity to give to see the kingdom of God his rule his Reign his love spread and so I encourage us to do that with glad and generous Hearts if you are a guest a visitor this morning there's no expectation there's no obligation for you to give as we worship in this way and next week Church Please be aware we will take up a benevolent offering so that there are resources available for Tom go our Deacon of mercy and the mercy Ministry committee so that those can be dispersed that we might show compassion and love uh in needs as they arise so please come prepared to give as the Lord would lead you in that offering next week so would you lead us we're going to sing again let's do that together w't you stand with us uh again as we continue to sing I want was lost in Darkest Night yet thought I knew the way the sing that Pro joy and led me to the Grave I had no hope that you would to your will and if you had not love me first I would refuse you [Music] still but as I my Indi to the you looked upon my and led me to the cross and I beheld God's love displayed you suffered in my place you bore the WRA reserve for me now all I know is [Music] praise [Applause] Hallelujah all I have is Christ Hallelujah Jesus Is My [Music] Life Lord I would be yours alone and this so all Mighty the strength to follow your never come from me oh Father you my Ransom life in any way you choose and let my song forever be my only [Music] B all I have is chist Hallelujah Jesus [Music] is [Music] hallelujah all I have is Christ Hallelujah Jesus is my love [Music] Hallelujah all I is Christ [Music] hallelu now parents at this time you can take your kids down for their time send am in [Music] Lord I come I confess [Music] sorry Lord I come I confess [Music] bowing I find my and without you I fall apart you're the one that guides My [Music] Heart Lord I need you oh I need you every every I need you my one defense my rightousness oh God how I need [Music] you where sin Your Grace is but Grace is is where you are where you are Lord I am free [Music] Hol is Christ in and where you are Lord I am free Hol is Christ in me Lord I need you oh I need you every every hour I need you my one defend my rightousness oh God how I need you so teach my song to rise to you when Temptation comes my way when I cannot stand I'll fall on you Jesus You're My Hope and St when I cannot stand I'll fall on [Applause] [Music] you Jesus You're My Hope and [Music] stay Lord I need you oh I need you every [Music] I need you my one defense my rightousness oh God how I need you Lord I need you oh I need you every every hour I need you my one defense my rightousness oh God how I need you I wonder my rightousness oh God how I need you [Music] may be seated thank you Jeremy and team for your ministry this morning would you bow with me in prayer as we begin our gracious God we come before you this morning and we do Echo what we just sung We need you and because we need you Lord we turn to your word this morning your law Lord which is perfect Reviving The Soul your testimony which is sure making wise the simple your precepts which are right rejoicing the heart your commandment pure enlightening the eyes the fear of you is clean enduring forever your rules oh Lord are true and righteous altogether more are they to be desired than gold even much fine gold sweeter also than honey the drippings of the honeycomb moreover by them is your servant warned in keeping them there is great reward Lord we turn to your holy authoritative infallible inspired word this morning and we pray oh God that you would do your work by your spirit For Your Glory for the sake of our good and your glory Lord we ask in Jesus name amen py Eastman was an American screenwriter a child's author and illustrator and notably he worked for Walt Disney for a stretch of years he worked for Warner Bros cartoon unit for a couple of years he also worked with Dr Seuss during the second world war in the mid-50s uh after Eastman had worked with Dr Seuss Dr Seuss gave uh Eastman a call and said I want you to be part of my Beginner Books series now many of us probably have the beginner book series on our Shelf there are many famous titles that have sold Millions upon millions of copies just go home and take a look at your kids shelf and you'll probably see a beginner book series there and one of the books um that pety Eastman got to work on he got to author and illustrate was the book are you my mother and the story is about a baby bird who hatches while his mother is getting him something to eat and the baby bird doesn't know where his mother is so he goes looking for his mother and he asks the kitten are You My Mother the kitten says no I'm a kitten he asks a hen are you my mother hen says no I'm a hen he asks a dog are you my mother the dog says no I am a dog he asks a cow are you my mother and the cow says no I am a cow well finally he gets onto the bucket of a massive excavator and he wonders maybe the excavator is my mother but the excavator lets out a loud snort and he says you're not my mother you're scary and right then the excavator the bucket goes all the way up up it brings the bird all the way back to its nest and there the bird is in its nest in joy and in safety and who's returning to the nest at that moment but his mother and the bird says the little baby bird says you are a bird and you are my mother now why do I bring up this childish story because the text compels us this morning the text that is before us it compels us to ask a very very similar question as this baby bird asked the text before us causes us to ask this question who is my mother and it's an essential question because it is a deeply spiritual question with deeply spiritual implications we need to Grapple as we look at our text this morning in Galatians 4 we need to Grapple with whether Hagar or Sarah is our mother and the implications are enormous it is a matter of spiritual slavery if we are a child of Hagar or it is a matter of spiritual Freedom if we are a child of Sarah and there is joy and there is safety in answering this question rightly who is my mother and the text helps us to see that in Christ with Sarah as our mother we are free and there is is a joy to Freedom there is a rest to Freedom there is a safety to this Freedom that is in the Lord Jesus Christ and him alone now when I talk about freedom I do not mean the sort of Freedom that an escape prisoner might feel when they first break out of prison no that sort of person is looking over their shoulder all the time wondering when the authorities are going to come knocking I mean by Freedom the sord of Freedom if we can illustrate it that those who were prisoners of war in the second world war would have felt when they escaped from their P camps and as they walked through enemy territory for days and for weeks trying to get back to Friendly territory again all they longed for was crossing the border at some point into friendly territory once again and when they did what was there there was relief there was rest that they could feel they weren't constantly on the the run there was an ation that's sort of the freedom that I am talking about this morning and so for a look at that kind of Freedom why don't you turn with me to Galatians chter 4 and we are going to see that in Christ we have this Freedom with Sarah as our mother in Christ we have this Freedom let me read Galatians 4: 21 and I'll read down to chapter 51 Paul says tell me you who desire to be under the law do do not listen to the law for it is written that Abraham had two sons one by a slave woman and one by a free woman and the son of the slave was born according to the flesh while the son of the free woman was born through promise now this may be interpreted allegorically these wom are two covenants one is from Mount Si bearing children for slavery she is Hagar now Hagar is Mount Si in Arabia she corresponds to the present Jerusalem for she is in slavery with her children but the Jerusalem above is free and she is our mother for it is written Rejoice oh Barren one who does not bear Break Forth and cry aloud you who are not in labor for the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband now you Brothers like Isaac are children of promise and just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was Bor born according to the spirit so also it is now and what does the scripture say cast out the slave woman and her son for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free so Brothers we are not children of the slave but of the free woman for Freedom Christ has set us free stand firm therefore and do not submit again to the Yoke of slavery brothers and sisters this this is the word of the Lord thanks be to God Paul is finishing up his defense of the Gospel right here at the end of chapter 4 it began in at the beginning of chapter 3 and he has been adamant throughout this defense of the Gospel that the gospel is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone we are saved by grace alone through faith alone and In Christ Alone he is perplexed we saw this last week that the Galatians are are going backwards and embracing the Mosaic law they are adding to what Jesus Christ has done they are adding The Works of the law they're saying Jesus is not sufficient oh yeah sure maybe he's 90% good or 95% good but we've got to top him up with the law as it were that's essentially what they were saying and now in this section as we complete the fourth chapter Paul closes his defense of the Gospel in a very unique way he uses an allegory to pray addess his point home this point that in Christ with Sarah as our mother we are truly free and so he takes us back to Genesis 16-21 and he uses this narrative figuratively as it were as an analogy as it were to drive his point home now the false teachers would have claimed that to be the true children of Abraham one had to accept Christ and add the works of the law and in our text this morning Paul Paul reminds the Galatians that to add the works of the law to what Christ has done is not freedom but rather slavery adding The Works of the law is to be a child of Hagar which is slavery and not a child of Sarah which is true freedom and so the text drives this point home to us by three questions the text makes us ask three questions it makes us ask this question who is my mother am I operating in slavery or in Freedom and there are three main questions that the text makes us ask they're very simple if you're taking notes you can copy them down right now the first is is Hagar my mother the second is is Sarah my mother and the third is am I living like Sarah is my mother is Hagar my mother is Sarah my mother am I living like Sarah is my mother well this is really confusing so let's explain now number one is Hagar my mother you'll see in verse 21 as we began to read that Paul confronts the galatian churches if they really want to be under the law they should listen to what the scriptures say about the law Paul says the scriptures point to the inadequacy of the law to save them it was a temporary provision it is not the permanent thing it was there to point to the permanent Covenant the Covenant in Jesus Christ's blood and to make this point Paul takes us back to the story of Abraham in Genesis 16 to 21 and he reminds the Galatians that Abraham had two sons one from a slave woman the other from a free woman and he uses this historical account from scripture to illustrate the differences between being under the law and being under grace and this is his bottom line in this first point as he Zooms in on Hagar if Hagar is your mother Galatians you are under slavery now Paul sort of hands us as it were a profile you know when you go to the doctor's office they give you all these questions that you need to fill out so that they have a profile on you you know have you ever had you know high blood sugar have you know what color are your eyes you know whatever it is on this profile they hand you these sheets of paper you fill it out now they've got a profile on you well Paul hands us a pre-filled out profile on Hagar a spiritual profile on Hagar as it were and there are four fields in this profile that he helps us to understand who this woman is why he's using her as an illustration first he gives us the origin of hegar's children you'll see it down in the text verse 23 they are born according to the flesh so is Hagar my mother well he says what what is characteristic of Hagar her children are born according to the flesh you'll remember that God promised Abraham Offspring Genesis 12 I'll make you a great nation great nation you need Offspring years later in Genesis CH 15 Abraham says I I have no air I have no Offspring as the Lord promised me and he and he says Eleazar of Damascus is my only Heir and God takes him outside and he makes Abraham look up at the stars and he says count these stars and if you can so shall your Offspring be and God says I will I will give you this Offspring flip the page to the very next chapter Genesis chapter 16 and Sarah is growing Restless she is dissatisfied that she has not borne any children yet and so she gives her female servant to Abraham even after these great promises have been made by God she gives her female servant Hagar to Abraham and says we'll manipulate the process we will find a way for this promise to be fulfilled take my servant have a baby with her and they have Ishmael Abraham and Sarah tried to manipulate matters they tried to manufacture the promise so what does it mean that Hagar's children are born according to the flesh well certainly it means that Ishmael was born according to Natural birthing processes a man and a woman at the age of um that men and women typically conceive but it means more than that the word flesh points us to what we are in Adam apart from Christ we see this brought out a little later in verse 29 when the flesh is contrasted with the spirit in other words the children of Hagar are those who are still in their sins they have not that new life in the Lord Jesus Christ they are those who are trying to work for their salvation but to no avail because all of our works cannot make us right in the sight of the Lord Jesus Christ that's the origin of Hagar's children they are born according to the flesh but as we look down this profile we see another field that Paul has filled in for us we see the origin of Hagar's children but we also see the Covenant that Hagar represents verse 24 one is from Mount Sinai the verse says bearing children for slavery she is Hagar Hagar represents the Mosaic Covenant at SI now remember what Paul told us about the Mosaic Covenant third chapter of his epistle really helps us to understand the law verse 19 if you've got your Bible open why then the law it was added because of transgression until The Offspring should come to whom the promise had been made verse 24 so then the law was our Guardian until Christ came in order that we might be justified by faith see the law highlights our sin it exposes us for the Sinners that we are we are unable to meet the standard of perfection that God requires for us we cannot be accepted by God on the basis of the law because we must obey the law perfectly and we cannot do it gen uh Galatians chapter 3 tells us that the law was a a temporary provision meant to point us to our need for a better lamb a a spotless lamb the Savior one whose righteousness exceeds all of our righteous Deeds because all of our righteous Deeds fall short and thus those who look to be saved by their obedience to the law Paul says are under a curse Galatians 3:10 for all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse for it is written cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law and do them summary field number two the children of Hagar are under a curse if you have Hagar as your mother you are trying to obey the law for your salvation the text says that Hagar Bears children for slavery that's the Covenant that Hagar represents the Third Field we've learned about the Covenant that she represents we've learned about the origin of her children the Third Field in this profile tells us about the people that hegar represents verse 25 hegar represents the present Jerusalem Hagar is the mother of all of those who are in subjection to the law it's not just those who are Paul's opponents but those who are obeying the law in order to be justified before God those who are not trusting in Christ alone for their salvation that's that's the third field and then we get all the way down to the bottom of the page and there's this sort of status update okay field one the origin of Hagar's children born according to the flesh field two the Covenant that she's under oh they're still trying to obey the Mosaic law in order to be saved field three who are these people they are the present Jerusalem these people who are working and working and working to gain their way to right standing with God status up field number four what's the status of Hagar's children you see it in the text it's a word that's repeated again and again and again verse 22 verse 23 verse 24 verse 25 these people are enslaved if you are a child of Hagar you are enslaved I reread a fantastic article by a brother named ed Moore this last week the article's called 10 flavor of Works based salvation picture an ice cream shop with tons of flavors of ice cream here we are we're walking into a shop of Works righteousness and there are a multiplicity of flavors horrible flavors of Works based salvation he says that there are many flavors of ways that people try to work their way into right standing before God friends do we see ourselves in any of these the work of philanthropy if I just give enough God will accept me the work of service if I can just do enough through service if I serve well enough if I serve in the right places God will accept me the work of ritual if I perform this ceremony over here or that ceremony over there if I just if I just get baptized God will accept me if I just if I just observe the Lord's Supper God will accept me see we're trying to gain Merit so that the Lord will look fa ably upon us this isn't obedience we're talking about we're talking about Merit the work of comparison I am better than other people you know as I look at my life and as I look at other people around me maybe at work or my neighbors I just yell a little bit less than all of them so I'm better than other people around me so God will accept me the work of comprehension if I know the Right facts if I've memorized the right verses if my theology has its tees crossed and its eyes dotted if I go to the right church if I have a big enough Bible if my Bible looks like it's been worked through enough then God will accept me the work of decision if I just sign a card walk down an aisle God will accept me there's the work of restitution if I do enough to make amends if I just cover over all those things that I have made so wrong by my Deeds to make right these things that I I have made wrong then the Lord will accept me the work of Affliction if I make my life difficult painful picture the monks who flagellated themselves just make my life painful enough God will accept me the work of meditation if I am quiet focused if I go on these spiritual Retreats if I practice silence and Solitude God will accept me and he ends with this one the work of seeking affirmation if I can have someone else affirm me give me the thumbs up then maybe God will accept me if my spiritual standing before men is good and before God it ought to be good we could add many more flavors to this list we have this propensity as human beings to perform to work to do good as a way of getting into God's good books the song Not In Me by sovereign Grace music speaks about all the ways that we try to justify ourselves before God there's even overlap here it it says no list of sins that I have done no list of Virtues I pursue no list of those I am not like can earn myself a place with you no humble dress no fervent prayer no lifted hand no tearful song No recitation of the truth can justify a single wrong no separation from the world no work I do no gift I give can cleanse my conscience cleanse my hands I cannot cause my soul to live these Works do not save us our text says again and again and again they enslave us Christian even after coming to Christ we can revert back in our mindset to Works righteousness we can get into this working conundrum in our brain where even though we are saved we were saved by grace alone through faith alone and Christ Alone we revert back to this whole works orientation in our mind and we go I got to earn I've got to do fingers got to work them down to the bone back got to break it got to keep going in order for God to be pleased and friend if that's you this morning and you're not resting in Christ repent of these things look to Jesus rest in his finished work and live a life of godliness out of that place out of rest we are called to do works out of good works out of all that Christ has done for us out of the position that we have in him not to earn favor with him we've already we we are righteous in Jesus and then we go out and we live a life of godliness but friend if you are with us and you believe that God will accept you and will not condemn you on the day of judgment because you are a good person this term gets thrown out all the time good person I'm a good person let me loving you tell you this you are a child of Hagar you are leaning on an unstable Foundation you are trying to make yourself right in the sight of God and your righteousness cannot save you only the righteousness of the Savior can you must trust in him I love this illustration that Charles Spurgeon so powerfully uses about the sinner trying to be saved by performing The Works of the law he says this let me just quote him the poor sinner trying to be saved by the law is like a blind horse going round and round a Mill and never getting a step further but only being whipped continually yay the faster he goes the more work he does the more he is tired so much the worse for him oh we work ourselves down to the bone it is fruitless and exhausting to try and Merit the favor of God through our works so let me ask you again friends is Hagar your mother if so listen closely to this next point because in Christ you can be justified text asks us the second question is Hagar your mother secondly it asks this is Sarah your mother verse 23 26 and 27 Paul provides us not just with a profile of hegar but he hands us a slip of paper in this text that has Sarah's profile on it and she had has the same four Fields filled out as Hagar does what is the origin of Sarah's children hagars are born according to the flesh Sarah they are born through promise just as Isaac was born of Promise so are all who are in Christ Jesus rather than being born naturally like ishma Hagar's son they are born supernaturally verse 29 says that they are born according to the Spirit Genesis 21 we're told that Abraham and Sarah had Isaac the son of promise when Abraham was 100 years old and I love the way that Paul picks up on this in Romans chapter 4 when he says Abraham did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body which was as good as dead since he was about a 100 years old or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb they did not weaken in their faith Abraham was an old decrepit man as it were that's what the scripture saying not what Caleb's saying Sarah's womb was as good as gone done there's no more reproducing there and here the Lord supernaturally provides a child for them what is Paul saying what is the origin of Sarah's children they are those who are supernaturally born they are born again as Jesus says to Nicodemus in John chapter 3 by water and the spirit they do not save themselves by trying to p pile up their good works no God has reached down and saved them they are children of the promise that's the origin of Sarah's children children of Promise Children of the spirit second field on Sarah's form the Covenant that Sarah represents the Covenant that Sarah represents in this allegory is actually never directly mentioned you can't find it in these verses but it is abundantly clear what Paul is referring to he is referring to the New Covenant in Christ's blood as you look at chapter 5:1 we're told that the freedom that this Covenant brings is found in Jesus Jesus is the bringer in he is the inaugurator of the New Covenant chapters 3 and four have contrasted the Mosaic law with the works of Jesus Christ so we have the New Covenant in view here as Christians I really think you know we've we've memorized John 3:16 God so loved the world that he gave his only son we've memorized John 146 you know I am the way of the truth and life great texts mon mental texts in the scriptures let me commend a text for your memorization Jeremiah 31: 31-34 in these verses Jeremiah prophesies about points to this New Covenant that is coming that all the Old Testament that all of human history has been anticipating and he points to the beauty of all that we experience right now do you realize this every single person in this room experien es in some way the the the beauty of the New Covenant if we are in the Lord Jesus Christ memorize this text Jeremiah 31 verses 31-34 fill your heart with it if you are a child of Sarah then you belong to the New Covenant this New Covenant which actually we can obey we are actually our hearts are changed Jes the Lord says I will put my law within them I will write it on their hearts there's a heart change that takes place we are the people of God in this new covenant I will be their God and they shall be my people we are a people of the new birth how are you added to the old Covenant you're born into it you know my dad's a Jew my mom's a Jew I was born a Jew you know by birth the New Covenant you are born again into it the Lord adds you we are a forgiven people in the New Covenant for I will forgive their iniquity and I will remember their sin no no more if we are in Jesus we know that these things are true we enjoy these realities that's what it means to be a child of Sarah as this allegory is being used look at the Third Field in Sarah's profile verse 26 the people that she represents Hagar present Jerusalem Sarah she represents the Jerusalem that is above here is an astonishing reality if we belong to Jesus Christ we are part of the Jerusalem above now we are is the Bible says citizens of Heaven I don't know if you watched the opening to the Olympics on Friday very sad things took place in those opening that's not what I'm talking about here though the good part of the opening ceremony is as the athletes were being boated down the river in Paris what are they doing they're waving their Flags they're so excited about their nationality they can't wait to represent their country their smile on all of their faces I didn't see a single boat with a single athlete with a frown ripping up his flag throwing it into the river no no no nothing like that we we we're loyal to our country we love our citizenship we we celebrate it Paul highlights here if you are a child of Sarah then you are a citizen of Heaven remember we live in the overlap of the ages we live in the overlap of this present age and the age to come the age to come is is now in part we have in Jesus we have tasted of the age to come we await the fullness of the age to come the New Jerusalem but we are citizens of it now Heaven has come to Earth as it will and we live in that reality right now we are citizens of Heaven so then Paul summarizes as we look at this profile of Sarah we've seen the origin of her children we've seen the Covenant that she represents we see the people that she represents and he summarizes okay so what is the status of these children they are a rejoicing people because they have freedom in the Lord Jesus Christ that's what we find out in verse 27 what's the status of these people they are a rejoicing people Paul quotes Isaiah 541 which anticipates the release of the Israelites from Exile these people who were in Exile because of their sin are released they are saved and what do they cry out Rejoice oh baren one who does not bear Break Forth cry aloud you who are not in labor for the children of the desolate one will be more than the one who has a husband Paul is saying if we really understand what it is to be a child of Sarah free in the Lord Jesus Christ not trying to work for our own salvation under the New Covenant then we will be these sorts of people because we will be those who Rejoice at coming out of the Exile from our own sin oh we were trapped under it it was an oppressive Master but the Lord in Jesus Christ Our God in Jesus Christ has brought us out of suffering out of our out from under our sin and brought us into the freedom of Jesus Christ well these are the first two questions they that the text asks us to consider ask us to consider are we a child of Hagar are we a child of Sarah but as the text concludes one final question is asked Paul turns to application he says do you see this horrid contrast to be a child of Hagar is a terror it's that horse walking around that Mill being whipped and the faster he goes doesn't really matter CU he's getting nowhere anyways but it's harder work for him but then there's the glory of the New Covenant the glory of being in Christ free in Christ and so Paul says there's some implications to this Galatians as you look at your own situation and these applications they they they they bear help to us as well the question that verses 28 all the way to 51 ask us is am I living like Sarah is my mother and there are sort of three exhortations here there's a reminder about our identity remember Galatians remember hesler Baptist Church your identity as you consider this contrast between law and Grace between Moses and Christ between Hagar and Sarah remember your identity look at verse 28 now you Brothers like Isaac are children of Promise verse 31 so Brothers we are not children of the slave but of the free these are brothers and sisters these Galatians these are brothers and sisters in the Lord who are forgetting who they are and that's why as the judaizers come in as the false teachers come in they're going oh that doesn't sound so bad and they're starting to gravitate towards this false teaching friends when we forget who we are we are in danger we are in danger of drifting into sin and error Church remember who you are you are children of the promise you are bought by the precious blood of Christ and not bought by your own works and your own efforts Paul reminds these people of their identity he reminds us this morning but secondly 29 and 30 there is a reminder about the fight of the faith that we are in there is Warfare because we are Christians Paul reminds the Galatians of this very fact just like Ishmael persecuted Isaac so the judaizers persecute the Galatians with their false teachings that is what false teaching is it is persecution it is an attack of the enemy and Paul reminds the Galatians have nothing to do with this teaching have nothing to do with this error have nothing to do with this Distortion of the Gospel by The Works of the law no man shall be justified it is only In Christ Alone Christian you and I are in a fight we fight the World the Flesh and the devil and there are trip wires absolutely everywhere and we need to remember that we are at War and not let our guard down when we do we injure ourselves and we leave ourselves vulnerable and Paul says as false teaching starts to circulate as things that are not ideal for the thriving of the Gospel begin to circulate expose them and expel them so he reminds us about our identity he reminds us about the fight that we are in and then there's this beautiful call at the end a call to stand firm in light of this contrast between Hagar and Sarah in light of this contrast between works and Grace Paul says stand your ground do you know what the secret to Christian maturity is it's not really a secret it's looking to Jesus it's glorying in Jesus Christ it's under understand it's understanding the depths of all that he is and all that he has accomplished you see we can have a shallow view of Jesus sometimes times actually quite often we can have a 2d view of Jesus you know he died he lived a life he you know was born and yeah he rose again after he died right you know we sort of that's that's the life of Jesus very flat view of Jesus Christian maturity is about gloring in the depths of all that Jesus has accomplished in his life and death and resurrection and the final verse of our text text chapter 5:1 helps us to glory in the work of Christ in another dimension that we might not have thought about and meditated on and lived our lives out of Jesus the text says is our Liberator it reminds us that Jesus by his death and by his resurrection has won the victory for us we are freed from the power of Sin Sin no longer Reigns we are free from the law we don't have to work our fingers down to the bone in order to be right with God we are free from the fear of death we don't have to stare death in the face with Dread Jesus resurrection guarantees our Resurrection what a hope in the face of what we are looking at as a church these days Christian enjoy these truths today if you are a child of Sarah then you have this freedom in Christ in Christ you are free and the exhortation is do not go backwards do not submit again to the Yoke of slavery I don't know if you've ever done any hiking before but when you get to your campsite and you have you know been on hours and hours of you know the trail you take that backpack off and who knows what it weighs 30 40 50 PBS depending on where you're going what do your shoulders feel like when you take the backpack off feels like you're floating it's like oh man I could do that hike again and in no time because I don't have this pack on me I don't this weit weighing me down so it is when we are in Christ Jesus he takes the load of our sin he takes the the burden of us trying to work for right standing in his sight off of our shoulders it feels like in a sense metaphorically speaking we are floating and Paul says don't go back and grab that pack and throw it on your back don't do it don't go back there I've been reading the kids version of Pilgrims Progress by lithos kids that tells the story of to my son that tells the story of christiana's Journey to the celestial City and I love it when Christiana arrives at the foot of the cross here's what she said it says Christiana rejoiced she says my heart felt so light and glad when Goodwill welcomed us through the narrow gate but now it feels 10 times lighter even if the most burdened person in the world world came here I'm sure they would find true Freedom friend if Sarah is not your mother if you are still under the tyranny of the law you are trying to earn your way to heaven I hope this Rings loud and clear to you this morning that whatever weight you carry Jesus will take it off that no matter how great your burden is Jesus will lighten it he is the Friend of Sinners he is the Lord of truth there is no one like Jesus he is our Liberator in him with Sarah as our mother we are truly free let's pray together Father in heaven we give you all that has been said all that we have understood from this text at the end of Galatians 4 and we pray oh God that you would be glorified in our lives that we would not just be merely hearers of the word but doers we ask oh Lord that as a church we would be those who stand firm in these truths and so great God be glorified in Jesus name amen thank you Caleb won't you stand with us now as we sing one last song together [Music] Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that the rest like me I want was lost but now I'm found was but now I [Music] see it was Grace that Tau my heart to Fe and Grace my fears really how [Music] preious that gra the are I first be my chains are gone I've been set free my God my [Music] saor ransome me and like a blood his Mercy un ending love amazing [Music] prise the Lord has prised good to me his word My Hope [Music] take he will my [Music] sh as long as life ands my chains are gone I've been set free my God my savior has ransomed me and like [Music] ay unending love [Music] amazing the Earth shall soon disolve the sun forar to shine but God who called me here will be forever will be forever [Music] you are [Music] forever well that's a reality that the redeemed in the Lord will celebrate for all of eternity the fact that we have been freed in Christ that Christ is our Victor that in Christ we Triumph and there is no one else and there is nothing else that can help us to tr triumph over the greatest enemy in all the world sin and death and Satan in this way and so Jesus Christ really is the only hope uh of all the world remember that after the service this morning there is a picnic down in the park again if you haven't brought your lunch you can go grab something people will be there uh when you uh get back from uh grabbing a lunch and just enjoy fellowship with one another as we depart hear these words from the end of Galatians for Freedom Christ has set us free stand firm therefore and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery blessings in the Lord as you go [Music]