WHO HATH BEWITCHED YOU?

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WHO DO I LISTEN TOO?



Galatians 3:1, “O FOOLISH Galatians, who hath bewitched
you, that ye should not obey the truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been
evidently set forth crucified among you?
The Apostle Paul had rimmed the
Mediterranean Sea three times and in so doing everywhere he went he led people
to Christ. He baptized those converts, established a New Testament Church, and
helped them call a man of God to be their pastor. There is no greater personal
soul winner in the New Testament, outside of our Saviour, than the person
Apostle Paul. Yet, it was not just winning folks to Christ that motivated Paul
it was the establishment of local churches that also drove him.
Paul won souls in Galatia,
baptized them, and established a local New Testament Church in Galatia. As he
continued on his missionary journeys he received word that the church at
Galatia had drifted back into religious legalism.
It is interesting to note his
assessment of what happened to bring about this drift from truth to heresy.
God’s Word says in verse one it was the foolishness of peer pressure and a
dynamic personality that brought about a turning from the “truth.” The vehicle
that the devil used was the vehicle of personality. There is a head on
collision between “truth” and a “personality.” Paul said, “…who hath bewitched
you…” He said “who” not “what” and this “who” caused them to not obey the
“truth!” Paul not only points out the problem but he also provides a solution
in the book of Galatians.
People basically do not like
themselves and as a result we find ourselves admiring someone else because all
we see are the assets that we like and would love to possess ourselves. We act
like those we admire. We dress like those we admire. We talk like those we
admire. We cut our hair like those we admire. It seems this lack of confidence
we have is a dangerous flaw that could lead to a downfall.
The Christians’ confidence is
found in the Lord Jesus Christ and not in our flesh. The flesh is corrupted
while our Saviour and His Words are incorruptible! It is not a matter of being
cocky it is a matter of being Spirit filled and confident!
We all have family members,
church members, co-workers, friends, and neighbors who are constantly
attempting to convert us to something. To the degree we are grounded is the
extent of the potential damage that can occur in our lives. Who do I listen
too?
If our children could embrace
this truth Paul gives to the church at Galatia it would prevent them from
falling in the pit of suave personalities who will bewitch them. I always
pushed my children to bury themselves in the Word of God to determine right and
wrong.
Leaders are a good; however, the
best of men are at best men! I believe in insulation and not isolation! Our
children should be able to question things. To rebel is not wrong! It is what
we rebel at that makes it wrong! To rebel at liquor is good! To rebel at
Hollywood is a good thing! To rebel at the dope crowd is good! To rebel against
the Scriptures is a bad thing. To rebel at soul winning is a bad thing! To
rebel at tithing is a bad thing!


NEVERTHELESS WHAT SAITH THE SCRIPTURE
Galatians 4:30, “Nevertheless what saith the scripture?”
Paul is saying they may be able to articulate their position better than I but
what does the Scripture say. Simple faith in the WORD of God alleviates
confusion and consternation.
Let us prioritize who we should
listen too in order to protect ourselves from falling into a 
heretical posture!


 WALK IN THE SPIRIT
Galatians 5:16, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye
shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
Paul is simply stating precept
upon precept in the protection that will keep God’s people from falling prey to
heretical teachings and falling back into the weak and beggarly elements of
Satan. First what does the Scripture say? We as God’s children must first bury
ourselves in the Holy Scriptures to have the mind of Christ! Then second we can
allow the Holy Spirit to teach us the Scriptures in order to be strengthened.
I Thessalonians 5:19, “Quench not the Spirit.” God has given
us the Holy Spirit to indwell us in order to be taught, strengthened,
empowered, and corrected. However, the Scriptures plainly state that it is
possible for a child of God to “quench” the Holy Spirit. He can be grieved!
When the Holy Spirit is given
freedom in our lives He works in concert with the Holy Scriptures in our lives
to build us but when we decide to shut Him out we have then bypassed the
Scriptures of God and the Spirit of God. We then are two steps closer to heresy!
Bible believing people will always be a free people!

PROTECT YOUR CONSCIENCE
Galatians 6:3, 7, “For if a man think himself to be something,
when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.”
“Be not deceived…”
God has given to every man a
conscience! The Scriptures refer much and often about the conscience of a man.
·     
John 8:9,
“…convicted by their own conscience…”
·     
Acts
23:1, “…I have lived in all good conscience…”
·     Acts
24:16; “…I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward
God, and toward man.”
·     
I
Corinthians 8:7, “…their conscience being weak…”
·     
I Timothy
1:5, “…a good conscience…”
·     
I Timothy
3:9, “…a pure conscience…”
·     
I Timothy
4:2, “…having their conscience seared…”
When you quit the Scriptures the
Holy Spirit can only convict you. When you quench the Holy Spirit then the
conscience kicks in! However, it is possible to sear the conscience. It is
possible to have a weak conscience.
The Scriptures in concert with
the Holy Spirit and a good conscience provide a three-fold protection against
heretical teachings via personalities. Remember it is truth verses personality.
Paul said, “Who hath bewitched you?” and not “What hath bewitched you?”
·     
FIRST
LINE OF DEFENSE AGAINST HERESY VIA PEOPLE – “NEVERTHELESS WHAT SAITH THE
SCRIPTURE”
·     
SECOND
LINE OF DEFENSE AGAINST HERESY VIA PEOPLE – “WALK IN THE SPIRIT”
·   THIRD
LINE OF DEFENSE AGAINST HERESY VIA PEOPLE – “BE NOT DECEIVED”
·         FOURTH
LINE OF DEFENSE AGAINST HERESY VIA PEOPLE – “NOW I SAY…”




THE RIGHT AUTHORITY
Galatians 4:1,
11,12,13,14,15,16,18,19,20, and 21! Note Galatians 4:1, “Now I say…” Through out this chapter Paul refers to himself in his
pleading with them to quit this folly of heresy that has griped them.
The first line of defense in the
Scriptures, the second line of defense is the Spirit of God, the third line of
defense is the God given conscience, and the last line of defense is the
Authority in their life. As God’s man he is the last one standing between them
and the spiritual destruction of heresy.
OBSERVATIONS
·     
The
Scriptures always take precedence
·     
The Spirit
of God can work freely when Scriptures are first and foremost
·     
The
conscience is always clear and good when the Scriptures and the Spirit are
working together
·  The right authority provides leadership within the bounds of the Scripture, Spirit, and
conscience!
·   When all
four are in line the child of God has four levels of protection from being
pressured by the wrong “WHO.”
The danger is when the authority
steps in front of the Scriptures for he or she becomes the “WHO” Paul warned
about!
·     
FIRST THE
SCRIPTURES
·     
SECOND
THE SPIRIT OF GOD
·     
THIRD THE
CONSCIENCE

·     
FOURTH
THE RIGHT AUTHORITY

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