## Dealing with our Feelings

## Galatians 6:1-10

Tonight I want us to consider what we need to do when we feel like quitting. Let's be honest, we all have been tempted to give up on something at sometime in our lives. Many of us have quit something that later on we wished we had not quit. Obviously there are some things that we should quit. We read about the works of the flesh in the previous chapter of Galatians. That isn't what I am talking about tonight. I am talking dealing with the feelings that come to tempt us to quit doing that which is right!

Read: Galatians 6:1-10

I. In the context of this passage we find three things:

A. Precept

1. The precept is the need of taking care of God's man. v6

2. God's people are to sustain and meet the physical needs of the preacher.

3. Not the government, not some sideline business, but God's plan and purpose for the local church is to take care of the needs of God's man.

4. I am not your employee…I am your pastor!

5. As your pastor, I should never have to come to you with hat in hand begging for you to take care of my material needs.

6. You have an obligation to "communicate" or share and give "in all good things".

7. That is the precept or teaching of this passage.

B. Principle

1. The principle of the text is that we reap what we sow.

2. The principle is based upon the precept.

3. The direct context is in giving of our money. v7-8

4. Paul then expands this principle to include everything that we do.

5. Whatsoever a man soweth…

6. We reap what we sow.

7. That is universal principle, but within the context of this passage, it is talking about our giving!

8. That is the precept and the principle, now note the promise in v9.

C. Promise

1. Don't get weary in doing what is right, because there will be a harvest if we don't quit!

2. God will bless faithful labor.

3. When we feel like we want to give up and quit, God tells us not to do it!

4. There is a promise to all of us who are doing right, and that promise is that it will mean something wonderful for us.

5. There is a harvest…both here and in the world to come.

II. Temptations For Quitting

A. The Flesh Gets Tired - Why?

1. We get bored out of our minds.

a. Some of the most tired people in the world are those who aren't doing anything.

b. Have you ever had a day when you didn't do anything, and then later wondered why you were so tired?

c. The flesh gets tired when we are inactive.

2. We get knocked out

a. Physical injury will rob us of strength.

b. When you get the flu, or some sickness, you can't even get up out of bed!

c. Chemo treatments would literally wipe out my mother.

d. When we get physically knocked out the flesh gets tired.

3. We get burned out.

a. Many who are saying they are burned out are just bored out of their minds.

b. There was a time when people worked from sun-up to sun-down six days a week without complaining.

c. In our generation we have trouble working a 40 hour week, and getting anything else accomplished.

B. The Minds Gets Timid -What do I mean?

1. "I Can't do this!"

a. Moses - Lord you have the wrong guy.

b. Believer - I can't do this

2. "I Can't Keep Up this pace."

a. When are things going to slow down?

b. During the school year I used to tell Pat when summer gets here things will slow down.

c. Then in the midst of everything going on during summer, I would tell her when school starts we will get back to a routine and things will settled down. Wrong!

d. I have come to the conclusion that this is the pace of life for us!

e. We just have to deal with it!

3. "I Can't Do This forever!"

a. Hey I've got a life you know.

b. I have a family you know …

c. Pat and I had a little three-year-old boy when we got saved.

d. Then God in His grace gave us another son.

e. Now we have grandchildren, but we have never used our children as an excuse for why we couldn't serve God!

f. Nothing is greater than serving the Lord together as a family.

C. The Spirit Gets Tried or Tested.

(1 John 2:16) "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."

1. The real battle is within our spirit.

2. We are distracted by the 'gotta haves'.

3. We are concerned about what others will think of us. (pride)

4. The result is that we give up on God.

III. Tips For Keeping On "Keeping On"

A. Remember Our Purpose.

1. To glorify God.

(1 Cor 10:31) Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

a. We do go to work?

b. Why do we come to church?

c. Why do we do what we do? Because we have a purpose!

d. Our purpose is to glorify God.

e. Why not quit? Because it will not glorify God if we do!

2. To obey God.

a. Our purpose is to glorify God, and it is also to live in obedience to Him.

b. Example of Corrie Ten Boom, "Why did your God allow you to be placed in this horrible concentration camp?"

c. Her answer, "To obey Him."

d. Our purpose is to do the same!

(Acts 5:29) Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

3. To be faithful.

(1 Cor 4:2) Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

a. We may not think we can do the job like someone else, but we can be faithful!

b. And that is all God expects from us.

c. When we stand before God we will not have to give an account for why we were the best or the most eloquent.

d. We will however give an account of whether or not we were faithful!

4. To serve God.

(Deu 10:12) "And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul", · Remember our purpose…

B. Refuse to Quit. (Job 13:15) Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

1. It is our choice!

2. Listen to Joshua's challenge to the people as they made ready to cross over Jordan and enter into the promised land.

(Josh 24:15) And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

C. Return to our first love.

(Rev 2:4-5b) "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. {5} Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works…"

1. This was written to the church at Ephesus, but it could have been written to the Grace Baptist Temple!

2. Three things we must do:

a. Remember our purpose

b. Refuse to quit

c. Return to our first love