"AN INCONSISTENT WALK"

July 26           An Inconsistent Walk    Galatians 2:1-14

Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me. And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain. Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. But from those who seemed to be something—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me. But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do. Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?”  (Galatians 2:1-14)  A man was sitting at a stop light one morning. The lady in front of him was going through papers on the seat of her car, and when the light changed to green, she did not obey its command. She remained in her idle position until the light turned red again. So he began screaming epithets and beating on his steering wheel. His expressions of disgust were interrupted, by a policeman, gun drawn, tapping on his window. Against his protests of, “You can’t arrest me for hollering in my car,” the officer ordered him into the back seat of his police car. After about two hours in a holding cell, the arresting officer advised him he was free to go. He said, “I knew you couldn’t arrest me for what I was yelling in my own car.  You haven’t heard the last of this.” The officer replied, “I didn’t arrest you for shouting in your car. I was directly behind you at the light. I saw you screaming and beating your steering wheel, and I said to myself, ‘What a jerk.’ But there is nothing I can do to him for throwing a fit in his own car.” “Then I noticed the cross hanging from your rear view mirror, the bright yellow “Choose Life” license tag, and the “Jesus Is Coming Soon” bumper sticker, and I thought you must have stolen the car!” When Paul went to Jerusalem he found inconsistencies within the church there. Paul knew that the proper standard of conduct is “the truth of the gospel!” As Paul analyzed the situation, He saw that Peter and the others “were not straightforward.” I wonder what Paul would say about the 21st century church.  We get our word “orthopedic” from the Greek word used here (orthopodeo). They were not walking straight with their feet, but contrary to the truth of the Gospel. They were being inconsistent in their behavior. We need to examine our walk to insure that we are not sending the wrong message to those with whom we have daily contact. What is the effect of walking inconsistently? Why do we walk inconsistently? How does God say we should be walking? When we are not committed to prayer, Bible Study, witnessing, the results will be an “inconsistent” walk.  We allow other things to dictate our actions, our words and our attitude!   Amazingly, when difficulties and challenges appear, there are those that actually collapse under the strain!  Is it possible that we can have; a “Head” knowledge, of Jesus, without a “Heart” knowledge of Him?  Like Paul, I have observed a “Surface” commitment to God; that results in an “inconsistent” walk, before all three types of “Believers,” True Believers, Unbelievers and Make-Believers!  Just as the driver waiting at the light, demonstrating, by his actions, inconsistencies between his advertisements and his actions, it is absolutely critical that our thoughts, commitments and our actions be consistent with our words and our deeds!  Our inconsistent witness will adversely affect “Believers, Unbelievers and Make-Believers!  Anything short of total commitment to God and a clear and unmistakable message of consistent faith, we are running the risk of sending the wrong message to this world!  God loved us enough that He was willing to Sacrifice, His on SON, so that we could have a restored and eternal relationship with Him.  The message today is simple!  BE REAL, BE CONSISTENT, BE HONEST AND BE WHAT GOD EXPECTS YOU TO BE!  My prayer for all: “Dear Lord, please help us to walk the way that we are supposed to and that our witness, our actions, and our words will always be consistent with Your commandments and that they will always bring honor and glory to You!  Help us to rise above the circumstances and live “Victorious” and “Consistent” lives, for You!”   What God does with you, depends upon what you do!  It Always has, It Always will!!  To God Be the Glory!  Stay Strong, Stay Focused…Remember, THE BEST IS YET TO BE!