Galatians 4:8-20

Chain Letter Chain Letter entitled: “How entitled: “How

to Help a to Help a Church Find Church Find the Perfect the Perfect Preacher!”Preacher!”

It is imperative brethren that you and I be on It is imperative brethren that you and I be on guard against these “false teachers” or as we guard against these “false teachers” or as we

will refer to them in this message: “Preachers will refer to them in this message: “Preachers from the Black Lagoon!”from the Black Lagoon!”

to learn how to spot preachers from the black lagoon

I Know Their Background and Foundation

A.A. What Are Worthless What Are Worthless Elemental Things?Elemental Things?B.B. Salvation by Law Leads to Salvation by Law Leads to Idolatry/SlaveryIdolatry/SlaveryC.C. Paganism/Legalism Are Paganism/Legalism Are Based on FearBased on FearD.D. Law Keeping (for Salvation) Law Keeping (for Salvation)

is Slaveryis Slavery

II Beware of any Gospel That is Joyless

A.A. Where is That Sense of Where is That Sense of Blessing?Blessing?

Why is it the world looks at Christians and Why is it the world looks at Christians and expects them to be miserable/bitter people?...expects them to be miserable/bitter people?...

Galatians 4:15Galatians 4:15““Where then is that sense of blessing Where then is that sense of blessing

you had?...”you had?...”

II Beware of any Gospel That is Joyless

A.A. Where is That Sense of Where is That Sense of Blessing?Blessing?

B.B. Why Legalism Cannot Why Legalism Cannot Produce JoyProduce Joy

Thing about stress test on treadmill, they Thing about stress test on treadmill, they can always speed it up!can always speed it up!

III Beware of Approval Because of Externals

A.A. Paul Was Not Much to Paul Was Not Much to Look AtLook At

B.B. What Do You Look for What Do You Look for Most in a Preacher?Most in a Preacher?

There are no perfect preachers but there There are no perfect preachers but there are faithful preachers who uphold a are faithful preachers who uphold a

PERFECT Savior!PERFECT Savior!

IV Beware of Selective HearingA.A. Satan is Good in Seducing Satan is Good in Seducing

Us to Accept the Wrong Us to Accept the Wrong MessageMessage

Helen Modjeska (actress of years past)

Was at a state dinner Was at a state dinner party giving a dramatic party giving a dramatic

reading in her native reading in her native language, Polish. She language, Polish. She

was so powerful in her was so powerful in her presentation, the entire presentation, the entire audience wept when she audience wept when she

finished, even though finished, even though they did not understand they did not understand

a word she spoke…a word she spoke…

IV Beware of Selective HearingA.A. Satan is Good in Seducing Satan is Good in Seducing

Us to Accept the Wrong Us to Accept the Wrong MessageMessage

B.B. Satan Knows We Like Satan Knows We Like Preaching That is SelectivePreaching That is Selective

Galatians 4:16Galatians 4:16““Have I therefore become your enemy Have I therefore become your enemy

by telling you the truth?”by telling you the truth?”

IV Beware of Selective HearingA.A. Satan is Good in Seducing Satan is Good in Seducing

Us to Accept the Wrong Us to Accept the Wrong MessageMessage

B.B. Satan Knows We Like Satan Knows We Like Preaching That is SelectivePreaching That is Selective

C.C. Satan Likes to Whisper in Satan Likes to Whisper in Our EarsOur Ears

James 1:19James 1:19“…“…be quick to hear, slow to speak and be quick to hear, slow to speak and

slow to anger.”slow to anger.”

Conclusion and SummaryLet me summarize this text and message with

the following pledge: “You have my pledge to refuse to pad any job security by motivating

people through manipulation, politics or appealing through legalism. I repudiate any

attempt to enslave this church family to a system of law keeping in order to be saved or have a sense of assurance. I renounce

the temptation to pander to

Conclusion and Summarypeoples’ wants rather than preach to their need (the Gospel of Grace). And lastly, I reject the vast majority of the religious

world’s modus operandi – to earn salvation and assurance by working hard and

keeping law.”

Brethren and friend I submit to you we are saved BY grace, THROUGH faith, AT baptism, FOR good works. Any other preaching is from

Preachers of the Black Lagoon!