ISSL Reflections June 5 2022 Isaiah 47:10–15 Post 2

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IV.
The passage ends with, “… there is no one to save you.”

Let’s take that as our lens through which to read Isaiah’s words and take notice of what or who the people might need “saving” from.

V.
Isaiah 47:10-15 (New Revised Standard Version)

You felt secure in your wickedness;
you said, “No one sees me.”
Your wisdom and your knowledge
led you astray,
and you said in your heart,
“I am, and there is no one besides me.”

But evil shall come upon you,
which you cannot charm away;
disaster shall fall upon you,
which you will not be able to ward off;
and ruin shall come on you suddenly,
of which you know nothing.

Stand fast in your enchantments
and your many sorceries,
with which you have labored from your youth;
perhaps you may be able to succeed,
perhaps you may inspire terror.

You are wearied with your many consultations;
let those who study the heavens
stand up and save you,
those who gaze at the stars,
and at each new moon predict
what shall befall you.

See, they are like stubble,
the fire consumes them;
they cannot deliver themselves
from the power of the flame.
No coal for warming oneself is this,
no fire to sit before!

Such to you are those with whom you have labored,
who have trafficked with you from your youth;
they all wander about in their own paths;
there is no one to save you.

VI.
At the beginning we hear they “felt secure in [their] wickedness … wisdom and … knowledge” and even in their invisibility.

I thought security in one’s wisdom and knowledge should be a good thing.

Can you think of times (or places) such knowledge takes you to a false sense of security?

What else do you notice that leads the people on a path that takes them away from God’s saving actions?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections June 5 2022 Isaiah 47:10–15 Post 1

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I.
With this week’s reflections we begin hearing a number of Scriptures with the overarching theme of “New Creation.”

However, these words from Isaiah seem far from sounding a note about “new creation.” Does it strike you that way?

This week we begin with “You felt secure … “ and end with “… there is not one to save you.”

What does Isaiah speak to between those two statements?

II.
Isaiah 47:10-15 (New Revised Standard Version)

You felt secure in your wickedness;
you said, “No one sees me.”
Your wisdom and your knowledge
led you astray,
and you said in your heart,
“I am, and there is no one besides me.”

But evil shall come upon you,
which you cannot charm away;
disaster shall fall upon you,
which you will not be able to ward off;
and ruin shall come on you suddenly,
of which you know nothing.

Stand fast in your enchantments
and your many sorceries,
with which you have labored from your youth;
perhaps you may be able to succeed,
perhaps you may inspire terror.

You are wearied with your many consultations;
let those who study the heavens
stand up and save you,
those who gaze at the stars,
and at each new moon predict
what shall befall you.

See, they are like stubble,
the fire consumes them;
they cannot deliver themselves
from the power of the flame.
No coal for warming oneself is this,
no fire to sit before!

Such to you are those with whom you have labored,
who have trafficked with you from your youth;
they all wander about in their own paths;
there is no one to save you.

III.
Isaiah calls his hearers attention to “… those with whom you have labored…“

”

How does he describe those people?

Where have they taken the people Isaiah is speaking to?

Does he paint a picture of a people needing a “new creation”?

How near to such a “creation” are they?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections May 29 2022 Galatians 5:16–26 Post 3

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VII.
As we return to Paul’s words, notice his claim that if we are “guided by the Spirit” we should “… not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.”

Let’s hear Paul speaking to us once more and pay attention to his hope for Christian community.

VIII.
Galatians 5:16-26 (New Revised Standard Version)

Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.

IX.
If we focus too much on what Paul calls “works of the flesh” what might we miss in his words to us?

I fear I miss his call that I “live by the Spirit … [be] led by the Spirit … [exhibit] the fruit of the Spirit … love, joy, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, and self-control … belong to Christ Jesus … let us be guided by the Spirit.”

What is the Spirit guiding you toward?

Maybe we should ask what is the Spirit birthing in our spirits?

Charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections May 29 2022 Galatians 5:16–26 Post 2

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IV.
There is no denying that Paul sets up for us a decisive contrast between “Spirit desires” and “desires of the flesh.”

I trust as we spend time listening to Paul, we do so with a discerning spirit that not does not lead us to the characterization of “all flesh is evil.”

I fear some readings of Paul can take us to such a conclusion.

Let’s spend time with Paul and pay attention to how he characterizes “flesh.”

V.
Galatians 5:16-26 (New Revised Standard Version)

Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.

VI.
Paul is helpful in that he offers us some marks of the kind of “flesh” he wants us to give obvious consideration to.

And then he offers some of the characteristics of the “fruit of the Spirit.”

I imagine most of us could find some (most ?) of these “works of the flesh” which are not part of our lives.

But what of “jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy”?

Are any of these ever evident in our lives?

Are any of these evident in our associations with others of our Christian community?

With those we do not count as members of our Christian communities?

How can we encourage one another to move toward living more fully lives characterized by “fruits of the Spirit”?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections May 29 2022 Galatians 5:16–26 Post 1

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I.
“Live by the Spirit

…” so counsels the former Pharisee, Paul.

Do you hear this as an invitation or command?

Let’s begin our hearing of this passage by paying close attention to the contrasts Paul sets up for us.

II.
Galatians 5:16-26 (New Revised Standard Version)

Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.

III.
What contrasts did you notice?

“Spirit” and “flesh”?

“… doing what you want” and “led by the Spirit”?

“… led by the Spirit” and “subject to the law”?

What else do you notice?

Do you have any experience with these “opposing” forces?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections May 22 2022 Galatians 5:1–15 Post 3

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VII.
Did you notice? Paul wrote,

For in Christ Jesus
neither circumcision nor uncircumcision
counts for anything;
the only thing that counts is
faith working through love.

How do you hear Paul presenting more aspects of such a statement?

VIII.
Galatians 5:1-15 (New Revised Standard Version)

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. Once again I testify to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obliged to obey the entire law. You who want to be justified by the law have cut yourselves off from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love.

You were running well; who prevented you from obeying the truth? Such persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. I am confident about you in the Lord that you will not think otherwise. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty. But my friends, why am I still being persecuted if I am still preaching circumcision? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. I wish those who unsettle you would castrate themselves!

For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

IX.
What do you hear?

What gets in the way of –

  • “standing firm”
  • not submitting to a “yoke of slavery”
  • preventing “you from obeying the truth”
  • our call to “freedom”

X.
What words of encouragement and challenge do you hear from Paul?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections May 22 2022 Galatians 5:1–15 Post 2

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IV.
Let’s think with Paul today about what could lead us to “ … submit again to a yoke of slavery.”

V.
Galatians 5:1-15 (New Revised Standard Version)

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. Once again I testify to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obliged to obey the entire law. You who want to be justified by the law have cut yourselves off from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love.

You were running well; who prevented you from obeying the truth? Such persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. I am confident about you in the Lord that you will not think otherwise. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty. But my friends, why am I still being persecuted if I am still preaching circumcision? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. I wish those who unsettle you would castrate themselves!

For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

VI.
What are you hearing from Paul about a “yoke of slavery”?

Let’s see – he mentions circumcision, the desire to be justified by the law, and voices of those that draw one away from Christ’s freedom.

Where are you today?

Do you notice any parallels in your circumstances to what Paul warns the Galatians of?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections May 22 2022 Galatians 5:1–15 Post 1

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I.
Take a moment to consider how Paul begins,

For freedom Christ has set us free.
Stand firm, therefore, and
do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Let that be your guide to reading this passage. Take some time to slowly consider Paul’s words, guided by the above thoughts.

II.
Galatians 5:1-15 (New Revised Standard Version)

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. Once again I testify to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obliged to obey the entire law. You who want to be justified by the law have cut yourselves off from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love.

You were running well; who prevented you from obeying the truth? Such persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. I am confident about you in the Lord that you will not think otherwise. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty. But my friends, why am I still being persecuted if I am still preaching circumcision? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. I wish those who unsettle you would castrate themselves!

For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

III.
So what does Paul have in mind?
Freedom? Slavery? Standing firm?

Read the passage again, paying attention to what you hear about “freedom.”

WIth “freedom” in mind, read the passage again and see what you hear not just about “slavery” but anything that can limit one’s freedom as a disciple of Jesus.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections May 15 2022 Galatians 3:18–29 Post 3

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VIII.
Returning to these words of Paul to a group of Jesus’ followers, take as your lens today “… and if you belong to Christ, then …”

IX.
Galatians 3:18-29 (New Revised Standard Version)

For if the inheritance comes from the law, it no longer comes from the promise; but God granted it to Abraham through the promise.

Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring would come to whom the promise had been made; and it was ordained through angels by a mediator. Now a mediator involves more than one party; but God is one.

Is the law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could make alive, then righteousness would indeed come through the law. But the scripture has imprisoned all things under the power of sin, so that what was promised through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.

X.
What do you notice “… if you belong to Christ , then …”?

“If … then …” – how does one relate to “the law”?
“If … then …” – “ … what was promised through faith …”?
“If … then …” – what is it to be “… children of God through faith”?
“If … then …” – what is your understanding of and experience of being “ … clothed … with Christ”?

XI.
“If … then …” – what is it like for there to be “ … no longer Jew or Greek … no longer … slave or free … no longer male and female … all of you are one in Christ Jesus”?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections May 15 2022 Galatians 3:18–29 Post 2

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IV.
Let’s return to our listening to Paul speak of promises, law, and faith.

After you read the passage again and rest with Paul’s words for a few minutes, consider what word or words or concept you might use in the place “promise.”

Then read the passage again replacing “promise” with what comes to mind for you.

V.
Galatians 3:18-29 (New Revised Standard Version)

For if the inheritance comes from the law, it no longer comes from the promise; but God granted it to Abraham through the promise.

Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring would come to whom the promise had been made; and it was ordained through angels by a mediator. Now a mediator involves more than one party; but God is one.

Is the law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could make alive, then righteousness would indeed come through the law. But the scripture has imprisoned all things under the power of sin, so that what was promised through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.

VI.
What word or words or concept came to mind for you as a replacement for Paul’s use of the word “promise”

?

Did you try hearing the passage with a couple different words/concepts?

VII.
Did any of these come to mind for you?

Salvation – redemption – freedom – abundant life – kingdom of God – heaven – the chosen people – God’s children – the elect – blessed – blessing – covenant – contractual obligations – perfected living –

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}