{"id":1144,"date":"2019-07-22T08:42:09","date_gmt":"2019-07-22T15:42:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/?p=1144"},"modified":"2019-07-22T08:55:58","modified_gmt":"2019-07-22T15:55:58","slug":"sheep-dont-wallow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/2019\/07\/22\/sheep-dont-wallow\/","title":{"rendered":"Sheep Don&#8217;t Wallow!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"color:black;font: 10pt arial;\"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <w:WordDocument>   <w:View>Normal<\/w:View>   <w:Zoom>0<\/w:Zoom>   <w:TrackMoves\/>   <w:TrackFormatting\/>   <w:PunctuationKerning\/>   <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas\/>   <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false<\/w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>   <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false<\/w:IgnoreMixedContent>   <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false<\/w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>   <w:DoNotPromoteQF\/>   <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US<\/w:LidThemeOther>   <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE<\/w:LidThemeAsian>   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\tmso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; \tmso-bidi-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} <\/style>\n\n <![endif]--><\/p>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;color:#212121\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-1144-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Pentecost-6-07-21-19.mp3?_=1\" \/><source type=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/FILELINK?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Pentecost-6-07-21-19.mp3\">http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Pentecost-6-07-21-19.mp3<\/a><\/audio>&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">July 21, 2019<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Galatians 5:13-25<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Sheep Don\u2019t Wallow!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify;tab-stops:13.5pt .5in 2.5in 238.5pt 337.5pt\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">You, my brothers, were called to be free.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The entire law is summed up in a single command:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>&#8220;Love your neighbor as yourself.&#8221;<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The acts of the sinful nature are obvious:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Against such things there is no law.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(NIV1984)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Have you ever heard the story about the Momma sheep and her little lamb?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It goes something like this:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Every day a Momma sheep would take her little lamb out to the pasture to feed.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In order to get to the pasture they had to go past the pigpen.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As the little lamb watched all the little piglets play in the mud he thought about how much fun he could have if he joined them.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>One day when it was especially hot outside the little lamb asked the Momma sheep if he could cool off by wallowing in the mud.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The Momma sheep said, \u201cNo.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>\u201cBut why Momma?\u201d the little lamb asked, \u201cIt\u2019s so hot today!\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The Momma sheep very simply said, \u201cSheep don\u2019t wallow.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Later that day the little lamb decided that he was going to cool off in that mud no matter what his Momma said.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>So he snuck around the backside of the barn, squeezed through the fence and gingerly stepped into the mud.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The mud felt so cool on his feet that he knelt down so that he could feel the cool mud on his tummy.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Eventually he decided to roll around like all the little piglets were doing.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Suddenly, the big boar came lumbering out of the pig barn.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When he saw a lamb in his pigpen he angrily began running toward him. <span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;<\/span>The little lamb\u2019s wool was so weighed down by the mud that he could not move!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Petrified the little lamb began calling for help!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The farmer ran over to the pigpen and jumped over the fence to pull the little lamb to safety.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then he got a hose to clean off all the mud and brought him back to his Momma.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The little lamb was so ashamed of what he had done that he didn\u2019t know what to say.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The Momma sheep came up to him and very gently said, \u201cRemember:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Sheep don\u2019t wallow.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><b><i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Sheep Don\u2019t Wallow.<\/span><\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s the theme we are going to use as we study this portion of Paul\u2019s letter to the Galatians.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Earlier in this letter the apostle Paul reminds us that as the <i>\u201csons of God\u201d<\/i> we are no longer under the <i>\u201csupervision of the law.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See Galatians 3:23-29)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Like a minor child who has now become \u201cof age\u201d we no longer need the Law to serve as our <i>\u201ccustodian\u201d<\/i> or our <i>\u201cchaperone.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That reality begs the questions:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Since we are no longer under the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201csupervision of the law\u201d <\/i>does that mean that we can simply ignore God\u2019s Law?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Does that mean that we can simply do whatever we want?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Does that mean that we can live our life in whatever way seems best to us?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>To find the answers to those questions I direct your attention to the opening words of our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Paul writes, <i>\u201cYou, my brothers, were called to be free.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Like that little lamb who would walk by the pigpen day after day and dream about what it would be like to wallow in the mud, so also we all have something inside us that is constantly urging us to wallow in the mud-pits of this world.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What is it?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It is our old sinful nature!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Not only does our old sinful nature want us to do exactly the opposite of what God wants for us, but our old sinful nature will even try to convince us that we can go out and get a little \u201cmuddy\u201d if we want\u2014 because after all doesn\u2019t God want us to be happy?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Isn\u2019t our God a God of love and forgiveness?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>So let\u2019s go wallow in the mud!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">What exactly is our old sinful nature trying to get us to do?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What \u201cmud-pits\u201d does our old sinful nature want us to wallow in?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at verse 19-21 of our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Paul writes, <i>\u201cThe acts of the sinful nature are obvious:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissentions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">In our \u201cpolitically correct\u201d society today the apostle Paul would be lambasted for not only writing something like this, but he would also be lambasted for being so \u201cnarrow-minded\u201d as he tried to impose his morals and his opinions on others.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The reality of the situation is this:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I seriously doubt that anyone\u2014 including any one of us\u2014 could read through a list like this without saying \u201cOuch!\u201d at least once or twice.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We all have our own personal \u201cweaknesses,\u201d my friends.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We all have days when like that little lamb we want to sneak around the backside of the barn, squeeze through the fence and feel the mud on our feet.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s precisely why over and over again Scripture issues the warning:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i>\u201cThose who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We have an enemy who is far more powerful and far more dangerous than that old boar.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Our enemy is like a ferocious lion who is looking for any and every opportunity to devour us and drag us to hell forever.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See 1 Peter 5:8)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The more we wallow in the \u201cmud-pits\u201d of sin, the more we allow this mud to get caked into our \u201cwool\u201d the easier it is for Satan to succeed in destroying our faith!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s why as Christians we need to remember:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Sheep don\u2019t wallow.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">What if we have wallowed in the mud-pits of sin?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at verses 22-25 of our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Paul writes, <i>\u201cBut the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Against such things there is no law.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">When we realize that we have indeed wallowed in the mud-pits of this world, when we realize that we have indeed gotten our feet muddy\u2014 or perhaps have become completely caked in mud\u2014 we turn to our Savior God and we cry out for help!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In His grace and in His mercy the good Lord reaches down to lift us up out of the mud.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then through the power of His Holy Spirit working through Word and Sacrament our God \u201ccleanses\u201d us of that mud by forgiving us our sins.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Finally, in His grace and in His mercy the good Lord puts His arm across our shoulder and gently reminds us, \u201cMy child, you are My sheep and sheep don\u2019t wallow.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">\u201cYou are My sheep and sheep don\u2019t wallow,\u201d or as Paul put it here in our text, <i>\u201cThose who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Very simply Paul is encouraging us to remember who we <b><i>are<\/i><\/b>, my friends.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Through the power of the Holy Spirit we have been <i>\u201cborn again\u201d<\/i> as the dearly beloved children of God through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. (See John 3:3-8)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Through the power of the Holy Spirit we have been brought from being <i>\u201cdead in our transgressions and sins\u201d<\/i> to being <i>\u201calive in Christ.\u201d<\/i> (See Ephesians 2:1-5)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Through the power of the Holy Spirit our old sinful nature has been <i>\u201ccrucified\u201d<\/i> with Christ on the cross of Calvary\u2019s hill.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See Romans 6:1-4; Galatians 2:20; 6:14)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Through the power of the Holy Spirit we have been given the <i>\u201cfruit of the Spirit\u201d<\/i> which is:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i>\u201clove, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Through the power of the Holy Spirit we <b><i>are <\/i><\/b>God\u2019s sheep\u2014 sheep who have been purchased by the holy precious blood of the Good Shepherd, sheep who by the grace of God <b><i>are<\/i><\/b> saved, who <b><i>are <\/i><\/b>forgiven, who <b><i>are<\/i><\/b> justified in the eyes of the Almighty God Himself!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Since this is who we <b><i>are<\/i><\/b>, my friends, since we do indeed <i>\u201clive by the Spirit,\u201d<\/i> now as God\u2019s sheep we want to <i>\u201ckeep in step with the Spirit.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The Greek word that is translated here in our text as <i>\u201ckeep in step with\u201d<\/i> very literally means, <i>\u201cbe in line with\u201d<\/i> or <i>\u201cstand beside.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As God\u2019s sheep we want the actions of our life to <i>\u201cbe in line with\u201d<\/i> what our Savior God wants for us.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As God\u2019s sheep we want to make sure that no matter where we are, no matter what we are doing, no matter who we are with we are confident that we are <i>\u201cstanding beside\u201d<\/i> our Savior God and He is <i>\u201cstanding beside\u201d<\/i> us.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">How will we know if the actions of our life are <i>\u201cin line with\u201d<\/i> God\u2019s will for us?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How will we know whether or not we can be confident that we are indeed <i>\u201cstanding beside\u201d<\/i> our Savior and that He is <i>\u201cstanding beside\u201d<\/i> us?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Do we go by how we \u201cfeel\u201d?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Do we listen to what other people say about us?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Not at all!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>This is where and how God\u2019s Law comes into the picture\u2014 in a proper way. We compare.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We compare how we are living our life, we compare how we are treating the people around us, we compare the thoughts we allow to go through our mind, we compare the attitudes, feelings and priorities that we harbor in our heart to the \u201cstandard\u201d of God\u2019s Law\u2014 specifically the Ten Commandments that He has given to us.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If we see that we have indeed been wallowing in the mud we kneel at the foot of the cross and we humbly say, <i>\u201cGod, have mercy on me a sinner\u201d<\/i> (Luke 18:13).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And guess what, my friends?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>No matter how muddy we might be when we kneel at the foot of the cross and humbly plead for God in His mercy to forgive us our sins, the good Lord says, \u201cLook up!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(Pointing to the cross)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I already have!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>You <b><i>are<\/i><\/b> my dearly beloved sheep!\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The title of our closing hymn for today is, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">I Am Jesus\u2019 Little Lamb.<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I chose that hymn because I think it very simply and very beautifully reflects the truth that the Holy Spirit is proclaiming in our text for today.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>My prayer this morning is that as we journey through this world, as we walk past the mud-pits of sin that this world freely offers to us, as we hear the Siren-song of those who invite us to come and play in the mud with them\u2014 I pray that we remember.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Remember that we are Jesus\u2019 little lambs.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Remember that we are God\u2019s precious sheep.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Remember that <b><i>Sheep Don\u2019t Wallow!<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">To God be the glory!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Amen<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"postie-attachments\">Download sermon audio ::  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Pentecost-6-07-21-19.mp3\">Pentecost-6-07-21-19.MP3<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost July 21, 2019 Galatians 5:13-25 Sheep Don\u2019t Wallow! &nbsp; You, my brothers, were called to be free.&nbsp; But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.&nbsp; The entire law is summed up in a single command:&nbsp; &#8220;Love your neighbor as yourself.&#8221;&nbsp; If you keep [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1144","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1144","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1144"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1144\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1144"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1144"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1144"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}