Riding For The Brand
Galatians 6:17 From
henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord
Jesus.
Joke: Cowboy Joe was telling his fellow cowboys back on the ranch about his
first visit to a big-city church.
“When
I got there, they had me park my old truck in the corral,” Joe began. “You mean
the parking lot,” interrupted Charlie.
“I
walked up the trail to the door,” Joe continued. “The sidewalk to the door,”
Charlie corrected him.
“Inside
the door, I was met by this fancy-pants hombre,” Joe went on. “That would be
the usher,” Charlie explained.
“Well,
the usher led me down the chute,” Joe said. “You mean the aisle,” Charlie said.
“Then,
he led me into a stall and told me to sit there on the bench,” Joe continued.
“Pew,” Charlie said. “Pew!”
“Yeah,”
recalled Joe. “That’s exactly what that pretty lady said when I sat down beside
her.”
Intro: “Riding
for the brand” is an expression from cattle ranching days of the American “Old
West.” In the old days, ranchers and cattlemen would find themselves in a
“range war”. Sometimes it would be a dispute over land boundaries. Sometimes
it would be over water rights.
Sometimes it would be over a neighboring land
owner’s overzealous desire to acquire more land. Sometimes it would be over
the misdeeds of some of the men working
on one ranch. Regardless of the reason,
wars between rival ranches would sometimes ensue. When this happened, there was
one unchanging rule that was in place – and every cowboy on the ranch knew this. If a war broke out, it was the duty – it was
the obligation of the ranch hand to defend his ranch. It was his sworn duty to
fight with his fellow ranch hands and defend and protect the man and the ranch
that he worked for. It was known as “riding for the brand”. The brand was a “ranch’s trademark and represents pride,
duty, and stewardship while inspiring loyalty, dedication, and cowboy
camaraderie.” Most literally, the brand referred to the way cattle were
marked to indicate ownership, but its meaning goes deeper. It was a matter of
honor and it was a matter of integrity. When you rode for the brand, it meant
that you had signed on to the mission, that you had committed, that you were a
dedicated team player. If you weren’t, then you had no business being on the
ranch’s payroll.
In these verses, the Apostle Paul makes it very clear which
side he is on. He is not “straddling the fence”.
Let’s notice three things about Paul’s commitment.
I. Paul’s
Inspiration – vs. 14 God forbid
that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…
Paul had a lot to glory in – humanly speaking.
He could have gloried in his pedigree, in his past
accomplishments, in his personal achievements.
Instead, Paul chose to do what He did because of the
sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross.
·
2
Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us;
·
Philippians
3:4 Though I might also have
confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he
might trust in the flesh, I more:
Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of
Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church;
touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I
counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless,
and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ
Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count
them but dung, that I may win Christ,
We shouldn’t live for God because our parents do.
We shouldn’t serve God because your pastor expects you to.
You shouldn’t strive to walk in holiness because your church
demands it.
You should do what you do because of what Jesus did for you!
Our inspiration – our motivation should be the cross of
Jesus Christ and the debt we owe Him!
II. Paul’s
Immunization – vs. 14 by whom the
world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
DEFINITION:
Immunization is the process whereby a
person is made immune or resistant to an infectious disease, typically by the
administration of a vaccine. Vaccines stimulate the body's own immune system to
protect the person against subsequent infection or disease.
Paul said that he had something on the inside of him that
made him immune to the world that was on the outside.
·
I John
4:4 Ye are of God, little children,
and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is
in the world.
A. Immune
to the Pay of the Enemy
·
Romans
6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
B. Immune
to the Promises of the Enemy
Illustration: Satan and Jesus in Matthew 4 –
·
Matthew
4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and
sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I
give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him,
Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God,
and him only shalt thou serve.
·
2 Peter
1:4 Whereby are given unto us
exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of
the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through
lust.
C. Immune
to the Pleasures of the Enemy
·
Hebrews
11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to
enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
·
I John 2:15 Love
not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the
world, the love of the Father is not in him.
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. And the world passeth away, and the lust
thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
III. Paul’s
Identification – vs. 17 …for I
bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. (marks – branding – GREEk: stigma)
Paul understood the importance of loyalty and service to his
Master.
The bondslaves in the Old Testament would choose to serve
their master out of love for him.
·
Exodus
21:5 And if the servant shall plainly
say, I love my master…I will not go out free: Then his master shall bring him
unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post;
and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him
for ever.
Paul acknowledged that he was a bond servant (Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated
unto the gospel of God,)
Paul had been “branded” by Jesus Christ. He had voluntarily
chosen to identify with the people of God.
He lived his life – he walked every day – he fought the
enemy to the death – riding for the brand.
Question – Who’s
brand are YOU riding for? No man can serve two masters.
