Two Approaches to Life and Ministry: Bondage or Promise
by Thurlow J. Switzer
Life and ministry tends to polarize in one of two directions. Let’s look at the difference between bondage and promise. Many people approach life from a posture of bondage and victimization rather than from a posture of promise and victory. In this article, I desire to encourage each of us to walk in the life of the Spirit and to avoid living in a life characterized by the flesh. When we live by the Spirit we experience victory, but when we live in the flesh we tend to experience defeat.
In Galatians 4:21-31, the New Testament apostle Paul distinguishes between the “son by a bondwoman” and the “son by a freewoman.” Ishmael, born to the bondwoman Hagar, handmaiden of Sarah, is described as “born according to the flesh” (Gal 4:23a). Isaac, born of the freewoman Sarah is described as “born according to the promise,” he was the child of faith (Gal 4:24b).
Two women are mentioned; each symbolic of a way of life. Hagar speaks to the covenant from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, and corresponds to the world system that now is, as was observed in the Jerusalem that existed in the material. Sarah speaks of the covenant of freedom that is from above, the heavenly Jerusalem which is the true mother of all New Covenant believers (Gal 4:25-26).
One indication that the flesh wars against the spirit is contrasted when the “one born according to the flesh” persecutes the “one born according to the Spirit” (Gal 4:29). We, as New Testament believers are called “children of promise” (v. 28). Paul’s point is that children of the freewoman are not in harmony with children of the bondwoman.
Galatians 5:16 exhorts believers to “walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh, for the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” Those who live by the Spirit of God are enabled to live daily life in the fruitfulness of “love, joy, peace longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-con-trol” (Gal 5:22-23).
Hagar and Ishmael
The story of Hagar and Ishmael is found in Genesis 16:1-16. Sarah, being childless begged Abraham to have a child by her handmaiden Hagar. Abraham heeded his wife’s voice. A child was conceived and as the baby grew in the womb, both Sarah and Hagar grew in a mutually despised antagonism. Sarah turned on Abraham, blaming him for the problem.
The spiritual lesson is simple. Do not attempt to help God out in fulfilling His promises to you by means of fleshly disobedience and short-cut actions. Sarah said, “The Lord judge between you and me” (v. 5). Judgment is required. Judgment must begin in our own personal lives, and even in a broader sense, in the house of God. Sarah sent the handmaiden and her son away.
Sometimes, when we face the results or effects of fleshy decisions, we are filled with hopelessness. But God is a God of grace and forgives and grants us a future when we enter into His provision of forgiveness and hope for the future (I John 1:9). The Angel of the Lord met Hagar in the wilderness, gave her gracious counsel (“to return to her mistress” – Gen 16:9a), a prophetic promise for the future (“I will multiply your descendents” - 16:9), and expressed words of compassion to which she responded: “”You are the God who sees” (Lahai Roi). The lesson: avoid actions of the flesh for they produce most difficult straits; but, know that there is life after actions in the flesh by the grace of God.
God also said to Abraham, “As for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation” (17:5).
Sarah and Isaac
The story of Sarah and Isaac is found in Genesis 17:4-21; 18:9-15. About ten years later, while Abraham was on his face before God, God talked to him, saying: “My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come to you” (17:4-6). Although, Abraham doubted and Sarah laughed in her heart, both being quite aged, God said they would have a son by that same time next year (17:21).
Faith is not necessarily easy, but does require taking the promises of God at face value and with heart-felt commitment. Abraham and Sarah learned much in their walk with God. Hebrews 11:11-12 states it this way. “By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude — innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.” Paul referred to his ministry as calling people to “obedience to the faith” (Rom 1:5).
Practical Applications
Each day of life, we have a choice. To go through a day in a fleshly way and, as a result, feel the bondage of failure, or, to go through a day in a spiritual way and, as a result, enjoy the promise of victory produced by faith. Paul applied the same perspective in Colossians 3:1-17.
Principle 1 – Seek the Things of Christ Above
“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory (Col 3:1-4).
Principle 2 – Put to Death Your Members on the Earth
“Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them” Col 3:5-7). He said further, “Put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds” (Col 3:5-9).
Principle 3 – Put on The New Man according to Christ
“Put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, neither slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all” (Col 3:12). He said further, “As the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection” (Col 3:10-14).
In Galatians 4:21-31, the New Testament apostle Paul distinguishes between the “son by a bondwoman” and the “son by a freewoman.” Ishmael, born to the bondwoman Hagar, handmaiden of Sarah, is described as “born according to the flesh” (Gal 4:23a). Isaac, born of the freewoman Sarah is described as “born according to the promise,” he was the child of faith (Gal 4:24b).
Two women are mentioned; each symbolic of a way of life. Hagar speaks to the covenant from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, and corresponds to the world system that now is, as was observed in the Jerusalem that existed in the material. Sarah speaks of the covenant of freedom that is from above, the heavenly Jerusalem which is the true mother of all New Covenant believers (Gal 4:25-26).
One indication that the flesh wars against the spirit is contrasted when the “one born according to the flesh” persecutes the “one born according to the Spirit” (Gal 4:29). We, as New Testament believers are called “children of promise” (v. 28). Paul’s point is that children of the freewoman are not in harmony with children of the bondwoman.
Galatians 5:16 exhorts believers to “walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh, for the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” Those who live by the Spirit of God are enabled to live daily life in the fruitfulness of “love, joy, peace longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-con-trol” (Gal 5:22-23).
Hagar and Ishmael
The story of Hagar and Ishmael is found in Genesis 16:1-16. Sarah, being childless begged Abraham to have a child by her handmaiden Hagar. Abraham heeded his wife’s voice. A child was conceived and as the baby grew in the womb, both Sarah and Hagar grew in a mutually despised antagonism. Sarah turned on Abraham, blaming him for the problem.
The spiritual lesson is simple. Do not attempt to help God out in fulfilling His promises to you by means of fleshly disobedience and short-cut actions. Sarah said, “The Lord judge between you and me” (v. 5). Judgment is required. Judgment must begin in our own personal lives, and even in a broader sense, in the house of God. Sarah sent the handmaiden and her son away.
Sometimes, when we face the results or effects of fleshy decisions, we are filled with hopelessness. But God is a God of grace and forgives and grants us a future when we enter into His provision of forgiveness and hope for the future (I John 1:9). The Angel of the Lord met Hagar in the wilderness, gave her gracious counsel (“to return to her mistress” – Gen 16:9a), a prophetic promise for the future (“I will multiply your descendents” - 16:9), and expressed words of compassion to which she responded: “”You are the God who sees” (Lahai Roi). The lesson: avoid actions of the flesh for they produce most difficult straits; but, know that there is life after actions in the flesh by the grace of God.
God also said to Abraham, “As for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation” (17:5).
Sarah and Isaac
The story of Sarah and Isaac is found in Genesis 17:4-21; 18:9-15. About ten years later, while Abraham was on his face before God, God talked to him, saying: “My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come to you” (17:4-6). Although, Abraham doubted and Sarah laughed in her heart, both being quite aged, God said they would have a son by that same time next year (17:21).
Faith is not necessarily easy, but does require taking the promises of God at face value and with heart-felt commitment. Abraham and Sarah learned much in their walk with God. Hebrews 11:11-12 states it this way. “By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude — innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.” Paul referred to his ministry as calling people to “obedience to the faith” (Rom 1:5).
Practical Applications
Each day of life, we have a choice. To go through a day in a fleshly way and, as a result, feel the bondage of failure, or, to go through a day in a spiritual way and, as a result, enjoy the promise of victory produced by faith. Paul applied the same perspective in Colossians 3:1-17.
Principle 1 – Seek the Things of Christ Above
“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory (Col 3:1-4).
Principle 2 – Put to Death Your Members on the Earth
“Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them” Col 3:5-7). He said further, “Put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds” (Col 3:5-9).
Principle 3 – Put on The New Man according to Christ
“Put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, neither slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all” (Col 3:12). He said further, “As the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection” (Col 3:10-14).