June 14, 2009
Evening Service

Galatians 1:10-24

 

·        This morning Paul introduced himself to the churches of Galatia, as an Apostle called of God, and not of man.

·        Two things concerning this mornings study.

1.      Paul is confronting the false teaching of Judaism.  Hopefully by seeing the tremendous penalty from teaching another gospel, we would all strive to say what the Bible says, and not drift away into one’s own conclusions.  This is the importance of striving for Unity.

2.      Secondly, we concluded with the idea of OBTAINING THE GLORY THAT IS OF CHRIST.  The fruits of the Spirit that are found in Galatians 5:22-23.

·        This is the true proof that one possesses the Holy Ghost, when you produce His fruit.

 

So let’s finish chapter one this evening;

 

Gal 1:11-24  But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.  (12)  For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

• We’ve said this many times, God will teach you, if you will just ask Him, and let Him.  John said, “that anointing that you received in the beginning will teach you all things, and you don’t need that any man teach you.”
• And of course that is true, however, there are those that will not study their Bibles, and they want someone to teach them.  And that’s why the Apostle Paul gave this warning;  2Ti 4:1-4  I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;  (2)  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.  (3)  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;  (4)  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
• But God knows that the people will need guidance, and teaching, so He provided a ministry for them.  Eph 4:11-13  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  (12)  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  (13)  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
• There it is OBTAINING THE GLORY OF CHRIST.
• Paul was taught the O.T. by a well known teacher, Gamaliel, but God taught him what to teach concerning Jesus of Nazareth.
• For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: 

• We discussed this in the morning study.  Beginning with chapter 7, and continuing through the book of Acts.

(14)  And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. 

• Right traditions are good, but wrong ones aren’t.  He told the Thessalonians to keep the traditions as they had been handed down, either by word, or epistle.  He was referring to his teachings.

 

(15)  But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,  (16)  To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen;

• To reveal His Son in me.   Now that is powerful.
• Is Christ Jesus revealed in us to all those around us?  This should be our goal as Christian.  Christ revealed in me.  Striving diligently to produce the fruits of the Spirit that are supposed to be in a Christian.

immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:  (17)  Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. 

• Arabia was south of Damascus, and at no great distance.  To what part of Arabia and for what purpose that Paul went is wholly unknown. Nothing is known of the circumstances of this journey; nor is the time which he spent there known.
• But we do know that three years after his conversion he goes to Jerusalem to see Peter.

(18)  Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. 

• Can’t you just imagine what these men talked about. 
• Here this learned, church persecutor, excitingly giving his testimony to the chief Apostle.  The mouth piece of the Lord.  The one Jesus entrusted the keys to the Kingdom too.  The one who has already opened the door to the Jews, Acts 2; and the Gentiles, Acts 10.

(19)  But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother. 

• I’m sure upon hearing Paul’s testimony they gave him their blessings for His work.

Peter said this of Paul, 2Pe 3:15  And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

• So Peter had great respect for Paul, and his work.

(20)  Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.  (21)  Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;  (22)  And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judea which were in Christ:  (23)  But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.  (24)  And they glorified God in me.

• There were many Christians at this time.  Remember 3000 were converted at Pentecost, and Christianity grew by leaps and bounds.
• Paul like Jesus could open the Scriptures to these people for he knew all the prophecies concerning the Messiah.  He used these to build up the church, and individual faith.
• Because of Paul’s past life, and zeal for the Jewish belief, and his persecuting the church, when he gave his life to Christ, all the churches glorified God for His ability to convert such a man.

 

Don’t ever give up on those hard nose cases, all things are possible with God.  

 

JUST REMEMBER;

2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.