A NEW START FOR YOUR LIFE Galatians 2

 A NEW START FOR YOUR LIFE

Galatians 2

This text highlights christian growth and development. The apostle Paul is the author of the text and an excellent example of a man who was initially an unbeliever and became one of God’s champions of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

A HUMBLE SPIRIT

In this Christian journey, every believer gets a new start. On the road to Damascus, Saul, a devout Jewish follower, met Jesus and got a new start.

He started using the name Paul which was his  Roman  name from birth. Saul was his Hebrew name. It is interesting because the name Saul means big man. The name Paul means small man.  Saul held a high position in the Jewish religion. After he met Jesus, he began using  Paul, his Hebrew name, considering himself small in the Christian faith or small compared to His Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

To serve God we must see ourselves small in comparison to Jesus and small in comparison to others, to prevent ourselves from being prideful.

It is not to devalue ourselves but to place us in position to be used by God in any circumstance. God loves a humble spirit

SET APART TO SERVE BEFORE BIRTH

According to Paul, he was set apart from his mothers womb to preach the gospel to the gentiles.  Gal 1:15. He spent the first part of his life being trained in the Jewish law which he excelled more than his counterparts.

On his way to Damascus, he had  letters from the Jewish authority to persecute the young church.

A New Life  for Paul began when he encountered the resurrected Jesus on the road to Damascus  (Acts 9:1-9). He changed from a persecutor of the church to an active believer and promoter of Jesus Christ 

Once we accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, a change in us was

Brought about by Christ Himself. Any man/woman in Christ is a new creation. The old has died and the new has come alive in Christ.

A NEW REPUTATION

Every believer begins a new reputation in Jesus Christ. The old self has died and a new creation began. This new reputation grows as our faith in Jesus grows. 

To not cause division in the Church because of his past reputation as a persecutor of the church, Paul separated himself from the church to a place where people did not know him or have hostility toward him. 

 

After his conversion, Paul did not go to church leaders. Instead he spent 3 years in Arabia (Gal 1:19).  We are not told what Paul did

In Arabia. Let me suggest that Paul needed to realign his training in the Jewish law to include Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. While the name Jesus is not included in the Old Testament, I believe Paul saw

Jesus as the author and authority of scripture.  We do know that Paul had a library of books he studied from.

2 Tim 4:12-13 But Tychicus I sent to Ephesus. 13 The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, bring when thou comest, and the books, especially the parchments.

 Paul spent 14 years preaching the Gospel in Syria and Cilici To the Gentiles then returned to Jerusalem with Barnabas and Titus (Gal 2:1). Having established his reputation and dedication to Gospel of Jesus Christ, he was given the right hand of fellowship by James. Peter and John (Gal 2:9)

Every believer is given the opportunity to establish a new reputation in Jesus Christ. We are all born in sin and shaped in iniquity. We are born again in Jesus and our new reputation begins.

NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH JERUSALEM CHURCH

Doing my lifetime in the ministry, I had the opportunity to serve under

Five different pastors in 4 different churches. Each time I had to establish a relationship with the church leaders. 

Time, experience and education sets us up for the work God has planned for our lives.  Paul’s education and elevation in the Jewish

Religion set him up for the call by Jesus Christ to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles and establish churches on each of his missionary journeys. 

We all may have a plan for our lives, but God has a better plan that fits into His plan of redemption for mankind. It is believed that Paul was in his late 20s to early 30s at his conversion. His mission to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles could have been in his mid 40s (Acts 13:2).

It appears that Pual spent 17 years after his conversion being prepared before He and Barnabus were set aside to preach the gospel throughout the Roman Empire (3 years in Arabia, 14 year preaching in Cilica and Syria)

God sometimes uses the early years of our lives to give us life experiences and education before He calls us to the mission He prepared for us before the foundation of the earth

FAITH IN JESUS PLUS NOTHING IS OUR SALVATION 

There are those who want to add their beliefs.spiritual gifts or works

To the free gift of Salvation from the grace of our Lord and Savior. When Paul returned to Jerusalem there were those who wanted to add Circumcision to faith in Jesus as a requirement for salvation.

Paul argued that salvation is by grace through faith and nothing else

RIGHT HAND OF FELLOWSHIP 

Every believer ought to be connected to a church body. Paul received a revelation from God to establish a bond with the Church in Jerusalem. He proclaimed His work in Cilica amd Syria in preaching the Gospel  

The right hand of fellowship signifies mutual agreement, trust and support in the ministry. We all need the prayers of each other in the ministry. We need the affirming grace of each other.  There will be time when we need the encouragement of the church. There will be times and we will need to encourage others by our work in the ministry 

Heb 10:25 

25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting (one another); and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh.

ALWAYS HAVE A LISTEN EAR FOR GOD

Don’t get to busy in the mission for God that you cannot hear God

On the Road to Damascus, Paul heard the word of God and was converted immediately. He knocked off his horse and blinded by the

Lord than led to home of a believer where he received his again.

The Jewish law and traditions must have troubled Saul (Paul) for him

Listen to the Jesus he had previously discounted. He accepted Jesus as Lord without question. 

Each of us have been drawn to the Lord Jesus by a measure of faith He placed in us. The journey with Jesus begins with the faith of a mustard seed.

Paul was led by the Lord to spend 17 years getting prepared for the Mission. He heard the word of God directing him to go back to Jerusalem And establish fellowship with local church

Paul was led by the Holy Spirit from Tarsus to Antioch to  start the first missionary journey. 

Acts 13:2

2 And as they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 

 

WAIT PATIENTELY ON THE LORD’S TIMING

Your divine mission was set in place long before your call to the ministry. God is in charge of your calling, training and the start of the mission He has for you.

Paul began as a student of the Jewish law,and rose to the rank of a Pharisee in the Jewish hierarchy. He was more zealous for keeping

Law than his counterparts. This was not his calling. It was his experience and training in the misapplication of the Jewish law that prepared Paul for the correct teaching of the Gospel. Paul may have been in his mid 40s before the start of 1st missionary journey,

We are all full of thoughts and impressions of the world that don’t line up with God’s plan for us. Like Paul, the worldly training has to be replaced with Godly training in Jesus aided by the Holy spirit.

SUMMARY

We were chosen by God to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. All believers have an assigned part in this work. It takes, work, dedication, humbleness and constant study of God’s word.

YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN A NEW START FOR LIFE.  BELOW ARE THE ELEMENTS OF GROWTH

• HUMBLE SPIRIT

• SET APART BY GOD

• NEW REPUTATION

• A NEW RELATIONSHIP

• RIGHT HAND OF FELLOWSHIP

• LISTEN EAR FOR GOD

• WAIT PATIENTLY ON THE LORD’S TIMING

Study The Word Of God For Yourself Galatians 1:18

 STUDY TO KNOW GOD FOR YOURSELF

Gallations 1:6-10

6 I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel;

7 which is not another (gospel) only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema.

9 As we have said before, so say I now again, if any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be anathema.

10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? or am I striving to please men? if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ.

In the first 5 verses Paul established his apostleship assignment not by man by, but from Jesus Christ. The authority to preach the Gospel was given by Jesus Christ Christ. Every believer has that same authority and assignment.  

God placed the Bible in permanent print over 2000 years ago for knowledge of Him, the Father and the Holy Spirit. We have no other script to teach the Gospel. The Bible is closed. You cannot add anything to it or

Take anything away from it.   Revelations 22:18-19

Rev 22:17-19

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And he that heareth, let him say, Come. And he that is athirst, let him come: he that will, let him take the water of life freely.

18 I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto them, God shall add unto him the plagues which are written in this book:

19 and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.

You did not get the Word from your preacher, the Pope or your government leaders. You got it from Jesus Christ. Everyone must know the Word for him or herself so not to be confused by other teachers.

According to verse 6. Paul had heard  that some Jewish leaders

Had come to Galatia teaching a different theology from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was faith in Jesus Christ that saved us and nothing else, not faith in Jesus plus the Jewish law and traditions.  

We were called by grace and not by works. There are many who claim a new revelation from God to add to your salvation experience and confuse the free grace of God. 

We must study to know the Word for ourselves to recognize deviations from

The true gospel. According to various sources false gospels include the following and more.

1. Prosperity Gospel / "Name it and Claim it" theology  This teaching suggests that God guarantees health, wealth, and happiness to faithful believers.

2. Hyper-Grace This movement emphasizes grace to the point of downplaying or excusing sin, potentially leading to antinomianism, which is the belief that grace frees believers from the Law.

3. Christian Universalism This belief asserts that all people will eventually be reconciled to God, regardless of their faith or actions in this life.

4. Legalism  Legalism emphasizes strict adherence to rules and regulations, often implying that salvation or favor with God depends on following these rules rather than on God's grace. 

6. Other identified false teachings and dangerous trend The idea that every Christian should speak in tongues, or that Christians can lose their salvation, are debated teachings with differing interpretations based on scripture.

Those who believe in salvation is  faith in Jesus Christ plus other add ons based on their doctrine are cursed, verse 9.  To believe in anything other than Jesus Christ crucified  is an attempt to please man. God is not pleased with our efforts to legalize His Word into our traditions. Jesus did not create church denominations, man did.

Eph 4:4-7 (There is) one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all. 7 But unto each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

According to verse 18, after Pauls conversion, He did not consult with the church leaders, or start proclaiming the Gospel immediately.  He went away to Arabia for three years. While we are not told what he did there. Let me 

Suggest Paul had to realign all of his training to include Jesus Christ. The Old Testament was complete 300 plus years before Jesus birth in the flesh. Jesus taught from the Old Testament Scriptures. Paul’s Jewish training included the law mixed with Jewish traditions which minimized the authority of God’s Word and put more value on tradition (Matthew 15 2-6)

Paul studied the Word of God for himself before He preached to others. You and I must do the same (2 Tim 2:15). 

2 Tim 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

The original language of the Old Testament was Hebrew which had no spaces of paragraphs. Where you put your spaces and paragraphs would be dividing the scripture. You can easily misinterpret scripture if you don’t know the language, the culture, the people and the context. 

You have to study for yourself, because each us see scripture tainted by the times we live in and not the time scripture was written. Each of us internalize scripture based on what we heard, our experiences, trials and tribulations.  We may be guilt of spreading misinformation based on our own lack of understanding 

The Apostle Paul had to correct Apostle Peter for his actions in Antioch: Gal 2:11-12

11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I resisted him to the face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before that certain came from James, he ate with the Gentiles; but when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing them that were of the circumcision.

Peter was trying to please the Church leader rather than Jesus Christ.

In summary

1. Study the Word of God for yourself. Read and meditate on the scripture daily. 

2. Don’t rely totally on your pastors, or teacher. They may not always have the right interpretation,

3. You have a helper, the Holy Spirit to help you: John 14:26  But the Comforter, (even) the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you.

BE BLESSED, STUDY THE BIBLE DAILY

SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS Galatians 1:1-5

 SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS

                                               Galatians 1:1-5

1 Paul, an apostle (not from men, neither through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead),

2 and all the brethren that are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:

3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ,

4 who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil world, according to the will of our God and Father:

5 to whom (be) the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Everyday we are bombarded with news. The TV, the internet and the radio

Is full of news each day that is often bad, incorrect and negative.  What makes the headlines in the nightly news on TV many times is tragic events.

Believers have a source of Good news that is good news all the time. The

Good news is Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, The Good news is that

He is in control of all events and every circumstance in our lives.

It is the world events that distract us from the constant good news in our lives. If we focus on what is evil, tragic, what is unfair we lose sight of the

Good news.  The good news is God can make all things, the evil, the tragic and the unfair work in our favor,

Rom 8:28

28 And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, (even) to them that are called according to (his) purpose.

God has a purpose for bad news in our lives. What appears bad maybe designed to work  good for us, 

James 1:2-4

2 Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations;

3 Knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience.

4 And let patience have (its) perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing.

Instead of complaining, look first for the good God is trying to perfect in us. 

We have the good news the world cannot understand. Since we trust Jesus, we can be sure that God has us in mind when the evil, the bad and the unfair happens. 

We should never expect that there will be times when all is well for any’

Length of time. Wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes are the signs the Jesus

Is about to return for you before He judges the world

Mark 13:8-10

8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there shall be earthquakes in divers places; there shall be famines: these things are the beginning of travail. 10 And the gospel must first be preached unto all the nations.

We must first know the word of God for ourselves. We have a great teacher which is the Holy Spirit  ( John 14:26) There is no substitute for studying the word. Spend time with God

After the Apostle Paul’s conversion on the road to Damasus he did not immediately begin preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. According to Galatians 1:18, he went to the Arabian desert and spent three years, perhaps realigning himself with Jesus Christ. He had been taught the’

The traditions of the Jews. He may have studied the scriptures for himself

To know the Jesus the jews rejected. 

It is the believers job to study for themselves to rightly divide the Word of Truth. Each of us have to dig into the scripture for ourselves with help of

The Holy Spirit to gain an understanding that is not based on the popular words of others. We cannot teach what we don’t know for ourselves.

Our job is to tell everyone we meet about the hope in Jesus Christ.

He has made a way for all who believe in Him to enter the kingdom of heaven for eternity.

 

The good news is God is with us and will take care of us through all circumstances. 

The Apostle Paul starts the letter with a word of encouragement to the

The church, believers like you and me  from the Lord. His prayer is that we have the grace of God and the peace of God. Grace is an undeserved favor. Christ stepped out of heaven, became flesh and blood so He could

Die for you and me as a payment for our sins.

 Because of Christ's death we can live in peace with the Father. We have

The responsibility to repent of our sins. But Christ gave us the promise of forgiveness. If we chose to live a life for Christ, protection from the enemies of the world is  guaranteed. We will have problems but Christ is with us through them. 

We have been rescued from this present age of evil. We live in it to bring the good news to those who don’t know Christ.

Three things to remember when we awake each day

1. We have the good news of Jesus Christ in our lives, who saved us to proclaim His goodness to the lost. We have access to all the blessings of God. Prayer is the answer.

2. Because we belong to Jesus, we are under His protection, provision and guidance. 

1. No weapon formed against us can prosper  Isa 54:17

2. Whatever we need He will provide

3. We put our trust in Him and He will guide us along the path of righteousness. The will of God controls our lives

     3. God is bigger than all our problems and in control of all our  

         circumstances and has saved us for an eternity with Him

SHARE THE GOOD NEWS

FAITH THAT WORKS Matthew 15:22-28

 FAITH THAT WORKS

Matt 15:22-28

22 And behold, a Canaanitish woman came out from those borders, and cried, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a demon.

23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

24 But he answered and said, I was not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

25 But she came and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

26 And he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread and cast it to the dogs.

27 But she said, Yea, Lord: for even the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it done unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was healed from that hour.

TEXT BACKGROUND

This conversation appears to follow Jesus feeding of the 5000 near

The sea of Galilee. Pharisees and scribes came from Jerusalem, perhaps

Observed the miracle of the feeding and asked the question of why the

Disciples broke the Jewish tradition of washing hands before eating.

Jesus replied that it is not what goes in the body that defiles a man, but

What comes out of the heart that defies a man.  

The 12 disciples were confuse as to why the Pharisees and scribes were

Offended. Jesus explained that Pharisee flowed their traditions while breaking God’s commands. 

To illustrate faith in God, Jesus leaves Galilee which is in a valley, 600 feet

Below sea level and travels 35 miles up the mountain then down the mountain to a region of Tyre and Sidon on the Mediterranean sea. There He met by a Canaanite woman  who had a daughter who was demon possessed. She needed help.  Notice she knew who Jesus was, and had developed faith that Jesus could heal her child. She was not an Israelite yet had true faith.

Let me suggest that Jesus made this 35 mile trip to show that He is no respecter of person. race, nationality or religion. He is the savior of everyone who comes to Him.  The Canaanite woman came by prayer

And worshipped Him. The Pharisees and the scribes did not come to

Worship but to find fault with Jesus’s ministry. They had no faith in Jesus

And saw him as a trouble maker. THe canaanite worman came with a humble heart. The Pharisees and scribes came with pride. 

The Canaanite woman saw Jesus as Lord, the Son of David. The Pharisees saw Jesus as just a man. The Canaanite woman believed in

The power of Jesus to do miracles. The Pharisees saw Jesus a worker of the devil.

The grieving mother cried  to Jesus relentlessly for help. Jesus disciples

Saw her as a distraction who needed to be quiet. Jesus ignored her cry at first, I believe so you and I can see faith in action. 

POINTS TO CONSIDER

1. God uses circumstances to draw us to Him in faith

2. God will test your faith to exercise your devotion

3. Don’t let anyone or anything stop you from calling on Jesus

4. Be patient as Jesus builds your faith

5. Know with certainty that God will answer your prayers

 

PRAYER IS COMMUNICATION WITH GOD

22 And behold, a Canaanitish woman came out from those borders, and cried, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a demon.

Prayer acknowledges God as Lord.  This woman was not an Israelite but

Had developed faith in Jesus. She did not grow up with Jesus, but heard 

The word about the power of Jesus to cast out demons. She left home

Seeking Jesus. 

It was her circumstance that caused her to come to Jesus. Her daughter,

Her baby had a serious problem that her doctors and idol gods could not solve. The testimony of others assured her of Jesus' authority over demons.

The testimony of her faith was her patience and persistence in seeking Jesus.  

23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

You should never allow anyone to discourage you from getting to Jesus.

The founding members of the church dismissed her child as unimportant.

Jesus the Lord she sought did not answer immediately.  Yet this mother

Was determined to hear from Jesus. Prayer is a private audience with the

Lord. He may not answer when you call but He hears and is on time

Worship humbles yourself before a power greater than you. Your

Worship gets the Lord attention.

25 But she came and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me

26 And he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread and cast it to the dogs.

There are times when we don’t know what to pray or even understand our prayer.  Jesus was not ignoring her but testing her knowledge and faith.

The word meet means good and the word dog means little dog or pet.

Jesus made a distinction between Israel (the children) and the Gentiles (little dogs).  It not good to give Israel bread to the Gentiles. 

The mother understood Jesus statement to be a test of her faith and not a rejection, Consider the mother’s response

DON’T GET UPSET, HOLD FAST TO YOUR FAITH

27 But she said, Yea, Lord: for even the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

You don’t need much to be healed by Jesus. A crumb of grace is enough for you and me. The mother understood that we show love to our pets by providing for them. She was happy to be a pet of Jesus. When Jesus referred to her as a pet, she knew Jesus' love for her daughter. 

THE RESULT OF FAITH IS GOD’S MERCY AND GRACE

28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it done unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was healed from that hour.

What is the message to you and me?  Righteousness is not a show as

Illustrated by the Pharisees and the scribes but a lifestyle of faith and obedience as illustrated by the mother who came to Jesus for help.

SUMMARY

1. GOD USES CIRCUMSTANCES TO DRAW US TO HIM

2. PRAYER IS A PERSONAL AUDIENCE WITH GOD

3. YOUR FAITH GROWS THROUGH TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS

4. HUMBLE YOURSELF BEFORE THE LORD WITH PRAYER AND WORSHIP

5. HOLD FAST TO YOUR FAITH IN ALL SITUATIONS

6. WAIT PATIENTLY ON THE LORD, HIS TIMING IS TO STRENGTHEN YOU

7. GOD HEARS YOUR PRAYERS AND WILL ANSWER IN HIS TIME