Leaving Room

Galatians 1                            
But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles.
Galatians 1:15-16 (NLT)


LET IT GLOW

There have been times when I have saved a seat beside me for a friend or family member at a conference, ballgame, or worship service. I left room for that person and did not occupy the seat because I was expecting them to come. Do I expect God to visit me so I leave room for Him to come into my life as He likes? Hmm.

There was a problem  in the churches located in the Galatian area-a group of legalists had invaded the churches steering Christians away from the Gospel of  Christ and Paul's teachings. In verse 7, Paul says they were "perverting" the Gospel.
"Pervert means to change into an opposite character; to reverse,"  according to Warren Wiersbe in Be Free.
These legalists, called Judaizers, were even attacking the apostleship and conversion of Paul. This is why he is defending himself in the first chapter.

Looking at our key verse, Paul tells us it pleased God, by His grace, to set apart Paul before he was born, choose him and call him to proclaim the Good News of Jesus to the Gentiles (Romans 1:1).

Shepherd's Notes tells us:

Set apart means "to determine beforehand." Paul had in mind something that was even prior to the occasion of his birth-God's eternal predestination and good pleasure by which He chose us in Christ before the creation of the world (Eph. 1:4).


I forget to often thank God  that He chose me to be His child, to save my soul, and has called me to walk by faith, serving Him, teaching His Word. What an honor. Not only has He saved me, but  the Creator of everything decided to create me, which is a miracle in itself. My Dad could have been killed in WWII ten years before I was born. God sustained my life, at age five, when I had a disease called rheumatic fever, which affects the heart. Then 42 years later, God restored my breath and allowed me to live after I stopped breathing following surgery. Yes, I say that I have a lot to be thankful for.

How about you? When was the last time you thanked God for creating you, giving you breath, and saving your soul? There is so much I take for granted. (Oops, I chased that rabbit.)

Do I forget to make room for God to come into my life as He chooses? Do I put limitations or expectations on the methods God uses? I probably do. Why am I surprised when He speaks to me ourside the four walls of the church? All of a sudden God can meet with a life, "When it was the good pleasure of God... ."
I am always telling God how creative He is, concerning things I see.  That should  be extended to when and where His Spirit speaks to me.


LET IT GROW

Verse 20 says, "Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not."

Paul's word was as good as an oath made in the very presence of God.
"Paul's enemies has accused him of being a slick talker," as Jerry Falwell put it.

Paul was telling the truth, not a lie. His life was a witness that he always told the truth and he should not have had to defend himself, but he did.
Am I always telling the truth, or do I have to say when something is not a lie?

LET IT GO

Leave room for God to speak to my heart at any time, any place.

Always tell the truth.

Let It Glow, Grow, Go

Years ago, when I cam home to visit my mother, we would often take a walk down the country road in front of her house. It was a joyful time as just the two of us, sharing our thoughts, feelings, and what was going on in our lives. My mom has gone home to glory now, but I welcome your company as I walk this country road of faith called life.

I am reading through the New Testament using the King James Version. Monday-Fridays I will be posting my thoughts and something that spoke to me from each day's reading.

Please join me as I travel this "country road of faith." Your comments are welcome. Here is the format being used:

Let it Glow
Name something you read today that's a promise, an encouragement, or an example of how God worked in this particular chapter.


Let it Grow
Describe a principle, a lesson to be learned, or a challenge from the scriptures.


Let it Go
Tell how to apply, share, or go do the Word read in this chapter. 

Introduction to Galatians

Introduction to Galatians          

There is no question as to the author of this small book in the New Testament. Paul reveals this in the very first verse of chapter 1.

So who was Paul?
So we don't get confused, Paul was his Latin name, which he used after his conversion to Jesus; Saul was his Hebrew name, that he used before his conversion. He was born in Tarsus of  Jewish parents. His father was a Pharisee and a Roman citizen, which made  Paul was a Roman citizen by birth.

Since Paul's parents were Pharisees, they were fervent in Jewish nationalism and very strict in obedience to the Law of Moses. Though Paul from infancy could speak Greek, and had a working knowledge of Latin, his family at home spoke Aramaic, which was the language of Judea, and a derivative of Hebrew. By age 13, Paul had mastered Jewish history, the poetry of the psalms, and the majestic literature of the prophets. He had an ear for accuracy and  a swift brain like a photographic mind.
[Resource: John Pollock, The Apostle: A Life of Paul]

Paul was educated under the Rabbi Gamaliel. What credentials. Who better to write 13 books of the New Testament? Who better to send out as His (Jesus' ) missionary to share the gospel with the Jews and Gentiles and to establish churches? It was all in God's plan.

Saul, before his meeting Jesus,  was a successful lawyer in the courts of Jerusalem, and most likely part of the larger audience who heard Stephen's defense.
(Stephen, a deacon, stood for Christ and was stoned to death by the Jews, of which Paul witnessed
(Acts 6-8).
As Saul, he was one of the chief persecutors of the early church. He help to kill and  imprisoned followers of Jesus Christ before his conversion on the road to Damascus. In fact, Paul's purpose for his journey to Damascus was to bring those Christians bound to Jerusalem.
We read of Saul's conversion in Acts 9. Saul was blinded as a result of meeting Jesus. Later, Ananias was sent to restore Paul's sight.

Galatians was written while Paul was at Antioch. It was the first of 13 letters to be written to the churches he helped establish.


Who were the Galatians?

According to Liberty Bible Commentary: 

The Galatians were Christians in the churches in the territory of Galatia. Galatia is the name that was given  to the territory in North Central Asia Minor, where the invading Gauls settled in the third century before Christ. The territory became property of Rome in 25 B.C. The Romans incorporated this northern section into a larger division of the land which they made a province and called it Galatia. Politically, Galatia was the Roman province which included Isauria, Lycaonia, and parts of Phrygia and Pisidia. Geographically, it was the center of Celtic tribes and included Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia. The question is did Paul write to the ethnic Galatia of the north or the geographical Galatia of the south? Paul and Barnabas evangelized the southern section of the Roman Galatia during their first missionary journey (Acts 13:14-14:26).


The commentaries which I read agree with me, in that this book was written to the southern Galatian region. It makes sense, since Paul established churches there and he wrote this letter to refute the Judaizers, who were legalists persuading many to turn away from Christianity to Judiasm.
 

When was Galatians written?

According to Shepherd's Notes:

The sequence of events in  Galatians were: Paul's first missionary journey, writing of Galatians, visit to the Jerusalem council, then Paul's second missionary journey. 

So we can see that Paul wrote this letter before he wrote the letters to the Corinthians and Thessalonians or the other churches. Our New Testament is not organized in chronological order of events. Don't be confused by it. I don't know why it is that way. The date Galatians was written was approximately 48-49 A.D.


Why was Galatians written?
The message of Galatians can be summed up in one key verse: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery" (5:1). [Shepherd's Notes]

Paul sets forth grace as opposed to law, faith as opposed to works, and spirit as opposed to flesh," states Falwell in Liberty Bible Commentary.

Warren Wiersbe, in his book, Be Free, informs us, "Liberty in Christ is the dominant theme of Galatians."

Lawrence O. Richards in Illustrated Bible Handbook, tells us: "Galatians explores righteousness and the problem of how a people not under law can experience personal holiness. We have exchanged law for a personal relationship with God, and it is that relationship which provides freedom and true goodness."

"Justification by faith is the central theme of Galatians," says John MacArthur in his book, The MacArthur Bible Handbook.

Are you ready to find out how to "be free?" Join me tomorrow and we will delve in.

*New readers can find the explanation of the headings "Let it glow, grow, and go" on the following post.

Summary of 2 Corinthians

Summary of 2 Corinthians                   

Background:
There was a party in the Corinthian church which opposed Paul, and wanted to take over as their leader, but was actually a false apostle. When the news of these conditions reached Paul at Ephesus he made a brief visit to Corinth in order to deal with them. At this time the personal vendetta against the Apostle Paul himself was shown. Returning to Ephesus, Paul wrote the letter to the church of such a severe nature that he later regretted having written it. This he sent to them by Titus. (Two of the four letters had been lost.) Repentance resulted, so it was a good that Paul wrote 1 Corinthians.
[Resource: Liberty Bible Commentary]


Here are some of the verses I highlighted in my Bible as speaking to me (using KJV):

• He is the God of all comfort (1:3)
• Our lives are a Christ-like faragarance rising up to God. (2:15 NLT)
• Our sufficiency is of God. (3:5)
• The Spirit gives life. (3:6)
• Whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. (3:16 NLT)
• Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (3:17)
• We are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. (4:7 NLT)
• We are trouble, not distressed; perplexed, not despaired; persecuted, not forsaken; cast down, not destroyed. (4:8-9)
• We walk by faith, not by sight. (5:7)
• Absent from the body, present with the Lord. (5:8)
• All appear before the judgement seat of God. (5:10)
• We are a new creature in Christ. (5:17)
• God reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ. (5:18)
• We are ambassadors for Christ. (5:20)
• We become the righteousness of God in Christ. (5:21)
• Now (today) is the day of salvation. (6:2)
• We are ministers ( servants) of God. (6:4)
• Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers. (6:14)
• We are God's people, His sons and daughters; walk seperated from unbelievers. (6:16-18)
• Godly sorrow works repentance to salvation. (7:10)
• We are rich in Christ because of His generous grace. (8:9 NLT)
• Be honest. (8:21)
• We reap what we sow. (9:6)
• God loves a cheerful giver. (9:7)
• God is all-suffieient, providing all we need by His grace. (9:8)
• Our weapons are spiritual, pulling down strongholds. (10:5)
• Bring captive every thought to obedience of Christ. (10:5)
• God's grace is sufficient; His strength is perfect in weakness. (12:9)
• Examine ourselves. (13:5)
• Be perfect, of good comfort, united, live in peace; and the God of love and  peace shall be
• with you. (13:11)

It has been an enjoyable walk with you through 2 Corinthians. Thank you for your faithfulness.
There have been times of my reflection and confessing to the Lord, but it was needful. Meat can be hared to chew.
See you in Galatians next.

Examinations

2 Corinthians 13
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
2 Corinthians 13:5


LET IT GLOW

Verse 11 says, "Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you."

Paul is closing his letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. (NLT)

The New John Gill Exposition of the Entire Bible says:

• be perfect-seek after perfection in knowledge, grace, and holiness, and in the performance of good works: or "be restored"; or jointed and knit together, as before. (verse 9)
• be of one mind-in the doctrines and principles of grace, and ordinances of the Gospel for there is one faith, one baptism.
• live in peace-both with them that are without, and them that are within, with all men, and with the members of the church.
• the God of love and peace shall be with you-He who is love (Himself), has loved His people with an everlasting love, and who is the author and donor of spiritual and eternal peace, has called His people to peace, and expects and requires it among themselves, and all men, will grant to such His gracious presence.

David Guzik challenges us, "It costs something to work hard to be of good comfort, be of one mind, to live in peace. But the reward is worth it: the God of love and peace be with you. If you feel that God isn't with you, perhaps it is because you are resisting and rejecting His call to be of good comfort, be of one mind, and to live in peace."

Concerning this verse, Liberty Bible Commentary has this to say:

Maturity, contentment, unity, and harmony, reflected in these terms, answer to the immaturity, unrest, divisiion, and quarreling so evident in the Corinthian assembly.

It sounds like good advice to me.


LET IT GROW

Who likes examinations? Probably no one does, unless it is the prepared person. There are all kinds of exams-school exams, semester exams, state board exams, when doctors exam your body, when a mechanic examines your automobile, etc. I can do all right on minor exams, but it's those timed ones that throw me.
Ususally, we don't require an exam on the knowledge of the Bible or do an examination of another Christian's life. In the final chapter, Paul tells his readers to examine themselves. I want to dig deeper here.

NLT says this in verse 5, "Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith."

"Paul's critics were prepared to examine him, to see if he was rightly related to Christ. He asks them to subject themselves to the same scrutiny," states  Liberty Bible Commentary.

The word reprobate is used in the King James Version.
Reprobate means that which fails to meet a test and is thus rejected as unworthy or unacceptable, as impure silver; or persons. (Holman Bible Dictionary)

Paul is telling the Corinthians to examine themselves to see if Christ is in their heart. If He isn't, then they are reprobates, counterfeits (Falwell uses that term.). So the same can be true of people today. They can be counterfeits, like silver or a coin. It can look like the real thing on the outside, but is not real on the inside.

David Guzik tells us, "Ask yourself 'Am I really a Christian?' "
Spurgeon said, " Do not merely sit in your closet and look at yourself alone, but go out into this busy world
and see what kind of piety you have. Many a man's religion will stand examination what will not stand proof."

Perhaps Spurgeon is talking about works (loving actions) as an evidence or proof of our faith. Is there evidence of Christ in my life?


LET IT GO

Live in peace and unity with others.

Do spiritual self-examinations often.

[Our next lesson is a summary of 2 Corinthians.]

Sufficiency and Strength

2 Corinthians 12
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
And He said unto me, "My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.    2 Corinthians 12:7-9


LET IT GLOW


Thorns, no one likes them.
 Last summer I spent several weeks going to the blackberry patch, picking blackberries. It wasn't an easy task, as some of you country folk may well know. Those big, lucious, sweet blackberries grew on  thorny bushes. Now when they are together in a brier patch, it can be quite a challenge to pick the berries. I learned years ago to wear an old, long sleeved shirt for the task because those prickly thorns reached out and grabbed ya, but didn't want to let go. Sometimes the thorns ripped my shirt; sometimes they ripped my skin, making me bleed. When surrounded by those thorny bushes, I often used my bucket as a way out of the mess I was in the middle of. (Please excuse my grammar.) It was a successful technique. Because those blackberries were
wonderful in cobblers or made "out of this world" jelly, I kept going back, enduring the hardships, and picking more berries.
As you well know, life has its lucious berries and prickly thorns. Satan sees to that. How did Paul endure all those hardships just mentioned in the last chapter? He tells us in the key verses.

I found some answers in The New John Gill Exposition of the Entire Bible:

Thorns are not joyous, are grievous to the flesh, come not by chance, but by divine appointment, are designed and made use of, are to hide pride from men, are sometimes by divine permission. Ezekiel 28:13 talks about prickling briers and grieving thorns.


I asked, "How did Paul manage?"
Paul prayed three times for the thorn to be removed, but Jesus answered, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness."

"Paul could not remove the affliction that God had given him, an affliction that made him depend on God. God will bring you to the point of weakness if that is what it takes to bring you to trust in Him. Do not despise your weakness, for it leads you to trust in God's strength," states Henry Blackaby in Experiencing God day-By-Day.

Gill says, "God is all sufficient (Shaddai) in Gen. 17:1. Grace of Christ is alone sufficient for all his people, to all saving purposes, in all their times of need. The strength of Christ is made to appear, is illustrated and shines forth in its perfection and glory, in supplying, supporting, and strengthening His people under all their weakness. Paul is content things should be as they were, since he had such a promise of sufficiency of grace to bear him up, under, and through whatever was the pleasure of God concerning him; Satan was not able to make any advantaage over him.

In Mary A. Kassian's book, Knowing God By Name, she says:

Sufficiency means a sufficient amount; large enough supply, plenty, adequate, ample.
Everything that God is, is more than enough. His names of sufficiency reflect the fact that all of us will find everthing we need in Him. He is our all in all.
We will have ALL sufficiency in ALL things at ALL times...all grace.
2 Cor. 9:8 states, "God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work." (ESV)


Falwell said, "The trial will remain but accompanied always by the enduring grace of God."


So when those prickly thorns come into my life, God's grace is all sufficient, enough for me to handle them.
I, for one, need to be reminded of this from time to time. Grace, grace, God's grace. Grace that is greater than all my sin, as the song goes.
Thank You Lord for Your never ending grace.


LET IT GROW

Verse 10 reads, "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

John Gill said, "All these affliction were so delightful to Paul, having in the midst of them the love of God to comfort him, the power and strength of Christ to support him, and the grace of the Spirit to assist him. He was upheld by the divine arm and strengthened by the power of Christ; he became more than a conqueror.  Paul is weak in himself, strong in Christ."

Matthew Henry stated, "God often brings good out of evil. The thorns Christ wore for us, and with which He was crowned, sanctify and make easy all the thorns in the flesh we may at any time be afflicted with."

There we have it, I am weak, but He is strong. All I have to do is admit that, reach out to Him for it, and receive His strength to endure.


LET IT GO

Seek the God of all-sufficient grace.

Admit my weaknesses and depend upon His strength.

Bargains

2 Corinthians 11
Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.        2 Corinthians 11:23

I love to go bargain hunting. In fact, usually, the first place upon entering a store, is the bargain rack. Any purchases made at a bargain prices causes me to look at the ticket and add up how much I saved. After sorting through the bargains, then I "graze along" looking through the regaularly priced items.  (It's my hubby's description of me, which means like an old cow who keeps eating without lifting her head up, I shop similiarly.)

In  Liberty Bible Commentary, Falwell states:
Discipleship cannot be purchased at bargain prices (Luke 9:23 states what Jesus said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."). The cost exacted of the Apostle Paul is measured by the tabulation which follows. (verses 24-27)
What Paul does here is demonstrate the depth of his commitment by delineating the sufferings and trial he endured because of it.

"Paul had been an extraordinary sufferer for Christ; he gloried in the grace of God that had enabled him to be more abundant in labors and to endure very great sufferings," said Matthew Henry.

As we recall, Paul wrote 13 books (letters) of the New Testament. What did Paul  endure as he spread the gospel?

• severe beatings (verse 23)
• exposure to death (verse 23)
• five times received 39 lashes (verse 24)
• 3 times beaten with rods (verse 25)
• 3 times shipwrecked (verse 25)
• robbers (verse 26)
• dangerous rivers (verse 26)
• dangers from false brothers (verse 26)
• sleeplessness (verse 25)
• hunger (verse 27)
• thirst (verse 27)
• cold and nakedness (verse 27)
• hidden in a basket and smuggled out of Damascus (verse 33, Acts 9:25)

What a list!  I see that I need a  more endurance without complaining after reading this.


LET IT GROW

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works," reads verses 13-15.

Shepherd's Notes says it this way, "They were false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. Worse still, their behavior proved that they were servants of Satan, not apostles of Christ. Like Satan, they disguised themselves with the appearance of righteousness. False teachers would face God's judgment."  (see 5:10)

"The prince of darkness puts on the garb of light and sets the fashion for his followers in the masquerade to deceive the saints," A.T.Robertson said.

Masquerade means a disguise; concealment; false pretense, according to Webster's Dictionary.

When Paul learned that false teachers had caused Christians in Corinth to stumble in their faith, Paul burned with indignation," says Henry Blackaby. (see verse 29 of NKJV)

Indignation is righteous anger over injustice. (Webster's Dictionary)

Falwell said, "The apostle is deeply concerned about the weaker brethren and he "burned" with indignation when he thought of those who would lead them astray."

"False apostles my have a "good appearance." Don't be taken in by image or outward appearances," warns David Guzik.

"Satan is a roaring lion, and angel of light who persuades men to do things under the name of religion," said Clarke.

Not only is Paul warning the Corinthians, but us also. Let's look out for false teachers masquerading around. I sure don't want to be deceived by them. I'll make sure that God's Word, the Word of Truth, is what my teachers use.


LET IT GO

Glory in the grace of God when I suffer for Him.

Know the Bible so I can recognize a false teacher.