Text: Galatians 1:11-24
Title: God’s gifts to us
“I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when God who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles-only James, the Lord’s brother. I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they praised God because of me.”
Context: The Galatians were falling back and Paul reminds them of the gifts from God they would be laying down.
1.The characteristics of God’s gifts
A.God’s gifts are God’s alone to give.
All of the gifts Paul received he received directly from God
•Not one of these gifts did Paul receive during his previous way of life
B.God’s gifts are given to us by Divine revelation
God had to reveal all these gifts to Paul.
•Some he revealed instantly
•Some he revealed over a long period of time
C. God’s gifts can’t be destroyed by anyone.
•Everyone one of God’s gifts overcome opposition from Paul
D. God’s gifts are given to help meet our greatest needs
•Forgiveness
•Hope
•Purpose
•Direction
E.God’s gifts are freely given to all who ask and believe.
•Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:7-11)
Let’s look more closely together at God’s gifts as seen in our passage
1. God’s Son (Christ)
“was pleased to reveal his Son in me.” (v15b-16a)
A. God’s Son is the revelation of God
If you want to know what God is like look at the Son. Jesus said "If you’ve seen me you have seen the Father."
B.What most pleases God is to reveal His Son to the world
If I’ll be lifted up I’ll draw all men unto me…”
C. God’s wants to reveal Christ in me
Not just to me but in me
D.God’s reveals who Christ really is by revelation
We need to have our spiritual eyes opened to who Jesus really is.
“Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time” (John 14: v11)
“I don’t know this man you are talking about.” (Mark 14:71)
“As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.” (Luke 24:15-16)
E.What do we need to do in order to have God’s Son in us?
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” (Rev. 3:20)
You need to be open! No blocked ears and locked doors.
2. The Gospel (v11-12)
“I want you to know, brothers that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.”
•The word gospel means good news
•The good news as revealed by Jesus Christ
•What is the good news (Luke 4:16-21)
“He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
“Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
• The good news is Freedom for the prisoner
•The good news is Recovery of sight for the blind
•The good news is Release the oppressed
•The good news is Proclaim the year of the Lord’s Favor
3. Grace (v13-15a)
“For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when God who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace…,”
•Through grace God gives us his gifts
•God calls us to receive all His gifts through grace
•Grace is God’s riches at Christ’s expense
•Grace is getting what we do not deserve
How do we get to receive God’s grace?
God gives grace to the humble
•Paul’s previous way of life was anything but humble
•How to destroy the church? Take away grace
4.Divine Guidance (v16b-24)
“I did not consult any man, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus. Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles-only James, the Lord’s brother. I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they praised God because of me.”
•I did not consult any man then who did Paul consult?
•God told Paul what to do and what not to do.
•How did God guide Paul?
•The Word of God (All scripture is God- breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2Tim. 3:16-17)
•The Spirit of God (Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” (Acts 16:6-10)
•The church of God
Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles-only James, the Lord’s brother.
•What was the end result of divine guidance?
I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they praised God because of me.”
•What does the world need from the church?
•People who are divinely guided!
Conclusion
How many of these 4 gifts do you need today?
•Is Christ in you?
•Is the gospel changing your life?
•Is God’s grace with you?
•Is your life divinely guided?
