But When God...part I

Lord, I pray that this would bless the reader and establish peace in their hearts that they might stand on your Holy Word...

- text is taken from Galatians 1:10-16 -

verse 10: "For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ."

• We need to ask ourselves this question: Who are we trying to please... God or Man?
• We're all enslaving ourselves to someone or at least something or even some ideal.
• There is a song that was put out a few years ago. Its lyrics are true of the way of this present age: "Some of them want to abuse you, some of them want to be abused...some of them want to use you, some of them want to be used by you."
• But Christ said, "Come to me all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest." and again "My yoke is easy and my burden is light."

verse 11: "For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man."

• The apostle Peter said, "We did not follow cleverly devised tales..."
• The Bible is not a mythical book that can easily be dismissed as merely a spiritual guide.
• The "gospel" that Paul mentions was an actual eye-witness account and documented event in history, corroborated by many sources and peoples (Christian and non). The gospel of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ is a historically true account!

verse 12: "For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ."

• Paul was not mocking the teaching of the Word of God. (He himself was highly trained in the Scripture.) He was also not saying he was above instruction. "The word of God is for...instruction..."
• What man cannot teach, the Holy Spirit teaches. He was speaking of a spiritual encounter with the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ...this cannot be explained in human words and apprehended with human understanding. "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard...". On a smaller scale it would be like trying to explain what it's like to score a game-winning touchdown or jumpshot, or winning some kind of award that would be very important to you.

This is the end of our session today. Pray for the furtherance of this ministry. We will continue this study as soon as the Lord wills and his servant is able. Peace to you all and let the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ rest upon you.

copyright 2005. travis marshall iv