Acts 16:6
"Paul's Galatian Communication" • 3.17.09 • The Power Of One: One Man, One Life, One Mission, Session #16
Intro
- Our series in the book of Acts has dealt with the life and impact of the Apostle Paul. He is one man, who lived one life, living in light of one mission.
- Acts gives us a good look at Paul's performance as a pioneer missionary. His letters give us a better look at his personality.
- One of the letters that that offers a personal, vivid look at Paul and his relationship to the churches that he helped to establish is the book of Galatians.
- While on his second missionary journey, we're told in Acts 16, that he spent time in the region of Galatia when God forbid him to go into Asia.
• Acts 16:6 : "Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia."
- It doesn't take very long for Paul to establish the tone for the Galatian letter. After his usual apostolic greeting, he gets right into the heart of the matter.
• Galatians 1:6 : "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ."
- Often we imagine the Apostles being soft spoken, sensitive men. These guys were diplomats. Unassuming. The letter to the Galatians puts a knife into the back of that argument!
- Paul was addressing a group of churches, not just a singular church. It's likely that this letter circulated all around the Galatian region to several churches.
- Today, we're going to take a bird's eye perspective on the book of Galatians, but hopefully, as we do that, we'll learn a bit about what made the Apostle tick.
- What personality traits can we observe that we need to look at and pray would be added to our character as we seek to be men of impact.
- More than any other aspect of Paul's character, one struggle really sticks out in his letters. It's the establishment of his authority.
- We'll use Galatians as the platform from which to examine this key component that every man of impact must possess. Note Paul's position on his own authority.
Text
• Galatians 1:1 : "Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead)," : Paul was a man who was sent. That is what an Apostle means.
- I read this week that an Apostle was one who was sent with orders!
- Paul is a man, sent on behalf of a dignitary, with an official message, with orders.
- He is a man of authority. He has the authority to speak to the Galatian church. Why?
- This is where he immediately states the source of his authority. It did not come from a vote of confidence. It was not given to him by committee. Indeed, God had given this authority to Paul.
- Why is this important to note? For Paul personally, in a world of itinerant preachers, it was important to establish credibility to speak to these congregations.
- If it came down to any other criteria, then anyone could contradict Paul's teaching, and thus ruin the work that God had established through Paul's teaching.
- Paul's message was so important, that he then takes a large portion of chapter 1 and 2 just to establish his official status. Galatia was not the only place that questioned Paul's credentials.
- Turn with me to II Corinthians. There are hints of deep division in the first Corinthian epistle. When we come to the second letter, Paul flatly rebukes the Corinthians for their credential request.
• II Corinthians 3:1-3 : "Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart."
- The people that were walking with the Lord, healthy in terms of their response to the Lord, was all the commendation that Paul needed.
- Paul was confident that he had the Lord had called him, placed him in the ministry, and endowed him with a mantle of authority that he was to carry.
- We have answered why this was important for Paul. Why is it important for us? God has given you, as a man, a realm of authority as well. It has been that way from the very beginning.
- Turn with me to Genesis 3. In the beginning, God gave Adam charge of the garden of Eden to tend to it and protect it. In Genesis 3, we find that a snake has made his way in and his wife has been drawn away. Notice where we find him:
• Genesis 3:6 : "So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate."
- She also gave to her husband with her! Don't miss the significance of the order. God had given Man the role of responsibility, the mantle of authority, and her we see her holding it!
- There is nothing more pathetic than a man who has lost the will to carry out the authority that he is intended to have. This does not mean that we are to be unbearable jerks who always insist on our own way.
- Rather, it means when it comes to protection, direction and wisdom, we are to lead our families in the direction that Jesus is leading.
- We need to say like Joshua: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
- That takes an understanding and wielding of authority.
• Galatians 2:7,8 : "But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles)," : In context, there has been a dispute among the disciples regarding Paul's work among the Gentiles.
- Most scholars then assume that Galatians was written prior to the Jerusalem council, which obviously would have settled most of the issues found in Galatians.
- What was understood in the minds of the Apostles was that Paul's mission had an effective working among the Gentiles.
- Notice the phrase "He who worked effectively." In our language this is a pretty tame. In the original language, it carries more strength.
- The idea is God behind the ministry of Peter, providing the power to motivate and to bring about results. This was agreed on by all.
- The people that are signing off on Paul's ministry recognized that God was providing the same power for Paul's ministry, because the same effect was happening through Paul.
- It's interesting to me that there would ever be a question about Paul's ministry, but we have to remember the context. When Galatians was written, Gentiles in the church was a controversial question.
- The fact that people recognized that God was behind it, both in providing the power to Paul, and to the result, pre-Jerusalem council, is significant.
- The application for us is quite simple. We are to labor where God has provided His power to operate and to bring about His result.
- There was a group that God designed Paul to minister to. Likewise, there is a specific group that will respond to who you are as a minister of God's mercy to them.
- I mention this for two reasons. First, there will be some who drive their heads into the wall trying to minister to people that they have no power to minister to.
- When they speak, the response is blank faces. When they encourage, they are met with obstinance. There is no annointing for ministry there, no effective power.
- Turn with me to Acts 19. There is a great story detailing the sons of Sceva, who were itinerant exorcists. Fun job! It happens that they come upon a demon possessed person. Time to go to work! They yelled out loud, "We cast you out by the Jesus that Paul preaches."
• Acts 19:15,16 : "And the evil spirit answered and said, 'Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?' Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded."
- This is what happens when there is no power in one's ministry. You can say the right words, have the right heart and still be in a place where God is not working!
- By the way, this does not count with family and especially with teenagers! That look on their faces is mostly there by self-delusion!
- The second reason why I think that this is important in terms of being a man of impact, is that you and I should be pointing the canon that is our life, into the place where Jesus is going to work.
- This should serve to encourage you. You might be discouraged by the current state of your ministry. Hey, you might not be in the right place. Begin praying today that God would focus you in the right direction.
- Turn with me to Psalm 127. There is a promise here that you have to apprehend.
• Psalm 127:1 : "Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain."
- The inference then is that if God builds the house, the labor will not be in vain. When you are where God wants you to be, there is no stopping you!
• Galatians 4:19,20 : "My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you." : Notice Paul's language here. He loves the Galatian region of churches. They are loved like family and Paul felt deeply and responsibly toward them.
- I want to digress a moment here, and mention that I believe that Paul at one time had been married. Having been a conservative Pharisee, it's very likely that Paul had at least a wife.
- It's my opinion that when Paul became a Christian that his wife left him, which makes I Corinthians 7, in Paul's instruction about marriage, a bit more autobiographical.
- I mention this because God is in the business of making a new family out of members of his body. Paul's fatherly instinct, his desire to pass on a legacy, is channeled toward the people that he worked with.
- God's plans are so amazing. While He works through us toward others, He works in us the beautiful connection of life and makes us family by His blood!
- But that is not the purpose of Paul's authority. The purpose is in the next statement: "For who I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you."
- Write that over your friendships. Write that over the discipleship mantle that you have! Paul says here, "I labor, like a woman labors in birth." Only he adds an interesting word: AGAIN!
- Paul considers the Galatians his children spiritually, in terms of his role in their life.
- He had brought them to Christ. They walked into a place that they thought was deeper, more true, but in doing so, walked away from what Paul birthed them into.
- Now, Paul is saying to them that he has to give birth to them again in order to bring them back to Christ.
- Some who have experienced labor understand how vivid a picture this is.
- For a woman, it's painful. It takes hours, sometimes days. It's a personal body trauma for the woman, who is ever changed for the experience.
- The process is grueling and unsavory before one eats! However, the end result is amazing.
- The end result, the purpose of our authority in someone's life is for this moment, when Christ is formed in the people that we are sowing into.
- The word "formed" is literally "morphed." The lexicon says it best: "A mind and life in complete harmony with the mind and life of Christ."
- When I see you in complete submission to Christ, willing to assume responsibility for His Kingdom, walking successfully in the things of God, reproducing that work in others lives around you, then I will be able to rest!
- Turn with me to III John. This is the Apostle's last letter. He writes as an old man, ready to go home to Jesus. He writes profoundly of the joy of his old age.
• III John 1-3 : "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."
- As you may be aware, I used to be the Junior High Pastor back in my Redlands days. I recently received this note in my Facebook mail box from one of the kids from those days.
Conclusion
- Today is your day to seize the authority that God has given you to minister and bear His name and agenda to another.
- Are you pointed in the right direction? If not, you need to pray and ask for the Lord's wisdom.
- When you are, you will labor, but that labor will produce the greatest joy you could ever receive.
"Paul's Galatian Communication" • 3.17.09 • The Power Of One: One Man, One Life, One Mission, Session #16
Intro
- Our series in the book of Acts has dealt with the life and impact of the Apostle Paul. He is one man, who lived one life, living in light of one mission.
- Acts gives us a good look at Paul's performance as a pioneer missionary. His letters give us a better look at his personality.
- One of the letters that that offers a personal, vivid look at Paul and his relationship to the churches that he helped to establish is the book of Galatians.
- While on his second missionary journey, we're told in Acts 16, that he spent time in the region of Galatia when God forbid him to go into Asia.
• Acts 16:6 : "Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia."
- It doesn't take very long for Paul to establish the tone for the Galatian letter. After his usual apostolic greeting, he gets right into the heart of the matter.
• Galatians 1:6 : "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ."
- Often we imagine the Apostles being soft spoken, sensitive men. These guys were diplomats. Unassuming. The letter to the Galatians puts a knife into the back of that argument!
- Paul was addressing a group of churches, not just a singular church. It's likely that this letter circulated all around the Galatian region to several churches.
- Today, we're going to take a bird's eye perspective on the book of Galatians, but hopefully, as we do that, we'll learn a bit about what made the Apostle tick.
- What personality traits can we observe that we need to look at and pray would be added to our character as we seek to be men of impact.
- More than any other aspect of Paul's character, one struggle really sticks out in his letters. It's the establishment of his authority.
- We'll use Galatians as the platform from which to examine this key component that every man of impact must possess. Note Paul's position on his own authority.
I. It Was Given To Him By God (1:1)
II. It Was Given For The Galatians (2:7,8)
III. It Was Given For One Purpose (4:19,20)
II. It Was Given For The Galatians (2:7,8)
III. It Was Given For One Purpose (4:19,20)
Text
I. It Was Given To Him By God (1:1)
• Galatians 1:1 : "Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead)," : Paul was a man who was sent. That is what an Apostle means.
- I read this week that an Apostle was one who was sent with orders!
- Paul is a man, sent on behalf of a dignitary, with an official message, with orders.
- He is a man of authority. He has the authority to speak to the Galatian church. Why?
- This is where he immediately states the source of his authority. It did not come from a vote of confidence. It was not given to him by committee. Indeed, God had given this authority to Paul.
- Why is this important to note? For Paul personally, in a world of itinerant preachers, it was important to establish credibility to speak to these congregations.
- If it came down to any other criteria, then anyone could contradict Paul's teaching, and thus ruin the work that God had established through Paul's teaching.
- Paul's message was so important, that he then takes a large portion of chapter 1 and 2 just to establish his official status. Galatia was not the only place that questioned Paul's credentials.
- Turn with me to II Corinthians. There are hints of deep division in the first Corinthian epistle. When we come to the second letter, Paul flatly rebukes the Corinthians for their credential request.
• II Corinthians 3:1-3 : "Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart."
- The people that were walking with the Lord, healthy in terms of their response to the Lord, was all the commendation that Paul needed.
- Paul was confident that he had the Lord had called him, placed him in the ministry, and endowed him with a mantle of authority that he was to carry.
- We have answered why this was important for Paul. Why is it important for us? God has given you, as a man, a realm of authority as well. It has been that way from the very beginning.
- Turn with me to Genesis 3. In the beginning, God gave Adam charge of the garden of Eden to tend to it and protect it. In Genesis 3, we find that a snake has made his way in and his wife has been drawn away. Notice where we find him:
• Genesis 3:6 : "So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate."
- She also gave to her husband with her! Don't miss the significance of the order. God had given Man the role of responsibility, the mantle of authority, and her we see her holding it!
- There is nothing more pathetic than a man who has lost the will to carry out the authority that he is intended to have. This does not mean that we are to be unbearable jerks who always insist on our own way.
- Rather, it means when it comes to protection, direction and wisdom, we are to lead our families in the direction that Jesus is leading.
- We need to say like Joshua: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
- That takes an understanding and wielding of authority.
II. It Was Given For The Galatians (2:7,8)
• Galatians 2:7,8 : "But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles)," : In context, there has been a dispute among the disciples regarding Paul's work among the Gentiles.
- Most scholars then assume that Galatians was written prior to the Jerusalem council, which obviously would have settled most of the issues found in Galatians.
- What was understood in the minds of the Apostles was that Paul's mission had an effective working among the Gentiles.
- Notice the phrase "He who worked effectively." In our language this is a pretty tame. In the original language, it carries more strength.
- The idea is God behind the ministry of Peter, providing the power to motivate and to bring about results. This was agreed on by all.
- The people that are signing off on Paul's ministry recognized that God was providing the same power for Paul's ministry, because the same effect was happening through Paul.
- It's interesting to me that there would ever be a question about Paul's ministry, but we have to remember the context. When Galatians was written, Gentiles in the church was a controversial question.
- The fact that people recognized that God was behind it, both in providing the power to Paul, and to the result, pre-Jerusalem council, is significant.
- The application for us is quite simple. We are to labor where God has provided His power to operate and to bring about His result.
- There was a group that God designed Paul to minister to. Likewise, there is a specific group that will respond to who you are as a minister of God's mercy to them.
- I mention this for two reasons. First, there will be some who drive their heads into the wall trying to minister to people that they have no power to minister to.
- When they speak, the response is blank faces. When they encourage, they are met with obstinance. There is no annointing for ministry there, no effective power.
- Turn with me to Acts 19. There is a great story detailing the sons of Sceva, who were itinerant exorcists. Fun job! It happens that they come upon a demon possessed person. Time to go to work! They yelled out loud, "We cast you out by the Jesus that Paul preaches."
• Acts 19:15,16 : "And the evil spirit answered and said, 'Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?' Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded."
- This is what happens when there is no power in one's ministry. You can say the right words, have the right heart and still be in a place where God is not working!
- By the way, this does not count with family and especially with teenagers! That look on their faces is mostly there by self-delusion!
- The second reason why I think that this is important in terms of being a man of impact, is that you and I should be pointing the canon that is our life, into the place where Jesus is going to work.
- This should serve to encourage you. You might be discouraged by the current state of your ministry. Hey, you might not be in the right place. Begin praying today that God would focus you in the right direction.
- Turn with me to Psalm 127. There is a promise here that you have to apprehend.
• Psalm 127:1 : "Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain."
- The inference then is that if God builds the house, the labor will not be in vain. When you are where God wants you to be, there is no stopping you!
III. It Was Given For One Purpose (4:19,20)
• Galatians 4:19,20 : "My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you." : Notice Paul's language here. He loves the Galatian region of churches. They are loved like family and Paul felt deeply and responsibly toward them.
- I want to digress a moment here, and mention that I believe that Paul at one time had been married. Having been a conservative Pharisee, it's very likely that Paul had at least a wife.
- It's my opinion that when Paul became a Christian that his wife left him, which makes I Corinthians 7, in Paul's instruction about marriage, a bit more autobiographical.
- I mention this because God is in the business of making a new family out of members of his body. Paul's fatherly instinct, his desire to pass on a legacy, is channeled toward the people that he worked with.
- God's plans are so amazing. While He works through us toward others, He works in us the beautiful connection of life and makes us family by His blood!
- But that is not the purpose of Paul's authority. The purpose is in the next statement: "For who I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you."
- Write that over your friendships. Write that over the discipleship mantle that you have! Paul says here, "I labor, like a woman labors in birth." Only he adds an interesting word: AGAIN!
- Paul considers the Galatians his children spiritually, in terms of his role in their life.
- He had brought them to Christ. They walked into a place that they thought was deeper, more true, but in doing so, walked away from what Paul birthed them into.
- Now, Paul is saying to them that he has to give birth to them again in order to bring them back to Christ.
- Some who have experienced labor understand how vivid a picture this is.
- For a woman, it's painful. It takes hours, sometimes days. It's a personal body trauma for the woman, who is ever changed for the experience.
- The process is grueling and unsavory before one eats! However, the end result is amazing.
- The end result, the purpose of our authority in someone's life is for this moment, when Christ is formed in the people that we are sowing into.
- The word "formed" is literally "morphed." The lexicon says it best: "A mind and life in complete harmony with the mind and life of Christ."
- When I see you in complete submission to Christ, willing to assume responsibility for His Kingdom, walking successfully in the things of God, reproducing that work in others lives around you, then I will be able to rest!
- Turn with me to III John. This is the Apostle's last letter. He writes as an old man, ready to go home to Jesus. He writes profoundly of the joy of his old age.
• III John 1-3 : "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."
- As you may be aware, I used to be the Junior High Pastor back in my Redlands days. I recently received this note in my Facebook mail box from one of the kids from those days.
˚ "I think about you and Lela all the time and how it is amazing how the Lord used you in having a long term impact on my life. I'm now a Jr. High leader at _____ Church and pray that God will use me in my girls' lives the way He used you both in mine!"
- Friends, the purpose of your authority is to produce Christ in someone else's life. The joy that that brings will thrill your soul.Genoa Cablay Norris
Conclusion
- Today is your day to seize the authority that God has given you to minister and bear His name and agenda to another.
- Are you pointed in the right direction? If not, you need to pray and ask for the Lord's wisdom.
- When you are, you will labor, but that labor will produce the greatest joy you could ever receive.
1 comment:
1 Paul's authority was given to him by God. Where has God given you authority? Have you wielded that authority correctly and appropriately for His Kingdom? Where have you been guilty of not exercising authority? What effect did that produce?
2 Paul's authority was especially strong among the Gentile audience. God worked in and through him to effectively produce His result. Where has God focused you in terms of ministry? Have you experienced God's working power through you? Explain the difference between that experience and when you are working in your own power?
3 Paul's ministry was intended to produce a person whose mind and life was in harmony with the mind and life of Jesus Christ. The goal of any ministry is to see that person that we are ministering to, become a fully realized partner with Christ, in ministry themselves. Do you often keep this goal in mind? How can we intentionally reorient our relationships to that reality?
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