Month: November 2024

Paul’s trip to Arabia. Galatians 1:1-24 “1. Paul, an apostle, (By the way what is an APOSTLE? The Greek word for apostle is (uh-pos’-tool-loss), if you think on it a while you can readily see that each one of us are apostles, because each one of us are sent out into the world to be an ambassador for JESUS CHRIST, after we are saved, when people encounter us, it should be like encountering JESUS THE CHRIST, in our country when a president is elected, he appoints, as part of his staff, ambassadors to other countries to represent the USA to that country, and when people see them they are to represent the USA. now do I represent CHRIST or the CHURCH, what should I be like to make sure that I am an ambassador of Christ, an ambassador of the “BODY OF CHRIST?

#1. MAKE SURE I LOVE AS CHRIST LOVES’? #2. THAT I HAVE THE COMPASSION ON THOSE THAT ARE SUFFERING, AS OUR LORD JESUS HAD COMPASSION ON THOSE THAT WERE HURTING, WHILE HE WAS HERE ON EARTH? #3. MAKE SURE THAT I FORGIVE THE SAME WAY JESUS FORGAVE OTHERS. WHAT WAS IT THAT JESUS SAID JUST BEFORE HE DIED FOR US? FATHER FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO! 

Now, all of your answers and my answers to those questions that I just asked, should have been, and should always be, a resounding YES!!! If they were not then we all have some work to be done on our AMBASSADORSHIP.  Now we should also be able to say right along with the apostle PAUL that our CHRISTIAN experience or CALLING was: (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) 2. And all the the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia.

Now Paul founded seven churches in Galatia: #1. Rome, which we are now beginning to study, #2. Corinth, which we will study and preach next,  #3. Galatia, which we have already studied, #4. Ephesus, which we have already studied, #5. Philippi, which we have already studied, #6. Colossae, which we have already studied, and #7. Thessalonica. which we have already studied. Now let’s continue with our text scripture beginning with verse 3 of Chapter 1 of Galatians: 3. Grace be to you and peace from GOD the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, If you were to read this verse in the GREEK, it would go something like this “Pleasure and Prosperity from GOD the FATHER and from our LORD JESUS CHRIST!” GOD wants the best for HIS people, for HIS “BODY OF CHRIST”, it is our willing “SINFULNESS” that keeps us from walking CLOSE to GOD, not our SAVIOR! Now look at verse 4 of our text: 4. Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present (which actually means the time at hand, the era of time that we live or exist in that is an) evil world, according to the will of GOD and our Father: 5. To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (That is why GOD placed HIS HOLY SPIRIT in us after HE cleansed us, because HE knew that by our fleshly self we would not be able to LIVE as HE wanted, so HE sealed the “HOLY SPIRIT” inside of us so that HIS strength would always be present with us!) Now please listen to what the APOSTLE says next! 6. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7. Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would PERVERT (The GREEK word is {met-as-tref’-o} which means to turn across, or to TWIST, never forget what you have always seen when SATAN use the “WORD OF GOD” he always TWISTS OR CORRUPTS it, the gospel of CHRIST never changes. (The Apostle Paul said it is not the GOSPEL OF CHRIST that has changed, IT IS STILL THE SAME, your problem is that you are just listening to the WRONG people, the GOSPEL never changes, FOLLOW IT, let me say that again FOLLOW IT! Now, please listen to how strong PAUL believes in the GOSPEL! Verse;  8. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached  unto you, let him be accursed (which means excommunicated)  9. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed (which again means excommunicated or taken out of the BODY OF CHRIST and sent straight to hell, be very careful when you teach, preach, speak, or even live the “WORD OF GOD”)

Now as we continue  to look at the rest of this scripture begining with verse 10, of chapter 1 of the book of Galatians

10. For do I now persuade (the Greek word that was translated “persuade” means to convince by arguement of something to be “true or false”.) Now let’s remember that there are Judaisers present in Galatia and are trying to convince the new Christians that they must not only trust in JESUS but also perform other rituals of the Jews, such as: 1: Circumcision, 2: Giving alms, 3: Pray daily, and other things to become a child of GOD. In other words that they must do something to help GOD save them, so Paul is going to argue that salvation will come ONLY by GRACE through FAITH, and not of any WORKS! ‘persuade’ men, or GOD? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. (Paul knows that WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED, FOR PAUL’S GOSPEL IS THE DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS OF NAZERETH.) 11. But I certify (Paul uses the Greek word here, “gno-rid’-zo” which means to “MAKE KNOWN or DECLARE UNTO”) you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. (The Apostle Paul eludes to a time when HE was instructed and taught by the MESSIAH HIMSELF) 12. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. (So Paul continues on here and gives a little bit of history, of when he was taught of MEN, in the schools of JEWISH RELIGION of that day and how it made him act and perform as an ambassador of GOD! ) 13. For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of GOD (The word persecuted in the Greek means, to follow after, ensue, or simply to continue to haunt and harm the “BODY OF CHRIST” by continually chasing the church, not relenting in troubling the advancement of the GOSPEL of CHRIST.), and wasted it: (Paul added the word wasted, (por-theh’-o) which means to “SACK”, to “RAVAGE”, to “DESTROY” or hence “WASTE” Paul really thought he was working for GOD, by the way he had been taught by Gamaliel, who was one of the best teachers of his day and turned out a lot zealots of his class, and Paul was one of the very best.) 14. And profited (or advanced, or was promoted, kind of like some of these “WHIZ-KIDS that you have heard about that a very young age had been placed even into college) in the Jew’s religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous (or “more super abundantly, earnestly practicing) of the traditions of my fathers. 15. But when it pleased GOD, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, (God has a plan, I really love this verse because it shows that GOD has knowlege of you even before you were born and has a JOB or calling already picked out for YOU. (It tells me that GOD already knew that I was going to be saved and preach and teach HIS word, so that even when I was “OVER THE HILL FROM THE NAVY” and was  out hitchhiking all over the east coast, SATAN was trying to kill me or ruin me so that I would not be able to “SERVE THE RISEN SAVIOR” so that JESUS would not be revealed in me and allow others to be saved.) 16. To reveal his SON in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; (That’s the way we reveal CHRIST, is by preaching and teaching Christ to those who are lost, but we have to prepare ourselves to be able to know how to do that and Paul accomplished that by going into ARABIA to allow JESUS HIMSELF to reveal all that Paul needed to deliver the GOSPEL; then PAUL continued to write) immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: (The reason Paul did not consult with flesh and blood, because they cannot teach you what you need to know, the teaching and the preaching must come through the SPIRIT OF GOD.) (So now listen to what Paul did to accomplish that.) verses 17 through 19) 17. Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia,  and returned again unto Damascus. 18. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. 19. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother. (I believe it is very evident why Paul went to Arabia, he went there to be trained and taught by JESUS, that is why he stayed there a little bit over 3 years, so that he could spend about the same amount time with JESUS that the other Apostles spent, to be able to earn the title of “APOSTLE”.) 20. Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before GOD, I lie not. 21. Afterwards I came in the regions of Syria and Cilicia; 22. And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in CHRIST: 23. But they had heard only, That he which persecuated us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. 24. And they glorified GOD in me.” That is essentially why we are all left here, on earth, after that we have been “BORN AGAIN”! To bring “GLORY and HONOR” to “GOD” “The Father, the Son, and the HOLY GHOST”! If my life, my words and my actions do not GLORIFY GOD in HIS entirety, I am a failure as a WITNESS for the “BODY OF CHRIST!! 

(I am going to end right here, right now, but this is not the end of it either. I am going to start on the book of Romans, preaching and teaching through Romans and referring back to some of Paul’s missionary work.)

Romans 1:1-7 “1. Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2. (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3. Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4. And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 5. By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: 6. Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: 7.To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 

Last Wednesday evening we studied about the Apostle Paul and his salvation conversion. This is the most dramatic “Born Again” conversion in the Bible, it is not always that way though, sometimes it is just as simple as Jesus saying “FOLLOW ME” and the person just simply, turns from what they were doing and follows Jesus. But in every case there was a decision made and a turning away from their old way of life to a new life in Christ, and then acknowledging that change, Jesus said in the gospel of John in John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” How does Jesus make that so? Listen very closely please, because to follow Jesus is to take upon yourself a NEW WAY of living, a NEW WAY of walking, and a NEW WAY of talking! Paul said in his letter to the Colossians:

Colossians 3:10 “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:” 

Now, in the early 1960’s, there was a very popular singing group, by the name of  “THE ROOFTOP SINGERS”, that recorded a new song by the name of, “WALK RIGHT IN” , which talked about about a new way of walking and talking, and I mention that only because there was already a “NEW WAY OF WALKING” AND “A NEW WAY OF TALKING” that was made possible about 2000 years ago prior to that song being written. In fact it was those events that had been taking place all around Jerusalem that had caused warrants to be written that gave the Apostle Paul legal authority to bring those “PEOPLE OF THE WAY”(CHRISTIANS) back to Jerusalem to be tried and punished. I just got through reading you a passage of scripture where Jesus used the word “ABUNDANTLY” to describe the life that we would receive after being “BORN AGAIN”. The Greek word for abundantly is (perry-sauce’) it is a compound Greek word that is formed by using (perry) which means (above and beyond) the normal amount in quanity or superior too in quality) and when it is combined with the Greek word (ache) actually implies to have excessive; or exceedingly more than enough or beyond measuement or in other words you have so much that it is vehemently superfluous where you should have plenty enough to share with others. The Apostle Paul and the soldiers with him were on their way to serve those warrants on men and women, and some times whole families, and take them back to Jersulam to be tried. May I ask us all. Do WE here at Walnut Grove Baptist have an abundance of SALVATION to share with those who don’t? Everything that we receive from GOD, is by GRACE through FAITH, we don’t really earn anything in this world of woe, except for the rewards that we will receive or those that have taken away from us, when we stand before the JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST, by the way, that is where we will give an account of those things which we have done in this body, whether they be GOOD or BAD! The JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST has nothing whatsoever to do with whether you are “BORN AGAIN” or not, except that, you would not be standing there if you were not saved, those who are not  “BORN AGAIN” will stand before the “GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT” to see if their names have been written in the “LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE”. 

The Apostle Paul’s name is in the “LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE”. My name is written in the “LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE”. Many, many of you have your name’s written in the “LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE”. The only way to get your name in the  “LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE”, is by being “BORN AGAIN”.

Search your heart today and be sure, very sure, that you have chosen “JESUS”.