Be Guarded - Galatians

Romans instruct us to be grounded in doctrine; Corinthians, to be grounded in our practice and Galatians, to be guarded against error. Galatians teaches liberation through the Gospel. Anyone who preaches any other gospel, or any other Jesus, is damned.

Galatians reveals a series of surprises –

• ·         Grace vs Law: Grace has a tendency to become leavened with legalism
• ·         Faith vs Works: you don’t earn your salvation. It’s a gift of God. If you have saving faith, it will be demonstrated through works.
• ·         Spirit vs Faith: walking by your own choices and emotions, or walking by faith and spirit of God. It is a moment-by-moment daily challenge.
• ·         Truth vs Error: Do you really guard the doctrine from error?

Abraham was saved 430 years before the Law was given. Ishmael was born in unbelief, but Isaac was a promise in response to Abraham’s faith. Through faith Abraham was saved.

The fruits of the Holy Spirit are listed: Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, and Self-control. With Love, we can attain all these fruits of the Holy Spirit which is much needed for every follower of Christ. There are people who go to prayer meetings to get the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Gifts of the Spirit is given by God for the ones who possess the fruits of the Spirit.

There are 4 bearings:

• ·         Fruit-bearing – 9 fruits of the Spirit
• ·         Burden-bearing – Bearing one another’s burdens
• ·         Seed-bearing – whatsoever a man sows, that shall he reap
• ·         Brand-bearing – Bear the marks of the Lord Jesus.

Galatians gives us the assurance that when you begin in Spirit of God, you will be made perfect by the flesh. It is difficult to lead a sin free life with our own ability. Through God’s grace we can achieve it and I pray that you who are reading this will ask God to take control of your life and change it accordingly as He wishes, in Jesus name.

Our Conduct - Corinthians

First Corinthians deals with Christian conduct. After the usual greeting (1 Corinthians 1:1-3), Paul refers to the coming again of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:7-8). Then he plunges right into the question of the failure of the church about which he had been told. The source of his information he gives us in 1 Corinthians 1:11 (People lost sight of God through Self-admiration, Self-will and Self-indulgence).

Party politics had entered into the church, dividing it into four parties, each trying to get the mastery (1 Corinthians 1:12). Jesus Christ is the only cure for division (1 Corinthians 1:13). Every eye, every heart, every spirit must be turned to one object – Jesus Christ, our personal Savior. If we lower the standard Christ has set, we give the wrong testimony to the world. You are an epistle open and read of all people.  Righteousness comes from God, but it must be shown in our daily walk.

The church should exclude the wrongdoer so as to prove that it does not condone sin (1 Corinthians 5:13). Discipline in the Church should always commence with mourning and sympathy, not anger or pride or revenge (1 Corinthians 5:2).

Christ has paid a great price to purchase us, and it is His purpose to make us like Himself (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).  If our body have been redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ, then we no longer belong to us, but to the One who purchased us with His precious blood “You were bought at a price”. God used to have a temple for His people; now He has a people for a temple.

In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul gives a careful account of the beginning of the Lord ’s Supper and then tells of its value. It was a symbol of His body, which was broken for them (1 Corinthians 10:16). It was a new covenant in His blood. It was a pledge of His coming again (1 Corinthians 11:26). We should be careful not to eat or drink in an unworthy manner. “A man ought to examine himself” (1 Corinthians 11:28) and never eat without self-critique and thankful love. And “For whenever you eat”, do it “in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:26). Christ wants us to remember Him. Think of Christ when you go to His table.

In 1 Corinthians 12, we see the gifts the Spirit gives to believers. In verses 1-3, he tells of the change that had come into the lives of these Corinthian Christians when they turned from worshiping dead idols to the living Christ. God gave gifts such as healing, miracles and tongues, we believe, for “sign” gifts (1 Corinthians 12:12), to prove to the world that Jesus is the true Messiah and that the apostles were divinely appointed. The way to use these gifts the Spirit gives is beautifully told in 1 Corinthians 13. This chapter is called the Hymn of Love. Gifts without Love are poor things.

Paul wrote his second epistle, to express his joy over the encouraging news of how his first Epistle had been received, and to define his apostleship. Paul tells us of some things that happened in his life that are revealed only in this letter.

• His escape from Damascus in a basket (2 Corinthians 11:32,33)
• His experience of being caught up to the third heaven (2 Corinthians 12: 1-4)
• His thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7)
• His unusual suffering (2 Corinthians 11L23-27)

He told none of these until he was compelled to, to prove that if we wanted to boast, he had good reason.

Christ nowhere promises that a Christian will be free from suffering or sorrow, Rather do we hear that “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). Christ allows us to get into trouble that He may deliver us. He allowed Daniel to be put into the den of lions that He might pull him out. He allowed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to go into the fiery furnace that He might deliver them. He allowed Paul to be shipwrecked that He might save him. Our God is able to deliver.

“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves” (2 Corinthians 13:5). Paul emphasizes that Corinthians might know themselves – test themselves to make sure of their faith. Do not depend on a mere profession of religion. Do not rely on church membership. Joining the church saves no one. Joining Christ saves us. Examine your standing.

We are taught as boys and girls not to be noisy or boisterous in the church, for it is the house in which we meet God. How much more important that we remember that our body is His dwelling place and that we should do nothing to grieve Him (Ephesians 4:30). Do not let your life be so near the edge of questionable things that someday you will slide off. If you fall, others will fall with you. Watch your testimony. Remember your life is an open letter. Christian lives are about the only religious books the world reads. They do not study God’s word, but they do study God’s people. This gives us a great opportunity for good, for we may lead people to Christ.

Witnessing – Acts of Apostles

Luke, in his Gospel, shows what Christ began to do on earth. Acts shows what he continued to do by the Holy Spirit. In the Gospels we hear Christ’s teachings. In Acts we see the effect of his teachings on the Acts of the Apostles. The book tells of the extension of the gospel to the Gentiles. All through the Old Testament we find God dealing with the Jewish people. In the New Testament, we find him working among all nations (People like us other than Jews).

When you go through Acts 1 and 2 we see the disciples hear the last words of instruction from Jesus. He spoke about the Kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). It was then that Jesus gave this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about” (Acts 1:4). They waited. The church was born on that day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-3). It was 50 days after the crucifixion. From this time Pentecost was not to be a Jewish feast, but the dawn of a new day, the birthday of the Church of Christ.

At that day of Pentecost, they were filled with the Holy Spirit and thus endowed for special service. They not only were enabled to preach in power but also could speak in the different tongues represented that day at Jerusalem (Acts 2:2-4). The wonderful thing about Pentecost was not the blowing of a violent wind or the tongues in fire, but the disciples being filled with the Holy Spirit that they might be witnesses to all people. If we do not have the desire to tell others of Christ, it is evident that we do not know the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Some mocked, they have had too much wine (Acts 2:13). People always try to explain away the miracles of God on natural grounds. But rationalism can never give a reasonable explanation of anything that is divine.

The theme of first sermon by peter was that Jesus is the Messiah. The real power of the Holy Spirit was shown when Peter, rose to speak and 3000 souls were saved. In Acts 2:47 we see, “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved”. This is the real objective of the church.

In chapter 3 we see a great crowd gathered around a lame man who had been miraculously healed. Peter took advantage of the circumstances to preach his 2^nd sermon. Again he told them that Christ, whom they had crucified, was the promised Messiah. So powerful were the words of Peter and John that a total of 5000 men now turned to Christ. The leaders commanded the apostles not to preach. The work of the Spirit is always a signal for Satan to work. Whenever the Spirit comes to bless, the adversary comes to curse.

When the church became unselfish and sold all they had and gave it to the apostles, we see deception from Ananias and Sapphira. But the Holy Spirit revealed the truth and they were punished with instant death, for claiming to give all to God, they had kept back (Acts 5:4-5).

In chapter 6 we see a meeting of the church was called and seven members were elected as deacons (Acts 6:1-7). The first two deacon’s names were Stephen and Philip (Acts 6:5). The opposition was centred around Stephen. He was just a layman, but he did great wonders because he was full of faith and power. Stephen became the first martyr of the Christian church. The second deacon, Philip preached Christ. But God called him to leave and go south, which leads to Gaza (Acts 8:26). On the way he met an Ethiopian. When you are in the will of god, things do not just happen. No joy or sorrow comes into your life except by God’s permission.

Saul made havoc of the church. The more moral and intelligent a person is, the more harm that person can do when controlled by Satan. The story of Saul’s conversion is one of the most thrilling accounts in history. He was a man breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples (Acts 9:1). Then we find him preaching in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God (Acts 9:20). He was the apostle to the Gentiles, as Peter had been to the Jews.

From Acts 13 through 28, we see Paul and the Church at Antioch. It was here that a new name was given to Christ’s disciples. They were called “Christians” at Antioch (Acts 11:26).

While Paul and Barnabas were preaching the gospel and suffering all kinds of persecution and hardship, many at home in Jerusalem were stirring up the most troublesome question – “Must a Gentile become a Jew, accepting Jewish law and ceremonies, in order to be saved?” (Acts 15:1). Paul and Barnabas stated, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). The law doesn’t save anyone.

In Paul’s third missionary journey, the last one, he told farewell at every place. He knew it was a final farewell (Acts 20:37-38). Paul tried to break down the barriers between Jew and Gentile and between slave and free.

The book tells about being witness. “You will be my witness” (Acts 1:8). Salvation comes to this world through Christ alone (Acts 4:12), hence people must know him. Christ’s plan includes us. Persecution almost always has spread the gospel like wind spreads fire. This has been true all down through the centuries since our Lord lived on the earth. I pray that this point of time, when persecution is at high, the Spirit of God will strengthen you to carry his word to others so that they can receive the greatest miracle, Salvation.

Comfort in Resurrection

There are fairy tale messages about faith in God and salvation. Those messages tell us that when we are saved in Jesus Christ, all our problems will be gone and rest of our life will be like heaven. The word of God tells us, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mathew 16:24).

When we are in this world, we have to face troubles, temptations and tribulations. Certain problems come to our lives which are pre-planned by God Himself. In the word we see the life of Job, the suffering he went through, which was allowed by God. When we face these situations, God will sent His Spirit to comfort us and guide us to take the next step in life.

In the book of Ezekiel, we can see Israel’s sin in the first 16 chapters. It explains how the children of God will be taken to captivity. But Ezekiel 17 motivates the people that God is promising them that they will grow. Here it speaks about a plant which God himself plants. The book tells that the plant will produce branches and bear fruits. No matter how bad things are, God is always at work. Ezekiel is motivating the people, no need of having partnership with Egypt to go against Babylon. He tells them to be faithful to God and God is going to defeat the enemies by himself. You can’t fight your battle with the materialism, but by obeying God, God will fight your battle.

To have God with you and to fight your battles, you need to be righteous before God. It is easy to show before the world that you are faithful, but it should be shown before God, who knows your heart. Mathew 7:21 says, “Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my father who is in heaven”. Jesus, the Messiah is the leader of the way to eternal life. Salvation is for the repentant, not for the arrogant. To walk along with God, we need to read the word, delight in it, mediate upon it and live according to it (Psalm 1).

There are certain mysteries which happen when you truly accept Christ as your saviour. The good seed of the gospel sown in the world and sown in the heart produce wonderful effects. The mystery is that we do not know how the spirit of God, by the word makes a change in the heart. The word of God, when received in faith is in the heart a work of grace. The prophets do not live forever, but the word which they preached, is doing its work. God carries on his work insensibly and without noise, but without fail.

The amazing example is the mission and evangelism which is happening around the world. Recently I saw a video where some group of people stopping a man of God and taking the pamphlets from him and tearing it down. What amazes in these incidents are, the men of God are not having a sword, or a gun or any knife. They go with the word of God and these groups are afraid of this word. This itself is the proof that the word of God is so strong. “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). These are the incidents which God show us to increase our faith in Him.

The parable of the growing seed in Mark 4: 26-34, shows us how the Spirit works in us and also how the Spirit work to bring people to salvation. A man scatters seeds on the ground. Whether he sleeps or not, he don’t know how the seed sprouts and grows. Spiritual growth is slow as a plant. Don’t expect a new convert to have fruits of the Spirit altogether. Sower is the one who knows about the love of Christ. But behind the scene God is working to bring the people to him, which we don’t know.

Here in the world, sowing spiritual seeds leads to troubles and persecutions. Apostle Paul finds his comfort in the fact of the resurrection that Christ promised. In 2 Corinthians 5: 1-17, he tells our suffering bodies will soon be exchanged for painless glorified bodies. The difference between a grain of mustard seed and a great tree, is nothing to that between a young convert on earth and a glorified saint in heaven (John 12:24).

If you are a person who has no idea about salvation and Jesus Christ, you cannot please The Holy God who created Heaven and Earth because of your sin. Only remission from sin is shedding of innocent sinless blood. So for helping and saving the world, God came down in human form, took all our sins and died, shed the blood and gave salvation. Now, the salvation is free, but free to all who accepts this Jesus as their personal saviour. You need to have the faith in Jesus to accept him. When you accept Christ, leave worrying about the future, because as I mentioned above, you will experience a mystery which the Spirit of God does in your life. I pray that you who are reading this will experience the presence of the Spirit of God and will be guided towards the love of Christ, to live a faithful, holy life.

The BOOK – Witnessing

Luke, in his Gospel, shows what Christ began to do on earth. Acts shows what he continued to do by the Holy Spirit. In the Gospels we hear Christ’s teachings. In Acts we see the effect of his teachings on the Acts of the Apostles. The book tells of the extension of the gospel to the Gentiles. All through the Old Testament we find God dealing with the Jewish people. In the New Testament, we find him working among all nations.

When you go through Acts 1 and 2 we see the disciples hear the last words of instruction from Jesus. He spoke about the Kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). It was then that Jesus gave this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about” (Acts 1:4). They waited. The church was born on that day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-3). It was 50 days after the crucifixion. From this time Pentecost was not to be a Jewish feast, but the dawn of a new day, the birthday of the Church of Christ.

At that day of Pentecost, they were filled with the Holy Spirit and thus endowed for special service. They not only were enabled to preach in power but also could speak in the different tongues represented that day at Jerusalem (Acts 2:2-4). The wonderful thing about Pentecost was not the blowing of a violent wind or the tongues in fire, but the disciples being filled with the Holy Spirit that they might be witnesses to all people. If we do not have the desire to tell others of Christ, it is evident that we do not know the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Some mocked, they have had too much wine (Acts 2:13). People always try to explain away the miracles of God on natural grounds. But rationalism can never give a reasonable explanation of anything that is divine.

The theme of first sermon by peter was that Jesus is the Messiah. The real power of the Holy Spirit was shown when Peter, rose to speak and 3000 souls were saved. In Acts 2:47 we see, “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved”. This is the real objective of the church.

In chapter 3 we see a great crowd gathered around a lame man who had been miraculously healed. Peter took advantage of the circumstances to preach his 2^nd sermon. Again he told them that Christ, whom they had crucified, was the promised Messiah. So powerful were the words of Peter and John that a total of 5000 men now turned to Christ. The leaders commanded the apostles not to preach. The work of the Spirit is always a signal for Satan to work. Whenever the Spirit comes to bless, the adversary comes to curse.

When the church became unselfish and sold all they had and gave it to the apostles, we see deception from Ananias and Sapphira. But the Holy Spirit revealed the truth and they were punished with instant death, for claiming to give all to God, they had kept back (Acts 5:4-5).

In chapter 6 we see a meeting of the church was called and seven members were elected as deacons (Acts 6:1-7). The first two deacon’s names were Stephen and Philip (Acts 6:5). The opposition was centred around Stephen. He was just a layman, but he did great wonders because he was full of faith and power. Stephen became the first martyr of the Christian church. The second deacon, Philip preached Christ. But God called him to leave and go south, which leads to Gaza (Acts 8:26). On the way he met an Ethiopian. When you are in the will of god, things do not just happen. No joy or sorrow comes into your life except by God’s permission.

Saul made havoc of the church. The more moral and intelligent a person is, the more harm that person can do when controlled by Satan. The story of Saul’s conversion is one of the most thrilling accounts in history. He was a man breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples (Acts 9:1). Then we find him preaching in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God (Acts 9:20). He was the apostle to the Gentiles, as Peter had been to the Jews.

From Acts 13 through 28, we see Paul and the Church at Antioch. It was here that a new name was given to Christ’s disciples. They were called “Christians” at Antioch (Acts 11:26).

While Paul and Barnabas were preaching the gospel and suffering all kinds of persecution and hardship, many at home in Jerusalem were stirring up the most troublesome question – “Must a Gentile become a Jew, accepting Jewish law and ceremonies, in order to be saved?” (Acts 15:1). Paul and Barnabas stated, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). The law doesn’t save anyone.

In Paul’s third missionary journey, the last one, he told farewell at every place. He knew it was a final farewell (Acts 20:37-38). Paul tried to break down the barriers between Jew and Gentile and between slave and free.

The book tells about being witness. “You will be my witness” (Acts 1:8). Salvation comes to this world through Christ alone (Acts 4:12), hence people must know him. Christ’s plan includes us. Persecution almost always has spread the gospel like wind spreads fire. This has been true all down through the centuries since our Lord lived on the earth. I pray that this point of time, when persecution is at high, the Spirit of God will strengthen you to carry his word to others so that they can receive the greatest miracle, Salvation.