Galatians__3

Scripture:  Galatians 3:24-25  Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.  But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 

Observation-What does it say?  Galatia, part of what is modern day Turkey, was a large province, which consisted of many cities that Paul had visited on his missionary journeys, including Antioch, Iconium and Lystra.  After his missionary trips here, other Jewish-Christian teachers arrived in the area and instructed the new converts that, in addition to their faith in Jesus, they had to follow certain Jewish traditions, such as circumcision and observance of certain Jewish Holidays.  Here in chapter three, Paul points out that God made a covenant with Abraham before there was the law.  Therefore, it was always faith, not works, that has connected us to God and set us free.

Understanding-What does it mean?  A few years ago, when it was still affordable, and before I had three kids, I was an Annual Passport holder at the happiest place on earth.  I’m not one of the really crazy Disneyland fanatics, I like to be a little more subtle about my obsession.  Instead of having all of the shirts, lanyards and pins, I buy wall art and glassware, things that can be hidden but still display my appreciation for the magical kingdom.  

One of the things I love about going to Disneyland is the drive there.  I love the anticipation of the journey and the build-up of excitement during the trip.  As a kid, my family would leave before sunrise, so we could be the first ones in the gate.  Well, actually it was so my parents could skip the traffic, but I didn’t know that until I had kids of my own.  On the trip, as you get closer and closer to Mickey’s house, there are more and more signs that point you to the final destination.  Big signs on the freeway, signs on the side streets.  Even the street names let you know how close you are with names like Disneyland Drive and Magic Way.

But as exciting as it is to see these signs and to drive on Magic Way, these things aren’t the point of the trip.  It would be silly to go all the way and then hangout in the parking lot all day.  The law we are given, things like the ten commandments, are not the endgame, they are the signs.  Our goal is to make it into God’s Kingdom, not just the parking lot.  

Life Application:  Jesus, help me to keep pressing into you everyday.  Help me grow in my faith everyday, and not to be satisfied with simply being a good person.  I want to move mountains and I can only do that with faith in you.  I know that through following you, I am able to do more than I ever knew. 

-Tyler Galloway

Psalm _143

Scripture

Psalm 143:1

 

Yahweh, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.

 

Observation

 

“It is the outcry of an overwhelmed spirit, unable to abide in the highest state of spiritual prayer, again and again descending to bewail its deep temporal distress; yet evermore struggling to rise to the best things. The singer moans at intervals; the petitioner for mercy cannot withhold his cries for vindication. His hands are outstretched to heaven, but at his girdle hangs a sharp sword, which rattles in its scabbard as he closes his psalm.” - Charles H. Spurgeon’s Treasury of David Psalm 143

 

Understanding

 

“It is the outcry of an overwhelmed spirit…”

 

Have you ever felt like you have been punched in the spiritual gut. The kind of punch that takes your breath away. As I write this i am still trying to catch my breath.

 

The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. And sometimes after you get punched he stands over you and dangles in front of you what he stole. It seems so utterly mean, to attack you when you did not see it coming. When you were trying to take care of important things, godly things, right things. Or maybe you were doing it all wrong but somehow what was stolen just doesn't seem fair.

The enemy is not fair. He is not good.

 

Yahweh is good.

 

Application

 

Psalm 143:8 Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.

 

Run to God. No matter what the enemy has hit you with, it is not too much for Him. Pour out your heart the way David did, cry in His lap. Let God restore. Let God defeat.

 

Years ago I would have blamed God and lost hope. I would have decided to do things my way.

Yahweh is good. Yahweh is life. Yahweh is love.

 

I put my hope in you, there is no other that will lift me from despair. No matter how close to the ground I fall, no matter how far I fall in the depths of my despair, you are not far from me. My hope is in you, My hope has to be in you!

 

My soul cleaves to you and your right hand upholds me - Psalm 63:8

 

Deborah Lee

Galatians__1

Scripture

 

Galatians‬ ‭1:10‬ ‭NLT

 

“Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.”

 

Observation-What does it say?

 

Paul is writing to the churches of Galatia. He reminds them that there is only one true gospel message... a message of grace and freedom found in Jesus Christ. Anyone who dares to pervert this message should be set aside for God’s destruction. However, Paul’s opposition accused him of preaching a gospel of grace and freedom from the law in order to please the Gentiles, so he can be more “popular” amongst the people. Paul insists that his desires is to please God only. He reminds his opposition of the man he once was, and it is only through a direct experience he had with Jesus Christ, (on his way to Damascus), in which the true gospel of God was revealed to him. And now his one mission is to please God and share this revelation of the true gospel to everyone!

 

Understanding-What does it mean?

 

Please an audience of One.

 

More than often I get caught up with what others may think of me. I struggled with this way too many times as a youth. I often fell into peer pressure just to try to fit in with a crowd. Some of the things I would do are things I’m not too proud of either. Fast forward to the present time. I still find myself struggling with these issues. Now like Paul, I too know my mission in life that God has given me, a mission of multiplying Christ Followers everywhere (Matthew 28:18-20). But I hate to admit, sometimes I cower in those situations. The Holy Spirit will tell me to pray for someone, or provide an opportunity for me to share the gospel, and instead of boldly following God, I am passive and get too concerned what others around may think or say. “What a weirdo!”, or “He’s one of those Jesus freaks!” they may say. But this verse reminds me who cares what others may think or say?! There is only One person I should really care about pleasing. Am I doing whatever it takes to make sure that happens?

 

Life Application

 

Here is verse to ponder on this morning:

 

“But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.”-Matthew‬ ‭10:33‬ ‭

 

That verse may strike home really hard for some of us. But here is a verse that should encourage you:

 

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”-‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1:7

 

I pray that we can all walk out our faith in this world being courageous and bold like Paul did. That we use every opportunity given to us, whether it’s an ideal situation or not, to share the gospel of Christ to others. May our father in Heaven welcome us in by name, and tell us “Good job my good and faithful servant.” All glory and honor to our God in Heaven! Amen.  

 

-Moses Gaddi

 

 

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