What Paul is Really Saying

S-Paul's Heart

S-"So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law." Galatians 5:1

A-God's promises

L-What Paul is Really Saying

       "Consequently, it is clear that no one can ever be right with God by trying to keep the law. For Scriptures say, 'It is through faith that a righteous person has life.'" Galatians 3:11

Stop believing the lies of these false teachers because they are leading you down a path that leads to death.

Hear me today, "Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is that the Jewish people might be saved. I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. For they don't understand God's way of making people right with himself. Instead, they are clinging to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. They won't go along with God's way. For Christ has accomplished the whole purpose of the law. All who believe in him are made right with God." 

Romans 10:1-4

So, tell me people of Galatia, why would you want to live like that? Why would you rather be placed back into slavery? 

Choose today what it will be. Freedom through Christ, that offers the gift of joy, life, and God's richest blessings. Or slavery to the law, which brings death, frustration, and a constant feeling of guilt. 

S-Brethren, share with someone what you have chosen. Faith or The Law.

What Do You Depend On?

S-Dependence

S-"So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law." Galatians 5:1

A-God's Grace

L-Dependence

            "But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, 'Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all these commands that are written in God's Book of the Law." Galatians 3:10

How much do you depend on the law to make you right with God? Paul wanted to make sure his point was getting across, so much so he pointed out the curse that would fall on those who failed to obey and observe ALL the commands written in God's Book of the Law. (Deuteronomy 27:26)

If you were to stop and take a good look at your life, what would your lifestyle and actions show that you depended on?

Would it be the law
Would it be your spouse
Would it be your parents
Would it be your money
Would it be your self
Would it be good works
Would it be your things
Would it be an idol
Would it be man

OR

Would it be your faith in Jesus Christ?

Does it show?

In Our Human Effort...

"Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life." John 3:6

In our human effort to love, we find we are incapable of doing so.

In our human effort to be merciful, we find we are unable too.

In our human effort to be forgiving we find that we can't.

In our human effort to know more about Christ, we realize we hit a wall.

In our human effort to study God's Word, we realize we lack desire.

In our human effort to parent, we find ourselves frustrated.

In our human effort to succeed, we realize how much worldliness we partake in.

In our human effort to be joyful, we find just how joyless we really are.

In our human effort to please God, we realize we always come up short.

In our human effort to obey the law, we realize just how sinful we are.

In our human effort to be peace loving, gentle, kind, humble, and yield to others, we notice just how opposite of all that we really are.

Until we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we fail to realize how much our thoughts are filled with doubt, negativity, condemnation, and constant guilt.

Maybe Jesus has taken residency within you, yet you realize that these are your thoughts and struggles.

If so, relinquish control today. Lay your self, and all that you try to be and do by human effort, at the foot of the Cross.

Let the Holy Spirit lead you, teach you, guide you, and consume you with God's amazing love and grace.

"The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life." John 6:63

Jesus we so often try to accomplish and do things ourselves, always to come up short and frustrated. Fill us with Your Spirit who leads us into all truth. Amen

Same Blessing Through Faith

S-One Name

S-"So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law." Galatians 5:1

A-God's Grace

L-Promised the Good News

     "What's more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would accept the Gentiles, too, on the basis of their faith. God promised this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, 'All nations will be blessed through you.'  And so it is: all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith." Galatians 3:8-9

God did not bless Abraham because he obeyed the law. he blessed him because he believed God was who He said He was, and He would do what He said He would do.

Did Abraham have a few questions, concerns and even some doubts along the way? YES!

But Abraham remained faithful, he pushed through and trusted God. And so should we.

When we have questions, we should seek God and His Word.

When we have concerns, we should take it to God in prayer.

When we have doubts, we should run to the Cross and be reminded of what Christ did for us.

Before anything existed, God had a plan. A plan to point us to His Son. Through His Son we ALL are accepted through faith. Because of Abraham's faith we too get to share in the same blessings God promised Abraham.

That is a wonderful thing!

What I love about this particular passage, is how Paul was able to point back to Abraham and remind the Gentiles, that although you are hearing all these false teachers tell you, "Law, law, law. Circumcision, etc" Let me remind you again, it is your faith in Christ that saves you, sets you free, and allows you to share the same blessing Abraham received because of his FAITH!

Let me close with this. "There is salvation in no one else! There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them." Acts 4:12

The law can't save you. Your good works alone can't save you. Your religion can't save you. Being a regular attender at Church can't save you. Your spouse can't. Your family can't. Your Bible Study can't.

One Name-Jesus!

The more you seek Him, the more you will know Him, and the stronger and deeper your faith will become.

S-Share with Jesus today, who and what you have been putting your faith in. Let Him be your life line. Your strength. May He be the first one you run to.

Two Forms of Freedom...but the one that matters most.

Earthly Freedom

True-Life Giving Freedom

"God has purchased our freedom with his blood and has forgiven all our sins." Colossians 1:14

Altar Sunday

Before you even enter the Church, prepare your heart. I mean, actually take the time to get on your face before the Lord and get your heart ready to hear and receive the Words He wants to speak to you today.

Leave it all at His feet. Take nothing into His house with you.

Let Him remove any distractions, bitterness, anger, hurt, doubt, fear...so you can experience all of Him.

Greatest Gift Ever

"We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are." Romans 3:22

Christ made a way for each and every one of us to come to Him and receive everlasting life. He made it so easy, that even a child can do it. 

Place your faith in Christ today and receive the greatest gift ever to be given. 

Salavation

Life with Him forever. 

Christ gave His life so you and I could have life. 

Restore Me

"Restore to me again the joy of your salvation and make me willing to obey you." Psalm 51:12

Have you found yourself feeling joyless and stuck? Do you have sin in your life that you have failed to confess to the Lord?

If so, confess it today and let God restore you and bring you the joy of your salvation.

Not Always

"As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm." 1 Timothy 1:3-7


Sometimes a good thing is not always a God thing!

Real "Abraham" Faith

S-Real "Abraham" Faith

S-"So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law." Galatians 5:1

A-Freedom through Faith in Christ

L-Real Faith

       "In the same way, Abraham believed God, so God declared him righteous because of his faith. The real children of Abraham, then, are all those who put their faith in God." Galatians 3:6-7

He was 75 years old when the Lord called him, "Leave your country, your relatives, and your father's house, and go to the land that I will show you." Genesis 12:1

Faith and obedience is what was required. It's what is required from all of us.

What made Abraham's faith so real?

     He trusted God and went. He packed up his family and left the place and things he had known and had for years, and at 75 years old.

      Today most 75 year old's, let alone 50 plus year old's, wouldn't even consider leaving. I don't mean that harshly, even though it sounds that way, it's the truth. Though there are some who would and do, most don't. We can even see this in our younger generations today.

  We have become a people, that believe when we retire or reach a certain age in life, that we can stop serving, stop going, and that leaving our country, our relatives, and our father's house is no longer an option.

But how wrong is that mindset. God never says, "At this age you can stop serving Me." Let's not set that poor example for our younger generations.

Abraham is a testament to what real faith looks like.

Let's look at what real "Abraham" faith looks like.

1. At 75 Abraham left everything and went where God told him to. (Genesis 12)

2. At 99 years old, Abraham fulfilled is part of the agreement with God and was circumcised. (Genesis 17:9)

3. At 100 years old, after walking in faith and trusting that God would give him a child, Abraham became a father. (Genesis 21)

4. One of the biggest testaments to real faith, is when God told Abraham to take his only son-Isaac and sacrifice him as a burnt offering. (Genesis 22)

What happened in return to Abraham's faith? God blessed him richly. He became the father of a great nation. He became famous, and was a blessing to others. And, 'All the families of the earth will be blessed through you." Genesis 12:3

How are we blessed through Abraham?

Jesus! (Matthew 1:1-17)

Why was it so important for Paul to bring up Abraham?

Because it was Abraham's faith that saved him, not the law. "Look up into the heavens and count the stars if you can. Your descendants will be like that-too many to count! And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord declared him righteous because of his faith." Genesis 15:5-6

Therefore Paul was saying, "Don't you see that what these Judaizers are telling you is false? They are trying to persuade you and deceive you into believing that the only way you will ever be saved is by becoming like them, a Jew, who is in slavery to the law. And that is wrong. I have proof of that. Abraham was saved by faith. And you are saved today by your faith in Christ."

Brethren, do you have real "Abraham" faith?

Would you be willing, no matter what age, no matter what the call, to get up in faith and go?

Do you live by that faith or are you still trying to earn favor with God through your works?

S-Ask the Lord to reveal your true state of faith today. Share with someone where your faith is weak and ask them to pray and help encourage and hold you accountable.

He Is Present

"Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going." John 14:1-4

May your hearts find comfort and peace in God's Word as you endure this devastating devastation Oklahoma.

He is present, cling to Him for comfort. 

Your precious babies are not alone, He has been right beside them the entire time. Find peace in that sweet one. 

The Work of The Spirit

S-You received the Holy Spirit because you believed


S-"So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law." Galatians 5:1


A-The Power and Work of the Holy Spirit


<sup>L-The Purpose and Role of the Holy Spirit


         "I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the Law of Moses? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ." Galatians 3:5</sup>


Don't forget when you put your faith in Christ; He filled you with the Holy Spirit, whom works in you. It is your faith and the work of the Holy Spirit that sets you free. The Law does none of that for you. Rather, the law shows you, your sinfulness and need for faith in Christ. 


Therefore, if you would allow the Holy Spirit to take back control, He will show you how foolish you are being by getting caught back up in slavery to the law.


What role does the Holy Spirit play in our lives?


     ^- “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.  He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.  Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live.  When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.  Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them." John 14:15-21


1. He leads us into all truth

2. He lives with us and in us.

3. He will never abandon us.

4. He reveals Christ to us.


Do you have the Holy Spirit living in you? Have you put your faith in Christ?  Does your life and fruit reflect the two?


S-Tell Christ how thankful you are for the Holy Spirit, and ask Him to help you relinquish control so that He may have all of it. 

Altar Sunday

As you enter the House of the Lord, be One. Worship as One. Serve as One. Be One voice. 

AND

Encourage others in their functioning part, because we all have a part. 

One Life

You have been given one life.

What are you doing with it?

Have you given it to Christ or are you keeping it for yourself?

"Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it." Luke 9:23-24

Have You Lost Your Mind?

S-Can you Answer me this...

S-"So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law." Galatians 5:1


A-Christ to your life and be set free

L-Why Go Back

            "Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by keeping the law? Of course not, for the Holy Spirit came upon you only after you believed the message you heard about Christ. Have you lost your senses? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? You have suffered so much for the Good News. Surely it was not in vain, was it? Are you now going to just throw it all away?" Galatians 3:2-4

  -Oh mercy brethren, we need to be asking ourselves these same questions. We need to be called out as well.

I say that with the sincerest intentions. I say that in hopes it will tug at our hearts, open our eyes, and bring us to reality.  A real, oh my goodness, type of reality that shakes us out of these messes we put ourselves in.

Paul had a way with his words that grabbed your attention. He had a way to hit areas within people that would wake them up.

And he still does that today. As we study and read these words spoken from God through Paul we need to take them in and let the Spirit work.

There might be times where you feel that a particular passage does not apply to you, but it does. Every single word in the Word applies to you and me. It has purpose.

These passages above have a purpose. A purpose to teach us and remind us that faith is greater and without it everything is meaningless.

Let me ask you some questions, and I pray the Holy Spirit will begin a tornado within you that stirs up a desire to search deeper.

1. Is your faith in Christ real? If you answered yes, does your life reflect it?

2. Who is in control, you are the Holy Spirit?

3. Are you trying to please God by your own good deeds?

4. Do you read your Bible and go to Church and pray in hopes of earning a mark or reward for showing up?

5. Do you serve and work hard out of self-determination and the desire to be noticed, or are you allowing the Holy Spirit to work in you and help you do good for the Kingdom of God?

6. Do you constantly feel guilty, depressed, like a failure, not good enough, and have a desire for approval?

7. Did you receive the Holy Spirit by keeping the law? Are you even aware of the difference between the two?

Sweet one, I have no idea if you are saved or not. But Christ knows. He also knows whether or not you are living your Christian life in the Spirit or trying to be perfect and right by your own human effort.

If you have answered these questions with honesty, you will know whether or not you are living by real faith, that understands and knows the meaning of the Cross. Or whether you are living like the Jews and Pharisees did. A life that relies on human effort and the law. That life reflects a life absent from Christ. It produces zero fruit, zero joy, worldly living, worldly actions, worldly thoughts, and constant guilt and failure because you can never obey the law perfectly. And no matter how hard you try, the approval you are searching for will always leave come up short and only satisfy for a little while.

We grow spiritually by the work the Spirit does within us, not by following rituals and rules.

S-Ask someone close to you, who walks in the ways of the Lord, to help you walk by faith and not by human effort alone. And if you really want accountability ask them these questions and what they see in you. A true friend and brother will answer them honestly.







   

Remember the Meaning

S-Don't Forget the Meaning

S-"So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure you stay free and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law." Galatians 5:1

A-Your new freedom in Christ

L-The Meaning

     "For you used to see the meaning of Jesus Christ's death as clearly as though I had shown you a signboard with a picture of Christ dying on the cross." Galatians 3:1

What has happened? You went from seeing the meaning of Christ's death to going back to the law. Why are you even entertaining these false teachers?

We too, have seen the meaning of Jesus Christ's death as clearly as though we were there. Yet we entertain false teachers by listening to them, even believing their lies and turning back to slavery to the flesh.

You can't lose sight of what Christ has done. Don't let anyone twist the truth of the Good News to fit their man-made rules and rituals. "So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it." Hebrews 2:1

And what ever you do. Don't lose sight or the meaning of the Cross. Keep it on the fore-front of your minds at all times.

S-Tell someone what Christ did on the Cross for them.

Find Comfort Here

She fights for her life.

He fights to overcome the brokenness, from the loss of his wife.

They have lost words to describe the pain from losing their child.

He searches for acceptance

She searches for a place to belong

She goes to any extent to be noticed

They just want to be loved

He wants out, but the addiction is to strong

"I look up to the mountains-does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made the heavens and the earth! He will not let you stumble and fall; the one who watches over you will not sleep. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never tires and never sleeps. the Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not hurt you by day, nor the moon at night. the Lord keeps you from all evil and preserves your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever."  Psalm 121:1-8

May you each find what your heart is longing for in Jesus. He is Your healer, protector, redeemer, lover, and comfort.

A Life for a Life

S-The Meaning of Death

S-"So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law." Galatians 5:1

A-God's grace and freedom in Christ

L-The Significance of Death

    "So I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ. I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:19-20

-How does one "die" to the law?

    - In order to understand the significance of this type of death we need to understand,

1. The meaning of death physically and spiritually

2. What Christ's death did

3. Why death is important

4. How death takes place in our lives

5. What happens when Christ takes up residency within us


1. The meaning of death physically and spiritually.

         -When death occurs, one becomes unresponsive, there is a stop, an end to life. This happens both physically and spiritually.

         -Death entered the world, when Adam and Eve ate the fruit.

                  "The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and care for it. But the Lord God gave him this warning: "You may freely eat any fruit in the garden except fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat of its fruit, you will surely die." Genesis 2:15-17

               -This death signifies both spiritual and physical. It translates, "A death you shall die" or  "Dying you shall die."    

                           **Basically this can mean you will lose your protective covering of Paradise and begin to age (dying), and then ultimately die physically.  However, it also speaks on spiritual death, because up until that point they walked and talked with God, but now the relationship would die as a result of the separation that sin brought into their lives.
                   

              -Fast forward to the Book of Leviticus. Here, God gives us an outline in detail (Beginning in Chapter 1) on the rules and purpose of all five offerings. The two required were the Sin Offering and Guilt Offering. Both of which require death of an animal of God's choice.

  **Why is death so important to God?

             -It served two purposes.

                      1. Worship
                      2. Forgiveness of sins                     
                  
        -In the Old Testament-an animal took the place of man. It was man's way of giving him/herself to God by means of the life of an animal.

         -In the New Testament-Christ came and gave His life for us.

         -God's system says a life must be given for a life.

    So when Paul says, "So I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ." Galatians 2:19

He is saying, when I became a follower of Christ, my old way of living died with Christ. It came to an end. It stopped. "You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ. He forgave all our sins. He canceled the record that contained the charges against us. He took it and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ's cross." Colossians 2:13-14

S-Tell someone what Christ did for them, and why His death was so important.

Not For...RATHER...For...

I don't want to just skim the surface of God's Word and act as though it is good enough. I don't do well wading in shallow water.  I want to go deeper. I want to take you deeper into His Word. This is what I have been called to do. To teach God's Word in depth with conviction, power, and boldness.

Therefore, as I sit at the feet of Jesus and soak up His teaching, know, that on those days when you don't receive a devo, it's because I am going deeper so I can take you deeper.

This is not for the weary, or for those who want to hear what appeals to their flesh. Nor is it for those who are okay staying in the shallow end of the water.

RATHER...

It is for the thirsty. It is for the one who knows their daily bread comes from the very Word of God and is desperate for it. It is for those who have counted the cost of following Christ and have left and given up everything to follow Him. It is for those who have stepped out of the boat and are walking in the deep end with their eyes on Christ.

I hope that's you!!

If so, stick around and let's go deeper in the Word of God and be lavished by His love, filled with His Wisdom, and clothed in His righteousness.

Altar Sunday

Encourage a precious mommy today. Grab her hand and pray for her. Tell her God loves her, is with her, and wants to walk with her.

Then if you can, take your mommies hand, pray with her, tell her how thankful you are for all God has done and is doing in her life. Tell her you love her, and ask her how you can spend the next year praying for her.

Then spend time thanking Jesus for your mom, even if your relationship is broken, and even if she is gone. Praise Him!

"Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her; There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!" Proverbs 31:28-29

It Should Have Been Us

It should have been us nailed to the Cross. It should have been our life given.

But instead Christ gave His life in our place.

He took our sin upon Himself. He suffered on our behalf.

Christ died for you and me. He died to give us life.

This perfect and loving Son of God, left His place in glory, came down to Earth to die.

Yet, we question His love. We question His forgiveness. We doubt His existence.

We live for ourselves, when He died for us.

We focus on self, when He focused on us.

Let us not forget what Christ endured for us.

"There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected-a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins! But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God's path to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the guilt and sins of us all." Isaiah 53:2-6

Stop searching, questioning and doubting, sweet one, you are loved, adored and wanted. Christ gave His life for you. Give your life to Him and let Him clothe you in His love, mercy and grace.

What Are You Being Taught?

Baptist

Church of Christ

Catholic

Methodist

Lutheran

Jewish

Mormon

Jehovah's Witness

Non-Demontional

Do you know what all of these religions have in common? 

They all have a set of rules for their members.

So how can we be sure we don't get tied up in slavery to the law within our Church?

1. Believe in Christ Jesus (Romans 10)

2. Understand you will never be saved by obeying the law. (Galatians 2:16)

3. Know you can never "earn" God's approval through good works alone. (Galatians 2:18; James 2:14-24)

4. Get to know Christ through His Word

5. Don't become enslaved to rituals

6. Understand the significance of God's grace.

       -"I am not one of those who treats the grace of God as meaningless. For if we could be saved by keeping the law, then there was no need for Christ to die."  Galatians 2:21

Make sure you know what you are being taught, and ALWAYS place it under the scope of God's Word. 

A Few Things To Think On

I want you to think on something for a little bit.

Why is dying and crucifying our sins so important?

Why did Paul speak on it so much?

What impact does it make on our lives and for the Kingdom of Heaven?

How have we been crucified with Christ?

I hope God stirs a curiosity in you to open His Word and research these questions.

"I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me." Galatians 2:20

You Can't "Earn" Your Way to Heaven

S-God's Approval

S-"So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law." Galatians 5:1

A-True Freedom

L-You Can't Earn Your Way to Heaven

        "For when I tried to keep the law, I realized I could never earn God's approval." Galatians 2:19

Brethren, let's just get straight to the point. We can't "Earn" our way to heaven. 

There are so many people who believe if they do what's right and are a good they are saved That is just not the case. Some where along the way they have been brutally lied to, and the saddest part is, they believe it. 

Where in God's Word does He say, "If you are nice and obey the law, you are heaven bound?" 

NO WHERE!

Rather, God says, "For no one can ever be made right in God's sight by doing what his law commands. For the more we know God's law, the clearer it becomes that we aren't obeying it." Romans 3:20

He also says, "There is only one God, and there is only one way of being accepted by him. He makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law." Romans 3:30-31

Paul learned this first hand. He was a law following fanatic, until God got a hold of him.

Don't substitute good works for faith.

S-Share the importance of faith with someone who thinks good works is enough.

Accept or Accepted?

S-We Are Still Sinners

S-"So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law." Galatians 5:1

A-The truth that you are free in Christ

L-Reality

       "But what if we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then find out that we are still sinners? Has Christ led us into sin? Of course not! Rather, I make myself guilty if I rebuild the old system I already tore down." Galatians 2:17-18

The law is something tangible, so to speak. It is posted on buildings, books, signs, and we see it enforced in our everyday lives. Faith goes beyond the tangible. Faith goes beyond on a list of do's and don'ts.

So, what is Paul trying to get across in these two passages?

1. We are sinners.
2. Our human efforts, apart from Christ, accomplish nothing.
3. Don't get caught up again in trying to earn God's favor through good works alone.

Where are you at today, brethren? Are you trying to earn God's favor or are you living a life of faith through Christ who has accepted you?

The Law 101

S-Galatians 2:16

S-"So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law." Galatians 5:1

A-God's grace through Christ

L-The Law

   "For no one will ever be saved by obeying the law." Galatians 2:16

  We need to come back to this passage for many reasons. One, because the Lord has impressed it upon me to do so. Secondly, I think its important for us to understand why the law does not save us.

The law was put into place in the Old testament in order to do three things.

1. Point to Jesus
2. Promote unity
3. Protection

We can go all the way back to the very beginning, when Adam and Eve lived in the Garden. God put into place one law. Don't eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Here we see the 1st law broken and the consequences of breaking the law.

   "Then he said to the woman, 'You will bear children with intense pain and suffering. And though your desire will be for your husband, he will be your master. And to Adam he said, 'Because you listened to your wife and ate the fruit I tole you not to eat, I have placed a curse on the ground. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. All your life you will sweat to produce food, until your dying day. Then you will return to the ground from which you came. For you were made from dust, and to the dust you will return." Genesis 3:16-19

But let's move forward to Abraham and the covenant that was made between him and God.

  The Covenant-Abraham was to obey God and have every male circumcised on the 8th day.

         The purpose-every male circumcised would bear the mark of the everlasting covenant.
     
         The Importance-it would be a sign that you and those circumcised have accepted the covenant and were apart of the family.

        **Something I never realized before until studying this deeper, was how all three parts of the law intertwined throughout this particular passage.

                The act of circumcision was not only an act of obedience, but it marked you as a part of God's family. For us today, on this side of the cross, our faith in Christ and His blood is what marks us as a part of God's family. It all pointed to Jesus, and God knew that when He established it. Amazing!

                The marking of circumcision promoted unity among God's people. The blood of Christ brings us together as one Body.

                Circumcision was the cutting away of "sin" the old, and representing the new. Today, our faith in Christ, His blood that covers us, removes the old, and fills us with new.

                The law that protects us, is the Word of God. It was given to us to guide us through life, to teach us, and to show us why we need Christ, and what our boundaries are.

This is a small portion on the law, but a great place to help us understand why the law verse faith was a big issue and needed to be addressed.

S-Share with someone how God's Word provides protection

               

               



   

Altar Sunday

Brethren, Rise and Shine and Give God Glory!!

Tell Him of His greatness!

Tell Him how marvelous of a Father He is.

Shout His name with joy.

Let the whole world hear of His goodness and abounding love!

Be Done With The Old You

"My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20

Be done with the old you, for it died when you gave your life to Christ. Live in the new you that is filled with Christ. 

For our old lives were full of sorrow, shame, doubt, regret, and unhappiness. It was full of death. 

But now, with Christ in us, we can live with joy, love, peace, thankfulness, and life. 

Rejoice today in God's amazing love and grace, and live in such a way that the world knows Jesus is living in you.

I Challenge You Today To Do the Opposite

Can I challenge you to do something today?

For every negative thought you have say something positive.

      **"Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." Philippians 4:8

For every complaint you have say something encouraging.

       **"Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them." Ephesians 4:29

For every thought of doubt you have, think of God's faithfulness.

      **"For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds." Psalm 57:10

If you have an enemy, show them mercy.

       **"Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32

Instead of getting angry, express love.

       **"Love is patient and kind." 1 Corinthians 13:4

If you are holding records of wrong, destroy them.

       **"Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged." 1 Corinthians 13:5

Rather than focus on yourself and demand your way, your opinion, your wants, focus on someone else and their needs.

      **"Love does not demand its own way." 1 Corinthians 13:5

Every chance you get today, tell someone about God's faithfulness and love. 

And every time someone comes to your mind say a prayer for them and ask God to bless them.

Faith or the Law?

S-Galatians 2:16

S-"So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure you that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law." Galatians 5:1

A-Live by faith

L-Saved by Faith NOT the Law

     "And yet we Jewish Christians know that we become right with God, not by doing what the law commands, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be accepted by God because of our faith in Christ and not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be saved by obeying the law." Galatians 2:16

If we can grasp and walk away with anything from this verse, let it be that the law does not save us. The law is in place to help guide us and set up boundaries that will protect us.

It is our faith in Christ that saves us.

Are you living by faith or living by the law?

It's not about your good works. It's about your faith and relationship with Christ.

S-Encourage someone to grow in their faith and relationship with Christ rather than by trying to earn favor by obeying the law.

So, what is it going to be?

S-Galatians 2:14-15

S-"So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law." Galatians 5:1

A-Praise God for your freedom. Freedom from death.

L-So, What is It Peter?

  "When I saw that they were not following the truth of the Good News, I said to Peter in front of all the others, 'Since you, a Jew by birth, have discarded the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, why are you trying to make these Gentiles obey the Jewish laws you abandoned? You and I are Jews by birth, not 'sinners' like the Gentiles." Galatians 2:14-15

This is how the Lord broke it down for me.

-"What is it going to be Peter? Who are you, because right now you are trying to play both sides."

                -"Yes, Peter you are a Jew by birth, but you have discarded the Jewish laws and have been living like a Gentile, and now all of a sudden, some Jewish friends of James' shows up and you get scared of what they will think if they see you eating with the Gentiles. Not only did you ignore the Gentiles after that, but you began to force the Jewish laws, that you abandoned, upon them. Why Peter? Why are you doing this? You have set a horrible example that has now led others to do the same thing. But worse Peter, they are not following the truth of the Good News."

                   Brethren, can you relate to Peter? Have you found yourself trying to play both sides?

Do you live a different life Monday through Saturday, but are someone completely different on Sunday's? Are you aware that people are watching you?

What is it going to be, the World or Christ?

Maybe you are in a similar situation as Paul was, and there is someone you need to confront as Paul did. If so, would you spend time in prayer and the Word before you approach them. In doing this it will give the Lord time to reveal to you if your motives are pure, if you are acting on flesh, if your discernment is accurate or based off of mere opinion.

Once you have spent adequate time in prayer and in His Word, He will set up the appropriate time for you to confront them (and them alone, not the whole world) and He will even give you the words.

Let's be mindful of our actions and the choices we make. Most of all, let's continue to go deeper in the Word and learn from God's Word and the life of those He spoke through.

S-Share your heart with God and let Him reveal it's true character and desire.