Sermon Central
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Freedom Letter- Resist Yourself Series
Contributed by Shawn Drake on Nov 29, 2020 (message contributor)
Summary: This is the 36th sermon in the Action Series. This series began during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study in Acts will also include the letters written to the Churches. This is the 2nd sermon from the Letter to the Galatians.
Series: Action [#36]
FREEDOM LETTER- RESIST YOURSELF
Galatians 1:11-24
Introduction:
We are living in uncertain times and I hate it. The media’s version of COVID-19 response and the Presidential Election is nothing but hopeless for most Christians. I have had to do so many things ministry wise that I said I would never do; that I have lost count. I believe that Christians are being put in a situation that they are going to have to make big choices.
As each of you have to make these big choices, I want to encourage you to resist yourself. We studied last week, to have freedom in Christ, stop trying. We will continue to identify ways to have freedom in Christ.
Galatians 1:11-12
For freedom in Christ, resist…
1. Believing in your personal gospel.
Paul makes it clear to the Galatian Church that the Gospel he was preaching was not given to him by man. The Gospel that he preached was revealed to him by Jesus. As a Christian, you need to be careful that everything you believe is of God. Just because someone teaches you something does not make it true. Be careful to not form your own version of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 1:13-17
For freedom in Christ, resist…
2. Reliving your past.
Paul reminded them about his past and the terrible things he did to the Christians. He was telling them his past so that they could see the miracle that God had done in his life. In his past, Paul would have consulted the top Religious leaders and then followed their direction. Once Paul was saved, he did not repeat the mistakes of his past; but chose to follow God and God alone.
We all have done some things that we are not proud of; but there are times that God will use your past failings to help others. Be careful to not keep repeating those failings. Do not relive those past failures; learn from them and grow in Christ.
Galatians 1:18-24
For freedom in Christ, resist
3. Trying to improve your status.
For 3 years, Paul was taught by Jesus Himself. This is how Paul was able to consider himself an Apostle of Jesus; because as the other Apostles, he was taught for 3 years by Jesus. It is important to notice that Paul did not try to use this to get in good with the other Apostles. He spent 15 days with Peter and saw James, the brother of Jesus. When Paul got to the Churches in Judea, no one knew who he was. They only knew about his reputation as a former persecutor of Christians. I love verse 24. The people praised God because of Paul.
Christians need to stop worrying about what others think of them and live your life for Christ. Your life should bring praise to God, not yourself.
Conclusion:
During these uncertain times, be reminded that Jesus never changes. Jesus is the same before COVID-19, during COVID-19, and after COVID-19. Resist allowing yourself to get in the way of what God is doing.
