Paul’s Testimony- A Revelation Of Jesus Christ Pt.5
Text: Galatians 1:11-24NASB
A family from a remote area made their very first visit to the big city.
They checked into the Grand Hotel and stood in amazement at the impressive sight.
As Dad signed in at the reception desk, Mom and daughter came near the elevator entrance.
They had never seen an elevator before, so they just stared at it, unable to figure out what it was there for.
An old man hobbled towards the elevator and went inside. The door closed. About a minute later, the door opened and out came a stunningly good-looking young man.
Mom could not stop staring. Without turning her head, she patted her daughter's arm and said, "Honey, Go get your dad!” (Pause)
For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; 14 and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions. 15 But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.
18 Then three years later, I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 But I did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. 20 (Now in what I am writing to you, I assure you before God that I am not lying.) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ; 23 but only, they kept hearing, “He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they were glorifying God because of me.
Well, Unlike the elevator, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, The Gospel of the Cross, truly does make a difference!
Galatians 1:11-12NLT Dear brothers and sisters, I want you to understand that the gospel message I preach is not based on mere human reasoning. 12 I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.
Paul begins with three negatives, likely direct disproof of his opponents’ claims that Paul’s credentials were untrustworthy.
1. Paul’s gospel was not according to man.
2. It was not received from man.
3. It had not been taught to him.
These summaries denials underscore that Paul’s source for the gospel was not human, earthly, or natural.
He didn't dream up this gospel, It didn’t come through creative brainstorming, nor from clever mental formulation.
A revelation is the unveiling of something hidden, A revelation brings light where there was darkness, it shows the unlimited possibilities, it takes the cap off, it brings hope while replacing despair.
Like Paul, as John was on the Island of Patmos, he received revelation of past, present and future events, Remember his reaction- He fell on his face and worshiped.
Proverbs 29:18The Voice Where there is no vision from God, the people run wild, but those who adhere to God’s instruction know genuine happiness.
Habakkuk 2:2NASB Then the LORD answered me and said, "Record the vision And inscribe it on tablets, That the one who reads it may run.
I read a study from Harvard University that 1% of individuals in the world write down and keep goals. The 1% that do are the most successful and prosperous people on earth.
One more fact, Only one teaching that is totally absent from all the cults is the gospel of the grace of God. No one is taught in the cults that he can be saved from eternal damnation by simply placing his faith in Jesus Christ. It’s always belief in Jesus Christ plus, do this or follow that. All cults attach something to the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith… It is never taught that faith in Christ alone will save anyone.
Listen to Galatians 1:11-12TM Know this—I am most emphatic here, friends—this great Message I delivered to you is not mere human optimism. I didn’t receive it through the traditions, and I wasn’t taught it in some school. I got it straight from God, received the Message directly from Jesus Christ.
Question: Is the Bible absolute?
2 Timothy 3:16-17TLB The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right. 17 It is God’s way of making us well prepared at every point, fully equipped to do good to everyone.
The reason a large percentage of adults and even greater percentage of young people do not believe in moral absolutes is because they believe that the teachings of the Bible are the teachings of man. The reason folks in our day and age can take such a cavalier attitude toward marriage is because they believe the commands of scripture are commands of man. The oldest deception in the world, “Did God really say that,” is also a common deception today.
Paul wasn’t taught the gospel by some middle-man, it came directly from the mouth of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Let’s look at Paul’s conversion in Acts 9:3-6TM All this time Saul was breathing down the necks of the Master’s disciples, out for the kill. He went to the Chief Priest and got arrest warrants to take to the meeting places in Damascus so that if he found anyone there belonging to the Way, whether men or women, he could arrest them and bring them to Jerusalem.
3-4 He set off. When he got to the outskirts of Damascus, he was suddenly dazed by a blinding flash of light. As he fell to the ground, he heard a voice: “Saul, Saul, why are you out to get me?”
5-6 He said, “Who are you, Master?”
“I am Jesus, the One you’re hunting down. I want you to get up and enter the city. In the city you’ll be told what to do next.”
Galatians 1:13-14NLT You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion—how I violently persecuted God’s church. I did my best to destroy it. 14 I was far ahead of my fellow Jews in my zeal for the traditions of my ancestors.
Saul a student of the famous Rabbi Gamaliel would have taken the mantle of a fanatical Pharisee, bent on destroying what he and his colleagues viewed as a heretical sect of Judaism; His love for Judaism ironically motivated his hatred for Christianity.
In his own account of his conversion delivered to King Agrippa II, Paul filled in details of Jesus’ revelation to him.
Jesus had said to Paul: Acts 26:16-18NLT Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. Tell people that you have seen me, and tell them what I will show you in the future. 17 And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles 18 to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’
Look at Galatians 1: 14 Again, …and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions.
Judaism: The Jewish religious system of works righteousness, Base not primarily on the Old Testament text, but own rabbinic interpretations and traditions.
Speaking of traditions, Paul wasn’t the first to deal with man’s claims over God’s powerful loving, graceful and yes, judging word.
Jesus infuriated the Jewish leaders because He claimed to be the “stone which the builders rejected.” This is a reference to the building of Solomon’s Temple. It took 30,000 workmen over seven years to complete the temple. According to I Kings 6, all the stones were quarried far away from the building site, so there was no sound of hammering heard there. Jewish tradition says, one day the building superintendent saw an unusual stone being delivered. Because it was cut in an odd shape, he thought it was flawed. He had it rolled away into the Kidron Valley where it lay untouched and unnoticed. Years later, the builder sent word to the quarry that he was ready for the main corner stone. The quarry master came and reported, “Why, I had that stone delivered years ago.” When they began to search they discovered the discarded stone in the valley was the main cornerstone. It was covered with debris and moss. It took many men working hard to raise the massive stone out of the valley. When they raised it and set it, it fit perfectly! The chief cornerstone was the very rock they rejected.
Before his conversion, Paul say’s, “He was extremely zealous of ancestral traditions!”
Galatians 1:15-17NLT But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him 16 to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles.
When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being. 17 Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus.
Paul say’s, “Before I was born, God chose me, He called me by His marvelous grace.’ ‘Christ revealed His Son to me so that I would proclaim the good news about Jesus to the Gentiles.”
Paul’s conversion brought hope for the Gentiles, it brought ministry from ‘one’ that was bent on killing these hopeless sinners.
Galatians 1:18NLT Then three years later I went to Jerusalem to get to know Peter, and I stayed with him for fifteen days.
3 years in Arabia, this was the time Paul received revelation. After these 3 years, Paul met Peter for 15 days and no doubt they talked at length about Christ and the gospel.
Galatians 1:19-20NLT The only other apostle I met at that time was James, the Lord’s brother. 20 I declare before God that what I am writing to you is not a lie.
Paul refutes all his nay-sayers because of his conversion and revelation!
“The greatest testimony you’ll ever have is your personal conversion, and your fruitful living!” P.H.
Galatians 1:21-24NLT After that visit I went north into the provinces of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And still the churches in Christ that are in Judea didn’t know me personally. 23 All they knew was that people were saying, “The one who used to persecute us is now preaching the very faith he tried to destroy!” 24 And they praised God because of me.
Hear what Jesus said in Matthew 5, You are the salt of the earth… you are the light of the world…
I begin to think about that, The purpose of salt is the flavor, not to sit in a shaker. The purpose of light is to illuminate, not just be an accessory.
Jim Elliot, Who died as a missionary and martyr, said
“God makes his ministers a flame of fire. Am I ignitable? God, deliver me from the dead asbestos of other things.’ Saturate me with the oil of Your Spirit that I may be a flame. Make me your fuel flame of God.”
Benediction.
