“And let us not be weary in well doing:
For in due season we shall reap,
if we faint not” – Galatians 6:9.
Before I get into our text, I will like us to review Paul’s life and conversion. For he was a prudent and profound man who believed in pursuing life with a passion so one could fulfill their purpose, experience their full potential, and expose their true essence.
For Paul, which was known by his Hebrew name as Saul, was born in Tarsus, which was in Asia Minor (modern southern Turkey). He had been brought up in a devout Jewish family unit from the tribe of Benjamin, which he received careful instructions pertaining to the Mosaic Law. He yielded his pattern of thought, as well as his conduct by abided completely to every point in accordance with the Mosaic Law. By furthering his pursuit of knowledge, he joined the Pharisaical sect at an early age of acceptance. Under the auspices of Gamaliel, he was thoroughly trained in the law and was zealous for God within his own learned prospective.
Paul committed himself in fulfilling his promises that were determine by principle and was one dedicated to a given task. He was also a man of prudence and great profundity as mentioned, able to speak at least seven languages (fluent of course in Greek and Aramaic). In addition, with effectiveness, Paul familiarized him-self with various cultures to eloquently express his views and persuade many to his own ideologies and delights.
Paul traveled quit extensively before his conversion as well pursuing his passion. However, his ruling passion at that time was persecuting and giving approval to the deaths of those who were “Christians,” such as Stephen. For the “Christians” was contrary to the accepted belief, as well as threatening to the paradigm of thought that existed in the Pharisaical party: why, because the Christian doctrine and declaration was of Christ—which the Pharisaical party did not accept as the true Son of God.
Paul was so blinded by his objective and driven by his passion that he was extremely obsessive and violent in his persecutions. For Acts 8:3 reveals that, “Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, dragging off men and woman and putting them in prison.”
However, the gates of hell and the perspective of a misguided soul could not prevail against the Church. For the Church was built upon the rock, which is Jesus Christ – the chief cornerstone of our faith, and the gates of hell, as declared in Matthews 16:18, shall not prevail.
High five somebody and say, “injustice shall not prevail, persecution shall not prevail, betrayal shall not prevail, discrimination shall not prevail….”
For this is your hour, this is your year, and don’t let no devil in hell stop you from receiving what God has for you. If you faint not, in the midst of hell and high water, you shall receive your reward. Just remember, what ever you are facing, it will not prevail if you keep your trust in God.
Getting back to Paul, God, “who’s judgments are un-searchable and ways past finding out,” looked beyond the offences of the man and seen character, commitment, and loyalty in a confused and ill-informed soul. So, God decided within His portentous mind to build on these qualities of Paul and use him for the furtherance of the gospel.
Look at your neighbor and say, “God has a plan for you, and He is calling you to Himself.”
God has a plan for you and this your hour to experience a change in your life so that you can achieve the unachievable. He is about to unleash supernatural ability for you to fulfill your created purpose, experience your fullest potential, and expose the greatness that lies deep within you.
However, tell somebody, “You got to come forth.”
For it was on the road of Damascus that God set out His plan by confronting Paul in the personality of Jesus Christ. For God confronted Paul by creating a “situation” were Paul would humble himself to choose his destiny.
Acts 9 reveals that, “Suddenly there shined round about Paul a light from heaven: and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Baffled, Paul asked, ‘who are you, Lord?’ and the response he received truly amazed and frightened him. For the response cried out, “I am Jesus, whom thou persecuted: it is hard for thou to kick against the pricks.”
This response, “I am Jesus, whom thou persecuted,” should encourage every believer who has suffered from the hands of injustice, ridicule, and discrimination. Why, for there is an inseparable union that exists between you and Christ: for when you are attacked concerning your convictions, it is a direct attacked on Christ – John 15:18 Jesus declares, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” so don’t take it personal.
Furthermore, our Book of Life bears witness that, “Vengeance belongs unto God, for He will recompense.” So, continue living a life of righteousness that brings forth conviction to those who misuse, abuse, reject, and ridicule you and your message. For there will come a day when those who scorned your life’s conduct which exemplified Christ, will soon regret the day they did not respect nor accept the plea for change when they face God themselves in the personality of Jesus Christ. For He will judgingly question them with these words – “why have you repudiated my message and my messenger? For what you have done unto the least, you have done too me.”
Getting back to Paul, his paradigm of thought and belief system was shattered by the illumination of absolute truth on the road of Damascus. For he humbled himself and asked God, “what will Thou have me to do?” In response, the Lord said, “Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told of thee what thou must do.”
Therefore, Paul obeyed the voice of God. And, a man of God, named Ananias, was sent to lay his hands on Paul for his restoration of sight, his conversion, and for the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
Then Ananias, with Paul’s consent, baptized Paul to the Christian faith, which is Jesus Christ. Afterward, Ananias conveyed a message from God, which he received in a vision. And after Paul’s baptism Ananias said, “Paul, you are now the chosen instrument of God to carry the name of Jesus Christ before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. And you will have to suffer for the faith in due course.”
Paul held earnestly this promise that was conveyed by Ananias dear to his heart for the journey ahead. And he went to surround himself with those who were of like-mindedness concerning the faith: so he could be further instructed, directed, and supported concerning his new God given mission.
In time, Paul’s entrusted ministry became powerful: for it was the ministry of the New Covenant, which influenced the lives of many people.
His purpose and mission concerning the New Covenant was to proclaim Christ and teach absolute truth that would pervade the inner lives of people– where attitudes are formed and decisions made -- to all who would give their ear to his compelling and anointed voice.
This ministry of the New Covenant was a noble task. However, it presented painful episodes that tried to challenge Paul to abdicate his task and purpose.
Nevertheless, Paul understood the purpose of life and though he experienced discouragement through out his journey, he refused to be dissuaded from his purpose, his vision, and his mission.
In the midst of oppression, bewilderment, persecution, prevarication, and vilification, Paul pressed forward to his God given purpose. For he realized, he was much greater than the present predicaments that surrounded his life.
Tell your neighbor, “You are much greater than your problems.”
Stop stressing yourself over those bills, stop stressing yourself over that job, stop stressing yourself over that disagreeable mate, stop stressing your self over the behavior of those children.
Just keep on trusting God and lean on His mercies, for He will bring you through this and you will be victorious, you will be prosperous, and you will be more powerful; why, for you are much greater and more precious than the present predicaments that surround you life.
Therefore, we find him in our text encouraging the churches of Galatia, as well as us, to remain faithful, patient, and persistent in the “truth and graced” of Christ so we can reach our predestine purpose in God.
He was encouraging them, as well as us, to “stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free” to enjoy the benefits of His grace, power, and love.
He is encouraging us, “New Hope Missionary Baptist Church” not to faint in the midst of financial pressures. He is encouraging us, “New Hope Missionary Baptist Church” not to faint in the midst of criticism, betrayal, and prevarication.
For this is your hour to be all God called you to be. Keep witnessing to the unsaved, keep clothing the poor, keep feeding the hungry; remain a light in this community until “Shallow comes.” For God has been with you these three years.
And if you continue to stand without fainting, “having your loins girt with truth, your chest with the breastplate of righteousness, your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; your head adorn with the helmet of salvation, and continually holding fast the shield of faith and the sword of God to withstand” defeat, degradation, demoralization, and demonic depression, you will reap the blessings of God and fulfill your mission as a Church that did not faint.
