Where is Your Message From?

Galatians 1:11-24

11 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.

13 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.

15 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.

18 Then three years later I went to Jerusalem to get to know Peter, and I stayed with him for fifteen days. 19 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.

21 After that visit I went north into the provinces of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And still the Christians in the churches 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.

It's interesting why people react the way they do when they hear a message being preached. They are more inclined to believe that what they are hearing is not from God, but from the person delivering the message. Maybe this is where the phrase "Don't shoot the messenger" came from. I truly believe that when I am hearing any pastor preach at my church that what is being preached is not from that person, but from God Himself for me to hear. What God is revealing through that person is what I need to hear when I need to hear it. What I do with what I hear is completely up to me. The person who delivers the message has done their job that Christ asked them to do. This must have been what Paul was talking about here in these verses.

I like the fact that he points out specifically that he was not taught what he was teaching based on anything he had read or heard from any human source. Remember that at this time Jesus had already died and been raised again from the dead. So when he talks abouthaving revelation from Jesus Himself, he must have been communing with Him in the spirit. Paul reminds the Galatians in verses 13-14 that he wasn't always preaching what he was now preaching.

In verse 15 he reminds us of what the scriptures say in Jeremiah 1:5

5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.
Before you were born I set you apart
and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

God really does care that much about each of us. He has plans for us before we are even born. I can attest to this. God revealed to me about 6 years ago that He created me to do what I am doing and He even had me named the way I am so that I would come to realize that. That is how much He cares for me and for you. He has done the same thing for you so you can realize what He has created you for.

Jeremiah 29:11-13a also tells us what His plans for us are:

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,” says the Lord.

Praise God forever! Those are awesome words to remember. Paul is living this out in his life as he describes to the Galatians. Paul also tells us in verse 10 who he is not trying to please:

10 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.

Thank God that the pastors I sit under are not trying to win the approval of people. They are doing what God insturcts them to do. If they were trying to please people then they wouldn't be servants of Christ. I know exactly where they are coming from. What I do is not pleasing to people, but if I was trying to please them I wouldn't be doing what Christ instructed me to do. Most people are pleased because they are treated the way other collection agencies have treated them. Some are not pleased because nothing pleases them. If I wanted to please them then I wouldn't be doing what I am doing. I know that what I do and the manner in which I do that is pleasing to Him and that is my mission.

I will finish off with what Paul has in verses 3-5:

3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. 4 Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live. 5 All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.

Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)

The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you; The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you; The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).

Published by Erik L. Vakula
Daily Bread From the Word
Copyright © 2009 Erik Vakula, All Rights Reserved