Galatians 1:18-24 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles — only James, the Lord’s brother. I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they praised God because of me.
Paul affirms in his letter to the Galatians that he received his ministry and message directly from the Holy Spirit. In the above passage he indicates that three years had passed since his conversion before he went to Jerusalem to talk to the leaders of the church. His conversations with Peter confirmed the Holy Spirit's work in Paul, that He was preaching and teaching the pure gospel of Christ, the same gospel the disciples learned from Jesus' own lips. Peter and the community of believers must have been amazed that this man of terror to the church had now become a lover of the church, a defender of the gospel of Christ. Paul was a prime example of Christ totally changing a person, bringing him from darkness to light. His life was a miracle walking. The church praised God because of Paul's conversion. The news spread quickly: The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy. Yes, their hearts must have been filled with joy to hear the news that the one who had wanted to destroy the church was now preaching the Good News and bringing others to Christ, especially the Gentiles. When Paul and Barnabas were in Perga, large crowds came to hear them after Paul preached in the synagogue. When the Jews were jealous and spoke against them, they answered back, "We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'" (Acts 13:46-47) We can see that Paul's commission was similar to the disciples who were told to go into all the world and to preach the gospel. The Holy Spirit was making sure that the world knew God had called Paul as his Apostle.
Since Paul is doing the work of a spiritual father as he writes to the church at Galatia, he wants them to see him as a credible messenger, not in his own right but under the leading and direction of the Lord. When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he said he did not come in strength but in fear and trembling, totally depending upon the Lord, wanting only to know Jesus Christ. He said, And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:4-5) Likewise, Paul wants the Galatians to know that he depends upon the Lord and the resident Holy Spirit for wisdom, and he wants them to do as he has done. He is saying, you can listen to me because I am approved of God, and He has given me a message for you to hear. He has already said he wishes them peace and grace, but he is not trying to please men, and he has warned them not to receive any false messages, even if an angel comes to bring them. So he has made it clear that what he is saying is more important than building a relationship with them. He cares about their souls, their standing with their Savior and their God. And as we have already read, he immediately stated the seriousness of their situation: I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. (Galatians 1:6-7 KJV) Paul knew they were listening to people who wanted to pervert the true gospel, to take away from the gospel of grace. This was a problem he encountered at other times and in other places. Paul had to warn the church at Ephesus that they no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. He prayed as he surely did for the Galatians: Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. (Ephesians 4:14-15) Spiritual maturity means walking in the Spirit, listening to the Spirit, avoiding deception and false teachers. This was Paul's desire for the church.
Many modern Christians would find it hard to believe they are deceived, but we are. We are deceived by a world the glitters with one deception after another, one false god after the next. We have so many altars where we can worship. We may not realize we are worshipping, but perhaps it is time we stopped for a tally of our time and our resources. One of the definitions of worship is adoring reverence or regard or the feeling of reverence or regard for any person or thing. That changes our thinking a bit. Where have we been worshipping lately? One measure of our regard for someone or for something is the amount of time and money we commit to that person or thing. Oops, did we actually say time and money? Yes, and the Bible says, Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. (Exodus 34:14) If we make a chart and eliminate essentials such as food, housing, and other basic needs, where does our money go? Where do we give our time? How much time do we commit to our Lord, our jealous God, our loving Savior? When Jesus wanted his disciples to pray with him at Gethsemane, they could not stay awake. He came to them and said, “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” (Matthew 26:40-41) Is that the way of all flesh? Is that our way? There is no substitute for yielding to the Lord, committing to the Holy Spirit's leading. Paul is telling the church he has a message for them, and God has sent him to them with a word of correction, a word of hope, a word of life. He wants them to know he is called of God and knows the truth. He is saying listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. I used to persecute the church, but now I am here to help you, to lead you back to the truth, and if you will turn back to the truth, the truth will set you free! (John 8:32) We pray freedom in Christ for you today!
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