Culver Community Church

Pastor Chris Sweeney

Sermon Notes

July 28, 2019

Galatians 1:11-24 – Paul, An Apostle from God!

{vs. 11-12} In verse eleven, Paul begins to give a detailed defense of his authority as an apostle.  He does so by giving his testimony or in plan English – he tells his story, the story of what God has done in his life!  As believers, our own stories (not someone else’s) are crucial to our sharing the gospel.  As witnesses, we testify to what we have seen, heard and experienced!  Who can argue with what you know first-hand?  Paul’s testimony has huge implications – if Paul is not an Apostle (as he claims), then the message he preaches cannot be assumed to be from God - it would be put into question!  The alternative is that this message is just some concoction of Paul with or without others and that it is not the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16) direct from His throne!  There is no shortage of people who claim to have heard from God – in that day and right up until today (the end of the world) – but, most have not heard God’s voice.  Some are deceivers running some scam and some need help (medical, psychological or other help).  The difference is that as an Apostle, God verified that He truly spoke to Paul with signs and wonders!

We know from Acts chapters 9, 22 & 26, that the risen Lord Jesus appeared to then Saul on the Road to Damascus.  Now because of time, I’m going to leave it to you reread this account in detail, but I want to make sure you are aware of the highlights of what happened.  Paul is going along, minding his own business (really on Pharisee, no Sanhedrin business) arresting and persecuting the believers, trying to stomp the name of Christ out of existence when . . .

{3b} … suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. {4} He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?" {5} "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. - Acts 9:3b-5 NIV

Notice that Saul hears directly from Jesus – who he pretends not to know, but instinctively calls Lord.

{12} In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight." - Acts 9:12, NIV

{15} But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim My name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. {16} I will show him how much he must suffer for My name." - Acts 9:15-16 NIV

Ananias, a local prophet is the first contact (from the Christian world) that Paul has after his conversion and he goes reluctantly to lay hands on Saul, by which God returned his sight.  Ananias did not get the assignment to witness to Saul, only to lay hands on him and pray.  The Lord confirms to Ananias by the Spirit that Saul/Paul is chosen to “bear My name” and we know what that means – to represent, to tell the gospel and live before others in such a way as to bring God the glory!  Not only is he chosen for the gospel - - - but he is also chosen to suffer (God can use our troubles and trials for His glory!)  These pains furthered the gospel and with that in mind, let’s turn our focus back to Galatians.

Paul, like all the other Apostles received the gospel direct from the source!  Only he received it a bit later than the rest did.  Jesus Christ gave this message to Saul/Paul on that Damascus Road and subsequent visions – he received it for him, personally and so that he could broadcast it!  In the Greek, Paul uses a play on words here – literally “the gospel that I gospelled to you”.  This reminds us of something important – the gospel is not just something to be known, or even believed and received (although those are good!) - - - the gospel is by definition something to be shared!  The gospel (good news of God) has built into it by it’s very nature that it should be declared – even heralded - - - it is news after all!

{vs. 13-14} Everyone had heard of Paul’s conversion – they may not all have believed it, but he had by this time stood the tests of devotion and of time!  There is no way that after several years, Saul was still trying to infiltrate the church – to lay a trap for the believers and apostles!  This has become one of the greatest evidences of the power of the gospel – a changed life.  The other Apostles went from not believing the women that Jesus was risen, hiding, hoping not to be found to bold men declaring God’s gospel, ready to die for a risen Savior!  When any believer (you or I) come to Christ - - - there should be the same dramatic change!  Before Christ, we were the captains of our own lives (Satan had us fooled!) but now Jesus is our Captain, charting a vastly different heading!  Can people see this kind of dramatic change in your life and mine?  I pray so!

Saul was content in Judaism; confident he knew the truth and was on God’s side (we know that he was 100% wrong) but he was certain, literally betting his life and eternity on it!  He was so sure that he went around as God’s warrior – zealously destroying the ‘evil’ that was corrupting the religion he loved so much.  He was a young, up-and-coming Pharisee rock star!  However, while he was not looking for new revelation - God sought him out!  That’s important, many people go looking for new truth (revelation) that fits into their lives – that they are comfortable with – and when they look, Satan will provide a deception that fits their desires.  Paul however, was chosen by God before he sought out God!  God always calls us, seeks us first – we respond either positively or negatively but He is always the initiator.  God calls us while we are still underserving – when there is no merit for saving us – that again is why it’s called grace – God’s unmerited favor!  God knows us before we know ourselves – of course He acts first, as Paul goes on to tell us!

{vs. 15-17} It is by God’s pleasure, it is by His grace and His calling that Saul (and all of us) hear the gospel message – no matter where or how we hear it!  Now I don’t just mean hear as with our ears, but hear with our hearts – our inner selves.  We know that Saul heard (with ears) the gospel because he tried to get every believer that he caught to renounce it (to blaspheme Christ) - - - before his conversion, he thought the gospel was vile, damnable heresy!  That message could not, did not sink in until God revealed His Son in Paul.  In verse 12 we see Paul describe God revealing to him but here it has changed, he has been changed (everything has changed) – now, Christ is revealed in him!

From the start (Acts 9) Paul was told about his own commission – to preach, especially to go to the Gentiles, and after conversion, he immediately began!  Saul stayed with the disciples and …

At once [immediately] he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. - Acts 9:20 NIV

Paul does not spend time hearing the gospel, getting clarification or on the job training with other Apostles but rather he goes right back to his brothers and tries to share what God has given him!  Is this guy right for the job or what?!  But of course, the Jews in those synagogues rejected the gospel and they tried to kill Paul (like he would have before God knocked him to the ground)!  Paul preached powerfully from the Old Testament scriptures that he knew so well.  Those who received the gospel at Damascus smuggled him out of the city by lowering him in a basket through the city wall (Acts 9 & 2 Corinthians 11).  From the basket, Paul went into the Arabian desert (not what we call Saudi Arabia) but the rocky area east of the Jordan (which includes Petra).  Many reasons have been suggested for this flight – 1) to escape; 2) for a monastic kind of retreat and time of communion with the Lord; and 3) to continue preaching the gospel.  Certainly, if Paul continued to preach the Jews would have sent to Jerusalem to request a new prosecutor (persecutor) be sent.  It is also clear from his immediate leap into action (preaching) that Paul did not spend three years hidden away, seeking the Lord and chanting ‘ohm’.  Paul could not stay silent – we see that everywhere he went – he preached! (We have been called too – Is it that hard for us to not constantly give praise and preach about what God has done?)

{vs. 18-19} After the return to Damascus, after those three years - then Paul returned to Jerusalem (where he had been sent out from).  He did not return to the Temple, to the Sanhedrin - - - but to seek the other Apostles, church leaders because his loyalties have changed.  On arriving, only Peter (Cephas) and James were there, or willing (brave enough) or able to see Paul.

{vs. 20} This is literally Paul’s sworn testimony.  This is how he explains his conversion, his calling and the authority given to him by the risen Christ Jesus.   Remember, all of this is to prove that the message (gospel) he preaches is not from man (not even the other Apostles) but from God - Jesus, from whom he personally received it!

{vs. 21-24} Rounding out his account, Paul mentions his time visiting the churches in Syria and Cilicia (his home province).  What we do not see is that Paul was once again in danger because of the gospel.  While the Judean church did not know (would not recognize) Saul/Paul – they heard the amazing account of his conversion!  Just think about this dramatic turnaround – it would be like Hitler converting to Judaism!  From man’s perspective – totally unthinkable!  Acts 9:28-30 tells us that he preached in Jerusalem trying to convince the Hellenistic Jews (those more open to Greek/Roman culture) but they tried to kill him.  In response, the believers “took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.”

And they praised God because of me – what a great way to end this chapter!  Before Christ, Saul was all about racking up accomplishments – receiving the praises of men but now, the praise goes to God.  It is God who was pleased to save him.  It is God’s gospel that Paul received, direct from the source and that he is now preaching!  It is God’s grace, God’s power, God’s salvation and God deserves the praise!