
The Gospel Call
Galatians 1:11-24
You’ll remember last week that I introduced us to these seven stages of influence. Last week we discussed the first, which is “Get right with God, yourself, and others.” This week we’ll be looking at the second stage of Influence, which is “Survey your relationships”.
When we think of relationships, we often first think of family, or relatives. But relationships are so much more far reaching than that.
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Galatians 1:11-24:
11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.
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11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
What do you normally think of when you hear the term “Gospel?”
The four Gospels…Matthew, Mark, Luke, John.
Matthew’s account starts out with these words:
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Who’s gospel is this then?
The Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
Mark says:
The Beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Luke says a little later in the first chapter:
the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
Is there any doubt who Luke’s account of the Gospel of Jesus is about?
Finally in John, the word says:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
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So Whose Gospel are we talking about?
The Gospel of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul?
No…Paul received direct revelation from Christ the Lord, not from any man.
How have we come to know the Lord?
Through evangelism/discipleship.
It is the Lord who draws men to Himself, but we hear of Him through others witness…in other words, through relationships!
This gospel is not something that Man made up, nor is it something that was passed down through discipleship, nor was he taught it…it was entirely due to and through a revelation of Christ.
How do we receive the Gospel?
Through evangelism and discipleship…but also through revelation.
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His message is not new…the covenant is new,
but message is that He will be with His people…He pursues His people.
His promise from the Prophets of Old, to the New Covenant, is that He will be with His people.
Ezekiel 37:27 says:
My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Malachi 3:1 says:
“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
In Hebrews 7:17-19 we see that the new covenant is Jesus:
17 For it is witnessed of him,
“You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
18 For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
We draw near to God through Jesus Christ, and Christ alone…not through adherence to the Law.
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Our text goes on to say:
13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.
Spurgeon says,
“If you profess to be a Christian, yet find full satisfaction in worldly pleasures and pursuits, your profession is false.”
What Paul is saying to the church at Galatia here, is that they know how zealous he was, but he is changed by the Gospel Call on His life.
It is a stark contrast, the difference between his former life and current life.
What I believe this says to us, is that we should not place any aspect of our lives ahead of the upward call of Christ.
So what are your pursuits…
do they have a gospel focus?
Remember those spheres of influence.
If you are a Christian, whatever you do is an opportunity for Kingdom purpose.
If you work, work as if unto the Lord. If you eat, do it all for His glory.
I like to play golf. It is one of those games that can consume you if you are not careful. You are always looking for that next edge…whether it be equipment/change of swing/tempo/stance.
It is fun, but it must not become where one finds their full satisfaction.
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Matthew 6:19-21 says:
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Where is your treasure…is it in worldly pursuits, or in God Centered relationships?
Verses 15-17 say:
15But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 15 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
One might think that the natural thing would be for him to join the other apostles in Jerusalem. That was not his mission.
The word here says that he didn’t consult with anyone
Where did he go?
To Arabia, and Syria.
One point I want to make here…
when the Lord speaks, we should obey.
Mark 1:18 says that when Jesus called them…
And immediately they left their nets and followed him.
In Genesis 12, when the Lord told Abram to go to the land that He would show him…the word says in verse 4:
So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him.
In verse 22,
when God called Abraham to Sacrifice Isaac, Abraham immediately obeyed and trusted the Lord.
Why can these men have such great faith?
Because of their relationship with Him.
So even if we don’t understand why, if God leads, we should respond with immediate obedience.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother.
What we see here is Paul’s boldness. He immediately goes without consulting the apostles and begins to preach the Gospel to the gentiles.
He returns to Jerusalem and meets with Cephas.
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Verses 21-23 say:
21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.”
You see, they didn’t know who Saul was face to face, but they knew of his former and now changed life. He had been transformed by the Gospel call on his life.
Romans 12:1-2 Paul says:
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
This is right after Romans 11 that talks about the Lord saving the remnant of Israel and that the Gentiles have been grafted into God’s plan for His people…and therefore are now His people.
Finally, Verse 24 says:
And they glorified God because of Me.
1 Cor 6:20 says:
For you have been bought with a price, therefore, glorify God in your body.
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Have you responded to the Gospel Call?
If you are here, and you have not yet heard, but today you hear…
then Jesus is calling you.
What will your answer be?
Will you pick up?
Or will you decline.
I pray that you answer…
because His call is truly Transformational.
He wants a relationship with you, and wants you to share relationship with others.
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Discussion Questions:
Have you responded to the Gospel Call? Share with someone in 3 minutes or less, when/how you responded to the Gospel call.
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If you have received the call and responded, what is God leading you to be obedient in that you have yet to submit to?
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As you survey your relationships, who is one person in those six outer concentric circles of concern, with whom God might be leading you to share the gospel?
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Resources:
1. Who’s Your One▶https://whosyourone.com
2. Share Jesus Without Fear (by William Fay)
3. And You Will Be My Witnesses (by Matt Queen)
4. Evangelism Is (by Dave Earley)