We Must Not Become Hypocrites or Christ Died for Nothing

 Paul Confronts Peter

 Book of Galatians Chapter 2 Verse 11 through 21

 There is a short verse in the Book of Thessalonians that we need to learn, understand, and adhere to, throughout our Christian Walk.

 1Th 5:22  Abstain from all appearance of evil. 

 There are virtues we need to cultivate in our devotion to God and this Scripture is far more important than we realize when we first read it.

 We sometimes forget that the Holy Spirit lives within us. 

When we "grieve the Holy Spirit," we lose any power we have as Christians and are no longer a good witness for the truth of Jesus Christ.

 1Th 4:7  For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 

1Th 4:8  He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. 

 It was no different for the Apostle Peter, and the Apostle Paul awoke Peter to this fact.

 We know that Paul was clearing up a few things for these Thessalonians before he began his discussion on the Rapture and the return of Jesus Christ.

 This Church had a special need for guidance and sometimes even our most devoted Christians also need additional guidance.

 We will never reach a point in our lives that we should not be growing in our relationship with Jesus Christ.

 Sanctification is a lifelong project!

 At Jerusalem, all Church leaders had confirmed Paul’s authority!

 We know that Peter had been the leader of the Apostles from day one.

 Though we cannot make excuses for the actions of Peter, we must insist that we all need to watch our conduct at all times for it seems that someone is always watching for good or bad reasons.

 Act 15:22  Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 

Act 15:23  And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: 

Act 15:24  Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: 

Act 15:25  It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 

Act 15:26  Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Act 15:27  We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. 

Act 15:28  For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 

 This Silas and this Judas were two men from the Church at Jerusalem who would verify the results of the first Council of the Church, to these Galatians.

 They were chief men of the Church at Jerusalem.

 Later we will see that this same Silas also known as Silvanus as the companion of Paul on his second missionary journey.

 Silas became a great missionary himself.

 It seems that Silas, like Paul, was also a Roman citizen.

 Silas was with Paul when they were in jail where the Philippian jailer and all his family got saved.

 Act 16:25  And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 

Act 16:26  And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. 

Act 16:27  And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 

Act 16:28  But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 

 It is verse 37 that tells us that both Paul and Silas were both Roman citizens.

 Act 16:37  But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, “being Romans”, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.

 Not much else is known about Barsabas other than he was a great man of the Church in Jerusalem.

 This Judas surnamed Barsabas, seems to have been gifted the gift of prophecy which at that time could have meant that he was one of the Preachers at the Church in Jerusalem and he returned to that Church.

 It was after these things had taken place that the Apostle Peter visited this Church in Antioch.

 It also appears those Judaizers had remained in this Church at Antioch.

 This is the background where we see Paul confront Peter, and he had every right to do so though we may not know the whole story, we do know that the Holy Spirit included it in these writings of Paul.

 *****Gal 2:11  But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. 

Gal 2:12  For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

Gal 2:13  And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. 

Gal 2:14  But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? 

 We may not know the exact reasons that Peter came to the Church in Antioch, but who would turn down the leader of the Apostles if he came down to visit.

 Paul may even have invited Peter to visit at any time.

 This Church at Antioch was a great church, but it was also the first Gentile Church established outside of Jerusalem.

 This church was a mission minded church, and it was important that a good example was set before all the Gentiles and the Jews, but especially before the Gentiles by the Jews.

 When Peter arrived in Antioch he sat down with and enjoyed the company of the Gentiles, as we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. We all have the same Father!

 When some other Judaizers came to visit at Antioch they were astounded that Peter was enjoying such fellowship with these Gentiles and he had allowed those same Judaizers to rebuke him for eating with the Gentiles who they still considered to be Heathen.

 We know Peter was a great Preacher and a great man of God, but this thing could ruin his testimony unless it was stopped immediately.

 It went against the decisions made at that First Church Council.

 This thing caused Peter to stumble for a moment.

 If the great Apostle Peter could stumble, we can be sure that we can!

Even today, the most used excuse used by the "Lost" is, that we the Church are all a bunch of hypocrites.

I used to say this myself and it shames me.

 Peter sure acted like one and we know these things are true or this story would not be in the Bible.

 It should be obvious to us that Peter's error was not in preaching a false doctrine.

 The error Peter made was using bad judgment!

 Though we seek moral perfection it evades us much of the time.

 We can believe that this situation was provided by the Devil and these same Judaizers were still full of the Devil, and they would haunt the Apostle Paul most of all his days.

 In Peter's case, we find him bold and then timid many times, even when Christ was teaching him.

 These are not excuses, but just the truth!

We are not to judge Peter when we know God has forgiven him.

 Remember Peter preached one sermon where over three thousand souls were saved in one day.

 I have not heard of anyone else who had such results from one sermon.

 We can also realize that Paul rebuked Peter for this one thing, and it needed to be done, but Paul was not rude to Peter nor was Paul showing personal animosity.

 Without a doubt we can see that both Paul and Peter possessed the same Holy Spirit just as we all do.

 These things did not cause friction between Paul and Peter as Peter wrote.

 2Pe 3:15  And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 

2Pe 3:16  As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 

2Pe 3:17  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 

2Pe 3:18  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 

 In reality we can still blame these Judaizers who continued to cause turmoil in the Church even though they were rebuked at the Jerusalem Council.

 I do not know of any man of God who has already reached perfection except for those who are already with the Lord.

 Paul and Peter are both in perfection today!

 Paul also knew these things as he wrote.

 Php 3:12  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 

Php 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 

Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 

 When this thing passed Paul was still missionary to the Gentiles, but he would still drop by a Synagogue of the Jews if the opportunity arose and Peter was still missionary to the Jews, but he would still help any Gentile who had a need and he may have dropped in on all the Gentile churches from time to time

 Both these great men of God had death sentences on their heads, but God kept them protected until God took them home.

 *****Gal 2:15  We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 

Gal 2:16  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

 Every believer, no matter where we come from, is justified by one thing and it is our "faith".

 Not just any faith, but faith in the work that Our Lord Jesus Christ has done so that we can be saved.

 Paul admitted that he was a Jew by nature.

 The Jews considered themselves to be religionists and the Gentiles to be Heathen Gentile sinners.

 We could say "rank sinners".

 Paul is saying that if the Jews being religionists would claim the same thing the Gentile Sinners claimed, who believed in the work of Jesus Christ, then they all could confess they were saved by "faith".

 Any Jew who came to Jesus Christ for salvation was admitting that their religion, their works, and their law were not able to save them. Only the same faith that the Gentiles had could save them!

 Is there a work that any man can do or any law that can make us perfect? That answer is no!

 If our salvation depends on any work or any law, then we are lost as Job's Turkey and Job did not have any turkeys.

 God says we have only one hope! Faith in Jesus Christ.

 The word "justified" means to reckon, to credit, to account, to judge, to look upon as righteous.

 It does not mean to make us righteous!

 We are not made righteous,  but we are accounted as righteous!

 Rom 3:10  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 

 Rom 3:21  But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 

Rom 3:22  Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 

Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

 Justification is necessary because we are born sinners!

 We cannot live as we desire, we must live as God desires, and until we are saved,  we are the enemies of God, even though He still loves us.

 Those who are not saved do not want God in their lives, they have alienated themselves from God.

 This is not God's choice but our choice!

Remember it is God’s will that we all be saved!

 We cannot turn away from God and then expect the blessings of God!

 Why would God justify any man?

 God will only "justify" any man because of Jesus Christ.

 God will credit our faith as righteousness if our faith is in Jesus Christ!

 Jesus Christ has secured the ideal righteousness for each of us!

 Jesus did this when He came to this earth and lived a righteous and sin free life!

 Rom 5:6  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 

Rom 5:7  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 

Rom 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

Rom 5:9  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 

Rom 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 

Rom 5:11  And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. 

 The world refuses to understand that Our Lord Jesus Christ came to this earth to die!

 By His death, all sinners can be saved if they were willing to trust what God has done for us.

 2Co 5:18  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 

2Co 5:19  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 

2Co 5:20  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 

 Jesus came to die, but Jesus also came to resurrect from that death, because God cannot stay dead. 

It is impossible for Him to do so!

 It is His life from the dead that has given us eternal life!

 *****Gal 2:17  But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 

Gal 2:18  For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 

 Does Jesus Christ make us sinners, by our trusting in Him that we are justified by faith in Him alone?

 Is Jesus Christ a minister of sin?

 Are we sinners because we reject the law?

 It is the Law that makes us sinners, for the Law condemns sin!

 The law only shows us where our failures are!

 Gal_3:24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Gal_3:25  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

 When we sit down and think about what God has done for us, we are driven to please God and not rebel against Him.

 Jesus Christ bore all our guilt and all our punishment for the crimes that we committed against His Father.

 When we bow to our Heavenly Father, it is for our love and adoration in appreciation for such "Amazing Love" that He has for us.

 We try to be good, not to earn righteousness, but to serve Him because He has saved us.

 Jesus Christ teaches us that "Love" is a much greater force upon this Earth than "fear"!

 1Jn 3:16  Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 

 We cannot ever repay God for what He has done for us, and it is a sin to even try to.

 We are bought and paid for with the blood of Jesus Christ!

So He does own us, not just because He created us, but because He sent His Son to reclaim His right to us and all He asks of us, is to enjoy life and our reasonable service.

 Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 

Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 Ecc_5:18  Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.

 God wants us to enjoy this life He has given to us keeping in mind that nothing upon this earth is as great as the things in Heaven.

 We should also keep in mind that there is no life if we do not have the truth of God in our lives.

 If we do not believe our good fortune comes by the hands of God, then we do not believe in the omnipotence of God.

 This is not teaching a prosperity Gospel, but our Heavenly Father does take care of His children.

This sometimes means that when we are suffering, He may take us home rather than heal us.

No one loves us as much as our Heavenly Father!

 We will find that the closer our walk with Jesus the more we will enjoy life, and it does not take much prosperity to enjoy life!

 *****Gal 2:19  For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 

Gal 2:21  I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. 

 There are some things we must do to live unto God.

 1) We must die to the law!

 People have a bad habit of comparing themselves to other people in order to show that they are better or worse than those people.

 To be a Christian, we must compare ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ and we will immediately see that we just do not measure up.

 The Lord Jesus Christ lived a short thirty-three or more years in the flesh, and He lived a sinless life in every one of those years. 

We do well to live one day without sin!

 The Law shows me just how much of a sinner I am and how far I am from the goodness of my Lord Jesus.

 I will never reach perfection as long as I am in this body of flesh!

 The law tells me I need to be punished for my sin, and that punishment is my payment for the sin I have committed.

 Rom 6:22  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 

Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

 My "faith" in the work of Christ will release me from the power of sin to keep me in bondage!

 The only hope I have to get to Heaven is to die to the law!

 2) I must be crucified with Jesus Christ!

 How can I do such a thing?

 I must believe that the Lord Jesus died in my place! He took my death to Himself!

 My Lord Jesus bore the punishment for my sin, so I do not have to.

 It is my "faith" in this truth that counts for my having died in Christ.

It is my "faith" in my identifying with Christ that counts for my pardon.

It is my "faith" in the Lord having already been punished for my sin that counts for my freedom from the bondage of sin.

 Rom 6:3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 

Rom 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 

Rom 6:5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 

Rom 6:6  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 

Rom 6:7  For he that is dead is freed from sin. 

We should be able to see that these are the words our Pastor uses when we are Baptized.

 3) I can now live for God because God lives in me!

 I am crucified with Christ and God sees me as having already died and like His Son, I have resurrected from that death!

 The Lord Jesus Christ is now in charge of my life, He owns me!

 The Lord Jesus Christ is still walking upon this earth because He is walking in my body!

 I am just a branch growing and getting nourishment from the Vine that was my old body but is now the Body of Christ.

 Joh 15:1  I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 

Joh 15:2  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 

Joh 15:3  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 

Joh 15:4  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 

Joh 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 

Joh 15:6  If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 

Joh 15:7  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 

 4) I can now live for God because I trust in the "Grace" of God!

 The Lord Jesus Christ is the "Righteousness of my God".

 If I set aside the "Grace of God" then My Lord, My Savior died for nothing!

 Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 

Php 3:10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 

Php 3:11  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 

 We know that Paul had to confront Peter because there is just too much to lose if we do not gain the life of Jesus Christ!

 Amen

The First Church Council

 Paul's Participation in the Jerusalem Council

 Book Galatians Chapter 2 Verses 1 through 10

 From Chapter 1 we learned that the Apostle Paul's preaching of Salvation by the "Grace of God" had met much criticism, but this criticism was mainly from the Jewish religion.

 This criticism had reached a point where it was determined that the Church leaders would come together to make a final decision on this matter.

It had been the Jews known as Judaizers, who had called for this council hoping the leaders of the Church in Jerusalem would side with them.

 Though there were many Church councils over the years, the first Jerusalem Council was the most important.

 What we find is that our old friends the Pharisees are stirring up trouble again.

 In reality, there was a large number of Pharisees who accepted Jesus as the true Messiah after His death and resurrection.

 In fact, this would be a natural result for an honest-thinking Pharisee.

 Most of the Pharisees were looking for the Messiah to come.

 The Pharisees knew the Scriptures better than the average Jew.

 When the Apostles proved that Jesus was the Messiah from the Scriptures, the Pharisee was bound to see the evidence.

 If a Pharisee had an honest and open heart he would be convicted by the Holy Spirit as much as any other Lost Soul.

 However, the Pharisees would tend to see Jesus as the fulfillment of Judaism, not a replacement of it.

The Pharisees would see Jesus as an addition to the Law of Moses, not replacing it.

The Pharisees would see Jesus as adding belief to their rituals, not replacing them.

The Pharisee would see Jesus adding Baptism to the ordinances, not replacing the ordinance.

 Because the Pharisees had extensive training and had made a lifetime commitment to the keeping of the Law, oral and traditional, they would be very slow to give up the Law.

 They would be very slow to rely on the Righteousness of Jesus the Messiah and not the righteousness of the Law.

 But we do see where some of them made a complete break with Judaism.

 It is these things that caused the First Council of the Church.

 Act 15:5  But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. 

Act 15:6  And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

 We will immediately be able to see that the question at the Council in Jerusalem had grown much greater than circumcision from the Church at Antioch.

 The question at Jerusalem became "does a man have to keep the whole law to be saved" and accepted into the Church?

 We would be wrong to believe these questions have disappeared today!

 1) Can a person earn favor with God? Or do they receive the favor of God?

2) Are they acceptable to God because they keep the Law? Or are they saved by confessing that they have broken the law and are dependent entirely upon the Lord Jesus Christ?

3) Do we work to make ourselves righteous or do we cast ourselves upon the righteousness of Jesus?

4) Do we pray to the Lord saying Lord I come on my own righteousness, or I come on your righteousness?

5) Do we pray Lord I come with my own package of works, or I come seeking your mercy and grace?

6) Do we pray to the Lord I came to be praised for my own works, or do we praise the Lord because He did all the work?

7) Are we to receive glory because we have done good, or is the glory to be lifted to Jesus for who He is and what He has done?

8) Is the Lord Jesus God, who came down from Heaven to save us or not?

 Martin Luther broke with Catholic Doctrine on some of these same issues!

 Rom 1:17  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 

 Do we believe what the Bible says or not?

 Luther came to realize that works have no part in our salvation.

 It is a fact that there are no works to do to receive the Grace of God but there are some works that should happen after salvation.

 Jas 2:20  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 

 We need to study every question that is asked about salvation in order to properly lead someone to the Lord!

 *****Gal 2:1  Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. 

 At the end of last week's lesson, Paul had returned to his hometown of Tarsus and then to Antioch Syria where the first Church outside of Jerusalem had been established.

 Now in the first verse of Chapter Two, Paul is returning to Jerusalem for the first council of the Church and fourteen years have passed.

 This first council at Jerusalem could easily have stopped the Church before it ever got started.

 The Apostle Paul was faithful to give a full account of the Gospel he had preached among the Gentiles, who were still known as Heathen to the Jews, indicating a lower class of people.

 Paul preached that Christianity must be free from all mixture of Judaism.

 This would have seemed ungrateful to some because even the Lord Jesus was a Jew.

 Joh 4:21  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 

Joh 4:22  Ye worship ye know not what: "we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews". 

 Notice Jesus claims to be a Jew just like the disciples who were with Him.

 We should understand that Christianity is the New Testament, the New Covenant, God has made with all the people of Earth.

 We should also notice that Paul was very careful and going to extra pains, to list his contacts with the Church in Jerusalem.

 It had to be understood that the Doctrine of Salvation that Paul preached had come from Jesus Christ and not from the leaders of the Church of Jerusalem.

 It was for the benefit of the Jews that these precautions were made and not so much for the benefit of the Gentiles.

 Paul was not going to change the way he preached so easily.

 Likewise, the Jews were not going to accept the Gentiles so easily.

 We must also understand the other Apostles had to recognize that the calling of the Apostle Paul had met the basic qualifications for being an Apostle being called by Christ Himself.

 Paul's calling and his service had now proven itself for fourteen years.

 Paul did not enter Jerusalem to answer his critics. 

Nothing that happened in Jerusalem would change the calling of Paul, because Paul was God-called and not man-called.

 1Co 15:3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 

1Co 15:4  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 

1Co 15:5  And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 

1Co 15:6  After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 

1Co 15:7  After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 

1Co 15:8  And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

 *****Gal 2:2  And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. 

 Paul's intent was for him to defend his work in the Gospel.

 If the other Apostles disagreed with Paul, it would not have changed Paul's calling. 

God intended for the Church to survive at all costs.

 What had Jesus told to Peter?

 Mat_16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

 I think it is almost every message that our Pastor says he will not back down, and we had better be prepared to stand with him.

 No preacher is to run in vain!

 Every evangelist, Pastor, preacher, and missionary, must preach the "Gospel" and only the "Gospel" and he must build upon that ministry as the truth and it is.

 We are not to allow ritual, rule, ceremony, or law to be added to the Gospel!

 People are saved and people grow only by the Gospel, the "Good News" of God's love for the world, His creation!

 Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

Joh 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 

Joh 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 

 *****Gal 2:3  But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: 

Gal 2:4  And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: 

Gal 2:5  To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. 

 We must never be intimidated into giving up the truth of the Gospel as our own government has been trying to do lately!

 There are as many so-called preachers who have only enough truth to be called a man of God when they are lost as Job's Turkey and causing damage to the Church and they don't care, they just buy themselves another Jet plane or they write another book but we can be sure they will answer to God.

 There is only one Gospel and there will never be a modern version because God never changes!

 The Lord Jesus Christ will never come back to this Earth, (His Creation) to face another cross!

 The Apostle Paul's version of the Gospel is still the Gospel that saves!

 There is only one "Gospel" and there will never be another "Gospel" that is the "Good News" for mankind!

 The 'Gospel" of the "Grace" of God and "Grace Alone" that Paul preached did arouse many of the Jews.

 Every practicing Jew was circumcised when they were eight days old and they leaned heavily on the Law of Moses all the days of their lives.

 When they accepted the truth of Jesus Christ, they still refused to reject Judaism.

 In their minds the Lord Jesus only changed a few things and Judaism was still the key to life with Jehovah.

 They proclaimed that every Christian would first have to become a practicing Jew.

 Only after becoming a Jew could, they then accept the teachings of Christ and be baptized.

 Paul rejected this and Paul was right even though Paul was a practicing Jew.

 The Church would have failed before it got started if this had been true.

 The Jews were shocked that Paul taught such a thing.

 These Jews were called Judaizers.

 It was determined by these Judaizers that Paul could not have gotten his message from Jehovah, and they were wrong.

 If anything is added to the Gospel, then it is no longer the Gospel.

 If anything is taken away from the Gospel, then it is no longer the Gospel.

 Jehovah was very serious about this!

 Rev 22:18  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 

Rev 22:19  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

 Paul took with him Barnabas and Titus who were fellow workers with him in the Gospel.

 Barnabas was a Jew who had been converted in Jerusalem.

 Titus was a Heathen Gentile, and he was not about to become a Jew.

 Titus had never been inside the Jewish Temple, and he had no desire to enter into it.

 Titus had not been circumcised!

 Titus had not committed himself to the Law of Moses nor the rituals of Judaism.

 Titus was a perfect example of salvation by "Grace Alone".

 Titus had answered the calling of Christ to become a Preacher.

 Judaizers are just "Legalists".

 Legalists are those people who add to the salvation plan of God.

 Christianity is not now and never will be a blend of Judaism and the teachings of Christ.

 Christianity is not now and never will be a blend of the Muslim and the Koran, and the teachings of Jesus Christ.

 Christianity is not now and never will be a blend of Hinduism and the teachings of Jesus Christ.

 In fact, Christianity can only be the "Good News" of Jesus Christ and nothing but salvation by the free gift, of the "GRACE" of God.

 Though many Jews even today are impressed with Jesus Christ, they will not give up their religion for Him and therefore they cannot be saved.

 This was the first great battle for the existence of the Church!

 This is the message of Christianity!

 Legalism still exists today along with many of the teachings of a false Gospel, which is not the Gospel.

 *****Gal 2:6  But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: 

Gal 2:7  But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; 

Gal 2:8  (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) 

 The Christian Preacher and teacher must defend the "Gospel" before any and all persons or they are not who they say they are.

 We as Christians must ask ourselves:

 1) Are we seeking the approval of church leaders over the approval of God?

2) Are we seeking the call of the Church or the call of God?

3) Are we seeking favor of the church or answering the call of God?

4) Are we seeking to build a reputation or seeking to serve God who called us?

 How many of us add our own ideas, our own rituals, our own rules instead of the Pure Gospel?

 God treats all of us alike!

 God has no favorites, He loves you as much as He loved the Apostle Paul!

 Everyone in Heaven are there because they are saved by the same Gospel that Paul preached!

 Every true Preacher, Pastor, Evangelists, or Missionary are called by the same Lord!

 *****Gal 2:9  And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. 

Gal 2:10  Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do. 

If we take notice, we will see that the leaders of the Church in Jerusalem did not agree with those Judaizers nor could they, as the Judaizers had hoped they would.

On the contrary they stood with the Apostle Paul!

They saw firsthand that Paul had indeed been called of Christ Jesus to preach the Gospel.

They saw that Paul had been called to preach the truth just like every other man called of God.

They saw that Paul had been called to preach to the Gentiles.

This means that everyone called of God, are called with a specific purpose in mind.

Every person called of God is called to preach to the poor just they are called to preach to the rich still having the same message.

Paul promised to try to help the Church in Jerusalem because every Christian who felt the same as Paul would be excommunicated.

James the step-brother of the Lord Jesus was the lead Pastor at the Church at Jerusalem.

James and Jude both the step-brothers of our Lord did also write a book of the New Testament being lead by the Spirit of Jesus their step-brother.

Are we going to have faith in God or are we going to trust what man can do for us?

Amen

The Gospel

 The Origin of the Gospel

 Book of Galatians Chapter 1 verses 11 through 24

 The Word "Gospel" is the English word used to translate the Greek word for "good news".

 The Greek word for the English word “Gospel” is “evangelical”, so the writers of this “good news” are best known as Evangelists.

 In reality, the word Gospel means the proclamation of pardon, mercy, and peace in and through the Lord Jesus Christ.

 If the word "Gospel" is used in any other way, it is a false gospel.

 All those men who are partakers of its saving Grace, who are commissioned to preach it, are to be considered beautiful.

 Isa 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

 In the New Testament "Gospel" has two shades of meaning.

 1) The actual message of Jesus Christ.

 Mar 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

Mar 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

 2) It is the story told about Jesus after His death and His resurrection, in the Scriptures like we are studying today.

 *****Gal 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

Gal 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

 It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is the embodiment of the Gospel!

 Without the Lord Jesus Christ, there can be no Gospel, period.

 To certify is to declare that the Gospel is the truth of God's Son and, therefore the truth of God!

 The Gospel is not in agreement with the ways of man, nor the values of man!

 The Gospel is on a much higher plane!

 In verse 10 from last week, Paul proclaimed: "Am I seeking the favor of men or God". "Do I seek to please men or to please God" being "God the Son Jesus Christ", "God's Messiah".

 Verse eleven continues, with people saying that Paul did not follow the Lord Jesus when He was alive on this earth, so how could he possibly know any Gospel?

 They say Paul was teaching a man-made Gospel taught by a misguided man, speaking of Paul.

 Paul the Apostle Preached what was given to him by Jesus Christ Himself!

 The word “revelation” means a truth that is shared by God with man, a truth that man never knew.

 The "Gospel" Paul preached was given to him by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.

 The Gospel is God's wisdom not the wisdom of this world and we can include the time we live in today.

 The world's wisdom includes many approaches to finding the truth and the meaning of life and the many approaches to finding the problems of evil and death, but these things have eluded the world and are unable to be found.

 The world's wisdom is full of lies and theories.

 The wisdom of the world says there is no God. He does not exist.

 Way back in time, as far back as the mind can go, something, some element, some molecule, some atom, some gas has brought forth all the things we see today.

 To some, the wisdom of the world says God may exist, but after creating all the things we see, has moved on to do other things having no concern for the things He made.

 The wisdom of this world says that God may exist, but He used evolution to create all the things we see which is still a fantasy.

 These are just some of the things we go up against as Christians, when we reach out to those who are lost!

 1Co 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

1Co 3:20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

 The Gospel is not a human thing, it did not originate with man as many say.

The Gospel is not the "good news" from some men as they say.

The Gospel is not to be preached as a message handed down from one generation to the next.

 The Gospel is to be preached as the single fact that Jesus Christ did reveal Himself with the truth of His life, the truth of His death, and the truth of His resurrection.

 These Galatians had asked themselves: did Paul preach the truth of Jesus Christ or not?

 1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

1Co 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

 1Th 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

 There are not as many who believe that all the things of this world happened by accident as the world confesses and it is time they stood up and listened to the truth before it is too late.

 Paul did not ever try to hide his past life!

 Our past life is not remembered in Heaven, but we will be reminded of it by our enemies, and it would not hurt for us to look back and see how far the Gospel has removed us from our past life. We are new creatures because of the Gospel.

 *****Gal 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

Gal 1:14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

 If we look at Paul's life before He met the Lord Jesus upon the Damascus Road, we will see the terrible things he did to the Church.

 We could say it was nothing short of a miracle that could account for the change that had taken place in the life of Paul.

 Paul wrote: Php 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

 The Apostle Paul had a radical change of life!

 When we read the Scriptures, this is clearly seen!

 Paul had launched his attack on the Church at the death of Stephen.

 Paul had been a supreme example of self-righteousness.

 Paul became an example of the true Christian.

 Paul had blazed a path for Christian persecution.

 Paul now blazed a path for the salvation of the Lost.

 The Lord Jesus set Paul apart and called him by His "Grace".

 Paul began to believe that God had called him even before his birth.

 *****Gal 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,

Gal 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

 Paul began to believe that he was now doing what God had intended for him to do from his birth forward and he was.

 Every Christian should realize that we are now in the will God had for us from the beginning of our lives, just as He did the prophet Jeremiah.

 Jeremiah became a prophet of God, and we become witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ.

 All those who have been called to separation from this evil world understand what Paul is saying here.

 God has a plan for all of us and that plan began at our birth, but most of us were like Paul, we did not realize it until we met Jesus.

 Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

 Paul reminded others of the same.

 2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

2Ti 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

 The source of our change was the purpose of God!

The means of our change was His calling by the Holy Spirit.

The result of that change is that we might teach Jesus Christ to the Lost.

 For Paul, his job was to reach the Gentile world that God had included and not just the Jews!

 Thank you, Lord God for I was once a heathen, but now one of your children.

 I was never worthy of your "Grace"!

 The job of the Apostle Paul was to be a vessel to reveal Jesus Christ!

 We must understand that we are not called just to come to know Jesus Christ, we are also called to make Christ known to others.

 We must bear witness to what Jesus Christ has done in our lives.

 God has given us all the Gospel to study and to preach.

 The world needs to hear the message of Jesus Christ not the message of wicked men.

 It is every day now that we can still hear the crying and the moaning because a wicked president has been defeated.

 America should be ready to hear the message of Jesus Christ.

 Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

 2Co 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

 Only Jesus Christ has the message that the world is seeking the answer to!

 How to live forever!

 Far too many people wake up in Hell who spent their lives and their finances, searching for the means of eternal life having rejected the Gospel, the “Good News” of our Savior.

 Joh 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

 Paul was called by the Lord Jesus and then taught by the Lord Jesus Christ how to teach the world about Him.

 *****Gal 1:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

Gal 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

Gal 1:19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

 The spread of the Gospel was beginning to produce real fruit and much of the world did not like it.

Just like today, Satan cannot stand to see the Truth of God, the Gospel, to take fruit in our world and he will do everything he can to stop it.

I have never heard so many lies as they are told today about the true Church.

If those who hinder the spread of the truth of God did not have our biased news sources under their wings, they could not cause the havoc that they do.

I cannot understand why this world is so afraid of Jesus Christ!

Now I am nothing compared to the Apostle Paul, but what was he guilty of?

Paul was attacked from every side and the only thing he had done was to tell the truth to a world that cannot stand the truth about a man named Jesus who spent just a few years going about doing good.

Paul’s real guilt was that he had become a Christian and had forsaken Judaism though Paul still kept the Laws of Moses.

What were they afraid of?

The Lord Jesus did not just declare to be God, He was and is God in a world where many have multiple gods and the most evil have riches which is their god.

How can the world be mad about Jesus when the entire world has their gods whom they worship?

I tell you why, it is because the world is afraid of the truth and those who get richer every day. After all, there are great riches in wickedness and immorality.

They went after Paul because Paul proclaimed the power of the Gospel and was a living example of a Christian. 

God said: (Isa_55:11)  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

The world is afraid that there might be a real God!

You see the Bible from the true Received Text, is filled with the actual words of God!

Paul was not lying because Jehovah God cannot lie!

Heb_6:18  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

In fact, the only thing that is impossible for Jehovah God to do is to tell a lie!

Paul knew this and every child of God had better know this and the lost world will find out that the Word of God is all truth.

Now if this frightens you, then all you need to do is to have a personal conversation with Jesus.

Some call Him God, but I call Him Savior, and I call Him Friend, and I call Him Father just as the Apostle Paul did!

Paul continues:

*****Gal 1:21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;

Gal 1:22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:

 We look at and hear of all the things that are going on in Syria today and we can say that for a period of time, there was some great churches in Syria.

 I might not should say it, but Syria went to pots since the Muslims have maintained rule.

 Paul had to leave because there were so many who threatened Paul's life.

 They brought Paul down to Caesarea and then to Tarsus which was Paul's home town and he had many friends and family there.

 It is this Tarsus where Barnabas had found Paul to get Him back into the functions of the Church at Antioch, Syria.

 Act 11:25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:

Act 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

 It is around this time that a great famine came to the world, the parts ruled by the Romans, during the time of Claudius Caesar.

 This is exactly what happens when there is war!

 The militaries of Rome caused great destruction in the fields and those who fought against them could not tend to their fields to raise crops.

 Those men who cause war are foolish!

 Only those who build the armaments and make the bullets and war machinery get rich.

 Those who hold great riches usually finance both sides the, enemy, and those who fight by necessity, and their riches grow immensely.

 Paul took advantage of his time in Tarsus and the surrounding areas.

 This is what Jesus told all of us to do: Luk 8:39 Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

 Paul was treated with respect in his hometown, and they listened to what great things the Lord had done in Paul's life.

 *****Gal 1:23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.

Gal 1:24 And they glorified God in me.

 There will always be those who will see the change that a relationship with Jesus Christ can bring.

 Those who know the best are usually our family and some of them will listen to our testimony.

 Maybe some of our childhood friends will listen to our testimony.

 We can be certain that those in and around Jerusalem had heard of the changes in the life of Paul, who was still Saul to them, until they heard his story.

 In most cases, those who love us will glorify God who can make such great changes in people.

 The Lord Jesus commanded every Christian to do this; Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 We will do this if we show the love God has shown to us through His Son Jesus!

 Amen

Grace is Still the Way to Heaven

 Danger of a Different Gospel

 Book of Galatians Chapter 1

 The people native to Galatia were emotional, impulsive, and changeable people.

 They were fickle, impetuous, arguing, loud, boastful, and immoral people.

 They had a love for the strange, the curiosities, and the unknown.

 They were attached to a false religion that was a worship of nature, and these types of people are all over the world today, nature lovers.

 Galatia was an area that had a heavy population of Jews who were staunch in the religion of Judaism.

 There were also many Greeks who had a strong Hellenistic influence.

 Hellenists were normal people who spoke the Greek language.

 Some Jews were also called Hellenists because they had settled in foreign countries and had adopted the prevalent form of Greek civilization.

 Act 6:1  And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 

Another verse says.

 Act 9:29  And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

 These were Jews who had become Greeks in their beliefs.

 We can also find them at the first Church in Antioch.

 Act 11:20  And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.

 Some of these were also true Greeks who had become proselytes of Judaism.

 We can see that Paul knew beforehand that planting a Church in Galatia would be no easy task.

 It is only the Gospel that has such power of conversion because it is the truth!

 The message of the Book of Galatians will pierce the heart of any generation.

 The message of the Book of Galatians will also stir Christians to action if we understand its message.

 *****Gal 1:1  Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) 

 Notice Paul immediately establishes that he is an Apostle of Jesus Christ and God the Father who had raised the Lord Jesus from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 Paul introduces Galatia to the triune God.

 What was Paul's commission?

 John 20:21  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

 What is the Great Commission?

 Mar 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 

Mar 16:16  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 

 The phrase "and is baptized” simply means "making a public profession of faith".

 We can add this commission as Paul saw it.

 2Ti 4:1  I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 

2Ti 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 

2Ti 4:3  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 

2Ti 4:4  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 

2Ti 4:5  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 

And Paul continued.

2Ti 4:7  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 

 This message of Paul extends to every man called by God to preach.

 Next Paul tells us who gave him his commission:

 (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) 

 Paul states that no man gave him this commission but the Lord Jesus Christ Himself after God the Father had raised Him from the dead.

There would have been no need to preach a Gospel if God the Father had not raised Jesus from the dead!

 We serve a living Savior!

Our God is alive because He is the Almighty Living God.

 What did God tell Moses?

 Exo 34:5  And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. 

Exo 34:6  And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 

Exo 34:7  Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

 This is the God who we serve!

But notice if ignore this God that Moses saw, then we more than likely send our children, our grandchildren, and our great-grandchildren to Hell also.

 If that man standing behind the pulpit of any church does not have the same calling as the Apostle Paul, then he does not deserve to be called pastor, preacher, evangelist, or any name associated with the calling of Jesus Christ!

 These Galatians needed to understand this as well as those who were once Jews.

 Some are called by the Holy Spirit to be Preachers, Pastors, Evangelists, and Missionaries for sure, but every child of God also has a commission given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 

 Mar 5:19  Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. 

 Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 

Col 1:28  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 

Col 1:29  Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. 

 There should not be any doubt that we are all called to be witnesses for the Lord our Savior, Jesus Christ, God's Messiah.

 It was a painful moment when Paul first became aware that some counterfeit preachers, who were Judaizers, questioned the validity of his calling, but Paul was strong in the Lord and full of the Holy Spirit.

 How can a counterfeit preacher judge anybody’s calling, but they do because they belong to the true counterfeit Satan?

 It was they who had no calling at all except for Satan's calling.

 *****Gal 1:2  And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: 

 The Preacher of God must be recognized as the Lord's man by all Christian believers!

 Paul was not alone; he had some Christian believers with him who agreed with everything Paul preached.

 Timothy and Titus were probably part of those with Paul and there were others.

 Paul knew that there was safety in numbers.

 Paul never forgot that He was a member of the Church.

 Paul spoke out to the Churches of Galatia with not a word of praise or privilege.

 All the other Churches, even the Corinthians received a kinder salutation because they had not "erred concerning the faith" as had these Galatians.

 The word Church was used for:

 1) A body of believers, "the entire congregation of Christian people dispersed throughout the world".

 Paul was not the only one who was spreading the Gospel at this time, Paul was the one who was writing the Bible as the Holy Spirit led Him.

 Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon "this rock" I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

 2) The word Church could also mean a particular congregation under the same ministry of God's Word.

 1Co 16:1  Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 

 3) The word Church is also used for those who assemble in one Church to worship the Lord Jesus Christ.

 1Co 14:28  But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. 

 It should also be very clear that all around the world some gather together to worship some god, but not the Lord Jesus Christ, they are not part of the Church, and neither should they be called a Church.

 The news sources have a field day when every building they see where people gather is called a church when this is not true.

 If we are not the brothers and sisters of the Lord Jesus Christ, then we are not part of the Church!

 If we are not in unity with the Word of God, we are not part of the Church!

 True brothers and sisters in Christ have a deep rich bond and relationship when that bond is with Jesus Christ.

 We should be clear when we attack the preacher who preaches the truth of Jesus Christ, and then we have given up our privileges in the Church.

 It is the Word of God, the entire Word of God, from a legitimate translation of the original Scriptures, that the Church is based upon and there are no additions, and it cannot be modernized because if God gave a new Word today it would be a replica of the Word, He has already given to us.

 There are no errors in the true Word of God!

 The Word of God is true in every generation and the Word of God will be here when most all the world is gone.

 The Word of God is alive.

 1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 

1Pe 2:10  Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 

 A true Christian will defend every other Christian and come to the aid of brothers and sisters when they are attacked when they are declaring the truth of God.

 And then came Grace.

 *****Gal 1:3  Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 

 To be sure there would be no Church and no believers without there being first the Grace of God!

 Act_20:24  But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

 2Co_13:14  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

 This verse perfectly describes the true Christian!

 It is Grace that is the gift of God!

 Eph_2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

 Tit_2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

 It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is the person who came by Grace, He is the living picture of God's grace!

 It is because of the Grace of God that we can find peace in this world!

 Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 

Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 

 Act 15:11  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. 

 There should be no doubt that we are saved by the "Grace of God"!

 That grace comes to us in the form of the Lord Jesus Christ!

 *****Gal 1:4  Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

Gal 1:5  To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 

 Here is another place where we can see the will of God! 

It is the Will of God that we be delivered from this present evil world.

 It is the will of God that we are delivered from sin, and this was done by the sacrifice of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus, God's Messiah.

 We cannot talk about being pardoned without mentioning the atoning death of Jesus Christ.

We cannot talk about justification without mentioning the atoning death of Jesus Christ.

We cannot talk about the acceptance of God without mentioning the atoning death of Jesus Christ.

We cannot talk about eternal life without mentioning the atoning death of Jesus Christ.

We cannot talk about salvation without mentioning the atoning death of Jesus Christ.

We cannot talk about God's "Grace" without mentioning the atoning death of Jesus Christ!

 Our salvation depends upon the voluntary act of Jesus, our blessed Lord, to "reconcile" His Heavenly Father to us and to be a sacrifice, not only for our guilt but also for all the actual sins of all mankind.

 Oh, What a Savior!

 The Father gave a Son. The Son gave Himself!

 The Lord Jesus did not merely denounce our sins, this would have been a mockery, Moses and all the Prophets had already done this.

 His death was for our sins!

 This was the Job of Paul and every preacher since Paul, to explain the difference!

 Many have failed to make this clear.

 The Lord Jesus had the power to die for our sins and He had the power to resurrect from that death.

 The Lord Jesus gave Himself for us because we needed to be washed in his blood!

 Rom 3:24  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 

Rom 3:25  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 

 To God be the Glory forever and ever. Amen

 When the world looks up to that glorious nighttime sky, most of them take no notice of it because they believe it happened by accident, but if you really look, you have to see the Glory of God.

 God the Father does little things all the time and He always has, but they go unnoticed, but when God the Father does something big, He wants all the world to take notice.

 God wanted all the world to see the truth of His Son Jesus!

 Our Heavenly Father did these things that He might deliver us from sin and this present evil world!

 The world was evil in the days of Jesus, and it has gotten very much worse today, but for those who believe in the truth of God, our sins have been paid for we are sin-free.

 Paul said all these things to cause these churches at Galatia to remember that they were saved by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that there is no other gospel, period.

 *****Gal 1:6  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

Gal 1:7  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

 When we need to be praising God, we see America going against the Word of God because people have forgotten the truth of God which says we are to "love one another".

 What is wrong with America?

 2Ti 3:3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 

2Ti 3:4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 

2Ti 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

 Before we get to verse six, we see that Paul has presented the truth of the Gospel in the previous verses.

 We just cannot afford to allow false teachers into the Church!

 There is no other Gospel than the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ!

 When any church departs from the faith, they are no longer a church, they are just a group of people gathering together for no means except to fall into Satan's trap!

 After learning the truth of the gospel by the grace of God, Judaizers had come and given them a false gospel which was not the Gospel.

 God loves us so much that He has provided a way for us to become righteous and acceptable to Him and this is the only way.

 There will never be another way to get to Heaven than going through the Lord Jesus Christ and there are still thousands of people who think there is another way.

 This is the only way God has shown His love to us where it is meaningful.

 We cannot be justified in any other way than by the grace of God than comes by the Lord Jesus Christ

 God will still love us when He sends us to Hell, but He has to judge sin!

 Martin Luther said, "From Christ who called you in grace".

 Grace is the Lord's free and unmerited favor and goodness, as opposed to all notions of salvation by moral or ceremonial righteousness.

 The person who turns away from the Gospel is not turning away from a set of beliefs or principles, nor a church.

 That person has turned away from God who sent His love to that person.

 John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

John 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 

John 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

 We cannot throw away this scripture and then say we are saved!

 *****Gal 1:8  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 

Gal 1:9  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 

 Sometimes that false teacher only has to add a little addition or leave out a little truth and it becomes a false Gospel.

 It is the same as some teacher intentionally subtracting a truth of the Gospel.

 Col 2:8  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 

 I think this is the teaching that is going on in many so-called churches today.

 It is evident what God feels about these teachers, they will be accursed.

 Accursed means separated from the will of God who they are separated from, and suffering even more than the Lost on "Judgment Day"!

 You have to ask yourself why anyone would do such a thing, and the only answer is the Devil.

 2Co_11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

 Anyone preaching a false Gospel is one of Satan's demons or Satan himself.

 We must understand that the "Gospel" is more important than the Apostle Paul even though the Apostle Paul was probably the greatest Christian who has ever lived.

 The "Gospel" is greater than all the angels in Heaven. Even if an angel came from Heaven and preached another Gospel, we would have to reject him.

 The "Gospel" is greater than any man who has walked upon this earth and any man who does so in the future.

The truth of the "Gospel" is settled and cannot be changed here or in Heaven!

 The preachers of any false gospel are doubly cursed. This means they will be sent to the hottest part of Hell!

 *****Gal 1:10  For do I now persuade men or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 

The Judaizers came into the churches of Galatia suggesting that Paul preached only one side of the Gospel and there was room for their false preaching, which was the Laws of Moses.

This is the same thing going on today where the false church is told that there is more than one way to get to Heaven.

Paul taught that there is no Gospel other than what they had heard from him, which is the truth.

There can only be one truth!

These are the same questions we ask ourselves today!

We should ask ourselves; "What has been the effect of the Gospel on my life"?

"Have I been redeemed" out of this world, a world that will pass away, into a place that is supposed to be the grandest of all places?

Do I live according to the will of my Heavenly Father?

Paul asked himself if he was to satisfy men or to satisfy God.

Paul came to the conclusion that if he indeed pleased men who had not heard the Gospel then he would not be a servant of Jesus Christ.

We can learn so much from the actions of the Apostle Paul!

John and Peter came to the same conclusion.

Act 4:19  But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 

Act 4:20  For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. 

1Th 2:4  But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. 

It is the same with our own Pastor Preacher Sam.

It is His job to preach the truth of the Gospel even if we do not like the message!

We must understand that the Gospel has some hard truths.

The Lord Jesus asks us to put our faith in a man we have never seen who claims to be God when the world at that time killed because they said He was a fake.

Jesus asks us to believe in a place that we cannot even imagine the glory of.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians;

1Co 13:9  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 

1Co 13:10  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 

1Co 13:11  When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 

1Co 13:12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 

1Co 13:13  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.   

Which is a love greater than just being affectionate, it is closer God’s love

I do not believe Paul was a self-made man of God,

I do not believe that Paul used the Gospel as a way for an income.

I do believe Paul sought to please God and not man.

I do believe Paul proclaimed the true Gospel.

I do believe that Paul had a radical change of life.

Our goal must be to be more like Jesus, and this begins just as soon as we accept Him as our Savior.

Php_3:21  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

What is the Gospel truth?

1Pe 1:18  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 

1Pe 1:19  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 

1Pe 1:20  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 

1Pe 1:21  Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 

So, it boils down to faith!

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 

Paul admitted that once he was a man-pleaser, a time when he sought the approval of man for his actions.

Paul now said because the Gospel had changed him, he no longer sought the approval of man but the approval of God.

Paul said honor, position, and wealth were no longer important to him.

Paul now wanted one thing and one thing only: the favor and the approval of God!

2Co_5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Amen

Let All Who Have Breathe Praise the Lord

Let Heaven and Earth Praise the Lord

 Book of Psalms Psalm 148

 The phrase "praise ye the Lord" has been used twenty-five times and only in the Old Testament.

 The phrase "praise Him" has been used twenty-two times and only in the Old Testament.

 The phrase "praise the Lord" is used thirty-two times in the Old Testament except for one verse written by the Apostle Paul which says.

 Rom_15:11  And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.

 When we try to grasp the Greatness and the Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, we find that it overwhelms us so much that, we wonder why He would even have thoughts of us.

 Many people believe that He could have just set all His creations in order and then gone off to do godly things or created other people on another planet.

 We know that He did not create any other people, and Adam and Eve did not look like they came from apes, nor did any of their descendants.

 Evolution played no part in creating plants, animals, or people.

 What puzzles evolutionists so much is that Adam possessed far more intelligence than the people of today.

 We are getting dumber as a whole, not smarter, as time passes by.

In fact, most all our Colleges and Universities teach philosophy and not things that America needs to compete in this world.

 This Psalm is known as the joy-song of creation.

 This Psalm calls on all the things in the Heavens and Earth to praise our Lord Jesus our God.

 Everyone from the lowest to the highest, no matter where they are located, is called on to Praise the Lord.

 This is the God who made us and there are no other Gods! We are called upon to adore our Creator.

 Scientist have spent their lives studying God's creatures and many of those creations are so complicated in their structure, that they cannot figure them out this was God's plan to show these doubters that there had to be a Maker, a Creator.

 It is wicked men who have caused so many of God's creatures to no longer be with us.

 Most of the time, it is the goal to be rich that is destroying our planet, and all our government can do drive our nation into obscurity because it is afraid to go after the real polluters.

 I do not believe this will change under our new President!

 Fifty-seven companies cause eighty percent of pollution, and no one is speaking of changing their ways because of money.

 That last twenty percent (us) no matter how hard we try can change the pollution of this world.

 Those who make so much money off of pollution and those who accept bribes to be quiet about what they do are not going to change.

We just need to praise the Lord!

 What is praise? The word praise comes from the Latin word "pretium" which is "price" or "value".

 True praise consists in a sincere acknowledgment of real conviction of worth.

 How can we not praise Him?

 Rev 4:11  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. 

 Rev 5:12  Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

 We need to be honest in our praise of the Lord, He knows when we are not sincere.

 These things are another battle for Him, and we are just to praise His Holy Name!

 The Lord Jesus Christ will come to this world just in time to save it!

 It is not because He cannot make all things new because He will, He will save this world because there are still people upon this world that can be saved.

 We should know that as long as people are alive if they pray that sinner's prayer in truth, they will be saved.

 *****Psa 148:1  Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights. 

 You can bet the cherubim and the seraphim; the angels all praise the Lord constantly.

 We are certainly fools if we do not praise our Maker!

 When we grasp the greatness, and the glory of the Lord, how can we not praise our Creator?

 It can be said that we are created to praise the Lord!

 There is no excuse for us to not adore our Savior!

 All our praise must be directed at Jehovah, the "I AM" of the Old Testament, who in the flesh is the Lord Jesus Christ of the New Testament.

 God said: "I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living"

 All of Heaven does certainly praise the Lord.

 *****Psa 148:2  Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.

 Not one of the Lord's Creatures in Heaven is exempted from praising their Creator and their God.

 Not even Gabriel nor Michael is exempt from praising the Lord of Host.

 The angelic army will praise their Commander, who is the Lord of all the hosts of Heaven.

 Let us just get real, every part of everything that was created by the Lord will praise Him!

 *****Psa 148:3  Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.

Psa 148:4  Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. 

 The Heaven of heavens is the home of the Lord.

 The lower heaven is the place where the birds fly and where the clouds that hold the waters bring rain.

 The middle heaven is the space where all the stars and all the planets are located.

 There are only three heavens and if we look at the vast expanse of the second heaven we can just wonder how vast is the Heaven of heavens.

 One thing is certain this Heaven of heavens cannot be reached by spacecraft!

 It can only be reached by loving the Lord Jesus our Creator and believing in the work He has done for our salvation.

 On the day of the Rapture, all those lifeless bodies in their graves will go to Heaven faster than any spacecraft.

 All the places of God's creation are commanded to praise the Lord.

 Psa_33:9  For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

 Most people have forgotten that all the Lord has to do is speak things into existence.

 The world had better realize that all the Lord has to do is speak and this world can be destroyed.

 Rev_1:16  And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

Rev_19:15  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Rev_19:21  And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

 All these scriptures tell us of the power of God that He only has to speak things into existence, and he can also speak things into destruction.

 Psa 33:6  By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. 

Psa 33:7  He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. 

Psa 33:8  Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 

Psa 33:9  For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. 

Psa 33:10  The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. 

Psa 33:11  The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. 

 How could we ever believe that we can step into Heaven and not praise the Savior who freed us from the chains of sin?

 I have news for you, we are saved to praise and worship our Maker among our other duties.

 *****Psa 148:5  Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created. 

Psa 148:6  He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass. 

 It is our creation that gives us a reason to praise our Creator.

 For those who say it is then better to not be created, I can tell you that Heaven will be far greater than any place you have ever seen and you should want to go there for its beauty and where you can find the life that the Lord wanted us to have from the beginning.

 What does God actually say:

 Pro 8:32  Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. 

Pro 8:33  Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. 

Pro 8:34  Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. 

Pro 8:35  For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. 

Pro 8:36  But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death. 

 The Lord is serious about all those who want to be with Him.

 *****Psa 148:7  Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: 

 When we see this verse we need to accept as it is written.

 Gen 1:21  And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 

 Psa 104:26  There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.

 All of the earth must praise the Lord.

All that is in the Seas must praise the Lord.

 Psa 74:13  Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters. 

Psa 74:14  Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.

 We know that there are places in the Oceans where there are depths that are deeper than the highest mountains that can be seen, these are those places that are called the "deeps".

 The deep is the deepest part of the Seas and these are the places where the largest animals in the Seas play out of sight most of the time from the people.

 Some people are privileged to see them come to the surface on occasion.

 Most people write them off as non-existent.

 Psa 104:4  Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: 

Psa 104:5  Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. 

Psa 104:6  Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.

 Psa 33:6  By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. 

Psa 33:7  He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.

 No one has been to the deepest seas so only God knows what lives in those places.

 Psa 33:13  The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. 

Psa 33:14  From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.

 Some things have been proved by mankind:

 Pro 8:28  When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

 These are the same waters that burst forth in the days of the flood.

 Gen 7:11  In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. 

 These waters returned to their place at the command of God.

 Gen 8:3  And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated. 

 We know that the waters of the deep can be both constructive and also destructive.

 These waters can also be a blessing.

 Deu 8:7  For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; 

 It is only the Lord God, the Living God that can control these waters of the great deep.

 Psa 95:2  Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. 

Psa 95:3  For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. 

Psa 95:4  In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. 

Psa 95:5  The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. 

 We are in the season of Thanksgiving now and we can see why we need to praise the Lord while offering Thanksgiving to Him.

 *****Psa 148:8  Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word: 

Psa 148:9  Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: 

Psa 148:10  Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl: 

Psa 148:11  Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: 

Psa 148:12  Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: 

Psa 148:13  Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven. 

 We humans are the most stubborn creations that God has made!

 All the other of God's creations will gladly praise Him.

 They understand that He is the God of all creation.

 In verse eight we see the Psalmist calls upon all of the natural elements of weather to praise the Lord.

 All these elements can merge together at the command of the Lord.

 There are "laws of nature" but they too are the creations of the Living God.

 They will certainly do His bidding if He so chooses!

 After the weather, the elements, all the elements of the earth will offer praise to the Lord.

 Then all land animals, all the birds, and the insect world will offer praise to the Lord.

 Then the most stubborn of all of them!

 The various rulers of this world, all the people, the princes, those considered to be next in line to rule, and all the judges.

 Then the young generation and the old generation are left behind, all these are called to praise the Lord.

 Why should humans offer praise to the Lord?

 1) The Lord Jesus Christ is the only true and Living God!

His glory is above all of His creation!

His name is above and greater than all universes and greater than the earth and the heavens.

 Notice that all the universes and there are many, and many more unseen, but they have less value than the Earth and the people of Earth.

 2) There is no one more powerful than our Lord!

 Psa 148:14  He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD. 

 In the New Testament, the Horn represents strength.

 Luk 1:68  Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, 

Luk 1:69  And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; 

 That exalted horn is the Lord Jesus Christ.

 He is the praise of all His saints. These are not those saints chosen by the Catholic Church; these are all those who have accepted the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 These also include the children of Israel who in the last days will join the Church.

 In other words, everything that God has created is to offer up praise to the Lord!

 Those who have received the salvation gift of the Lord should be praising the Lord the loudest and the longest.

 Just so we know, God's most powerful creatures the Angels, long to understand salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ.

 1Pe 1:12  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 

 Only the saints of God can praise Him for His redeeming love, a love so great that He sacrificed His Son for us.

 Rom 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

 Praise ye the Lord

 Amen