Sent from Heaven

Welcome & Opening Prayer

Turn to Gal… Ch. 1. (v10-17)

**THANK VENISON DINNER VOLUNTEERS**

!! Open in Prayer !!

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Introduction 🎤

Opening:❓ I THINK ONE of the SCARIEST THREADS to PULL on is THAT of MOTIVE.

ALL of US—PROBABLY HAVE DESIRES to DO GOOD THINGS…

❓WHY do WE DO WHAT WE DO? ❓

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Problem: ⚠️ PULL the CURTAIN BACK…

SEE WHAT WE’RE HOPING to GET OUT of IT, IT CAN BE FRIGHTENING.

THINK of WHO YOU ARE HOPING is WATCHING WHEN YOU DO GOOD.

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Jesus’ Teaching:

Exhort 📢

JESUS WARNED—DOING THINGS — TO BE SEEN ➡➡ ALREADY HAVE YOUR REWARD!

GIVING

PRAYING

FASTING

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**YET SAME SERMON** LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!

Matthew 5:16 (ESV)

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Takeaway: PIETY ISN’T SUPPOSED to BE HIDDEN…

…JUST DONE W/ RIGHT MOTIVES. 🎒

Focus 📸 TODAY’S TEXT—ADDRESSES TOPIC of MOTIVES…

A heaven-sent message and call are not for man's approval.💡

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Transition ➡ Look W/ ME @ PASSAGE...

CH. 1… V.10-17

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Passage Reading 📖

Galatians 1:10–17 (ESV)

10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel.

12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.

14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.

15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace,

16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;

17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

THIS is GOD’S WORD FOR US THIS MORNING...

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Context Recap: An Unchanging Gospel 🛡️

Setting: PAUL was IRATE with the GALATIANS.

NO NORMAL “THANKSGIVING” SECTION

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The Problem? THEY QUICKLY RAN AFTER ANOTHER GOSPEL.

TO ABANDON the GOSPEL is to ABANDON GOD!

The Solution: TRUE GOSPEL of GRACE—JESUS DIED for OUR SINS—WORKS of LAW DON’T SAVE US…

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PAUL WARNED: IF ANYONE PROCLAIMS a DIFFERENT GOSPEL—EVEN AN ANGEL or APOSTLE—THEY ARE to BE ACCURSED.

Passage Idea: The heaven-sent gospel message of Christ-crucified is unchanging. 🗝️

&& HILL WORTH DYING ON…

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Transition ➡ PAUL WILL GO to GREAT LENGTHS…

PROVE => GOSPEL HAS HEAVENLY ORIGIN

BEGIN W/ HELPFUL FRAMING IDEA

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 10

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Passage Exposition 🔍

Thought 1: Paul’s Motive—Heaven-Sent (v10) ☁️

Galatians 1:10 (ESV)

10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

(v10) = BRIDGE VERSE— TIES BOTH PASSAGES TOGETHER…

Recap: CURSING PEOPLE = UNPOPULAR

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Setting: B4 NEW SETTING— CLARIFYING PURPOSE of MINISTRY

Seeking the Approval/MAKING an APPEAL: PEITHO,, TYPICALLY “PERSUADE”

Focus: PERSUADING SOMEONE— “ACCEPT ME!!”📸

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Challenging Question ❓ HOW MUCH of OUR LIVES ARE DEVOTED to THIS?❓

SOME— PROBABLY NOT

SOME—A LOT

Illustration 🖼️ IT’S THE BOTTOM HALF of THE ICEBERG.

STRIVING = BUILDING a RESUME

to BUY THE APPROVAL of OTHERS.

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(v10b) “TRYING to PLEASE”

MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY

or PAT ON BACK

Paul’s Philosophy: ⚠️ NOT PEOPLE-PLEASING—

— BUT CONTENDING for TRUTH AGAINST THOSE WHO WOULD ADD WORKS to GRACE.

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Conclusion: PAUL PREACHES GRACE BECAUSE HIS MESSAGE is PLEASING to GOD.

Takeaway 🎒: If you are trying to please man, then you are a servant of man—not Christ. 🎒

**MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE**

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Challenge: 🏹 HOW MIGHT OUR LIVES BE DIFFERENT…

LIVED FOR the APPROVAL of ONE, NOT THE CROWD.

Powerful Truth: 😮 Identity is rooted in Christ’s unchanging love; nothing can separate us from it (Rom 8:38-39). 💡

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P. Testimony: PERSONAL STRUGGLE… NOT EASY.

WE ALL WANT to BE LIKED.

HOPE YOU LIKE MY MESSAGES

FIND THEM HELPFUL

Essential Question: IF JESUS WERE in the GREETING LINE—WHAT WOULD HE SAY?😬

SPOKE TRUTH in LOVE??

Problem: PEOPLE-PLEASING = ORIGIN of MUCH FALSE TEACHING—WANT PEOPLE HAPPY

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Application 🛠️: **SHOULDN’T NEEDLESSLY UPSET PEOPLE**—

BUT OUR MISSION as INDIVIDUALS,, as CHURCH = GOD’S APPROVAL, NOT MAN’S.

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Transition ➡ LOGICAL REASON,, PAUL DOESN’T SEEK MAN’S APPROVAL.

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 11-12

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Thought 2: Paul’s Message, Heaven-Sent (v11-12) ✉️

Galatians 1:11–12 (ESV)

11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel.

12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

Conclusion: 📢 PAUL DIDN’T NEED MAN’S APPROVAL—

— BECAUSE HE WASN’T PREACHING MAN’S MESSAGE.

Focus: GOSPEL = GOD’S MESSAGE. 📸

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Clarification: 🖼️ MAN WOULD NOT HAVE INVENTED a GOSPEL…

where WE CAN’T TAKE ANY CREDIT!

Relate:

WE LIKE GETTING CREDIT…RIGHT?

WE LIKE to BE RECOGNIZED…RIGHT?

Gospel: ✝️NO CREDIT to MAN— I’M the PROBLEM,, NOT the SOLUTION. ✝️

Question:🤔 WHO GETS ALL the GLORY for MY SALVATION?? 🤔— GOD.

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(v12) Setting: GOSPEL = HEAVEN-SENT,, PAUL RECEIVED VIA REVELATION.

NOT from MAN

NOT from GAMALIEL

REVELATION of JESUS CHRIST on DAMASCUS RD= UNVEILING SOMETHING HIDDEN

Focus 📸 The gospel was a direct disclosure from God, only reason it makes any sense 💡

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Transition ➡ NATURAL VIEW— IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE!

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Gospel Presentation: The Folly of Preaching 📣

Setting: YOU CAN’T PLEASE NATURAL MAN W/ SPIRITUAL MESSAGE.

1 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV)📜

14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

GOSPEL = HEAVENLY,, NOT EARTHLY MESSAGE…

1 Corinthians 1:18-19 (ESV)📜

1 Corinthians 1:18–19 (ESV)

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

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Problem ⚠️ TO THE NONBELIEVER, the CROSS is a STUMBLING BLOCK.

Naturally Understood: JESUS = CRUCIFIED CRIMINAL (FALSELY CHARGED or NOT)

COUNTLESS PEOPLE WERE CRUCIFIED…

Greater Problem: god of THIS WORLD—BLINDS the MINDS of NONBELIEVERS— (2 COR. 4:4)...

Heavenly Truth: ✝️JESUS CHRIST = PRE-PLANNED ATONING SACRIFICE for SINS… ✝️

Gospel Presentation: HE DIED FOR US.

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Exhort 📢 IT TAKES a SUPERNATURAL WORK of THE SPIRIT to REMOVE the BLINDERS.

GOD HAS to MAKE the GOSPEL MAKE SENSE…

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Challenge 🏹 IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE, I CAN’T CONVINCE YOU on MY OWN.

Invitation 🤝: BUT if GOD is WORKING on YOUR HEART—I’D LOVE to SPEAK W/ YOU AFTER SERVICE…

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Transition ➡ GOOD NEWS — GOD CAN SAVE ANYONE.

BEST EXAMPLE = PAUL HIMSELF…

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 13-14

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Thought 3: Paul’s Former Life (v13-14) 🕍

Galatians 1:13–14 (ESV)

13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.

14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.

Background: PAUL DIDN’T GROW UP AIMING to BE a GOSPEL-PREACHER!

Setting: PAUL was a PERSECUTOR and a DEVOUT JEW.

Paul’s Pedigree:📜 Philippians 3:5–6 (ESV)📜

5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;

6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

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Explanation 🖼️: PHARISEES = HIGHLY RELIGIOUS (MISSED FOREST for the TREES) BUT VERY RIGHTEOUS.

PAUL ALSO ZEALOUS—ATTEMPTING to DESTROY CHURCH. 💀

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Transition ➡ NOTHING COULD STOP PAUL—

EXCEPT an ENCOUNTER W/ RISEN CHRIST…

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 15-17

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Thought 4: Paul’s Calling, Heaven-Sent (v15-17) 👣

Galatians 1:15–17 (ESV)

15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace,

16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;

17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

Exhort 📢 PAUL’S CALLING PRECEDED HIS BIRTH. GOD SET HIM APART in HIS MOTHER’S WOMB.

Focus 📸 Saul’s salvation was unexpected by everyone—except God. It was His plan all along. 💡

**NO ONE ANTICIPATED the PERSECUTOR BECOMING a PREACHER**

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Paul’s Conversion:

Solution ✅: DAMASCUS ROAD— GOD REVEALED HIS SON to PAUL to PREACH to THE GENTILES.

Powerful Truth: GOD CAN ARREST EVEN THE MOST REBELLIOUS SINNER.🙌

Takeaway: 🎒 The blood of Jesus reaches the lowest valleys; the Spirit can convict even the most vile sinner. 🎒

Application: BELIEVE GOD—HE CAN SAVE the SEEMING UNSAVEABLE**

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SHOCKING to MAN— ALL PART of GOD’S PLAN

**Considering God’s Grace**

SPEAK on GRACE

CHURCH NAME— “GRACE CHAPEL”

Exhort 📢 CONSIDER,, GOD’S CALL for PAUL PRECEDED HIS BIRTH => HOW COULD YOU DESERVE THAT?!

Jeremiah 1:5 (ESV)

5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Takeaway: NOTHING YOU CAN DO to MERIT THAT!!!🎒

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Addressing Abortion:

Challenge IF GOD’S PURPOSE PRECEDES BIRTH, THEN BABIES in THE WOMB MATTER to GOD.

Today’s Age:

ABORTION is CALLED HEALTHCARE;

BABIES ARE CALLED CLUMPS of CELLS.

Biblical Truth: they are image-bearers endowed with purpose.

They aren’t clumps of cells; they are prophets and apostles. 💡

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Personal Testimony 🖼️: IN THE EYES of MAN, I SHOULDN’T BE HERE.

I’M THE PRODUCT of a TEENAGE PREGNANCY.

👉 I’M GLAD MY MOM CHOSE LIFE.

👉👉 I’M GLAD GOD HAD a REASON for ME.

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Takeaway: God has a REASON FOR US to BE HERE... that preceded our birth; our lives matter to the Kingdom. 🎒

YOUR LIFE MATTERS— ENDOWED W/ MEANING—

**Disclaimer** NOT as “SIGNIFICANT” in EARTHLY EYES as PAUL—BUT NONETHELESS IMPORTANT

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Exhort 📢: IF CALLED BEFORE BIRTH,

OUR LIVES MUST BE DEVOTED to GOD’S GLORY & FULFILLMENT of HIS PURPOSE...

My Life’s Mission: to BRING a SMILE to THE FACE of GOD.

Takeaway: If I hear “Well done,” none of the disapproval down here will matter. 🎒

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Back to Text: HEAVEN-SENT GOSPEL— GOD’S APPROVAL —

BUILDING a CASE for VALIDITY for TRUE GOSPEL MESSAGE…

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(v17) Clarification: PAUL DIDN’T RUN to HUMAN AUTHORITIES in JERUSALEM.

HE WENT to ARABIA & DAMASCUS PREACHING.

Takeaway: 🎒 HIS GOSPEL CAME STRAIGHT from CHRIST—NOT EVEN from the OTHER APOSTLES!🎒

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Transition ➡ ALL in ALL,, PASSAGE TEACHING US…

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Passage Idea 💡

A heaven-sent message and call are not for man's approval.

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Application 🛠️

Exhort 📢: IF YOU’RE DOING GOD’S WORK, YOU DON’T NEED MAN’S APPROVAL.

WE ALL HAVE a PURPOSE in GOD’S KINGDOM—

&& IT’S NOT MAKING PEOPLE HAPPY

**Disclaimer** DOESN’T MEAN YOU SHOULD BE a JERK

NEEDLESSLY OFFENDING PEOPLE ISN’T GODLY…

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Illustration/Clarifying Question: ❓BUILDING YOUR RESUME—WHO ARE YOU THINKING of TURNING IT INTO❓

“HERE’S a LIST of REASONS YOU SHOULD LOVE ME...”

VS.

“GOD FOR ALL YOU’VE DONE— I BRING THIS in RESPONSE”

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Clarifying Mission:

TO BE ACCEPTED BY PEOPLE?

RESPONDING to LOVE of GOD— YOU ALREADY HAVE??🤔

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Paul’s Life:

PAUL’S MESSAGE—FROM HEAVEN

PAUL’S CALL— FROM HEAVEN

PAUL’S AIM— HEAVEN’S JOY

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SAME for US:

WE SHARE the SAME GOSPEL MESSAGE

CALLED BY SAME GOD

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Application:🛠️ REMAINING FAITHFUL to UNCHANGING GOSPEL = INCREASINGLY UNPOPULAR

CHRISTIANS = SEEN as BIGOTED, ANTIQUATED…

WILL WE HOLD FAST? 🛠️

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Closing: CHURCH—MY LIFE’S GOAL ISN’T to HEAR PEOPLE CLAPPING

BUT to HEAR MY LORD SAY, “WELL DONE GOOD & FAITHFUL SERVANT”

!! Close in Prayer !!

THE MISSION is NOT to MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY, BUT to FOLLOW GOD’S WILL.

Challenge 🏹 WHEN YOU BUILD YOUR RESUME, WHO ARE YOU TURNING IT INTO? ARE YOU SEEKING THE LOVE of PEOPLE or SHOWING LOVE for GOD?

Key Takeaway 🔑 If Paul’s calling was heaven-sent, why consume yourself with the opinions of people? 🗝️

Exhort 📢 FAITHFULNESS is UNPOPULAR. PEOPLE GET ANGRY at the EXCLUSIVITY of FAITH. BUT WE STRIVE for ONE METRIC: “WELL DONE, GOOD and FAITHFUL SERVANT.”

Exhort 📢 STRIVE FOR THAT. AMEN?

LET’S PRAY... 🙏