Soaring Or Slipping 7th Oct Galatians 6

Ga 3:2-9 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?— Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

Something happened to the people when Paul preached Christ crucified to the Galatians. Just as it did when Peter preached to the Jews on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem. Just as it did when George Whitefield preached in the fields of England and Jonathan Edwards preached to the church in New England. There was a Divine transaction God performed through a man, when Christ crucified was preached in the power of the Holy Ghost.

Ac 2:36-37 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

When these Jews, pagans, and even believers heard the gospel of Christ preached by these men they were cut to the heart! Hearing the message of the cross brought a revelation of Jesus as God, but it also brought a revelation of God Himself, and with that revelation came a heart penetrating understanding that they were all separated from the God that was now revealed to them. This penetration of the heart was so deep and so profound it revealed their sinfulness.

The fact that God would die our death that we might live His life, so affected them they came under intense anguish of soul and spirit --- the thought of remaining separated now, and then for all eternity, was like fire in their breast! They cried out men and brethren – what shall we do!!! The power of the message preached uncovered sin – their sin, all sin, the sin of society, -- it was more than individual sin, or things we might do wrong – it was the revelation of our sinfulness!

Of a corrupt and fallen NATURE affecting all of mankind – when the Galatians heard the message they understood, in their hearts, they were LOST, doomed to an eternity in hellfire.

Ec 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

This was no momentary thing, eternity was awakened in their hearts – Oh when men of God filled with the Holy Ghost and unction, -- men of purpose and call and power preached the gospel of God there was a Divine transaction. God’s Word does not return to Him void! – When these men preached ears were opened and hearts were torn! – and as they heard, the Word was then confirmed to them with signs following – just as Jesus promised!

Mk 16:19-20 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

1 Co 2:4- 5 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Ac 5:12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.

Heb 2:4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

After the message preached came miracles, healing and all manner of power in the Holy Spirit.

Paul preached in the power of the Holy Spirit and the hearers didn’t just nod and say “Good word that!” They responded, they were cut to the heart and they knew right then they had to make a choice! A life and death choice! An eternal choice – they heard the word with fear and trembling and they knew what was being offered to them, free of charge -- a way of escape – the path of freedom from sin and death and hell. Paul never changed his message, it was the same gospel

1 Co 6:9-11 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

Paul and Peter and Whitefield and Finney and Spurgeon and Billy Graham preached in the power of the Holy Ghost and sin was uncovered in all its ugliness and depravity – hearts were cut to the quick – it hurt! It produced fear! It brought a cry to the lips and a shout for help – they did not sit in silence any more then the soldiers who faced death on the field of battle. They were so convicted they cried out – WHAT MUST WE DO!!!????

There was no complacency, no apathy no thought of putting it off until next week – they would not allow their hearts to delay! And they didn’t try to differentiate about degrees of sin – they heard about sexual depravity – idolatry, drunkenness, theft and extortion – they were convicted about covetousness and materialism and lusting after the things of the world. They lived this life of sin and when it was uncovered they didn’t try to deny it!

They didn’t try to justify it and make an excuse for why they lived it – they were cut to the heart and they wanted to escape from the death they now knew this life was to them. Death dressed up as success and possessions and “happiness” and self satisfaction and “if it feels good just do it!” When these men and women heard the message of Christ and Him crucified they KNEW every little lie, every lust, all pornography – jealousy, envy, Unforgiveness, bitterness ---

In fact they understood that their LIVES were sinful! They became desperate to find a way to be set free and changed--- Christ was the answer! Christ was the way out – He was the door! He was the truth the life and the way! – They turned to Him! They turned to Jesus – they embraced the Cross with everything they had – they received Jesus as more than a security blanket for eternity, as more than a means to their end --- they received Him as LORD and Christ!!

1 Co 6:11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
Ga 3:2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?—

As they heard this message preached and they responded to God they were washed, set apart, justified and filled with the Holy Spirit –and all manner of signs accompanied them –

Ga 3:5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Jesus made this promise about the Holy Spirit – absolute and undeniable, the W.O.G. –

Jn 16:8-15 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

These Galatians were “the world” – and when Paul preached they were convicted of sin, they had a revelation of unrighteousness – in fact for the first time ever they understood holiness, that this God preached to them was HOLY – Holy enough for His very own Son to die for that holiness!! – They understood about judgment – not because it was preached those first days – but because the Holy Spirit’s Presence was so real, so tangible, so manifest – so upon their hearts

and consciences, they KNEW that if God is holy and I am unholy I will be called to account for all ungodliness!! --- You know before I ever heard the word sin, before I had any understanding of scripture, Christianity, righteousness or judgment – that day on the side of the road out in the country when God revealed Himself to me – I knew sin, I knew the horror of the consequences, I knew LOVE and Mercy and Grace – not by words or by a message – I was alone --

but by the Holy Spirit convicting – by the Holy Spirit showing me the glory of God – the Fear of God – I had no language to describe it – not even to myself – but language was superfluous – this was all in the heart – I was cut to the heart – in a few seconds I knew – There is a God?!! – He has seen my life – I knew the life I had chosen – the alternative to “straight” life was corrupt and devoid of hope – I knew without word I was a sinner and deserving of death!

I really understood in my heart, in the language and communication of the Spirit – how I wept and mourned for my sin and depravity – for the pain I had inflicted, for the people I had hurt – but most of all for the fact that God had been watching all the while -- that God had been a hidden observer of everything I had ever done! I knew in that instant there was not one thing hidden from Him – I had no secrets from the ever-seeing all knowing ever present God!!

In all the things I have done in my life and seen and been a party to – I have never before or since experienced anything like I did at that moment on the side of the road. I was completely undone!

But the Spirit of God came in – the Spirit of Christ – I was delivered, I was healed, I was inspired and motivated and changed – I was a new creation! Old things had passed away and all things became new. Literally.! This was my experience and this is what it was like for the Galatians. They were “The World” that Jesus had promised would be convicted when the Holy Spirit came – convicted of sin, righteousness and judgment – but more than that, Christ was glorified!!

There was a glory on the preaching, a glory on the message, and a glory in the hearing!! There was a demonstration of the Holy Spirit and power – power that changed their lives! We always look for that power in healing and miracles – and yes they came AFTERWARDS – but there was a power equal, if not greater that accompanied the preaching of the Word – the gospel. Jesus was IN the message!

God is invisible, no man has seen Him and lived – Jesus is seated on the Right Hand of God – He is in heaven – and the Holy Spirit is unseen – but when the Galatians heard the gospel, the good news of Christ crucified they believed By Faith!! They were changed by faith! They saw the power and miracles by faith! Faith that believed without question the message that was preached – and all that Paul spoke!

This faith, initial, first faith. Believed in wonder and awe, it heard the message and responded without question. This first faith did not doubt – it did not reason, it did not argue, it did not try and fit into a current lifestyle – this faith like the faith of Abraham believed God. The heart was cut! But the cut allowed it to open, when it was open, the Holy Spirit shed the love of God abroad in it – not by great words of wisdom – but by the Holy Spirit –

They allowed the conviction and anguish and shame and their suddenly provoked consciences to respond to the love – they heard the message of conviction and repentance as LOVE and in love. This is a wonderful power, this is the Holy Spirit glorifying Christ – the Cross, the ultimate, eternal act and declaration of the LOVE God has for all His creation! – the Galatians, on hearing this message in the power of the Holy Spirit – never wanted to sin again!!

They didn’t want God to see them uncovered ever again – they didn’t want to die the death they now knew they deserved – they feared hell, they feared God – they were unafraid of man, they believed in Jesus Christ as Saviour, redeemer and Lord – but with the same faith and belief they received the Holy Spirit – and they walked out of their carnal, fleshly lives into the life of the Spirit. By Faith! In Faith! – they began to prophesy, to heal the sick, to speak in tongues –

There were miracles among them by faith! God was in their midst by faith and in faith!! They loved being spiritual and being separated into a group. They did not suddenly become prosperous or popular or accepted – in fact they suffered many things!! They would have been ostracised and persecuted and at times attacked and maybe even thrown into prison! But it didn’t matter – they began in the Spirit by faith!

Before they ever for a single moment thought about what believing might cost them – they soared in the Spirit – by faith – they rose up and they ascended in the Spirit! To know the Holy Spirit flowing through them in worship brought joy unspeakable and full of glory – it brought tears and humility – to know the Holy Spirit in them prophesying and giving W.O.K. was more precious than silver or gold --- to see a miracle – and there were many – so excited their hearts – they soared!

Nothing was more important to them than responding to the Holy Spirit who was awakening in them a growing love for Christ every day. In the beginning it didn’t matter what is was, it was not more important than following Jesus in the Holy Spirit. There were no rules, no reasons, no need for excuses, no apologies, no meetings, no self righteous justifying of why they could put Jesus on hold for a day or a week or hold the Holy Spirit at bay – while they did something else.

They soared in the Spirit, no matter what it cost them they rejoiced in Christ crucified! BY FAITH!

I began like that – before church – before ambition and “promotion” – before ministry and Holy Ghost meetings – I began with that faith and simplicity of the Spirit – so did most of you??

But I slipped back into rules and other motivations, I began to justify why not instead of abandoning myself to this is the way walk ye in it!! --- What about you??

Maybe this is revival – returning to this – by faith! Not waiting for a “MOVE” of God – or a demonstration or feeling – but by faith returning to that first Love.