sermon, June 6

[florafcc]

During the month of June I will be preaching a series of sermons
centering on the thoughts and teaching of the Apostle Paul. All
scripture references will come from the letter to the Galatians and
will address the issue of truth, faith, law and freedom.

June 6 the scripture is Galatians 1:11-24 It says:
11I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not
something that man made up. 12I did not receive it from any man, nor
was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus
Christ.

13For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how
intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14I
was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was
extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15But when God,
who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased
16to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the
Gentiles, I did not consult any man, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to
see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into
Arabia and later returned to Damascus.

18Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted
with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. 19I saw none of the other
apostles—only James, the Lord's brother. 20I assure you before God
that what I am writing you is no lie. 21Later I went to Syria and
Cilicia. 22I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are
in Christ. 23They only heard the report: "The man who formerly
persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy."
24And they praised God because of me.

The result of Paul's conversion caused the people to "praise God
because of me".Here was a man who was despised and feared and now, he
is their pastor! What kind of job description did they have in those
churches that accepted Paul as a "man of God".

How do we react to this story and the fact that a man so full of
hatred had his life turned around by God. If God did this for Paul,
think what he can do for us who try everyday to live worthy of his
name. Where have you been on your journey for God and where has God
taken you especially places you may not have wanted to go? Can we
believe the scriptures when it proclaims such a conversion?
Let me know.