December 10
________________________________________
PAUL’S INTEGRITY IN PREACHING THE GOSPEL
Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. 2 It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that somehow, I might be running, or had run, in vain.
-Galatians 2:1-2
________________________________________
From Galatians 1, we hear from Paul’s letter that he took a trip to Jerusalem, here he describes a second trip to it, fourteen years later. In Galatians 1, Paul said in his letter that his gospel came by a revelation from Jesus and not from man, not even from the apostles in Jerusalem. According to a commentary, two visits to Jerusalem over 14 years demonstrated that Paul did not sit at the feet of the disciples of Jesus to learn the gospel.
Traveling with Paul to Jerusalem were both Barnabas (who was well respected among the leadership in Jerusalem according to Acts 4:36-37 and 11:22) and Titus (who was a Gentile convert). Titus was a remarkable man and associate of Paul. In this part of his letter, Paul tells the Galatians that he went to Jerusalem by the express direction of God. He did not go because any man called him to come; it was because God told him to go.
In verse 2, we witness Paul’s humility and discretion at telling the apostles that he is preaching the gospel of Christ. He didn’t know how everyone of reputation in Jerusalem would receive it. Perhaps some of the apostles themselves were wrong on this point, and needed to be corrected! But if there was any confrontation to be done, Paul did it privately to those who were of reputation. He did the best he could to not publicly embarrass those who were of reputation in Jerusalem. According to a commentary, this probably did not come from the fear that he himself would fall away. Probably it was the fear that an unnecessary conflict with the leaders of the church in Jerusalem leaders might damage his reputation and ministry in some way. Also, the danger was that false teachers – if encouraged in some way by the leaders in Jerusalem – might undo Paul’s work in planting churches and raising disciples for Jesus, and therefore would make Paul’s work in vain.
How many believers live a life of integrity like Paul, who is bold to confront anything that might be false teaching or anything that might hinder God’s truth to be spread to all? In our world today, we see so many compromised churches, teaching different gospels.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• What is our part as true believers in ensuring that the true gospel is preached?
Monthly Archives: December 2020
PROOF OF PAUL’S ANOINTING ILMA’S VLOG
December 9
________________________________________
PROOF OF PAUL’S ANOINTING
18 Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him for fifteen days. 19 But I did not see another one of the apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. 20 (Now in what I am writing to you, I assure you before God that I am not lying.) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which are in Christ; 23 but they only kept hearing, “The man who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they were glorifying God because of me.
– Galatians 1:18-24
________________________________________
In this letter of Paul to the Galatians, he testifies that his conversion from persecutor to apostle wasn’t human but God appointed. In the following verses, he gives his testimony and evidences that his claim is true. In verse 18, he gives them an account of the total number of years before he knew Cephas. Though Paul calls this fellow Christian Cephas, he’s probably better known to us as Peter. As in Simon Peter (John 1:42). According to another commentary, it says that we shouldn’t think that Paul meant here that it was wrong to hear of the gospel through others, or that those who do hear it from someone who isn’t an apostle somehow have an inferior salvation. The point is simply that the gospel Paul preached was not a gospel of man, and this was settled forever because he did not receive it from any man. Paul did not travel to what we would call Saudi Arabia. The area known in that day as Arabia in his day extended all the way to the city of Damascus. Paul probably lived in some quiet desert place outside of Damascus. Then after three years: Paul proved here that he did not learn the gospel from the apostles, because he had been a Christian for three years before he even met the apostles Peter and James. Paul’s whole point in the second part of this chapter is important. His gospel was true, and his experience was valid, because it really came from God. It is fair for every Christian to ask if their gospel has come from God, or if they have made it up themselves. The questions are important because only what comes from God can really save us and make a lasting difference in our lives.
I can attest to divine appointment. I didn’t know God had prepared me to work for Him until I was in my late 50’s. He started to prod me to tell people about Christ since I was seven years old and have been schooled by the Holy Spirit even before I read the bible.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How would one know if they are appointed directly by God?
REVELATION: AFTERMATH OF OBEDIENCE ILMA’S VLOG
December 8
________________________________________
REVELATION: AFTERMATH OF OBEDIENCE
11 For I would have you know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel which was preached by me is not of human invention. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; 14 and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my [countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions. 15 But when He who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus. – Galatians 1:11-17
________________________________________
In this letter of Paul to the Galatians, he is emphasizing to them that the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ is not something he made up or is coming from a human. In verse 12, he tells them that it was something that was a revelation, not something he was given by another man or taught it. A revelation is divine, it is not something humans can do. Our ability to change ourselves is limited, but a revelation can transform us into a new creation. In verse 14, Paul witnesses to the Galatians and gives again his testimony to build this case of revelation. He used to persecute the believers because he followed his ancestors in continuing their tradition. But when God chose him and revealed His Son to him, he obeyed the Spirit’s revelation to him and he was transformed to the new person that God has turned him around from a persecutor to an apostle. In verse 16, he mentions that he didn’t train from other apostles ahead of him, instead he obeyed the instruction to go away.
Before I was born again almost nine years ago, I habitually served my own interests. It was always about me. When I began studying God’s word, I started to see that I was a sinner and an idolater. That was the conviction that came as the words of the bible popped out of its pages and dealt with my sins. As soon as I gave up trying to understand it and instead, obeyed faithfully the truths that was replacing the lies I listened to for over 5 decades, revelations from the Holy Spirit came flowing out of my mind and heart. I was never the same. Sadly, many Christians were hijacked by religion, tradition and cultural paradigms that stunt their maturity and hinder them to live the new life in Christ. They are unable to renew their minds because of disobedience.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why do you think obedience is the key to get revelation from the Holy Spirit?
ON DISTORTING THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST
December 7
________________________________________
ON DISTORTING THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST
6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel, 7 which is not just another account; but there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, even now I say again: if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!
10 For am I now seeking the favor of people, or of God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.
Galatians 1::6-10
________________________________________The word gospel literally means “good news.” A commentary says that Paul meant, “There is no ‘good news’ in this message. It is only bad news, so it really isn’t a ‘different good news.’ It is bad news. The New King James Version translation is much better at this place, because it makes a distinction between different and another, accurately reflecting the difference between two distinct ancient Greek words used. Different has the idea of “another of different kind” and another has the idea of “another of the same kind.” It is as if Paul wrote, “They brought you a completely different gospel. They claim it is just an alternative gospel of the same kind, but it isn’t at all. It is all together different.”
In verse 7, Martin Luther says “Note the resourcefulness of the devil. Heretics do not advertise their errors. Murderers, adulterers, thieves disguise themselves. So, the devil masquerades all these devices and activities. He puts on white to make himself look like an angel of light.”
To distort the gospel means to use the same words or idea, but cunningly twist it. This is much more wicked, because it seems like it is true yet, it is actually a lie. Lies comes from the evil one. In verses 8-9, Paul warns them of the consequence of twisting the gospel of Christ. He also reminds them of their responsibility as a believer to ensure that they don’t receive such false teachings, for they too will be accursed. In verse 10, he tells the Galatians that to be a servant of God, you cannot continue to please humans.
In our current days, we see so many Christians believe lies that come from false teachings which results from going the different path. They are deceived to think they are going to heaven when they are actually going to hell.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How can a true believer recognize false teachings and false teachers?
December 7
________________________________________
ON DISTORTING THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST
6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel, 7 which is not just another account; but there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, even now I say again: if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!
10 For am I now seeking the favor of people, or of God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.
Galatians 1::6-10
________________________________________The word gospel literally means “good news.” A commentary says that Paul meant, “There is no ‘good news’ in this message. It is only bad news, so it really isn’t a ‘different good news.’ It is bad news. The New King James Version translation is much better at this place, because it makes a distinction between different and another, accurately reflecting the difference between two distinct ancient Greek words used. Different has the idea of “another of different kind” and another has the idea of “another of the same kind.” It is as if Paul wrote, “They brought you a completely different gospel. They claim it is just an alternative gospel of the same kind, but it isn’t at all. It is all together different.”
In verse 7, Martin Luther says “Note the resourcefulness of the devil. Heretics do not advertise their errors. Murderers, adulterers, thieves disguise themselves. So, the devil masquerades all these devices and activities. He puts on white to make himself look like an angel of light.”
To distort the gospel means to use the same words or idea, but cunningly twist it. This is much more wicked, because it seems like it is true yet, it is actually a lie. Lies comes from the evil one. In verses 8-9, Paul warns them of the consequence of twisting the gospel of Christ. He also reminds them of their responsibility as a believer to ensure that they don’t receive such false teachings, for they too will be accursed. In verse 10, he tells the Galatians that to be a servant of God, you cannot continue to please humans.
In our current days, we see so many Christians believe lies that come from false teachings which results from going the different path. They are deceived to think they are going to heaven when they are actually going to hell.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How can a true believer recognize false teachings and false teachers?
PAUL, AN APOSTLE WRITES TO THE GALATIANS ILMA’S VLOG
December 6
________________________________________
PAUL, AN APOSTLE WRITES TO THE GALATIANS
Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through human agency, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brothers who are with me, to the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen. – Galatians 1:1-3
________________________________________
According to some commentaries, the book of Galatians has been called the “Declaration of Independence of Christian liberty.” The great reformer Martin Luther especially loved this letter; he called Galatians his “Catherine von Bora” after his wife; because, he said, “I am married to it.” If it is true that Galatians was written around A.D. 50, then Paul would have been a Christian for about 15 years, being converted on the road to Damascus around A.D. 35. This emphasis on Paul’s apostolic credentials is important. Paul had strong words for these Galatians, and they had to understand that he wrote with authority; indeed, apostolic authority. Paul expected that Christians would respect his authority as an apostle of Jesus Christ. Wuest comments that “The word apostle as Paul uses it here does not merely refer to one who has a message to announce, but to an appointed representative with an official status who is provided with the credentials of his office.” It is our duty to also respect Paul’s authority as an apostle. We do this by regarding this ancient letter as the Word of God, and by taking it seriously to heart. Paul’s calling as an apostle was not from man, nor was it through man. It didn’t originate with man, and it didn’t come through man. It originated with God and came directly from God. His standing as an apostle was not based on opinion polls and it did not come from any human council. It was based on a Divine call, made through both the Father and the Son. Martin Luther wrote “When I was a young man, I thought Paul was making too much of his call. I did not understand his purpose. I did not then realize the importance of the ministry… We exalt our calling, not to gain glory among men, or money, or satisfaction, or favor, but because people need to be assured that the words we speak are the words of God. This is no sinful pride. It is holy pride.” (Martin Luther)
I was led by the Spirit to study again this book as I am being trained to pull down strongholds and exposing false doctrines. It confirms my passion to bring truth.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why do you think this introduction to his letter is important to all believers?
MAY MY PRAISE BE PLEASING TO HIM ILMA’S VLOG
December 5
________________________________________
MAY MY PRAISE BE PLEASING TO HIM
May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
May the LORD rejoice in His works;
32 He looks at the earth, and it trembles;
He touches the mountains, and they smoke.
33 I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
34 May my praise be pleasing to Him;
As for me, I shall rejoice in the LORD.
35 May sinners be removed from the earth
And may the wicked be no more.
Bless the LORD, my soul.
Praise the LORD! Psalm 104:31-35
________________________________________
This psalm is an exaltation to the Lord. The psalmist declares God’s glory that lasts throughout eternity. It is a declaration of God’s mighty deeds and his power. In verse 32, it gives us a picture of how everything is under God’s control: the earth and mountains all are only able to follow what He wants done. In verse 33, the psalmist models what all believers ought to do, to sing praises to the Lord Almighty, who is worthy of all praise. He declares his choice to be loyal to only bring God the glory. He made a promise that while he still has breath, he will only be faithful to Him. Verse 34 is another declaration of his reverence for the Lord. How he ensures that his worship will be in accordance to God’s preferred adoration. He prays in verse 35 that those who habitually sins be annihilated from this earth. He pleads God to watch his soul prosper and continue to praise Him.
According to enduringword.com commentary, the psalmist understood that God is also worshipped by our thoughts. What we choose to set our mind on is a measure of what we truly value. Knowing the greatness and goodness of God as revealed in creation, the psalmist wanted his thoughts to be pleasing to God.
May sinners be consumed from the earth: This seems a strange and solemn declaration in this psalm. Yet it is the logical consequence for those who reject God as Creator. Paul later developed this thought in Romans 1, speaking of the guilt and consequences due to those who reject God as Creator and worship the creature rather than the Creator.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How can the way we worship God be displeasing to Him?
IN WISDOM, GOD MADE ALL THINGS
December 4
________________________________________
IN WISDOM, GOD MADE ALL THINGS
LORD, how many are Your works!
In wisdom You have made them all;
The earth is full of Your possessions.
25 There is the sea, great and broad,
In which are swarms without number,
Animals both small and great.
26 The ships move along there,
And Leviathan, which You have formed to have fun in it.
They all wait for You To give them their food in due season.
28 You give to them, they gather it up;
You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good.
29 You hide Your face, they are terrified;
You take away their breath, they perish and return to their dust.
30 You send forth Your Spirit, they are created;
And You renew the face of the ground. -Psalm 104:24-30
________________________________________
In this psalm, the psalmist addresses how God created all things in wisdom. Each and every thing he made has a purpose. The Lord made all things for Himself. He carefully thought how each of his creatures will live and every detail of their existence is well planned. In verse 25, the psalmist especially mentions the bodies of water that God has placed many different mammals and creatures to live in it. Leviathan, a sea monster is mentioned here just as Job 40 talks about this same creature. In verse 25, the psalmist says that God put Leviathan in the sea to have fun in it. Each of these creatures just wait on God to provide for them so they can continue to exist and be part of God’s plan. But, I wonder why God created Leviathan which also brings so much havoc on mankind as his spirit dwells on us and casts so much destruction. In Job 38-39, we learn that in order for creation to live and thrive, the Lord explains to Job that there must be room for the random and uncanny. I quote this from a commentary from massbible.org.
In verse 29, the psalmist recognizes the fear of not having God’s presence and how it will terrify them immensely if God abandons them. They are completely dependent on God for their lives. In verse 30 we clearly see that God is the source of life and all creation.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why the fear the Lord the beginning of all wisdom as Proverbs 9:10 says?
GOD’S ORDER IN HIS CREATION ILMA’S VLOG
December 3
________________________________________
GOD’S ORDER IN HIS CREATION
The high mountains are for the wild goats; the cliffs are a refuge for the rock hyrax.
19 He made the moon for the seasons; the sun knows the place of its setting.
20 You appoint darkness and it becomes night,
In which all the animals of the forest prowl about.
21 The young lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God.
22 When the sun rises they withdraw, and they lie down in their dens.
23 A person goes out to his work and to his labor until evening. – Psalm 104:18-23
________________________________________
Previous to verse 19, the psalmist mentions that the birds have their own home. In verse 18, he also says that the other animals have also been given their shelters, including the stork, the wild goats, and the rock badgers. A wise and loving God provides for them all. In verse 19, the psalmist turned his attention to the moon and the sun. They operate according to God’s plan, providing darkness so that all the beasts of the forest creep about. According to Maclaren, “The moon is named first, because the Hebrew day began with the evening.” VanGemeren comments on the other hand that “Canaanites attributed rain, sunlight, and the lunar cycle to specific deities. For Israel the Lord sovereignly rules over all creation and establishes order by his wise administration.” Just as God provided for the night, He also provided for the day, when lions and other nocturnal animals lie down in their dens. When the lions sleep, man goes out to his work until the evening. All operate according to God’s wise plan for creation. Spurgeon comments on verse 21-22 as
“It is a strange expression that young lions when they roar after their prey, should be said to seek their meat of God; implying that neither their own strength nor craft could feed them without help from God. The strongest creatures left to themselves cannot help themselves.” Clarke says “And as it would not be convenient for man and the wild beasts of the forest to collect their food at the same time, he has given the night to them as the proper time to procure their prey, and the day to rest in. When MAN labours, THEY rest; when MAN rests, THEY labour.”
What an amazing God we have. He has organized his creation in such a way that everyone is provided for and there is no chaos. It is interesting how the psalmist mentions the lions who depend on God for their food. It is easy to miss out on God’s order and boundaries. Whenever we get so wrapped up in this world system, we fail to see God’s governance.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How can we constantly be aware of God’s order in creation and mankind?
GOD’S PROVISION FOR HIS CREATION ILMA’S VLOG
December 2
________________________________________
GOD’S PROVISION FOR HIS CREATION
He causes the grass to grow for the cattle,
And vegetation for the labor of mankind,
So that they may produce food from the earth,
15 And wine, which makes a human heart cheerful,
So that he makes his face gleam with oil,
And food, which sustains a human heart.
16 The trees of the LORD drink their fill,
The cedars of Lebanon which He planted,
17 Where the birds build their nests,
And the stork, whose home is the juniper trees.- Psalm 104:14-17
________________________________________
According to a commentary, the psalmist continued his thoughts on nature, seeing how God provides grass for animals and vegetation for the service of man. Spurgeon says “Divine power is as truly and as worthily put forth in the feeding of beasts as in the nurturing of man; watch but a blade of grass with a devout eye and you may see God at work within it.” God designed the ecology of the world so that with work, man may bring forth food. Under God’s blessing and man’s work, the food brought forth is wonderful. God’s earth gives us wine, oil, and bread – each with their own blessing and goodness.
Clarke comments on verse 15 that “Wine, in moderate quantity, has a wondrous tendency to revive and invigorate the human being. Ardent spirits exhilarate, but they exhaust the strength; and every dose leaves man the worse. Unadulterated wine, on the contrary, exhilarates and invigorates: it makes him cheerful, and provides for the continuance of that cheerfulness by strengthening the muscles, and bracing the nerves. This is its use. Those who continue drinking till wine inflames them, abuse this mercy of God.” In verse 16, The psalmist had a vision of how healthy and vigorous nature is. He thought of the mighty cedars of Lebanon and how, in their sap-filled health, they give a place where the birds make their nests. They are the trees of the LORD in the sense that no human hand planted them; He planted these mighty trees.
What a wonderful tribute to God’s provision! He thinks of every detail. He always has humans and other creatures in his mind and ensures that they are all cared for. I love trees and each time I look at them, I marvel at God’s wondrous creation.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How can we develop a grateful attitude towards God’s provisions?
THE EARTH IS SATISFIED WITH THE FRUIT OF GOD’S WORKS ILMA’S VLOG
December 1
________________________________________
THE EARTH IS SATISFIED WITH THE FRUIT OF GOD’S WORKS
He sends forth springs in the valleys;
They flow between the mountains;
11 They give drink to every animal of the field;
The wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12 The birds of the sky dwell beside them;
They lift up their voices from among the branches.
13 He waters the mountains from His upper chambers;
The earth is satisfied with the fruit of His works.- Psalm 104:10-13
________________________________________
According to enduringword.com, in the previous section, the psalmist referred to what God did with the waters of the earth after the flood in Noah’s day. Now he considers how God distributed waters across the land, sending springs into the valleys to give drink to every beast of the field. The psalmist considered how the water, plants, and animals of the earth each find their place in God’s plan and order. The wild donkeys drink their water, the birds have a home so they may sing among the branches. He saw a good, harmonious world in nature and knew Yahweh was responsible for it. According to Poole, Wild donkeys are mentioned by the psalmist partly because they are dry and thirsty creatures; and partly because they live in dry and desolate wildernesses, and are neither ruled nor regarded by men, and are most stupid creatures, and yet are plentifully provided for by the care and bounty of Divine Providence.” Horne says that birds sing among the branches: “If these little choristers of the air, when refreshed by the streams near which they dwell, express their gratitude by chanting, in their way, the praises of their Maker and Preserver, how ought Christians to blush, who, besides the comforts and conveniences of this world, are so indulged with copious draughts of the water of eternal life, if, for so great blessings, they pay not their tribute of thanksgiving, and sing not unto the Lord the songs of Sion!”
How can humans take for granted the provisions of the Lord when the animals appreciate how God provides for them? Is it the free will given to us that corrupts humankind from being grateful? We become to busy with so many trivial things that we fail to see the beautiful things God created and how they all depend on God for everything and just patiently wait for God’s provision.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• What stops you from seeing the many provisions God has given you regularly?