Galatians 5 - 11.26.24

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians 5:25 “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

OBSERVATION:  Paul knew God, loved God, and his life was led by the Spirit of God.  He explained to the Church that it was for freedom that Christ set us free.  “Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery.” 

APPLICATION:  We keep in step with the Spirit of God by living lives that are led by the Spirit of God.  When we are living by the Spirit, we will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.  They are in conflict to one another so that we are not to do whatever we want. If we did what our flesh wanted, we would be led back into slavery to our selfish desires. 

The fruit of the Spirit is the work of the Holy Spirit in us.  Those who belong to Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  It is for freedom that Christ has set us free!  That’s the ONLY reason we are able to stand firm and not let ourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery!  Because… Christ has set us free!

PRAYER:  Thank You Lord for purchasing our freedom when You died on the cross for our sins. Thank You for the freedom we now have to live for You.  We who were once dead in our sins have been made alive by Your Spirit. We who have been forgiven much are now free to love much!  As you love us, we are to love others. I pray you will help us to die to our fleshly desires, and live fully and completely unto You.  I pray that the virtues of Your Spirit will be revealed in our lives by the way we love You and others, and that we will bear much fruit for Your honor and glory as we continually keep in step with Your Spirit.

- Robin Orefice

Psalm 114 - 11.25.24

Scripture

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭114‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT

“The Red Sea saw them coming and hurried out of their way! The water of the Jordan River turned away. The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs!”

Observation

The psalmist in this chapter is reminding the reader of the “good old days”. These were the days when God delivered His people out of slavery in Egypt and led them into the Promise Land of Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey. The psalmist tells the reader how God provided safety for His people by literally moving seas, rivers, and mountains for them. God made what seemed impossible, possible. It’s a psalm that not only shows you just how great and awesome our God is, but also the great lengths God will go through to provide for His children.

Application

What’s there to worry about when God is on our side.

“If God is for us, who can ever be against us?”-Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭31‬b

We tend to forget sometimes just how BIG and AWESOME our God is. It’s like I heard from Pastor Greg Laurie: “If you have a big God you will have small problems. If you have big problems, do you have a small God?”

Well, for those of you that don’t know, we serve a BIG God! He is AWESOME in power! And as you can see from this psalm, God will literally move heaven and earth for His people. Why?..because He loves us soooo much! We are precious to Him. So much so that He came out of the comforts of Heaven and died on a cross for us, to free us from our sins, and to give us the opportunity to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. ❤️ Now who wouldn’t want a God like that in their life? 

Prayer

Father God, You are AWESOME! Nothing compares to You. I am humbled that a God like You, loves me so much. Forgive me for forgetting just how powerful and sovereign You are. May I always be reminded of who You are and what You have done in my life, and in Your people’s lives. May it strengthen my faith and hope in You, especially when I hit difficult times. I thank You for Your faithfulness. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 🙏🏽

-Moses Gaddi

Galatians 1 - 11.22.24

Scripture

Galatians 1:10:  “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

Observation

Paul in this chapter of the letter states his title and by what authority his title was given. Paul gives a quick greeting and then prays. Now Paul is not going to hold anything back. Paul scolds them and gives a stern warning about what is going on in the Churches in Galatia. There are some that are distorting, perverting, or adding to the truth of the Gospel. They are now preaching a different Gospel than the one they originally received. Paul tells them the consequences.

Paul then reminds them that the Gospel he taught was not given to him by man but by revelation of Jesus Christ. He finishes this chapter by giving them his testimony.

Application

As a supervisor at work, I have been given authority from management above me to lead, speak and teach about safety. I have given my testimony about some things that happened to me or other employees. When safety rules are broken, there is consequences. Some are immediate and natural consequences like getting injured or worse, and some consequences come later such as a write up, suspension and termination. When I talk about safety, the tone is not a whiny “do it for me please.” I need to be firm so the employees can go home to see their families every day. Their lives may depend on me and the training

.

Paul was firm. He knows some people in the Churches would be lost if they didn’t hear the truth. I am sure some people did not like his tone. Paul wasn’t going to give them a time out or go to bed without supper. The Truth was not going to be a casualty. Paul knew who he was in Christ.  As a good servant, he was going to remind them of who God the father was and who raised Jesus Christ from the dead.

Prayer

Lord, let the Holy Spirit give me words when I talk about you Jesus. Let me not talk in my own understanding. Let me speak the truth. Let me stand firm in your truth. Let the good news go forth. Thank you Jesus. Amen

- Robert Oberg