Galatians 2:20-21 believer versus others

Messages for March 2018: Our Month of Glory

Message for Sunday 11^th March, 2018

Theme: Positioning for the Glory of God

Topic: Galatians 2:20-21 believer versus others

Introduction: Last week, we began to examine why we are here in relation to the manifestation of the glory of God through our lives. We established that the glory of God is given to individuals in weights. We also saw that the weight of glory a person can bear has to do with how much spiritual capacity they have built. The proof of capacity building is seen in how much of the love of God we walk in per time. We learn from apostle John that God is love and anyone who loves him is shown in how much of His love they walk in. also, that mature love has the ability to eradicate any kind of fear because there is no fear in love. See 1Jn.4:7-8, 18-21.

Today therefore, we shall be making a contrast between two kinds of believers to show us when we are spiritual and when we are carnal. These are two options of way of life that would always be available to any believer as long as they are in this world. The choice we make regarding these two would show whether we are choosing life or death by our life styles. See Deu.30:19.

Be spiritual: The command to be spiritual is not optional for any child of God; it is a mandatory command that enables us to be able to walk with God in the strictest sense of the word. Apostle Paul defines what it means to be spiritual or to be in the spirit to us in Romans 8:5. From this text, we understand that to be spiritual means to be mindful of God’s things e.g. His word and His Spirit. Whereas to be carnal is to mind the things of the flesh. Fleshly things are things that are selfish more than godly. A fleshly person is therefore very selfish and always will put themselves first before any other. This is the definition of carnality when a believer in Christ still lives for himself or herself rather than live for God’s glory.

To enable us overcome this evil way, God sent Apostle Paul to teach us through His letter to the Church at Rome, Galatia etc. therefore, today we are going to be comparing both kinds of life style and receive another opportunity to the able to compare and contrast both kinds of life styles and decide which type we want to live out in our individual lives.

Comparing and contrasting Galatians 2:20-21 believers and others:

1.     The former are crucified with and live for Christ in all their ways. Whereas the latter refuse to be crucified and go on living for themselves. It is only a question of time before they would realize how vain their lives have been. A wise person will repent at this time and live better but a hypocrite will continue to live in deceit thinking they are fooling God without realizing that the devil has fooled them into deceiving themselves. It is at baptism we either submit to God to be crucified with Christ or refuse to be and embrace the flesh. See Rm.6:4 -14 and Col.2:12-15.

2.     The crucified in Christ live but not of themselves; they are submitted to Christ so that He would live His life through them. So they are not the ones making things happen in their lives even though they are responsible enough to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to allow the Lord live through them. Whereas the uncrucified live to themselves and are not open to correction; neither do they allow God to have His way in their lives even when they know that they need to allow Him in their lives. These are believers who are too selfish to allow the Lord to reign in and through them. The solution to this kind or challenge is to yield to the Holy Spirit and the word of God and submit to mind renewal. See Rom.12:1-2; Jas.1:21; 1Tim.4:13-16.

3.     The Gal.2:20-21 believers make the effort to walk in love consistently until they over, time become perfected in it. The other believers on the other hand, do not bother to take this responsibility because it is a seemingly unattainable one. The truth however is that the love of God never fails. To operate this love would demand humility and persistence from any believer because love is patient and never gives up. See 1Cor.13:4-8; Col.3:12-16 and Eph.5:1-2.

4.     The Gal.2:20-21 believer is spiritual in all his or her endeavors and as such can easily be taught by the Holy Spirit. They bear the fruit of the spirit and it shows. On the other hand, the other type of believers are carnal and as such cannot bear the fruit of the spirit and become vulnerable to fellowshipping with the unfruitful works of darkness and can therefore not reprove them because of the blindness carnality can create in the life of a believer until they repent and become truly dependent on the Lord. 1Cor.2:9-14; Gal.5:16-17; Jn.15:1-17 and Gal.5:22-23.

5.     The Gal.2:20-21 believer is very God conscious and therefore mindful of spiritual things whereas the other believer is worldly and their thoughts are filled with the world. 1Jn.2:15-17; Jas.4:1-12 and Rm.8:5.

6.     The Gal.2:20-21 believer is always protected no matter how crafty their enemies are and will therefore not be snared because their obedience to God protects them. The other believers on the other hand, are easily snared and would find it difficult to enjoy victory because they do not have the faith that works by love because faith indeed works by love.  Gal.5:6; 1Cor.13:13; Jas.2:14-20 and Ps.41:1-2.

More can be said here but we shall draw the curtains here today for want of time and space. By the grace of God we shall continue with this discourse next week by looking at the release of the glory of God and what we stand to benefit from it after touching on steps we can take to be positioned for the glory.

Someone may be reading this blog today that is yet to take the first step in the direction of the glory; please first things first; if you are not born again yet, you must become saved so that you can become eligible to bear the ark of the glory of God. If you want to do so right now, please say the following prayer out loud in faith and you will be born again:

Heavenly Father,

Have mercy on me a sinner. Today, I believe that Jesus died for me and you raised Him from the dead for my Justification. I therefore declare that Jesus Christ is my Saviour and Lord and from today, I renounce the fatherhood of Satan and embrace Jesus Christ as my Saviour and Lord. Thank you for this father in Jesus’ name! Amen.

Congratulations! For more information and resources that would help you grow in this new life, please visit our website at www.kingdomheirsministries.org and our blogs at www.flourishinggirl.blogspot.com and follow us on twitter at alero_nanna and on face book on www.facebook.com/flourishinggirl www.facebook.com/khmii2015; www.facebook.com/thewellbeingcenter. Or www.facebook.com/kingdomjointheirsfamily email:  jointheirsfamily@gmail.com.