Galatians Part 20 - The Reaper

What are the implications of this principle, “you reap what you sow”?

2 Corinthians 5:10

10)  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Peace

From our recent Bible studies on the Fruit of the Spirit:

Peace has many different uses today. Peace can mean absence of war or an inner state of mind. It has been used as a greeting or a description of a quiet place.

In the Old Testament, peace (shalom) meant more than just peace. It was an all-encompassing word that covered mental, physical, and emotional well-being as well as harmony between people and a blessing for the good of others. In the new Testament it says that Jesus is our peace, in faxct he came to bring peace between man and God.

1) Peace is used in some unfamiliar ways in these passages. How can you leave peace John 14:26-27?  How can peace rest on homes or return to people Matthew 10:12-14?

Jesus left his peace with us, peace with form, the Holy Spirit. In the old testament the Holy Spirit would come and go, now it is here to remain.

2) How can peace rule? Colossians 3:15-16 What do you think it means to “let peace rule in your heart”?

It is only when we allow the Holy Spirit to rule in our lives that we truly experience peace, for if we are at peace with God, we will be at peace with ourselves, and this peace is infectious.

Some more questions:

1) Do you let peace rule in your heart? What would that look like in your life, how would it change?

2) When you greet people, do you offer peace to those you meet? do you do so in words only, or is it as the Bible describes it?

Galatians Part 9 - Heir Apparent

We make much of being under law, or under grace, but the purpose of this is not our freedom to ignore the rules, but our position in Christ. Under the Law they were simply "heirs apparent". In Christ Jesus they have become "heirs actual"

Galatians Part 8 - The relevance of the Old Testament

Why bother with the Old Testament, other than as a historical document. What value does the Law (Old Testament) have for us today? Do we even need to study it, since we are not under the Law?

Galatians Part 7 - Are you family?

How often do we act, believing we are doing God’s will, yet in reality we are hindering what he is trying to achieve in us, or through us?

Galatians Part 6 - Foolishness

As far as Paul is concerned, if you buy into this mingling of faith and works, you nullify the grace of God, and you step out of sync with the truth of the gospel.

Galatians Part 5 - Faith

On this the Queen’s 90th birthday there is a book out, The Servant Queen, in which she writes -

"I have been – and remain – very grateful to you for your prayers and to God for his steadfast love. I have indeed seen his faithfulness." (Foreword for The Servant Queen)

She is demonstrating her faith in her words and actions.

Galatians Part 4 - Hypocrisy

To many people today are not prepared to check the truth, in case they are wrong. To many people are more happy to keep up a pretence of peace than to challenge the blatant errors. This is hypocrisy.

The other side of hypocrisy is when we insist others do what we ourselves are not, while giving the appearance that we are.

Galatians Part 3 - Truth Matters

Do you see the Bible as the Word of God, the standard for our authority, or is it just a book of nice sayings and stories?

The gospel which Paul preached—salvation by grace through faith in Christ to the glory of God—is it from heaven or from men?

Is it clear to those around you that your witness is of a God who changes lives, or is it empty Words? The truth matters

Paul Davies - News from Albania

Paul Davies from AEM brings News from Albania.

Galatians Part 1 - Grace

If you are following a set of rules, and struggling to match up to a perceived need to be perfect, it is time to let go and remember the way you first came to Christ. Messed up and needing a Saviour, he alone offered the GRACE that made it possible to life life as God intended.

Haggai 5 - Coming Messiah

The challenges so far have been, Consider your ways, remember the purposes of God, and come to him with clean hands. All these prophecies to the people stirred them up and got them back to work rebuilding the temple. We don’t know what else, if anything, Haggai heard from God. Maybe he spoke a lot, and this was the only thing recorded, or maybe this was it. This was the parts that we need to know about. This last prophecy though is a little different.