Daily Inspirations

  Good morning. Remember that we are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus: for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise. Can you imagine that? A lot of people just want to sneak in the back door of heaven, much less be heirs of Abraham. As long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. How does that relate to us? While we were children, we were held in bondage under the elemental of things of the world. Originally the word translated elemental meant things like the ABC’s. Then it came to mean fundamental principles or basic elements of various kinds - here, the world. The Jews were also in bondage to the law. But God had a plan which we will see next time. Father thank You for Your abundant grace and mercy. Minister th...

 Good morning. Continuing where we left off: Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Again the promise is by faith, not by works. But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith (not by works). Tutors guide students into knowledge about the subject for which they are tutoring. The law was to guide the Jewish people into faith in the Christ. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. However, after 1000 + years of being under the law, it was almost impossible for the Jewish people to put down the law and simply believe in Jesus as the fulfillment of the law. It is hard enough for us to change our beliefs about something that we have believed for just a short time. They were being asked to change what they had belie...

  Good morning. If the law couldn’t make us righteous, and no one other than Jesus was able to obey it, then you might ask why was the Law given? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator (unlike with the promise mentioned later), until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. People had no idea of how they were supposed to act. They needed some guidelines. Since they did not have the Holy Spirit living within them, they needed a physical set of rules that they could see and follow. As we’ve said before in different words, the law could not help people to obey the law. Now a mediator is not for one party only, whereas God is only one. Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on the law. When two parties have a disagreement and cannot rectify the situation, sometimes a person or...

  Good morning. Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. It does not say, and to seeds, as referring to many, but rather to one, and to your seed, that is, Christ. What I am saying is this: the law, which came 430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. As a side note: the book of Exodus says that the children of Israel left Egypt 430 years to the day after they entered Egypt. They entered Egypt a number of years after God first promised Abraham. Some years after that first mention of the promise to Abraham, God promised Isaac; and then more years later promised Jacob. In other words it was more than 430 years after God first promised Abraham that the children of Israel left Egypt. Sometimes God has a funny way of counting. Was the 430 years after Jacob went to Egypt, or was it 430 years after Joseph went? In a sense, when Joseph entered, it was as if Jacob entered. For if the inheritance is based on law,...

  Good morning. For is many as are of the works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them. That’s pretty harsh. It’s all or nothing; and of course only Jesus did it all. Therefore, if salvation could be earned, only Jesus would’ve been able to earn it. Paul continues his contrast with James. Now that no one is justified by the law before God is evident; for the righteous man shall live by faith (not by works of the law). However the law is not of faith; on the contrary, he who practices them shall live by them. Then the good news: Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us - for it is written, cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree - in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Instead of us being cursed because we did not obey the law, Jesus b...

 Good morning. Now some verses in which it seems like Paul is disagreeing with what James says about the same verses in his letter. Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. The Jews are physical sons of Abraham by ancestry. We are spiritual sons of Abraham through faith. The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith (not works), preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “all the nations will be blessed in you”. For centuries, the Jews, when they read that, thought that it meant the Gentiles would be converted to Judaism. So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham the believer. How would you like to be called “the believer“? We will continue this next time. Father continue working out things for the reader and his/her family. Make this a beautiful day for them.

  Good morning. You foolish Galatians - wow 😮 Paul, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? This is the only thing I want to find out from you; did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? He is referring back to the controversy about obtaining justification through works instead of faith. Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? That is so typical of human nature. First we think that we have to do something to obtain our salvation, and then we think we have to do something to perfect our salvation. So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by works of the law, or by hearing with faith? Again, we feel like we have to do something to earn everything, whether it’s salvation, healing, or anything else. Next time we will continue with where the book of James and Paul apparently disagree. Father thank You that ...

  Good morning. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. Then one of our favorite verses which we used to sing, though with words from the King James. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Dead people don’t sin. If we truly act like we are crucified with Christ, then we won’t be sinning. As human beings, we just simply cannot let go of the reins. But this verse says that we have to - that we live our lives by faith in Jesus. He loved us so much that He gave Himself up for us. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died needlessly. If we could do it on our own by observing the Ten Commandments and the Law of Moses, then we would not have needed for Christ to die for our sins. Father thank You that Christ loved us so much that He gave Hi...

  Good morning. Beginning where we left off last time: This leads me to wonder if James wrote his letter before this occurrence. If so, it could explain some of the apparent discrepancies in some of James’ statements in the letter. He mentions “works“ several times in his letter. He also says that works are necessary for justification, while Paul says it is by grace through faith that we are justified. Perhaps he wrote it before he came to the full realization of how to obtain justification. It was true that works were required for justification before the coming of Jesus. Remember that Peter had pretended to not be associating with the Gentiles. The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy (remember that this came about because of the coming of some people from James). Paul then confronted Peter: if you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews? Knowing that a man is not justified by works of the law but th...

  Good morning. Paul finishes his discussion about his trip to Jerusalem by saying: Recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Peter and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. But when Peter came to Antioch (that was Paul’s base of operations), I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned. This re-iterates Paul’s assertion that James, John, and Peter’s reputation meant nothing to him. For prior to the coming of certain men from James (notice where they are from), he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision (who believed that circumcision was necessary for salvation). Paul wasn’t afraid of Peter, James, and John‘s opinion, but Peter was afraid of James’ opinion. We will continue with this next time. Father thank You that it is Your will that matters th...

  Good morning. Paul and Barnabas are in Jerusalem submitting the gospel Paul preached among the Gentiles: It was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage. The false brethren wanted the Gentile converts to be circumcised and to follow the law of Moses. This would have brought them under bondage. People who are in bondage many times want everybody else to be under bondage like them and even worse. But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you. But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality) - those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me. Paul was a “nobody“ in comparison to James and the others. It would be normal under those circumstances for someone to fold - but that’s definitely not Paul. If he had not stood up for us, Genti...

 Good morning. Paul then tells them that he went to the regions where he grew up. The people kept saying, “he who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy“. Then after an interval of 14 years he went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas. It was because of a revelation (this was definitely the revelation mentioned in Corinthians) 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 I might be running or had run in vain. At that point in time, it was unheard of that Gentile converts did not have to be circumcised nor follow the law. Paul did what believers should do. If they think that they see something in the Scriptures that might be “new”, they should submit it to established pastoral individuals. Of course everyone has the fear that the “establishment“ will not accept anything that is contrary to what they already believe. Father show the read...

  Good morning. Continuing where we left off… called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, 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. If you read Luke’s account in Acts, this seems to contradict his account of Paul in Damascus. Paul’s account goes into greater detail and mentions things that Luke did not. It is possible that Luke wrote his account before he met Paul. Also Acts is a synopsis of events and not a detailed one. In these verses, Paul is reiterating the fact that he got his gospel straight from heaven, and not from men. Paul then mentions his trip to Jerusalem, which in Acts seems like it was pretty quickly, but here it says it was three years later. Paul became acquainted with Cephas, and did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord’s brother (to distin...

  Good morning. Paul now digresses for a chapter and a half. Concerning this gospel that he has been talking about: I would have you know that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. There are a couple of places he could be talking about. The first is when he was knocked off his donkey on the way to Damascus. The second is the one mentioned in second Corinthians about being caught up into Paradise and hearing a revelation from God. Part of that revelation was that the Gentiles were also allowed to become Christians – not just Jews - and that they did not have to be circumcised nor follow the Law. He then tells them about his life in Judaism. But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace - this reminds me of what Jeremiah said that God had done for him (“before I formed you in the womb I knew you. And be...

  Good morning. I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. It sounds like the Galatians were having the same kind of problem as the Corinthians. Apparently some traveling evangelists were coming in and saying things that were not according to the word of God. They were wanting to make it more palatable to human nature. We will get more of the details of what they were saying when we get to chapter 3. 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! He repeats that sentence with the word man instead of angel. For am I now seeking the favor of man, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond servant of Christ. The men coming in were saying things that were attr...

  Good morning. Now we start the book of Galatians. As he does in a lot of his letters, Paul begins by letting them know that not only is he an apostle, but that it was God who made him an apostle. Then: Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins (that is how great a sacrifice it took) so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to Him be the glory forevermore. Paul could never be accused of using a sparsity of words. Usually when a person comes to the Lord, they are not thinking about being rescued from this evil age, but rather being rescued from their horrible situation. At that point in time, they don’t realize that their horrible situation is brought about because of this present evil age. If Paul called the age evil at that point in time, what would he say about it now? As we will see next time, too many times Christians get “comfortable“ in their situation; and don’t rea...

  Good morning. OK, Paul, we are back in school: test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you – unless you fail the test? That is one test you do not want to fail. You cannot be a Christian by simply having a head full of knowledge about what’s in the Bible. You have to have that personal relationship. But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test. We pray to God that you do no wrong; not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear unapproved. Paul was not wanting them to do right so that he might receive a stamp of approval; it was for their own sakes. For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth. We also pray for this, that you may be made complete. For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present I need not use severity, in accordance with the authority w...

  Good morning. For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish (in light of what the “eminent” apostles were saying about him); that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, etc. In his first letter, he had already talked about the disagreement there with some saying, “I am of Paul“, etc. He then says that when he comes, he is not going to spare anyone who has sinned. Since you are seeking for proof of the Christ who speaks in me, and who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you. Remember that previously Paul had written that the Corinthians were saying that he was impressive in his writing but unimpressive when present. For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. But we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you. Father help us to keep our eyes on what is most important. It is all too easy to keep our eye...

 Good morning. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses etc. for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most “eminent” apostles, even though I am a nobody. More sarcasm from Paul. How could the Corinthians tell the difference between those “eminent” apostles and the apostle Paul? The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance by signs and wonders and miracles. Back when I was part of a church where these “apostles“ came in and spoke, but behind the scenes they were trying to take over the church, I never saw any signs or miracles happening while they were there. For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not become a burden to you (unlike the eminent apostles)? Forgive me this wrong! More sarcasm. Here for the third time I’m ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I do not seek what...

  Good morning. About that thorn in the flesh - A lot of people say that it was some physical ailment of Paul, and from things in other verses that it was his eyes. I think it was the slave girl having a spirit of divination that followed after Paul and Silas, saying “these men are bond servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you a way of salvation“. It says that she did this for many days, and that Paul was greatly annoyed. Back to Corinthians: concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me (because he was annoyed). He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for (My) power is perfected in weakness“. Back to Acts: Paul turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her! “ and it came out at that very moment. In other words, I think Paul was saying, “God You do it“, and God was saying “no, Paul you do it”. But again that is just my opinion. Most gladly therefore I will rather boast about my weakness...

  Good morning. I know a man in Christ who 14 years ago - whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows - such a man was called up to the third heaven. And I know how such a man was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses. For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, but I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me. Because of these statements, a lot of people think that Paul was talking about some person other than himself. However to me, the next verse seems to refute that. Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to  torment me to keep me from exalting myself! My que...

  Good morning. Paul then goes through a long list of things that he has endured against himself. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all of the churches. The “eminent“ apostles had no concern whatsoever for the churches, except to give them money. Who is weak without my being week? Who is led into sin without my intense concern? Sometimes we think of a pastor or other church leader as simply being concerned about the growth of the church or raising money, etc. We don’t think about them actually being concerned about us personally, especially when we are part of a large church. If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness. When we are weak in an area, we have to rely even more heavily upon the Lord. It is not we in our own strength that overcomes. Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord (this sets the stage next time for what he was saying - that it ...

 Good morning.. But even if I am unskilled in speech (referring back to the traveling evangelists), yet I am not so in knowledge; in fact, in every way we have made this evident to you in all things. He then reminds them that he took care of himself, unlike the traveling evangelists who encouraged the Corinthians to give them money. What I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting. He then “lets them have it“: such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. He is talking about those “eminent” apostles. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness whose end will be according to their deeds. He’s not just saying that they are bad preachers. He is saying that they are agents of Satan. Fat...

  Good morning. I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your mind will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. For the “intellectual“, the message of the gospel is too simple. They want something with “more meat“. I have actually heard of people who left a church because the pastor was not preaching the meat, but just milk. They already knew the things that were being preached. They were looking for something “deeper”. The danger is that if they are not careful, they will be looking into the “deep things of Satan“ that are mentioned in the book of Revelation. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. While someone may have an insight that you have not heard before, there is only one Jesus and one gospel. For I consider myself not in the least inferior to the most...

  Good morning. Paul then puts down those “traveling evangelists“ who were bragging on themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding. It’s easy to excel when you measure yourself by yourself. We will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you. He who boasts is to boast in the Lord. For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends. He is again referring to those evangelists who were boasting about their achievements. I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. We see too much of the human jealousy in our every day lives. Paul was not afraid of someone else taking “his church“ away from him, as someone might be afraid of someone else taking away their spouse. For I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. Father continue to show the...

  Good morning. You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s (remember at the beginning of first Corinthians, people were saying “I am of Paul”, “I am of Apollos”, “I am of Christ”), let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we. For even if I did boast somewhat further about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying (same root word as in “destroying fortresses“) you, I will not be put to shame, for I do not wish to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters. For they say, “his letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive (I guess he didn’t wear Armani and he didn’t strut around like somebody important) and his speech contemptible (he didn’t have a polished speech; he simply spoke by the Spirit from his heart).“ What we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present. He “put his mone...

  Good morning. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. Too many times people act like just the opposite is true. They act like the war is according to the flesh. They tear down people, especially with their mouths, when the real war is in the spiritual realm. They feel like that if they get in the last “dig“, then they win. The exact opposite is true. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. Your weapon is not your tongue, and the opposition is not the person you are “fighting” with. The weapons are divinely powerful, meaning God “magnified” powerful. And our weapons are not aimed at people but: we are destroying (same root word as the “destruction” of fortresses) speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we’re taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. That means that those fortresses we are destroying are the speculations and loft...

  Good morning. We ended last time with the verse that said that God would increase the harvest of our righteousness. It didn’t say that if we give money, we will receive money from God. While we do receive monetary blessings from God, more importantly we receive an increase in our righteousness. You can immediately and clearly see when there is an increase in monetary blessing; you may not be able to see immediately and clearly when there is an increase in your righteousness. You’ll be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. He told the Corinthians that because of their monetary gift to the saints in Jerusalem, they would glorify God – not the Corinthians. Sometimes people give because they want the recognition. It is God who is to get the recognition. I, Paul, urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ – I who am meek when face-to-face with you, but bold toward you when absent! That is not the picture one has of Paul – ...

  Good morning. Sometimes people take the following verse out of context. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed. This is not a statement in general that God is going to supply you with what you need. You should take it in light of what we have been talking about for the past few days – the Corinthians making a contribution to the saints in Jerusalem. They didn’t have to worry about, “if I give money to the people in Jerusalem, then I won’t have enough to take care of my needs”. This verse says that not only will God give you enough to take care of your needs, He will give you more than enough so that you can do whatever good deed you desire. This is corroborated by the next verse. Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. TV evangelists are always telling people to s...

  Good morning. Paul continues about the collection for the saints. He continues to butter them up. He tells them that he sent people just to make sure that the collection was ready to go. He tells them that he did so in order that their bountiful gift would not be affected by covetousness. I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. In other words, if you are a tightwad to others, God will be a tightwad to you; and if you are generous to others, God will be generous to you. Again he is putting a positive spin on it, instead of invoking fear and condemnation for not doing it. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Again, do it with the right attitude. Many pastors would say, God loves a cheerful giver, but He’ll take it any way you give it. Next time we will see what happens when you do give. Father help us to always be sensitive to ...