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| March 12, 2002, Tuesday Galatians Chapter 1 Spreading the gospel is an act of reverence to God; it is the great commission (Mk 16:15-18). It is an act of faith since those who do not hold Jesus Christ to be true, will not be comfortable spreading news of something they doubt. But those who wholly believe Jesus as Christ and understand the distress of mankind and the great number of people who are condemned to die the eternal spiritual death, there will be no hesitation to spread the news of this existing and omnipresent love of God. What therefore keeps us back? Lack of faith for one. If there is no doubt that there is a clear danger but also a way of salvation, spreading the gospel should not only be our obvious actions, but our duty, which it is. Some fear a lack fo wisdom; a lack of understanding of the Christian belief. "But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man./ For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ" (Ga 1:11, 12). God is the one who gives comprehension and wisdom to man. The message is simple and the gospel is simple. Through the Holy Spirit, the simplicity is revealed and salvation is an assured result. There is no further knwoledge that is needed other than that which God has bestowed for salvation. Others are held back because of a fear of looking abnormal. "For do I persaude men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ" (Ga 1:10). James 4:4 reaffirms, "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." There is only one enemy of God, and that is Satan. A friend of the world is the enemy of God and a friend of Satan, the great deceiver. Those who are not saved are of the world who are of Satan. Those who are saved are God's. Therefore, the message that ought to be delivered is not one which will be perceived normally by men because they are deceived by Satan. There are two competing supernatural forces and it is therefore impossible to serve God and please men. Only through the true faith in God will there be that desire to spread God's word. "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind./ Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the affliction of the gospel according to the power of God;/ Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began" (2 Tm 1:7-9). *end of excerpt* |