A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold is as pictures of silver.(Prov.25:11) It is so important to speak the right words to people at the right time to produce the right results. When you think of apples of gold in pictures of silver, then you are thinking of wealth and excellence. When we speak wisdom into the lives of others we are making them wealthy. Therefore we must seek God for He is the source of all wisdom and He will give us just the right words needed at the right time.
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#Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia and returned unto Damascus. Galatians 1:17
Arabia was a peninsula of Asia near Africa. Hebrew origin (Arab) Arabia meaning steppe-dwellers, is a country East of Israel. From Marab; in the figurative sense of sterility (i.e. Arabia) a country East of Palestine. Isaiah 21:13 The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye traveling companies of Dedanim. The Hebrew word for Dedanim is Dedani or inhabitant of Dedan who was a descendant of Ham, also a descendant of Abraham, So this is where the Holy Spirit led Paul to go where he received revelation from the Lord that he would be the apostle to the Gentiles—a people who would be a part of the wild shoot of the olive branch. Dedan is the name of two Cushites and their territory. Ezekiel 27:20 Dedan was thy merchant in precious clothes for chariots. This symbolizes the chariots of God protecting Paul in Dedan, where the Lord tells him how many things he will suffer.
#To reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood, Galatians 1:16
The Greek word for heathen is Ethonos; meaning a race, a nation (as distinct from Israel) Gentile. Paul was given the ministry to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, including all nations and races. From Etho; a race (as of the same habit) i.e. A tribe, especially, a foreign (non-Jewish) one usually by implication pagan. Acts 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth and determined the times appointed and the bounds of their habitation. It is why Paul did not confer with any flesh about his appointment to be the apostle to the Gentiles. for the Holy Spirit is baptizing Jews and Gentiles into the body of Christ. For in the Spirit, there is neither Jew nor Greek male or female. All are one in the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank the Lord that the Church is becoming more multicultural today, for we must take this gospel into all the world to fulfill the Great Commission.
#But when it pleased God who separated me from my mother's womb and called me by His grace. Galatians 1:15
The Greek word for womb is Koilla; meaning belly. From Koilos; a cavity, i.e. (especially) the abdomen, by implication the matrix; figuratively, the heart. Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Paul was born again, as Jonas was in the whale's belly, and this is a picture of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is why Paul said it was God who separated me from my mother's womb. My mother told me that when I was born, it was God who delivered me and I was called of God to be a preacher from birth. Just like Paul, and while I did not have a Damascus road experience, God gifted me with playing the piano by ear, and then I would preach. My older brother Mark preached to me and said Tinothy you just have to obey, then he paused and said me too then he ran out of the house. That is the problem many are called, but few are chosen. We have to obey God and preach the whole gospel according to God.
#And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. Galatians 1:14
The Greek word for Zealous is Zelotes; meaning a Zealot. From Zeloo one who covets earnestly. From Zelos to have warmth of feeling for or against. desire (move with) envy Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. The Lord Jesus charges the Church to be zealous and repent. Paul did this when he converted from a Pharasee to be an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. Having zeal without knowledge profited nothing. Paul was taught under Gamalial and he said all the things I have gained I count nothing that I might win the excellency of the Lord Jesus Christ. So make sure your zeal is for the Lord Jesus and repent of all your religious hypocracy. It is my prayer that all those suffering from mental illness will do this and take their medication so that they can overcome the paranoi.
#For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God and wasted it: Galatians 1:13
The Greek word for persecuted is Dioko; meaning to put to flight, pursue by implication. Luke 21:12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. The Lord Jesus told the apostles on the Mount Olivet discourse how they would be persecuted. The Holy Spirit would give us just the right words to say so that the gainsayers could not overcome us. This is when Saul, the persecutor would meet the risen Christ and be saved. The Lord changed his name to Paul and sent him to Ananias and now the persecutor is praying, Paul was forgiven because he did all these things out of ignorance. Let us pray for the police to be properly trained in how to treat the mentally ill. All mentally ill people must have the identification that they are mentally ill so that the police can use proper treatment for them to be involuntarily committed.
#For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:12
The Greek word for revelation is Apokalypsis; meaning uncovering. From Apolalupto; meaning disclosure appearing, manifestation to be revealed. 1 Corinthians 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea the deep things of God. Paul received this gospel from the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ, by His Spirit. The Spirit takes the Word of God and makes it reveal the Lord Jesus Christ in all His glory. This is the uncovering of the appearance of Christ on the Damascus road. To be an apostle you had to see Jesus. Paul was the last of the apostles to see Jesus and he received many revelations from Him such as the rapture of the Church which was a mystery. Still, it will happen when the Lord descends from heaven with a shout, the voice of the arc angel, in the clouds, then the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be raised first, then we who are alive and remain will be changed in the twinkling of an eye, Then shall be caught up in the clouds to forever be with the Lord. We must comfort one another with these words.
#But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. Galatians 1:11
The Greek word for certify is Gnorizo; meaning to come to know, to make known from a derivative of ginosko; to make known; subjectively to know, declare, and give to understand. Colossians 4:7 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is beloved of the brethren and a faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord. Paul is declaring to the Galatians that the gospel he preached was not of men, but of God by the power of the Holy Spirit. Just as Tychicus a faithful minister of the gospel declared my state unto you. Let us pray for revival as we study this book of the Galatians and the Pedigogus that the servant is teaching us that we are saved by grace and that the Law was a schoolmaster for us until the Lord Jesus would come. The Law is like a mirror and we look into it and see the mud on our faces and wash it off with the blood of Jesus. When Jesus came He fulfilled the Law and blotted out all those things that we against us on the cross. Now we are justified, sanctified, and will be glorified when He changes this vile body at His coming for the Church.
#For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10
The Greek word for servant is Doulos; a slave from Deo; a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency) bondservant. I Timothy 6:1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and His doctrine be not blasphemed. Paul is saying just as in the days when slavery was practiced, you sought to please your master, and now the Lord Jesus Christ is our Master and we are His bond-servants, and therefore we must seek to please Him in all things. We preach the gospel not to please men, but the Lord Jesus Christ who told us the servant is no greater than the Master, for they hated Me and they shall hate you. So rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. Let your moderation be known to all men. Preach the word, be instant in season and out of season, for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine. Brothers and sisters we are living in those days when evil is called good, and good is called evil. Endure as a soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ, for we are in a war, and the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds and every imagination against the Lord Jesus Christ. Put on the whole armor of God, so that ye can endure in that evil day.
#As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:9
The Greek word for accursed is Anathema; meaning that which is laid up. votive offering. From Anatithemai; a (religious) ban or (concretely) excommunicated. Joshua 7:12 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed among you. Israel have stolen the accursed thing, and broken the commandments. Therefore Jehovah said Up, sanctify the people and say Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel. God wanted families to come man by man. And it shall be that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel. This is what Paul is warning that anyone who preaches any other gospel than that ye received let him be accursed. God judges by fire, and that is why we find ourselves in firery trials to purge all of the sin out of our lives. So for the church to be without spot and blemish, we must judge the house of God, and make sure that no one is taking of the accursed thing.
#But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:8
The Greek word for accursed is Anathema; meaning that which is laid up. a votive offering. From Anatithemai; a ( religious) ban or (concretely) excommunicated (thing or person) Luke 21:5 And some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, He said; as for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. Jesus is the good news that Paul is preaching about and he warned the Galatians if an angel from heaven preaches any other gospel unto you than that ye have heard from us, let him be anathema, which is accursed. That is what Jesus is teaching on the second coming on Mount Olivet, that all these beautiful stones will be cast down. And He warned there would be false teachers, and false christ coming in my name and will deceive many. We must guard against false teachers, and the only way we can do that is to know the true gospel of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit takes the things of Christ and reveals them unto us. False teachers are like clouds without any rain. Do not allow them into your house or wish them Godspeed.