That I might preach him

LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 1 JANUARY 2023 PM

GALATIANS 6 VERSES 1 - 16

"To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood."

Paul's words "that I might preach him" was his commission.  1 Corinthians 1 verse 21 says it is through the "foolishness of preaching" that men and women are saved.  Paul himself told these Corinthians believers "my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power."  Paul had a tremendous grasp of the word of God.  He was not going to dress it up - God's power was working in him.  When the angels came to the shepherds on the hillside they told them "for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord."  Peter said in Acts "neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name given among men whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4 verse 12)  What a challenge for everyone who preaches the word of God even today!  What did Paul mean when he said he would preach Christ?

He would preach about his person.  This man left the splendour of heaven, the praise of the angels to come into this sin cursed world.  Paul was not going to preach a man's theory, only Christ to all and sundry in every town and city.  The main topic will be the Lord himself.  "We preach Christ and him crucified".  Paul speaks of his calling in verse 15 "But when it pleased God who separated me from my mother's womb and called me by his grace."  What a life he had led - a zealous religious young man yet God had his hand on him.  One day he had letters in his hand which would enable him to find, arrest and even kill anyone who followed Christ.  On that road to Damascus God brought him to his knees and showed him the insincerity of his heart.  Sin had stained him, heavens door was closed to him.  God said to Jeremiah "before I formed you in the belly I knew you." (Jeremiah 1 verse 5) God has a tremendous knowledge of each of us tonight. The Psalmist could also say "such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it." (Psalm 139 verse 6)  God knows where we stand spiritually tonight.  Paul knew when he preached about Christ he was preaching about an unique person.  When Jesus was baptised the heavens opened, the Spirit came down in the form of a dove and God spoke "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."  God's perfect son had come to earth, he died on Calvary's tree for our sins.  John 3 verse 16 - this was God's motive.  Jesus was unique in his birth, he was born of the virgin Mary and conceived of the Holy Spirit.  He was given his name while he was still in the womb.  The angel told Joseph "thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins."  Jesus was unique in his life - he never sinned.  He was unique in his burial and resurrection.  Romans 8 verse 3.

Paul would preach about the passion of Christ.  His death on the cross was the most important thing.  There is nothing to merit our acceptance by the thrice holy God.  There is nothing we could do.  Jesus came into the world to seek and to save that which was lost.  Remember on the Mount of Transfiguration when Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus the entire topic of conversation was the Lord's death on Calvary.  Such was the importance of this particular topic.  Because Christ has died for us we can enter into God's presence directly at death.  "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15 verse 3)

Paul would preach about Christ's power.  Those women who went to the tomb on the first day after Jesus had died realised that God's power had raised him from the dead.  Acts 2 verse 24 "whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death; because it was not possible that he should be holden of it."  The same power the Holy Spirit exercised when he was raised from the dead is able to save you today.

He would also preach about the promise of Jesus.  Jesus said to his disciples "in my Father's house are many mansions, I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto myself."  The first time Jesus came to earth was to bear the sacrifice of our sin but the next time he will come as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Are you looking forward to that event?  This was the reason why Paul preached Christ.