The Power of Grace – Galatians 1:11-24

…out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12:34)

…be transformed by the renewing of your mind… (Romans 12:1)

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23)

Good advice…

Behaviour modification…

Formulas…

A battle of formation:…

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18)

because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. (1 Thessalonians 1:5)

BEFORE

“Paul’s experience proves vividly that the gospel is not simply ‘religion’ as it is generally understood. The gospel calls us out of religion as much as it calls us out of irreligion. No one is so good that they don’t need the grace of the gospel, nor so bad that they can’t receive the grace of the gospel. Paul was deeply religious, but he needed the gospel. Paul was deeply flawed, yet he could be reached with the gospel.” (Timothy Keller)

HOW

But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”… and [Saul] has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;  and taking food, he was strengthened. (Acts 9:1-6; 12-19)

“Our past will be either be Satan’s greatest weapon against us or God’s greatest weapon against darkness in our life and ministry” (Chris Brown)

NOW

“God comforts us not so that we can be comfortable, but so that we can be comforters.” (Billy Graham)

“Out of 100 men, one will read the Bible, the other 99 will read the Christian” (D.L. Moody)