To the churches in Galatia:
Summary: The churches in Galatia have become a battlefield, and they don’t even know it.
Reading through the book of Acts, a person might get the impression that there was a lot of confusion about what people who followed Jesus were supposed to be doing. There was a lot of confusion. Some of the confusion was intentional, caused by people who wanted to take advantage of the situation. Other people were on the wrong track and didn’t know it.
Time and time again, Paul had to stand up for the truth God gave him. Time and again, someone came along who tried to knock Paul off his stride and discredit his message.
Why?
Like so many things in Scripture, there are many answers to this question. It is helpful to begin by stepping back and looking at the Big Picture to better understand the “lay of the land.”
The Bible begins with, “In the beginning God …” (Genesis 1:1). God is the Creator, the Author of all things, the Father of all life. The Bible then tells us that “God is spirit” (John 4:24). This is important because we need to remember that the physical realm we live in is a tiny bubble in an infinitely larger spiritual realm.
Opposing God is “the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan” (Revelation 20:2). From the beginning of Creation, we see Satan enticing man to sin, that is, to reject God and rebel against his authority.
The Big Picture is that God the Creator is good, and Satan, for reasons of his own, is doing everything he can to undermine and corrupt God’s creation. In Genesis 3:1-5 we see how the “serpent” does his work. Thoughts come into our heads that question the wisdom of God and the value of doing what is right. He entices us to honor and glorify ourselves rather than God. Once we’ve done something wrong, our pride and ego work to justify our actions (See Genesis 3:10-13).
Now, we can look at the specifics of what had happened to the churches in Galatia.
The world always contains three groups of people:
The first group includes those who recognize God’s authority and have committed to serving him.
The second group opposes the first group because they have listened to the serpent. The idea of God being the supreme authority threatens their belief that they are the captain of their own fate. The more aware they are of this threat, the more they fight against the first group.
The third group represents the people in the middle. These people are the “lost sheep” Jesus refers to (Matthew 10:6, 15:24 — Acts 13:26 points out that this includes “God-fearing Gentiles”).
When God sent the disciples and apostles to share the Gospel with the world, the balance of power between the first group and the second was upset. The more people recognize the authority of God, the more it threatens those who reject God. The more they are threatened, the more they fight.
In Paul’s absence, the second group had infiltrated the new members of the first group in Galatia. Paul’s churches were being undermined by lies and deception. Paul’s letter to the Galatians is a roadmap to how we fight back. More than that, it is a battle cry to overcome.
Application: Be aware that the enemy never sleeps. The serpent still whispers in our ears, and his followers still attack us in the public square.
Food for Thought: How do we keep from being trapped by the enemy’s whispers or tied up in the public square?
One way to prevent being trapped by lies of the enemy is to guard our hearts (Proverbs 4: 23) and protect our thoughts with the truth of God’s word (Colossians 2: 6 – 8; 2Corinthians 10: 5; Romans 12: 2). If we sift every claim through the truth of Gods word, it can help expose the enemies lies and lead us into correct paths.
Well said, Rich.
The trick is to recognize the enemy’s “claims.” They can be as subtle as a glance or a craving for something that pleases the flesh.
I agee with Rich. Guard our hearts and protect our thoughts. An bit of an expansion of that is to take captive our thoughts for Christ. In myself, I recognize when I have a “swirling mind” meaning thoughts are coming at me left and right and a feeling of doubt and confusion starts to overtake me. Calling on the Holy Spirit, centering on Christ, looking to Gods Word all settle “the storm” and help me recognize the truth.
John 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
Chris,
I can relate to your “swirling mind!” I, too, find myself overrun by thoughts at times. Thank you for sharing and yes, I agree it teaches us to rely on God’s Holy Spirit.
12-02-2023, How do we keep from being trapped by the enemy’s whispers or tied up in the public square?
God’s Word tells us, though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. To achieve victory we must Trust in the Lord with all our heart, and do not lean on our own understanding, for as we think in our hearts, so we are.
2 Corinthians 10:3–5, Ephesians 6:12, Proverbs 3:5, Proverbs 23:7,
Romans 12:21
We are to be transformed, be renewed, as we prove God causes real change and we no longer think as we used to think. Our battles hinge on what we do with our minds. Do we accept the whispers of the enemy, or do we seek to continually renew of our minds with God’s thoughts, ways and will?
Do we live knowing no temptation can be placed before us that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let us be tempted beyond our ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that we may be able to endure it through truth, righteous- ness, peace, faith, salvation, His Word and prayer.
Corinthians 10:13, Ephesians 6:14–18
Thanks Ron!
Very well said. I like your remedy:
“[S]eek to continually renew of our minds with God’s thoughts, ways and will.“
How do we keep from being trapped by the enemy’s whispers or tied up in the public square?
All great comments. Basically knowing truth and not listening to all the lies. Being the Bible daily, knowing your Enemy, having other faithful followers of Jesus that will stand up against those lies, keep a razor blade taped in your belt, use your gifts and talents to keep your mind busy doing good to further the Kingdom, never giving the enemy a foothold. The cord of three strands kind of thought, three people are harder to tie up than one. Equipping yourself and others to fight then Fight back spiritually. Being tied up in the plublic square is nothing to fear, fear a eternity of fire.
Well said, Tim!
Fear God, not man. Amen!