"Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:" Galatians 2:1-3
- Here Paul is describing his second trip to Jerusalem. This time he took Barnabas (Acts 4:36-37, Acts 9:27, Acts 15:12) and Titus. Barnabas, Paul and Titus are like generations. Barnabas was like the father and vouched for Paul before the apostles. Acts 9:27. Titus on the other hand was like Paul's spiritual son. Titus had been one of the many Paul had led to the Lord in Tarsus. Paul and Titus were a team. 2 Corinthians 2:13, 2 Corinthians 7:6, 2 Corinthians 8:23. The reason they were united is because 2 Corinthians 8:6 says that Titus had the same earnest care for the people that Paul did. They were united by their love for the people. This made me think of a huge battle (In my mind it was something like Lord of the Rings but for you older folks it may be World War 2 :P). When they attack they fight side by side. When people separate, its easier for the enemy to pick then off. We as Christians will be much more effective if we band together like Paul, Barnabas, and Titus.
- Paul went up because God told him to. He understood the importance of being in God's will. In his ministry, Paul probably had first hand experience with spiritual warfare and knew he was vulnerable when he was outside of God's will by himself. When you are smack dab in the center of His will, you are under his control not the enemy's.
- During the time of this visit, the church was having an issue over gentiles (Non-Jewish believers). Some said gentiles could be saved only if they became Jews first. So the leaders of the church wanted to know what Paul taught so he "communicated the gospel he preached to the gentiles."
- I love the sensitivity of Paul in these verses. He had to correct the leaders but he did it in private. Paul having unity in his heart was trying to build up not tear down so he took the leaders aside and laid it out for them. The whole situation was bathed in love and grace which is always how we should handle the situations in our life.
- Paul was seeking to avoid a split with the church. He knew this was a hot point and didn't want to give the enemy any room to work. If he had cause division with the Jerusalem church, false teachers would have destroyed his work thus far and made his work in vain. I am so quick to say "Oh why God, are you letting Satan attack me! Poor old me!" when I am the one who opened the door up for the enemy to attack in the first place! Paul was quiet, attentive, sensitive, and graceful and because of this he avoided a fight and denied the enemy a foothold.
- When you are faced with a problem, take the attitude of Paul and "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." Lower yourself and let God do the rest! Cover the whole situation in prayer and the enemy won't have room to move!
This entry was posted
on Thursday, April 1, 2010
at Thursday, April 01, 2010
and is filed under
Mac
. You can follow any responses to this entry through the
comments feed
.
