DISQUALIFYING OURSELVES II (Simplicity 3)

O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been openly set forth, crucified among you? - Gal 3:1

Yesterday, we observed how we may unconsciously be limiting God and disqualifying ourselves from receiving the desires of our heart. Today, we’ll look at how we’re disqualifying each other from simple access to Heaven’s bounties.

Have you observed the language of the testimonies we hear in church nowadays? Getting increasingly rarer are the testimonies we used to hear when all the healed person would say is, “it was just the grace of God”, “oh Jesus, why have you loved me so”, etc.

Nay, rather, today’s testimonies are a recap of personal accomplishments: “I had this persistent problem, then I believed”...

“I gave”, “I sowed”, “I served”, “I prayed”, “I fasted”, “I danced”, “I held God to his word”. I [fill in the blank].

What we now hear is what they did to qualify for the miracle. What we’re no longer hearing is what God did for them because of HIS grace. The summary of their testimony seems to be that they did their part, therefore God had to do his.

Harmless as this new mentality is, it effectively disqualifies many of God’s people.

If you “fasted for 7 days” to get your healing, what hope does that offer the sister who’s sick with an ulcer?

If you “spent 7 days and 7 nights in the church” to receive your financial breakthrough, how repeatable is that miracle to a poor brother who is managing 3 jobs at once to make ends meet? 

Apostle Paul’s anger rings through from the 1st century to us today:

“People of Galatia... Are you that stupid? Did you begin in a spiritual way only to end up doing things in a human way?

Does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you through your own efforts or through believing what you heard?”

– Gal 3:1,3,5 (GW)

Colossians 2:6 says, As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him.

We didn’t “hold unto God till he had no choice” to get our salvation; and Paul is also telling us today that “God gives you His Spirit and works miracles among you because you heard the message about Jesus and believed it.”  – Gal 3:5 (ERV)

After all’s been said and done, that is what is responsible for the miracles. May we always remember that, and continuously give thanks to God for His “unspeakable gift”.

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus Name.

GREG ELKAN