Sermon Notes

The key verse for today is from Galatians chapter 4: 6-7. And because you are sons, God has
sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” And because
you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba,
Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God
through Christ.
This verse is for all of us, but especially for those who didn’t get to call their earthly father as
father for a long time or the earthly father was not there, may be from their childhood. Such
people should remember that you have a wonderful Heavenly Father- Jesus. Now coming to
Galatians chapter 4, we can’t really understand the revelation Paul is talking about in verse 6
without reading chapters 1,2 and 3. Now going back to chapter 1, Paul, an apostle (not from
men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from
the dead) [Galatians 1:1]. Interestingly, Paul never starts his epistles, by writing like this. He
normally starts with a humble introduction. Here he asserts to you write like Paul an apostle
not from men but from Jesus Christ. Here Paul is assertive in the way he speaks and after the
initial salutation. He straight away comes to the matter as we read in verse 6, I marvel that
you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a
different gospel. [Galatians 1:6].
Gospel
The word Gospel means good news. The word ‘different gospel’ is mentioned for the first
time in Galatians 1:6. What is the good news we all want? The greatest good news is that our
sins have been forgiven by the death of Jesus on the cross and our names are registered in the
Book of Life, so that we can live with Jesus forever and ever. That’s the good news.
Different gospel
It is very simple as Paul explains how you can move away from the grace of Jesus and turn to
a different gospel other than the grace of Christ. My brothers and sisters, you have to
understand that none of us are saved by our good works, none of us are saved because of
what we were, none of us are saved by what we did. We are saved by God’s grace and grace
alone.
Grace
The word grace means ‘highly favoured’ which basically means nothing is of yours ,
everything you do and everything you are, is because of who is favouring you, that’s God’s
grace.
Here Paul tells about when he was in Galatia the church was founded by him and Barnabas.
How quickly are you deserting the grace of Lord Jesus Christ. He and Barnabas worked hard
in the mission field to establish this church. He preached the gospel of Jesus Christ and then
he hears something is going wrong there. Now why and how did Paul preach the gospel? If
you look into Galatians chapter 1 verses 11 and 12, Paul talks about why he preached the
Gospel and how he preached it. But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which
was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I
taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. [Galatians 1:11,12]. The gospel
can never be taught, for it is the revelation by the power of the Holy Spirit, to understand that
it is grace of Lord Jesus Christ and grace alone.
Gospel by the revelation of the Holy spirit
A person who is chosen and set apart by the Lord Jesus even before the foundations of the
earth to be the sons of God, receive the revelation by the Holy spirit. Gospel is neither a set of
rules nor a book that can be learned and preached. The gospel is the revelation that you were
chosen and set apart by Jesus even before the foundation of the earth for a greater calling not
just as man, but to be called and manifested to be sons of Almighty God in this generation .
As Paul says, this revelation can only happen through the Holy spirit.
Revelation
The word revelation means taking off your veil or removing the curtain and coming into
fullness. Gospel is a revelation.
Real gospel
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me
through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I
did not immediately confer with flesh and blood. [Galatians 1:15,16]
The unveiling of Jesus in Paul is a revelation. Here the Bible says to “reveal His Son (Jesus)
in me” and in TPT it says “unveil His Son in me”. The word unveil is used to unveil a statue.
Here in the same way, the Holy spirit is unveiling Jesus in your life. These are the days of
end times revival, where people will no longer see you and me, but will see Jesus in you
because you are the manifested ‘sons of God’. You are called to reveal Jesus in your lives. Is
Jesus being manifested in your life? Are you talking and walking like Jesus? And are we
moving like Jesus? Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in
the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. [1john 4:17]
Why sonship spirit was told by Paul? Let’s look into Galatians 1:18,19 which says ‘Then
after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days.
But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.’
Ministry of Paul by the revelation
We read in Galatians 2: 1-2, Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with
Barnabas, and also took Titus with me. And I went up by revelation, and communicated to
them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of
reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain. [Galatians 2:1 and 2]. We
already understood and discussed that:
1) Gospel is by revelation
2) Unveiling Jesus in Paul is by revelation
3) Ministry of Paul is by revelation
That is why Paul says, those who are led by the Holy spirit are the sons of God. Let us
declare that ‘we are living by the revelation’, which will lead us to progressive revelation.
Progressive revelation
Now in Galatians 2: 3, it is mentioned that, Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a
Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. [Galatians 2:3]. Have you ever wondered why Paul
took Timothy with him during his first journey and because of the compulsion of all the
traditions, Timothy had to be circumcised. Grace was undervalued then, even though Paul
had the revelation which was minimal. For three years, he was not accepted by the apostolic
leadership of that time and Timothy had to be circumcised. But Paul says, after 14 years, after
he had higher revelation, he goes to meet Peter, but unfortunately he couldn’t. However, this
time the apostolic leaders did not compel Titus to be circumcised, like Timothy. This is
because Paul had grown in the progressive revelation of Jesus Christ. Let us declare “we
believe in the progressive revelation of Jesus Christ’. When we think, we know everything
that is where we lose the vision of the Lord Jesus. and when James, Cephas, and John, who
seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and
Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the
circumcised. [ Galatians 2:9]. Here Paul, Barnabas and Titus talk about the revelation of the
grace of Jesus and then Cephas, James and John- the three pillars of apostolic leadershipperceived or understood that grace is a higher revelation given to Paul. Now that’s when we
see a shift in the apostolic leadership. This is how the Church of Jesus Christ works. But
when He releases the revelation of the Word of God, the grace anointing upon a person. Let
me tell you that there should be a shift in the atmosphere of your leadership. We are in the
end era where the revelation is higher, where the manifestation as sons of God Almighty will
bring an end time revival.
Why we need to understand the grace upon Paul?
Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be
blamed. [Galatians 2:11]. Here Peter is coming to Antioch, where persecution caused the
disciples to move away to different places. Some Greek speaking Jews started the Antioch
church then Paul was sent by Peter years back and revival happened. Paul was the pastor,
teacher and leader of the Antioch church for a minimum of 7-8 years. That’s when Peter
came to see the growth of the Antioch church. Now in the next verse the situation changes.
The Bible says that Paul confronted Peter face to face about his hypocrisy with the Jews And
the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried
away with their hypocrisy. [Galatians 2:13]. Peter was happy about the revival but suddenly
after a visit from his friends in Jerusalem. Peter was a different person. This is the sign that
you don’t have the revelation of the gospel, and that there is a hypocritic moment in your life.
Hypocrisy
When you are a different character inside and another outside, that is the sign of hypocrisy.
The people who have gotten the revelation of Jesus Christ will be remain same always, and
will be absolutely normal while praying or playing. There is no change in their sound while
praying in front of a congregation or while talking with non-believers. Apostles are normal
people until they received the revelation of the power of the Holy Spirit. The more and more
we do the ministry to win souls for Christ, that’s when we understand the grace of Jesus. The
moment we lose the appetite to win souls for Christ we become hypocrites which happens
when our revelation of the Holy Spirit is reduced.
The second problem between Paul and Peter is written in Galatians 2 :14, But when I saw
that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them
all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you
compel Gentiles to live as Jews? So here we understand the conflict between Paul and Peter
and that is, Peter expected the gentiles to live like Jews. Who are the gentiles? Those who
were not born of a Jewish father and mother. Now the problem was that James, Peter and
other apostolic leaders were still holding onto the law of Moses which was only for the Jews
– the physical sons of Abraham. They expected the gentiles also to follow the Moses’ law
and thus was trying to move away from the grace of Lord Jesus Christ. Any law of Moses is
not applicable for Indians also.
When was the law given? And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty
years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it
should make the promise of no effect. [Galatians 3:17]. So which came first, the promise or
the law? The promise is to Abraham, the promise given to Abraham is unconditional,
unending and unbreakable, because it is promised to his Seed, that is Jesus, who finished all
the work on the cross by making all the blessing publicly available to everyone who receives
and believes in the name of Jesus. Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is
only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. Now to Abraham
and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as
of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. And this I say, that the law, which was four
hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by
God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. [Galatians 3:15-17] After four
hundred and thirty years God takes the law into picture. So, the promise given to Abraham is
unconditional.
For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham
by promise. [Galatians 3:18]. So, the inheritance is the sonship, and if the sonship is by law,
you are not by promise. How many of you are believing that, by the promise of God or by
the law you have eternal life? But you believe in the promise that the Holy Spirit will guard
you from the world and from the devil safely. Because when Jesus was in the world, He
prayed that no one would snatch them out of His hand, whom God had placed into His hand
to eternity.
Why was the law given? What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of
transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was
appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. [Galatians 3:19]. Repeated sin is called
transgression. What was the repeated sin of the Israelites? Idol worship. It started from Egypt
(430 years ago), where they had no connection with the Living God. Then after idol worship,
the Lord gave them the 10 commandments.
For whom is the law given? It is only for Jews. The law is only up to the coming of Jesus. So,
the law is now invalid, even for the Jews, because Jesus came and went. That is why Christ is
the end of the law. But the people were receiving these laws and trying and putting that to the
people and not allowing them to experience the true Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit,
which lives in them and conquers sin, the world and death, that is why, Christ is the end of
the law. It was given from the time of the transgression (idol worship) till Jesus appeared.
Now for the Jews to be saved, they can’t follow the law. He will not be blessed. That is why
they are struggling, until they look on the Son of man and say ‘Jesus’ you are our Saviour,
there comes the promise out of them! So the law is finished 2021 years back. So, the writer
says that the law is made obsolete (no more there).
We have to understand that when we are in Christ, the Holy Spirit living in us is Christ
himself. That is where sonship comes. None of the promises to sonship, are based on any of
the legal rules. According to the government of India, whatever is to the father, belongs to the
son when he is 18 years and above. All the property of the ancestors belongs to the children,
irrespective of any condition. How much more will the church of India get the revelation of
sonship of Lord Jesus Christ. The moment you accept Jesus Christ; you are filled with the
Holy Spirit. The identity of Jesus is upon your life, then you are no more slaves, but sons of
the Almighty God.
Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one. Is the law then against the
promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given
life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all
under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
[Galatians 3:20-22]. Confined under sin means, locked with sin. When we are a sinner, we
have a seal of a sinner. That’s where by the grace of Lord Jesus Christ comes in. When we
come to the Lord, we get the name of son of Jesus. But before faith came, we were kept
under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. [Galatians
3:23]. Here Paul says that until yesterday you were under the law. Today is the day of
revelation, you are going to be free as the son of the Almighty God. Not to reveal the work of
darkness, but to shine like Jesus as the light of the world.
What are the benefits of writing the law in the Bible? Therefore, the law was our tutor to
bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. [Galatians 3:24]. Here Paul is writing
about the benefits of law in the Bible for the new generation churches. That law was the tutor
to bring us to Christ. What does a tutor do? It teaches us the shortcuts to solve the problem or
the easy way to come out of it. Here the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ. What was the
law doing in our life? It was showing the emptiness in our life, without the fullness of Christ
Jesus. So, let me run towards Jesus. So, the law was telling there is shortcoming in our life.
But Jesus says “come I will take away the short comings. But after faith has come, we are
no longer under a tutor. [Galatians 3:25]
There are two different interpretations for this verse, Faith has come
1) Faith is Jesus Himself.
2) When Jesus comes into your life, then only can we actually believe in Jesus also.
We believe in Jesus not because of my faith in Jesus, but faith to have faith in Jesus. Faith
inside of you is not yours, it is from Jesus. Faith is a gift of God, faith is Jesus himself, faith
is the Holy Spirit. So, faith has come, thus we are no longer under a law. For you are all sons
of God through faith in Christ Jesus. [Galatians 3:26]. Here we can understand the
background of these verses. Paul spoke about everything and said those who are under the
law are not sons. But people who are moved onto the fullness of the Holy Spirit, not having
law as the tutor instead the Holy Spirit teaching them everything right inside of them. If you
go to the spirit of Sonship, you will never sin, because the Son who is in you has won over
sin, world and has crushed devil on the cross of Calvary.
Where did the Sonship start? For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on
Christ [Galatians 3:27]. Even in my life, I came to Bangalore to enjoy life. That day through
Pastor Paul Thangiah, Jesus brought me to salvation. Pastor Paul Thangiah, caught my shirt
and said, ‘tomorrow in your baptism’. That baptism transformed my life today. Baptism can
transform a person’s life and he or she becomes a new creation and he or she is immersed,
unified with Christ. When you believe in the power of work of Jesus on the cross, then you
will have ‘koinonia’ with the Holy Spirit, partnership with the holy Spirit. You will walk with
the Holy Spirit and whatever you are doing, you are doing with the Holy Spirit.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor
female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [Galatians 3:28]. Here the Bible says that, once
we come to salvation there is no difference between Jews and Greeks, male and female.
Because the Holy Spirit releases the Spirit of sonship, so no more many, but one seed in Lord
Jesus Christ. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to
the promise. [ Galatians 3:29]. Now, Abraham’s fatherhood is coming. When you are in
Christ, the Bible says that you are Abraham’s seed. It is written as only ‘seed’, because the
blessing is only for ‘one’. Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at
all from a slave, though he is master of all, 2 but is under guardians and stewards until the
time appointed by the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under
the elements of the world. [Galatians 4:1-3].
Conclusion:
As you are growing into maturity your ears will be tuned to the Holy Spirit. Thus, you will no
longer need any special tutor. Because the Holy Spirit Himself will become the teacher of
your life. But the people who are not getting the teaching ministry of Holy Spirit they will
still want the set rules. Your heart beat will be tuned to the voice of your Father. Why?
Because of the love relationship.
Therefore, you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through
Christ. [Galatians 4:7].
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying
out, “Abba, Father!” [Galatians 4:6].
Prayer:
 ‘Abba Father’, we come in your presence. Thank you for the revelation of Sonship. I
need more and more of the Holy Spirit. Let the love toward Jesus increase. Lord increase the
revelation in our life. Abba, Father we need you more and more. Increase our faith. Remove
all the spirit of hypocrisy from our life. Help us to grow more in Jesus. Help us to understand
the real gospel, and to understand the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you Father, we
need You more, ‘Abba’. Let our love to Jesus increase. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.