Man's Best versus God's Best

Scripture: Galatians 3:1-5

C.I.: Empowered for “God's Best”

So far in this series…. – Today we are going to look at some questions Paul asks.
The answers to them will show how God has empowered us – to be effective for living His Best in our lives!!!

I. Five Questions to Ask If We are Seeking God's Best, (Galatians 3:1-5)

A. Who have You been Listening to? (v. 1)

1. ( v. 1 ), “You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed
as crucified?”

a. The believers in Galatia were being led astray (review Lessons #s 1-2). – Who we listen to matters!!!
1) From the beginning – ( Gen. 3:9-11 ), “The Lord called to the man and said, ‘Where are you?”
2) To the end – ( Rev. 2:20 ), “But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel,
who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray….”
3) In each case – the problem is who we listen to – ( I Tim. 4:1-2 ), “The Spirit explicitly says…”

b. How can we avoid being led astray?
1) ( I Jn. 4:1 ), “Beloved, do not believe every spirit , but test the spirits to see whether they….”
2) ( I Jn. 4:6 ), “We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who does not know God
does not listen to us. – By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error .”
3) By “testing” others we protect ourselves – ( Rev. 2:2 ), “I know your deeds & your toil….”
4) So seeking God's best - (Jesus, sin, worship)? – Listen to Him ( Jn. 14:6; Lk. 13:3; Jn. 4:23 )!

B. When Did You Receive God's Spirit? (v. 2)

1. ( v. 2 ), “This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by works of law or by
hearing with faith?”
a. In the Old Testament not every one of God's people received His Spirit…
1) Prophets – ( Num. 11:29 ), “Moses said, ‘Would that all the Lord's people were prophets, that
the Lord would put His Spirit upon them.”
2) Kings – ( I Sam. 16:13-14 ), “…the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day
forward … Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul.”
3) And a few others (as we shall soon see).

b. In the New Testament – all of God's people are given God's Spirit – when they act by faith. - Faith=
1) Hearing & believing the Gospel – ( Eph. 1:13 ), “In Christ you also, after listening to the….”
2) By faith acting upon what we hear - ( Acts 5:32 ) , “We are witnesses of these things….”
3) The specific actions of faith are… – ( Acts 2:36-39 ), “‘Therefore, let all the house of Israel
know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ this Jesus whom you crucified.'
[Hearing] – Now when they heard this they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the
rest of the apostles, ‘Brethren, what shall we do?' [Believing] - And Peter said to them,
‘Repent, and let each one of you be baptized in the name of Christ Jesus for the forgiveness of
your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit [Actions of Faith]. – For the promise
(forgiveness & Holy Spirit) is for you, and for your children, and for all who are far off….”

c. Thus, we receive God's Spirit – when we act by faith – and NOT through works of law!!!

C. What Perfects the Believer? (v. 3)

1. ( v. 3 ), “Are you so foolish? – Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”
a. God gave us His Spirit – to perfect (complete/mature) us. – Because we can't do it ourselves ( flesh )!
1) What “law” required – God does thru His Spirit – ( Rom. 8:4 ), “,,,that the requirement of
the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to….” 2) How? - ( Rom. 8:5-6 ), “Those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of
the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit… - For the mind set on the flesh is death..”

b. What God desires versus what we desire – will always be in conflict.
1) ( Gal. 5:16-17 ), “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desires of the
flesh. – For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, for….”
2) When our minds are focus on what we want – it's not good! - ( Gal. 5:19-21 )!
3) But when our minds are focus on the things of God – ( Gal. 5:22 ), “For the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”

D. Why Do You Suffer? (v. 4)

1. ( v. 4 ), “Did you suffer so many things in vain – if indeed it was in vain?”
a. When these Xns first acted in faith – they suffered persecution from the “law-keepers.”
1) Now they are listening to these “law-keepers” – and are no longer being persecuted.
2) Paul asks, “If your faith caused you to suffer for Christ – and now you are no longer suffering
– then what has happened to your faith? – Was it all just in vain?!!!”

b. When Christians by faith are seeking God's best – persecution will follow!
1) ( Quote Jn. 16:33; II Tim. 3:12; Rev. 2:10 ).
2) As believers, we do not “look forward to suffering” – nor should we “desire” to be persecuted.
But let's recognize – that when we walk by faith - it “comes with the territory.”
3) And when it comes, we should respond as the early disciples did – ( Acts 5:40-42 ), “…after
calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them to speak no more in the name of
Jesus. – So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had
been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. – And every day in the temple and from
house to house, they kept right on preaching and teaching Jesus as the Christ.”

E. How is God Working in Your Life, (v. 5)

1. ( v. 5 ), “Does He then, who provides you with the Spirit – and works miracles among you, do it by works of law,
or by hearing with faith?” - So God gives us His Spirit. – But what is the Spirit doing in our lives?!
a. God's Spirit (in the Old Testament) was given to His people – to empower them to serve!!!
1) ( Ex. 31:2-4 ), “I have called Bezalel … filled Him w/Spirit of God in wisdom, understanding,
knowledge, all craftsmanship – to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver & bronze.”
a) Today, we are God's temple, ( I Cor. 3:16 ), “Do you not know that you are a….”
2) ( Jdg. 15:14-15 ), “Spirit of the Lord came upon him … killed 1,000 men with jawbone….”
a) Today we are called to bring words of life, ( Acts 4:31 ), “…they were all filled….”

REVIEW : First, we need to be sure we have God's Spirit, ( Rom. 8:9 ), “If anyone does not have the Spirit….” – ( Acts 2:37-38 )!!!