Of the whole “Pauline Corpus,” including (many believe) 14 Epistles of the New Testament, perhaps his Letter to the Galatians is the most enigmatic! (Pauline Corpus … simply meaning everything the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write, as far as the Biblical Canon is concerned.)

At least to me it is, Galatians. In some ways, “less inviting” than Philippians or Colossians, as examples.

And over these 14 or 15 years of Website Lessons, few series (only 3, in fact) have derived from that Book, from Galatians.

So partly for you dear readers, and partly (not even ashamed, either) for me … I want to study the Epistle written to the Churches of Galatia!

There are parts of his Document (Galatians) I do not fully understand! Particularly some of Paul’s metaphors, word pictures, Bible illustrations he employs in these six chapters.

So beginning today we take the plunge!

Into Galatian’s 149 verses!

It is not Paul’s most peaceful composition!

Nor his kindest!

In reality, it is filled with *shock, tension, debate, even some holy sarcasm!

Why?

We shall see, the Lord willing, tomorrow and the ensuing days, likely for the next few weeks!

Will anyone take this journey with me?

“Gazing through Galatians,” one might call our endeavor.

And as we begin, let’s collectively pray this amazing, powerful verse of Scripture: “Lord, open (uncover) our eyes, that we may behold (pay attention to) wondrous (marvelous, surpassing, even “hard” things) things out of thy law, (torah) .” Essentially, out of Thy Word!

To which plea we all say, “Amen!”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

* Bold verses like: “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth?” Galatians 3:1, sounds “dark.”

 

I used that quaint title for today’s Lesson based on Daniel chapter 3, the well-known  “burning fiery furnace” account written there. “In the fire,” yes indeed … God Himself came down and walked right alongside Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego!

And dear friend, no matter what you’re suffering today (if Jesus is your Saviour) He is there (with you) “in your situation” … every bit as much as He was that day long ago. (Not visibly, I agree, but spiritually, essentially! Every step of the way!)

And that thought leads me to today’s Text.

Speaking of Israel, God was said to be (grammatically in the Third Person) …

“In all their affliction HE was afflicted, and the angel of HIS PRESENCE saved them: in HIS love and in HIS pity HE redeemed them; and HE bare them, and carried them all the days of old.” Isaiah 63:9

All I want to say today, and it is merely a reminder to most of you: When you are hurting (based on this verse), God is hurting with you!

The verb “afflicted” used here means “being squeezed from all sides!”

Under pressure!

Gasping for breath!

In the proverbial “dire straits!”

His PRESENCE (the Hebrew noun means His Very “FACE”) is right now “saving” you!

And I have not even discussed His LOVE and His PITY and His CARRYING POWER (sustaining ability), but the verse mentions all three!

All I am emphasizing right now is this … WHEN YOU ARE IN GRIEF, HE IS IN GRIEF WITH YOU!

Jesus, in the words of Hebrews 4:15, (as our great High Priest) “is touched with the feeling of our infirmities!” (The Greek verb found here is “sumpatheo,” our word “sympathy!” Jesus “in sympathy” with you!)

Yes … He’s in that tight place … with you!

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

And even if you can’t “see” him right now … in the words of that old hymn “Standing Somewhere in the Shadows, (sooner or later) You’ll find Jesus!”

He’s there!

Amen!

 

I am a little bit familiar with our verse for today, having preached its context a number of times several years ago. It is incorporated into Moses’ final blessing on the Jewish Tribe of Asher.

As in: “And of Asher he (Moses) said, Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil ….” A pretty good list of “wishes, prayers, prophecies!” By the way, “Asher” means “happy” in Hebrew! A quiver full of boys and girls, an Old Testament blessing supreme! Love both to and from his fellow Jews, harmony in the camp! And “olive oil” galore, prosperous in his business life!

Wow!

But that is NOT the part of Asher’s heritage that I wish to emphasize this Friday morning. There’s more, one final line, one last verse … “Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.” Deuteronomy 33:25

Shoes fit for the rocky land Asher was given, fertile but very hard to traverse!

And strength for all his days, no matter the circumstances!

Is God able to provide shoes and strength?

Deuteronomy 29:5 answers that first question? “And I (the Lord) have led you (Israel) forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot.” Forty years, one pair of shoes!

Wow!

And the second question?

“I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.” Psalm 18:1

Or Paul’s belief: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

Wow, again!

Now to you and me, dear readers!

Are you treading a HARD ROAD these days?

Rough, unpleasant, maybe (nearly) more than you can bear?

GOD CAN GIVE YOU SHOES FOR THAT ARDUOUS JOURNEY! SHOES THAT WILL MAKE YOUR FEET MORE COMFORTABLE. SHOES THAT WILL LAST AND LAST, NOT FAILING YOU ALONG THE WAY! “THY SHOES SHALL BE IRON AND BRASS!”

AND GOD CAN KEEP SUPPLYING YOU WITH STRENGTH. INEXPLICABLE STRENGTH! SEEMINLY UNENDING STRENGTH! DAY AFTER DAY (IF NOT HOUR AFTER HOUR) STRENGTH! NO MATTER HOW L-O-N-G YOUR ORDEAL LASTS! “AS THY DAYS, SO SHALL THY STRENGTH BE!”

All I know to say today is this, and I say it lovingly:

With the right equipment (iron shoes, etc.) and with the right empowerment (the strength of the Lord God Almighty) … you CAN be an overcomer!

You already are, in fact!

“In all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Romans 8:37, through Jesus our dear Lord and Saviour!

So, put on the right shoes, God-issued!

And tap into your Power-Pack … the Might of an eternal God, really the very same Power that raised Jesus from the dead … and face the day with new resolve!

Oh, I hope and trust and pray these few words will help someone today, encourage your heart!

Praise the good Lord for Who He is (Strength) and what He does (provide Shoes, etc.) for us all!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Isaiah the Prophet wrote some magnificent Scripture in his day. He did so under the Guiding Hand of the Holy Spirit, I understand. But nonetheless, what a Book God left us, Isaiah’s 66 chapters, a lot of which is extremely encouraging!

For example, Isaiah 35:10. Now I’m only using the last half of the verse today, specifically because of its thrust, its power to encourage:

“They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

Did you read that?

It is a promise,  clearly!

From God … to His people!

Earlier in the verse “they” (the recipients of this commitment) are called “the ransomed!” That means “saved!” In the King James Version: “the redeemed, delivered, rescued,” Hallelujah!

Yes … THEY shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Friend reading here today, laden with sorrow and signing … YOU are the beneficiary of this great word of hope! Being the child of God that you are.

Seems that God can give you back that “joy!”

And “gladness!”

One first one (joy) is inner delight, the other (gladness) more outward in expression!

But the real reason I was drawn to this verse today, I think, is that last clause.

“… and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

God can (and will) take away all those tears!

Sorrow means grief, anguish!

Sighing means groaning, mourning!

“Flee away,” the verb, means “to hastily depart!”

Wow, chew on these meanings for a while.

Then you will understand why I entitled today’s Lesson … “A bright future!”

Again, for the ransomed of the Lord!

Is this promise originally prophetic, for the last days? Yes.

Is it primarily for Israel? Yes.

During the coming Millennium? Yes.

But none of those facts negate the Truth that God’s Heart is one of love and restoration and grace and mercy and peace and joy!

Here’s the nine-fold list, God as Holy Spirit: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith (faithfulness), meekness (as in Jesus washing feet), temperance (never rash or out of control)!

God will keep this promise, not only to Israel I believe, but to all His children some day! (“To the Jew first, but also to the Greek,” the gentile!)

Ah, dear hurting (burdened) reader this morning … claim this. Believe it. Wait on it. Enjoy the possibilities of it in advance!

“They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

Praise the dear Lord!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Someone text me if this Lesson proves helpful, strengthening to you today. My cell number is 770-844-7627. Oh, to be used of the Lord to help His children grow in grace!

 

I woke up a little later than usual this morning, having been pretty tired last night. And I am also preaching a new series of sermons this week, in the Revival. That means lots of necessary study time! But still, the Lord has laid a little verse of Scripture on my mind, or my heart. It sure is sweet to the taste, as well!

Just half a verse, really. From the wisdom God gave Solomon, Proverbs 18:24. “And there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”

Wow!

The noun “friend” translates “ahab,” which means one who loves you. As in: “Jesus loves me, this I know.”

The verb “sticketh” is translated by “dabek,” the word in Hebrew for “glue.” Defined more precisely in my lexicon: “to cleave to, to join.” Pretty close!

And while we all know that “brothers” do not always get along (think David’s family or the prodigal and his sibling) … our Friend will never forsake or fight or disown us! Or anything else disloyal!

Amazing!

I don’t know what else to say today.

Maybe just the verse again:

“There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”

If you are discouraged.

If someone you thought would always “stick” with you has gone.

If your heart is heavy.

Think about Jesus today!

A lot!

He will never leave you.

Cultivate the habit of talking with Him, to him.

Of telling Him you are grateful for His Love!

Once all Jesus’ Friends forsook Him and fled. When He was arrested. See Mark 14:50 and Matthew 26:56, both passages recording the same event.

But never once has Jesus forsaken a friend!

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Today try to grieve less about the one who “left” you.

And delight more in the One Who did not leave!

Praise the Lord.

Therein is encouragement!