I really feel that Paul’s letter (Epistle, in the truest sense of the word) to the Churches of Galatia may be the most personal thing, autobiographical thing, the Apostle ever wrote. Or that we still have available to us, anyway.

And today he continues with his life story, testifying: “For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles.” Galatians 2:8

The “He” of our verse is God Himself!

If you remember, Paul has just told us that God called him (primarily) to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles! While Peter was (primarily) commissioned to preach the Gospel to the Jews! (Here it is: “The gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter.” Galatians 2:7, Saturday’s Lesson.)

Now Paul is informing us that the God Who called him, also helped him to the job! Hence the wording: “For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles.”

One verb (appearing twice) plays a fundamental role in this sentence, used of both Peter and Paul!

God (the Holy Spirit) “wrought effectually” in Peter’s preaching.

And “was mighty” in the life of Paul as he proclaimed the glorious Gospel of Christ Jesus!

Peter’s verb: “energeo,” is literally our word (borrowed from the Greeks) “energized!” The word specifically means “doing a work within” a person! Peter was a preaching “dynamo,” being so endowed of God!

Then Paul’s verb: “energo!” Yes, the very same word, even down to the “tense” employed! (Except Peter’s verb is a participle, a verbal adjective. While Paul’s here is an indicative, an assertion of personal experience!)

God treated His two spokesman the same!

In saving both the Jews and the Greeks, the Gentiles!

Point today being:

It takes God’s HELP to do God’s WORK!

Man, within his own ability, is incapable of achieving true spiritual results!

Acts 1:8 works well here: “But ye shall receive power, after that the HOLY GHOST is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Amen!

So does Zechariah 4:6: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my SPIRIT, saith the LORD of hosts.” Wow!

Energized of God!

The only way to serve His Name!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

I once heard a Preacher who told us he prayed for God’s “power” hundreds of times a day! After our Lord’s (victorious) Temptation (40 days) in the wilderness, Luke tells us: “And Jesus returned in the POWER of the SPIRIT into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.” Luke 4:14

Paul said this is the Same Power that raised Jesus from the dead! Oh, what Might! “The exceeding greatness of his POWER to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his MIGHTY POWER, Which he wrought in Christ, when he RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.” Amazing, Ephesians 3:19-20.

Lord willing, more tomorrow morning.

I nearly added a Lesson after the Lesson!