Christ – Out, In and Through You

(Should be: Christ –To, In and Through You) ~~ Galatians 1 ~~ Talk given at Pinecrest Bible Training Center February 15, 1985 Well, it’s a real blessing and real delight to see Brother Parkyns back with us after a while of absence and visiting in the grand country of England. Praise the Lord. Just a real blessing and I’ve really appreciated Brother Parkyns and his ministry and his word and he has been a real blessing here at Pinecrest in his ministry and that which he has imparted. Praise the Lord. And I believe Brother Parkyns has something to share with us this morning. ~~~~~~~~ Don’t you do what I’m doing this morning: think up something on the spur of the moment. [Laughter] That is a gross error. Paul says that you should be, especially you who are wanting to preach the gospel, workmen who need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth [Paraphrased, 2 Tim 2:15]. And dividing doesn’t necessarily mean cutting it up into little dump triangle pieces. But it does mean doing what Jesus did when he divided the loaves. Ministering it to meet the needs of people. There’s always a danger, if you seek just off cuff without preparation, of saying into things which aren’t really important and loosing God’s vital message. And I would say it to all you budding young preachers, do aim at being a workman, study to show thyself approved until God, get into the Good Book, prepare your meat. There is a proverb in the Good Old Book, which I must annihilate this morning to some degree, which says something like this, “The lazy hunter doesn’t roast what he’s caught in hunting [Paraphrased, Proverbs 12:27].” You may wonder what on earth that has to do with it. But if you’ve been hunting in the fruitful and abundant field of this Good Book, and you find something that’s good meat, then for goodness sake, cook it before you serve it. [Laughter] All right, which I haven’t done this morning. [Laughter] Probably because I was only asked a few minutes ago [Laughter]. Let’s have a look at Galatians Chapter 1. And before we go into the book, let me say how grateful I am to you all for the loving welcome I find here. It’s beautiful. I’m enjoying my Christian life more these days than ever before. Isn’t it tremendous? I always used to be afraid that when you pass seventy, you will go down hill so fast, that you’ll not only bore yourself and find your life to be a bore, but be a bore to everybody else. [Laughter] Cause if that does happen, stop me. [Laughter] But I find my life more exciting now in the world than I did before. Halleluia. God has been merciful to me. I was a timid little soul tucked away in the local government office with just about no prospects in the future except a pension. True! And the Lord had mercy on me. And at last he got me out of it. And everything that he has arranged has been wonderful. The things, however, which I have arranged have been disastrous. [Laughter] And I say that advisedly, because if you are a child of God, you should be loved by God in the great decisions of your life, especially – and the small ones. End that. That’s enough of that topic. Let’s get back to the book. Galatians 1: “Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) and all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia [Galatians 1:1-2].” These churches are probably the first churches in Asia Minor that Paul founded: Lycaonia, Antioch and Pisidia, Lystra, Derbe – that group of churches in his first missionary journey. “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil age [Galatians 1:3-4].” Not just get us to heaven. “Deliver us from this present evil age, now, according to the will of God and our Father: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ [Galatians 1:4-5].” What a shame that so early in the Church’s history, teachers, who should be abounding and flourishing, put a twist in the Gospel and spoil it. For everything that a man adds to the revelation of God through Jesus Christ can only spoil it. And there are lots of people who are adding what they call “end time revelations” to this Book. And they’re spoiling it! God knew what he was doing when He gave us this Book. Halleluia. And did old Isaiah say somewhere, “It shall be not according to this word [Paraphrased, Isaiah 8:20]”? There is no life in them, even though they claim them as wonderful revelations. If they be not according to this word, there is no life in them. That’s why you need to know the Book and to have your senses exercised to discern between good and evil. And you should be studying the Book while you are here, so that you may be thoroughly equipped unto all good works and see the dangers of some of the modern teachings that are pushing around among those who want to love the Lord. Keep to the Good Old Book, and especially the plain teachings of it. Halleluia! “I marvel,” says Paul, “that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel [Galatians 1:6].” And later on in this epistle, he says “Ye did run well; who did hinder you [Galatians 5:7]”. Now I find the Christian world full of people who have happy conversions and somehow have lost their glow. And I say it is not all their own fault; it’s often been the fault of people who have turned their minds away from the purity and power of the good news of Jesus Christ. Let’s read on with it. I’m not supposed to be doing a commentary, but I can’t help it. [Laughter] Which this “false gospel” verse is not another. It’s something different. The word in verse 6 – I have a little note in my margin which is now faded, so don’t think that I’m a great Greek scholar. But in verse 6, the word is HETEROS: “a different kind of gospel”. And in verse 7 it’s ALLOS, which means “another kind of gospel.” “Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed [Galatians 1:7-8].” Get that? I don’t think you got it quite right, so I’ll say it again. “As we said before,” verse 9, “so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that which ye have received,” that is, the message that Paul preached, he says, “Let him be accursed.” Strong language. Be careful what you are preaching. “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles saw I none, except James the Lord's brother. Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; and was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: but they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. And they glorified God in me [Galatians 1:10-24].” Praise the Lord. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be a preacher like Paul? But there never has been another like him. He was the great pioneer. And as the blessed details of the full gospel are made available to the gentile world, they come through the administration of Paul, the apostle, to the gentiles. And all we can do is to see what he saw and share, in a measure, those wonderful experiences of which he spoke, and in the name of his Lord and ours, proclaim to the world, the gospel of free and transforming grace. Let’s notice three stages in his own experience: verse 12, “I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Now you are not going to get an experience parallel to Paul’s, but you can get one in your own river. That is, you can’t go after another gospel to have a new and other revelation. But you can, by the grace of God, be brought into the things which he saw. And let’s see the process. [PENETRATING LIGHT – Christ Revealed To You] One: The Revelation of Jesus Christ. And there are two things involved there: first, the personal revelation. Secondly, the doctrinal revelation. First, the tremendous impact upon his own spirit, and, secondly, the instructed ministry which he was able to pass on to other people. And notice that the first one is the revelation of Jesus Christ to Saul of Tarsus on that famed Damascus road. Halleluia. When he was full of hate and breathing out threatenings and slaughter, and on his way to harm the little Christians in Damascus, back into prison and bondage, then came the blazing light from heaven that smote him to the ground and crushed all his boastings. And the voice which called to him, “Saul Saul,” and whatever else it was, “why persecutest thou Me? [Acts 9:4]” Wonderful! Wonderful! The very voice that the crowd had heard when Jesus was ministering. We shouild bless the children and open the hearts of those who are meek that they might inherit the earth in God’s name. What a voice! It came now with a breaking tone in it, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?” And bewildering the Pharisee, taught in all the mysteries of theology, asked the most common question, the most significant question, that ever a Pharisee had had asked of him. They all knew all about God. Every decent taught Pharisee knew the whole thing from Alpha to Omega. But when he heard that voice from heaven, he said, “Who art Thou, Lord? [Acts 9:5]” Whew! That very question indicated the emptying of his soul of all that was learned. It was total collapse. The wound had been punctured. And he fell to the ground. “Who art Thou, Lord? I don’t know a thing.” Praise the Lord. What a wonderful place to begin. The slate wiped clean so that God can write upon it His message that would not be confused. “Who art Thou, Lord?” Halleluia! Has God wiped your slate clean? Those who have had a better education that the others are inclined to set some store by their superior knowledge. But God wants the heart emptied of all self-boasting. There are some people who come sort of ready-made into the Christian life and ministry, with the ability to talk. If you are one of those people, God have mercy on you. [Laughter] Halleluia! Ohhhh, he deals with the empty, broken hearts – “a broken and a contrite heart thou will not despise [Psalm 51:17].” And to that broken man came the revelation of the Altogether Lovely One. Halleluia! CHRIST REVEALED TO HIM! That is the basis of all true and right ministry. Unless Christ shows himself to you in that deep, personal, transforming, challenging way, all your sitting in classes at Pinecrest will profit you nothing. It’s Jesus and the revelation of Christ to the heart that makes the true basis for Christian life and service. Halleluia! And He rose to the view of himself to the sinner; he rose to the view of himself to the brokenhearted. And the poor in Spirit possess His kingdom. And the way to get to know Him is just about the same route that Paul followed when he fell from his horse as he was riding and went down to the ground flat on his face. Praise the Lord. The revelation of Jesus Christ. That’s why he could say, “It is no longer I who liveth, but Christ [Paraphrased, Galatians 2:20].” Hmmm! Wonderful. The revelation of Jesus Christ. Halleluia! Amen! You know they possess a little camera – one of those lovely little modern miracles you can buy so cheaply. And it takes impressions when the shutter is open for a split second. Impressions which are lodged deep, deep inside. And which when developed and printed and published, can become a wonderful picture. Sometimes. It depends upon what your camera has been looking at when its heart was opened. [Laughter] That’s right. Oh glory. Paul had a glimpse of Jesus and it penetrated him! A lasting impression deep inside him which became developed, printed, published. Glory! That’s the basis of true ministry. Christ revealed to you. [INDWELLING LIGHT – Christ Revealed In You] Let’s have a look at verse 16, “To reveal his Son in me.” Hello. First of all it was the Alpha light penetrating. Now is has become an indwelling light. An indwelling light which Paul eagerly shared with those who drank in the precious gospel with which he was entrusted. The inner light, as he says, which is it? “Christ in you, the hope of glory [Colossians 1:27].” Sometimes I used to illustrate this talk to my Africans, and I had a common kerosene bush lamp on the table with me. I haven’t any by me, but I’d take my good old bush lamp. Do you know what they are? I’ll tell you what it is. You put kerosene in them and would make sure the wick was trimmed and the glass was clean and there you would have your light. And I would get various lessons out of it. But one thing I would do is go to a lad, whom I would introduce, and say, “Now this is an evangelist, a preacher of the gospel.” And then I would give him a box of matches. And I would say to them, “What does this box of matches mean?” And do you know ,even though they didn’t know much, they would say, “That’s the gospel.” Halleluia! Oh my! They grasped it themselves. And then I would get the lad to strike the match until it became living. Halleluia! A flame is a fire who should have never been extinguished before. Oh my! Whew! And then I would say, “What do you do next?” And they would say, “I’ll light the lamp.” Then I would keep my hand firmly on the top of the lamp. And he would bring the match to the lamp and try to open it. And I wouldn’t let him. And presently the match would burn on his fingers. Upset. And I would say to them, “What’s the matter? Why can’t he receive the light? “Please, Sir, he will not open his heart.” Halleluia! [Laughter] Oh, praise the Lord. And when the heart is open then the light can penetrate and become a permanent residential glow within. And that’s what makes the difference between those Christians who are alive. Our dear friend here might help to preach my sermon for me. He knows that in Africa they talk about a match being alive, not a light. Or a lamp is alive. Isn’t that right? Yes. That’s how they say it. Light and life are so very, very similar. And so it ‘tis with the good news of Jesus Christ. And God intends that when you open your heart through Him, the blessed light and the gospel of the glory of Christ should shine to you and burn within you. Glory! “Christ in you, the hope of glory [Colossians 1:27].” Halleluia! And it pleased God to reveal His Son in me [Paraphrased, Galatians 1:15-16]. So many amateurs go dashing out to preach the gospel, but they’ve only seen it from outside. It hasn’t really caught fire inside. And God wants proclaimers of the gospel who know the glory and winsome grace of the indwelling Christ. Halleluia! So that he is not only the Christ ho died once for your sins on the cross, or who raises, and now eternally, from His high seat of power, the Christ who dwells in you, your constant companion. Halleluia! Christ in me, the hope of glory. Christ revealed to me. Get to know Him. Christ revealed in me. Make room for his indwelling. And if there is anything in your life challenging or marring the sweetness of His Presence, get rid of it at all cost. Satan is the master of compromise. And he would be just delighted for you to have a Christ-plus life. That is, Christ and something else. And God wants your blessed Lord to be indwelling and central. Halleluia! [LIGHT THROUGH YOU TO OTHERS – Christ Revealed Through You] And then…. Praise the Lord. We are doing well on time. I like short preachers. [Laughter and agreement] Amen. And then in Verse 23 and 24, “But they had heard only, that he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. And they glorified God in me.” The churches of Judea, they had gone through so many persecutions from their brethren, at last heard that the man who had persecuted them was now preaching the faith, which once he destroyed. And they glorified God. They recognized the Christ who had shone to him, and was burning in him, was now shining out from him to the whole wide world. Now, isn’t it wonderful how Jesus gave us that little capsule and said, “I am the light of the world [John 8:12].”? And then He gave us another little capsule and said, “Ye are the light of the world [Matthew 5:14].” Now Paul comes along and tells us how it can be. Christ, the great, wonderful Lord and savior, becomes your indweller that he might shine in this world through your heart, through your actions, through your self-sacrifice, through your word, through your obedience to Him in all things. LIGHT SHINE OUT!! Praise the Lord! Some of our little kerosene lamps were made out of tin. They weren’t very good. But, my, if you are out in the bush in the night, or even if you are in your house in the dark, it’s good to have a light, however feeble, burning faithfully to light your way. Amen. You are the light of the world. Paul, won’t you tell how it can be? This is the root, Christ revealed to you. Not a head full of knowledge. That’s all right, as long as you learn to discount it. [Laughter] Christ revealed to you; Christ revealed in you. Halleluia! And from that, Christ revealed through you. Didn’t Jesus say that you were the light of the world that men may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven. And then Paul writes away in his letter, nothing you’ve heard about Jesus before, and says, “That’s it. The gospel shone out from me and they glorified God in thee.” Halleluia! God, grant us the privilege of living for His glory. Amen.

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Christ – Out, In and Through You

Edgar Parkyns

Edgar F. Parkyns (1909 - 1987)

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