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Blind But 20/20

Text: Gal 2:1-5

Theme: Many are blind to that which is around them even though they have 20/20 vision. Spiritual blindness is evident in most who will not see the work of Christ. We must maintain and keep the truth of the gospel evident and foremost.

Galatians 2:1-5

Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. ²And it was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain. ³But not even Titus who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. ⁴But it was because of the false brethren who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage. ⁵But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.

1. INTRODUCTION:
1. 2:1 Paul was converted around A.D. 35. The 14 years he mentions are probably calculated from the time of his conversion. Therefore, this trip to Jerusalem was not his first. Most likely, he made his first trip to Jerusalem around A.D. 38 (see Acts 9:26-30), and other trips to Jerusalem in approximately A.D. 44 (Acts 11:29, 30; Galatians 2:1-10), A.D. 49/50 (Acts 15), A.D. 52 (Acts 18:22, where 'the church' refers to the church in Jerusalem), and A.D. 57 (Acts 21:15 ff). Paul probably visited Jerusalem on several other occasions as well.
2. Paul had to contend with spiritual blindness repeatedly.
3. Jews and Judaizers always looking for heros. Announcing that famous fisherman, Peter. Sounds like today's celeberties who make themselves available to the Church.
4. Paul dealt with these problems methodically.
5. 2:1 Barnabas and Titus were two of Paul's close friends. Barnabas and Paul visited Galatia together on their first missionary journey. Paul wrote a personal letter to Titus, a faithful believer and church leader serving on the island of Crete (see the book of Titus). For more information on Barnabas, see his Profile in Acts 4:36. For more information on Titus, see the letter Paul wrote to him in the New Testament.
2. BODY
1. Preparation: 2:1 After his conversion, Paul spent many years preparing for the ministry to which God had called him. This preparation period included time alone with God (1:16, 17), as well as time conferring with other Christians. Often new Christians, in their zeal, want to begin a full-time ministry without investing the necessary time studying the Bible and learning from qualified teachers. We need not wait to share Christ with our friends, but we may need more preparation before embarking on a special ministry, whether volunteer or paid. While we wait for God's timing, we should continue to study, learn, and grow.
1. RUNNING THE RACE. Former Olympic champion Bob Richards tells the story of Herb Elliott, the great Australian miler: "In Australia quite a few years ago, Elliott had a broken foot. He hadn't been running for several months. He watched John Landy run the mile under four minutes. He went up to Coach Percy Cerutty, one of the best coaches in Australia, and said, 'Mr. Cerutty, I want to run the mile in less than four minutes.' "Cerutty looked at him and said, 'Son, do you know what it takes to run a mile under four minutes? Do you know what it is to run until you can hardly stand up, to suck in hot air until you're almost unconscious? Do you know what it is to run that kind of race?' "Elliott said, 'I don't care what it takes; I want to run the mile under four minutes.' "The coach said, 'OK, come out to the track tomorrow.' But Cerutty didn't put him on the track; he took him out to a beach nearby, ran him uphill on the sand, and ran him over boulders and rocks. He ran him over the most difficult obstacle course he could find. The kid kept running; he wouldn't give up. "Less than one year later, 20-year-old Elliott ran the mile in 3:54.5, smashing the world record. That's what can happen when a man responds, when he gets a vision, when he believes that there is something he can do." [For Men Only by J. Allan Petersen, ed., Tyndale House, 1973. Pages 203-204.]
2. Substantiate the revelations. Verse 2. How?
3. Confer with the experts (or leaders) 2:2, 3 Even though God had specifically sent him to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15, 16), Paul needed to discuss his gospel message with the leaders of the Jerusalem church (Acts 15). This meeting prevented a major split in the church, and it formally acknowledged the apostles' approval of Paul's preaching. Sometimes we avoid conferring with others because we fear that problems or arguments may develop. Instead, we should openly discuss our plans and actions with friends, counselors, and advisers. Good communication helps everyone understand the situation better, it reduces gossip, and it builds unity in the church.
4. Watch the conditions? 2:3-5 When Paul took Titus, a Greek Christian, to Jerusalem, the Judaizers (false brothers) said that Titus should be circumcised. Paul adamantly refused to give in to their demands. The apostles agreed that circumcision was an unnecessary rite for Gentile converts. Several years later, Paul circumcised Timothy, another Greek Christian (Acts 16:3). Unlike Titus, however, Timothy was half Jewish. Paul did not deny Jews the right to be circumcised; he was simply saying that Gentiles should not be asked to become Jews before becoming Christians.
1. Scriptural?
2. Helpful?
3. Christlike
4. Ethical
5. Moral
6. Build up the cause of Christ
7. Improve relationships
5. Evaluate.
1. Weed out the false teachers
1. How?
1. Question
2. Hold to fire of rational thought
3. Hold to normative interpretation of scriptures.
6. . Do not yield to blindness or subjection to that which is wrong.
1. Know the truth
2. Taught here at church
3. Ask pastor
4. Help others open eyes.
7. Keep gospel pure
1. Do not add your requirements
3. CLOSE:
1. SINCERE PEOPLE CAN BE WRONG: Hobart E. Freeman was a sincere pastor who had helped many people find Jesus as their personal Savior. But when he spoke negatively of doctors as "medical deities" and urged his followers not to seek medical attention, he caused them needless suffering. Apparently some died from illnesses that could have been cured. The Ft. Wayne News-Sentinel claims to have documented evidence of 86 such deaths among Freeman's people. A young mother who had been a member of his church said that both she and her baby would have died if she had followed his directions. A doctor told her that she should have a Caesarean section, but she and her husband decided to follow Freeman's counsel and not have a doctor on hand for delivery. When it became obvious that this would result in death for both mother and baby, however, they quickly changed their minds.
2. LONG-DISTANCE RUNNING. Why can a conditioned runner keep on running? What happens in the body in a distance race? When the body begins to overheat, sweat glands release liquid to cool it. When it begins to run low on sugar, which is fuel for muscles, a hormone from the pancreas tells the liver to release stored sugar into the bloodstream. As the legs and heart need more oxygen, the brain signals the heart to beat faster. Blood flow to the internal organs and upper body is shut down by 80 percent so that more blood gets to the legs and heart. Deep breathing brings in more air. Blood vessels in the legs dilate 400 percent to accommodate the increased flow of blood. All of this enables a person to run a long distance. Just as God has built into the body the capacity to keep running, so too He sustains us spiritually in the race of life.
3. We are in it for the long run!