THE PRICE FOR CHRIST [Galatians 2a]

1. “And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out OUR LIBERTY WHICH WE HAVE IN CHRIST JESUS, that they might bring us into bondage),
2. to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.”
   Galatians 2:4-5 (NKJV)

• As a child of God and a minister of the Gospel, you should keep your privacy.

• Those who cannot make sacrifice for their Christian faith would not be Happy seeing you doing God's will—disciplined yourself to do God's will.
• There are false brethren who would not want to sacrifice, or pass through anything, and be persecuted because of their faith (Galatians 6:12).
• They want to please all people, and at the same time want to enjoy the benefits of the Kingdom of God on earth.
• Turn away from such brethren, they are not to be identified and associated with (Romans 16:17).
  NOT on the basis of hatred, but in order to keep yourself from being contaminated, or being influenced negatively (1 Corinthians 15:33).
• These false brethren would not want to be rejected by the Jews on the issue of circumcision, thus they would not mind to compromise their faith on it (Galatians 5:11; 6:12).

• Note: some Believers, even Ministers, are envious of other Ministers who hold fast to the Word of God, lived in line with the Word—who practiced it without any compromise (1 Timothy 3:9; Titus 1:9).

• If you have the grace to pray, fast, and live in Holiness; some will envy you. Whereas the Grace to walk with God in the light of His Word is given by the Holy Spirit to every Believer in Christ (James 1:25).
  THIS Grace is available to everyone who cares to have it: “FOR THE GRACE OF GOD THAT BRINGS SALVATION HAS APPEARED TO ALL MEN…” (Titus 2:11).

• The truth is: God relates with us, His children, individually and relates based on the condition of each person's heart.

• If your heart pants, longs, after God, you will see Him, He will reveal Himself to you: "BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, FOR THEY SHALL BE FILLED" (Matthew 5:6 NKJV).

• Your depth in God is determined by the state of your heart, how you pant after and long for Him in your heart.

• Many want to impress other people that they are following God, whereas they are not in their heart—they are far away from Him in their hearts: "Therefore the LORD said: "Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honour Me with their lips. BUT HAVE REMOVED THEIR HEARTS FAR FROM ME, and their fear towards Me is taught by the commandment of Men" (Isaiah 29:13 NKJV).

• The level of God's grace on your life depends on the condition of your heart in your relationship with Him.
  GOD usually honour those who stay-put with Him.

• Those who tarry with Him, those who waited long and still want to follow even when what they needed and wanted have not come. They desire God. THEY long for Him: "1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, SO PANTS MY SOUL FOR YOU, O GOD. 2 MY SOUL THIRSTS FOR GOD, FOR THE LIVING GOD. When shall I come and appear before God?” (Psalm 42:1,2 NKJV).

• They want to be with Him all the time (Psalm 140:13).

1. “How lovely is Your tabernacle, O LORD of hosts!
2. MY SOUL LONGS, YES, EVEN FAINTS FOR THE COURTS OF THE LORD;
3. For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I WOULD RATHER BE A DOORKEEPER IN THE HOUSE OF MY GOD Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
4. For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; NO GOOD THING WILL HE WITHHOLD FROM THOSE WHO WALK UPRIGHTLY.”
   Psalm 84:1,2,10,11 (NKJV)

• God would want you to prove your love for Him through your following.

• Following is not about Church attendance, it is not what you do to impress others and receive praise of Men (1 Corinthians 4:5).
  Following is of the heart!
• How you follow God, that is, the way you think and pant for Him.
  When God is in your sleeping thoughts and waking thoughts, you are following Him already.
• Some do not think about God until they have one problem or another which they could not handle, or a need to be met in their lives.
  GOD does not want us to live independently of Him!

• He wants you to seek Him daily
YOUR desire for Him should grow, increase daily: "FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE YOUR HEART WILL BE ALSO" (Matthew 6:21).

• If you treasure God and your relationship with Him, your heart will always be after Him (Luke 12:34)
• The surprising thing is that some claim to be in the ministry, working for God, yet they do not treasure God in their hearts—there fellowship with Him is not intact.
• You do not need the anointing to do God's work so to speak, you need God Himself in your Life.
  IF you have God's presence with you, you have His anointing, or power, already (Exodus 33:14,15).

• God wants fellowship

• In fellowshipping with God, you devote everything in your life to Him.
• God desires and deserves all in your life. You cannot have the best of Him until you surrender all to Him.
• If you do not want to suffer with Him, endure for Him, you cannot Carry or have His presence.

1. “FOR IF WE DIED WITH HIM, We shall also live with Him.
2. IF WE ENDURE, We shall also reign with Him. IF WE DENY HIM, He also will deny us.
3. IF WE ARE FAITHLESS, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.”
   2 Timothy 2:11-13 (NKJV)

• Note: For you to continue in the truth of the Gospel, you should yield not to the false brethren.

• There are some Ministers and Believers who do not have hope, who are not going anywhere, and who's goal is not heaven, they are not ready to follow Christ to the end.
  THEY only want to follow Christ as long as it is convenient for them; depart from such people.
• For you to continue and be relevant in your assignment, you would do well to avoid the false brethren (Philippians 3:17-19).

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
Peace!
TO BE CONTINUED