O Foolish Galatians, Who Has Bewitched You?

GALATIANS 3:1-5
“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
”‭‭Galatians‬ ‭3:1-6‬ ‭NKJV‬
‬https://bible.com/bible/114/gal.3.1-6.NKJ

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The Galatians had become fascinated by the false teachers argument as though an evil spell had been cast upon them.
Witchcraft was common in Paul's day (ACTS 8:9-11; 13:6-7) and continues today. Indeed, people are looking at religious acts, sacrifices, and processes as an answer to today’s world issues, as if they have been bewitched.
Others put their trust in mere people, our world leaders, religious leaders, the pharmaceutical world, which means “witchcraft “, star signs, and military forces, only to find that by the most them, corruption rules and man cannot keep peace in their own strength.
Some people are oblivious to the state of our world and the dangers that hang over us, and continue life as if they are in a world of their own.
My beloved, Jesus is the resolve, but not by religious acts, by that, we are suggesting that Jesus blood fell short of paying our the debt of sin.
But Jesus paid the whole debt of world, not part of.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
Magicians back then and today use both optical illusions and Satan's power to perform miracles, and many people are drawn into the magicians' mysterious rites without recognizing their dangerous source.
Many believers in Galatia received the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem at the time of Pentecost.
They experienced and saw the supernatural signs and wonders of God.
They experienced peace where there was no peace, and joy in the chaos of life, and their lives changed for good. Those blessings are available to every Spirit filled believer today.
But back in that day, they knew that they hadn't received the Holy Spirit by obeying the Jewish laws, nor by their works, but rather by their faith in Jesus Christ.
Paul stressed that they began their Christian lives in the power of the Spirit, so they should grow by the Spirit's power.
“By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
My beloved, Jesus blood fulfilled all the Law, theirs nothing else to do except to tell others of the treasure you found. But one must have faith, for without it, one cannot please God.
My beloved, His spilled blood must be applied to one’s life by faith. That cannot be done by religious acts and works.
Jesus said, “it is finished”. You either believe Him or not.
“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭8‬-‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
Only by faith was Abraham able to win God’s favour.
He believed on His promises and trusted His leadership.
The Galatians had taken a step backwards when they decided to insist on keeping Jewish laws.
We believers must realize that we grow spiritually because of God's work in us (PHILIPPIANS 1:6) and not by following special religious rules.
Of course we must live our daily lives in obedience to God and the laws of the land, but we can only do that by the leading and power of the Holy Spirit (GALATIANS 5:16-26).
The Galatians knew that they received the Spirit when they believed, not when they obeyed God's law.
Today, Christians, still feel insecure in their faith because faith seems all too easy, and many still try to get closer to God by following religious rules and doing good works, such as giving to the needy or the church.
My beloved, it is impossible to buy our place with God; our successes in life, nor works shall influence God to give favour.
Of course good works is good, but must be done by the leading of the Spirit out of selfless love, with no other selfish agendas.
While certain disciplines, bible study, prayer, worship and service help us grow, they must not take the place of the Holy Spirit in us or become ends in themselves. By asking these questions,Paul hoped to get the Galatians to focus on Christ as the foundation of their faith.
The Holy Spirit gives Christians great power to live for God, but some Christians want more!
They want to live in a state of perpetual excitement-indeed they crave God’s glory.
My beloved, we believers can bath in God’s glory, but we cannot steal it. Only He deserves the glory.
The tedium of everyday life leads many to conclude that something is wrong spiritually.
Often the Spirit's greatest work is teaching us to persist, to keep doing what is right even when it no longer seems interesting or exciting, or is painful, but not in our abilities and own power, but by the power of the Holy Spirit in us.
The Galatians quickly turned from Paul's Good News to the teachings of the newest teachers in town, but what they really needed was the Holy Spirit's gift of discernment and persistence.
If life as a Christian seems ordinary or boring, maybe you need the Spirit to stir you up.
With every day comes a challenge to live in Christ. But when you start your day in prayer believing on Him and asking God for opportunities to serve and shine for Christ, you shall overcome and produce much fruit.
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.