Inspired by Spirit: Introduction
Welcome to the book of Galatians!
Galatia was a Roman province. Paul visited the southern area of the Roman province of Galatia – Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe – on his first missionary journey and it’s possible he’s writing to the churches he founded there. Others believe he’s writing later to North Galatia, although there’s no record in the Book of Acts that he ever visited this region.
Either way, Paul’s message is the same. He’s addressing the Judaisers, the Jewish Christians who believed that a number of the ceremonial practices of the Old Testament, especially circumcision, were still binding on the present day Christians, Jewish and Gentile alike. The Judaisers were calling into question whether Paul was an authentic apostle or not, because of his teaching.
Paul reminds the Galatians of the gospel of grace that draws each one of us into new life in the freedom of the Spirit. And this new life in the freedom of the Spirit is what we are going to focus on this month.
Tomorrow, I leave to spend two weeks on holiday with my family and I do not intend to take my laptop with me. So today, I will leave you with some homework to do while I’m away! Before we become immersed in the Book of Galatians, let’s remind ourselves of what we already know about the Holy Spirit.
Take your time over this if you can. Read just one passage a day. Use a notebook to write down your thoughts. Sit with the Spirit of God. And I’ll see you in a couple of weeks, ready to dive right in to the Book of Galatians!
Genesis 1:1-2 The Spirit of God is there right at the start. The Spirit has always been there and will always be there. The Spirit is an integral part of God Himself.
Exodus 31:1-5 God fills Bezalel son of Uri with His Spirit to complete a task – a creative task no less! See also Exodus 35.
Numbers 11 Other leaders are anointed with the Spirit of God, just as Moses has been anointed.
Judges 13-15 The Spirit of God comes upon Samson in great power.
Psalm 51:11, 104:30, 139:7, 143:10 References to the Spirit of God in these psalms/songs.
Isaiah 11:2, 32:15, 40:13, 42:1, 44:3, 59:21, 61:1 Isaiah’s prophecies about what the Spirit of God will do, particularly when Jesus comes and changes the course of human history forever.
Ezekiel 37 Throughout the Book of Ezekiel, the prophet Ezekiel speaks about being lifted up and led by the Spirit of God, but this is the passage in which he sees a vision of the Spirit breathing new life into dry bones.
Joel 2:28-29 When the Spirit will be poured out on all people…
In all four Gospels There are far too mentions of the Spirit here to list! It’s as if when Jesus comes into the world, the work of the Spirit explodes! There’s the events surrounding the birth, the Baptism, the temptation, the teaching, the miracles…check it out for yourself!
John 14-16 These chapters are where Jesus unpacks the presence and work of the Spirit for his followers.
Acts 2 Where the Spirit comes in power on Jesus’ followers
Acts The Spirit of God plays a key role in the whole of the Book of Acts
Romans 8 That wonderful, wonderful chapter about living in the freedom and power of the Spirit of God
1 Corinthians 2 How God reveals truth through His Spirit
2 Corinthians 3 Where the Spirit is, there is freedom
Enjoy! I’ll see you in the Book of Galatians in a couple of weeks!
