2025-09-28 Sermon Notes - Daniel Lyons' Notes

type:
  - "[[Sermon Notes|Sermon Notes]]"
speaker: "[[Archibald Allison]]"
date: 2025-09-28
location: "[[Emmaus Orthodox Presbyterian Church]]"
passage: Galatians 1:17
sermon series: "[[Allison on Galatians]]"
sermon link:
subjects:
title: Paul Learned At The Feet Of Christ
takeaways:
  - We need to spend time away from the world, so that we can draw closer to God.

Series	Location	Subjects	Takeaways	Sermon Link
Allison on Galatians	Emmaus Orthodox Presbyterian Church	-	We need to spend time away from the world, so that we can draw closer to God.	-

💡Big Idea

Takeaways and Next Steps

📖Bible Passage

Galatians 1.17

I didn't immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia. Then I returned to Damascus.

Points

Paul had a natural zeal for God
- In Acts 9 we learn that immediately after his conversion Paul came to Damascus, not to kill Christians, but to witness for Christ.
  - Acts 9.20 Immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed the Christ, that he is the Son of God.
- We do not see this in Luke's account in Acts, but soon after Paul was converted, Paul went to Arabia

Some Reasons Paul Went To Arabia For Three Years

To learn the reality of the living Christ in the midst of the Church
Paul went to Arabia to learn the true meaning of God's law
- It is not as if the law was originally designed to save us.
  - It is not as if the law used to save us but now it has been replaced by the Gospel. Nor is it as if the law was inadequate to save us and now the Gospel is the backup plan to replace an insufficient law. No the law was not a mistake, and the law was not made to save us. The law was made to show us that we need to be saved.
  - Galatians 3.19 Then why is there the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise has been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.
  - Romans 10.4 For Christ is the fulfillment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
    - Jesus Christ has perfectly kept the Law in our place.
  - Romans 5.19 For as through the one man's disobedience many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one, many will be made righteous.
- Paul: "I did not confer with flesh and blood"
  - What Paul is saying is "I did not learn the Gospel from mere human beings. I learned the Gospel directly from Jesus Christ."
  - Galatians 1.1 Paul, an apostle--not from men, nor through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead--
  - Galatians 1.12 For I didn't receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ.
To learn the Lord's encouragement in fierce persecution
- ⭐: Paul went to Arabia for the very same reason that Elijah did.
  - After the events at Mount Carmel, Elijah was persecuted by Jezebel and fled to Arabia to seek God. On Mount Sinai which is in Arabia, Elijah encountered God at Horeb's cave. See 1 Kings-19 > Elijah on Mount Sinai
  - Interestingly, like Elijah, Paul also returned to Damascus after his time in Arabia.
    - 1 Kings 19.15 Yahweh said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria.
    - Galatians 1.17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia. Then I returned to Damascus.
- Paul went to Arabia for the same reason that Jesus went into the wilderness
  - Luke 4.1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness
  - Satan opposed Jesus in the wilderness, and undoubtedly Satan was also opposing and tempting Paul in Arabia.
To learn the depths of spiritual living and warfare
- In the midst of Satan's persecution, Paul undoubtedly learned much spiritual character.

Some Lessons On The Making Of A Man Of God

The Lord emptied Paul in order to fill him
- There are so many examples of God humbling the saints so that he may raise them up.
  - Martin Luther, John Calvin, Augustine, Peter etc.
- In our modern culture, so often when a celebrity claims to be converted to Christianity, the church immediately thrusts them into the pulpit. This is not what happened to Paul. Immediately after conversion, Paul was removed from the spotlight. He needed time to learn, to be humbled and to grow.
  - Paul was emptied of all self-reliance on his intellect, strength and so on.
  - The Lord only uses vessels who have been emptied
    - 2 Kings 4. God through His prophet told the woman to gather all her empty vessels, and God filled them all with abundance.
    - There is another woman, the Church, who is also deeply in debt. God also tells her, to gather all her empty vessels, humble herself, reject self-reliance so that God may bless her.
    - You may have the greatest oratory power, reasoning, skill and intellect, but it will do you no good without the power of Christ.
The Lord encouraged Paul to serve Him
- Paul was greatly in need of rest and encouragement.
- Paul was still in great shock of the terrifying vision of Christ that he saw in person. He needed time to rest from this.
- He needed the encouragement of the savior.
- God is not here to break us down. He is here to encourage us.
  - Matthew 12.20 He won't break a bruised reed. He won't quench a smoking flax, until he leads justice to victory.
  - Psalm 147.3 He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.
  - Yes, He first empties us, so that we have no confidence in ourselves but then He encourages us so that we have full confidence in Christ.
The Lord taught Paul: Paul learned Christ
- Paul learned the Gospel and it's implications to a greater degree than any believer up until that time.
- He learned truth but more than that he learned Christ.
- Sometimes we feel weary of the time spent in training. It feels like lost time. But training time is never lost time. Learn the scriptures. Make the best of what is available.
- But even after learning all the best teachings from the best teachers, this is still not enough. You must learn Christ Himself.
The Lord empowered Paul, teaching him the Sprit's ministry
- Acts 9.17 Ananias departed and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
- You need to spend deliberate time, to get away from the world and spend it with Christ.
  - I must put aside important things, for the all-important thing.
- Absolute surrender is vital in making a man of God.
  - I've never heard a Christian say on their death bed, I gave away too much time to God. I wish I kept more of it to myself.
    - You have time for pleasure, vocation, friends. Don't you have any time for God, your King and Savior? Take time for Christ.
  - Come to the Savior. Make no delay. Call upon Him to be your Lord.

Application

Further Study

💬Discussion Questions

2025-09-28 Sermon Notes

Interactive graph

On this page