Lesson 5
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we claim the promise that Your word will not return back to You without first achieving the purpose that it was meant to achieve, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Galatians 1: 18-24, Paul met Peter and James
VV 18-20, 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. 20 (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)
Paul spent the next 3 years in the desert of Arabia alone all by himself and waited on the Lord. After that Paul went up to Jerusalem to meet up with Peter and James, the Lord’s half brother. He stayed with Peter for 15 days. Paul did not meet up with any of the other apostles. Paul testified before God that he told the truth.
VV 21-24, 21 Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. 23 But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God in me.
After returning from Arabia, Paul went to Syria and Cilicia. Paul’s home town was Tarsus in Cilicia. The Christians in Judea had never met Paul but they knew that he was once a persecutor of the Christians. On hearing Paul’s testimony, they gave glory to God. Paul spent the next 14 years in his home town of Tarsus and waited on the Lord.
Isaiah 40:31, “But those who wait on the Lord, shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint”.
Application:
Paul waited on the Lord for a long time. He waited in the desert of Arabia for 3 years. He waited in Tarsus for 14 years. Paul had to wait on the Lord for 17 years before he could start his ministry in the Church at Antioch. Waiting on the Lord is an important component of discipleship. This is a time of preparation, training in righteousness, growing in maturity, and learning humility, solitude, patience, and perseverance. Even Moses had to wait 40 years as a shepherd before he could be a leader of the Israelites. Joseph waited 15 years, from the time he was sold into slavery until he became the Prime Minister of Egypt. Abraham waited 25 years, from the time he was called by God in Haran until Isaac was born. Do not worry if you are waiting. Waiting is part and parcel of the Christian walk. Those who wait on the Lord will be strengthened in faith to encounter spiritual breakthroughs.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we claim the promise that those who wait on You will renew their strength and soar like eagles. They shall run and not be weary, run and not faint, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
