Galatians 1:11-18—“I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. ¹²I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

¹³For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. ¹⁴I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. ¹⁵But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased ¹⁶to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. ¹⁷I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.

¹⁸Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days.”

Today’s Goals

Learn to recognize a season of waiting so that we can take advantage of it spiritually.
To create a scorecard that “makes the most of every opportunity”.

Ephesians 5:16—“making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

1. The POWER of getting alone with God.

Psalm 46:10—“Be still, and know that I am God…”

Acts 9:25-26—“But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall. ²⁶When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.”

Galatians 1:17—“I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia.”

Why did Paul get alone with God in Arabia?

1. Physical Protection.

2 Corinthians 11:32-33—“In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. ³³But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.”

Paul didn’t “choose” his time alone…but he “used” his time alone.

2. Spiritual Purpose.

Galatians 1:15-16—“But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased ¹⁶to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being.”

Paul had a calling on his life that he needed time alone with God to prepare for…and so do you!

Ephesians 2:8—“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…”

Ephesians 2:9—“…not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Ephesians 2:10—“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

“reveal his son in me” – The greatest impact of time alone with God is getting to know Jesus, whose Spirit lives in you.

2. Reverse Engineering a PROMISE.

Romans 8:28—“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

A Promise we can trust: God will use this situation for good.

Romans 8:28—“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Key Question: How will God use this time for good; how can I make the most of every opportunity?

“Waiting Room Wins”

1. Spiritual wins.

2. Family wins.

3. Physical wins.

4. Emotional wins.

5. Mental wins.

6. Project wins.

7. Relationship wins.

Romans 8:28—“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Ephesians 5:16—“…making the most of every opportunity…”

Galatians 1:17—“I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia.”

Finding Hope This Week

Read a chapter of the Psalms every day:

Monday: Psalm 34
Tuesday: Psalm 56
Wednesday: Psalm 42
Thursday: Psalm 145
Friday: Psalm 105
Saturday: Psalm 51
Sunday: Psalm 1

Refrigerator verses to reflect on:

Monday: Psalm 34:4
Tuesday: Psalm 56:11
Wednesday: Psalm 42:5
Thursday: Psalm 145:18
Friday: Psalm 105:4
Saturday: Psalm 51:12
Sunday: Psalm 1:6

Worship Experience Journey Church International

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