Studies in Galatians
Gal 1:1 NIV
Paul, an apostle — sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead
The one who sends determines the limit of the authority of the one sent. If an Apostle is sent by a group of persons, may be a Church denomination or some groups in the Church, his authority, purpose and equipment will be determined by that group. If it is by an individual also, the case is the same. Suppose he confronts a higher authority than the one that sent him, he will have no ability to resist that higher authority. So he will submit. Our performance in the mission field is limited by who sent us. We cannot rise above the powers of our senders.
Praise God, Paul said, not of men or by man but the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead. I have wondered why the last phrase had to be added, ‘…who raised him from the dead’. It not only describes what the role of the Father was in the salvation plan, but it also describes the authority behind our commission. The one who sent us has power over death. First, it means that he is not a man. No man has power over death. No one can restrain death when it comes not to think of resurrection from the dead. Death has always mastered every man that lived. No matter how long a man lives, he will still succumb to the power of death. But Christ triumphed over death. He is not at the same level with any man.
Secondly, there is someone who holds the power of death (Heb 2:14), the Devil. For Christ to overcome death, it means he has power, not just over death itself, but the one who wields it, even the Devil. Halleluyah! His authority is above all Satanic powers. So that wherever the works of darkness exists, that authority is able to cast it out. The authority we have is able to trample over the Devil and all his works wherever and no matter how irreparable that damage may seem.
We must constantly bear in mind that the one who sent us is ALIVE and is above all. He is not limited by time and space because He is everywhere present with us wherever the ministry takes us. And He stands to enforce His power as we take our stand on His behalf. Let us therefore make every effort to STAND for Christ where ever it has pleased His Sovereign hand to place us- as a Doctor, Lawyer, Accountant, Engineer, Fashion designer, Butcher, Taxi driver etc. We cannot experience Him when we refuse to take a stand for Him. This is our charge- TO STAND- for the King that He may not suffer loss.