“For I would have you know, brothers, that the Gospel that was preached by me is not man’s Gospel. Galatians 1:12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.”

(Galatians 1:11–14 ESV)

In verse one, Paul declared his credentials as an Apostle. He is doing this again telling the Galatians that the Gospel he preached was the authentic Gospel. They should know best since he and his missionary team spent significant time with the churches in the region of Galatia.

Therefore, it tells us that his apostleship, (apostle means “sent one”) carries the notion of “being a messenger”. The qualification for being a “messenger” is that you give a “message”. So, it is the message that approves the one sent. For Paul, the authenticity of the Gospel is of supreme importance, and he categorically says that the Gospel he preached:

1. It was not a man’s Gospel
2. He did not receive it from any man
3. Nor was taught by any man.

He preached the Gospel to the Galatians because he received the message through a “revelation of Jesus Christ”. In other words, he is no different from any of the other Apostles, who were sent by Jesus.

The Gospel is nothing else but the Revelation of Jesus.
This revelation of Jesus was not just one event, and Paul is going to tell us that he had more than one Encounter.

What was Paul’s first declaration of Jesus? It was something straightforward and robust. Paul, who persecuted the church. In Acts, 9:20 says that Paul began to proclaim in the synagogues, saying “He is the Son of God.”

Paul, the persecutor, became Paul, the preacher.

The messenger is not that important, but the message is and yes God in his mercy has chosen you to carry his presence through an encounter with Jesus and just like Paul you and I can make a difference in our world!

The message is to be shared! The Preacher.