Apostle Paul Archives | Core Church LA

This Is How God Works

God Doesn’t Work Like We Do

Let’s be honest—God doesn’t always make sense to us. He flips the script. He turns things upside down. And if we’re not paying attention, we might miss what He’s doing. But this is how God works—He uses people and plans that we’d never choose.

Take Galatians 2:2 for example. Paul writes,

“I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles…”

Wait. Paul? The former Pharisee? The man who tried to destroy the early church? The one who held people’s coats while Stephen got stoned? Yeah—that guy. God chose him to go to the Gentiles, the very people who weren’t even part of Israel’s story. They didn’t grow up reading the Law. They didn’t memorize the Psalms. And yet, God sends the most “Jewish” man around to reach them.

Why? Because this is how God works. He doesn’t need our permission. Also, He doesn’t ask for our advice. He sees the big picture, and He chooses the least likely people so that He gets the most glory.

God Uses the Unlikely

Paul wasn’t the only surprise. Look at Peter. He was a fisherman. He was hot-headed, uneducated, and often stuck his foot in his mouth. But God used him to reach the Jews—the very people who spent their lives studying the Scriptures.

That’s why 1 Corinthians 1:27 is such a key verse. It says,

“But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.”

God doesn’t use the strongest or smartest. He uses the humble, the broken, the ones no one would expect. Why? Because when something amazing happens through them, everyone knows it was God. That’s how He works.

Think about it—if you saw a Harvard scholar preaching to fishermen, you’d expect results. But if a fisherman starts preaching to scholars and they listen? That’s God. That’s supernatural.

God’s ways aren’t just different—they’re better. We just have to trust Him even when it feels confusing.

This Is How God Works—By Grace, Not Works

And here’s the real kicker—none of this comes by earning it. You can’t work hard enough to make God use you. You don’t need to prove anything. Look at Ephesians 2:8-9:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

God saves by grace. He calls by grace. He uses by grace. And He gets the glory every time. That’s the heart of the gospel. You’re not chosen because you’re qualified. You’re qualified because you’re chosen.

So when you feel too broken, too weak, or too small—good. You’re right where God wants you. This is how God works—He picks the ones everyone else overlooks.

God Gets the Glory

Don’t miss this: God works through weakness so that His strength shines. If you think you have to be perfect before He can use you, stop. He already knows your flaws. And He still wants you.

Paul once hated Jesus. Peter once denied Him. But grace changed everything. If God can use them, He can use you.

So let go of what the world says you need to be. God’s not looking for perfect people. He’s looking for willing hearts. He’s still doing surprising things today—this is how God works.

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How To Find the Peace of God

The Gift of Peace Is Already Yours

When life feels loud, messy, and out of control, peace can seem like a distant dream. But here’s the truth: God already gave us peace. It’s not something we have to chase. Jesus bought it for us on the cross. The question is not if peace is available. The real question is: do you know how to find the peace of God?

Paul opens the book of Galatians with this strong message:

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins…” (Galatians 1:3-5).

That’s not just a sweet greeting. It’s a powerful truth. The peace of God isn’t a feeling that comes and goes. It’s a gift rooted in what Jesus did for us. He gave Himself for our sins. That’s how we know His grace and peace are real. They cost Him everything.

You don’t have to be perfect to find peace. You just need to look to the cross and believe what Jesus did for you. That’s where peace starts—with grace.

Jesus Knew How to Find the Peace of God

Before Jesus went to the cross, He told His disciples,

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Jesus gave peace. Not sold it. Not rented it. He gave it. And not just any peace—His peace. That means the same peace that kept Jesus calm in the storm, strong in the garden, and silent before His enemies is now yours.

But this kind of peace doesn’t always look the way we think it should. Sometimes, we expect peace to be quiet, easy, or emotional. But Jesus gives peace even in the middle of chaos. You might still have bills, battles, or brokenness—but peace can still fill your heart. That’s why you need to receive it by faith.

Death Has No Sting When You Know Peace

Let’s be real. The biggest fear we face is death. But even there, Jesus brought peace. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:55-57:

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? … But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

When Jesus rose from the dead, He crushed fear. He didn’t just beat death—He gave us the win too. That’s the root of our peace. If Jesus can handle death, He can handle anything in your life. And that means you can rest. You can breathe. You can trust Him.

So, how to find the peace of God? You stop looking at your problems and start looking at the cross. You take your eyes off the storm and focus on the Savior. His peace was bought with His blood. It’s yours now.

Live Like Peace Is Already Yours

You don’t need to earn peace. You just need to accept it. The devil wants to keep you afraid and anxious. But Jesus wants you strong and full of peace. So when worry comes knocking, remind it: “I already have peace. Jesus gave it to me.”

No matter what’s happening around you—or inside you—peace isn’t based on your situation. It’s based on your Savior. And Jesus never fails. That’s how to find the peace of God every single day.

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The Law Versus Grace

Paul Draws the Line: Law Versus Grace

The book of Galatians is like a courtroom scene. On one side stands the law, strict and heavy, demanding full obedience. On the other side stands grace, freely offered through faith in Jesus. Paul wastes no time in choosing sides—he fights for grace. The issue at hand was simple but serious. People were sneaking into the church and saying, “Yes, believe in Jesus—but you also need to follow the law of Moses.” Paul said no way. He made it clear: this is about law versus grace, and grace wins every time.

Galatians 1:6-7 says, “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel.” Paul saw danger in trying to mix grace with works. The law says do this or else. Grace says Jesus already did it. The law shows us how far we fall short. Grace lifts us up because Jesus didn’t fall short.

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Why Grace Wins in the Fight of Law Versus Grace

Paul knew what it was like to live under the law. Before he met Jesus, he followed every rule. But in Galatians 3:10, Paul says, “All who rely on the law are under a curse.” That’s a heavy statement. Why does the law bring a curse? Because nobody can keep it perfectly. One wrong step breaks it all. It’s like trying to swim across the ocean with one arm—you’re going to sink.

Paul then shows the beauty of grace. In Galatians 3:13, he says, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.” That means Jesus took the punishment we deserved. He didn’t break the law—He fulfilled it. And then He died for every time we broke it. That’s grace. It’s not something you earn. It’s something you receive.

This message was so important that Paul didn’t go easy on anyone trying to twist it. In Galatians 5:12, he even says he wishes those troubling the church would stop completely. Paul wasn’t being mean—he was being clear. Mixing the law with grace poisons the gospel. It tells people, “Jesus isn’t enough.” And Paul wasn’t going to let that lie stand.

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Living in the Power of Grace, Not the Burden of Law

If you are a Christian today, you are free. You are not bound by rules to try to earn God’s love. In fact, you already have it. You are not graded by how many good deeds you do, but you are saved by what Jesus did. That’s the heart of the gospel. That’s the message of Galatians.

Paul teaches us that trying to live by the law will wear you out. But walking by grace gives you peace, strength, and freedom. When you know that you are forgiven, loved, and accepted—not because of your works but because of Jesus—then your life changes. Not out of fear, but out of joy.

So don’t fall back into trying to earn God’s approval. Trust in what Jesus already did. That’s the truth about law versus grace, and that’s the gospel worth living—and dying—for.

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Free From the Law

Paul’s Message: We Are Free From the Law

When Paul wrote the letter to the Galatians, he wasn’t just writing a friendly note. He was defending the truth of the gospel. Some false teachers had crept in and were trying to pull Christians back into obeying the old Jewish laws—like eating certain foods, keeping certain festivals, and even getting circumcised. They were saying, “Yes, Jesus saves, but you also need to follow the law.” But Paul’s answer was clear and bold: we are free from the law.

Paul called it what it was—a trap. In Galatians 5:1, he said, “It is for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” What yoke? The law. Jesus didn’t come to make us better rule-followers. He came to free us from a system we could never fully obey. The law showed us our sin, but it couldn’t save us. Jesus did what the law never could. And now, through faith in Him, we are made right with God—not by what we do, but by what Jesus already did.

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Jeremiah 31:31

This new way of living wasn’t Paul’s idea. God promised it hundreds of years earlier in Jeremiah 31:31. “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.” Why did God need a new covenant? Because the people didn’t keep the old one. They broke it again and again.

So God promised something better. Not more rules—but a new heart. A covenant not written on stone, but written on our hearts. This new covenant would bring real change. Not just outward actions, like eating the right food or following special rituals, but inward transformation. Through the Holy Spirit, God would live inside His people, guiding them, strengthening them, and making them new.

That’s the very heart of the gospel message Paul shared in Galatians. We don’t need to keep the old laws to please God. We please Him by trusting in His Son, Jesus. We don’t need to be made clean by eating or avoiding certain foods. We are made clean by the blood of Christ. And outward circumcision doesn’t make us holy. The real work happens in our hearts.

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Live Every Day Free From the Law

Paul didn’t say the law was bad. He said the law had a purpose—it pointed us to Jesus. But once Jesus came, we no longer needed the tutor. We no longer live by rules written in ink but by the Spirit who gives life. To go back to the law would be like living in a cage when the door is wide open.

So don’t let anyone tell you that your faith in Jesus needs something extra. Don’t let traditions or human rules weigh you down. Jesus fulfilled the law. And because of Him, you are free from the law.

Live in that freedom. Love God. Walk in His Spirit. And let your life be a testimony to the power of the new covenant—one of grace, not works.

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Seeds of the Church

Every apple has a few seeds. You can count them pretty easily. But no one can count how many apples those seeds will produce over time. That’s how it is with the seeds of the church. You might only see what’s right in front of you. But God sees generations down the road. He sees the legacy.

This is what Paul was teaching young Timothy in 1 Timothy 4—that his life, teaching, and faith were not just for the people around him, but for those who would come after.

Don’t Underestimate the Seeds of the Church

Paul starts in 1 Timothy 4:1 by warning about the future. He says some people will walk away from the faith. They’ll listen to lies and follow wrong paths. That’s a hard truth. But Paul didn’t stop there. He said to train yourself for godliness (verse 7), and to stay focused on what really matters—preaching the truth and living it out every day.

Timothy was young. Some might’ve thought he didn’t have much to offer. But Paul told him not to let anyone look down on him because of his age. Instead, he said to be an example—in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.

This is where the seeds of the church take root. When believers live out their faith, others take notice. You may not preach from a pulpit, but your life preaches every day. And those small actions? They grow into something big.

Every Believer Can Plant Seeds

Paul reminded Timothy in verse 14 not to neglect the gift God gave him. God gives each of us spiritual gifts to build up the church. Whether you’re a teacher, a greeter, a musician, a helper, or a prayer warrior, your gift matters. But it only works if you use it.

Timothy’s job was to teach and preach. But he couldn’t just do it once and quit. Paul told him to be diligent, to keep growing, and to keep giving it his all. When you stay faithful to what God gave you, others will grow too. That’s how the church gets stronger—one seed at a time.

Think about this: someone planted a seed of faith in you. Maybe it was a parent, a pastor, or a friend. And now you get to plant seeds in others. You don’t always see the fruit right away. But just like an apple seed grows into a tree over time, your faith can grow in someone else and bear fruit for years—even long after you’re gone.

Your Legacy Starts Now

You don’t have to be famous to make a difference. You don’t need a big stage or a big following. All you need is a heart willing to obey God and help others grow in Him. That’s how Paul poured into Timothy. And that’s how Timothy poured into others. And now that faith has come all the way down to you and me.

The seeds of the church are still being planted today. So plant them well. Water them with prayer. Shine God’s love on them daily. Because only God knows how many lives will grow from one seed of faith.

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