www.scatteredchristians.org
Another Sermon for the Starving Bible Believing Christians All Over the World Wide Web
2005 - Touchet Baptist Church, Touchet, Washington - Pastor Mike Paulson - 2005
Expounding the way of God more perfectly - Acts 18:26 - with the Scriptures Rightly Divided - II Timothy 2:15
Be As a Child or Act Like a Child

Weeds
Observation:  When it is this season - HOT!... I notice it is the weeds that seem to grow the best - with or without water!  The best thing to do is "Pull Them!"

Most Christians don't seem to be able to handle the heat of preaching and Bible reading / proper understanding and application, and thus the 'church weeds' tend to grow more than anyone.
II Timothy 4:3 - For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

If we were having to grow that 'successful' church, we would best be pulling the weeds of the church family - but we are not trying to 'build a bigger church."
II Timothy 4:2 - Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
II Timothy 4:5 - But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

We still want to see if a weed can turn into a flower - or will they just become a "sour flower?"!
Romans 14:10 - But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
Philippians 1:6 - Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Unless, of course, the weed just continues to grow bigger and bigger... then it just has to be done - it has to be pulled!
II Thessalonians 3:14-16 - And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.

(And they can still show up later in the season!)
A Child
Matthew 18:4 -Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Mark 10:15 - Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
Luke 18:17 - Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

Also see:
Matthew 23:12 - And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Luke 14:11 - For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Luke 18:14 - I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
James 4:10 - Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
I Peter 5:5,6 - Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

We can either choose to be a weed... - act like a child...
Acts 13:6-10
...be an imitation grown up... still a child of the devil!
...be the rebellious flower acting like a weed and get mad at the gardener for treating you like a weed...
Proverbs 22:15 - Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Proverbs 29:15 - The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

or

"Give In" to proper & Biblical humbleness!
We must humble ourselves by being that person with child like faith, trust, etc. by humbling ourselves to the way of Christ!
Philippians 2:7-8 - But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Psalm 131:1-2 - LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.
Proverbs 20:11 - Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
Proverbs 22:6 -  Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 23:24 - The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.

Also, do remember that personal designed humbleness still doesn't justify us (just makes us Gospel imitation Christians that are proud / holiness, etc.)
Romans 3:20: Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Romans 3:24: Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

If we can behave like we are suppose to...
I Chronicles 19:13 - Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight.
Psalm 101:2a - I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way...
I Timothy 3:14,15 - These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Again, Paul is our example: See I Corinthians 13:11 - When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

We will then grow up!
Ephesians 4:14 -  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Jeremiah 1:6,7 (we have no excuse - I Corinthians 10:13)

We are Holy and Beloved... - put on humbleness of mind!
Colossians 3:12 - Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

We will be Perfected - IF you can take the heat!
Then we can make it through the process of changing us from a weed to a flower!

Holy and Blameless
Afterwhich our works needs to be put through the purging fire so that we may finally appear holy and blameless.
I Corinthians 1:4-9 - I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;  Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:  So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:  Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.