Dangerous Journey

www.scatteredchristians.org

Another Sermon for the Scattered and Starving Bible Believing Christians All Over the World Wide Web
2005 - Touchet Baptist Church, Touchet, Washington - Pastor Mike Paulson -2005

Reach Forth for More to Revealed in 2005

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do,
forgetting those things which are behind,
and reaching forth unto those things which are before...
Philippians 3:13

Read Philippians 3:7-9
Forget those things which are behind... old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new...
(A Christian doesn't need a 'New Year!' Everyday is a 'new' day!)

This past year...
What was gained for yourself was loss for Christ and
for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for yourself!

What was gained for Christ was for his glory and for you to be found in him!

And what you lost for Him was just counted as dung, anyway, to Paul!

So this year, let's all consider:
Philippians 3:13-15
As stated Paul, we also have not apprehended...
but there was one thing Paul did...
He forgot those things which are behind... old things are passed away; behold, all things ARE become new...

We must also REACH FORTH unto those things which are before...
verse 15 - if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Verse 16... what you have already attained, stick with it together!

See the sermon on VILE to help you finish out this great chapter of personal encouragement and challenge!

I did a quick look at past sermons of mine on New Year challenges...
1999 - Why No Sound Doctrine in Churches!
2000 - Results are Not Our Problem!
2001 - Dangerous Journey!
2002 - Comfort of the Scriptures!
2003 - A Year of Refreshment (the Pause that Refreshes - Paul)
2004 - Body of Christ vs. the Body of Christ - Local Church vs Universal Church
(see the list of sermons for 2004 in the handout)
...and found a sermon that gives us an opportunity to 'review' God's working in our little church!

It has Been a Dangerous Journey Along a Rough Road
Part II
The first three columns were preached in 2001 -Part I - I have not changed anything in the first three columns.

The fourth column, however, is what God has shown us 'more perfectly and is being 'reviewed' today!'
Acts 18:24-26; I Corinthians 2:9-16 - deep things of God; Acts 19:20 - so mightily grew the word of God and prevailed!

Bible Believer Level (this column is backed up with Scriptures)	Subject	Standard Church Teaching (this column is backed up with opinions)	2005 Review... ...after 4 years of journey - ...the way of God more perfectly!
Music is praises 'to', 'for' and 'of' God and yes, the flesh profiteth nothing - including music. Satan will even use 'good' music!	Music	Watch for good and bad music, but most if not all music is good if sung because of God.	Do you know the purpose of music now? Do you recognize the sound of sin at home? Have you even begun to examine your personal music, etc.? There is more to come this year - are you ready? Are you seeking the truth for music?
Bible believers not only see the proper application of Matt/Acts/Hebrews/James, etc. but will be able to see the many false doctrines as a results of that 'wrongly' dividing. They will see denominationalism and coming deception that will damn folks to hell during the tribulation.	Rightly Dividing	O.T. & N.T. and reading other books written by 'popular' Christian writers.	Great Commission vs Greater Commission! Three Kingdoms! It exposed the old prophets lying towards the young preachers! Exposed false application of words such as "confess" and "unction!" Risen Christ vs Crucified Christ! Churches showing signs of Alzheimer's! Pastors returning to "yesterchurch!" See results in churches of "vain babbling!" A life beyond rightly dividing - the walk! Future rightly divided - hour of temptation vs the beginning of sorrows! - the worst is yet to come even after the tsunami! Purpose of the local church - feed for growth, not attract! Exposed the false teachings of the Purpose Driven headed to the Creek churches! Understand what a Little Red Riding Hood church is!
God's love is based on and directed to and through His Son Jesus Christ lest we boast and become prideful.	God's Love	God 'loves everybody' as His children!	IT IS STILL ALL ABOUT GOD! Learned that knowing God is important to knowing Jesus Christ and for Him to Know you! God is a God of Judgment; of Hope; The Goodness of God; God is with thee;
A BB understands about Hebrews 4:16 and going to the throne to pray anytime no matter where they are or what they are doing.	Prayer	These folks 'say prayers' and/or pray through saints or using a prayer book, etc.!	Rightly divided prayer eliminates confusion, disappointment and frustration. We see Paul's prayers for us - some of them are being answered - Paul's prayers for us are good for us to use as a model for prayer for our own family.
The church-going family needs to live within God's order with each family member fulfilling their proper roles within that family while establishing grace in their hearts, not meats.	Marriage & Family	A good 'church going' family will make a good marriage.	Exposed the Vision Forum Integrated Family church deception that is spiritually killing homeschoolers across the nation! Warning about the wrong ways to the Old Paths! 7 churches & 7 marriages! How foolish kids are ruining marriages! How the brothers and sisters should get along and care for each other! Dad's robbing their children of God's spiritual gifts for them! Blessed dads who know the proper joyful sound! Cursed dad's who don't! Mom looking well unto her household!
Not good, but by God's grace if needed - but it must be 'for all', including pastors, etc.	Divorce	Not good, but ok if needed 'for some'.	It isn't quite the "sin" that most preachers preach, but the damage is great and the trouble in the flesh is real - and long lasting!
A BB knows it exists and they seek to find it within their own home and in any organization outside of their local church family. If they find it they will either destroy it or from such turn away.	Occult	It exists but they stay away from the obvious signs and marks & so-called games of occultism and spirituality, even if it is done in the 'name' of God or the Grand Architect of the Universe.	In kids SS, Bible study tapes and videos! In bibles, in churches! In movies about Christ and cartoons! Subtle AND Obvious! In the bluegrass and knee slapping music of our KJB churches - and the people & pastors don't even want to hear about it!
A BB shows proper respect and helps and honors their pastor as they know that 'he' cares for their soul & judgment seat and will be held accountable for his ministry to them. It is their faith that should be followed, not the man himself.	Pastoral Support	They show proper respect and help and love, honor & obey their pastor as he/she cares for their daily living.	You have been good to us, and anything else, I just pray and ask God to take care of those needs. I have mentioned a few things for the purpose of the next pastor some day!
They study to see what the Bible 'says'! They consider those exact 'words' as written as the very words of God. They seek the subjects that are needed and necessary for their personal growth.	Bible Study	They check to see what it means to them and compare thoughts and still may seek other versions. They seek the enjoyable and pleasant subjects to study.	They get 'started' in homes, but... You understand more - you get excited about some things God shows you personally! You have learned about Cremation! You have learned about confirmation!
Always itching to read more Bible - they stop all other activities and make reading a top priority. They may follow a plan but it varies - it is hard to just 'read' it sometimes without bunny-trailing a study.	Bible Reading	They get in their reading eventually - maybe even follow a plan - but if they do, they 'must follow it' exactly. They are also heavy readers of 'spiritual subjects' and Christian entertainment books.	Only you know how that is going!
Not only is Hell and the Lake of Fire real, you try to understand what part God has regarding the existence of Hell.	Hell	It is a hard concept to believe. It is hard to understand the seriousness of Hell and what it means to others.	Become a worm? Christ had to go to Hell!
Not only is there security in the verses that deal with salvation, the verses are known to prove your salvation. It is also understood HOW that salvation was done & that awareness gives complete confidence to the BB Christian.	Salvation	To these folks, many variations of salvation exist - they just accept them all and don't try to understand it, nor do they try to force their belief on anyone else. Many deceptions exist within this subject.	A vain faith produces a vain salvation! King James Bible is essential! A better understanding of who needs to be "born again!" Vain salvation is a major problem in our churches - KJB churches, too!
The peace of God is a peace from God & comes from being in God and knowing God is in you!	Peace	Peace in the world and in the community is important to them.	Only one reason to personally sorrow! We see a false peace coming!
To a BB, preaching is how God manifests His word and it is the power of God to them that believe. I Corinthians and Titus We actually want to be told 'like it needs to be told'!	Preaching	The sermons must be short, soft and sweet. "They don't don't have to yell at me!" They only 'say' they want to be told the truth.	Men can step in now - and are anxious to! Sermons not as 'full' and overdone!
We may not be comfortable with it, but we know it must be done and the need is arising more and more as the truth is being outlawed within the church assembly.	Street Preaching & Public Ministry	It is archaic and embarrassing - it drives people away! They see it as very divisive and shows no love of God.	This ministry needs work! Fairs have been a blessing and a challenge and a place of learning. Going to be getting harder quickly!
Faith IN Christ gives you the faith OF Christ!	Faith	They claim they can have faith in whatever & whoever they want to put their faith in and if they are sincere, God will honor their faith.	A true one by rightly dividing or a vain one by vain babblings! Many Christians are living on their own faith - and it crumbles when things get tough - Luke 8:13!
They have submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God and understand imputation and spiritual circumcision to understand how it all comes about. Unfortunately, some bible believers use their liberty in Christ to ignore the righteous walk to maintain a close fellowship with Christ)	Righteousness	They are ignorant of God's righteousness, and are going about to establish their own righteousness and have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. (Romans 10:3)	It's all HIS righteousness that will count in our judgment seat of Christ! We could still be doing "right wrong!"
Knowing that their loved one was saved means they are *present with the Lord* - A BB can have a joy and a happiness and can 'celebrate' their death. True grief exists knowing someone who died unsaved because it means they honestly went to Hell - but if we witnessed to them, we know our hands are clean of their blood.	Funerals	Lots of selfish grief and purposely believing their loved one is with God - regardless of their unsaved and God rejecting testimony and surviving family's total ignorance the truth of the scriptures.	A few of you have been to a few and have seen what God has us preach here. See the grief and sorrow in the world - now more than ever. Even their burial rituals have been ignored and rejected because of so much death. If those were true, then how could they forgo those rituals no matter what the excuse! I Thessalonians 4:13 - the lost truly have no hope!
Bible believers don't want to cause any problems within the family, but somehow, the family members will accept everyone's input except the Bible believers words from the Bible! The more abundantly a BB love's their family, the less the BB is loved in return!	Relatives & Family	They allow everyone to believe whatever they want - and don't want to push their beliefs on any other family member. "To each their own" and just keep a happy family!	They continue to attack your growth & joy! They truly want to get ahold of your children! Many opportunities to be a witness and to witness. Is some of their rejection, though, based on a poor or unbiblical testimony from you?
And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Jude 22,23 ...ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares... Jude 3,4	Turning the Other Cheek (Other Gospel teachings)	Christians must show their love by being lovely and lovey according to the standards of the world.	A great teaching for a Christian testimony, but it is not required yet. That will be a millennial truth.
Kids have a proper place in the family and in the church. The Bible is clear that kids need to be taught doctrine as well as other subjects. Home is still to be the main source of Bible teaching to children AND teens.	Children & Teens	Keep them happy and having fun with SS and videos - you won't want to 'lose them' or abuse them! Feed them and show them how to party!	The world is geared to win them over! Images mean more to the kids than do words! These kids today are getting hit constantly! Are they getting any more religious training & education at home? No SS put the the 'pressure' on the parents where it belongs, so how are you doing? Homeschooling is getting tougher legally as well as in curriculum - and child's ability as well as the parent's skills.
End of first audio sermon Begin PM Audio	End of first audio sermon Begin PM Audio	End of first audio sermon Begin PM Audio	End of first audio sermon Begin PM Audio
II Cor:12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. II Cor:13:4b... For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.	Strength	They are taught to trust in their own strength, wisdom & understanding by their human psychology-oriented pastors and schools.	Have you learned that WE can not do what we need to do these days on our own strength? If we try, or allow it, we are working with the vanity of our own mind - understanding is darkened, alienated from the life of God, etc. Ephesians 4:17-21
Once they are saved, they know that their sin is imputed to Jesus Christ, so God sees NO sin in us - yet a BB knows that sin still dwelleth in us. *We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not;* I John 5:18 A BB knows & understands the personal battle of Romans 7:15-20	Sin	Through their own efforts, they TRY not to sin - but if they do, they confess it & hope it gets washed away with their good works!	From a lost person's view compared to a saved person! From sin to bad works. To a Christian, sin is already paid for but our works have yet to have the judgment of fires! This is an understanding that is coming more and more!
To these folks, these things prove the working of Satan to deceive people into an imitation salvation and to an imitation Saviour and an imitation god through false teachings in an imitation church with an imitation bible!	Signs, Miracles & Wonders	To these folks, these things 'prove' the truth of God.	We see more and more each day! We see how that is truly what folks seek! Faith is losing out more and more! We will see them increase this next year!
A desire to be modest under Biblical definitions is quite a bit tighter than what most Bible Believers even want to believe in regards to their visual testimony of the Bible! The desire for a BB man is to look like a man and a BB woman desires to look like a woman!	Appearance	There is no problem looking like the world today - even in regards to modesty or in gender switching.	Modesty in men as well as women? You should know the scriptures by now, eh! Are you growing in this area - or is just fashionable to you? Are you looking more like a man as a man and a woman for the women? Where do you go?
The KJV 1611 is the only Holy Bible and it is the only Bible that even says it is Holy!	Holy Bible	With the word 'holy' taken out of the modern versions, holiness is absent from their bibles! Hebrews 4:12,13 is ignored if not even rejected!	Easily choked by the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches. We ought to be seeing fruit in our family considering what our riches have done to our children. Images mean more to ALL ages than do words! Bible Believers even allow images that the Scriptures plainly are against. Bible Believers have shown their true final authority - images! The 'attack' on the Bible is not even a major war anymore. It affects one's salvation! We are in more AWE than ever before! The history has come alive to many of us! Sticks that will burn will be based on the Scriptures.
They know the famous Bible stories to be true, but they would rather know more about their great preaching pastor and other 'big speaking' personalities. Some still desire to read about the Bible characters, though!	Bible Characters	They teach many of them as fables and good stories - if they learn them at all - otherwise, they hear more about their modern best-selling authors and musical artists.	Daily truth and application from Daniel, John the Baptist, Jeremiah, David, Moses, Nehemiah, Solomon, Paul, Peter, Apollos, and Elijah!
The test: *Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.* *Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:* I John 4:1-3	Holy Spirit	The Holy Spirit is easily counterfeited by these folks - they have no spiritual authority to discern the difference between the Holy Spirit and the spirit of antichrist!	Quenched and grieved more and more in this modern Christianity. Conviction and judgment is restricted by the lack of the word of God - the sword! The work of ... Can you pass the test? Do you even know the test?
The Jesus Christ of the KJV 1611 is God manifest in the flesh. The more we learn about Him, the more we learn that we really still don't know about Him! HE is the one who shed His blood and is alive now sitting at the right hand of God the Father as our advocate and mediator but who will also someday be the judge. This is the one who any day will ...descend from heaven with a shout, *with the voice of the archangel,* *and with the trump of God:* *and the dead in Christ shall rise first:* *Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.*	Jesus Christ	There are so many different Jesus Christs 'out there', take your pick at which one you want to believe in according to YOUR own wishes. Find the STP Jesus: - the one who makes things go easier without you having to change anything in your life.	His thoughts during the crucifixion! He went to Hell but got out as He had the keys! His quick trip to God and back and why! Knowing the right Christ! How to know if one has received 'another' Christ! Revelation 3:20 - closer relationship!

I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich;
and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear;
and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Revelation 3:18

God has been good in making opportunities to have your eyes anointed with eyesalve to see these days, but how are you doing with victory in your trials and in your attempts at 'earning' clothing?

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:
but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind,
and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded:
and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Philippians 3:13-15

For those who like long sermon studies, here are more updated comments from the Part I sermon on Dangerous Journey
(the following material is not on the audio sermon from January 2, 2004)

What / Who Has Made This Journey So Dangerous?

Well, the journey to being a Bible-believer is a spiritual journey and there is one spiritual enemy who will do what he can to keep a person from making this Journey to the Center of the Bible.

I Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

God provides us with ALL the armour and a Christian must learn about this spiritual armour!
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth,
and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Above all, taking the shield of faith,
wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God:
Ephesians 6:13-17

Making the steps to become a Bible believer are hard steps. We are asking God to show us how His thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. Isaiah 55:8

A Bible Believer truly seeks God's face - His eyes, His ears, His Mouth, etc.
Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.
Psalm 105:4

As God warned us in 2001, it has been a tough journey!

This journey has destroyed many pastors or has seen pastors bounce from church to church!
This journey has worn down pastors and teachers and their families.
This journey has been a bruising trip to those who seek to travel down the road of truth!
This journey continues to 'attack' pride but it also can 'attract' pride!
This journey can still be seen as 'hurtful' to the local church family! It isn't meant to be hurtful, but it can be perceived as such. You know the standard verses ...

Galatians 4:16 - Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
Ephesians 4:15 - But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
I John 3:18 - My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
II Corinthians 12:15 - And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

This journey can still create anger and contention with each other within the family as various members of the family naturally grow at different rates! Where is the grace for each other, folks? You know the verse!!! Heb 13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
This journey can still cause misunderstandings amongst the whole church family and to the family, friends and workers around us. I Corinthians 2:9-16. The folks outside of our family don't understand & they can't understand and we must remember that.
This journey can still cause many sheep to commit spiritual murder to their family and/or even spiritual suicide for themselves. The journey can just be too much for some of the sheep today!
This journey continues to try to force pastors into controlling pastors - misuse of pastoral authority - baptist popes and baptist cops. Many pastors have gone to one side or the other - either they control it all or let it all go the way to keep the church family happy.
This journey will continue bring out rubbish as in Nehemiah 4:10 and it just gives people something to squabble and bicker over just to keep the pressure and guilt away from what is being preached or being taught - or even being just considered as a 'possibility. The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall. And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease. Nehemiah 4:10,11
This journey will continue to turn the sheep into men pleasers and men followers, although there doesn't seem to many left that haven't given in to the church apostasy. Pastors or teachers don't present much 'out of the Book' that the little sheep doesn't understand! It drives them away to another field. There are still those folks more impressed with the man presenting it than the material itself & so before you know it, these sheep still become a man-follower! We are suppose to Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Hebrews 13:7 not to follow the man!

A True Bible Believer must be a True Bible Reader!
But the word of God grew and multiplied.
Acts 12:24
So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
Acts 19:20

We need the word of God to prevail like a flood in our lives!
And the flood ... waters increased, and bare up... (the Christian reader)
... and ...he... was lift up above the earth.
And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon (the Christian reader)
(and the Christian) went upon the face of the waters. (the Book)
And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth;
and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.
...
And all flesh died...
Genesis 7:17-21

We need some Tsunami Strong Christians who will withstand the floods of the future!

Dear Touchet church folks - and the Web family who are still with us...
...you have become a deeper 'Bible Believing' Christian...

and Thank God for that, but...

...are you willing to stay the journey?