www.scatteredchristians.org
Another
Sermon for the Starving Bible Believing Christians All Over the World Wide
Web
2006
- Touchet Baptist Church, Touchet, Washington - Pastor Mike Paulson - 2006
Expounding
the way of God more perfectly - Acts 18:26
-
with the Scriptures Rightly Divided - II
Timothy 2:15
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Today:
God Gives Increase
The Devil Pushes Gain
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Thanksgiving - 2006
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God
gave the increase.
So then neither is he that planteth any
thing, neither he that watereth;
but God that giveth the increase.
I Corinthians 3:6,7
There appears to be a difference between 'increase'
in the kingdom of God verses 'gain' in the kingdom of heaven - the
earthly kingdom for now.
Are you thankful for 'increase' or 'gain?'
Is there a difference?
Can we be thankful for both?
To be fair...
Gospel does mention "increase"
as in numbers - as well as 'gain' - but it was always numbers!
Numbers then was not 'bad' - it was just 'numbers' as the emphasis
-
Mark 4:8 - ...
increase some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred...
-
Matthew 16:26
- exchange a soul for the whole world? - the things / number, etc.
-
Acts 6:7 - word of God increase, numbers,
great company
-
Luke 17:5 - their faith increase, but
the faith was to repent to receive!
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John 3:30 - increase is Jesus
- the bridegroom - he would then have more disciples!
-
Acts 16:5 - church increased in number,
of
course there would be numbers growth. But note that it
was based on verse 4 and notice in
verse
9,10 there were still visions going on, too, etc.
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Acts 16:16 -
soothsaying gain
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Acts 19:24 -
no small gain unto the craftsmen
And to be fair again...
Paul's only "gain" in numbers:
I Corinthians 9:19-22, but note
verse
21!
-
Of course, Paul also wanted an increase of numbers of
folks to talk to about the risen Christ, etc. That was his desire
as it is ours! As we learn about Jesus Christ through Paul, we want
to tell more folks about Jesus Christ through Paul, not just Jesus as to
the Jews - BUT - we also want to tell those who say they are Christians
all about what Paul tells us about the RISEN CHRIST!
Jesus Soul Winners
-
Today, telling others about "Jesus" seems to be more about soul winning
only and then immediately teaching them to be soul winners only also -
while they eventually starve to death spiritually, (if they
are saved in the first place! See another Jesus, etc.)
Follow Jesus
-
Are the gospels really about soul winning? Or following Jesus by repenting,
selling all, etc.
-
What did they have to believe? John 6:69 -
And
we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living
God.
-
Where did they go when they died? Abraham's bosom until Christ rises!
It just isn't the same to us today, is it!
And so ...
Today, we hear that gain is what proves to most folks that they
are doing ok or not. It is our measure of success - in America, in the
city, in our homes, in ourselves, etc. AND in our churches, GAIN proves
success!
I Timothy 3:3-6 If
any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words
of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of
words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse
disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing
that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness
with contentment is great gain.
But
otherwise, Paul was not after gain!
-
Philippians 3:7 - any gain to
Paul was considered loss!
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Philippians 1:21 - Paul's gain
was to die!
-
Paul warned against 'gain' - I Timothy
3:3-6
-
I Timothy 6:7-12; 17-21 - love
of money and riches for gain!
-
Paul again described the dangers of gain
II Corinthians 12:17-19 with no edifying - see verses
20,21.
Great
Gain to Paul is Godliness with Contentment
I Timothy 6:6
But godliness with contentment is great
gain.
Paul
Preaches Increase from God!
and it isn't "gain!"
I. Our faith is increased
-
II Corinthians 10:15 -
-
I Thessalonians 3:1-10
II. Increase of fruits of righteousness
- physical and spiritual
III. Answered prayer from Paul gives us
increase...
-
Ephesians 1:16-20
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Ephesians 3:14-19
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Philippians 1:9-11
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Colossians 1:9-11
IV. An increase to edify the body
The pattern for the local church designed after
the body of Christ - but even the pattern for the family
-
Ephesians 4:16
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Colossians 2:19
V. An increase of love towards each other
Again, the pattern for the local church designed
after the body of Christ - but even the pattern for the family
-
I Thessalonians 3:11-13
-
I Thessalonians 4:9-12
As we near Revelation 3:17,
a time that is
increased with goods..., etc...
...do you desire the "world's gain" or "God's
increase?"
You have a choice to follow:
1) Profane and vain babblings...
...which lead to an increase of ungodliness
or
2) the Rightly divided the word of truth... - Paul!
...which makes you approved unto God with God giving you the proper
increase?