As obvious as Paul is in the Bible, it sure seems like most folks can't
find him!
Acts 9 through Philemon
- and they can't see him?
He tells folks to follow him - as he follows the Risen Christ - and they
can't see that?
The ONLY things people know about the Risen Saviour comes from Paul - why
don't the recognize that?
Where has he been taken and who has taken him
away?
We have the deceivers - more and more and worse and worse!
I Corinthians 15:33 -
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
All the books about the bible stuff EXCEPT Paul!
Have you ever seen ANY of Paul's teachings in those
Christian Hallmark Vision Forum Family movies that so many Christians watch
for their holy entertainment?
II Timothy 3:13 -
But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being
deceived.
We have the profane and vain babblers!
I Timothy 6:20 - O
Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and
vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
II Timothy 2:16 - But
shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
They'll preach the fire about the gospels and Tribulation
books, but not from Paul!
Except for a few verses that slap folks around somewhat
and make themselves look holy, etc.!
We have those who know nothing about God - period!
Acts 17:23 - For
as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription,
TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I
unto you.
We have the KJB unbelievers, whether totally or "almosters" - they claim
the originals, though - whoopee - the originals don't even exist!
They are 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:
I Timothy 6:4,5
We have the 'Bible' nonbelievers period - they just don't believe there
is a bible anywhere!
II Timothy 3:16,17 - All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the
man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
They do not believe verse 16, but they
surely don't want to because of verse 17!
We have churches that don't preach Paul's ways!
I Corinthians 4:17 - For
this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful
in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in
Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
We have the pastors who are ministers of false righteousness!
II Corinthians 11:13-15 -For
such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into
the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed
into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers
also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall
be according to their works.
Romans 10:3 -
For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish
their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness
of God.
In it for the money!
I Timothy 3:3 -
Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient,
not a brawler, not covetous;
I Timothy 3:8 -
Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much
wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
Titus 1:7 - For
a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not
soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
John 10:12 - But
he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not,
seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf
catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
Instructor who don't care!
I Corinthians 4:15 - For
though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many
fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
They have the itching ears, just itching to hear
what they want!
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;
We have those who are envious of those who are
learning and growing in Paul's ways, etc.!
Galatians 4:16-18 - Am
I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? They zealously
affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect
them. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and
not only when I am present with you.
Philippians 1:9-11 -
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge
and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that
ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled
with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory
and praise of God.
Philippians 4:9 - Those
things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in
me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
We have a speedily growing trend going on today
toward the Tribulational style teachers, who totally ignore Paul's teachings
of the Risen Saviour today, etc.
Paul is not present in their preachings - yet!!
Jude 8 - Likewise
also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak
evil of dignities.
Jude 11 - Woe
unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after
the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
Jude 12,13 - These
are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding
themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of
winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked
up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame;
wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
Jude 16 - These
are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth
speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because
of advantage.
Jude 18 - How
that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should
walk after their own ungodly lusts.
Jude 19 - These
be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
We can see how the desire grows more and more intent
as time goes on, that we would say,
we have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. Jude
4
We have folks on the street corners preaching
everything EXCEPT Paul's teachings!
Matthew 6:2 - Therefore
when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the
hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have
glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
They will preach Genesis
- Exodus - II Chronicles - Psalms - Proverbs - Gospels - Peter - John -
James - but
will they preach Paul? - 'maybe' they casually mention some of the things
he says, but they just never tell folks about the goodness of God that
brings folks to repentance.
They preach repentance but they have it backwards.
Sin itself must be taken care of before a person
can take care of this 'sinning' in their lives.
Paul's method, message and motive seems to never
be included with these folks!
We have folks who continue to follow the folly
of modern Christianity and ignore / reject Paul, etc..
See I Timothy 3:1-9
We have folks who continue to stick with the ways
of religion over what the truth of Paul's ways are.
What we do give up, we should despise - and try to
destroy the magnificence of it all - as part of our testimony for ourselves...
for the sakes of others...See
Acts 19:22-29.
Following the folly doesn't quench or teach against
attraction to the young ones who are intrigued by the 'humour' and 'fun'
of the folly.
the music is 'neat' - and it sounds spiritual, etc.
well, to them, anyway.
Do we then know verses
10+ where it says but thou hast fully
known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity,
patience, etc.?
If we did, then our lives would be 'real' for others
to see - not just hear about.
P.S. We can't just judge and blast others,
we have to show our own dispising, etc. in our own lives. It must
all be real to us first.
Remember our pattern:
depart the wrong
despise what was wrong - for you!
destroy the magnificence of it - for
you!
prayer for the brethren and their judgment
and growth
tears because you care for them and
know the hurt you will receive
grace - our strength through it all
truth - don't' leave it out!
mercy - He had / has it for us!
longsuffering - it was given you, too!
patience - you didn't get it right away,
either!
reprove - when necessary - it must be
done!
rebuke - it is hurting you or your friends,
family, etc.
get away from them
avoid, withdraw from such; not strive;
neither give heed; purge; reject; be not partakers; mark; not them; have
no company; not to company with; put away from among yourselves; cast off;
have no fellowship
deliver them to Satan
they may reject God long enough for
him to give them over to a reprobate mind!
We have those, them and us that have failed with
their our own personal testimony of Paul in their manner of life!
I Thessalonians 1:6-10
- And ye became followers of us, and of
the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the
Holy Ghost: So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia
and Achaia. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia
and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad;
so that we need not to speak any thing. For they themselves shew of us
what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from
idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven,
whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath
to come.
Philemon 5-9 -
Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and
toward all saints; That the communication of thy faith may become effectual
by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of
the saints are refreshed by thee, brother. Wherefore, though I might be
much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, Yet for love's
sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now
also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
Satan himself!
I Thessalonians 2:18 - Wherefore
we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered
us.
Don't blame God for things that don't happen - you
know, God's will, etc. Apparently God didn't want me to be in church
- read my bible, etc. Ya right!
II Corinthians 11:13 -
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Sermon
notes from King James Bible Church of Touchet, WA Pastor
- Mike Paulson www.scatteredchristians.org The
entire King James Bible is written FOR us, but it is not all written TO
us!
We
learn from the "For" and we try to apply the 'TO!"