Learned More Perfectly

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
Learning the way of God more perfectly - Acts 18:26 with the Scriptures Rightly Divided - II Timothy 2:15

So, Now That We Have Been Learning
the Way of God More Perfectly...

And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard,
they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
Acts 18:26

This is especially addressed to the men at Touchet Baptist Church
although the women are still welcome to be encouraged by this sermon...

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect:
but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

We certainly are aware that we have not yet attained that perfection that II Timothy says we will arrive at some day, but we still know that we have not been on the road TO truth but that we have been on the road OF truth as we have stayed with, stayed in and stood for the King James Bible!

I think of Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. Now we know how this verse fits dispensationally, and so we also should know how it fits with us. We have not seen Jesus as these two men had, but we have seen Him through our salvation - through that King James Bible - through Rightly Dividing the word of truth and now we learn that we can receive more and more understanding as we allow Him to deliver us more and more to His choice destinations!

We have seen Jesus Christ - in that Book!

We ought to have grown closer to HIM by now (Rev 3:20) and further from playing church, religion, education, the ways of the world, etc. Christ ought to be becoming more and more real to us.

Then we have the typical response from our friends and family. Acts 26:24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.

We must also remember Moses and how he was so unwilling to allow God to use him!
He was a learned man, but learned in the world - he was publically educated - oh no! Yes! - Acts 7:22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.

But he still was afraid and even argued with the LORD - Exodus 3:11; 4:1,10,13 - see 30,31 - and yet, the folks still did believe. (ah, but what comes next is another sermon. haha).

It wouldn't hurt for us to remember Jeremiah, either.
Jeremiah 1:6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.

God's response to Moses and to Jeremiah was the same to us today -
Exodus 4:11,12 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

Jeremiah 1:7-10 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

Today, we have those words in that King James Bible!
Psalm 12:6,7
II Timothy 3:16,17

We have the fancy equipment, the computers, the website, etc.
and
Just since January, after a whole year of Paul, when we heard about Reaching Forth in 2005, we were given opportunity to learn:

To stand fast with Paul
The peace of God from the God of Peace
How to Rejoice with Paul
The Prayer Requests of Paul for Us - for our example to our kids, etc.
About the 'another Christ' and 'another Spirit' and another 'gospel!'
How not to be beguiled by the devil and the world
Many warnings TO US as presented by Paul
The many things Paul figured we already knew
The many more things Paul would expect us to learn
The truth about how Cornelius
How to die well - (you live well!)
Rightly divide the marriage "issue"
How to Rightly Divide without rejecting the 'other' NT books - Heb, Ja, Jn, Pt & Rev.
What we should be delivered FROM
What we could be delivered TO - if only...
Why we won't allow ourselves to be delivered TO...
Things in our life are NEVER God's judgment, only consequences and afflictions with their many reasons...
The many many MANY riches of that full assurance of understanding!

What else could we have learned?

Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Boy, that ought to kill the Hyper thought of rejecting the OT being FOR us, still!
Titus 3:14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful. This is directed towards those folks wanting to serve the Lord in various ways and ministries.
Philippians 4:11,12 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
I Corinthians 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. Philippians 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. WITHDRAW - TURN AWAY!!! This is a weird observation, but explain to me why people mark the brethren because they are not 'perfect' in their walk, and so their kids and family won't be around them, but they will associate with modern bible users, non-church going families with kids learning the ways of the world, etc. Figure that out!!! Is someone measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves? If so, they are not wise.
Psalm 119:7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.
Psalm 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. OAs our days grow more difficult, we can actually get into the Book more and closer to Christ Himself!
Ladies can learn at home still - yes, even today. (maybe) I Corinthians 14:35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. I Timothy 2:11,12 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. Think and do what you want or are forced to do, ladies, but this is in Paul's gospel for your judgment seat. I know - I know... but this is still in Paul's gospel!
How wicked the world really is / news / beguiling examples, etc.... I John 5:18-20, etc.

Or, we can learn the HARD WAY: I Timothy 1:20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. (Also see II

Or not learn at all!

Timothy 2:17,18 - And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
II Timothy 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. (Exodus 7:9-13)
I Timothy 5:13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
II Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
II Peter 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

We are told to AVOID: II Timothy 2:23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

We are even to told NOT to think like an unsaved person...

Ephesians 4:17-21 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
We have been given the complete Bible - the mind of Christ! We will have no excuse! Our opinions mean nothing!

We are told NOT to learn the way of the heathen!
(role reversal for kids, churches, teen groups... , bibles, feelings, sensuality, images, music, etc.)

Jeremiah 10:2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. I know, it is to Israel, but we still have heathen today... so don't learn their way. Remember, at that time, WE were the heathen, but now we are not!
Psalm 106:33-36 They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them: But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works. And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them. (we do not destroy false prophets, vain words, simple speeches, flatteries, wrong friends, abusive people, false doctrine, churches & denominations, etc.)

We are actually told to still increase our learning! Proverbs 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
Proverbs 9:9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
Proverbs 16:21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
Proverbs 16:23 The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.

Now, let's DO what we have learned, eh men? 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.
II Timothy 3:14-17 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 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.

This dispensation of grace that we are in is not the dispensation of excuse - or license to continue doing wrong. Wrong is still wrong and we ought not be doing it. Right is still right, and we should learn to do more of it.

It just should be easier to do right now that we have a pure motive and the right motive - for HIS glory!
Now, this is the stuff that will NOT burn!