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
Paul is the Other Side

God is sick of the church today!
    Rev 3:14-20

Are we sick of what we know is going on in churches?  Bible Believing churches?
    If not, it could be because you are not in your Bible enough - or the evangelical bug is slowly infecting you.

We ought to be, but not of Touchet Baptist Church - or of the many other Pauline Preaching Churches!  In fact, there are some who's pastors just need to learn the way of God more perfectly, too.

We are not perfect / complete, etc. but we are expounding the way of God more perfectly!  We are increasing in a Biblical manner!  We are allowing Paul to show us a more excellent way!  We are experiencing the riches of the full assurance of understanding!  We are being enlightened more and more.

But it isn't the 'church' that is doing it!

Folks have such an emphasis on the church - we have been taught 'church' so much, that now that the Bible is out of the picture, all people want is a church.

And the folks who want to BE FED in church, not just play church, well, they are being pushed out and away more and more.

We know things are suppose to be 'greener on the other side!'  Well, we are the other side!  This IS the greener side!

Yes - believe it or not, it is!   This is where the greener side is!

We don't need to be like those:
...who live in the country and long for the city - or those who live in the city and long for the country!
... young folks who wish they were adults - and adults who wish they were young again!
... who would rather live in someone else's house - there is someone who wants to live in yours!
... who would rather have some other parents - there are parents who would rather have your kids!
... who want someone else's lifestyle and home environment - there are those out there who want yours!
... who would like to be as happy and successful as someone else they 'see' - there are those who want to be like you!

We ought to be content here - and not fall in that covetousness that Paul warns about.

Sad to say, but more and more folks don't have a church like our little place.
What can we do for them?


Folks are turning to their church!
It seems over the years that folks had turned to their church to be that which is perfect is come!  However, in order to make their church 'appear' perfect to them, they had to adjust their teachings to please everyone so that they 'thought' that their church was the answer to their life here on earth.  The 'church' has become what plans their family activities, teaches their children, guides them with music and activities, etc.

Turn to the Bible!
Folks have gone through a process of having their Final Authority stolen from them - and today, we are seeing the fruit of Bibleless churches.  Oh, some may still 'use' their Bible in their church, but they use it only to build up their church and pastor.

The pillar is suppose to lift the truth, not the truth lifting the pillar.  And 'church' is not the truth, thy word is truth.

Folks are turning to:
...their friends
...christian radio/tv/books, etc.
...worldly media
...or just no church at all
...just playing the game - not hot and not cold!
...themselves - they hate the thought of an authoritative preacher preaching to them directly!

We are not to look to the church, live for the church or even live with the church!

We are to:
Look TO Christ!
Live FOR Christ!
Live WITH Christ!

That means you have to be in the Book more than you are in church, etc.
Look TO the Book!
Live FOR the Book!
Live WITH the Book!

The church certainly has its purpose!
    Ephesians 4:11-16

However, the King James Bible has an even higher purpose!
    Psalm 138:2 - be magnified above all
    Acts 19:20 - prevail!

Our church is not that which is perfect...

What I have learned so far, I have not learned from the church.
I have learned it from the preaching, teaching, reading, talking about & studying this rightly divided Bible; and the simple fact that Christ has allowed me to see - I Cor 2:9-16; Luke 24:16, 31, 45; I Thessalonians 2:13; John 14:26; 16:13-15.  Must be something to do with rightly dividing... the key to understanding that Bible!  II Timothy 2:15,16.

But without this church, I would not have learned this stuff from the Book!
It isn't that I couldn't have, I just wouldn't have!

That is reality, folks!

For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia,
that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.
II Corinthians 9:2

Both Lost and Saved people need Paul -
...the lost for an honest and clear salvation,
...the saved to grow properly with the right food!

He have nothing to fear - especially Christ Himself!
    John 6:20,21 - and then they landed!  IMMEDIATELY

Christians need to:

Know Their Spiritual Gifts!

Fight the Right Battles!
    Church has become a battle today.  Do you have a bad church (preaching poison, Great Commission, wrongly dividing, NKJV, etc.) or just an imperfect church (preaching the truth, Paul, rightly dividing, KJB, etc.).

Know God's Will

Good Marriage!
    (not a pretend one or a media designed one)

Know Cunningly Devised Fables!

Be Aware of Doctrines of devils!
    ALPHA; Pentecostalogy; mainline denominations; baptism; bibles; ecumenicalism; no judgment; baptisms; forgivness/confession; perfect churches, beatitudes; music, etc.

Know when Truth is being evil spoken of!

Identifying the spirit of anti-christ!

Eliminate confusion
    bibles, churches, doctrines, salvation, worthless issues

Eliminate doubt
    salvation; truth; world situation; future

Enjoy true peace and quietness
Enjoy the voice of joy
Enjoy the voice of gladness
Enjoy the voice of the bride and bridegroom
Enjoy those that say Praise the Lord of hosts:, etc.  Jeremiah 33:11
Enjoy the right voices!

Able to get help from the Psalms and guidance from Proverbs!

Not get caught up in doubtful disputations!
    Romans 14:1  Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

Conversations and studies that bring about more questions and gender strife!
    I Timothy 1:4  Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.  II Timothy 2:23: But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

Identify vain babblings!

More godliness, less ungodliness!

Help to endure sound doctrine!
    Titus 1:9  Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. Titus 2:1  But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

Grip on forgiveness/confession for today!

Understand how to live a life in newness of life and newness of spirit!
    Romans 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  Romans 7:6  But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

Know things of Christ for today!
    Understanding kingdoms, etc.

Used sword - not just the 'right one' - one that is marked and been used in some battles!

Help others properly, and when God would use us, not when We think we should step in to the situation!
    Withdraw and from such turn away means to withdraw and from such turn away!

Know the truth of these days!
    Know what we are to know and not try to learn the stuff we can't know!  Daniel 12:4,9.  ...sealed till the time of the end!

Know the deceptions and smokescreens used today to bring in ecumenicalism!

Aware of Apostasy and what it means and what life will be like - unless you struggle to fight it - and get nothing in reward for it!
    There will be disappointment, discouragement, smaller in numbers, etc. II Corinthians 4:7-11  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;  Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

Identify False Teachers

Prepare for Judgment Seat!
    no wrath, no fire for us!
    encourage each other to not be "satisfied" while there is still time to grow!

Learn how to "suffer!"

Be thankful and appreciate His grace, longsuffering, love and all that He did, and still does, and will do!

Know more of what to teach your kids and grandkids so they understand their times - and don't learn to 'play' church - and caught in the snare of the devil!

Know the more excellent way is still not the world's way!

Development more boldness and confidence!
    as a father - husband, at home and for ladies, around other women, etc.

Know the things Paul expects us to know!

Know how to please God - and that we CAN!
    to abound more and more - to grow - to be fruitful - to live the Risen life - to have true Biblical increase

To give God glory, not to make Him sick!

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