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
- Experiences from the Journeys of Paul -
Let's Learn from How Paul Presented His Own Gospel Witness...
and How His Listeners Handled Him...
and How He Handled Them!
part II

Paul is Off to a Great Start!
Acts 9,13

From the beginning, Paul has certainly had an interesting day-to-day life.  As we are called to follow Paul, (not imitate), let's continue to not only read his words but learn from his day to day life.

Let's also get to know the 'person' of Paul, our only Apostle!  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  Ephesians 4:11,12

Note: the details of this sermon will be only available on the audio.  This is page mainly an outline of the Scriptures that we will be covering.

Acts 9:19-31
After Paul's meeting with Ananias - his eyes are opened again - so he could see (vs 18).  He was then certain days with the disciples at Damascus
He was preaching Christ in the synagogues.  This is his first appearance since he was filled with the Holy Ghost (vs 17).

Many similarities for us:
He preached that Christ is the Son of God - we preach that the King James Bible is the Holy Word of God - Jesus Christ is the Word, etc.

Are people amazed at your 'transformation' since you got saved?  Since you really grabbed the understanding of the Scriptures, etc.?
Are you increasing in strength?  Can you prove this Book to the point of confounding the gainsayers?

The reaction of 'others' is to 'kill' you and your testimony.

More in the audio that will preach to YOU ... etc. etc.

Vs 29 - Paul spoke boldly and disputed against the Grecians... with the typical response - they wanted to kill him.  He wasn't trying to get them to do that - but he was preaching the truth and he says in Galatians that we will be called their enemy - and the more he loves, the less he is loved!

Note: Paul disputed!  Also see I Peter 3:15; Colossians 4:5-6; Jude 3; Philippians 1:17; Acts 17:2; Acts 18:4, 19, 28; Acts 19:8; Titus 1:9!

Vs 31 - the churches rested.  They were 1) edified; 2) walked in the fear of the Lord; 3) walked in the comfort of the Holy Ghost; 4) and were multiplied - more churches / more people in them?

P.S.  Fear of the Lord - In scripture, fear is used to express a slavish passion.  In good men, the fear of God is a holy awe or reverence of God and his laws, which springs from a just view and real love of the divine character, leading the subjects of it to hate and shun every thing that can offend such a holy being, and inclining them to aim at perfect obedience.  Webster's 1828

Acts 13:1-13
Barnabas and Saul  had gone to Salamis and were now in Cyprus with John and had preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews.  They are now in Paphos and come across a certain sorcerer, a false prophet... who tried to keep the deputy from getting saved!

Does that happen to you today?  All the time, eh!

Don't you wish you could do what Paul did?  haha

Sorry folks, but that 'power' went out when the written word came in! I Corinthians 13:10.

And the deputy still was able to 'believe!'  It was a visual thing in those days, still!  John 4:48  Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

Acts 13:14-41
Now they are leaving Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia - and into the synagogue they go!  Paul preaches quite a sermon!

He has a great conclusion in verses 38-41!

This is a good 'summary' for us to hear - how much of these details do we remember from our own reading?

Acts 13:42-52
The Gentiles had a great response, but many of the Jews did not respond so favorably!

The Jews were typical of folks today - they were filled with envy!
They contradicted what Paul had to say - they blasphemed in the process.

Paul and Barnabas didn't hold back for sure - they reminded the Jews were the first to hear, but now, it is time to go on to the Gentiles - remember, they were dogs to a Jew!

Verse 47 is Paul's commission - a carry-over from the infamous 'Great Commission,' so is Paul's - to the ends of the earth!  This is the verse to show folks that we don't have to nor should we go to Matthew and Mark for the Commission command.

Gentiles were glad - and glorified the word of the Lord!  Amen!  THAT is what needs to be glorified, not pastors, buildings, gymnasiums, musicians, music, etc.

Then finally, look who the Jews stirred up in the community... devout and honourable women and the chief men of the city!  They managed to run Paul and Barnabas out of town.

But as we learned from Paul - be content, be thankful, be prayerful, don't give up, and just keep doing right!

They went on to Iconium and were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost!

They are good examples for us, eh!