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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 |
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So let's look at what I have no problem in stating to
folks
as to where we are with our preaching and direction.
Falsely Labled!
I know - we will probably be labeled a 'dry cleaner,' 'Hyper
dispensationalist,' "Hyper-Paulistic,' Paulites,' ya
- somebody will even have to say 'Paulsonite,' too. Some will
think we are just reacting to Dr. Ruckman's shameful fit of contention.
Some will blame this all on not having any 'formal' bible education
- or on the fact that I am a musician, not a preacher - nor am I
a pastor to them. There are some who will even think I am a leader
of a cult.
Spirit of Antichrist is busy!
I believe that the 'spirit of antichrist' is working very hard right
now - not on the 'lost' nor is he working hard on the 'religious'
- even the modern Christian is no threat to him anymore. The
King
James Bible Only churches are the targets - and within those, he is
concentrating on the young people - either through disastrousfamily
situations or teachings that just don't make sense to them - they
see one thing, they hear another and they read another - and yet some of
it just doesn't fit or make sense. They know something isn't right
with what they see and hear.
Alzheimer Stage
I believe that the church is in an Alzheimer stage and is falling deeper
into apostasy - more and more preachers and pastors are returning to Acts
2 and the Gospels in order
to try to make their church grow in enrollment and size! The 'real'
church is now preaching the same stuff as the modern world-wide church
movements such as Purpose Driven, ALPHA, etc. More and more from
ALL denominations and outside religious 'centers' in America are preaching
to be 'born-again' church growth, etc. The name of Jesus and
his teachings is being tossed around more than ever before. But
something is wrong. The Scriptures show churches today are setting
the stage for 'another Jesus'
with an 'another spirit' from
'another gospel.'
Perilous Times but Not to Most Folks
Reading the Scriptures about the perilous times shows me that things
are not going to get better, at least from a truthful Scriptural way -
other than some day the antichrist will make things appear to be doing
well. But then, what is truly vile will NOT be to the average lost
/ christian in America. That which was called good will be accepted
as evil and that which was evil will be accepted as good.
Secondary Separation
I have heard preachers preach about what they call 'secondary separation'
when we must separate from the brethren , etc. Now I think I am learning
what that means more and more. They are not our enemies, but we sure
seem like one to them, eh!
NOW: We must remember!
While we still have the liberty to show and tell our kids, friends,
etc. the truth about truth, most still won't be interested.
Too busy, too selfish, too unhappy and fatalistic - willing to be satisfied
with being 'saved.'
Not everyone will believe these things as I state them - not at first,
anyway.
They have no clue to this 'normal yesteryear' stuff!
Possibly not even everyone here in this room - for sure not everyone
'out there' hearing this sermon live or later from the website.
We must remember some key verses as we 'make our position' known!
Bible, Not Us!
The Bible, not us, will work effectually in them that believe!
I
Thessalonians 2 We plant and water - and THAT IS ALL!
Preaching/Teaching
Preaching must have teaching and teaching must have preaching!
Ephesians
4:11
II Timothy 2:23-26 is and if not already, must become essential in our witness - whether verbal or visual, whether in the streets or in the home or at the table... - Only by pride cometh contention - let them get angry, but not us!
We must live what we say!
Galatians 2:20 - I
am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth
in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of
the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Philippians 1:20 - According
to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed,
but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified
in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
I Thessalonians 4:1 - Furthermore
then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as
ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would
abound more and more.
Be Patient
And we must remember that it took us a long time to get to this point
and we have NOT YET ATTAINED, either!
Finally - remember the Bible makes direct mention of the word GRACE
73 times in Paul's epistles. This is called the dispensation
of grace - and we can not forget that! Thank the Lord for His grace
and mercy towards us as well as others who have tried to teach us things
in the past!
I Corinthians 2:14 -
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for
they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are
spiritually discerned.
Galatians 6:1 - Brethren,
if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such
an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be
tempted.