www.scatteredchristians.org
Another Sermon for the Starving Bible Believing Christians All Over the World Wide Web
2006 - Touchet Baptist Church, Touchet, Washington - Pastor Mike Paulson - 2006
Expounding the way of God more perfectly - Acts 18:26 - with the Scriptures Rightly Divided - II Timothy 2:15
Series: The Essence of Christianity - Others
The Worst Enemy of Them All!

We have seen that there are many many enemies out there, eh!  And sure, it is very true that the devil is rough - we are told it is him that we battle as the real enemy - Ephesians 6:12. The rest are just 'different people' being deceived and used by the devil to gather folks to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Revelation 16:14
He certainly cannot be ignored and neither can those folks - even in 'Christian love."

But there is one who continues to fight up to the end.  There is one who still fights while the devil is locked up in chains for a thousand years.

The point I want to make is that we can't always blame the devil for the 'wrong' in our lives.


WE are our own worst enemy!

Paul even said of himself:
Romans 7:24,25 - O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Our soul and spirit are both ok - Colossians 2:12; Romans 4, etc. - but our flesh is still a mess!
Romans 8:5,6 - For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Romans 8:10-13 -  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.  Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Our flesh still has arthritis, crippled members, it has been scolliosidated, lusty, hungry, vain, selfishness, etc. etc.
It is pampered to the day we die - in fact, it is even pampered after we die - for a few days.


To Make the Risen Life Miserable...
WE:
Acts 20:24 - ... count our life dear unto ourselves!
II Timothy 2:25 - ... oppose ourselves!
Romans 10:3 - ... will not submit ourselves unto the righteousness of God!  If we do submit for our salvation, do we continue to follow the risen Christ through Paul?  Do we read that marvelous WORD OF GOD more than ever before?  Galatians 3:3 - Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
II Corinthians 10:12 - ...we measure ourselves with ourselves and compare ourselves with ourselves!
II Timothy 4:3 - ... after our own lusts, we heap to ourselves teachers because of our itching ears!
Romans 1:22 - ... profess ourselves to be wise!
I Timothy 6:10 - ... choose to pierce ourselves through with many sorrows - ya gotta love that money and MORE of it!
I Timothy 2:9 - ... adorn ourselves with our own choices!  We can justify it all anyway, so what does it matter...!

Here are a Few Enemies to Ourselves

Bitterness
Ephesians 4:31,32 - Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Childishness
Ephesians 4:14 -  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
I Corinthians 13:11 - When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

Music
We all know what we know we like - and so...
"God must like it too if it helps us 'love Him' more..."
"It is always there for me - it gives me comfort, encouragement!"
"I breathe it and it goes everywhere I go!"
"Everyone must hear what I like!"
Acts 2:16,17; Psalm 68:4
    False Worship!
    Fleshy Praise!
    Fake Rejoicing!

Slothfulness vs Too Busy

Slothfulness:
Romans 12:11a - Not slothful in business;...
Colossians 4:5 - Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
Proverbs 18:9 - He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
Proverbs 21:25 - The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
Proverbs 26:14 - As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
Proverbs 26:15 - The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

Too Busy
Ecclesiastes 4:6 - Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
Proverbs 17:1 - Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.

Proverbs 30:7-9 - Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:  Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:  Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD?  or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

Love of money
I Timothy 6:10 - For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
I Timothy 6:17-19 - Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;  Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.


Do you know what one thing works in all of these that eventually destroy?

LEAVEN - Galatians 5:9 - A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
It is all so gradual - the toad in the pot of hot water story...


What Did Paul Concern in Himself?

Exercised himself to be void of offence toward God, and toward men!
Acts 24:16 - And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

Learned to even want to do right!
Romans 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Admitted that he knew nothing himself!
I Corinthians 4:4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

Willing to be servant to all! (called the enemy; loved less, etc.)
I Corinthians 9:19 - For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

Brought his body into subjection!
I Corinthians 9:27 - But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Determined things with himself!
II Corinthians 2:1 - But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.

Abased himself around others while still be bold and confident in what he had to say!
II Corinthians 10:1,2 - 1: Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:  But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
II Corinthians 11:7 -  Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?
Ephesians 3:12 - In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

Forgot about those things behind, reached forth unto those things which were before!
Philippians 3:13 - Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

Did not glory in himself!
II Corinthians 12:5 - Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
II Corinthians 4:15 - For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
I Corinthians 10:31 - Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Enjoyed the opportunities to answer folks
Acts 24:10 Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:
Acts 26:1,2 - 1: Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:  I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:

Paul gloried in his infirmities, persecutions, etc...
II Corinthians 12:5 - Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
II Corinthians 12:10 - Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong
II Corinthians 11:30 - If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
Romans 15:1 - We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
II Corinthians 12:9 - And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
...and those are the very things that we allow to be our enemy to the joy that Paul teaches to us!

...and that final verse leads to another interesting sermon!


The power of Christ: where is it today?