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LITTLE IMPERFECTIONS MAKE HUGE IMPRESSIONS

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IMPRESSIONS are very important

 

by Ken Blue

“Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:  So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.” Proverbs 6:10-11

 Lord willing, I intend to write three or four articles on the above title. Dr. Jack Hyles said, “Perfection is the result of paying attention to trifles, and perfection is no trifle.” It is the little things in church that cry for attention. Church members fail to see them, but to your guest, they scream so loudly they can’t ignore them. These are the things that form impressions about your church.

One of these “little things” is the failure to see that clear directions are made available. These should start with the parking lot. Exits and entrances’ should be clearly marked so people will not be confused. Signs strategically located will leave nothing to guesswork. All classrooms, nurseries, bathrooms, children ministries and the auditorium should be indicated. In fact, a map that gives a layout of the property, and all buildings is one to the “little things” that leaves an impression. Every church should research and implement a map of directions for the building.

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Greeters should be well trained and aggressive.[/pullquote]

Special parking should also be provide for guest, and the handicapped. These should be the best spots, clearly marked, and left vacant by church members. Remember, some spots should be adequate for vans to unload wheelchairs. Your faith will dictate how many guest parking spots you should have. Make sure you have an adequate number for all your guest.

Another mark of professionalism is to have a staff of parking lot greeters. These should be well trained and aggressive. They must be in the right place, at the right time, and have proper training. They should open doors for the ladies, and seek to assist in any way needed. Your guest will be impressed if this is done correctly. This going the extra mile, is just one of the “little things” that will make a difference in how people view your church. It is the Pastor’s job to make sure these are done. It is his mark of professionalism.

THE VOCABULARY OF THE EVOLUTIONIST

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When listening to those who promote the hypotheses of evolution, there are certain words you may fail to notice. Perhaps you will catch them in this explanation of how we got here.

 

“It is our belief that billions and billions of years ago the universe may have consisted of a few stellar clouds. We think these clouds went through a process of solidifying and forming what we suppose to be planets. Some of these planets may have been suitable for some form of life.

 If life began on one of these planets, and we believe it did, it is probable that it evolved, through some unknown process, to what we believe could be aliens. One can imagine that these aliens would be far advanced to mankind. They may have had advance space travel and visited earth, depositing primitive life form. Another plausible explanation is planets hosting some kind of life form, may have exploded, and the earth was a fragment of that explosion. It is only reasonable to assume that that life is now in a continuous process of evolution to a higher state.

 Although this process is not observable, nor ever will be, the similarity of some animals, and the strata in the earth eliminates all other theories. Evolution is a field of science, and therefore must be accepted as fact. Religion is a belief system of the ignorant and superstitious. They operate in the realm of faith in a god you can’t see and a Book of unbelievable stories.

 We know evolution is a fact because we believe the evidence. Although many scientific theories of the past have proven to be unscientific, it does not shake our faith that evolution is the only logical answer to the unanswered question about beginnings and existence. We believe science will discover facts in the future that my render some of the facts of science today null and void. That is what we believe, or something like that.”

 

LET’S STUDY REVELATION # 13

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Revelation

“And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.  Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.  Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”  (Revelation 3:1-6). Sardis was a city about 40 miles east of Smyrna; the ancient capitol of Lydia.

Jesus is presented to the church in Sardisas the omnipotent and omniscient One. He has “the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars” (v.1). He knows all about them and that their inward man does not match their profession, “…thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead” (v. 1).  Only the omniscient God could know this.

In verse 2 those who walked in the truth were warned, “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die.”  They, too, were in danger of the gross immorality within the churches. These had not defiled themselves (see verse 4).

The following admonition is seen throughout the Gospels and the Jewish epistles, Hebrews through Revelation. They were called upon to, “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent.” (v.3).  If they did not, He would come as a thief and they would be robbed of all they possessed.

Even a casual reading of Matthew 24 shows that it is about the coming King to Israel.  Jesus warns Israel to watch and be ready for His sudden return. “But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up” (Matthew 24:43). The parable of the ten virgins contains the same warning, “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 25:13).

“…for they are worthy” (v. 4). One must be “worthy” to enter the Kingdom and reign with Christ. This is the essence of the Gospel of the Kingdom. One must be “worthy” to enter it, “But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead…” (Luke 20:35). “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Luke 21:36). “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”( Luke 9:62).

The above verses speak of the coming wrath and kingdom. “That world” and resurrection in Luke 20:35 is the subject dealt with in Revelation.Israel is warned that they must seek to be “worthy” to escape the temptations of false doctrine, immorality, and the mark of the Beast in order to stand before the Son of Man.

It must be noted here that believers in Christ today are worthy because they have been made worthy in Him. There is not one thing we must do to be worthy. But, in Revelation, it is the overcomers who are worthy or fit to enter into eternal life.

The constant theme throughout Revelation is the requirement to overcome (v.5). Overcomers will be clothed in white raiment. They will not have their names blotted out of the Book of Life, and will have their name confessed before the Father and before his angels. The white raiment is symbolic of a priestly garment. These overcomers obviously become a kingdom of priests.

In the Old Testament these books and ledgers were quite literal. One’s genealogy had to be verified and guarded if he was to serve in the Levitical priesthood or be part of the nation of Israel. These atSardis, have received the promise of becoming kings and priests, if they endure to the end and are faithful. Although a literal record may not be required, the omniscient One will have perfect knowledge of those who are worthy to rule and reign in that kingdom.

What is written to one is written to all the churches, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (v.6).

 

ONLY ONE

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By Ken Blue

“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4:4-6.

There is one church, to which all the saved belong.
There is one Spirit, who indwells all His own.

There is one hope, that all the redeemed can claim.
There is one Lord, and Jesus Christ is His name.

There is only one faith, it’s described by Paul.
There is only one baptism; it’s shared by all.

There is one God, and Jehovah is His name.
He’s the Father of all, through Whom it all came.

LOST, ONE SHEEP

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LOST, ONE SHEEP from Ken Blue