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WHY SOME CHURCH MEMBERS CANNOT READ THE BIBLE

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By Ken Blue

I believe it is fair to say that 90% of professing Christians have no idea of about the overview and the theme of the Bible. The reason is, most pastors have not mastered it themselves.

The Bible must be rightly divided, and those divisions must be taught constantly if believers are to keep a text within its context. When right division and the context is ignored, you can make the Bible teach anything you desire. All that is required is to choose a doctrine, a concept, or a thought, and then hunt throughout the Bible for anything that will prop it up. It is said; a heresy is simply a truth misplaced.

True, all Scripture is profitable for doctrine, reproof, and correction. But, all Scripture cannot and must not be taught AS church doctrine; and the preacher or teacher should make it clear how he is using a passage. Otherwise, those listening to him will not be able to make the distinction required for the right division.

Why can’t church members read their Bible? One reason is, the pastor has not mastered these divisions himself. Thus, he cannot teach them to his congregation. Let me give you one example of the confusion that plagues believers; that example concerns the church.

Covenant Theology teaches that the church started with Adam and continues out into eternity. Baptist Briders teach that the church started with John the Baptist and was passed off to Jesus. A major portion of Christians believe it started in Acts two, at Pentecost. Some believers see its birth in mid-Acts, and finally, there are those who believe it started after Acts 28.

Many of the pastors who understand right divisions, also understand the wrath of the brethren, should they teach anything contrary to their denomination. They will find themselves put out of the Synagogue.

If you are going to be true to the Scriptures, you are going to be required to cast of much denominational theology. However, you will do so at great cost to yourself and your church. Theology and tradition are the creations of men. These two, blinded the Jews to their own Scriptures; sadly, it has done the same to many of God’s people today.

The theme of the Bible is about a kingdom. It is not about the church or Jesus dying on the cross for our sins. We must know the difference between prophecy and the church. The church is not Israel, nor is Israel the church. The pastor must stop mixing kingdom doctrine with church doctrine.

The command to study and rightly divide the Scriptures is found in the Pastoral Epistles. Therefore, the answer lies in the pulpit. If church members do not know how to read, divide, or apply the Scriptures properly, the pastor is failing in his duty. Pastor, learn all you can about right divisions of the Scriptures.

THE SECOND TIME

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By Ken Blue

My son sent me a text message, reminding me that Joseph, Moses, and Jesus were all rejected by their brethren at first, and then they were accepted at a second event.

Many of you know the story of Joseph and his brothers. “ Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.” Genesis 37:3-5.

Joseph was hated because he was favored by his father, and he was hated because of his dreams. This hatred resulted in his brothers’ rejection of him, their intent to kill him, and their selling him into slavery. As far as they were concerned, they had seen and heard the last of Joseph.

However, many years later, tribulation came to his family which brought them to their knees. Space does not permit me to give the whole story. However, I hope you will read it. Here is the other point I want to make; Joseph was made known to them at their SECOND meeting. “And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren..” Acts 7:13.

Moses was born in Egypt. When he became an adult, he attempted to defend his fellow Hebrews, who were slaves, but they rejected him. “But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?” Acts 7:27.

Moses left Egypt, and he was sent back 40 years later to deliver them. This SECOND time, the nation accepted and followed him to freedom.

Jesus came to his own and they refused to accept Him. Rather, they crucified Him. However, He is coming a SECOND time, and they will accept and follow him! “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelation 19:11-16.

Both Joseph and Moses were Old Testament types of our Lord’s rejection at His first coming, and His reception at His SECOND Advent. Israel will also be in tribulation, and He will lead them to victory! It is not a coincidence that these three are so similar.

SWEET WATERS AND SECRET BREAD

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SWEETNESS OF THE FORBIDDEN
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By Ken Blue

“Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” Proverbs 9:17.

Adam and Eve were told not to eat of the tree and were warned that death would follow disobedience. They ate anyway, and both died. What was it that blinded them to abandon all reason and go against common sense? Two attractions came into play. Satan convinced them that eating the forbidden fruit would open their eyes and make them as the gods, knowing good and evil. Secondly, they were given a free will to choose; and the thrill of taking the forbidden was greater than their thoughts of the consequences.

Israel had hundreds of laws resulting from the Ten Commandments. Yet, no nation was more rebellious than Israel. The story in Proverbs, sets before Israel, the choosing of God’s wisdom or the wisdom of the world. One choice leads to life, the other leads to death. Israel chooses death. Again, we ask, why would they do that? The answer is in our text.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]The purpose of the Law was to show man his own wickedness and inability to keep it.[/perfectpullquote]

A herd of wild horses may look tame and normal at a distance, but put a bridle and a saddle on them, and you will discover just how wild they are. Their latent nature comes to the surface. They will kick, bite, buck, and rebel. So it is with a man. A series of messages on “thou shalt not…” will not change the nature or the behavior of man. It will only make his sin nature come alive and expose what is in his heart.

The purpose of the Law was to show man his own wickedness and inability to keep it. “Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.” Romans 4:15. (It didn’t say, there was no sin; it said, “there was no transgression!) “…I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.” Romans 7:7-11.

Once the Law has done its work in “slaying” all personal hopes and self-righteousness for salvation, the sinner must then flee to God for mercy and His saving grace. That is its purpose! We must set before people the way of life and the way of death. Wisdom cries in the high places, “There is salvation in the cross of Christ!” The wisdom of the world cries, “There is sweetness and pleasure in secret sin.” Both are true. But, sin’s customers are unaware that her basement is filled with the corpses of her previous guest.

This was Israel’s warning; they could listen to God and be saved, or join with the idolatry and immorality of the land and be destroyed. Israel choose the “stolen waters and the secret bread.” However, secret sins are never secret; God sees everything, and the sweetness doesn’t last.

“Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.” Proverbs 20:17.

THE SICK SIDE OF ISLAM

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B y Ken Blue

Are Muhammad Parvez, and Waqas Parvez, just two more radical Muslims who have “hijacked” Islam’s peaceful religion by killing their youngest daughter for prides sake? I don’t believe they are, and neither does the Muslim world. Their silence is deafening.

If Islam does not teach “honour murder,” where are the Muslims that are outraged? Why are they not taking to the streets to protest this barbaric savagery? If there are any Muslims who are good, godly and decent, why are they not speaking up? We know the answer to our own question and so does every Muslim.

Muslims believe the whole world must eventually be ruled by Sharia law. Lauren Vriens, writing for the Council of Foreign Relations says, “Sharia, or Islamic law, influences the legal code in most Muslim countries. A movement to allow sharia to govern personal status law, a set of regulations that pertain to marriage, divorce, inheritance, and custody, is even expanding into the West. Sharia’s influence on both personal status law and criminal law is highly controversial, though. Some interpretations are used to justify cruel punishments such as amputation and stoning as well as unequal treatment of women in inheritance, dress, and independence. The debate is growing as to whether sharia can coexist with secularism, democracy, or even modernity.”

The author continues: “What is Sharia? Also meaning “path” in Arabic, sharia guides all aspects of Muslim life including daily routines, familial and religious obligations, and financial dealings. It is derived primarily from the Quran and the Sunna–the sayings, practices, and teachings of the Prophet Mohammed. Precedents and analogy applied by Muslim scholars are used to address new issues. The consensus of the Muslim community also plays a role in defining this theological manual.”

Now you understand the silence of Islam concerning “honor murder.” Their religion teaches it, and to speak out would be a crime in which the protester or a family member would experience an “honor murder.”

We do not hate Muslims. Rather, we feel sorry for them. How sad that a religion could be so oppressive, so cruel, so blind, and use fear to recruit and maintain its followers.

The father and brother of Aqsa Parvez have been sentenced to life in prison for what the judge called the “twisted and repugnant” murder of the 16-year-old. She was strangled to death in the family home in Mississauga, Ont., in December 2007.

Muhammad Parvez said he killed his youngest child because “this is my insult. My community will say, ‘You have not been able to control your daughter.’ This is my insult. She is making me naked.”

Mr. Parvez has made himself naked before the whole world. He has revealed his selfish pride, and that he loved the praises of his fellow man more than he loved his daughter. Call it what you will; there is no “honour” involved, there is only disgust and horror. Is this the real face of Islam?

DON’T DOTE OR SURMISE

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By Ken Blue

“If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.” 1 Timothy 6:3-5.

Pride can be laid at the feet of these two horrible sins. They are like Pandora’s Box; when opened, they release all manner of plagues upon mankind. May God set us free from these self-diluting and destructive sins.

How prone we are to infer without sufficient or conclusive evidence. It means we have an idea or opinion about people without having all the facts. This is called “evil surmising,” and is rooted in personal ignorance and pride. It usually ends as gossip and the destruction of the other person’s reputation. Other words that fit this category are: Conjecture, guess, infer, presume, speculate, suspect, theorize, imagine, and presuppose. If you listen closely, you will hear others, and yourself committing this sin today.

The twin sin is that of “doting” by questioning everything and disputing about the use of words. Recently, I posted a blog titled Will You Enter The Kingdom. I receive an email dripping with sarcasm, which said, “I thought the Bible said ‘inherit’ instead of ‘enter’.” These people lie in wait to catch you in a verbal slip so they can glory in their pride. Jesus had to deal with this crowd constantly.

Many of you know grandparents who do nothing but dote upon their grandchildren. You can’t send your children to Grandma’s house for one night without having the children returned, spoiled and rotten. They are given everything they want. They return with a bag of new toys, a bag of new clothes, and a bellyache from all the cookies and candy. In other words, the grandparents were obsessed with the children. They gave every moment of every day to doting on them. Perhaps it was the grandparents who were sick!

It is interesting to note that the word “dote” implies to be sick or diseased. Vine’s Word Studies says it, “Signifies “to be ill, to be ailing,” whether in body or mind; hence, “to be taken with such a morbid interest in a thing as is tantamount to a disease, to dote,” 1 Tim. 6:4 (marg., “sick”). The primary meaning of “dote” is to be foolish (cp. Jer. 50:36, the evident meaning of noseō, in this respect, is “to be unsound.”

Many of God’s people have freed themselves from outward vices of the flesh. However, an equal number are guilty of the two most destructive sins in Scripture, and commit them on regular basis. So, don’t be guilty of “doting” or “surmising.”