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PASTOR, TRAIN YOUR PEOPLE

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TRAIN OTHERS

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By Ken Blue

There are several reasons pastors will not use their people in church ministry.

One, they don’t know how. They might like to use them, but they aren’t sure themselves what really needs to be done. Another problem is a lack of skill in recruiting men and women for service. There is a right and a wrong way to go about this. I have also seen pastors who don’t believe anyone is willing to do the needed tasks. Unbelievably, there are pastors who think none of his members are spiritual enough, or no one is qualified. Some pastors are insecure. They fear others may do a better job than themselves. Any one of the above problems creates mental road blocks to your progress. You must conquer all fears that hinder the training of others.

Pastors must understand that teaching and preaching is not training.

These are a major part of the ministry, but they are only a part of it. Most fundamental churches spend 95% of their time preaching and teaching and the other 5% on soul winning and tithing. We must know the difference between training and instruction. When you train someone, you tell them what and how, and then you show them how to do the task. You then let them do it, and correct or encourage as needed.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]When you train someone, you tell them what and how, and then you show them how to do it.[/perfectpullquote]

There are several areas where people need ministry training.

They need to know how to win souls to Christ and how to witness about Him. Men and women must be trained how to prepare and teach a SS lesson, how to usher, how to preach, how to lead songs, how to visit the sick, how to build a bus route, how to pray, how to study the Bible, how to clean the church. Whatever the need in your church, you can train someone how to do it.

How to train others:

The first thing is, you must be clear on what you want done, and how it should be done. To do this, bring specialist to your church that can provide the necessary training. You can also send your people to special conferences where they can SEE and learn these things. Lead people in all areas where you want them to serve and give all the support they need.

Make a list of everything you are now doing that you should give away.

Pastor, it’s not a matter of how large your church is or how many people you have.  Don’t be afraid. Go through your list carefully and circle every task you are doing that someone else could do. Then make a list of all the men and women who could do the task 70% as well as you. Make a plan and then recruit them. If I only had five men in my church, I would find a job for each one of them. If five needs did not exist, I would create a job for the fifth man.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Know, go, show, and grow![/perfectpullquote]

Remember: information, education, and instruction are all necessary, but alone, they train no one.

I have already stated what training is and how it is done. The following Old Testament story illustrates many of the “how” factors of training others. “And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done. 49 And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.” Judges 9:48-49.

 

RAHAB THE HARLOT

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By Ken Blue

“By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. Hebrews 11:31. “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: Romans 5:20.

Moses was dead, and now Joshua was commander and chief over Israel. He was commanded to go into the Promised Land and take possession of it. The inhabitances were to be destroyed, and the first city to be conquered was Jericho. Joshua sent two spies to assess the situation and bring back their report. In order to remain inconspicuous, the spies went into Rahab’s house. No doubt, many travelers had “rested” there. How they explained to Rahab their business, we are not told, however she is made aware of their purpose, and she was not part of it.

Rahab was a three-time looser. She was a daughter of Adam, and that sealed her fate unless God intervened. Such is the condition of all in Adam. Also, her manner of life merited God’s judgment. She was one of the towns prostitutes. She was immoral and sold her body to anyone who would pay her price. Galatians 5:19 describes exactly the kind of woman Rahab was. Finally, she was a Canaanite, and the Canaanites were on the list of nations to be completely destroyed by Israel.

The news of Israel’s intent and success had preceded them. She had heard of the One true God and His power. He was unlike any of the gods of the Canaanites. He was a living, powerful, personal, and merciful God.

Rahab confessed to the spies that she believed in the God of creation and that she knew He would help Israel destroy the wicked nations. She asks for the spies to show mercy on her and her family. She demonstrated her faith by: receiving the spies, by hiding them, by risking her life in protecting them, by making a covenant with them, by gathering her family to the place of safety and by putting the scarlet rope out her window. Hers was a faith that confirmed itself by her works. It is interesting that the first person to demonstrate faith and be saved was a gentile woman who was a prostitute. Could this be a veiled rebuke to Israel’s coming apostasy?

She was concerned about her family’s salvation. This is one of the marks of salvation. When one has experienced the forgiveness of their sins and become a partaker of God’s free grace, he wants his family and friends to share in it. God’s desire and plan is the salvation of the complete household.

When Israel came to destroy Jericho, the one symbol that would protect her was the sight of a scarlet rope hanging from her window. That, which had identified her house before and the nature of her business, was now a public confession and a mark of surrender to the one true God! Transparency is the necessity for salvation. One must acknowledge what he is and rely on God’s grace!

Not only did Rahab become a convert to Israel’s religion, her name shows up in the genealogy of the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, what wonderful grace, that those who have been named among the worst of sinners can have their name in God’s book of life!
You too, my friend can be forgiven of all your sins and become a member of the family of God, if you will acknowledge your need of mercy and accept God’s forgiveness. The scarlet ribbon has been hung out for you. It was on the cross and was the Lord Jesus. Take hold of it by faith and you will be saved.

WHEN ISRAEL’S BLINDNESS IS OVER

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By Ken Blue

“ For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:” Romans 11:25-26.
(From Isaiah 53)

The prophet foresaw Israel’s blindness, concerning their coming King.
He was too comely for their pride; and the salvation He would bring.

Rejected and unknown; holding no beauty for blinded eyes.
Blindness continues to this day; as Jesus goes unrecognized.

Set aside temporally; scattered throughout distant lands,
While God builds His mystery church; Scripture calls “one new man.”

When the last soul has been added, to the one Body of Christ
Israel’s program starts again; to their land they’ll be enticed.

When they are back in their land, they will know He was the Christ.
And the Lamb they led to slaughter; was sins ultimate price.

When their blindness has been removed, their Scriptures they’ll understand;
And see the One dying on the tree, was God’s perfected plan.

Israel will then be converted; their nation will be born again
When ask, “Whence those wounds?” He’ll say, “These I received in the house of My friends.”

O glorious day is coming, when Israel regains her sight!
Earth will be filled with His presence, the nations will walk in His light!

WHERE ARE THE MIRACULOUSLY HEALED?

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WHERE ARE THE HEALED?

healed

By Ken Blue

“And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.” Job 2:4.

If Satan ever made a statement that is 99% true, it has to do with what men and women are willing to do or spend in order to be healed. If you don’t believe that, just write a book on healing or start a healing ministry. The naive will buy all the books and attend all the healing seminars, and the charlatans will head for the bank with your money.

Now, don’t misunderstand me; I believe that Jesus, the Twelve and appointed apostles had healing power during the transition period from the Law to this dispensation of grace. After the church has been raptured to heaven, God will once again restore miracle working power to certain Jews. However, today grace reigns and those biblical miracles, and miracle workers are not present.

Over a year ago I sent out the following challenge to anyone to who can meet it. As of today, not one person has responded to it. Here is the challenge I gave and the questions I ask: “This explains why the blind, the deaf, the cripple, the dead, and those with terminal diseases are not healed today. You may disagree with me, but if you believe the miracles of the Kingdom offer are still present; can you give me the name and address of one believer, you personally know, who can raise the dead, heal AIDS patients, restore the terminally ill and the retarded? Do you personally know anyone who can walk on water, feed a multitude with a handful of food, or turn the water to wine? Why not? Didn’t Jesus tell His disciples that they would do greater miracles than He did? (John 14:12). In fact, if it was not for the grace of God and modern medical science, most people over 40 would be dead!”

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Don’t give your money to faith healers. Give it to missionaries who preach the gospel to the poor![/perfectpullquote]

Don’t waste your time or mine with any attacks on my faith or my trust In God. I have been a believer for over 55 years and pastored over 40 years. I know the Bible, I know what part of it is written to the body of Christ, and I know people. So, the request is simple. Please don’t tell me what you have heard or think you have seen; names and addresses will do.

Thirty-eight years ago, I had 18′′ of my colon removed because of cancer. Today, I have ALS. Neither has shaken my faith in God’s goodness nor caused me to ask “why?” His grace IS sufficient!

If you are sick, pray and ask God to use it for His glory, and then find a good doctor. Don’t give your money to faith healers. Give it to missionaries who preach the gospel to the poor! Find those in your church who will extend comfort and help, as you need it, and who will not attribute your illness to your lack of faith. Those who say such things are without sympathy or brains. I pray that the God of all comfort will comfort you in your trouble.

I’VE EARNED THE RIGHT TO…

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By Ken Blue

“What? know ye not …ye are not your own?
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify
God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:1-20

“I’ve earned the right…” I did say.
“I’ve served my time and paid my way.”
“No one will tell me what I can’t do,
I have rights and they are long overdue.”

Then someone ask, “Are you a Christian, son?
Are you aware of what Jesus has done?
You’re bought with a price; He paid your due.
You are not your own; He purchased you.”

In shame I bowed my guilty head,
“Forgive me God for what I’ve said.
I have no rights; I belong to You.
And by Your grace, I will prove it’s true.”

So, if you’re inclined to speak your mind,
Take heed as you do.
Never say as your on your way,
“I’ve earned the right to…”