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DO YOU KNOW HIM?

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By Ken Blue

Philippians 3:10 “ That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;”

We have heard many sincere Christians ask, in their witnessing efforts, “do you know the Lord?” The last thing I want to do is diminish anyone’s zeal for souls. However, the above question is not the proper question to the unsaved. I will say, if that question works for you, don’t stop using it.

My point is; there is a world of difference in being saved, and knowing the Lord. We are saved by accepting by faith Jesus as the payment for our sins. Getting saved is the easiest thing in the world. Religion muddies the waters and makes it almost impossible for the lost to understand how to be saved. Listen to Paul explain its simplicity.  Romans 10:8-13 “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” So, if you are unsaved, you are without excuse. A child can understand that.

However, getting to know the Lord is quite another thing. We meet others, and the process begins of getting to know them. Not only does this take many years; we still don’t know them fully. This is true of our friends, of God, and of ourselves. The important question is how do we get to know the Lord? Although Paul had been saved for years, his desire was that he might know Him. “Philippians 3:10 “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” Paul indicated also that there are those who claim they know Him, but their works prove they do not. “Titus 1:16 “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”

The first and most accurate way to know the Lord is through His Word. Words are the means we use in getting to know others. We communicate with them. Matthew 4:4 “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” God wants to talk to you. Open the Bible, and your heart and you will hear from Him.

Then, we get to know Him by his works. Creation tells us volumes about God. We see His power, His wisdom, and His care for it everywhere. Romans 1:19-21 “Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

Finally, we get to know Him by suffering. Psalm 119:67 “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.”

So, you see. There are many who say they are Christians, and God is the judge as to the truth of that. Nevertheless, all of us should be growing, and getting to know Him. The question is, are you saved, and do you know Him?

 

WHY I BELIEVE IN GOD

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By Ken Blue

 

Life is made up of choices.

Some are critical we make.

You ask me why I choose God;

Why I take the path I take.

 

One’s because of my mother

Her words and life gave me faith.

I saw in her and the family,

Assurance one could not shake.

 

I also believe that God,

Is known by His creation.

His language all men can hear.

Other views lack foundation.

 

We also have a conscience;

Our gauge of what’s right or wrong.

It’s used to accuse others,

Or excuse faults of our own.

 

The Bible is our best proof,

Withstanding the hammers blow.

The Bible remains unchanged,

Wearing hammers out, you know.

 

Then, there is the transformed life;

The miracle He did for me.

I once was blind to it all,

But by God’s grace, now I see.

 

Just a note to all our critics;

The difference `tween you and me.

If there is no God, I’ll be fine.

If there is, where will you be?

 

 

THE UNWASHED AND UNWANTED INFANT

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By Ken Blue

Abandoned in an open field, un-washed, un-swaddled, and alone,
Thy navel cord was uncut, still in your filth; none took you home.

Then I saw you in the field, polluted in your filth and blood.
I washed, and I swaddled thee, and said; “live;” knowing that you could.

I washed away the blood; anointing you with perfume and oil.
And I clothed you in embroidered work, not counting cost or toil.

I dressed you in linens and silk; gave you shoes of badger skin,
And you were fair and beautiful, as your womanhood did begin.

Then you became my wife, in a covenant relationship.
You were pure, and virtuous, without a blemish, spot, or guilt.

I provided jewels for your neck, for your hands, and your forehead.
I put a crown upon you, “He has made a queen of her,” they said.

You had the best foods, and were exalted to the highest stations.
You were known for your renown, and were the envy of all nations.

But, you trusted in your beauty, and a harlot you became.
You were available to all who passed; you were devoid of all shame.

You were contrary in your filthiness; of none had it been said,
A harlot is paid by her lovers; you hire lovers instead.

You took the garments that I gave you, also the jewels and bread,
You forgot who gave them, then offered them to idols instead.

Your lovers will despise you; stripping your garments, all will see,
As you were in the field of blood, naked again you will be.

Your lovers will all hate you, and will abuse you many days.
You will remember all your sins, and be ashamed of your ways.

You will remember the former days; you will return to Me.
I will establish My covenant; your husband I will be.

I will blot out all thy sins: I will remember them no more.
Oh, Jerusalem let us return, and serve Him evermore.

From the parable of Ezekiel 16.

YOU’RE NOT BRINGING IN THE KINGDOM

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By Ken Blue

Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”

We often hear well-meaning Christians say, “We have to get the gospel to all the world, so Christ will come for His church.” Or, you may hear another say, “When we get the last person saved to complete the church, Christ will return.” This is often done to motivate church members to soul-winning.

There are at least two major problems with these concepts. First, the gospel spoken of in the context of Matthew is the gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven, and it never got out of Palestine as an act of obedience to the commission. The few who did take it did so because of persecution, and they went to Jew only. This gospel of the Kingdom is the same gospel preached in the four gospels and early Acts, and will be preached again after the rapture of the church.

The second problem suggests that there are a predestined number of believers who must be saved before Christ returns for His church. That idea is false. The Lord is not waiting on His church to make it possible for Him to return. The gospel of grace, which we preach, has already gone to every country on earth. However, the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven must be preached to every creature.

Matthew is not about the church of this dispensation. And chapter 24 clearly describes events surrounding the return of Christ at the Second Advent. Verse 14b says, “and then shall the end come.” The “end” is not the end of the world, but rather, the end of this present age. There are five ages, and we are in the third one. An age is not a dispensation. The age spoken of here reaches from Noah’s flood to the end of Armageddon. The gospel of the Kingdom will be preached to “every creature” before it ends, even if God must uses an angel to preach it. (Rev. 14:6)

LET’S STUDY REVELATION # 29

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Revelation

The Vision is on Earth.

It Consists of the Six Trumpets.

The trumpet sounds to announce war on the kingdom of the beast in response to the prayers of the suffering saints.  Zeph. 1:14-16 says, “The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.”

As we have stated, the sixth seal covers events right up to the Second Advent of Christ. Whereas, the seventh seal loops back to the mid-way point and gives another account of the judgments which are detailed by the seven trumpets and the seven vials. The remainder of Revelation is contained in this seventh seal. An overview of the wrath to follow was given in 6:12-17; now God gives the details of those judgments.

“The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;  And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.  And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;  And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.”  (Revelation 8:7-11).

When the “…first angel sounded… there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up” (v.7). Some writers believe these judgments are localized in and around Israel, and include the empire of the ten kings which will be taken over by the Beast. If this is so, this judgment is on the vegetation within the boundaries of his kingdom.

Most likely, the events from the second seal through the seven trumpets and the seven vials are all in the last three and one-half years of the Tribulation. It is impossible to pinpoint the exact day or month each begins. However, they do escalate from the mid-point of the Tribulation until the kingdom of the beast is destroyed, and he is assigned to the bottomless pit.

In verse 8 the second angel sounds, and John sees something he describes, “as it were a great mountain,” cast into the sea. This will result in a third part of the sea becoming blood. What this fiery mass is, we are not told. Perhaps it will be a giant meteor entering the atmosphere and breaking up over the Sea of Galilee, the Mediterranean, or both. It could be a satellite armed with nuclear or germ warfare falling from space. Whatever it is, it brings death and devastation to one third of the sea.

The effects will be the death of one third of the sea life in that region. Water was literally turned to blood in Egypt, and God can easily do it again, or it could be a figure of speech that all who drink it will die. The vessels of the sea are most likely like those used by the disciples. Luke 5:2 says, “And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.” This is a judgment of the marine life and sea vessels of that area.

Easton’s Bible Dictionary says of “wormwood” (v.11): “…It is a type of bitterness, affliction, remorse, punitive suffering. In Amos 6:12, this Hebrew word is rendered, “hemlock” (R.V., “wormwood”). In the symbolical language of the Apocalypse (Revelation 8:10, 11) a star is represented as falling on the waters of the earth, causing the third part of the water to turn into wormwood. The name by which the Greeks designated it…means ‘undrinkable…’”

This object that falls from heaven may also be a meteorite, a satellite, or a rocket carrying some deadly toxin. Whatever it is, one third of the water from the rivers and fountains are contaminated and unfit to drink. Those who drink of them will also die.

 “And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise. And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!”  (Revelation 8:12-13).

Verse 12 says, “…the fourth angel sounded,” This fourth trumpet sounds just prior to the Second Advent of Christ. That event is mentioned under the sixth seal in chapter 6:12. (See also Joel 2:10, 31; 3:15; Matthew 24:29; Mark 13:24; Luke 21:24; Acts 2:20.)  The question is, will this darkness be worldwide or just over the kingdom of the Beast? Darkness covered Egypt while the land of Goshen had light.

The darkness could be localized as it was in Egypt, “And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt” (Exodus 10:21).  Revelation 16:10 says, “And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain…” The darkness will, no doubt, be confined to that region over which the beast reigns.

Verse 13 says, “…I …heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying …Woe, woe, woe…” The seven trumpets are interrupted between the fourth and the fifth by an angel flying through the air. The remaining three trumpets are called, “woes” because of their great intensity.