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IS THIS A CONTRADICTION

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By Ken Blue

Pr 26:4  “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.”

Pr 26:5  “Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.”

Most believers have been assailed by the fool who thinks his questions have you trapped. One such question used to “set you up” is, “Is anything too hard for God?” The novice is quick to answer that God can do anything, to which he will be challenged with the next question, “can He make a rock so big He can’t lift it?”

The correct answer to the first question would eliminate the second. The answer is, no, God can’t do everything. In fact, there are many things God cannot do. God can’t do anything contrary to His nature. Therefore, He cannot lie. To ask God to be contrary to His nature is like asking, how  the color yellow taste.

Verse 4 tells us to not answer the fool according to his foolishness, or you too will be foolish. Verse 5 instructs us to give a correct and wise answer to his folly, lest he thing himself to be wise. It will help if we give a few examples to illustrate the two verses, and show that there is no contradiction between the two.

A young man came to Charles Spurgeon and said, “God told me that I am supposed to preach in your church…” Had Spurgeon believed God had actually told the young man that, he would found himself at his mercy, and just as foolish. Therefore, Spurgeon did not answer him according to his folly. Instead, Spurgeon wisely responded, “When God tells me to let you, I will.” Thus Spurgeon answered him according his folly, and the young man was silenced.

Jesus was masterful at silencing His critics. The following verses show His application of Proverbs 26:4, 5. Note: Mark 12:15 “Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.” The intent of the Pharisees and the Herodians was to trap Jesus with His own words, no matter how He answered. If He said “yes” He would have taken Caesar’s side against the Jews. If He said, “no” they would have turned Him over to Caesar for rebellion against Rome. His answer silenced them, and showed their hypocrisy. Mark 12:17  “And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.”

Another example is seen concerning the Sabbath Day. Luke 6:7 “And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.” Rather than sinking to their level, He challenged them with things they themselves would do. In another text He asks if they would pull an animal out of a ditch on the Sabbath Day. The obvious answer was that they had, and would. His answer to them was, isn’t a man more valuable than an animal? He displayed at all times how the fool is to be answered.

LET’S STUDY REVELATION #24

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Revelation

 

“And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.”  (Revelation 6:7-8).

 

 

 

 

 

  Verse 8 makes it clear that these riders and horses are personifications. Each personifies events and conditions that will take place in the seven year period of the Tribulation. The white horse representation will take place during the first three and one-half years. The other three personifications transpire during the last three and one-half years of the Tribulation.

 In Matthew 24:7, Jesus says pestilences will be associated with the last three riders. Pestilences are described as a usually fatal, epidemic disease, especially bubonic plague. 

            As people are airlifted from one ravaged region of the earth to another, these plagues are only hours away from any nation. Disease and plagues have never been destroyed. AIDS is worldwide. Mad cow disease is taking its toll on the North American economy. The beasts of the earth are major carriers of plagues and disease. Fleas and mosquitoes are known carriers of many plagues. Rats are notorious for the diseases and the filth they carry. This may explain why the Philistines made images of mice as an offering for their trespass, which led to their plague. We are now hearing of the deadly Bird Flu epidemic, which may threaten the world. Each day’s news report informs us of a new and horrific disease.

            The fourth part of the earth is destroyed as this final rider comes through. If these plagues are worldwide, millions will die in every nation.

“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:  And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?  And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.”  (Revelation 6:9-11).

            The fifth seal is set apart from the others. In it, John is shown those who were martyred for their testimony and witness. This is in keeping with the order given by the Lord in Matthew 24:9, “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.”

            This prophecy has nothing to do with the church of this dispensation. These that are martyred are Jews who will be killed because of their faith and hope. They will be martyred in that period which takes place under the seals.

            The prayer for judgment on one’s enemies is not appropriate in this dispensation. “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” (Romans 12:19).

            However, under the Law and in that which is to follow, calls for judgment on Israel’s enemies are right and acceptable. (See Psalms 74:9-10; 79:5-6; 89:46; 94:3-4.) “O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention” (Habakkuk 1:2-3).

            These events will transpire following the Rapture of the church. Many Jews will repent and accept Jesus as their resurrected Messiah. There will be a reorientation to the truth and they will realize that Jesus was their Messiah.  Isaiah 53 will become a reality to the remnant.

            They will realize their own blindness and rejection of Christ at His first advent. “…we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised… we esteemed him not…he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows… he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him… the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. …for the transgression of my people was he stricken” (Isaiah 53:3-8).

            Isaiah wrote this prophecy some seven hundred years before Christ was ever born. It speaks of Israel’s rejection of their Messiah at His first coming and their realization and repentance. “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.” (Zechariah 12:10).  It is not speaking of individual Jews who are saved during this church dispensation. 

            The martyred are seen in the imagery of being under the altar. They have given themselves a living sacrifice for the Lord Jesus Christ. These are given white robes and told to wait a while longer until others give their lives as they have. The purpose of this vision was not for the dead, but for the living. This is a promise of their resurrection.

            This view of the altar, with souls under it, should not be taken literally. We need not think of beheaded souls piling up under an altar in heaven or on earth. Souls are not beheaded. “Souls” are used for “bodies” here. It is bodies that will be martyred for Christ. Thus “bodies” are used for “souls.” The altar typifies the sacrifice which these made. 

            This imagery is called a metonymy and is a figure of speech consisting of the use of the name of one thing for that of another, of which it is an attribute or with which it is associated. Hebrews 13:10 is one example of this, “We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.”

            The altar of which these believers were privileged to eat was not the literal altar, but was the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. The altar is used for the sacrifice. Likewise, in Revelation 6:9, the sacrifice of the martyrs is used for the altar. The vision was not for the sake of the dead, but to comfort the living. The imagery is clear. The resurrection of all the Tribulation martyrs will transpire at the same time.

            The parable in Luke 18:1-8 should be read in connection with this seal. “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:  And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.  And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.  And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:1-8). Israel is the widow, and the adversary is the Antichrist who persecutes the (woman) remnant. God is about to avenge her of her adversary.

            Psalms 79:1-5 fits the scene on earth during the days of these martyrs, “O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.  The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.  Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them. We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us. How long, Lord? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?”

 “And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.  And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.  And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;  And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:  For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”  (Revelation 6:12-17).

            This sixth seal takes us to the end of the Tribulation and the events which accompany the Second Advent of Christ. Therefore, in these six seals you have been given a general overview of the entire seven years. The description of the actual details of the return of Christ is reserved until chapter 19.

“ANGELS OF LIGHT”

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By Ken Blue

2 Corinthians 11:13-15. “ For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

Dr. Paul Vanaman was one of my favorite professors at college; he was also my dear friend. I remember him telling the preacher boys, “You had better be a devil smeller, and mark them that cause division.” It will not be long before your church is visited by these “angels of light,” and the more discernment you have, the easier it will be for you to “smell” them.

Following are some of the characteristics of these “angels of light”.

The end game of these ambassadors of Satan is division. Very little damage can be done in a home or church, where unity abounds. Thus, Satan is the master of division. Jesus said that a house divided cannot stand. Therefore, the pastor should preach sermons that will fortify and unify the body of Christ.

These “angels of light” love to argue over words and doctrines, that not even God knows about. The more novel, the more energized they become. The best thing to do is avoid these people if possible. If you can’t silence them, then send them down the road and let them start their own church.

Another area of contention will be over the policies and finances. Like Judas, they are confident that your priorities are a waste. They would love to appoint a finance committee, and become the leader of it. You should remember this point; he who makes the policies, and controls the finances runs the church. The ambition of the “angles of light” is to take this power from the pastors unto themselves.

“Angels of light” love to point out your unscriptural, or anti-scriptural practices, of course, these will be anything they disagree with. It will be over the music, musical instruments, power point, prerecorded music, guest speakers, etc. There is no end to these sowers of discord.

The pastor and his family will discover before long that someone will start gossiping, and slander them. The slander will be about the children, the wife’s attire, the house, the car, and the clothes he wares. This gossip springs from envy and an evil heart. There is little you can do other than ignore it. If it becomes a problem that cannot be ignored, go to the person causing the trouble and ask them to leave. Be sure and take someone well respected with you.

It is sad, but true, that there will be those in the church whose agenda will be different from that of the pastor. This may involve new construction, or a remodeling project. They feel they are more qualified on what should be done. These “angels of light” can’t wait to share their wisdom with others.

You will find that you cannot pastor these “angels of light”. His or her pastor is someone else who is somewhere else. Many times it will be a teacher at a Bible College. Or, it may be their former pastor. Regardless, you will never be their pastor. They want the books and tapes of their favorite teacher in the bookstore. Everything you say will be critiqued by their groupies.

These “angels of light” may pressure you to bring in their favorite speaker, or support their missionary. They then glory in his flesh.

Finally, and perhaps most subtle, is the desire of these “angels of light” to start their own ministry by soliciting your church members. It won’t be long until they go behind your back to seek financial support from individual members, and also pull them out of their ministries to be part of their own. When you see this coming, you must pray for wisdom, and then go to them and put a stop to it. Remember, these “angels of light” have had thousands of years of experience. They love to create a situation where you will be blamed, regardless of what you do. In spite of this, you must do the wise thing, and pray that other members will not be destroyed in the process.

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

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By Ken Blue

Proverbs 17:24. “Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.”

Two worlds are portrayed in this verse. One is occupied by those determined to seek true wisdom and understanding; the other, by the fools who’s eyes and heart are never fixed on anything substantial. Like Noah’s raven, they can never find a place of purpose or rest. That which is within their reach, they ignore, and that which they will never have, they pretend to value. 

 A man of understanding has his gaze guided by the wisdom he has received from God and His Word. Wisdom is ever before him in all his desires and choices. He has learned that if he commits himself to the will of the Lord, his path will be established. He is the man with the single eye our Lord speaks of in the parable. Thus his body is full of light.

 The fool, on the other hand, has no interest is spiritual wisdom or understanding. These hinder him, as he pursues the wind. The sad state of the fool is that he is looking at everything, and seeing nothing. Everything to him is just beyond the horizon. He even fancies himself to be wise, but it is the wisdom of the world and is an allusion.

 I’ve seen many like this. They are going to serve God, if He ever opens the door for them. While looking at the ends of the earth, they fail to see that which is right before them. These little children are in men’s bodies. They are fifty years old and still playing Nintendo games while the grass grows. They live is a world of make-believe, and they are the owners of it. They are as unstable as water.

 Jesus Christ is the believers Wisdom and Understanding. He was in the world, and the world knew Him not. His generation was looking for something they could never have because they rejected that which was right before them. He came; they killed Him, and they never knew what they did. The fool, in our text will live and die, and never see that which he could have. He is too obsessed with that world he will never attain.

LEADERS ARE DECISION MAKERS

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Leaders
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By Ken Blue

Leaders of  great organizations were ask, “how did you become a great leader?’ They responded, “By making right decisions.” To which the novice responded, “How did you learn to make right decisions?” “By making wrong ones;” they all agreed.

Leadership is all about making decisions, and if you are to last in that position, you had better learn to make the right ones. People will not respect or follower a leader for long that cannot make right decisions.

Right decisions require, first of all, some skull work. You must think it through before you put your mouth in gear. A major problem of the amateur leader is that he speaks before he thinks. This character flaw must be corrected. You cannot make comments, and then tell people they did not understand you. You are blaming them for your double-mindedness. Think it through first.

One of the best examples of leadership is seen in the book of Nehemiah. He knew the problem, and the need. Necessity is the mother of invention. He prayed, and was ready if called upon. He surveyed the situation, but told no one what God had put in his heart until he had all the facts. Read his strategy, and learn from him.

Remember, you are not a leader because you make decision. You become a better leader because you make right decisions, and have followers. If you have the aptitude, you can learn to become a better leader. There’s many helps available; take advantage of them.