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ARE YOU TOO FREE TO BE MARRIED?

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MARRIED TO CHRIST

MARRIED

By Ken Blue

“Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.” Romans 7:4.

Death certainly absolves one of all responsibility. No more bills to pay, no more pain or sickness to contend with, and no one to offend. Death brings complete liberty. Oh, the sweet liberty of death! “Free from the law, O happy condition, Jesus hath bled, and there is remission; Cursed by the Law, and bruised by the fall, Grace hath redeemed us once for all.” Enough could never be said about God’s wonderful grace!

BUT, I fear many professing Christians are either confused about grace, or they haven’t really experienced it in their life. Anyone who ignores the second half of the verse has a serious spiritual problem. If a person remained in a state of death, there would be little concern, but that is not so with one who is saved. His resurrection in Christ is just as real as his death. One is dead, only in relation to the Law.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]If you are saved, you are now raised with Christ, and married to Him![/perfectpullquote]

If you are saved, you are now raised with Christ, and married to Him! Just as in your old life under the Law brought forth sin through the members of your body, now you are to bring forth fruit acceptable unto God. That fruit will be demonstrated through the members of your body. This does not mean that you will never sin or be tempted. But, it is clear that you are NOW married to Christ, and your life should glorify Him. “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Romans 6:15-16.

When a man or woman is freed from prison, they are not freed to go back to the old life of crime. They are freed to live right. When a spouse dies, the one is free from responsibility to the other, and they may marry another. But, they are not free to live a life of immorality.

Yes, we are free from the old master, or previous marriage, but we are not freed to live a life in sin. We are now married to Christ and are to glorify Him with our bodies. “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” Romans 6:13.

SYMPTOMS OF A LOST GENERATION

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lost generation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Ken Blue

“There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.” Proverbs 30:12.

It is easy to see why some people don’t like to look in the mirror. If they look beyond the external, and see within their soul, they see nothing but filth and dirt. The following four point from Scripture point out the problem.

1. Those who do not honor parents. These have no respect for their father or mother, and very little for themselves. “There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.” Proverbs 30:11. Everything they do dishonors the name of their parents. This is a generational problem.  They would as soon curse their mother and father, as they would a dog. Beauty may be on the outside, but the inside is ugly, filth, and immorality.

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2. Those who are self-righteous. “There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.” Proverbs 30:12. This generation has no concept of true righteousness. They think because they are polite and considerate at times, they are good. But underneath the facade, lies a ravenous beast. The only pureness seen, is in their own eyes. They are filthy, unwashed, and blind to it all.

 

3. Those who are full of vanity, pride and insolence. “There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.” Proverbs 30:13. This crowd has no shame. They are unable to blush, so they purchase it at the cosmetic counter. Pride stands out in every pore of their skin. It is seen in their walk, their talk, their music, and their impertinence. They pride themselves on the fact that “their head is bloody, but unbowed.” They have eyes, but they cannot see. They have ears, but they cannot hear, they have mouths, but they don’t know how to talk.

 

4. Those who are cruel, greedy, and oppressive to the poor. “There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.” Proverbs 30:14.  This generation in a class of thieves. They would steal the shoes and coat from the beggar. Their eyes are constantly looking for things to steal. They are like a beast that leaves no meat on the bones.  It may be their need for crack, weed, and speed that fuels their greed. If it isn’t under lock and key, they will steal it. Their conscience is dead concerning this matter, unless someone steal from them.

 

You would like to rebuke the above crowd, but they will not take rebuke. You would like to shame them, but they have no shame. The only hope for these, is the death of a friend, or a near death experience themselves.  It might wake them up, but I doubt it.

 

MISS INTERPRETATION AND MISS APPLICATION OF SCRIPTURE

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kingdom of heaven

Recognizing the Kingdom of Heaven

By Ken Blue

“I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” John 17:4.

This may be one of the greatest chapters in the Bible. It certainly is the greatest of all prayer. It is truly “the Lord’s prayer.” Any pastor looking for a text that affords a great series of sermons, will find a gold mine in John 17.

However, as many attempt to establish a doctrinal point, it is not uncommon for men to go to any passage anywhere in the Bible to search for such a verse. That was vividly demonstrated in a book recently given to me by a fellow pastor. The entire purpose of the book was to establish the perpetuity of the Baptist church. After several chapters, the author used the above verse as proof that Jesus had finished the work His Father gave Him to do. That is, the establishment of the Baptist Church.

Now, you have to be desperate to conclude that this chapter is about the establishing of today’s church. This is a prayer to the Father, stating how the Son had glorified Him by doing His work and will. The work was not “finished,” but the prayer anticipates His work on Calvary.

The Achilles heel of many believers is the belief that Jesus came to Israel to start, and establish the church, which is His body. It is evident from the four gospels, and early Acts period that was not the case. The purpose and ministry of Jesus Christ was not to establish the local church. His purpose was to set up an earthly Kingdom of Heaven, with Jerusalem as its capital.

The church, down through history, has taken the writings of Paul, and read them back into the Kingdom of Heaven ministry. Many of the early church fathers went even further, and have the present church in the Old Testament.  This may be one of the greatest errors of the church. Many, wrongly assume that when the Lord said in Matthew 16:18-19, “18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:18-19, that He was speaking of the present church. They fail to see that Jesus was speaking of the Kingdom of Heaven, and that Peter and the eleven would preside over it. “And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Matthew 19:28. This will be the restored church that was in the wilderness. “This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:” Acts 7:38.

The book of HEBREWS speaks to this church. “For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12  Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. 13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.” Hebrews 2:11-13. The quote is from Psalms 22, and Isaiah 8:18. Look at the context, and you will see that the “church” is the congregation of Jews who will rule, and rejoice in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Yes, the work the Father gave Jesus at His First Advent was finished. However, there is still work to be done, and it will be done at the Second Advent, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it!

LET’S STUDY REVELATION # 42

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REVELON BOOK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A continuation of chapter 11:19

John sees the temple in heaven (v. 19), with the Ark of the testament inside. The purpose of this vision is to reassure the remnant of God’s faithfulness. They will be able to connect God’s mighty working with the Ark. There are five names given to the ark in the Old Testament.

1.   The Ark of the Covenant. It contained the tables of

the law.

2.   The ark of Testimony. It testified to God’s presence

and holiness.

3.   The ark of God. It was a visible reminder of His

presence.

4.   The ark of God’s Strength. Many mighty works are

connected to it.

5.   The Holy Ark. It was where the mercy seat was located, and their God met in holiness with Israel.

The Ark was a box measuring 5 ft. 2 ½ in. long x 37 ½ in. wide x 37 ½ in. high. (See Exodus 25:10.) It was made of acacia wood and overlaid within and without with gold. Inside the box were three items of memorial. The two tables of stone containing the Ten Commandments constituted the “testimony” or evidence of God’s covenant with Israel.  The other items were manna, the bread from heaven, and Aaron’s almond-rod that budded.

Some writers erroneously believe that the Old Testament Ark of the Covenant was taken up to heaven by visiting cherubim.  Ezekiel 11:23 is cited as a departure of the Ark to heaven. Someone has watched Indiana Jones one time too many times.

The teaching that this ark in heaven is the Ark of the Old Testament is pure conjecture. There is not one verse of Scripture that remotely suggests such an idea. In fact, it would be contrary to Scripture. The ark was made of perishable materials, wood and gold. All items in the earthly tabernacle were only copies. This Ark in heaven, seen by John, existed long before Moses ever gave the blueprints to Bezaleel.  Shall we assume that the Candlestick and the rod of Moses are in heaven also?

John has already mentioned the throne, the sea of glass, the altar of incense; and now he sees the ark. All these, and much more, are in heaven and are called “the true.” None were taken to heaven by UFO’s or aliens. Hebrews 9:23-24 says, “It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.  For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.”

Verse 19 takes in chapter 16:1 through 18:24. Chapter 12, 13, and 14 are parenthetical and are necessary to the understanding of the vials.

The voices, the thundering, the lightning, and the earthquake are all mentioned to describe the awful intensity of the seven vials quickly to follow.

 

 A Parenthetical Section

 The Fourth Vision

 This is the fourth vision in heaven and deals with the age-old conflict between the Dragon and the Woman.

 “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.”  (Revelation 12:1-2).

T

his passage is a quick glance back to the beginning of the satanic plan against Israel and her Seed. (See Genesis 3:15.) After a quick overview the writer brings you back to the mid-point of the Tribulation and takes you through the Great Tribulation one more time, with the satanic plan in view. This vision is the Scope of the satanic plan.

The “woman” of this chapter is none other than the nation of Israel and her remnant. Not by any stretch of the imagination is she Mary, the Roman Catholic Church, the protestant church, or Mary Baker Eddy!

She is a “sign” which depicts Israel and her conflict with Satan. The “sign” is clear. (See Genesis 37:9-10.) Joseph had two dreams, which were a prophecy of Christ who was rejected by His brethren, sentenced to death, raised to life, and will be recognized by Israel and reign over them at His Second Advent.

GRAFTED INTO WHAT?

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grafting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Ken Blue

“Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:” 1 Corinthians 10:32.

When it comes to right divisions, the reader should notice that God classifies three distinct groups in Scripture. They are Jews, Gentiles, and the Church of God. Although a Jew and a Gentile may be in the Church of God, the context of Romans 8-11 shows that God is speaking about them as three distinct groups, and not as individuals.

Failure to rightly divide these three has caused many in the Church of God to fear being “cut off,” and “cast aside.” All manner of mischief can develop when we ignore the context. The believer in Christ discovers in chapter 8 that nothing can separate him from God’s love. Then, he turns the page, and reads that he must fear lest he be “cut off.”

The key is to follow the context, and see that all three groups are dealt with in these chapters. For instance, in Romans 8 we read, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:31-39. It is clear that chapter 8 is speaking of all believers within the Church of God.

When we come to chapter 9 and 10, we see that the Jew is the subject. There, Paul explains why the Jews have been temporally “cut off,” and that God would save Gentiles without Israel’s conversion. It is important to see that prior to Israel being “cut off,” and their “fall,” they held the favored place in the plan of God as a nation. Paul says, “Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.” Romans 9:4-5.

However, as a result of Israel’s rejection of their King and the kingdom, they have been temporally “cut off,” and have “fallen” from having the favored status among the nations. “Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness?” Romans 11:12. Notice that the fall of Israel, resulted in them being scattered among the Gentile nations, and Paul was also sent to the Gentiles with the gospel of free grace. The result of their fall resulted in the riches available to the Gentiles. The wisdom, financial ingenuity, and understanding of science has benefited every nation wherever they have gone.  

Today, Israel is like all other nations, and each Jew must come to Christ just like the Gentile. Gentiles, have the same standing, and privileges as the Jew. The Gentiles have been placed, or “grafted,” into a new place of privilege, and opportunity, without the conversion of Israel, which they did not have before. Chapter 11 is not talking about, individual believer in Christ, but rather Gentile nations as a whole.

No one is grafted into Israel, nor does the Gentile or the Church take the Jew’s place or promises. The text is clear; Gentile nations now have the same privileges, and standing as the Jews. All are sinners and must come to Christ the same way. The time will come when the Gentile nations will be removed from this status, and the Jews will be “grafted” once again into the favored position with God. They will become the head of the nations.

When God begins to “graft” Israel back, the following will be true for them. “1 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. 2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. 4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it. 5 For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.6 In that day, saith the LORD, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted; 7 And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.” Micah 4:1-7.

Many Christians erroneously think that Israel has been removed from her covenants and promises, and that the church of God has replaced them. Nothing could be further from the truth. The illustration of “grafting” simply shows that the Gentile nations must not be high-minded against the nation of Israel, and many have. The warning is against Gentile nations, not individual believers.  All are on equal ground. This is the new privilege for the Gentile nations at this time.