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SIGNS WITHOUT MEANING

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Ken Blue

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Recently I saw a sign in a church, and I ask a lady what I meant. She paused for some time, and then said, “I don’t have a clue.” I find this to be the norm in most churches.

When I was sent to Virginia Mason Hospital to determine my disease, I saw once again that the world has more wisdom than the church in many of its decisions and actions. I was directed down the hall to a room that had a sign over the door; Blood Lab. I went in and they drew several vials of blood.

After that I was sent to another building for an MRI. The room was marked X-ray and MRI. There, I had an MRI. On another occasion I was sent to the Physical Therapy room. The equipment and treatment matched the sign.

But, what about churches, do their signs have any relevance to what goes on in the room, or has someone simply pulled a name out of a hat? For instance, a sign in the parking lot pointed toward a two story building which read Education Building. Since I wanted to be educated in God’s Word, I concluded that was the way to go. The sign said so.

But when I was inside, the confusion became evident. The first door had a sign which read, Gideon Class. Since I knew nothing about Gideon, I figured I would search further down the hallway. The next door said Berea Class. This was a foreign language to me, so I moved on. Finally, a gentleman in the hall saw that I was lost, and ask if he could help.

I told him that I was a new believer and would like a class that taught New Testament and Old Testament survey or a class on how to rightly divide the Bible. He said, “We don’t have any classes that teach those subjects.” Then I ask him if I would learn about Gideon if I attended that class. He blushed, and said “no, that is just a name of the room. The signs do not indicate what they are teaching.” I ask, “What are they teaching?” He told me he did not have a clue.

And so it is with church signs, purpose statements, yearly themes, and sermon titles. It is evident that very little thought has gone into them. About the only thing that matters is, does it look and sound good? What they say has no bearing or impact on what goes on inside.

Pastor, take a long look at the signs in and outside your church and ask yourself, what do they really mean? In reality, do the signs reflect the action going on in the room or in the church?

SHAME, SHAME

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By Ken Blue

“Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:38.

The above verse should be read in its entire context to get the correct interpretation. Many pastors, in their zeal and effort to get sinners “down the aisle,” have quoted it, suggesting that failure to publicly come to the “altar” proves one is ashamed and that he is not saved.

This is a travesty, and it is the pastor who should be ashamed. Why not go all the way and tell the sinner if he is ashamed to get baptized, join the church, start tithing, go soul-winning, and stop smoking, the Lord will be ashamed of him and deny him heaven?

The context is not talking about heaven, the church, or the rapture. Nor does it have anything to do with a particular public profession of salvation. The entire text has to do with Jews acknowledging that Jesus is the Christ and demonstrating it, even unto death. Also, the text calls Jesus “the Son of man.” This is a title concerning His reign on earth as Israel’s Messiah. He is never called Son of man in any of the church epistles.

Notice also, it is not the rapture of the church mentioned here, but the Second Advent, following the Tribulation. Most of the Jews, who acknowledge Jesus as their Messiah, will be required to physically lay down their life in the coming Tribulation, if they hope to be resurrected and enter the Kingdom.

There is nothing the sinner must do or can do today to be saved. It has all been done for him! By faith in the finished work of Christ, he is made acceptable in the Beloved. It is not predicated on whether he is ashamed or not. There is no aisle one must walk, no profession one must make, and no church one must join, nor is there a set time one must make a public profession.

Finally, let me ask you, have you ever been ashamed to speak up for Jesus? Aren’t there situations right now, where you are ashamed to speak for Him? Do you think He is going be ashamed of you at His coming? Peter denied the Lord three times! Do you think Jesus will be ashamed of him? If we can’t understand the verse in its context, it is best we leave it alone. Why abuse a verse which was never intended to feed our ego? It is the pastor who uses it to goad people who ought to be ashamed.

ARE THERE PROMISES IN THE JEWISH SCRIPTURES FOR YOU?

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By Ken Blue

Much of the objection to dispensationalism and right division comes from a wrong assumption that there are no promises or blessings in other dispensations for believers in this dispensation of grace. Nothing could be further from the truth. The important issue is that we are able to identify those promises and discern if there is an application for us. In this article, I will point out just a few of the many promises found in other dispensations.

1. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26:3. The context shows that Israel is the subject. But, the promise applies to all people in all times.

2. “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” Genesis 12:3. This promise is to all nations and individuals who love and help Israel. We are blessed by having the Scriptures and the savior who came through Abraham. The final payoff may be after the resurrection, but the promise is yours.

3. “1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” Psalms 1:1-3. This wonderful promise is for every believer who will take heed and obey it.

4. “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” Psalms 27:14. What can we say about this wonderful promise? It is for all who will wait in prayer and faith.

5. “3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. 4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. 5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: 6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.” Psalms 63:3-6. AMEN!

6. “3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:3-5. God is the give of wisdom. The promise is to all show seek Him.

7. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:7. God’s mercy is not limited. This promise is for all.

8. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10. This promise is to all people everywhere.

9. “He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.” Proverbs 22:9. God promises to bless the compassionate person.

10. “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” Proverbs 15:1. Here is a promise that applies to all people of all dispensations. Try it, you’ll see that it works.

Never fear losing promises or blessings by rightly dividing the Word of God. In fact, that is the only way to be safe and honest. Don’t steal that which belongs to another. You don’t need to, there is plenty for you.

HANDLING THE BIBLE DECEITFULLY #3

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When “all” and “every” doesn’t mean “all” and “every.”

By Ken Blue

The American Heritage Dictionary says a hyperbole is, “A figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect, as in I could sleep for a year or This book weighs a ton.” All languages use the hyperbole, and the Bible is no exception to its use. It will save the believer from error if he will consider this truth when reading the Word. In most cases, the context will reveal its use.

1. “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” Matthew 10:22. It is evident that the disciples were not hated by every man nor will every person hate the Jew in the Tribulation. “All” is used to amplify the extent of the haltered they must expect.

2. “But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.” Matthew 21:26. Obviously, not all the people believed John, or the nation would have repented. However, the number was so great that the priest and elders feared to give a correct answer.

3 “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.” Luke 2:1. The world here was the Roman Empire.

4. “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” John 12:32. This is all me without distinction, not all men without exception.

5. “For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.” Mark 9:49. The context shows that this is speaking of the lost and that it is a figure of speech to illustrate the seriousness of eternal judgment on the unsaved.

6. “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” Acts 5:42. We need not assume that every house in Jerusalem was open to them. The idea is that many homes were open, and in them they continued to preach and teach.

7. “As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.” Acts 8:3. The purpose of the writer was to show how extensive the persecution of Saul was. Had he entered into every house, every believer would have been imprisoned or killed.

8. “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” Acts 8:4. This is not teaching that they went every where in the whole world, but every where they went, they preached the gospel.

9. “And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.” Mark 1:37. Here is another example of the hyperbole to show the popularity of Jesus at that time and place.

10. “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.” Revelation 1:7. Not every eye on the planet will see Jesus at the Second Advent. Again, this is to emphasize his coming to Israel. “All eyes in the immediate vicinity of Jerusalem where He lands (Zech. 14:1-5). People in distant parts of the earth will not see Him until later (Isa. 2:2-4; 66:19-21; Zech. 8:23).” —Dake’s Study Notes.

ISRAEL’S BENEDICTION

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By Ken Blue

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying… ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, 24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: 25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. 27 And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.” Numbers 6:22-27.

As Sovereign; He is their Blesser.
As Preserver; He is their Possessor.
As Bountiful; He is their Provider.
As Lover; He is their Creator.
As Illuminator; He is their Caretaker.
As present; He is their Peace Giver.
What a wonderful God is our God! All blessings flow from Him, and He wants you to know Him and to love Him.