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TWO STICKS THAT BECOME ONE

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ONE ISRAEL

By Ken Blue

“And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.” Ezekiel 37:17.

In 945 B. C. the nation of Israel was divided into two nations with ten tribes in the North, called Israel, and two tribes in the South, called Judah. Jerusalem was the capital of Judah, and Samaria became the capital of Israel. They were divided in the days of Rehoboam and Jeroboam. (See 1 Kings 12).

The symbolism is clear from Scripture. The time is coming soon when all Israel will be reunited as one nation, in their land, under one King; the Lord Jesus Christ. Isaiah 11:10-16, is just one of the many prophecies of Israel’s return and reuniting as one nation, “And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. 11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. 12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. 13 The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim. 14 But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them. 15 And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod. 16 And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.” Isaiah 11:10-16

This is the intended message by the prophet when he took the two sticks and held them together. Its intent is to encourage the nation to not abandon their God or Scriptures. Both are true and faithful; and this symbol will become a reality. Thank God for our infallible Bible!

MARTHA, SIT DOWN

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By Ken Blue

“But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.” Luke 10:40.

I’ve seen hundreds of Marthas during my ministry. We quietly thank God for them; but they do make us feel somewhat uneasy. Maybe the word “guilty” would better describe our feelings. Whatever it is about the Marthas, they appear to be driven by some unseen force to constantly stay busy.

Jesus loved to visit in the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. They loved Him and He loved them. But, whenever Martha heard that He was coming, she worked herself into a state of exhaustion, preparing for His visits. Once He arrived, she could not sit down or relax; she always saw some article out of place or the need to pour another cup of tea. Marthas are anxious about every detail, and can’t understand how others can refuse to help in the work. Perhaps others have discovered that whatever they do, it isn’t quite good enough for the Marthas.

You can always spot the Marthas. They serve in the cleanup ministries around the church. Whatever the task, you can count on them. Watch them at church dinners and picnics. Usually they wear an apron and carry a cleaning cloth while others visit and fellowship. Marthas are the worker bees of the hive.

The Lord is not rebuking Martha for her attention to detail or her desire to serve. The issue in this situation was one of priority. Jesus was teaching things she needed to hear, and He would also be returning to heaven shortly. While Martha sits in church, she has a difficult time keeping her mind on the sermon. She is thinking about what she must do after church or worrying about what she many have forgotten and left undone at home. This was the time for Martha to sit down and listen.

There are times when we should get up and help the Marthas, and there are times when the Marthas should lay aside the cleaning cloth and sit down. The key for all of us is to know the priorities of the day.

IF YOU CAN’T SEE IT, YOU CAN’T FIX IT

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THE NEED FOR FEEDBACK

FEEDBACK
Card from Al Hughes’ church in Port Orchard, WA.

By Ken Blue

It is obvious that each person has, what is called “a blind spot.” That is an area where we cannot see. Not only is this factual relating to our vision, it is also true in all other areas of life. Others see what we are blind to. We need their help in pointing these areas out, if we are truly interested in improving our ministry and personal lives.

Recently, I was having lunch with a fellow pastor in Vancouver, Washington, and we were discussing this very matter. He reached to the center piece on the table and pulled out a card which asks for our evaluation of the restaurant. The questions ranged from the quality of the food to the cleanliness of the establishment. There was no place for your name. You were simply instructed to leave it for your server.

Pastor Al Hughes, along with a few other wise pastors, have seen the need and value of having as many eyes as possible surveying their church and noting the impression the church makes on them. Brother Hughes has allowed me to post the card and message they are implementing FEEDBACK

Ken Blanchard, the co-author of “The One Minute Manager,” said, “Feedback is the breakfast of champions.” “Feedback” is information about reactions to a product, service, or a person’s performance of a task, used as a basis for improvement. Organizations need feedback from their clientele and constituents to improve how they serve and relate to them.

A local church is no different. People need to communicate feedback to the church leadership so they can evaluate how to better meet the needs of the congregation. Sometimes people leave a church without ever giving a solid reason why. When asked why they are leaving they are very evasive. Consequently, the church can never correct the problem.

Therefore, I am asking you to take a few minutes to complete the “Help Us, Help YOU” feedback card enclosed in this bulletin (more cards are available on the information table in the foyer). You will notice, there is no place to put your name, therefore your feedback will be anonymous. After completing the card please put it in the offering plate or you may mail it to the church. In the future, one of these feedback cards will be included with every welcome letter we mail to first time attenders at BBC.

Hopefully, the information on these cards will help us to help you have a more meaningful worship experience and walk with the Lord at BBC. Thank you in advance for your feedback! God bless you.

FROM THE OBVIOUS TO THE BIZARRE

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By Ken Blue

“Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.” Proverbs 1:17. “And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.” Numbers 22:12 .

Not all of God’s warnings are written in Scripture. Many are made evident in the natural events of everyday life; sometimes He uses the bizarre.

The story concerning Balaam illustrates this principle clearly. Balaam was requested by King Balak, to come and curse Israel. He was promises untold wealth if he would comply. He went to God for direction, and was told clearly not to go. But, Balaam was determined and sought for ways to comply without Gods approval.

While on his journey, an angel unseen by him, stood in the path and turned aside this beast of burden. “And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.” Numbers 22:23. As far as Balaam was concerned, the donkey was simply being stubborn and going his own way. That too was what Balaam was doing.

Again Balaam drives him own and the donkey crushes his foot against a wall in order to stop the madness. But Balaam is determined to go forward. “And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.” Numbers 22:25.

Still ignorant of the angel standing in his path to turn him back, Balaam beats the donkey all the more. Finally, the beast falls to the ground before the angel. Balaam is now so angry he would kill the donkey if he had his sword. Just then, God opens Balaam’s eyes and he sees the angel of the Lord.

God had used what appeared to Balaam as natural events to turn him back from his wicked mission. But, Balaam not only ignored the clear command of God, he ignored the three natural events intended to detour him. So, God resorted to the bizarre. God used the donkey to rebuke him! “But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.” 2 Peter 2:16.

Man is in a sorry state when God must use a brute beast to rebuke or correct him. We have an example of this before us, and as bazaar is it was, he still did not repent and retreat. Another example is that of Jonah. He was told to go to Nineveh, but he did everything possible to not go. God gave him three days in the belly of a whale to reconsider. He did and he reluctantly went. The final example is the crowing of a rooster in the early morning hours that broke Peter’s heart and brought him to repentance. “And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.” Matthew 26:75.

You and I have the Word of God, and we should be quick to obey. In addition, we have the events of everyday life to warn and instruct. Hopefully, none of us will be so dense and disobedient that God must resort to the bazaar to get our attention.

WHY CHRISTIANS DO NOT HAVE AUTHORITY TO HEAL

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To  Heal or not to heal

By Ken Blue

Perhaps nothing has discredited Christianity or deceived more Christians than the “gifts and healing ministry.” These naive and misguided souls believe that the Kingdom ministry, offered to Israel during the transition period, is intended for the church, the body of Christ today.

We live in the dispensation of free grace. The sign ministry was designed to convince unbelieving Israel that Jesus was their Old Testament Messiah. With Israel’s rejection, the signs have been temporally set aside. This is easy to prove from Scripture and experience. When the Lord came to earth, He came to establish His earthly kingdom with the nation of Israel. Signs and wonders were a part of that ministry. However, when it became evident in the Acts period that Israel would not repent, the healing ministry disappeared with them.

Those who believe the miracle sign ministry is still here must be willing to admit that things are as they were in the Gospels and the Acts period. To believe otherwise, would be dishonest and deceitful. We say with assurance and confidence, that no believer has the gifts of healing or any of the miraculous gifts today. If we really believe those gifts are for the church and continue today, it should be easy to prove. Remember, the purpose of signs was to convince the unbelieving Jews that their Messiah had arrived.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]…don’t fall for the healing hoax[/perfectpullquote]

Now let me ask you a few simple questions. If the signs are present today, wouldn’t they be an extension of those in the Gospels and Acts? Let’s see. Do you know any miracle worker who can turn water into wine? Do you know any who can feed thousands of people with a little bread and a few fish? Do you know anyone who was dead three days or more and called back to life by a faith healer? Do you know of one who was retarded and made whole in their mind through one with the gift of healing? Can you give us the name and address of any of the above, to whom we may write?

We hear a lot about those who claim to cast out devils and speak in tongues; but why stop there? Don’t you believe the rest of the verses? “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” Mark 16:17-18.

We don’t expect to receive any positive responses to the above. Why? Because no one possesses the miracle ministry gifts today. The above text and others like them were for a different time, people, and purpose. This is the dispensation of Grace, and God’s grace is sufficient for you in your infirmities. So don’t fall for the healing hoax. You don’t have healing authority nor does anyone else.