Ken Blue Ministries

 

 

 

 

 

By Ken Blue

 

“This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me: 14  There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: 15  Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. 16  Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. 17  The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. 18  Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.” Ecclesiastes 9:13-18.

 

This little story or parable illustrates the superiority of practical wisdom over physical strength. There is much in the story that is left untold. One is left to wonder why the great king came against the city, and what the poor wise man said or did to save it.

 

There was obviously something the king wanted, or he would not plan an attack against it. Also, there was something the wise man did or said that caused the king to change his mind. What this was, we are not told.

 

I am reminded of a story that deals with such wisdom, as told by the Lord Jesus. One line in it says, “Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.” Luke 14:32. I believe this wise man went out and reasoned with the king in such a way, the king changed his plans.

 

To me, one thing is certain, wisdom is better than war, and wisdom is usually demonstrated in quiet diplomacy. The wisdom in this story is an act of practical wisdom, which so many of us lack. There are pastors who think they are not severing God unless they have a war going on all the time. They stir it up, to win an argument, or appear as leaders. I am well aware that we are soldiers, and there is a time for war and a time for peace.  But let wisdom guide you in your choice.

 

My advice to pastors is to avoid every fight you possibly can. Stop purposefully being controversial. Solomon says, “: but one sinner destroyeth much good.” The sinner could be the pastor, and the sin could be the sin of ignorance. You don’t have to be remembered for your wisdom, but you do need wisdom to rescue your church from destruction.

 

 

 

 

 

By Ken Blue

 

A few years ago I was a preacher’s conference where we hoped to glean some new ideas on church growth. Sitting next to me was a young pastor. He confided in me that he was troubled and perplexed as why his church would not grow. I ask him, “What kind of sermons are you preaching?” He said to me, “I rip their face off!”

 

I believe it was Charles Spurgeon who said, “Pulpits are coward’s castles.” Weak men see the pulpit as a place of power, prestige, and pageantry. They love the position more than the person, and the telling of the thing, more than the thing they tell. They learned somewhere that guilt is the key to motivating people. They also learn, in time, that it will backfire on them.

 

Here are some tips on how to destroy or empty your church.

 

• Flog your own sins as though they were the sins of your people.

 

• Make people feel they are not right with God, unless they do what you want.

 

• Start a ministry, and then scold people for not participating.

 

• Attack other religions.

 

• Attack other Bibles.

 

• Attack personalities.

 

• Preach that every person must go on scheduled church visitation before they can serve.

 

• Preach that every person must tithe before they can serve.

 

• Tell them that if they loved Jesus, they would attend every service.

 

• Tell women if they wear pants, they are “hussies.”

 

• Preach against men with facial hair.

 

• Tell people if they mean business, they will come to the “altar.”

 

• When you preach, ride a “Hobby horse.”

 

• Tell yourself, because you have an infallible Bible, therefore, you are infallible.

 

• Preach to make people feel guilt, guilt, guilt, guilt, guilt, and watch your church grow!

 

I know if some observed the above, they won’t have anything to preach. Can you feel the guilt yet?

 

 

 

 

 

By Ken Blue

“Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17  And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:16-20.

I find it interesting that the brethren see the above as a “Great Commission,” and ignore those in Mark 16:15-12; Luke 24:47-49; John 20:21-23; Acts 1:8. Perhaps they see a clue to their doctrinal persuasion in it. Granted, it is a great mission and soul winning passage. And all are justified to uses it as a practical motivation to world missions.

However, when it comes to the doctrinal, historical, and dispensational interpretation of the text, no one does, nor can obey it today. I am aware of the juggling act performed by the brethren in an attempt to make it fit. But I have been to the circus before, and have seen the clowns at work. I will prove beyond any doubt, to the sane, that the commission cannot, and is not obeyed by anyone.

It is spoken to the disciples. One of the cardinal rules of Bible interpretation is to discover who is being addressed. It is the eleven, and thy could obey all He taught them, after receiving “power from on high.” That power would enable them to do “greater miracles” than He had done! No Baptist has that power today. “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. 19  So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20  And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” Mark 16:17-20.

The command was for them to go into all the world, beginning at Jerusalem. This was more than a mission strategy. It was imperative  that Israel repent and accept the Kingdom Gospel they would preach. Israel must repent for the Kingdom Gospel to be taken “into all the world.” I am aware how the brethren apply their city as Jerusalem. But even that will not work.

The command to baptize is not a method or formula, but an assurance of authority from the Trinity. That is why the word “power” is used in the context. You will not find anyone in Scripture using it as a pattern.

Their ministry was to make disciples in every nation, starting with the Jews. As we said, Israel must first repent and accept Jesus as their Messiah. Converts then must be taught the rules, and principles of the Kingdom of Heaven. Thus, theirs was primarily a teaching ministry of the kingdom of heaven.

Now, the monkey wrench into the gears. They were to teach their disciples to “observe all things commanded you.” Do we need to go back over His ministry and discover what He taught them? For the honest skeptic, we will give a few examples.

Do you cast out devils?  Do you heal the sick? “Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20  And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21  Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. Matthew 17:19-21”   How does Matt. 18:19 work for you? “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.” Do you let divorced people, who are remarried join your church? Matt. 19:9. Will church members sit on twelve thrones? Matt. 19:28. It would be a waste of time to take the things Jesus taught His disciples, and them attempt to make them church doctrine.  “15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17  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. 19  So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20  And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” Mark 16:15-20.  “21  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22  And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23  Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.” John 20:21-23. No Baptist does it, nor can he.

I purposefully choose passages this side of Matt. 16. The reader should understand the impossibility, how ridiculous it for anyone to assume thy can obeying all that Jesus taught His disciples to do and teach. If you think differently, we welcome your corrections. I don’t mean to be arrogant, but I don’t expect any rebuttal to the challenge.