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WHAT WILL IT MATTER

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Be sure and listen to the great songs to lift your spirit

 

 

 

 

 

ByKenBlue

 

Mark 8:36  “For what shall it profit a man,

if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”

 

What will it matter how much money you’ve made,

Or the number of your immoral escapades,

Or the titles bestowed, or the accolades,

When you’ve nothing at Jesus’ feet to be laid?

 

What will it matter, if you have reached the top,

If you are the foreman, or you own the shop,

Or your fields, they bring forth a first prize cash crop,

And you have nothing but remorseful teardrops?

 

What will it mater, if you have a large home,

With a heated pool, and tall vaulted dome,

If your wife and your children, they have all gone,

And you have nothing; you are left all alone?

 

What will it matter if, you haven’t a clue,

Of the talents accounting and interest due,

When God opens the Books and He searches through,

And with eyes ablaze, says, “I never knew you”?

 

 

 

THE MISUNDERSTOOD TRANSITION # 2

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By Ken Blue

This is the second article on the Misunderstood Transition of the ministry of John the Baptist to the Apostle Paul. Hopefully it will help others to understand the difference in the purpose of their ministries and the difference in their messages. The first paragraph is selected from the first article.

For example, the word “gospel” in our text means “good news.” But, the question is, what is the message of that good news? We are going to settle forever the fact that the good news preached in the four gospels, and that preached by Paul, are light years apart.

  1. THE DEATH OF CHRIST IS NOT PART OF THE KINGDOM GOSPEL-

“From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee” Matthew 16:21-22.

a. Notice that Jesus began to teach His disciples that He must die. “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples…” This proves that Jesus had not taught it prior to that point in His ministry. It was not part of the gospel He gave to them.

b. Notice that Peter sees this teaching incompatible with the gospel they preached. “Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.”

c. Notice also that they did not understand Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah’s death. “Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: And they shall scourge him, and put him to death” Luke 18:31-33.

d. Peter’s denial shows their ignorance of His upcoming death. “But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew” Mark 14:68.

So, we know John the Baptist, Jesus and the Twelve preached a gospel; we also know that it did not contain one word concerning His dying for man’s sin. That ought to be evident, but most Christians never understand its implication.

 

DON’T BE WARM OR FUZZY

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By Ken Blue

We hear the term from fundamentals’ today about being warm and fuzzy. I’m not sure what it means, but it’s often used with sarcasm concerning how other pastors preach, and pastor their churches. In addition, there is some aversion to being friendly to those who might be seeking a better life than they have now. One thing for sure, I don’t want to be warm or fuzzy, or friendly to the lost if it is un-scriptural or anti-scriptural. So I have considered some ideas that may help fundamentalist avoid the criticism of being warm and fuzzy themselves.

Since the first impressions are the most lasting, what I suggest is to turn on the air conditioning in the fall and run it on high all winter. It will leave an unforgettable experience, and you will never again be accused of having a warm church.

The second thing I would do is wrap barbed wire around the toilet seats. This will take the meaning out of fuzzy. And for a change, the sinner will be screaming instead of the preacher! Believe me, you will not be accused of being fuzzy.

Put a sign on your church door that says, “Welcome to hell!” Shock it out of them before they enter! This conditions them for the fire and brimstone to come from the pulpit.

Put lemon juice in the communion cups. I don’t know what the qualities of lemon juice are, but everyone will be puckered, and ready to give the brethren a holy kiss.

Put sour cream in the coffee. Don’t lose sight of our goal. We do not want to be warm or fuzzy, nor do we want to be friendly to sinners. Let us be called everything, but never, friendly, warm, or fuzzy.

Scream and yell through the whole sermon so people will know you are mad at them. Make sure not to show any warmth to sinners that would be a sign of weakness.

Tell people how sorry they are, and that God hates sinners. They may never come back, but you gave it to them while they were there. You can reassure yourself, that they know they were in a church where a real man of God was in the pulpit.

Tell ushers and greeters not to smile at people. That only confuses them, makes them think you might have a friendly church. You wouldn’t want to do that; they might be seekers!

Don’t speak to or shake hands with people after the service. They will think you are a hypocrite, and only pretending to be friendly, warm, and fuzzy. For the life of me, I don’t know what fuzzy means!

“Fuzzy Wuzzy was a Bear, Fuzzy Wuzzy didn’t care,

Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn’t very fuzzy, was he?” –Ken Blue

LET’S STUDY REVELATION #18

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Be sure and listen to the great songs to lift your spirit

Revelation

A Book, A Lion and A Lamb

 

“And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?  And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.” (Revelation 5:1-6).

The scene in heaven continues. We see a book, a lion, and a lamb. John’s attention shifts from the heavenly choir surrounding the throne, back to the One sitting on the throne and to the book in His hand. The book is in His “right hand,” and is “written within and on the backside…” and sealed with “seven seals” (v.1).

We have already commented on the “right hand” (v.1). It symbolizes power, security, and favor. Since no one in heaven or earth was worthy to open the book or look thereon, we can be assured that the contents of that book were the very words of Him who held it in His hand.

This book contained all the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Day of the Lord. The book contained writings which no man or angel had seen, as yet. Daniel was told to seal the book, for it concerned the end time. “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” (Daniel 12:4). “And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end” (Daniel 12:9).

The time has come in the Revelation to open the book, and only the Lion of the tribe of Judah is worthy to open its seals. The fact that the book was written within and without, implies that it is filled with the wrath of God and His judgments. The seven seals simply show that its contents were complete and secure until the appointed time. The book was a roll or scroll. Imagine a scroll about seven feet long and twelve inches wide. Once the scribe finished writing on both sides, he rolled it about twelve inches and put a seal on the top and bottom rolls, and then he rolled it another twelve inches and placed seals again on the top and bottom. He continued this until all seven feet were rolled together with seven seals on it. This is how the book looked to John.

John“wept” when no one could be found worthy to open the book (v.4). This shows the sinfulness and hopelessness of man without the mercy and grace of God. In all creation, no one was worthy to open the book. Who is worthy to open the book and unleash these judgments on men and devils? What man could claim to be worthy to execute judgment on sin? The answer is no one. In doing so, he would condemn himself. If no one could be found, paradise was indeed lost and could never be regained. All the promises of God and the hopes for mankind were for naught, if no one could be found. Not only was no one worthy to open the book; no one was worthy to look upon it! “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

John is comforted and told not to weep for “…the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof” (v.5).  The lion was the symbol of a king and of the tribe of Judah. It was from this tribe Israel’s king was to come. “Judah is a lion’s whelp…” (Genesis 49:9).

Not only is He of Judah, but also He is the “Root of David.” He is David’s promised Son who would rule forever over a just and righteous kingdom. This is He of whom all the prophets spoke. He is the one subject of the Law of Moses, of the Psalms, and of the Prophets! In the volume of the book it is written of Him! Weep not John, for the One who came to His own, and they knew Him not has prevailed and is worthy to open the book!!

The Lamb had prevailed! He overcame temptation in the wilderness as the “Son of Man” by obeying the Word of God. He overcame in Gethsemane through prevailing prayer. He overcame at Calvaryby yielding Himself to the death of the cross, and He overcame the grave by His power over death. Weep not! The Lamb is worthy and has prevailed!

John looks and sees in the “midst of the throne” (v.6), not a Lion, but a Lamb as it had been slain. The Lamb that had been slain was now standing! He is the resurrected Christ, and so shall He be throughout all eternity. He will be “as a Lamb that had been slain.” One should run the cross references on the title, “the Lamb.”John refers to Him in his Gospel in chapter 1:29, 36.

In Revelation He is called the Lamb over 25 times!Paul never uses that title in any of his church epistles. This ought to convince anyone that the title is associated with Israel and her redemption. InJohn’s gospel, He is the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world. In the Revelation, He completes that purpose.

 

THE MISUNDERSTOOD TRANSITION #1

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Be sure and listen to the great songs to lift your spirit

 

By Ken Blue

There will be nothing in this article about the church, the body of Christ. Therefore, the church must be excluded from our thinking as we read the following. The church, called “the one new man” was a mystery and has no place in Kingdom of Heaven theology. Thus, everything will be about literal Israel, and their literal earthly Kingdom

Definitions: The Kingdom of Heaven is God’s kingdom rule of “peace on earth, good will toward men” under the rule of the Lord Jesus Christ, from Jerusalem, through Israel. The closest thing to it, since Adam, wa s the rule of King Solomon. His kingdom was physical and earthly.

The Kingdom of God is spiritual, and both kingdoms were present underAdam. It will be present again when men give “glory to God in the highest…” Today, the Kingdom of God is in every Christian, but the Kingdom of Heaven is absence.

Ministry of John the Baptist

Perhaps there’s not a portion of Scripture more misunderstood or confusing to the Christian than that period from the first announcement of John the Baptist that their Messiah was present, to the end of the offer of the Kingdom Heaven.

John the Baptist came on the scene preaching repentance and baptism for the remission of sins to prepare Israel for their King and His Kingdom. His was a ministry of preparation.  Confession of sins and baptism was necessary when accepting John’s message. “Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,  And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins” Matthew 3:5-6. John’s mission was twofold: he was to prepare a people to receive their Messiah, and present Him to His followers. This was why he came baptizing. “And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water” John 1:31.

The Death and Resurrection Were Not Part of The Transition Gospel

Note, “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people” Matthew 4:23. We invite the reader to examine every use of the word “gospel,” in the four gospels, and he will discover that it has to do with the promised earthly Kingdom of Heaven or the Kingdom of God.

We will go through the gospels and establish that the preaching of John, Jesus, and the Twelve never included or anticipated the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

The first thing we will prove is that the death of Jesus had no place in the Kingdom gospel. Mark begins his account of our Lord’s ministry this way. “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” Mark 1:1.  “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God” Mark 1:14.

When we hear a word certain pictures come to mind. For example, when I say “automobile,” “airplane,” “baptism,” or “gospel” you get a mental equivalent. Try it; you will see. However, your image may not match my intended use of the word. You will understand it according to your training and preferences. Only by understanding the context in which I use it, can you see what I mean. The same is true of any word in Scripture.

For example, the word “gospel” in our text means “good news.” But, the question is, what is the message of that good news? We are going to settle forever the fact that the good news preached in the four gospels, and that preached by Paul, are light years apart.