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SOME TIPS ON PREACHING

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By Ken Blue

Sometimes we confuse ourselves with the importance of the message. It is the message that is all important. I have seen men who were more in love with the telling of the thing, than they are with the thing they tell.

One young man prayed just before his sermon, “Lord, help me to be nothing as I preach.” An old saint on the front row was overheard saying, “Take it by faith, you are nothing.” Another young preacher bounced with pride  to the platform. On his way up, he slipped and fell. He hung his head in shame and embarrassment  as he came down. Someone told him if he had gone up the way he came down, he could have came down the way he went up.

There is no place in the pulpit for pride, arrogance, brashness, rudeness, or crudeness. Like John the Baptist, we are nothing more than a voice, and that involves wind.

The following article was provided to me by one of my sons. I should be a reminder to all of us.

“I had a professor one time… He said, ‘Class, you will forget almost everything I will teach you in here, so please remember this: that God spoke to Balaam through his ass, and He has been speaking through asses ever since. So, if God should choose to speak through you, you need not think too highly of yourself. And, if on meeting someone, right away you recognize what they are, listen to them anyway’.” ―Rich Mullins.

Some creatures make themselves asses. Some are born as such. Know the difference and go on with your ministry.

WOULD JESUS BE ALLOWED TO PREACH IN YOUR CHURCH?

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BY Ken Blue Be sure and listen to the great songs to lift your spirit

Many Baptist pride themselves that they have held to Bible standards and traditions. They refuse to be influenced by culture and society. One area that is defended as biblical is in the area of one’s hair length. To them, the Bible standard is off the collar and off the ears. Anything less than a military cut is unacceptable.

If the above is true of your church, would Jesus be allowed to preach for you, or would He be required to get a haircut to match the standard today’s culture has set?

Some time ago an evangelist had a meeting scheduled with a church in the area. However, when he sent his promotion materials, they showed him with a beard. The host pastor called him and canceled the meeting. He told the evangelist that he would not allow anyone to preach with facial hair. We wonder if he would make an exception for Jesus, or if He would be required to shave.

Unless Jesus conformed to today’s culture, He would show up in a long robe. How would that go over in your church? Would you let someone preach who wore a robe? Would He be allowed to preach without shoes or socks, and with dirty feet? How uncomfortable would you be with His attire in your pulpit? Oh, and what about those wire rimmed gasses?

Now, some of you who think you can get away by saying, “If it was Jesus, we would make an exception.” Do you mean, if any of God’s children came dressed like Jesus, you would forbid them the pulpit? If you think the clothes and the hair makes the man, why would you make the exception?

I have no problem with any church setting standards for its members and speakers. However, it is dishonest to pretend you are following Bible standards, when you are not. The fact that you would not allow Jesus in, reveals how today’s culture has influenced you. Your welcome!

TWO THIRDS OF ISRAEL TO BE DESTROYED!

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By Ken Blue

It is not secret that the nation’s surrounding Israel are committed to their destruction. One would have to willfully blind not to see the coming storm. More and more, Israel’s enemies are outspoken on this objective. They will unite and come into the land like a cloud. What will be the fate of Israel?

Zachariah, the prophet is clear on the event and outcome. “7 Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. 8 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. 9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.”Zechariah 13:7-9.

One should read the above text several times. Also, there are many cross references that speak to this even. Verse seven speaks of the rejection and crucifixion of Christ. There is a gap between verse 7, and verse 8-9 until this war. It has been over two thousand years so far, but the events of verses 8,9 are near at hand.

This war if future and two thirds of Israel will be destroyed. Only one third will survive. Were it not for the intervention of God, no Jews would remain. “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matthew 24:13. “And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.Matthew 24:22.

Notice in verse 9 that the third will turn to the Lord and call upon Him, and He will hear them. This is the meaning of Joel. “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.” Joel 2:32. For those who think God is finished with Israel, let them accept these verses as they stand, and Paul’s confirmation of them. “25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.” Romans 11:25-27. All Israel is a reference to the remnant.

The above prophecies are certain, and you are witnessing the prelude to them. Pray for Israel, that they will understand that Jesus was their Lord. Oh, Israel, get ready, for the day of judgment is coming to your land!

AYATOLLAH: KILL ALL JEWS, ANNIHILATE ISRAEL

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AYATOLLAH: KILL ALL JEWS, ANNIHILATE ISRAEL

Iran lays out legal case for genocidal attack against ‘cancerous tumor’

By Reza Kahlili WND EXCLUSIVE
The Iranian government, through a website proxy, has laid out the legal and religious justification for the destruction of Israel and the slaughter of its people. The doctrine includes wiping out Israeli assets and Jewish people worldwide.

Calling Israel a danger to Islam, the conservative website Alef, with ties to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said the opportunity must not be lost to remove “this corrupting material. It is a ‘jurisprudential justification” to kill all the Jews and annihilate Israel, and in that, the Islamic government of Iran must take the helm.”

Because Israel is going to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities, Iran is justified in launching a pre-emptive, cataclysmic attack against the Jewish state, the doctrine argues.

On Friday, in a major speech at prayers, Khamenei announced that Iran will support any nation or group that attacks the “cancerous tumor” of Israel. Though his statement was seen by some in the West as fluff, there is substance behind it.

Forghani details the Islamic duty of jihad as laid out in the Quran for the sake of Allah and states that “primary jihad,” according to some Shiite jurists, can only occur when the Hidden Imam, the Shiites’ 12th Imam Mahdi, returns. Shiites believe Mahdi’’s return will usher in Armageddon.

The article then quotes the Quran (Albaghara 2:191-193): “And slay them wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution [of Muslims] is worse than slaughter [of non-believers] … and fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah.”

In order to attack Iran, the article says, Israel needs the approval and assistance of America, and under the current passive climate in the United States, the opportunity must not be lost to wipe out Israel before it attacks Iran.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”Anyone who thinks non Muslims can live in peace and freedom under Islam is a fool.”[/pullquote]

Under this pre-emptive defensive doctrine, several Ground Zero points of Israel must be destroyed and its people annihilated. Forghani cites the last census by the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics that shows Israel has a population of 7.5 million citizens of which a majority of 5.7 million are Jewish. Then it breaks down the districts with the highest concentration of Jewish people, indicating that three cities, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa, contain over 60 percent of the Jewish population that Iran could target with its Shahab 3 ballistic missiles, killing all its inhabitants.

Finally, Forghani says, Shahab 3 and Ghadr missiles can target urban settlements until the Israelis are wiped out.

Forghani claims that Israel could be destroyed in less than nine minutes and that Khamenei, as utmost authority, the Velayete Faghih (Islamic Jurist), also believes that Israel and America not only must be defeated but annihilated.
The Iranian secret documentary “The Coming Is Upon Us” clearly indicates that these radicals believe the destruction of Israel will trigger the coming of the last Islamic Messiah and that even Jesus Christ, who will convert to Islam, will act as Mahdi’s deputy, praying to Allah as he stands behind the 12th Imam.

(Note: The above article is from World Net Daily. That portion that shows Islam’s reason and determination to destroy Israel and the United States has been selected. Again, anyone who thinks non Muslims can live in peace and freedom under Islam is a fool. How much more needs to said and done for the rest of the world to understand their hatred and intent?)

WHAT IS A BAPTIST?

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By Ken Blue
Be sure and listen to the great songs to lift your spirit
Recently, at dinner with another pastor and one of his members, we were discussing different opinions of the Baptist church. Finally the pastor asks me, “What is a Baptist Church?” I wasn’t sure he was satisfied with my answer, since he did not respond.

I told him that the best definition I knew is the familiar acrostic which spells B A P T I S T. Each letter states a cardinal belief of Baptist Churches.  These are: Born again membership. Autonomy of the local church. Preservation of the believer. Two ordnances. Inspiration of the  Scriptures. Separation of church and state. Total depravity of man. I have always been taught these are the things Baptist hold in common.

However, I have concluded that my pastor friend was not concerned in what I thought Baptist believed, but rather, what is a Baptist. I assume that the correct answer he sought was that a Baptist was a follower of John the Baptist. It only made sense. Lutherans were followers of Luther. Presbyterians are followers of Calvin. Methodist are followers of Wesley, and therefore, Baptist are followers of John, but, not so fast.

It is noteworthy that none of the Corinthians claimed to be follower of John. “Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.” I Cor. 1:12. Isn’t it strange that no one claimed to be of John? And Paul said, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1.

So, what is a Baptist? That depends on which Baptist you ask. I believe we should be followers of Paul, as he was of Christ. He is the Apostle to the Gentiles, and the writer of all the church epistles. So, what is a Baptist? Well, he can’t be a follower of John, for John didn’t even preach the same gospel Paul preached! (I hope someone will challenge me on that issue.) We need to ask ourselves, is a Baptist someone who stands on the Scriptures alone, or is he one who puts tradition above the Word of God?