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A CHURCHES GREATEST NEED

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THE CHURCHES NEED FOR MONEY

churches

By Ken Blue

“A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.” Ecclesiastes 10:19.

I ask a pastor recently what he believed the greatest need of churches is, other than prayer and the Word of God. He said, “I can’t speak for others, but I think the greatest need of our church is more income. We are not able to do anything without the means to do it.”

The above verse concerning money is not intended to teach “all things” without exception. We know of many things money will not fix. However, the context and the book of Ecclesiastes, give a hint of what the writer had in mind. There are some things that cannot be fixed or corrected with or without money. We must see the difference and understand the intent of the writer.

Churches must have money to buy property, build buildings, buy supplies, pay the pastor and staff, and to have its various ministries. Someone has accurately said, “You can’t build a church with people who have no money, nor can you build it with the rich, they will not follow.”

There is no secret here. You must increase the income, or decrease the expenses, or you may need to do both. I would suggest that the pastor looks at all necessary operating expense. These are probably fixed and cannot be eliminated. Mortgage and utility payments must be made.

One thing we did at Open Door to get us back in the black was cancel mission conferences and Bible conferences. We saved thousands each year and never had to cut any of our missionaries. Do an inventory and find ways to cut down waste and to eliminate non-essentials. Money is the answer here, and you must have it to move forward. Guest speakers are a blessing, but they do not increase the attendance or the income of our churches. The pastor and the people must and can do this.

WHAT IS LEADERSHIP?

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THE POSITION OF LEADERSHIP

leadership

By Ken Blue

The American Heritage Dictionary says leadership is, “1. The position or office of a leader: 2. Capacity or ability to lead.” You will notice that one is a position and the other is capacity. It is possible to have the position of leadership without the capacity to lead. Or, one may possess the capacity and not have the position.

There is a world of difference between position and capacity. One may be promoted to a position of leadership such as in a military or government job without possessing the capacity. However, those under his leadership must comply or pay the price. This same situation may exist in large cooperation, but it is not as prevalent.

However, church leadership is altogether different. The pastor does not possess leadership qualities because of his possession. This is one reason many churches cannot grow. The pastor must have the capacity to lead. No one follows because they are required to. Ninety-five percent of church work is done by volunteers. There must be other factors that influence people to follow the pastor. Leaders have followers. If no one is following, you are just taking a walk.

A few misconceptions about leadership: Position of office, telling others what to do, being the loudmouth of the group, or having the prominent position. None of which will work for long.

There are three imperatives of leadership and they are the same in the secular or the sacred. One of these qualities is personality. The more people you can relate to, the more influence you can have. We know many who lead from the strength of personality. The second quality needed is aptitude. The better you are at your vocation, the more people are apt to follow you. So, learn all you can about your calling. Learn from the greatest in that field. Read all you can on how to improve your vocational skills. People are reluctant to follow those who are unsure of what they are doing.

Finally, to have a lasting influence in leadership, you must be a man or woman of character. Of the three, your character is most important. People will not follow a person they cannot trust. What is it that exposes your lack of character? It will usually be your mouth. Therefore, be slow to speak and swift to hear.

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SHOW ME THY WAY, AND SHOW ME THY GLORY

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THE WAY OF THE LORD

The way

Ken Blue

“Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.” Exodus 33:13. “And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.” Exodus 33:18.

The backsliding and rebellion of Israel was beginning to take its toll on Moses. He was so angry and disappointed in the nation that he moved his tent outside the camp where he met with God alone. Joshua was the only remaining loyal friend. He too, found his way to this tent.

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]As believers we need the same guidance as Moses.[/pullquote]

It was there Moses realized that the task before him was impossible unless God went with them and guided them. Thus Moses asks, Show me thy way, and show me thy glory. These he must have if he was to move forward. This God did in a wonderful and compassionate way.

As believers we need the same guidance as Moses. Both the guidance and glory has been provided, and the hand of God is not blocking our view. The way and the glory are seen in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I am the way…” Those who follow Him find that they have the Light of life. We need not wonder about the way as we make our journey toward heaven. He is the Way!

Also, He is the glory of God incarnate. “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6. The “face” is synonyms with the person. Jesus Christ is the way and the glory of God. Let us gaze upon Him, and know the way as we worship His glory.

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LAODICEAN CHURCHES, OR LAODICEAN PERIOD?

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“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;” Revelation 3:14.

It is assumed, without any Scriptural evidence, that there are seven periods of church history in Revelation chapters 2 & 3. The conclusion is that we are in that, so called, Laodicean period. Bullinger believed and taught that these seven periods were Israel’s history in the Old Testament. Now, what?

I have no doubt that there are local churches that fit some of the charges laid against the Laodiceans. However, one can find churches around the world that will fit all seven of them at this present time.

Many pastors have given up and have taken the attitude that we are in a period where people will not be saved. Therefore, they are simply holding the fort and counting the days to the rapture. Some have gone so far as to suggest that if your church is growing, you can’t be honoring God because people are not interested in the gospel in this “period.”

This attitude is one of the most diabolical ploys of Satan I have ever seen. If he can convince you that people will not be saved, you are defeated before you get started.

Pastor, don’t buy that lie. You can reach sinners for Christ if you will believe and do the right things to reach them. The power is in the gospel, and the work of the Holy Spirit. Do your job, and believe God wants you to reach the lost. It can be done; it is being done, and you can do it.

Of course there are Laodicean churches, but yours doesn’t have to be one to reach the lost or grow numerically. This is just a convenient excuse for many. Laodicean churches: yes. Laodicean period: no.

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DOES PAST TENSE MEAN IT’S OVER?

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HE LOVED ME                                                HE LOVES ME NOT

“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26.

A Pastor asked, “if God so loved the world…” does it mean He no longer loves it? The word that troubled him was “loved.” “Since it is in the past tense, has God stopped loving the lost and does He now hate them.” I said, “If God hates sinners, must we also hate them to be Godlike? Also, should we be sending money to missionaries so they can preach the gospel to those they and God hate?” This striving about words is just one tacit of Satan to confuse and divide the brethren.

Now if past tense means it’s over, and no longer active, shall we apply it to the following? Does “loved” mean God no longer loves us and the lost of this world? Perhaps that explains the arrogant, condescending attitude of some preachers and evangelist. If God hates the lost and wants them to go to hell, what’s wrong if I have the same attitude?

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Romans 8:37.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,” Ephesians 2:4

“And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” Ephesians 5:2

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;” Ephesians 5:25. Since he loved the church, does He love it now?

“Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,” 2 Thessalonians 2:16

“For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.” 2 Timothy 4:10. Since Demas left because he “loved” this world, did he cease to love it after he forsook Paul?

“Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” Hebrews 1:9. God “loved” righteousness. Does He love it now?  

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:10. This verse suggests that God loved the sinner before He died for him, and that love was the reason He sent Jesus to die.

“Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.” Mark 10:21. Here is a self-righteous lost young man, yet Jesus loved him.

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 1 John 4:11. If past tense means God stopped loving, at what point shall we stop loving one another”

“We love him, because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:3. Does God love Israel today?

You may argue that the above is a reference to believers, and God loves them now. Then we ask, if God hates sinner, shouldn’t we also hate them in order to be like God? Does past tense mean it’s over?

Do you hate all sinners, or just the ones who don’t sin like you. God hates divorce. Does he hate the divorced? Why not? “For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.” Malachi 2:16. Should we have fellowship with divorces, if God hates them? Now, I don’t hate anyone. I’m simply putting out the test to prove that the brethren don’t hate all sinners;they are selective. Shame, Shame on you!

 

 

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