Ken Blue Ministries

By Ken Blue

“And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: an d Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.” 1 Samuel 1:2.

Scripture and experience confirm that empties and despair provide God’s greatest opportunity to work through us. The story of Samuel is during the latter period of the Judges and was during Israel’s darkest days.

Elkanah had two wives; Hannah and Peninnah. These events show us something about the blessedness of barrenness. The record states that Peninnah had several sons and daughters, whereas, Hannah had none. (v.4). However, there is no record of her ever praying or displaying any spiritual interest.

Hannah, on the other hand, was empty, and broken in her overwhelming grief because she did not have a son to dedicate to the LORD. In chapter one, we see her sorrow, her tears, and her promise. She privately prayed to the LORD, and vowed that she would dedicate her son to Him for the rest of his life, if He would only give her a son.

God saw Hannah’s heart and heard her prayer. He gave her, her request, and Hannah honored her vow. She brought Samuel to the temple to be trained and used of God. God use Samuel mightily. His was a transition ministry from a Theocracy to a Kingdom. He anointed, both Saul and David as kings of Israel. In addition, he became a circuit preacher and founded a school for the prophets.

But, I want to call your attention back to Hannah. It was her barrenness that brought her to her knees. She knew she loved God and wanted something of value to give Him. This emptiness was the kind that made everyday life miserable, and nothing else could fill this void.

Oh, blessed barrenness! What it can do for the Christian or Pastor who cannot be content to live there. Hers was a famine of the soul for which there was only one cure. “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6. “And he said, …I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.” Genesis 32:26.

Poor Peninnah; she was full and was dead while she lived. She made no such commitment or sacrifice. “The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.” Proverbs 27:7. This verse describes both, Peninnah and Hannah. The full soul has no appetite, whereas, to the hungry, everything is sweet.

Christian, let your barrenness and emptiness be the goad that drives you to the One who can fill you. Desire things you can dedicate to Him. Hannah did not request a son so she could gloat over him. She was broken because she had nothing to give the God she loved. What greater gift can one give God than sons and daughters who will live for Him and make a difference in the world? It was Hannah’s barrenness that led to her blessedness; so can yours.

By Ken Blue

These are some of the friends I grew up with in Boswell, Arkansas. We attended a one room school house together.

In the background is Grandpa Byler’s house. About one hundred feet to the right of the picture is the White River. I have many wonderful memories of these years and my friends.

From left to right in the back row are Eldon Neel, Lowell Sneathern, and Johnny Byler.

Front row: Ronnie Hill, Jim Byler, Ken Blue with Bobby Byler, and Rayburn Sneathern
Ronnie Hill, Johnny, Jimmy, and Bobby Byler are my first cousins.

Ronnie lives in Mountain Home, Arkansas and owns a locksmith business.

Bobby Byler lives in Connecticut and works for a nuclear power plant. Jimmy Byler lives in Mountain Home, Arkansas and owns a large ice manufacturing company.

Rayburn Sneathern lives in Marion, Arkansas and works for a Chevrolet dealership. Lowell Sneatheren lives in Virginia and is retired. He was an airplane pilot. He is in bad health.

Johnny Byler was about a year older than me. He lived in Springfield, Missouri and went home to be with the Lord at about age 31. My dear friend, Eldon Neel lived in Mountain Home and went home to be with the Lord in November of 2009. What great memories of have these boys from Boswell. I’m glad to report that most of them know the Lord Jesus as their Savior!

By Ken Blue

Recently an article came to my attention suggesting it is an abomination to get the lost to come to church in order to get them saved. The article would have you believe the only purpose of the church is to edify and build up the saints.

Men who used “means” to get the lost to church are equated with the Antichrist and the Devil. I guess that would include Dr. Jack Hyles and Dr. Lee Robertson who used every means possible to get the lost to church. If you doubt this, purchase their books on how to get the lost to come to your church. It is strange that these men and others like them are ignored in the list of those attacked. Isn’t it rather hypocritical to give out Bibles, drawings, and CD’s to those who bring visitors to church, but if others have a program to bring sinners to church, they have turned the church into something worse than a whorehouse?

Now, if you don’t care if sinners go to hell, come right out and say so. But, stop playing the self-righteous game by implying that if anyone uses a different means, they are demon possessed. These people would be critical of Paul if he was here today. “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.” 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. Notice that Paul is interested in gaining the more.

[pullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”16″]Any pastor who is not trying constantly to “gain the more” is not in the will of God and is not doing the work of God.[/pullquote]

Paul would have used Jewish holidays to reach the Jews, and pagan holidays to reach the pagans. In fact, he went much further than any Bible believer would go today. In reference to Timothy, Luke said, “Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.” Acts 16:3. Dake understood why Paul did this. He says, “Because the Jews would not hear him preach or have anything to do with him if he was not circumcised…Under the circumstances, to speed the gospel it was wisdom to do so. The same Paul refused to circumcise Titus because of time and circumstances (Gal. 2:3-5). Paul did his best to win the Jews (1Cor. 9:20; Rom. 9:1-3), —Dake’s Study Notes. The very idea of accusing pastors of worldliness, immorality and selfishness because they use various “means” to get the lost to come to hear the gospel is wickedness beyond description.

Pastor, don’t let those who can’t build a church and don’t want you to, control you and your church. These men want you to follow their non- productive advice, and keep you under their thumb so they can glory in your flesh.

There are many ways to reach the lost. Three holidays that Americans are attracted to are Christmas, Easter, and the 4th of July. Stop your fear of the brethren and use these days to get people saved. You should get it settled in your mind; fellow pastors and evangelist are not going to build your church. That task is given to you, God, and your church members as you do the work of evangelism. Don’t worry about the little puppies; let them bark and you keep the caravan moving