THE NOVICE

July 29, 2015 by Ken Blue

THE NOVICE
“Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.” 1 Timothy 3:6.

Every man possesses some pride, but pride must not possess the man. That is the danger and likely outcome for the novice who is rushed into the ministry without proper preparation. His primary problem is not his age, although that is a factor; his greatest liability is his inability to comprehend God’s grace in relation to his own sinful nature and his lack of the experiences needed for humility and maturity. Paul’s concern is not only for the young minister, but also for the testimony of Christ.

The instruction and the reason are clear. The novice must not be put in charge of that which requires experience and maturity. Both David and Moses were chosen as young men, but neither was appointed until thoroughly trained and tried. No man is qualified to oversee the souls of others until his own soul has been subdued and humbled.

For the novice, the office itself is exhilarating; He stands before others and instructs them. He is applauded and admired by those who respect and esteem his office. The more successful he becomes, the more precarious is his standing and the more haughty his spirit. This is evidenced in posture, poise and pronouncement. No matter what topic is announced, in short time, the novice becomes the topic. Most of his preaching and teaching will be in the first person.

It is not the Devil who condemns the novice; his is the same sin that caused the fall of the Devil, and it will bring the neophyte down too. Pride goes before a fall. The novice is so inexperienced and self-confident he doesn’t know his own heart, thus, the thought that he could fall never enters his mind. If it does, he dismisses it immediately.

The lives of young men and the reputation of the ministry are far too important to be taken lightly. The warning is clear and the outcome is certain; so don’t ignore Paul’s counsel.

THE HEALING HOAX

July 26, 2015 by Ken Blue

By Ken Blue

Perhaps there is no greater insult to Biblical Christianity than the preachers who go about the country preaching a prosperity and healing theology. These fools believe if you find a verse teaching healing or success, it applies to them and to all who follow them as long as they have faith and send money. Their “name it and claim it” teaching is not only unscriptural, it is shameful and destructive.

Christians need to understand that the four Gospels and the book of Acts is a transition period from the Old Covenant, made with Israel, to the New Covenant promised to Israel. (“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” Jeremiah 31:31-34).

In that dispensation, signs, miracles, wonders and healings were present to prove to Israel that Jesus was the promised Christ of the Old Testament. If Israel would have repented and received Jesus as their King, He would have returned and established His kingdom on earth through them. They did not, and the offer with all its signs, wonders and miracles was withdrawn. They, the signs and miracles, were not transferred to the church and they do not exist in this dispensation of grace! After the rapture of the church, God will once again jump start His kingdom offer to Israel, and those miracles and wonders will be in force again. That period is explained in the book of Hebrews through Revelation, which are written for the Jews in the Tribulation and the Kingdom.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]There is no greater insult to Biblical Christianity than the preachers who go about the country preaching a prosperity and healing theology.[/pullquote]

When God said to Paul that His grace was sufficient for him, He was doing more that encouraging him. God was explaining that a new method of dealing with men and women, in this dispensation of grace, was under way. This explains why the blind, the deaf, the cripple, the dead and those with terminal diseases are not healed today. You may disagree with me, but if you believe the miracles of the Kingdom offer are still present; can you give me the name and address of one believer, you personally know, who can raise the dead, heal AIDS patients, restore the terminally ill and the retarded? Do you personally know anyone who can walk on water, feed a multitude with a handful of food or turn the water to wine? Why not? Didn’t Jesus tell His disciples that they would do greater miracles than He did? (John 14:12). In fact, if it was not for the grace of God and modern medical science, most people over 40 would be dead!

We must also pity those few Baptist who are caught up in this error. They display their ignorance by carrying their little bottle of olive oil and anointing the sick. Why? Because they do not understand to whom and in which dispensation the book of James belongs. James was written to the Jews.”James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.” James 1:1. You probably are not a Jew; if you are, you don’t know which tribe you belong and how on earth you were scattered? The key to this dilemma is right divisions. Do not despair, dear Christian, or fall for the healing hoax. God’s wonderful grace is sufficient!

HOW I KNOW EVERY CHRISTIAN IS A DISPENSATIONALIST

July 16, 2015 by Ken Blue

Every Christian is a dispensationalist

By Ken Blue

Ephesians 3:1-6. “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:”

It is important to understand what is meant by a dispensation. First, we give the Merriam-Webster definition: “a general state or ordering of things; specifically: a system of revealed commands and promises regulating human affairs: a particular arrangement or provision especially of providence or nature: the act of dispensing: something dispensed or distributed.” Secondly, Strong says it is an, “administration (of a household or estate); especially a (religious) “economy” :- dispensation, stewardship.” Strong’s Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.

We are going to prove that all Christians are dispensationalist. Those who claim it is “junk theology” do so because of ignorance, or it wrecks their playhouse.

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Those who claim they are not dispensationalist do so because of ignorance.[/pullquote]

When Moses was given the leadership and dispensation of the Law, a specific diet was commanded. See Lev. 11:4. Yet most Christians ignore all Moses had to say on this subject. Unless you believe you are under a different dispensation, you are in rebellion against God every time you eat pork, catfish, shrimp, or prawns. There must have been a division point somewhere.

Next, Moses instructed that the people could not wear certain items of clothing together. See Deut. 22:9-12. Today, no Christians even consider that command. We wonder why.

The day of worship was set for every Sabbath under Moses. Anyone who desecrated that day was in danger of losing his life. See Numbers 15:32. Does it matter which day we worship now, and if so, what do you do to those who fail to do it? There must be a division somewhere.

Also, the gospel we preach is not that preached by Abraham, Moses, John the Baptist, Jesus, or the Twelve. If you don’t know what gospel they preached, how can you expect to know anything about right divisions? Can you give us the content of their gospel, and the content of the one you preach? There must have been a division somewhere.

If you think we are under the same dispensation as those in Matthew through early Acts, what happened to the power to heal the sick, raise the dead, and cast out devils? You can’t do any of the above. Why? There must have been a dispensational change somewhere.

Finally, if you had to choose between Genesis through Malachi as your Bible, or Matthew through Revelation, which would you choose? If you had to choose between Matthew through Acts, or Romans through Philemon, what would be your choice? If you know anything about right divisions, you would choose Paul’s writings.

As we said at the beginning, every Christian is a dispensationalist. You divide the Bible where it fits your denomination or tradition. There is such a thing as right divisions, and wrong divisions. [pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”[/pullquote]

BOOK: Having The Right Bait, A Fisherman’s Guide to Soulwinning

July 13, 2015 by Ken Blue

Get it now on Amazon.com

All believers are to be witness for Christ. Many fail in this aspect of their Christian life because they are not equipped with the right bait. Jesus said we would be fishers of men if we followed Him. What bait do we need in order to become effective fishers of men? This book answers that question and provides everything the believer needs to become an effective witness for Jesus Christ. an excerpt:

I was born in the backwoods of Arkansas, not far from the small town of Boswell. As a boy, my mother and I lived part of that time on a farm with my uncle, Troy Craig. Uncle Troy had several milk cows, which he milked each day by hand. I remember that he would sit on an old three-legged stool, which he carved out by hand. That three-legged stool was an important part of his milking equipment. A one-legged stool was impractical. It required too much effort to balance ones self. A four-legged stool was unnecessary and impartial. That three-legged stool was perfect for the task at hand.

The ministry of the local church is somewhat like that old three-legged stool. A churches duty can be reduced to three simple, yet vital categories. These three are: Evangelism, Discipleship, and Service. The total responsibility of the church can be summed up in reaching the lost, indoctrinating the saints, and enlisting them in God’s service. We dare not attempt to do the work of God with an one-legged stool. We cannot confine our activities to just one ministry.

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]The ministry of the local church is like an old three-legged stool: Evangelism, Discipleship, and Service.[/pullquote]

Some churches have attempted to do that, and have met with failure. On the other hand, a church may attempt things in which it should not be involved. They are impractical, expensive and unnecessary. This Fisherman’s Guide is designed to accomplish the “first leg” of the local church’s ministry- the ministry of reaching of the lost for Christ. We acknowledge that it is only one leg. Nevertheless, without it, the other two are not necessary or possible. My hope is that this little “guide” will motivate and assist you in reaching others for the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no greater service or joy than that of winning men and women to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. So, let’s go fishing!

PIECE BY PIECE, THEN THERE WILL BE PEACE

July 6, 2015 by Ken Blue

ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RELIGION OF PEACE? HOW MUCH MORE PROOF DO YOU NEED? NOT ALL MUSLIMS ARE BOMBERS, BUT ALL BOMBERS ARE MUSLIMS. AND THEY HAVE THE AUDACITY TO CALL THEMSELVES THE RELIGION OF PEACE. PEACE TO THEM MEANS A PIECE OF THE WORLD, PIECE BY PIECE, THEN THERE WILL BE MUSLIM PEACE.