Archive for January 2016
So You Want To Be Your Own Pastor?
So You Want To Be Your Own Pastor?
Some Have Tried To Be Their Own Lawyer, By Defending Themselves In Court.
- There’s an old adage: “A man who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client.”
- We have often laughed or shaken our heads in disbelief at such people.
Some Have Tried To Be Their Own Doctor, And Operate On Themselves
Dr. Leonid Rogozov cut out his own appendix.
http://www.southpolestation.com/trivia/igy1/appendix.html
Johannes Lethaeus had a kidney stone the size of a hen’s egg and could not pass it. He got his brother to hand him a knife and he sliced himself open to remove the stone.
- We have often cringed or shaken our head sin disbelief at such people.
Some Have Tried To Be Their Own Dentist, By Pulling Their Own Teeth.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1135582/Man-pulls-13-teeth-pliers-NHS-dentist.html
- Some pull their own teeth
- A few have tried to fill their own cavities.
- There are reports of others making their own braces.
- We have often cringed or shaken our head sin disbelief at them as well.
Some Try To Be Their Own Pastor
- “A man who is his own pastor has a fool for a saint.” – MJB
- Why would we expect people to respect and honor such behavior?
Jude 11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
Jude 12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
Jude 13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
Thayer Lexicon: poimainō ποιμαίνω
- To feed, to tend a flock, keep sheep
- To rule, govern
- To supply the requisites for the soul’s need
Feeding Themselves Literally Means, “Pastoring Themselves” – (Without Fear)
- Feeding themselves without fear.
- No fear! That alone amazes and scares me.
- Not willing to be pastored by anyone.
- Refusing to submit.
- Unwilling to obey.
- Believe they know best for their own soul.
- Remember, they’re pastoring themselves without fear!
Some Even Sit In Church And Refuse To Receive The Preached Word.
- They hear but they are not doers.
- They hear but they are not convicted or convinced.
- They feel what the pastor said was unnecessary for them to obey or comply.
- They attend church but never change their heart, their mind or their life.
- They drag their feet when it comes to submission.
- Remember, they’re pastoring themselves without fear!
Others Quit The Local Church And Start Having Church In Their Own Home.
- They want to do it their way own way.
- They fearlessly start their own church.
- They feel competent to interpret the Bible for themselves.
- They take their family with them to the very brink of destruction.
- They rejoice in their newfound freedom and liberty while doing so.
- Remember, they’re pastoring themselves without fear!
Both types of individuals are so foolish and Biblically ignorant that they never understand they cannot be saved without a God called Pastor in their life.
Some day their Pastor will have to stand before God and give an account of their obedience, and their submission before the Great White Throne Judgment.
- You will not be able to represent yourself before the Throne of God.
- Your pastor is going to be the one God asks that question to, not you.
- His opinion and report of your conduct while under his pastorship will be most important to God.
You may leave your pastor and go elsewhere thinking you are free. But you are not. You quite possibly have left a trail of evidence behind you that will incriminate you on that day. What report the pastor gives to God on Heaven’s witness stand will only fall into two categories, either Joy or Grief.
You may leave your home church because you don’t like the holiness standards or you got crossed up with your pastor. But, remember this, you are still his in the Judgment according to Hebrews 13:17, no matter if you have found another church in the meantime.
Your Pastor will be forced to explain to God that you left because you would not obey or submit.
Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
God Will Ask The Pastor.
- “Did they obey?”
- “Did they submit?”
Understand That It Is Possible To Obey Without Submitting. But One Cannot Submit Without Obeying.
- Go ahead and sit in church all rebellious and come when you want to.
- Lay out of church when you want. Remember, you’re fearless
- Withhold your tithes as a protest to your Pastor.
- Stay home and read your Bible and have your own devotions at home instead of going to church.
- Keep your family home with you. Remember, you’re fearless.
- The scriptures already spoke that people would be foolish just like you.
- Remember, you’re pastoring yourself without fear!
Jude 12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear:
- Your spirit of trying to pastor yourself and make your own eternal decisions just got you included in Heaven’s Hall Of Shame along with Balaam and Korah.
- You are no different in God’s eyes.
- Was submission such a big issue for you that you took your soul in your own hands and willingly gambled on your eternity?
- Nothing could be sadder for you.
There Are Those Who Say They Left Because They Are Not Being Fed. Some Continue To Come To Church And Make The Same Claim.
- If I were you I would be embarrassed to admit I was not being fed. Here’s why.
- Isa 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
- Isa 1:20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
- Only the willing and obedient are eating the good of the land.
- Unwillingness and disobedience will keep you at arms length from the blessings of the Lord every time.
The Old Testament Refers Those Who Pastor Themselves As Backslidden.
Prov. 14:14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
Prov. 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
The actual chance of someone who has become their own pastor and ever resubmitting themselves to God’s Word and God’s man again is not very good.
- Can such a person repent? Sure.
- Will they ever come to themselves and repent? Not likely if we are to go by all the others we have seen.
- Remember, they’re pastoring themselves without fear!
When Someone Rebels Against God’s Word And His Plans For Our Lives, It Is Seldom That We See Such A One Recover.
- Do we try and talk to them when we see them make bad decisions? Yes.
- Do we pray for them? Sure.
- Do we fellowship them after they leave? Not if they have talked against the pastor or the church.
1Co 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
- Railer: Noun. One who rails; one who scoffs, insults, censures, or reproaches.
If I were a saint who tried to pastor myself, knowingly or not, I would repent before God and ask Him to restore the Fear of the Lord back into my heart.
I would repent to my Pastor and ask him if I could resubmit myself.
If I was having my own church at home and pastoring myself, I would repent to God and realize God would never advise me to go against what is already written in His Word.
I would close up my ‘self’ church. And repent to my spouse and family. I would go back to my local church where God had placed me. I would repent to the pastor and the church family. I would pledge my obedience and submission. I would plead with the pastor to give me the honor of coming home.
This blog today was not written to invite bad stories about pastors, but rather is a warning to those who choose to become their own priest.
The coming of the Lord is nigh at hand. May His coming not find any of us living in a fearless manner.
I’ll Ask The Question Again… “Do You Want To Be Your Own Pastor?”
Surely Not! Your Precious Family Deserves Better!
Every Judas
It is my great honor to have The Together Magazine publish this article in their current issue. For those readers who may not have access to this wonderful publication, I am posting a copy of it here: – MB
Every Judas
Just ten miles from Hebron and eighteen miles from Jerusalem was the little known village named Kerioth. It was a haven for bandits, thieves and highwaymen. People from the area were known to be assassins, murders.
Into this environment a man named Simon raised his son Judas. In Holy Scripture he was called Judas Iscariot, signifying that he was from the town of Keriot(h)
Simon must have been somewhat responsible for his son’s raising and behavior. His name is always mentioned together with his son’s name. He was called Judas, Simon’s son.
We know nothing of the boy’s mother. What was she like? What kind of teaching did she give him as a boy?
By the time the scriptures introduce us to him, we quickly see that Judas was outspoken and didn’t hesitate to disagree with what he saw.
“Why wasn’t this sold and given to the poor?”
That’s what he said criticizing Mary’s extreme sacrifice. But the Bible is quick to point out that he cared not for the poor, but was a thief and that he held the bag. There was a reason that was said. Why would Jesus allow him to carry the bag?
As a Judean he was a misfit among the disciples. The other disciples apparently were Galileans. He was no doubt a loner. He couldn’t let them see him sneaking money from the bag. He was a thief. I am sure that Judas had a less than stellar past before he met Jesus. Some Commentaries even call him a murder.
The sad news is, that no amount of the preaching and confronting that Jesus did seemed to change Judas into a John The Beloved. The same is true today. If all the words and actions of Jesus could not transform Judas in the Bible days, then neither will our preaching and confronting convert a modern day Judas.
Thirty is number of pieces of silver Judas agreed on to betray Jesus. There are thirty obvious and negative characteristics of a Judas. The Judas Iscariot of the Bible may be dead, but his spirit is still alive today.
Here Are Some Keys To Recognize The Judas In Your Midst.
- Every Judas Shows Enough Potential To Be Placed In A Leadership Role.
- Judas was hand picked. He was allowed to be a privileged disciple. He was chosen to be in charge of the group’s finances.
- Confidence was placed in him.
- Every Judas Thinks And Acts Like He Owns His Appointed Position.
John 12:5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
- Every Judas loves to take the finances with him when he goes.
- Every Judas Lives On A Carnal Level And Is Oblivious To The Spiritual.
John 12:5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
- Every Judas Lets His True Colors Show At The Wrong Time.
John 12:6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
- Every Judas Has A Personal Agenda That Is Separate From The Leaders.
John 12:6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
- Every Judas Gets Disenchanted With His Leader.
- He is willing to sabotage the whole thing if there is enough in it for him.
- Every Judas Receives A Warning From The Lord But Continues Anyway.
John 6:70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
John 6:71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.
- Every Judas Sees The Same Miracles And Hears The Same Sermons But Is Unaffected, Unconvinced And Unconverted.
Luke 9:1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
Peter Talked About Judas In The Upper Room
Acts 1:17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
- Every Judas Plans His Move Carefully.
Matt. 26:16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
- Every Judas Is An Opportunist.
Matt. 26:16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
- Every Judas Is Driven By Greed.
Matt. 26:15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
- Every Judas Courts Those Whom He Thinks Can Help His Cause.
Luke 22:4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.
- A modern Judas may recruit his people with private meetings,
- Private dinners
- Facebook likes
- Every Judas Possesses An Evil Spirit.
Luke 22:3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
- Every Judas Can Even Fool His Own Friends And Brothers.
John 13:27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
John 13:28 Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.
- Every Judas Gets His Key Players In Place Before He Makes His Play.
Luke 22:4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.
- Every Judas Gets A Divine Warning And Still Ignores It.
Matt. 26:24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
- Every Judas Should Have Been Still Born.
Matt. 26:24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
- Every Judas Gets Revealed By The Lord And Has A Chance To Repent.
Matt 26:21 And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
- Every Judas Lives In Denial To The Truth And Deceiving Himself And Others.
Matt. 26:25 Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.
- Every Judas Makes His Move When He Thinks The Odds Are In His Favor.
Matt 26:16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
- Every Judas Is A Hypocrite.
Matt. 26:49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
- Every Judas Is Controlled And Guided By Satan.
John 13:27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
- Every Judas Displays False Affection Toward The Leader.
Matt. 26:49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
- Every Judas Is Surprised When God Still Manifests Himself In The Midst Of The Betrayal.
Luke 22:50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.
Luke 22:51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.
- Every Judas Is Temporarily Happy.
- He could go back to doing what he was doing before.
- He had brought Jesus down in his own mind to the point that he no longer believed in Him.
- He actually believed he could live with his choice.
- Every Judas Has Second Thoughts.
Matt. 27:3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
- Every Judas Tries To Appease His Guilty Conscience.
Matt. 27:3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
- Every Judas Wakes Up To His Horrible Sin Too Late.
Matt. 27:4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
- Every Judas Repents Too Late.
Matt. 27:4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
- Every Judas Will Hang Himself.
Matt. 27:5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
In Spite Of Judas
In Spite Of Judas – The Will of God was accomplished.
In Spite Of Judas – Jesus rose from the dead.
In Spite Of Judas – The Holy Ghost was poured out.
In Spite Of Judas – The Church was established.
In Spite Of Judas – Revival came.
In Spite Of Judas – The Gates of Hell did not prevail.
In Spite Of Every Judas Today
In Spite Of Every Judas Today – God still has a triumphant church.
In Spite Of Every Judas Today – The church will prosper and go forward.
In Spite Of Every Judas Today – The Glory will fall when the bad spirit is gone.
In Spite Of Every Judas Today – The church will rally and unify like never before.
In Spite Of Every Judas Today – Worship will be better than ever.
In Spite Of Every Judas Today – The Pastor will be loved more than ever.
Judas Was Replaced With A Man Named Matthias.
His name means, “Gift of God.”
There was a gift of God for the church back then. There will be a gift of God after your storm today.
Have You Had To Deal With A Judas?
Take hope, your Matthias, your Gift of God is coming!
It’s Time To Go Forward!
It’s Time To Go Forward
Exo 14:15 And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:
Israel Had Spent The Last Twenty-Five Chapters In Egypt
- There Was No Future For Them There!
- They had lived in bondage long enough.
- It was time to go forward.
Going Forward Is A God Thing!
- It was for Israel.
- It is for you!
Israel Had Lived With A Slave Mentality For About 400 Years.
- They had forgotten what liberty was like.
For Them It Was Hard:
- To go forward.
- To believe God.
- To trust God.
- To follow a cloud floating across the sky.
- To believe God would set them free.
- To believe God would bless them.
- To leave the only security they knew.
- To leave the leeks and onions.
Don’t Crave The Things That Hold You Back!
Many Israelites May Have Wanted The Promises Of God,
- But they still died in the wilderness.
- They had Fears.
- They had Excuses.
- They had Unbelief.
- They were Unwilling to go forward.
At AI – Israel Was Stopped Dead In Her Tracks
- Sin was in the camp.
- After they got the problem out of the way
- They went forward.
- If sin has stopped you, get it out of the way.
God Wants To Take This Church Forward
- Like He did for Israel, He wants to give you a harvest you never had to plant.
- Wells you never had to dig.
- Houses you never had to build.
- But you can’t have them, if you just sit and don’t go forward.
- It’s time to go forward.
Some Folks Today Are Going Backwards Instead Of Forward!
- They are letting down on standards and doctrine.
- Compromising with the world.
- Justifying Hollywood.
- Mocking Holiness.
- Dress like the world.
- Doing what the world does.
- They have become again what the world is.
- It’s time to go forward.
What’s Sad Is They Think They Are Making Progress.
But They Are Like A:
- A dog going back to its vomit.
- A pig going back to its wallow.
Every Day Life Can Nearly Shut You Down.
- Circumstances can bring you to a halt.
- Events can bring you to your knees.
- Things steal your joy.
- Don’t let it.
- It’s time to go forward.
People And Things Can Hurt You.
- Divorce.
- An unfaithful spouse .
- Loss of a job.
- Cancer.
- Addictions.
- Personal failures.
- Offenses.
- Unforgiveness.
- Your Past.
Some React To Their Negative Situations By
- Withdrawing.
- Resigning their job at church.
- Sitting back.
- Coasting.
- Quit worshipping.
- Become unfaithful to church.
- It’s time to go forward.
It’s Time To Get Past Your:
- Failures.
- Hurts.
- Pride.
- Complacency.
Don’t Let You Friends Hold You Back.
- Don’t let your fear.
- Don’t let your shame.
- Don’t let your unbelief.
- Don’t let your family.
- Don’t let your flesh.
- Don’t let your job.
- Don’t let your excuses.
- Don’t let your weariness.
- Don’t let anything in this world.
- It’s time to go forward.
With Hell Rejoicing All Around Us In 2015…
- With compromising on all sides.
- With Holiness dying out in some churches.
- With signs of the end-times all around us.
- With Bible prophesy being fulfilled daily.
- With friends falling away.
- With hell reaching for our children.
- With the future uncertain.
- It’s time to go forward.
Make This Year The Best Ever!
- Make this a year of revival.
- Make this a year of consecration.
- Make this a year of Holy Ghost renewal.
- It’s time to go forward.
God Had To Prompt Israel To Go Forward A Second Time
Deut 1:6 The LORD our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount:
God Had To Prompt Israel To Go Forward A Third Time
Deut 2:1 Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, as the LORD spake unto me: and we compassed mount Seir many days.
Deut 2:2 And the LORD spake unto me, saying,
Deut 2:3 Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward.
They Had Gone In Circles For Forty Years.
- Life had become routine and monotonous.
- Though moving they were getting nowhere.
- No progress in forty years.
No True Progress Was Being Made.
- Does this describe your spiritual state?
- They were circling the mountain by their own choice.
40 Years Earlier God Had Said: “Ye Have Dwelt In This Mount Long Enough.”
- The journey from Horeb to the Promised land is only 11 days.
It’s Time To Break Free From:
- Cycles,
- Bad Habits
- Patterns in our lives that have been unproductive and unhealthy.
- You’ve been circling this mountain long enough.
- It’s time to go forward.
Why Do We Camp In One Place Until God Forces Us To Move?
Lot Did– God Even Sent Two Angels To Get Him To Move
- God brought special deliverance.
- Lot’s wife looked back.
- Lot begged to stop when God asked him to go forward,
- That’s when he really messed up.
It’s Time To Go Forward
- Rich Young Ruler – Money held him back.
- Agrippa –Questions held him back.
- Felix – Timing held him back.
- Demas – The love of the world held him back.
What’s Holding You Back?
Simon Peter
Luke 5:5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net
When The Lord Speaks, Respond!
Num. 10:5 When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward.
Num. 10:6 When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys.
I Believe The Spirit Has Sounded An Alarm!
I Resolve
I Resolve
While wishing for my friends and family that 2016 would be their best year of living for God, I cannot forget the dangers of 2015.
This world is not comfortable with holiness, the church, Biblical doctrine, or moral purity. Compromising seems to be the order of the day for too many. With that in mind, I hereby Resolve…
I Resolve to continually proclaim that there is only one God, and His name is Jesus. And, that if you don’t believe that, you will die in your sins.
I Resolve to preach the need for old-fashioned repentance and the immediate change of lifestyle.
I Resolve to preach the essentiality of baptism in Jesus name because it is the only name that will wash away sin. To be saved, one must be baptized in Jesus name.
I Resolve to preach the necessity of receiving the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues. Without that experience no one can be saved.
I Resolve to preach Holiness. The church must never compromise and look like the world.
I Resolve to love and walk in the old paths given to me by my father.
I Resolve to hold fast and be faithful to that which committed to me.
I Resolve to not be persuaded by holiness rejecters who for a morsel of meat have sold their birthright.
I Resolve to never stop being a worshipper.
I Resolve to always pay my tithes and honor God with my first fruits.
I Resolve to be faithful to God.
I Resolve to be faithful to church.
I Resolve to be faithful to my wife.
I Resolve to love to my wife.
I Resolve to live peaceably with all men.
I Resolve to be a witness.
I Resolve to give hope to every sinner and backslider I can.
I Resolve to encourage the saints.
I Resolve to strengthen the pastor’s hands.
I Resolve to be a godly example to my children and grandchildren.
I Resolve to not be offended when slighted by others.
I Resolve to forgive.
I Resolve to not be offended when I am corrected.
I Resolve to be a gentleman and turn the other cheek when attacked.
I Resolve to be ready for the Lord’s return.
Martyn Ballestero Sr.
January 1, 2016
Apostolic Expository Series
Christy Ballestero (My Beautiful DIL)
http://marciaballestero.com/
Pastor Anthony & Kim Ballestero, New Destiny Worship Center, Clearwater, FL (My Son)
Pastor Bryan & Christy Ballestero, Temple Of Pentecost, Raleigh, NC (My Son)
James Groce Blog – "Toward The Mark"
Kenneth Bow Blog
Kingdom Speak Podcast
Philip Harrelson – "The Barnabas Blog"
Verbal Bean Ministries
Holy Ghost Radio
The Ballestero Blog 