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Archive for October 2016

When God Refuses To Hear Your Prayer

with 5 comments

 

When God Refuses To Hear Your Prayer

 

1. God Refuses The Prayers Of Those Who You Shut Their Ears To Truth.

Proverbs 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

A·bom·i·na·tion

  • A thing that causes disgust or hatred.
  • Synonyms: atrocity, disgrace, horror, obscenity, outrage, evil, crime, monstrosity, anathema, bane

 

2. God Refuses The Prayers Of Husbands Who Mistreat Their Wife And Ignore Her Needs.

1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

 

3. God Refuses The Hypocrite’s Prayer.

Matthew 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Matthew 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

 

4. God Refuses Prayers That Are Just Vain Repetition.

Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking

 

God Refuses Prayers From Those Who Harbor Unrepented Sin In Their Hearts.

Psalms 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

 

5. God Refuses The Prayers Of The Self Righteous.

Luke 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

Luke 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

Luke 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

Luke 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

Luke 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

 

6. God Refuses Prayers That Go Against His Will.

James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

 

7. God Refuses The Prayers Of Those Who Refuse To Help The Poor.

Proverbs 21:13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

 

8. God Refuses The Prayers Of Those Who Do Not Tithe, Nor Will He Bless Them.

Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

Malachi 3:9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Malachi 3:11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.

Malachi 3:12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.

 

9. God Refuses To Hear Prayers For Forgiveness From Those Who Won’t Forgive Others.

Mark 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Mark 11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

 

10. God Refuses The Prayers Of The Apostate and Truth Rejectors.

Ezekiel 20:31 For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.

Ezekiel 20:32 And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.

 

11. God Refuses Prayers That Are Too Late,

Luke 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

Luke 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Luke 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

Luke 16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

Luke 16:26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

Luke 16:27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:

Luke 16:28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

Luke 16:29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

Luke 16:30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

Luke 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

 

12. God Refuses To Hear The Prayers Of Doubters.

James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

James 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

 

The Prayers God Always Answers!

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

 

God Waits For His People To:

  • Humble ourselves.
  • Pray serious prayers
  • Seek His Face (which includes worship)
  • Quit our sinning.

When We Do That, He Promised:

  • To hear our prayers
  • Forgive our sins
  • Bless our finances

 

 

Written by Martyn Ballestero

October 28, 2016 at 4:42 pm

How To Say, “I Don’t Love You!” To God With Your Mouth Closed!

with 2 comments

 

How To Say, “I Don’t Love You!” To God With Your Mouth Closed!

 

There are many ways to say that you do not love God, even without opening your mouth!

For Starters, Here Is A Short List:

  1. Refusing To Obey His Commandments.

(John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.)

  1. Not Following Him.

(John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

  1. Following Him For The Loaves and Fishes.

(John 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.)

  1. Refusing Him.

(Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!)

  1. Hardening Your Heart.

(Heb. 3:15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.)

  1. Hating Your Brother.

(1 John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.)

  1. Loving The World.

(1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.)

  1. Being Friends With The World.

(James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.)

 

*Let’s look at the last two scriptures a bit closer…

1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Jas 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

The Message Bible says it this way: James 4:4 You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way.

  • Look again at the word – ‘enmity’.
  • Definition: Enmity – the state or feeling of being actively opposed or hostile to someone or something.
  • G2189   (Strong) Echthra (ekh’-thrah)
  • Feminine of G2190; hostility; by implication a reason for opposition: – enmity,

 

If you are a friend of the world, your mouth won’t ever have to say a thing. Your heart is talking louder than your lips. You are actively opposing God if you are friends with the world. You are personally fighting Him. He takes it as though you declared war on Him and His church. Your every worldly action is hostile towards Him, so He counts you as the enemy,

You won’t ever have to say one word. He looks at your heart, sees that you are friends with the world, and that’s when He knows you don’t love Him. No one can love the world and God at the same time. To Him, you have become the enemy.

Matt. 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

God hates the world so much He won’t even like you if you like the world. You must make the choice between God and mammon. If you are even just friends with the world, His love is not in you. You also must love him more than houses, lands, mother, father, sister, or brother, or things.

God Looks At Your Heart Not Your Mouth

So all those who proclaim, ‘God only looks on the inside,’ need to pay close attention to this scripture. Right here is where it gets real dangerous for them. Your love of the world or even friendship with the world is an open sign of hatred of God. Because you chose to not denounce the world and turn your back on it, His love is not in you.

 

What You Love You Will Imitate!

  • You will imitate it in your speech
  • You will imitate it in your Dress
  • You will imitate it in your Actions
  • You will imitate it in your Lifestyle
  • You will imitate it in your Fellowship choices

 

If You Are Not Friend With, Or In Love With The World:

  • Why then would you go where the world goes?
  • Why then would you do what the world does?
  • Why then would you dress like the world dresses?
  • Why then would you act like the world acts?
  • Why then would you talk like the world talks?
  • Why then would you accept the thinking the world accepts?
  • Why then would you make people of the world your best friends?
  • Why then would you be interested in their books, their magazines or movies?
  • Why then would you seek their entertainment?
  • Why then would you get wrapped up in their sports world?
  • Why then would you defend anything about the world?
  • Why then would you have a problem with preaching about separation from the world?
  • Why then would you post pictures of yourself looking like the world on social media?
  • Why then would you change churches and go where they are more ‘friendly’ with the world?
  • Why then would you challenge standards?
  • Why then would you keep asking if something is a sin or not?
  • Why then would you have a problem with your pastor saying, “NO”?

 

You are not required to explain your feelings to me, only to God. But He already knows how you feel about the world.

You may claim you do not love the world, but He has a problem with you being a friend of the world.

  • We defend our friends.
  • We support our friends.
  • We make allowances for our friends.
  • We communicate with our friends.
  • We take sides with our friends.

 

Visual clues usually tell us if someone likes us or is interested in us. We look at their body language, and facial expressions. We listen to every word they speak to us and read into their meanings. Even a dog can tell if we like it or not.

We consider ourselves fairly adept at reading people by what we see on the outside. But God pays attention to the very thoughts and intents of our heart.

We all know about juvenile antics, like sticking your tongue out at someone you don’t like. When it comes to God, you don’t have to stick your tongue out to let Him know you are not interested, or even make a mean face. You won’t have to turn your physical back on Him to show Him you are not interested. He already knows.

 

He Told The Pharisees That Their Hearts Didn’t Love Him.

Matt 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

They were religious and devout, yet they didn’t love Him. God examines everyone’s heart to see if they truly love Him or just say that they do.

 

Loving The World Is:

  • Telling God you don’t love Him.
  • Declaring War on God
  • Defined by God as Spiritual Adultery

 

Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Your love for the things of the world, your desire for it, your conformity to it, and compliance with its sinfulness, are declarations of war with God, and acts of hostility upon Him.

It shows the enmity of your mindset against him, and it is displeasing to Him. He accuses everyone who loves the world of spiritual adultery. Friendliness with the world is spiritual unfaithfulness. It dissolves the spiritual marriage between God and the soul.

Living for God is not a game. This life is serious. Not everyone who says, ‘Lord, Lord,” is going to heaven.

Live for Him with all your heart. Quit trying to see how close to the edge you can get and still be considered Pentecostal.

Ask yourself.

  • Am I Apostolic or not?
  • Am I Holiness minded or not?
  • Am I pleasing God with the things I do, place I go, and things I enjoy?
  • Do I really love Him MORE than anything?
  • Am I a lover of pleasure more than a lover of God?
  • Does God respect me?

 

If you are friends with or even fond of the world, then you are telling God, without opening your mouth that you don’t love Him.

  • To God, then, you are as an unfaithful spouse.
  • To Him, it is an act of war.
  • Remember, even with your mouth closed, your heart is still talking.

 

Deut 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

Deut 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Deut 6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

Deut 6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Deut 6:8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

Deut 6:9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

Deut 6:10 And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,

Deut 6:11 And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;

Deut 6:12 Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

Deut 6:13 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.

Deut 6:14 Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;

Deut 6:15 (For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.

Deut 6:16 Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.

Deut 6:17 Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.

Deut 6:18 And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers,

Deut 6:19 To cast out all thine enemies from before thee, as the LORD hath spoken.

 

 

Written by Martyn Ballestero

October 22, 2016 at 12:56 pm

Posted in Christian Living

Tagged with

Expository Series

with one comment

Exciting News!!!

 

Thanks the vision and burden of Dr. Kenneth Bow, there is now a quickly growing resource for Apostolics that is written by Apostolics. Well known Apostolic Ministers have contributed to this series and their books are being added to the collection almost every week. So keep checking new additions to the series. No lover of the Word should be without these.

To my knowledge, this is the only Expository Series written by Apotolics!

Although the Expository Series has only been available for a few weeks, it can be found on Amazon. They are available also on e-book from other sites, such as Kobo, Scribd, Barnes & Nobles, and others. Enjoy!

 

apostolic-expository-series

Click On The Photo

Written by Martyn Ballestero

October 19, 2016 at 5:50 pm

Posted in God's Word

Tagged with , ,

I Don’t Take That Lightly

with 4 comments

 

I Don’t Take That Lightly.

 

1 Thess. 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

 

Allowed of God!

When I look at my life and realize what He has allowed me to have, to enjoy, to know, to see and to be… it makes so very thankful, amazed and humbled.

 

God Let Me:

  • Wake up this morning.
  • Live another day.
  • See my wife’s face one more time.
  • Have a sound mind.
  • Have strength to get out of bed and walk unassisted.
  • Still have a voice to praise Him.
  • Have a song in my heart about Him.
  • Have one more day to tell Him I love Him.
  • Have one more chance to go to His house.
  • Enjoy His Goodness

 

I Don’t Take That Lightly.

 

God Allowed Me To Have:

  • A revelation of the Oneness of the Godhead.
  • A revelation of holiness, inside and out.
  • Mercy and Truth.
  • A space and a place to repent.
  • My sins washed away through baptism in Jesus Name.
  • The Holy Ghost speaking in other tongues.

 

I Don’t Take That Lightly.

 

God Allowed Me To Have:

  • A wife who is loving, faithful and attentive.
  • Children who love me and honor me.
  • Children and their spouses who give themselves to the work of the Lord.
  • Grandchildren who are in church and live for God.
  • Loving and supportive parents, sisters and extended family.
  • Money to pay my bills
  • Extra to buy things I may not need, but I enjoy.
  • A house that is warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
  • A car that is comfortable and dependable.

 

I Don’t Take That Lightly.

 

God Allowed Me To Have:

  • A wife who loves me.
  • A wife who loves the Lord.
  • A wife who loves to go to church.
  • A wife who loves holiness.
  • A wife who never desired to imitate the world.
  • A wife who dresses beautifully and modestly.
  • A wife who prays with seekers in the altar.
  • A wife who loves to reach for the lost and the backslider.
  • A wife who sings for the glory of God.

 

I Don’t Take That Lightly.

 

God Let Me:

  • Have a heart that is so satisfied that nothing in the world is attractive to me.
  • See that He has never left me nor cast me away from His presence.
  • See my prayers answered and my needs supplied.
  • Walk through doors He opened for me.
  • Kept me from false doctrine and error.
  • Live in peace with my fellow brethren.
  • Enjoy the friendship of good godly men and women.

 

I Don’t Take That Lightly.

 

Jesus, I Will Always:

  • Need You!
  • Love You!
  • Thank You!
  • Praise You!
  • Serve You!
  • Tell Others Of Your Goodness!

 

I Don’t Take That Lightly.

 

 

Written by Martyn Ballestero

October 19, 2016 at 12:29 pm

Posted in Blessings, Thankfulness

Tagged with ,

World’s Largest Trading Post

with 3 comments

 

 

World’s Largest Trading Post

Old Jim and me was a standing on the corner of Broadway and Straight Street one afternoon some years back. We seen this old man wearing sandals, and he had big sign hung around his neck for everyone to see. A curious crowd stood in front of him. They were reading every word of the sign on his chest.

The big words at the top of the sign seemed to say it all. The World’s Largest Trading Post!

People were reading out loud with amazement and near unbelief. It was hard for us to hear all the comments, but from time to time we heard things like:

“How can this be?”

“How can they stay in business tradin’ good stuff for junk?”

“There’s gotta be catch somewheres!”

“This is hard to believe!”

 

Not every passerby took time to read the long list of the day’s specials. Yet there always seemed to be a cluster of potential customers reading every word of the sign.

In answer to someone’s question about the location of the trading post, the old man tried to hold his sign steady with one hand so others could still read as he pointed with his other hand showing the direction. Looking where he pointed, I could see a large crowd moving that way. Almost all of them were carrying bags that sure looked awful heavy.

We waited our turn to get close enough to see the small print. I started reading from the top down, and I read every word.

 

The World’s Largest Trading Post

Specializing In Even Swaps! No Money Needed!

 

Today’s Trade Specials

  • Beauty – for your ashes.
  • Oil of Joy – for your mourning.
  • Garment of Praise – for your spirit of heaviness.
  • Crown – for your cross.
  • New life – for your old life.
  • Hope – for your despair.
  • Eternal Life – for your sins.
  • Peace – for your turmoil.
  • Healing – for your sickness.
  • Strength – for your weakness.

 

Please Take Advantage Of Our Free Gifts And Services!

  • Broken Hearts Bound Up.
  • Sins Forgiven.
  • Sins Washed Away in Jesus Name Baptism.
  • Free Gift of The Holy Ghost.
  • Free Robe of Righteousness.
  • Free Garment of Salvation.
  • Free Services of the Great Physician.
  • Free Services of World’s Greatest Defense Attorney – (He’s never lost a case.)
  • Free Services of The Counselor.
  • Free Private Audience with the Prince of Peace.

 

Whatever Your Need, Just Ask!

  • Joy Unspeakable – Our shelves are loaded!
  • Peace that passeth understanding is always in stock!
  • Healing for every broken heart!
  • Liberty for all who are bound!

 

Our Motto: “You Have Not Because You Ask Not!”

We Specialize In Good Tidings for All People!

 

“What’s your name old man?” Jim asked when he finished reading the sign.

The old man turned his attention to Jim and his weathered and wrinkled face seemed to have an inner shine. With a slight smile on his lips and a bit of a twinkle in his eye he said, “Isaiah”.

I caught Jim’s eye and gave him the nod. We both turned and started in the direction of The World’s Largest Trading Post.

There was this large group of folks just a singing near the entrance. They sang with smiles on their faces and joy seemed to fill their voices as they motioned for us to come inside.

They sang:

The windows of heaven are open.

God’s blessings are falling tonight.

There’s joy, joy, joy in my heart,

Since Jesus made everything right.

I gave Him my old tattered garment.

He gave me a robe of pure white.

I’m feasting on manna from heaven.

And that’s why I’m happy tonight.

 

Old Jim and me? Well, he looked at me and nodded and I nodded back as he shifted the weight of his bag to the other shoulder. I picked mine own bag up and we both went inside!

 

 

 

References:

Isaiah 61:1-3, 10

Isaiah 9:6

Acts 2:38

 

 

Written by Martyn Ballestero

October 14, 2016 at 2:08 pm