Archive for the ‘Doctrine’ Category
Gates Without Fences
Gates Without Fences
A gate without a fence is like having standards in a church without enforcement. Some preachers say that they preach holiness and that they preach against sin, but they never name the sin nor enforce what they preach.
They brag about having a gate. They point at their gate. They might even decorate their little gate. But since there is no fence attached, the people feel they can live for God without any restrictions. Dress like they want. Go where they want. Watch what they want. Do what they want. Live like they want. They easily wander toward whatever worldly thing attracts them… Seemingly without consequence from their leadership.
Fences are built to keep the unwanted out. Fences are necessary for living Godly in an Ungodly World. Why wouldn’t you want a fence?
Advice from an old man? If you choose to put up a gate, make sure you include a good fence.
If you don’t, you will never be taken seriously as a man of God. You will have nothing but a congregation of world-minded members who are comfortable being carnal.
If a pastor is afraid to enforce doctrine and enforce separation from the world, because he may lose some of his members. He is not much more than a hireling in God’s Eyes. He is not pleasing to God. His congregation is trying to survive spiritually on pop-psychology type sermons and may be lost. They sing and preach about a Holy God, without wanting to be Holy themselves.
They Brag about their Gate. But, they don’t have a Fence!
(If You’re Serious About Being Saved. Make Sure You Have A Fence Around You For Protection.)
How Shall They Hear Without A Preacher?
Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Disclaimer:
Although I love and support Holy Ghost Radio, I do not represent them in any official capacity. I am not paid by them, neither have I been asked to speak on their behalf.
We Have Many Things To Be Thankful For This Year!
- The Revelation of the Mighty God in Christ.
- The Baptism in the Name of Jesus.
- The Holy Ghost!
- God’s provision and protection.
- Our family and our heritage.
- Our church.
- Our health and our home.
One thing that may not have crossed your mind to be thankful for this year is Holy Ghost Radio! We all love it and have it bookmarked on our computers and have downloaded the app for our cell phones and tablets.
Every week for many years someone has mentioned a sermon or song they’ve heard on Holy Ghost Radio. No other Apostolic Pentecostal resource has been continually more effective in reaching the lost, edifying the body of Christ, and strengthening the church.
Pentecost and the world have been blessed beyond measure by the efforts of Brother and Sister Jeff Hoffer and Holy Ghost Radio.
Reports of listeners receiving the Holy Ghost or receiving the Revelation of the Oneness of God continually pour in. We rejoice with them, upon hearing these wonderful reports.
Twenty years ago, Bro. Hoffer felt led to make Apostolic preaching available to the world. It’s free for everyone to listen to. However, it is a huge expense to keep this service available.
Computers and technical equipment need to be upgraded to keep up with fast-changing technology. Technicians, programmers, and staff are needed to keep HGR on the air.
This Is A Voice That Must Never Go Silent!
While I have not been asked to make a plea for support, Partners In Missions are desperately needed!
Pastor… My Prayer Is That You Make HGR A Part Of Your Missions Giving!
As an individual, I have done a very small part by giving a modest monthly pledge. HGR needs us to show our Thankfulness to them by partnering with them on a monthly basis. (Have you ever noticed how God blesses you when you give to missions?)
Please consider blessing this missionary endeavor. Join me in helping them spread this Gospel around the world!
Click The Link Below.
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Below Is A Letter From Brother Jeff Hoffer To The Friends Of Holy Ghost Radio
Hello Friends,
Back in 1999, when the Lord directed us to begin a radio ministry, we launched out in faith. Our first conference was in 2002 and we’ve been going strong ever since.
2019 has been a tremendous year for Holy Ghost Radio and we could not have done it without you.
We are streaming Truth 24 hours a day, across the world and love hearing all the testimonies of souls being saved and backsliders praying through!
We’re writing today because we are in need of your help.
We are trusting the Lord to help us keep up with the technology to continue to expand, add new channels, pay for the overhead, the app, website, servers, streams, internet, and upgrade our computers to support all of our streams, add new ones, etc.
Technology is expensive and we really need more churches to partner with us monthly, to help us grow, expand, and keep up with the times.
We are extremely thankful for the WPF adding Holy Ghost Radio to its offering list for Global Missions.
Please consider a monthly pledge offering, either personally or through your church, to support Holy Ghost Radio by continuing to fund the gospel to every nation.
You can give online at holyghostradio.com and click donate or send in a check to:
HGR
PO Box 711441
Santee, Ca 92072
Lastly, we’d like to let you know about an increase in our live conference fee, next year to $1,500 plus accommodations and travel expenses effective January 1, 2020.To save you accommodations & travel expenses you can go remote for $1,500
Thank you so much for being a faithful listener and supporter!
Sincerely,
Jeff & Jeannette Hoffer
Holy Ghost Radio
The Home Missions Director Was Afraid Of Twenty Words
The Home Missions Director Who Was Afraid Of Twenty Words!
I sat eating supper at the steakhouse with the Home Missions Director and the District Superintendent.
“Brother Ballestero, we have a total of ten Home Missions churches in our state that we want you to preach a week’s revival at, and we will pay you $700 a week. We have visitors and new converts that we don’t want to scare off. So here is a list of twenty words and phrases we don’t want you to say while preaching in these Home Missions Churches.” The Home Missions Director said while handing me a piece of paper.
I scanned down the list…
Adultery
Fornication
Homosexuality
Gay
Lesbian
Alternative lifestyle
Abortion
Pre-marital sex
Babies out of wedlock
Lust
Immoral
Jewelry
Rings
Immodest apparel
Short skirts
Men’s apparel
Hell
Damnation
Abomination
Trinity
I looked up from the list wanting to see the Superintendent’s reaction. He put his head down and cut another piece of steak. Without a smile or word, I pushed the list back to the Home Missions Director and shook my head from side to side.
The rest of the meal was finished in near silence.
That’s when this scripture came to my mind…
Isa. 30:10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
I Would Appreciate It If You Just Wouldn’t Mention Anything About…
I Would Appreciate It If You Just Wouldn’t Mention Anything About…
The car glided quietly down the Texas road. The only noise came from the breeze in the open windows of the car. The fact that there was no air conditioner in the car made it necessary to roll the windows down because of the heat.
“Brother Ballestero, tonight is the first night of our revival and you will notice three teenage girls that are the praise singers. You will notice also that they are all wearing mini-skirts. They have such great spirits. I am working with them on their attire and I would appreciate it if you just wouldn’t mention anything about mini-skirts or short skirts while you’re here.”
He said that while looking straight ahead. I never turned mine to look at him. Here was an icon in Texas asking me to not to say anything about mini-skirts.
“No problem!” I blurted out.
“Oh, thank you!” He said.
“Well, that was easy. If you would, I have a couple here who have just inherited $1,000,000.00 and they haven’t paid tithes yet. If you say anything while you are here about tithes, they will think I talked to you about it, get mad and may not pay tithes at all. So, if you just wouldn’t say anything about tithes while you’re here I will take it as a personal favor.”
“Not a problem, sir,” I said.
“Well then, just one more thing. I have a precious little Assemblies of God couple coming here and I am waiting for the Holy Ghost to reveal the revelation of the Oneness of the Godhead to them. So, if you wouldn’t preach on the Godhead while you’re here. I would take that as a personal favor also.”
“Relax brother,” I said.
“While I’m here, all I’m going to preach is Jesus!”
He looked at me with relief in his eyes and said, “Thank You.”
“The reason that all I am going to preach while I’m here is Jesus is that it sounds like no one here knows Him!” I said flatly while looking through the front window.
(I am not sure why that revival only lasted one night, but I have a good guess.)
The Princess Within Conference, By Nila Marxer
Two of my sisters, Nila Marxer and Carlene Branham just returned from the “Princess Within Conference” in Corona, Californina. This blog is part of Nila’s letter to me today about her experience with the inmates at the conference.
Nila Marxer
This prison field is filled with so many hungry women. There were 30 women who received the Holy Ghost for the first time, 18 renewed, and 12 signed up for baptism! We’ve been trying to get into this prison for almost 20 years, and finally we’ve had a breakthrough. Actually, women from this prison and the Chowchilla prison have been fasting on the 25th of every month for years for a Holy Ghost church service to come to the prisons.
I was humbled by their hunger and desire to hear the Word and to be loved.
The first picture was the entire group minus 2 people. The second was the Sunday morning picture of those who went. A lot had to go back home.
Fear will keep many people from doing the will of God and fulfilling His purpose for their life. Don’t say you want to be used of God, and not be willing to do what is needed to further the kingdom.
My life will never be the same. I went to the Princess Within Conference in Corona this weekend with anticipation of helping others, when in fact this experience helped me more than words can express.
Prayer and fasting had gone up for this conference, and when we completed the process of entering into the prison, setting up the equipment and chairs and setting out water bottles and sweets for each prisoner, you could already feel a powerful move of the Holy Ghost. Whitney Rhinehart began practicing songs, and others joined in. Everyone was involved. We did not come just to be a warm body, but we were needed. Those of us who had finished setting up were prayerfully awaiting the prisoners. When the door opened, and the women began filing in, worship had already filled the room. Some of the prisoners were worshiping and clapping as they began to find a seat. At first it took a while for the majority of the women to show up, because it was taco night, and they all wanted to eat the only good meal of the week. (The enemy was using everything to try to hinder this conference.)
The volunteers lined up to give gifts, shake everyone’s hand, welcome them, and thank them for coming. Some were shy, but you could see the majority of the prisoners craved love. Each song was effective, each sermon was powerfully anointed, and no one left unmoved. They came in worshiping like I haven’t seen in a regular church setting. Not just a few raised their hands, but every hand was raised, everyone clapped, everyone worshiped.
The first thing I noticed about the women, was that they looked like normal women, not like hardened criminals that I imagined. The majority of these women carried Bibles. Some of these Bibles were well-read and falling apart. In many of them, I could see various pages of notes stuck in-between the pages. I thought how many of us church people will go to church without our Bibles? How many church people take time to read God’s Word? Some of these women took notes on every scripture reference, and would look at their friends when a specific verse was mentioned, and would finish the scripture, reciting along with the various ministers. These women were well-acquainted with the Word, yet they were starving. Starving for the preached Word, starving for worship, starving for love, starving to feel the power of the Holy Ghost. My heart was lost to them within the first five minutes of meeting them.
On the first night, the preacher finished preaching, and opened the front for those who wanted the Holy Ghost. The women poured down to the altar. We volunteers stood in the front facing them, and soon were inundated by scores of women who wanted prayer. As soon as one received the Holy Ghost, there were many women all around them with their arms raised asking for prayer. I couldn’t stop crying as one by one these women were receiving the Holy Ghost. They fell on my neck, thanking me for coming, and showing them love. I wept with them, knowing they were my sisters-in-the-Lord. Not only did they need me, I needed them.
Before I walked into the prison yard, I had felt some apprehension, not knowing how this was going to unfold, but I can’t begin to explain the joy I had in being involved in this prison ministry, and the hunger I have to go back and continue to spread this precious Truth!
I was humbled by some of the testimonies I heard. Chaffey College was having a graduation ceremony at the same time we were having the Saturday morning service. One of the girls told me she was graduating with her bachelor’s degree. She said, “I had to make a decision whether I was going to walk and get my diploma, or come to church.” She was crying as she spoke, saying, “It was an easy decision to make. They can always mail me my diploma, but there won’t always be a Holy Ghost church service.”
Another girl said that she got her diploma, (missing the early morning session.) She hadn’t seen her family for seven years. Her family had come a long way to see her graduate and spend a little time with her. Knowing how little time these prisoners get to see their loved ones, the few moments together are cherished. Yet, this young lady walked down the aisle, got her degree, and then told her folks goodbye, because she had to go to church.
These testimonies gripped my heart, because those women cherish church above everything. So many women thanked me for loving them. (They were so easy to love.)
The first night I came home, I couldn’t sleep, seeing their faces lifted in prayer, feeling their hugs, and them gripping my hands tearfully asking me not to forget to pray for them. How can I forget?
It was during a worship song on Saturday when I felt God speak to me that I need to focus on His work. I had been focusing on my son who has been bound by sin and desperately needs deliverance. If I will focus on His kingdom and the souls that He loves, then He will focus on my prayers for my family and those that I love. It’s a win-win situation.
The last prisoner spoke to me as they were leaving and said that many churches have come to the prison, but never in her life has she felt such power and such love. She said, the love affected her more than anything. She felt loved by God, and by His people. She wondered why she had never felt love like this before.
I told her, “Honey, it’s the Holy Ghost love that you feel.”
My mind went back to the scripture, “This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.” (John 15:12 KJV) Oh, how He loves us, and them!
She said, “It has to be, because I’ve never seen anything like this in all my life. Please don’t forget us. Please come back and help us learn more!”
I thought of the scripture that says:
“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.”
Matthew 25:41-43 KJV
May that never be said about me. Lord, I will go.
Nila Marxer
The Reason I’m Not Your Friend Anymore.
The Reason I’m Not Your Friend Anymore.
It’s not because you’ve not been nice to me. Over the years you have been very friendly and treated me with kindness. You’re likable, but you have pushed me to the point I had to “Unfriend” you on Facebook. After I thought about that for a moment, I just went ahead and blocked you completely. Then, I unfollowed you on Instagram.
If it had been just a slight, a misunderstanding, or a difference of opinion, this would have never happened. We could have apologized and forgiven each other and gone forward. But not this time. This time it’s different. You’ve put me in this position. I had no choice.
If our paths ever cross, I can’t ever again say, “God bless you.” I once loved you, but now I am not allowed to even pray for you.
I really don’t owe you an explanation. If I were to even give you one, it would not be received well and would only make you defend yourself further. And, that’s part of the problem.
You see…
You’ve left your first love.
You’ve walked away from the Apostolic Doctrine of Acts 2:38.
You’ve lost your revelation of Holiness.
You’ve re-evaluated all of your standards and discarded them all.
You’ve turned your back on the revelation of One God.
You’ve turned your back on your revelation Jesus Name Baptism
You’ve lost your respect for your pastor. The one who first preached the truth to you.
Now, you refer to him as “That old one God preacher.”
Now, you are having people from the church over to your house to try and proselyte them.
Now you text and call your old church friends and talk against everything you’ve been taught.
If I Had Kept You As A Friend, I Would Have Been In Direct Disobedience To Scripture!
2 John 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
2 John 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
2 John 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
I Am Not Even Allowed To Go To McDonalds With You.
1 Cor. 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.
The Bible Cautioned Me About Even Talking To You.
Col. 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Col. 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily
You Have Departed From The Faith
Your Conscience Is Seared
You Now Believe Doctrines Of Devils
1 Tim 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1 Tim. 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron
God Has Turned You Over To A Reprobate Mind
Rom. 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient
God Has Allowed You To Be Filled With A Strong Delusion
2 Thess. 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2 Thess. 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2 Thess. 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness
The Bible Says For Me To Back Away From You
2 Tim. 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2 Tim. 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away
Because I love truth, I can’t be your friend anymore.
There will be no recovery for you.
When God turns you over, there is no restoration possible.
God wouldn’t let Samuel pray for Saul because he had crossed the line.
I won’t pray for you either.
I am disappointed in you.
What happened to you?
You know too much to go to hell.
It saddens me to say that I won’t see you in heaven.
I can’t be your friend anymore.
The Bible won’t let me.
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 