The Ballestero Blog

Unrealistic Expectations?

In the early 50’s my father, Carl Ballestero preached a revival for his dear friend Paul Jordan in Indianapolis, Indiana. Christian Tabernacle, located then at 38^th and Sherman Drive, was a revival church. Visitors came almost every service and many of them received the Holy Ghost.

One night a new lady received the Holy Ghost. Not only did she speak in tongues, she spoke in several different languages. Then she began to sing. She sang 17 songs in 17 different languages. It lasted for what seemed like an hour or so.

The saints were mesmerized. Everyone was amazed. No one ever remembered seeing or hearing of anything like this before. The new convert was ecstatic! Her experience stirred the congregation to jubilation.

At the altar call the next night, a bald headed man about 50 came down and prayed. He prayed until he was the last one in the altar. The saints finally gave up and left the pastor, the evangelist and his family. They alone remained to pray with the seeker.

After two hours of praying, the bald headed seeker finally began to speak in tongues. He spoke in tongues for an hour or more. By now it was way past midnight. My little sisters were asleep near the altar.

Baldy stopped praying. He kept his eyes closed and shook his head.

“It’s no use!” He said.

“What’s no use?” My father asked him.

“The Holy Ghost… I can’t get it!”

“You can’t get it?”

“No sir.”

“Man, what have you been speaking in for the last hour?” My father asked him.

“I don’t know, but I know it wasn’t the Holy Ghost!”

“How can you say it wasn’t the Holy Ghost?” Dad pushed the point.

“Because I didn’t sing those 17 different songs in 17 different languages!” Was his reply.

Although we may smile at what we consider to be unrealistic expectations, Baldy is not alone.

The Disciples thought the Kingdom of God was to be earthly.

James and John’s mother wanted her sons to get to sit on either side on Jesus.

Naaman thought he would be prayed for in a specific manner like Oral Roberts, Benny Hinn, or R.W. Shambach.

2Kings 5:11 But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.

Because of Naaman’s preconceived notions, he had to humble himself before he received his miracle.

So do we. Let God do His business His way.

We may speak in Tongues for an hour or for a minute, when we receive it, but it’s still the Holy Ghost!

God’s will for you today, may be in the ‘still small voice’ or in the’ rustle in the mulberry bushes.’

1Kings 19:11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:

1Kings 19:12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

It doesn’t have to be thunder and lightening to be God demonstrating Himself in your life.