The Ballestero Blog

(Dedicated to Apostolic Pastors)

What Else Could I Have Done?

The visitor closed the pastor’s office door behind him with a click of finality. They had talked many times, but this would be the last. The man who walked out wasn’t coming back to church. Well, he wasn’t coming back to church here.

Slowly lowering himself into his desk chair, the man of God searched his memory for all the opportunities he might have had to make this ending different. His heart was hurting in areas that medical science could not fix.

That nagging feeling of being a failure at what he did was surfacing again. It really didn’t seem to matter what the circumstances were. People that had been in his care were now gone. It felt personal to him. What else could he have done to stop those who left?

• Some backslid.
• Some got offended.
• Some wanted fewer standards.
• Some had personality problems with him.
• Some didn’t want a pastor.
• Some didn’t like the music.
• Some gave no reason, they just quit.

Was he a failure? He had spent a lifetime as a pastor. How come he couldn’t fix their problems? He should have the answers to most issues a pastor faces by now. Was he the problem? He knew that second-guessing himself would never result in anything positive. But he still wondered if he could have done more.

He Picked Up His Bible And Began To Study About Those Who Walked Away…

Abraham and Lot walked their separate ways.

Samuel watched Saul self-destruct.

Moses saw what rebellion and wrong friends did to Korah and 200 princes.

David’s own children brought him heartache.

Paul Couldn’t Stop Demas From Loving The World.

2 Timothy 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica;

Jesus Lost The Rich Young Ruler As A Disciple Because Of Money.

Mark 10:22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

Jesus Lost Followers Because Of What He Taught.

John 6:66  From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

John 6:67  Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

Jesus Lost Judas

• Judas showed enough potential to be placed in leadership.
• He 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.
• The closer someone is to you, the greater the pain when they hurt you.

Judas Lived On A Carnal Level And Was Oblivious To The Spiritual.

John 12:5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

Judas Let 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.

Judas Has A Personal Agenda That Was Separate From His Leader.

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.

Judas Received A Warning From The Lord But Continued 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.

Judas Saw The Same Miracles And Heard The Same Sermons But Was Unaffected.

Judas was one of the twelve that went out and preached about the kingdom of God and healed the sick.

Judas Planned His Move Carefully.

Matt. 26:16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

Like a chess player looking at the possible responses to his next move.

Like a politician encouraged by the negative sentiment of a carnal crowd.

Judas Was An Opportunist.

Matt. 26:16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

Judas Courted Those Who He Thought Could 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,

• Dinners, coffee and
• Coffee and cake sessions,
• Facebook likes,
• Text messages and phone calls.

Judas Possessed An Evil Spirit.

Luke 22:3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

Luke 22:4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.

Judas Fooled His Own Friends And Brothers.

John 13:26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

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.

Judas Got His Key Players In Place Before He Made His Move.

Luke 22:4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.

Luke 22:5 And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.

Luke 22:6 And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.

Judas Got A Divine Warning And Still Ignored 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.

Judas Got Revealed By The Lord And Had 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.

Judas Made His Move When He Thought The Odds Were In His Favor.

Matt 26:16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

Judas Was A Hypocrite.

Matt. 26:49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.

Judas Was Controlled By Satan.

John 13:27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

Judas Displayed False Affection Toward His Leader.

Matt. 26:48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.

Matt. 26:49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.

Judas Was Happy.

• Judas finally got his payday.
• He was glad it was finally over.
• He could go back to doing what he was doing before.

Judas Had 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,

Judas Tried 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,

Judas Woke 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.

Judas Repented 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.

Judas Hung Himself.

Matt. 27:5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

The pastor closed the Bible and leaned back in his chair recalling the words of Jesus to His disciples…

Luke 10:16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

1 Sam. 8:7 And the LORD said unto Samuel… for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me,

The pastor took a deep breath and sighed. He understood. There was nothing else he could have done. It wasn’t him, it was them!