Archive for the ‘God's House’ Category
The Desire To Be Cherished
The Desire To Be Cherished
“They do not love that do not show their love.” – Shakespeare
It’s A Basic Life Need
Cherish – Definition:
To hold Dear:
To Cultivate with Care and Affection
To Nurture
To Treasure, Prize, Value
To Feel And Show Affection For
Babies Desire To Be Cherished And Held.
- They cry often for their Mama’s touch.
- Children run to her to be comforted.
When Babies Are Not Cherished:
I read a few years ago about Romanian orphans who were given only the basic nourishment and hygiene. Soon the babies became withdrawn and unresponsive. They may be forever emotionally damaged… much like adults who are not cherished. They will almost always exhibit emotional problems and act out.
All Children Desire to Be Cherished.
Every child remembers if they were loved. Everyone remembers how their parents treated him or her when they were young. Not being cherished is something most difficult to survive.
Little Kids Ask Their Parents.
- Am I your favorite? Who do you love the most?
- How much do you love me?
- They are putting out feelers attempting to assure themselves that they are cherished.
Teenagers Desire To Be Cherished.
- They dream about it.
- They sing about it.
- They listen to music about it.
- They want to be loved.
- They want someone to cherish them.
- To complicate the matter, their hormones rage out of control during the process.
- Some girls never feel cherished by their father, so they seek elsewhere for male approval.
- They never felt cherished at home, so they look for someone to validate and approve of them.
- They just want to be cherished.
Sadly, the title of the song: “Looking for Love In All The Wrong Places,” has more truth than fiction.
During Courtship, Both Parties Practice Cherishing The Other Person.
- They say sweet things.
- They do sweet things.
- Treat each other with tenderness.
- The boy courts the girl and brings flowers and candy.
- They overlook each other’s imperfections.
My Father-In-Law, the late William R. Starr, gave me some wise insight before I even asked his daughter out on a first date. He said, “Men love with their eyes, but Women love with their ears.”
Dad Starr was telling me in man-talk, that a woman wants to hear that she is cherished! He was a very wise man.
All Husbands And Wives Desire To Be Cherished
Every woman wants to know she’s #1. So does every man. When you hold your wife in your arms and tell that you love her, she wants to feel your words coming from your heart, and not just your mouth.
If you are a wise man, you will NEVER stop courting your wife and affirming your love for her and expressing it often. The words, “I love you!” have a very short shelf life. You need to say it every day!
Flowers, cards, candy, dates and accomplishing ‘honey-do-lists’ with a smile, sure helps keep life wonderful at home.
Every Prospective Groom Says, “Will You Marry Me?” He is hoping he will be cherished and loved.
Every Prospective Bride Says, “Yes” She is hoping she will be cherished and loved.
To The Wife:
Don’t settle for less than being cherished. Likewise, cherish him. It’s a two-way street.
To The Husband:
Sir, you are to love your wife As Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it. You won’t easily give your life for someone you don’t cherish. The Lord meant for the husband to cherish his wife with his very own life. It’s really not hard.
Jacob Cherished Rachel.
He worked seven years to get her as his wife, and was given the wrong one. The Bible just says: “It seemed but a few days, for the love he had for her.”
David Never Cherished Michal
He always referred her to as “Saul’s Daughter.” He never said that he loved her. He never referred to her as his wife. That may be a reason why she acted out so badly.
The Proverbs 31 Wife
Proverbs 31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
“He Praiseth Her”: The word praiseth here is – Halal
HALAL – haw-lal’;
- To shine; hence
- To make a show, (let everyone know)
- To be (clamorously) foolish; (enjoy with enthusiasm)
- To rave; (to go on and on with excited appreciation)
- To boast, (brag in public)
- To celebrate, (honor every achievement)
- To foolishly glory, (go overboard in expressing praise)
- To sing, (to express your emotion as deeply as possible, sing His praises.)
- To praise, (to say every nice thing you can)
- To rage, (to be wild about)
When joined with the abbreviated form of God’s name “Yahweh” = Hallelujah. That’s where the word Hallelujah comes from. (Saying Hallelujah like saying 10,000 praises to Jehovah)
When a man goes to this extent, of ‘Halal-ing” his wife, she will feel cherished and will perform unbelievable things for her home and family because she knows she has the backing of the man she loves.
In like manner, when the same man goes to this extent to Halal The Lord Jesus… there is no telling what the Lord will do for him.
Not Everyone Has Been Cherished In Life, But There Is Great News!
God Cherishes His People.
They Are The Apple of His Eye
Zech. 2:8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts… he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.
(Warning: Don’t mess with any one the Lord cherishes!)
God Protected Israel In Goshen
- Egyptian Dogs wouldn’t bark against the Israelites.
- No Plagues came nigh them.
God Protected Israel In The Wilderness
- Provided in the wilderness.
- There was no sickness.
- No one’s clothes wore out.
God’s Desire To Be Cherished By Man
Yes, you say you love the Lord, but do you cherish him? Jesus wants to know for sure that you cherish Him before He can use you.
Jesus to Peter
John 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
John 21:16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
John 21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
David
Psalm 137:5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.
Psalm 137:6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.
He was saying he loved God’s house more than anything in the world. David also said, “Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
He cherished the things of God! God said that David was a man after God’s own heart. Was David perfect? Oh no. He was far from perfect. But the way he cherished everything about God, made God smile upon him.
The Jealousy of God – Is Another Way Of Saying He Just Wants To Be Cherished.
2 Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
God Desires Man To Cherish Him
Matthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
The Lord Knows The Difference Between Lip Service And Heartfelt Expressions Of Love.
- Men that cherish God – Worship
- Men that cherish God – Come to His House
My Visit To See Marcia, The Girl I Wanted For My Wife, In 1965
Before our engagement, in the early stages of our courtship, I once closed a revival service on Sunday night in Fort Worth, TX and drove 24 hours straight through to Albion, MI… just to see a little Miss Marcia June Starr for one hour. I arrived after 10:30 pm, left before midnight and drove two hours back to my home in South Bend, IN. It’s never a sacrifice to see the one you love.
You’re Not Faithful To God’s House?
- Don’t tell me you cherish God and you can’t make it to church.
- You don’t cherish Him if you layout of church!
- It’s never a sacrifice to see the one you love.
Like David, we should all say, “I was glad when they said unto me let us go unto the house of the Lord.”
Jacob Cherished The Birth Right
- Jacob had major character flaws I’m sure.
- But he cherished the same Birthright that Esau despised, so God chose to love Jacob and discard Esau.
- God cherished Jacob and said, ‘Jacob Have I loved, and Esau have I hated.’
- Make God love you too by cherishing those things, which are Godly and eternal.
Don’t Tell Me You Cherish The Lord Jesus…
- If You Don’t Pay Tithes.
- If You Hate Holiness.
- If You Aren’t Faithful To His House.
- If You Don’t Pray.
- If You Don’t Worship.
- If You Bring Disunity To His Church.
- If You Rebel Against His Word.
Sing Like You Cherish Him.
Pray Like You Cherish Him.
Talk Like You Cherish Him.
Dress Like You Cherish Him.
God is Jealous Of What You Cherish.
Amp Bible 1 John 2:15 Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.
You Don’t Cherish The Lord If…
- If Someone Has To Beg You To Come To Church
- If Someone Has To Beg You To Worship
- If Someone Has To Beg You To Pray
Think about the words the next time you sing: “So, I’ll Cherish The Old Rugged Cross”
The Old Rugged Cross
George Bennard 1913
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain:
So, I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.
In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.
To the old rugged cross, I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.
The Lord Cherished Us Even In Our Sins.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
We Love Him Because He First Loved Us!
Here’s Your Homework For Today:
1. Tell Jesus that you love Him!
- Tell Him from your heart that you love Him.
- Yes, this very moment… say, “Jesus, I love you with all my heart!”
- Put your heart into it. He can tell.
2. Next, Go Tell Your Spouse And Your Family That You Love Them.
- Put your heart into it.
- They can tell.
The Holier Than Thou Church
The Holier Than Thou Church
It was Wednesday night Bible Class. Brother Dan sat on the front row. He always seemed to have a smile on his face. His recent discharge from the Air Force had allowed him, his wife and two kids to relocate closer to his wife’s family.
Dan was a gifted musician. He blessed the church with his saxophone playing. He had only been a part of this new church about 3 weeks or so. He was readily accepted and seemed to fit in.
The pastor had warmly received him and his family into fellowship because Dan’s former pastor had recommended they transfer there. Dan and his family had been raised in a very conservative church.
The only immediate difference Dan could see was that in this new church they wore wristwatches and in his old church they didn’t.
The pastor was teaching his class from a small lectern in front of the pulpit. During the course of his Bible study, he noticed that Bro. Dan wasn’t wearing a watch.
Having been raised with great respect for those with convictions and a desire for holiness, the pastor honored Bro. Dan.
Yet he sensed a potential hazard and attempted to address it openly, yet as careful as he could.
The Pastor stood in front of the congregation as said, ”Bro. Dan, you and your family are a gift from God to our church. I am so glad you are here! What a blessing you have been already. I love your saxophone playing.”
The church readily responded with a hearty amen and hand clapping.
“I notice that you don’t wear a watch. I also understand that was the teaching of the church you were in before you came here.”
Bro. Dan nodded in agreement. The smile was still on his face.
“I honor you for that. Thank God for those that are trying to be careful in a world that tries to push all the boundaries.
“My Pastor taught me not to make light of people’s convictions. They might be right.”
The people said amen, and so did the smiling Bro. Dan.
“I guess you’ve noticed that most of us here have a watch on.” The preacher said as he pointed to his own black wristwatch.
“We try to be careful here how we dress. Up to now, we have used watches for the purpose of getting to work, school, and church on time, and not for ornamentation.
“What I do not want you to do my Brother, is to go out and buy yourself a wristwatch and wear one because the rest of us are. I am afraid that you will injure your conscience. I can’t let you do that.
“Promise me you won’t injure your conscience and buy a watch just because you can, and hurt your walk with God.”
Brother Dan nodded and grinned.
“On the other hand,” the Pastor said, “If you don’t buy a watch, be careful and don’t let a holier-than-thou spirit get on you. If you don’t buy a watch, that’s fine, but don’t sit back and look at saints and at a Pastor with watches and think to yourself that you have more holiness convictions than anyone here. That gets dangerous.
“What happens when you do that is you begin to feel superior, and before very long the enemy may speak into your spirit and say, ‘How can the Pastor help you? You are already closer to God than he is.’
“You then wind up with an unteachable spirit and you won’t even mean too. One of the signs of the Holy Ghost is that it is easy to be entreated.
“Before you would ever do that and allow yourself to feel superior to your Pastor, I will order you to buy two wristwatches and wear one on each wrist until you get over that spirit.”
The Pastor, Bro. Dan and the church all shared a hearty laugh.
At the next service, Bro. Dan showed his pastor his new watch and smiled. The Pastor smiled too. Bro. Dan was teachable. He didn’t want a holier than thou spirit.
The Get Run Over Church
The Get Run Over Church
“Worship is everybody’s business,” my father said with fervor into the microphone! The song service had been going for twenty minutes or so and the church was getting close to breaking through into another level in the Spirit.
The same old six and seven who always worshipped with all of their hearts, still were. The rest just seemed content tonight to let them do the worshipping for them. This was not their lucky night. Dad wasn’t going to let them off that easy.
Don Zhiss
Big Don Zhiss was enjoying his liberty and began walking around with joy and praising God with great animation. He rolled on the floor. He ran the aisles. He kept running even though no one was following. His gray hair didn’t slow him down.
The song leader was doing a great job, but sometimes, the best of churches can get in a rut. Even good people need to break out of them once in a while.
There was a good spirit of worship in the house that night. The service was not dead. But like a cook tasting the food on the stove and saying, “I think it needs a little more salt.” That’s what my Dad was doing.
He said, “Alright, I want all of you men to get out in the aisles and worship. Men should be the leaders in worship in the church. Come on men. Get out of your comfort zones. Lift your hands in the air. You may not do what I do, but everybody ought to do something for Jesus!”
Like the good obedient people they were, the men gathered self-consciously into the aisles. Even the timid and quiet ones came too. The music was still playing and hands were still clapping.
Several pairs of eyes watched as Bro. Ted moved into the aisles. He had never ventured there in recent memory. He wasn’t a tall or big man. His timid and quiet nature made him seem smaller. He loved to pray, sing and clap his hands, but no one had ever seen him get demonstrative in praise before. They couldn’t wait to see what he would do.
It was quite an accomplishment for him. He stood by the 3rd row in the center aisle facing the pulpit. He raised his hands, closed his eyes and worshipped freely for several minutes. This was something! Bro. Ted was getting close to a breakthrough.
The saints were making real progress. Many were shouting and enjoying the presence of the Lord. People were speaking in tongues all over the house.
Big Don Zhiss began to feel what he called the ‘anointment.’ He felt that the Lord was impressing him to run the aisles, but in a new dimension. He just knew the Lord was telling him to run the aisles with his eyes closed.
Not being slow to respond, Bro. Don charged down the center aisle, full steam ahead. His nearly 300 pounds of mass caused smaller men to step aside, but not Bro. Ted.
Bro. Ted was clueless. His back was to Bro. Don and besides that, his eyes were closed too. All of the worshippers who believed in the ‘watch and pray’ concept, could sense impending doom.
Don hit Ted’s small frame like he was a leaf in the wind. Don barely stumbled. Ted was totally flattened out, face down.
Ted never opened his eyes. He slowly stood back up as concerned saints held their breath. Finally, he stood erect again. By this time, Don had made another lap and came charging down the aisle again.
Once more he waylaid Bro. Ted, and reduced him to a rag doll on the rug. Don didn’t seem to notice the damage he’d done.
Still, Ted tried to continue on without opening his eyes. He was so close to getting something from the Lord. He was finally able to rise up in a kneeling position with his hands still raised when Don came around the 3rd time.
Bro. Don made the corner and laid him out once more. By this time, Bro. Ted had all the worship he could enjoy. He crawled on his hands and knees back down his row and seemed to be content to praise the Lord in the safety of his own seat.
Bro. Zhiss kept running!
(Bro. Ted was never seen in the aisles again.)
The Head Polishing Church
The Head Polishing Church
Don Zhiss rocked his 290 lb. frame back and forth between the church’s theatre seats. He occasionally would stop and pat his right foot on the hardwood floor impatiently waiting to be called on. In his own words, he was ‘cited’ about getting to testify. He might be in his late 60’s, but them old ladies were just taking way too much time testifying and there was no fire in what they were saying. He couldn’t wait. Come on already!
Don was Jewish. He was a 100% literal son of Abraham. At Studebaker’s plant one day, a fellow employee named Lee Silvers had told him that the Jews had killed Jesus. Don was so upset. He wanted to talk about that some more. Lee brought him to a basement church named Christ Temple on the corner of Elwood Avenue and Elmer Street in South Bend, Indiana.
The preacher preached Don to the altar that night. He repented and received the Holy Ghost. Don also received the revelation of Jesus name baptism and was promptly baptized. When he understood that the Jesus in the New Testament was the Jehovah of the Old wrapped up in flesh, he became unstoppable. He never stopped shouting when someone talked about the Mighty God in Christ.
Into his senior years, Don would lead victory marches around the church and run the aisles. He rolled on the floor sometimes while he testified. If the service was tight, Don had a way of knocking the kinks out of it. He was a worshipper that would have made King David stop and take notice.
He was also highly uncoordinated and unpredictable. When running behind him, the men all knew that at anytime Don might stop and turn around and run the other direction, bringing much confusion and injury to the runners.
This night, Don was fired up. He wanted to testify about Jesus Name. A first time visitor, named Casey, sat in front of Don.
Finally, he got called on. He raised his voice and flailed his arms pacing back and forth. He shook the row of seats in front of him with both hands. The people clapped and shouted amen to encourage to him.
The half a teaspoon or so of saliva, that Don was known to carry in his mouth, began to spray has he exuberantly raved about Jesus name and the Holy Ghost.
Bald headed Casey sat unmoving and frozen while this giant of a man ranted behind him. When Don noticed he had just sprayed saliva all over the visitor’s head, he never missed a beat. While waving one arm high in the air and without so much as looking at what he was doing, Don pulled a used handkerchief out of his pocket with the other hand and began to rub the visitor’s head.
He wiped the spit off of Casey’s head while his eyes stayed glued on the mortified pastor. He didn’t stop with a simple wipe but kept on unconsciously polishing the now shiny dome while waving the other hand and bragging on Jesus.
Oh, by the way, Casey got the Holy Ghost that night.
Why Pastor Robert Cavaness Sr. Wouldn’t Come To The Phone.
Why Pastor Robert Cavaness Sr. Wouldn’t Come To The Phone.
If Robert C. Cavaness was anything, he was a Christian Gentleman. He always seemed to be thoughtful of others and would often go out of his way to help someone. Even if it meant emptying his own pockets. He was a man who never ignored, or slighted anyone.
Friendship was something he never took lightly. If he ever called you his friend, you knew you were blessed for life because of his friendship. When he was needed, he came, never even expecting to be reimbursed. He was big-hearted and generous to a fault.
My father, Carl J. Ballestero, was blessed to be a close friend of dear Brother Cavaness. They stayed in each other’s homes, preached in each other’s churches, preached conferences together, traveled across the country together, and even went on missions’ trips together. They regularly talked on the phone, as well.
Brother Cavaness was a praying man whose personal devotions with God became a subject that caused great awe and respect among all those who knew him. I personally have walked into his living room at five am and seen him sitting in a chair with his open Bible in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. That’s how he started his day.
If you were ever honored to be in service with him in Shelbyville, Indiana and you got there early enough for pre-service prayer, then you’ve heard him pray. Once you’ve heard him pray, you never forgot it either. The man could talk to God.
Then came that fateful night. The night when Pastor Robert Cavaness Sr. wouldn’t come to the phone. It was a Sunday night and about twenty minutes before service time. The phone rang in his office. Bro. Cavaness had asked one of the men to sit at his desk and take calls while he went into the sanctuary to pray before church.
“This is the Apostolic Tabernacle.” The baritone voice said as it greeted the caller.
“Praise the Lord, Is Bro. Cavaness there?” the caller inquired.
“Yes, he is, but he can’t be bothered right now.”
“Well, I need to talk to him and I need to talk to him now, if at all possible. It’s very urgent!”
“I’m very sorry, but it is not possible to disturb him right now.”
“This is Brother Ballestero, tell him it’s me, and that I need to speak to him now. He will come to the phone if he knows it’s me calling. Tell him I said it’s important.”
“I am very sorry Brother Ballestero, but he will not be able to speak to you now.
“Why not?” he asked.
He will not speak to anyone right now.”
“Why not?” he asked again.
“Pastor told me to tell all the callers that he cannot come to the phone right now, but for me to write down the names and the numbers of each caller. He said the reason he couldn’t talk to anyone on the phone now is that he is currently talking to the most important person in the whole world. He’s praying. And, he gave me specific orders to never disturb him while he was praying. He refuses to be interrupted when he’s talking to God. He said he would return all his calls after service.”
“I see.” Said the stunned and deflated voice of the caller.
“Thank you for calling, Brother Ballestero. Bro. Cavaness will be happy to return your call as soon as he can. I’ll tell him you called.”
Visiting A Pentecostal Cracker Barrel
Visiting A Pentecostal Cracker Barrel
I constantly travel, and stopping at a Cracker Barrel is always a good choice for me, for this I always use the best equipment as a packable backpack which is perfect for light traveling. I know the menu by heart and can count on getting good food without taking any chances on some unknown greasy spoon.
That being said, I always seem to find myself looking at the artifacts on the walls, and those suspended from the ceiling. They are now, just old relics. They’re just yesterday’s memories on display. As a senior citizen, I find myself looking at what used to be a common everyday commodity or possession for most of my generation and my parents too. Now, they are unneeded, unwanted and only found in museum-type settings as something we now smile about in amusement. We have moved on from those days would be repulsed to go back to that era. Even though we dreamily brag about the good old days, we have no desire to go back in time.
Cracker Barrel isn’t the only place where yesterday is a memory. Some Pentecostal Churches might fit that description as well. Quite often our guests can pick up on the fact that there is even a church inside of a church. Inserted in the midst of a progressive and more liberal-minded membership, is often a smaller group of the old saints who refuse to change.
The old ones, don’t wear the skinny jeans or the short tight skirts. Their hairstyle hasn’t changed much in the last 60 years. But they sure know how to live for God and have church. Those old fogeys might not do well on computers or a smart phone. Texting may also be something they’ve never done.
But, What They Have Done, Is:
- Attend all night prayer meetings.
- Stayed in prayer beside a sickbed until something miraculous happened.
- Been carried home from church, too drunk in the Holy Ghost to walk.
- Never owned a TV.
- Never cut her long hair or worn anything in public that looked like man’s apparel.
- Sang out of the old songbook, and still shouted.
- Came early for pre-service prayer.
- Stayed late after church, and fellowshipped.
- Never questioned or crossed their man of God.
- Said “Amen” during the preaching.
- Faithfully paid their tithes.
- Did everything they could think of to bless their pastor and his family.
- Loved holiness and never questioned standards.
- Never posted their favorite movies or TV shows on social media, they like to keep it private, so they stick to watching US netflix internationally.
- Had no desire to look like, dress like or act like the world.
- Their old Bible was heavily marked from daily reading.
- They were used in travail and intercessory prayer for others.
- Their testimonies had that “New Jerusalem” ring to it.
- There was a tenderness in their praise and worship.
- There was strong faith in their hearts that God could do anything.
- They had no hospital insurance.
- They had no food stamps nor received unemployment.
- They actually prayed, “Give us this day our daily bread.”
- They didn’t try to fit-in to the worldly crowd.
- Their godly style of dress made them stand out from the world.
And, those are just a few identifying things about them!
The new generation has church their way. The older saints watch them sing songs that don’t touch the soul, produce joy or bring comfort. The only way to even know all the words to the song is to look up on the screen. The 24 repeats of the seven-word chorus often make them wince.
Their eyes see the younger people rejoice or lift their hands and cry. Some older folks think about the words of the song and somehow don’t always feel the same response or heart reaction. They might even ask themselves, “How come I don’t feel what they’re feeling?” All older saints know that the Scriptures commanded us to sing a new song. Yet it never commanded anyone to quit singing the old ones.
Ezra 3:11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.
Ezra 3:12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:
Ezra 3:13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.
Everyone rejoiced that there was a Temple! The young men rejoiced loudly, but the old men cried loudly because they remembered what the first temple was like. They realized this wasn’t exactly like it used to be and that day seemed forever gone. If the truth were known, it is.
When holiness is scoffed at and called names. When godly dressed young ladies are still called grandma by church folk. When virginity is mocked, and modesty disrespected by the fashion-conscious crowd. It would seem that some churches have become a Pentecostal Cracker Barrel.
Many Of Our Churches Now Have A Heritage Sunday:
- Why?
- What’s that for?
- Do they truly want to go back to the old-fashioned Pentecostal ways?
- Are they all serious about changing about renouncing their make-up, jewelry and immodest clothing?
- Are they actually seeking out the old paths?
- Is that when the old preachers get invited to preach in his old-school style so they can all look at how it used to be preached?
- Are we interested in maintaining this Apostolic Message like was handed to us?
So, when old visiting saints come into our sanctuaries, do they feel like they are in some sort of religious Cracker Barrel where the food tastes good but the service only reminds them what Pentecost used to be?
Attending My First Jesus Conference – Review
Attending My First Jesus Conference – Review
We all sat down on the ground. About five thousand of us men, plus the women and children.
The hill faced the Sea of Galilee, sloping gently downward. People were busy chatting with their neighbors and acquaintances. Expectations ran high. We had all come to hear Jesus teach and hoped to see a miracle or two.
It had been a deal though, because of all the expenses. When I first arrived, I was required to stable my mule in their facilities. If I didn’t, my mule would be moved and I would be fined. The stable fee was 4 shekels per hour.
Security searched us all for weapons or anything else they thought might be dangerous. Some kid in the line ahead of me had a slingshot and five smooth stones in his pouch. He was told that those items would be taken from him in the name of the King Herod.
Outside the gate, some boys were selling Palm Branches for 60 pence each or two for 100 pence. I bought two.
At the main gate, some guy sat at a table and collected the entrance fee of thirty pieces of silver per service. His name tag said, Matthew. Many speculated that the cost was to offset the rental of the conference space. No money was ever given to any of the speakers, so was just to cover the cost of promotion, advertising and operating expenses, I guess.
Everyone who was pre-registered was given a small piece of parchment with their personal information written on it which was to be to hung around the neck. Mine simply said:
Benjamin
Thomas’ son
Tribe of Judah
The headquarters hotel for this event was, The Inn. The prices there were about double the normal rate. I paid one hundred and ninety pieces of silver a night for mine, plus tax. I wasn’t sure how long the conference was going to last but I could only stay two nights. The man at the counter told the people in the line behind me that they had no more rooms available and recommended they go down the street to see if Stable 6 had anything available.
Big signs were everywhere warning potential vendors against setting up tables or the selling of any wares. Rumor was that at the last Jesus Conference, Jesus had overturned some tables and drove the merchants away with a whip. The Scribes Division was unhappy because they couldn’t sell their books, papers or novelties at the Jesus Conference.
Friends told me to come about two hours early to make sure I could get a good seat. I did and sat there on the ground in the VIP Section, which cost extra, beside my best friend Nick. Everyone else called him by his full name, Nick O’Demus. He was my neighbor. The pre-service was about to start. Nick said he hoped to see some water turned into wine or something because he was really thirsty.
The service opened with Sabbath School Division in charge and they introduced a young man as a former Prodigal whose testimony was that he used to attend Sabbath School every week, but then one day he ran away from home and lost everything he owned. He said he wound up slopping hogs for a living and had nothing to eat. But, then he remembered his Sabbath School teacher telling him about some other kid who had also ran away and then changed his mind and came back home, and when he did his father was very happy to see him.
The former Prodigal said that the story so inspired him he just had to come back home to thank his Sabbath School Teacher for the good story. Everyone clapped and they took up an offering of 789,000 pieces of silver to help finance the Departmental expenses.
Then unexpectedly, a woman named Miriam, ran to the center of the crowd and began shaking her tambourine and several hundred women joined her. They all played their tambourines, while they swirled and danced for about a half an hour or so. Everyone stood, clapped their hands and shouted praise to Jehovah.
Illustrated by Paul Mann
Next was the Reach The Gentiles Division and their promotion. The Director began to talk about a man who was a Samaritan that found some guy on the ground who was bleeding and unconscious. He was a victim of terrorism and nobody would help him. But, this missionary bound up the man’s head and arms and put him on a mule and took him to a boarding house of some kind.
Then the Director told about a Roman Soldier who prayed and fasted a lot but didn’t know about Jesus, so some guy named Pete heard about him and went and preached to him and his whole family and they joined the local Synagogue.
The story was so compelling that people starting getting up off the ground and ran toward the speaker and began to throw money at his feet. 2,490,000 pieces of silver was gathered up and the people rejoiced.
I looked around to see if Jesus was there yet. He might have been but I couldn’t see anyone that matched His description.
We all started getting hungry, so it was a good thing that a local catering service called Small Lad’s Fish Sandwiches was there! The sandwiches were quite good and then the Janitorial Crew just got up and started walking around through the crowd picking up our leftovers. There were signs everywhere warning us about the huge fine for littering. They picked up 12 huge baskets full.
People off the right started cheering and I strained my neck to see better. It was Jesus walking slowing toward Speakers area. A woman on the ground crawled up and touched the hem of His garment and got a healing miracle. Everyone clapped and rejoiced. People started lining up and the next thing you knew people were getting healed left and right. This went on for several hours.
Nick said that he was starting to believe that this Jesus man was actually a prophet of God or maybe even the Messiah. I said, “He’s amazing!”
The service eventually ended about sunset so Nick and I hurried out of the service to beat the crowd to The Two Sisters Restaurant, run by Mary and Martha. The food there is really great. Go there if you ever get a chance!
As for going to another Jesus Conference? I really do want to go again, but oh my, It sure does cost a lot of money to go to a big Jesus Conference now days. Maybe next year, I need to save up!
The Deadliest Plague Of All
The Deadliest Plague Of All
Some Of The World’s Worst Plagues
- The Back Plague – 375 Mil.
- Influenza – largest killer in USA – 50 Mil.
- Plague of Justinian – 25 Mil.
- Plague of Athens – killed 1/3 of population
- 3rd Pandemic of Bubonic- 60,000 a week
- Cholera – 120,000 per day. 3.5Mil cases yr.
- SARS – Global Threat #7
- Malaria – 660,000 per day
- Smallpox – 500 Mil.
The Worst Plague In The Church!
- Not Adultery
- Not Worldliness
- Not Rebellion
The Worst Plague In The Church Is Gossip!
- Gossip Def: Speaking negative about a person not present.
- (Speaking negative with them present not good either.)
God’s Law About Hurting Others
Exodus 21:22 If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.
MSG. Exodus 21:22 “When there’s a fight and in the fight a pregnant woman is hit so that she miscarries but is not otherwise hurt, the one responsible has to pay whatever the husband demands in compensation.
- If the Church is God’s Bride, and Spiritual babies are about to be born…
- Imagine the Father’s reaction when church folks get into a big fight and that fight stops Revival.
- Everyone can expect the Father to exact damages.
- He will exact damages. If not now, He will in the Judgment.
Know When To Keep Your Mouth Shut!
Proverbs 21:23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
In the Heat of Anger – It’s A Good Time To Keep Your Mouth Shut!
Psalm 116:11 I said in my haste, All men are liars.
When You Don’t Have All The Facts – It’s A Good Time To Keep Your Mouth Shut!
Proverbs 18:13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
If Your Words Make Your Family, Friends or Church Look Bad – It’s A Good Time To Keep Your Mouth Shut!
James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
If You Think You Might Regret Your Words Later – It’s A Good Time To Keep Your Mouth Shut!
Proverbs 6:2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
Proverbs 14:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
When You Are Tempted To Tell Something That May Not Be 100% True – It’s A Good Time To Keep Your Mouth Shut!
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Proverbs 6:16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
Proverbs 6:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
Proverbs 6:18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
Proverbs 6:19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
- A talebearer has no place in God’s Favor!
- It violates God’s Law and Commandment – “Do unto Others”
- Love thinks no evil.
- Speech that tears people down, travels like wildfire. Good news goes at a snail’s pace.
- Sowing discord is hellish.
- It’s from the pit.
- It’s from Satan himself.
- Is it your intention to destroy?
- They that live by the sword, shall die by the sword.
If Your Words Are Meant To Get Even Or To Give Someone A “Piece Of Your Mind” – It’s A Good Time To Keep Your Mouth Shut!
Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
If You Know That What You’re Saying Can Hinder Revival In Your Church – It’s A Good Time To Keep Your Mouth Shut!
Galatians 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
When The Subject Is None Of Your Business – It’s A Good Time To Keep Your Mouth Shut!
1 Peter 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.
2 Thessalonians 3:11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
If Your Words Will Damage Another’s Reputation Or Character – It’s A Good Time To Keep Your Mouth Shut!
Proverbs 16:27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
Proverbs 18:8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
If Your Words Will Damage A Friendship – It’s A Good Time To Keep Your Mouth Shut!
Proverbs 17:9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
Bottom Line:
If you want to gossip and be a talebearer, I can’t help you.
(You don’t even know what spirit ye are of.)
- God may not even try to help you if you don’t want to change.
- He may not even try to save you if you don’t want to change.
- Why would He want that kind of spirit in heaven?
If You Want God To Be Good To You, You Must Be Good To His Children!
- Gossip is a bigger terror and threat to God’s Church than ISIS.
- Gossip is like a hit and run driver.
- Gossip is not much different from a drive-by-shooting.
All We Have Is Our Name.
All We Have Is Our Character and Reputation.
- Gossiper? Did it ever dawn on you that you are a tool of Satan?
- That your every hurtful word is an abomination to God?
How to Stop Gossip?
- Change the subject.
- Say something positive
- Confront the gossip politely. Yet frankly. (“That sounds like gossip to me!”)
- Point out missing info in the story.
- Walk away.
- Turn the gossip into a prayer for the victim.
We All Must Give An Account For Our Every Idle Word.
Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
In One Church That I Know:
If You Commit Moral Sin…
- The Pastor tries to be patient and merciful.
But If You Gossip And Don’t Stop After First Or Second Admonition,
- You are no longer welcome.
Gossip Against A Minister.
1 Timothy 5:19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
- Against A Minister, receive not an accusation – (Don’t listen to the accusation)
- There must be at least two actual witnesses before it can be told. That shows respect.
- Why not show your brother in Christ the same respect? Why not two witnesses for him too?
With Gossip:
- Unity is destroyed.
- Revival will stop.
- Friendships are broken.
- Holy Ghost is grieved.
David Protected His Brother’s Inheritance!
1 Samuel 16:11-13
The first mention of David finds him tending sheep. He was the youngest of many brothers. The eldest son received two-thirds of the father’s possessions for his inheritance and the rest divided up the remaining third among themselves.
David was guarding sheep that would never be his. They would wind up being his brother’s sheep. He was in charge of his brother’s inheritance. He was told by the father to guard his brother’s inheritance.
In like manner, we too are guardians of our brother’s inheritance. All your brother has is his good name, (his inheritance) and you are the guardian of that. You may even have to defend it against a lion or a bear.
Remember that you too have a brother whose job it is to defend your good name. You sure want him to do a good job. Why don’t you protect your brother’s inheritance like David did?
Like Yours, Your Brother’s Good Name Is Worth Defending Too!
The Spirit Of The Church Is Worth Saving!
The Deadliest Plague Of All Can Only Be Stopped By You!
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 