Archive for the ‘Holiness’ Category
It’s Come As You Are, Not Stay As You Are!
It’s Come As You Are, Not Stay As You Are!
Come As You Are? Yes.
Stay As You Are? No.
Most churches have promoted an open-door policy to every new visitor. They want everyone to feel welcome to attend. Although the Bible doesn’t actually say, “Come as you are,” churches reach for everyone. Apostolic Pentecostal Churches are no different. (But, it might be amazing to see what some actually are willing to wear to God’s House using the ‘come as you are’ umbrella as an excuse!)
That, however is not the real problem. Some folks not only come to church as they are, they have chosen to stay as they are. They are not willing to change. They ignore how the saints dress, worship and live. They have chosen not to change or to submit.
Living for God is all about change. Completely change. Change is necessary. Change is required. Change is the will of God for everyone. With salvation comes change. With deliverance comes change. Unchanged people have no hope of deliverance, no hope of being a testimony, no hope of being used of God, and no hope of heaven.
How Do We Become A “New Creature In Christ Jesus” If We Don’t Change?
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
How Do We Become “Transformed” If We Don’t Change?
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
How Do We Become “Born Again” If We Don’t Change?
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God
How Do We Become “Holy” If We Don’t Change?
1 Peter 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
How Can We Come Out From Among Them And Be Separate, If We Don’t Change?
2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
How Can We Have Christ In Us And He Never Changes Us?
Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Do You Mean To Tell Me That When We Repent We Really Don’t Have To Change Anything?
Do You Mean To Tell Me That When We Get Baptized In Jesus Name, We Don’t Change?
Do You Mean To Tell Me That We Can Be Filled With The Holy Ghost And Never Be Changed?
When Jacob Prepared To Go To Bethel, He Changed.
Genesis 35:1 And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.
Genesis 35:2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:
Genesis 35:3 And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.
Genesis 35:4 And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.
When normal people come into the presence of the God, they quickly remember their sins. At that point, they must choose to keep them or confess and forsake them.
God might be merciful and forgiving, yet His word tells every confessor to forsake their sins.
If the God you serve lets you do whatever you want, and live like you want, then your god is you. You became your own god!
Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
If We Want God’s Mercy, We Must Not Only Confess Our Sins But Forsake Them!
Mercy comes to those who confess and forsake. That is the change God looks for. Forsaking your old life is what living for God is all about.
1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1 Corinthians 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
- (And Such Were Some Of You!) That Is Change!
Repentance Must Bring Change. If It Doesn’t Bring Change It Wasn’t Real Repentance!
In The Old Testament, God Chose Not To Bless Israel Until They Changed.
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.
- Change Puts Us In The Direct Path Of God’s Blessings.
Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Romans 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Let’s Get Real Plain…
If you see a sinner man and a Holy Ghost-filled man standing together talking, you should be able to tell which one is which.
If you see a sinner woman and a Holy Ghost-filled woman standing together talking, you should be able to see the difference.
When we obey Acts 2:38, (by repenting of our sins, getting baptized in Jesus name, and being filled with the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues.) We are no longer the same. We are changed on the inside. What is changed on the inside quickly shows on the outside!
- We don’t do the things we used to do
- We don’t talk like we used to talk
- We don’t go where we use to go
- We don’t have the kind of friends we used to have
- We don’t dress like we used to dress
- We don’t drink what we used to drink
Why?
Because Now We’re A New Creature In Christ Jesus.
How Do We Lay Sin Aside And Not Change?
1 Peter 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
- (Growth is change, too)
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
- Removing things from our life that will keep us from being saved, is change.
If we say we are saved, yet remain unchanged… We are not honest with our soul, with God, or with the truth.
Our Heart Must Change
Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation (our old lifestyle) the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Ephesians 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Our Speech Must Change
Ephesians 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Our Outward Appearance Must Change
1 Peter 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Change Requires Modesty For Men And Woman
1 Timothy2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
1 Timothy 2:10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
Deuteronomy 22:5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.
Hair Care Changes
1 Corinthians 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
1 Corinthians 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
Our Priorities Must Change
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Even Our Furniture Must Change
Psalms 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
The Things We Love Must Change
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.
We Say We’re A Christian, (Christ-like) And Yet…
- We’ve Never Changed On The Inside Or The Outside?
- We Neither Look Like Nor Act Like An Apostolic Saint?
Who Are We Fooling? Only Ourselves.
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
If we balk at Biblical correction and refuse to allow God’s Word to change our life… then we have shown to everyone that we are not a true child of God. We are of illegitimate birth in the Kingdom of God.
Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Hebrews 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Hebrews 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Hebrews 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Hebrews 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
What’s Missing In Our Lives That Would Keep Us From Allowing God To Change Us?
No Conviction of Sin?
No Fear of God?
No Respect?
No Obedience to His Word?
No Love for His House?
Are we just being Rebellious?
Are we just Clueless?
Are we not able to see that we don’t measure up to God’s Standards?
Are we just Insincere?
How can we come to church for months and even years… claiming to be Spirit-filled, and never change?
Ask Yourself…
If we had a beard and applied for a job at a company that had a ‘no beards’ policy, would we be willing to change?
If we worked for a fancy restaurant that had a no tattoo ‘visible’ policy for its employees, would we be willing to cover ours?
If we got hired by a good paying company but we had to work nights, would we change our sleeping habits?
If our job gave us a promotion, but we had to relocate, would we be willing to change towns?
If the doctor ordered us to change our diet because of cancer, would we?
If our heart doctor wanted us to change our lifestyle to live longer, would we?
If our homeowner’s association didn’t approve of our lawn display, would we take it down?
What if God reminded us in the Judgment of all the changes in our life that we made for man and for money, yet we chose not to make any changes for Him. What will our answer be then?
We Must Allow God To:
Change us like He changes Night into Day, Winter into Spring.
Change us like He changes a Caterpillar into a Butterfly.
The Kiss Of Death
The Kiss Of Death
“Remember Elizabeth? She just got a hearing implant to see if that would cure her deafness,” my wife said. We were eating lunch in Georgia, at a National Country Club.
“They call that, The Kiss Of Death, in the deaf community,” offered the court certified Interpreter for the deaf who was seated at the table with us.
“The Kiss Of Death?” I was in shock! “Why would they call being able to hear, The Kiss Of Death?”
“Hearing would ruin their life, as they know it. Many deaf people are very happy in their own world,” she said. “It’s a very tight-knit society. Lip reading is a coveted gift. Most deaf people don’t want to be healed. They are happy being deaf.”
She related an incident about signing to a client. The client signed back to her that she could read lips and only wanted to be spoken to, not signed to by a hearing person. Although the court had certified the Interpreter, she was still an outsider to the deaf.
The Interpreter began to describe some of her client’s anti-hearing sentiments. She served several expectant mothers who were deaf. These moms-to-be wanted their babies to be deaf as well.
As a hearing person, I’ve had very limited communication with the deaf. If they can read my lips, that’s wonderful. I cannot read theirs. We can only write notes back and forth to each other. I cannot imagine anyone not wanting to hear.
I also have no way of knowing how accurate the Interpreter’s opinion was. She was only relating her life experiences.
Although my interaction with the natural deaf is somewhat limited, I am however, very familiar with the attitudes of the spiritually deaf.
The spiritually deaf that I know, don’t want to be healed. They resist getting a spiritual implant to hear the Word of the Lord. To them, that would be The Kiss Of Death!
Forty-two times the Bible uses the phrase, “He that hath an ear to hear.” Evidently, not everyone can hear what the Spirit saith. Their Pastor/Interpreter is an intrusion into their world.
They too do not wish to be healed and want all of their children to be deaf as well. The preached Word of God is something that the spiritually deaf person cannot hear. They can’t hear sermons about:
- Doctrine
- Tithes
- Holiness
- Separation from the world
It is really futile to try to communicate with those that are deaf to God’s Word. The interference of hearing people into their life is resented.
Jesus healed the deaf. We read about it in the Gospels. He is still able to heal the spiritually deaf today who want to be healed.
My father had been the pastor at a church for three years. A brother came up to him after the Saturday night service and complimented his sermon. Dad thanked him. Sunday morning the same man gave him another compliment.
Sunday night, the same brother came up to Dad and with tears in his eyes said, “Bro. Ballestero, I thank you for that message! That was the best I’ve ever heard! You saved me tonight!”
My father invited the man into his office. When they sat down, my father began his inquiry.
“Brother, for the last three years you’ve fought me tooth and toenail. You have resisted me at every turn. Not one time have you said a nice thing to me since I’ve been here. You have never complimented any of my messages before. Now, for three sermons in a row, you’ve bragged on me. What’s your game?”
The brother broke down and cried. He apologized to my Father. He said, “I am so sorry I’ve been like that to you Pastor. The reason I’ve complimented your preaching, is because I just got my ears open!”
All a Pastor can pray for is that his hearers will get their ears opened! He knows that for those who are content not to hear preaching, it is truly, The Kiss of Death!
The Last Thing You Lose Is Your Hearing
Bro. Henry Baskins fell like he’d been shot. The sound of his head hitting the floor was enough to make those nearby sick and alarmed. His fellow workers called 911 and anxiously watched for the ambulance.
Within minutes, my phone rang and informed me that one of the most precious men in the Kingdom of God was in a coma and being taken from the ER to ICU. My heart sank. Bro. Baskins was near retirement age. No one had an answer why he had passed out on the job. He’d had no previous health concerns.
Henry Baskins
He was a church favorite. Even though he drove over 20 miles each way to church, he was always an hour or so early. He had been an usher as long as I could remember. His pockets always contained a bag of candy for the children. That made him a very popular man after church.
Sis. Baskins lived a pampered life. He waited on her hand and foot, did the grocery shopping, chauffeured her anywhere she wanted to go. What if he died? What would happen to her? She’d never even driven a car!
After calling the Prayer Chain in our church, I rushed to the Osteopathic Hospital. As I headed for ICU, I noticed family and saints were gathering too. There was a waiting room next to the ICU door.
No one, not even family was allowed to go in and see him yet. I told the folks in the waiting room to pray for Bro. Baskins. They prayed Pentecostal style.
I pushed the call button and announced myself. The nurse buzzed me in. She escorted me to Bro. Baskins’ room. My heart sank when I saw him. There were more tubes connected to him than I’d ever seen. There were tubes down his throat, up his nose, in his chest, his arms, his hands and his leg. It seemed like there were 10 monitors going. The pumping sounds of the machine doing the breathing for him were hard to ignore. He looked hopeless.
Even though he was unconscious, I announced myself to him. I said, “Bro. Baskins, this is Bro. Ballestero and I am here to pray for you.
My prayer was probably only a minute or so. I felt guilty being the only one allowed back in his room. I really didn’t want to leave even though my prayer was over.
My Dad had always said that the last thing we lose is our hearing, naturally and spiritually. I remembered that and began to talk.
I said, “Bro. Baskins, no one knows what happened at work today. Those close to you said you just fell over and hit your head. You have been in a coma ever since. The ambulance brought you to the Osteopathic Hospital.
“The doctors are trying to find out what the cause of the problem is. They don’t know. No one but me is allowed back here right now. So, don’t worry about your family not coming in, because the nurses are being very protective of you right now.
“Your wife is in the next room. All of her needs are being taken care of. Your children are here. The saints have filled up the ICU waiting room and I have the Prayer Chain praying for you.
“When they start letting family come in here, it will only be once every 4 hours and then, just for a few minutes. Now don’t worry about anything. You just focus on getting well, we’ll keep praying. I love you!”
Every time I went to see him, I prayed, and then I chattered. I told him of the news in the church. I talked about his family. Reassured him of his wife’s comfort. Every day for about 3 weeks I visited his room.
One Friday, he woke up. They checked him over and checked him out. When I heard the news that he was home and walking around. I rejoiced! This was awesome news.
Sunday morning when I stepped into the auditorium, there was Bro. Baskins standing at his usual ushering post. He hugged my neck and tears came into his eyes.
“Bro. Ballestero, when you came into my room and prayed for me and talked to me, I heard every word you said. Thank you, Thank you!” He said.
He could still hear! Unbelievable! Even when he was in such bad shape!
Dad’s words again echoed through my memory. “The last thing you lose is your hearing, naturally and spiritually.”
Can you still hear?
If You Can Hear, It’s Not The Kiss Of Death, It’s The Kiss Of Life… Spiritual Life!
The Cracker Barrel New Year’s Sermon
The Cracker Barrel New Year’s Sermon
Near the Savannah, Georgia exit 102 on I-95, sits a Cracker Barrel next to our motel. The chalk-written New Year’s message is plain for all to see. It says:
“Cheers to New Beginnings and Old Traditions”
May this New Year be a time for all of us to start afresh. Regardless of past failures or yesterday’s disappointments.
We need to leave our paradigm of failure-thinking and begin again. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve had to begin again. What you have been through was neither your final chapter nor your epitaph.
Proverbs 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again:
It’s not abnormal for good people to make mistakes and have to start over or begin again. Even Paul said he died daily. He started over every day.
New Beginnings:
Has your Bible reading been almost nonexistent lately?
Begin again.
How about your prayer life? Been busy? Hard to get to pre-service prayer for some reason or another?
Begin again.
Got out of the habit of responding during the worship service?
Begin again.
Has there been an absence of you saying amen to the preaching lately?
Begin again.
You haven’t taught a Home Bible Study in a long time?
Begin again.
How long since you made it to midweek service?
Begin again.
How about your tithes? If you’ve quit giving tithes and offerings…
Begin again.
Have you resigned or quit participating in your church?
Begin again.
Have you stopped kissing your spouse good morning, good night, and good-bye?
Begin again.
Been awhile since you said, “I love you” to your spouse?
Begin again.
Been awhile since you said I love you to your parents?
Begin again.
Been awhile since you said, “I am proud of you,” and “I love you,” to your children?
Begin again.
Have you stopped saying, “I love you” to your in-laws?
Begin again.
Begin again In God. Recover yourself.
2 Tim. 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
2 Tim. 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Traditions
Traditions make homes and churches special. When our large family gets together, there are always certain meals everyone can count on. You just know that there will be gumbo one day and enchiladas and tacos on another. And the morning we all have to leave, there’s s special breakfast restaurant we go to. It’s our custom. It’s just how it is in our family.
Churches have customs and traditions too. It’s a huge disappointment to go back to your ‘home’ church and find out how different it is or that they have changed.
Hold fast to the old Apostolic Pentecostal Traditions.
When backsliders and those who have had to move away, come back to visit… Let them that see your church is still holding on to the old-time ways!
And, as Cracker Barrel would say if it was preaching this sermon,
“Cheers to New Beginnings and Old Traditions!”
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.
Things You Won’t Fix
Things You Won’t Fix
Isn’t it amazing how we can allow ourselves to live with situations that are not normal? Not only do we live with it, but also we ignore it, saying that when we get the time we’ll fix it. Like remodel your home, if you want to remodel your garden you can click here to check the best metal parts.
There are always things to fix at home, you may need to remodel some part of the house like design planning, roof fixing, foundation problems, electrical or water issues that are the most common around the house, some people like to remodel or change the design, maybe repainting some walls, so they even go online to read paint reviews and find the best paint that work for their specific neeeds. This are more specific so you might need professional help like this great company that works everything for you in https://wholehousewaterfiltrationsystem.com/california where you can find advise and help to to fix your water system and they even apply water filtration and treatment systems to purify and have more healthy water. Other important things are the plumbing, HVAC duct-work and structural carpentry.
Things Like:
- A leaky faucet.
- The cracked storm window.
- Some partially finished remodeling job.
- Your leaky roof.
- The broken back doorstep.
- Missing basement handrail.
- A button missing from a sport coat.
- That rotten tooth that needs pulled?
- The broken HVAC, you should find the best heating repair contractor in http://performancebasedheatingandair.com/
We Mention It, Say We Need To Do It, But Let It Go Another Year.
- The things you don’t fix will fix you.
- It WILL put you in a fix.
- Is the cost of not fixing it cheaper than fixing it? No! Never.
- Aren’t there some things your wife has asked you to fix six months ago and you still haven’t gotten around to it?
- If you don’t fix your car, you’ll put it up on blocks and it will sit as an eyesore for years out in the front yard. Everyone will know you by that landmark.
- The leaky faucet will raise your water bill.
- The leaky roof will cost you thousands to fix because you let it go.
- The tooth will give you more pain than you could imagine.
- When a house is not fixed we say they just let the place go.
- There are just some things you won’t fix.
King Solomon Marveled At Men Who Procrastinated During The Harvest.
- Prov. 24:30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
- Prov. 24:31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
- Prov. 24:32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
Common Phrases Are Used In Regards To One’s Personal Appearance.
- “She fixed herself up.”
- “He let himself go”
When We Do Not Do Something Immediately, We Call It Procrastination.
The closest word to procrastination in the Bible is, sluggard. We are repulsed by even the thought of being called a sluggard.
The sluggard is a procrastinator. His motto is, “Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow.” Sluggards have developed the ability to put off starting a task as well as not completing those they have already begun.
The sluggard rationalizes everything and his mind works much faster than his body. He will always quickly find an excuse not to.
- I don’t have the time
- I don’t have the tools
- I don’t have the know-how
- I don’t have the desire
- I don’t feel in the mood
- I got a lot of irons in the fire
- I have a headache
There Are Those Who Never Fix Themselves Spiritually. They Just Let Themselves Go.
Are There Some Things In Our Hearts That We Won’t Fix?
- A bad attitude?
- A bad habit?
- No prayer life?
- No worship?
- Not honoring God with our tithes?
- Broken family relationships?
- Bridges we need to build?
- Restoring an offended brother?
- Not saying I’m sorry, forgive me?
Be Reconciled To Your Brother Before To Expect God To Hear You.
- Matt 5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
- Matt 5:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Need To Fix Your Back Tithe Problem?
- It will cost you heavily if you do not fix the problem areas of your soul.
- It will cost you 20% additional if you do not stay current with your tithing. The longer you wait the more it will cost you.
- Lev 27:31 And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.
When You Don’t Fix It, Then It’s Becomes Sin!
- Jas 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
- We like to use the word procrastinate, but that word is not in the Bible. A sluggard is what the Scripture calls us.
- In the natural, your procrastination qualifies you as a sluggard.
- In the spiritual, the Bible just calls you a sinner.
- Spiritually, our pride keeps us from fixing some things.
There Are Things You Won’t Fix, Why?
- You know you need the Holy Ghost speaking in tongues.
- You know you need to be baptized in Jesus name to be saved.
- You know you need to be faithful to church.
- You know you need to worship.
- You know you need to pay tithes.
- You know you need to live a holy and separated life.
- You know you need to be reconciled to your brother.
Jesus Called The Scribes And Pharisees, Hypocrites.
- Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
- They only fixed the part men could see.
- Hypocrites won’t fix what really needs to be fixed.
There Are Men In The Bible Who Never Fixed What Was Wrong In Their Life.
Agrippa Almost Got Right With God.
- Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
- He never fixed it.
Felix Knew What He Needed To Do, But The Timing Wasn’t Right.
- Acts 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
- He never fixed it.
The Rich Young Ruler Thought It Cost Too Much To Follow Jesus.
- Matt. 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
- He never fixed it.
When It Comes To Fixing, Some Things God Has Put A Time Limit On.
- Eph 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
- God’s curfew for anger is sunset. Fix your disagreements before the sun goes down. That’s God’s requirement.
- Fix it.
The Four Lepers Fixed It
- 2Ki 7:3 And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
- They fixed it!
Jacob Had A Problem But He Fixed It When He Wrestled With The Angel
- Gen 32:24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
- He fixed it!
The Prodigal Son
- Luke 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
- Luke 15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
- He fixed it!
The History of Obligatory Archery Practice!
The references to horses, riders, kingdoms and battles in “For want of a nail” indicate the English origins of the rhyme. One of the English Kings did not leave anything to chance! In 1363, to ensure the continued safety of the realm, King Edward III commanded the obligatory practice of archery on Sundays and holidays! The earliest known written version of the rhyme is in John Gower’s “Confesio Amantis” dated approximately 1390.
“For Want Of A Nail”
For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.
Are there are things God has asked you to fix and you still haven’t gotten around to it?
Why would you expect God to fix things for you that you’re not willing to fix for yourself?
Have you got a loose or lost nail in your life?
Please fix it.
Yes, Fix It Now!
The Devil’s Got A Plan For You That Just Might Work …If You Let It.
The Devil’s Got A Plan For You That Just Might Work …If You Let It.
Jesus Told Peter That Satan Desired To Sift Him As Wheat.
Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Luke 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
- Satan desires to do the same to you.
He Plans To Intimidate You And Ravage You Just Like A Roaring Lion Does.
1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Surely You Are Aware Of His Plan.
2Cor. 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
God’s Got A Plan To Help You Resist The Devil.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
- First, submit yourself to God, then resist the devil and he will flee.
The Devil Can’t Do Anything To You That You Don’t Allow Him To Because Greater Is He That Is Within You Than He That Is In The World.
1John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
My Father, Carl Ballestero Used To Say:
“The Devil’s Got A Plan To Get You To Backslide!
He has a One Day Plan to make you backslide. If that doesn’t work…
He has a One Week Plan to make you backslide. If that doesn’t work…
He has a One Month Plan to make you backslide. If that doesn’t work…
He has a One Year Plan to make you backslide. If that doesn’t work…
He has a Five Year Plan to make you backslide. If that doesn’t work…
He has a Ten Year Plan to make you backslide. If that doesn’t work…
He has a Twenty Year Plan to make you backslide. If that doesn’t work…
He has a Life Time Plan to make you backslide.”
To Every Teenager.
Young Man? He’s got a plan to find you a sinner girlfriend.
Young Lady? He’s got a plan to find you a sinner boyfriend.
He’s got a plan to find you a spouse that will destroy you spiritually.
He’s got a plan to make you dress like the world.
He’s got a plan to make you live like the world.
He’s got a plan to involve you in worldly sports and amusements.
He’s got a plan to surround you with improper music.
He’s got a plan to find you a job that will keep you out of church.
He’s got a plan to make you sink lower than you ever dreamed you would.
He’s got a plan to get you addicted to drugs, nicotine and alcohol.
He’s got a plan to load you down with condemnation.
He’s got a plan to overwhelm you with shame.
He’s got a plan to connect you to sinful people.
He’s got a plan to introduce you to porn.
He’s got a plan to make you lose your purity.
He’s got a plan to make you think your best friends are in the world, and not in the church.
The Devil’s Got A Plan For You That Just Might Work …If You Let It.
To Every Child Of God.
The devil plans to make you feel offended and hurt.
The devil plans to make you jealous.
The devil plans to stop your prayer life.
The devil plans to defeat you.
The devil plans to make you fail.
The devil plans to make you sell your birthright.
The devil plans to make you feel there is no hope for you.
The devil plans to make you throw this Holy Ghost experience away.
The devil plans to make you want to quit church.
The devil plans to put you at odds with the pastor.
The devil plans to make you bitter.
The devil plans to take you as low as you will let him.
The devil plans to make you waste every talent God has given you.
The devil plans to curse your life.
The devil plans to make you swallow a camel and strain a gnat.
The devil plans to make you find the mote in others eyes and ignore the beam in your own.
The devil plans to make you look for hypocrites in the church.
The devil plans to let you be disappointed by men’s failures.
The devil plans to make you quit paying tithes.
The devil plans to make you offended.
The devil plans to make you miss church.
The devil plans to make you withdraw from godly fellowship.
The devil plans to make you a bitter person.
The devil plans to make you hate holiness.
The devil plans to make you mess up your marriage.
The devil plans to make you stop worshiping.
The devil plans to make you dislike preachers who tell you the truth.
The devil plans to make you resist all Holiness preaching.
The devil plans to make you consider doctrine a boring subject.
The devil plans to make Hollywood more attractive to you than the church.
The devil plans to make you immoral.
The devil plans to make you justify your wrong living.
The devil plans to make you love making money more than you love church.
The devil plans to make you love pleasure, more than you love God.
The devil plans to make you question God.
The devil plans to make you mad when the preacher says anything that challenges what your family or friends are doing.
The devil plans to make you lukewarm.
The devil plans to make you happy with dead worship services.
The devil plans to let you feel comfortable in quiet prayer rooms.
The devil plans to make you talk against the pastor in front of your children.
The devil plans to make you question every standard.
The devil plans to make you comfortable trying to get by just doing the minimum.
The devil plans to make you part of the spirit of Laodicea.
The devil plans to make you feel uncomfortable with other cultures in your congregation.
The devil plans to make you prejudiced.
The devil plans to make you only knock on doors in certain areas of town during outreach.
The devil plans to make you feel your culture is superior to all others.
The devil plans to destroy unity in your church.
The Devil’s Got A Plan For You That Just Might Work …If You Let It.
To Every Preacher.
He plans to mess you up with false doctrine.
He plans to destroy your ministry with women.
He plans to ruin you with improper use of money.
He plans to sidetrack your ministry in search of popularity.
He plans to make you preach that the new ways are better than the old paths.
He plans to make to you compromise.
He plans to make you quiet about sin.
He plans to make you afraid to preach holiness and separation from the world.
He plans to make you a hireling.
He plans to make you preach only pop-psychology sermons.
He plans to make you think you are right and everyone else is wrong.
He plans to make you focus on pleasing men and not God.
The Devil’s Got A Plan For You That Just Might Work …If You Let It.
To Every Seeker.
The devil plans to blind your eyes and keep you from recognizing truth.
The devil plans to make you think all churches lead to heaven.
The devil plans to make you think the day of Pentecost experience is not for you.
The devil plans to make you resist baptism in Jesus name.
The devil plans to make you justify your lifestyle.
The devil plans to make you think that God’s love accepts of your lifestyle.
The devil plans to make you believe false doctrines rather than the truth.
The devil plans to make you believe there is a trinity rather than just one God.
The devil plans to try to make you rebel against truth.
The devil plans to make you believe that God is only a God of mercy.
The devil plans to make you think God only looks on the heart and completely ignores the outside.
The devil plans to let you see what he thinks is the worst in every good church you attend.
The Devil’s Got A Plan For You That Just Might Work …If You Let It.
To Every Backslider
Are you even looking at what the devil is doing to your life?
The prodigal son did.
That’s when he came to himself.
That’s when he got up and walked away from sin’s pigpen.
That’s when he came back home and repented to his father.
That’s when the father ran to meet him and forgave him.
He’s your father too and He’s waiting for you to come to yourself!
So, What Are You Waiting For?
Luke 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
Luke 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
Luke 15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
Luke 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
Luke 15:21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
Luke 15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
Luke 15:23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
Luke 15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
The Devil’s Got A Plan For You That Just Might Work …If You Let It.
Don’t Let It!
Boycott Trashy Gumbo
“If There’s Anything I Can’t Stand, It’s Trashy Gumbo!”
I love pretty much everything about the South. I’m neither a Southerner nor a Cajun Chef, but I do have taste buds that seldom lie. Before I married at the age of twenty-one, I’d already lived in twenty-two houses and attended twenty-six schools. So, I’ve gotten to see all of America growing up. It feels like I’ve lived everywhere, but most of my life has been spent in Indiana, so that feels most like home. It certainly is a non-gumbo state.
Since the beginning of my ministry, I have preached mainly in the South. Everyone there considers me a Yankee, even though I am a Westerner by birth. That being said, since I know I how to say, ya’ll and you guys, I somehow must be bi-lingual.
For the benefit of my non-southern friends, the folks down in Cajun Country are very particular about their Gumbo. They don’t freely call someone’s chicken and sausage soup, a Gumbo. Family recipes are treasured and protected. The Seafood Restaurants that serve great Gumbo will always have full parking lots.
I’ve eaten Gumbo with light rue, dark rue, and very dark rue. There are some Gumbos so thin that one could almost read a newspaper at the bottom of the bowl. I even eat my Gumbo with a scoop of hot potato salad and a boiled egg in it. My family really loves good Gumbo. Our cupboard always has some Tony’s, Cajun hot sauce and Creole seasoning in it too.
I have often been treated to what in my mind is the World’s finest Gumbo. But I didn’t start out eating good Gumbo. I preached a revival in rural Louisiana in the early sixties and the poor pastor and his wife made me my first taste of what they said was Gumbo. I ate it, not knowing if it was good or bad.
My teaching at home was to eat what was set before me, so I did. They told me after the dishes were done that it was ‘possum gumbo. My stomach had a board meeting that night to decide whether to keep the possum down or let it go free. It stayed, much to my disappointment.
Catching Southerners in candid moments when they are talking about someone else’s cooking is always memorable. I recently heard a dear southern friend confide to me, “If there’s anything I can’t stand, it’s trashy gumbo.” They really meant it too.
I’ve eaten ‘good Yankee Gumbo’ and good ‘Cajun Gumbo’ and I love it when I can get it. I’ve eaten stuff passed off as Gumbo and felt the need to pray for strength to get it all down. If gumbo tastes trashy, I may not even get through the first bowl.
Trashy Gumbo? Well, yes! You see, all the cooks have at their disposal the right ingredients, but the way bad cooks put it all together leaves a horrible distaste in the mouth of those who know the difference between good gumbo and trashy.
- No table guest in the South is prepared to suck his or her gumbo up through a straw because it got watered down so much in the kitchen.
- There’s some cooks make Gumbo so hot that no one can eat it without getting heartburn.
- Others use meat so sparingly you wonder why they even bothered.
- Then there’s some Gumbo that make’s me wonder if my old possum had any kin folks that made it over into my Gumbo again.
When It Comes To Doctrine And The Important Things Of God, Apostolic Preachers Have The Right Ingredients.
If There’s Anything I Can’t Stand, It’s Trashy Gumbo.
Brother Ballestero, Are You Talking Gumbo Or Church?
I’m Talking Mainly About Church.
Some folks may feel like they are actually being fed when they hear a watered down message, or one with no meat, no doctrine or substance. Then there are some that love it so hot that everyone gets burnt.
But, I still love it when the preacher gets up to preach and pulls out the old Apostolic Family Recipe and feeds the flock as though it was the Lord Himself who prepared the meal. It ‘s always nourishing and tastes just right!
My advice for today is:
Boycott Trashy Gumbo!
YES, Is The Answer. Now, What Is The Question?
YES, Is The Answer. Now, What Is The Question?
A fast food chain currently uses this for a slogan. It’s nothing new, really. Actually it’s been around for thousands of years. God’s blessed people have always lived with this mindset.
The willingness to do whatever God requests is a trait that will not only save and bless us, but also keep us saved and blessed. Most Pentecostals are familiar with the words of the song that says, “Yes Lord. Yes Lord. From the bottom of my heart to the depths of my soul, Yes Lord…”
Remember singing that song and feeling the sweet presence of the Lord sweep over you? Remember too the old-timers singing, “Is Your All On The Altar?”
There’s a reason for that. A very good reason. God blesses willingness and submission.
Ezra And The Willing People
Neh 8:1 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.
- Notice the spirit of unity. They gathered as one.
- They requested that the scribe Ezra bring the book of the law and read it to them.
- They wanted to hear the law.
Neh 8:2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.
Neh 8:3 And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.
- Everyone old enough to understand came.
- Ezra read from morning until midday
Neh 8:5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:
Neh 8:6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
- Ezra opened the book.
- The people stood up in reverence.
- Ezra blessed the Lord
- The People raised their hands and said, Amen, Amen
- They said Amen before the law was read.
- Then the bowed their heads to the ground and worshipped.
They Were So Hungry To Hear The Word Of The Lord That They All Said Amen Before They Heard What The Law Told Them To Do.
It’s not uncommon to see new converts who have experienced the joys of repentance, baptism in Jesus Name, and the infilling of the Holy Ghost speaking in tongues ask the pastor, “Now, tell me what I need to do.”
Remember Praying Like This?
- I’ll do what you want me to do.
- I say what you want me to say.
- I’ll go where you want me to go.
- I’ll be what you want me to be.
Most young people in my generation never knew it was OK to say no at church. When we were asked to do something like,
- Teach a Sunday School Class,
- Sing a special song,
- Play an instrument,
- Testify,
- Go on visitation,
- Usher,
- Clean the church
- Give a sermonette
- Or whatever,
We just said knew ahead of time that we would say yes.
Mary
Mary the mother of Jesus even told the servants at the Wedding in Cana, that whatever Jesus asked them to do, do it.
Samuel
Little Samuel had the willingness to do whatever was requested and ran to do the bidding of Eli not knowing that it was the Lord speaking to him.
Rebecca
Rebecca was so willing to serve the stranger with camels that she not only offered to water them but also ran to do her duty.
God has always looked for willingness in his people. Those who choose to say no to Him, don’t seem to last long or be used in His Kingdom.
How Did The Spirit Of Questioning Everything Get Into The Church?
- Some read the scripture and say they are not convicted.
- Some read the scriptures and say they do not apply to us.
- Some hear preaching and are not receptive at all.
- Others choose to read only scriptures that speak of blessings and miracles.
- They reject anything that looks like doctrine
- They say no to the word holiness.
- They refuse to separate themselves from the world.
God’s First Principle Of Blessing And Growth
Isa 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
Israel Wouldn’t Go Over Into The Promised Land
Deut 1:26 Notwithstanding ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God:
- A whole generation died.
Because You Would Not Be Obedient
Deut 8:18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
Deut 8:19 And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.
Deut 8:20 As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God.
Jerusalem Said No To The Messiah
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!
Israel Said No To The Spiritual Rest
Isa 28:12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
What Makes Some Say No?
Before You Say No To Anything God Asks…
- Ask yourself,
- How does rebellion start?
- What is rebellion?
- Does God view my spirit as rebellious?
- Am I rebellious?
- How do I change?
Changing From Rebellion To Submission Should Be Easy.
- It’s a one-word change.
- What once was a No… change it to a Yes.
Are You Brave Enough To Say, “No” To God?
Me either.
You are free to choose how you wish to respond to God’s call, His wishes and His Word.
But as for me…
YES, Is My Answer. Now, What Is The Question?
Deut 10:12 … what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
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 