Archive for the ‘Personal Evangelism’ Category
How Shall They Hear Without A Preacher?
Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Disclaimer:
Although I love and support Holy Ghost Radio, I do not represent them in any official capacity. I am not paid by them, neither have I been asked to speak on their behalf.
We Have Many Things To Be Thankful For This Year!
- The Revelation of the Mighty God in Christ.
- The Baptism in the Name of Jesus.
- The Holy Ghost!
- God’s provision and protection.
- Our family and our heritage.
- Our church.
- Our health and our home.
One thing that may not have crossed your mind to be thankful for this year is Holy Ghost Radio! We all love it and have it bookmarked on our computers and have downloaded the app for our cell phones and tablets.
Every week for many years someone has mentioned a sermon or song they’ve heard on Holy Ghost Radio. No other Apostolic Pentecostal resource has been continually more effective in reaching the lost, edifying the body of Christ, and strengthening the church.
Pentecost and the world have been blessed beyond measure by the efforts of Brother and Sister Jeff Hoffer and Holy Ghost Radio.
Reports of listeners receiving the Holy Ghost or receiving the Revelation of the Oneness of God continually pour in. We rejoice with them, upon hearing these wonderful reports.
Twenty years ago, Bro. Hoffer felt led to make Apostolic preaching available to the world. It’s free for everyone to listen to. However, it is a huge expense to keep this service available.
Computers and technical equipment need to be upgraded to keep up with fast-changing technology. Technicians, programmers, and staff are needed to keep HGR on the air.
This Is A Voice That Must Never Go Silent!
While I have not been asked to make a plea for support, Partners In Missions are desperately needed!
Pastor… My Prayer Is That You Make HGR A Part Of Your Missions Giving!
As an individual, I have done a very small part by giving a modest monthly pledge. HGR needs us to show our Thankfulness to them by partnering with them on a monthly basis. (Have you ever noticed how God blesses you when you give to missions?)
Please consider blessing this missionary endeavor. Join me in helping them spread this Gospel around the world!
Click The Link Below.
Make A One Time Donation
I Want To Be A Monthly Supporter
Below Is A Letter From Brother Jeff Hoffer To The Friends Of Holy Ghost Radio
Hello Friends,
Back in 1999, when the Lord directed us to begin a radio ministry, we launched out in faith. Our first conference was in 2002 and we’ve been going strong ever since.
2019 has been a tremendous year for Holy Ghost Radio and we could not have done it without you.
We are streaming Truth 24 hours a day, across the world and love hearing all the testimonies of souls being saved and backsliders praying through!
We’re writing today because we are in need of your help.
We are trusting the Lord to help us keep up with the technology to continue to expand, add new channels, pay for the overhead, the app, website, servers, streams, internet, and upgrade our computers to support all of our streams, add new ones, etc.
Technology is expensive and we really need more churches to partner with us monthly, to help us grow, expand, and keep up with the times.
We are extremely thankful for the WPF adding Holy Ghost Radio to its offering list for Global Missions.
Please consider a monthly pledge offering, either personally or through your church, to support Holy Ghost Radio by continuing to fund the gospel to every nation.
You can give online at holyghostradio.com and click donate or send in a check to:
HGR
PO Box 711441
Santee, Ca 92072
Lastly, we’d like to let you know about an increase in our live conference fee, next year to $1,500 plus accommodations and travel expenses effective January 1, 2020.To save you accommodations & travel expenses you can go remote for $1,500
Thank you so much for being a faithful listener and supporter!
Sincerely,
Jeff & Jeannette Hoffer
Holy Ghost Radio
What’s Wrong With Your Voice?
What’s Wrong With Your Voice?
My father rode beside me in the car as we talked about the alarming decline of standards and morality among some of the churches we knew. Dad shook his head after a while and rhetorically said, “Where’s Bro. Verbal Bean when we need him? Where’s Bro. Joe Duke? I wonder why God took their ministries from us when we needed them the most?”
Since neither of us could answer that question, the car stayed quiet for a while as I drove down the highway. Since then, many more strong voices of men and women have been laid silent in their graves. Today, nearly forty years later, I revisited that moment in the car with my daddy.
We look around us now for another star to shine bright! We look for another champion of the faith. We look for someone with an amazing ministry. A preacher we would drive a hundred miles just to listen to one sermon. Someone who will lift their voice.
Really?
- What’s Wrong With Your Voice?
- What Keeps You From Speaking Up?
- Why Don’t You Say Something?
- Why Don’t You Respond To The Need?
- Can’t You See What Sin Is Around You?
- And, You Still Can’t Open Your Mouth?
Maybe you say to yourself that you don’t have a ministry like Bro. Bean, or a Bro. Duke. So you feel content to be quiet.
Have you never read about a man named Amos in the Bible?
Amos 7:14 Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:
Amos 7:15 And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.
Amos declares that He wasn’t preacher nor a preacher’s son. He was just a herdsman and had a little fruit stand. Yet God chose to speak through him to a whole nation.
God looks for availability.
Eze. 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
Isa. 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
God is still looking for a voice!
- Are You Available?
- How Would You Respond If God Chose To Use You?
Again, I ask…
What’s Wrong With Your Voice?
Someone Needs To Say Something!!!
The Princess Within Conference, By Nila Marxer
Two of my sisters, Nila Marxer and Carlene Branham just returned from the “Princess Within Conference” in Corona, Californina. This blog is part of Nila’s letter to me today about her experience with the inmates at the conference.
Nila Marxer
This prison field is filled with so many hungry women. There were 30 women who received the Holy Ghost for the first time, 18 renewed, and 12 signed up for baptism! We’ve been trying to get into this prison for almost 20 years, and finally we’ve had a breakthrough. Actually, women from this prison and the Chowchilla prison have been fasting on the 25th of every month for years for a Holy Ghost church service to come to the prisons.
I was humbled by their hunger and desire to hear the Word and to be loved.
The first picture was the entire group minus 2 people. The second was the Sunday morning picture of those who went. A lot had to go back home.
Fear will keep many people from doing the will of God and fulfilling His purpose for their life. Don’t say you want to be used of God, and not be willing to do what is needed to further the kingdom.
My life will never be the same. I went to the Princess Within Conference in Corona this weekend with anticipation of helping others, when in fact this experience helped me more than words can express.
Prayer and fasting had gone up for this conference, and when we completed the process of entering into the prison, setting up the equipment and chairs and setting out water bottles and sweets for each prisoner, you could already feel a powerful move of the Holy Ghost. Whitney Rhinehart began practicing songs, and others joined in. Everyone was involved. We did not come just to be a warm body, but we were needed. Those of us who had finished setting up were prayerfully awaiting the prisoners. When the door opened, and the women began filing in, worship had already filled the room. Some of the prisoners were worshiping and clapping as they began to find a seat. At first it took a while for the majority of the women to show up, because it was taco night, and they all wanted to eat the only good meal of the week. (The enemy was using everything to try to hinder this conference.)
The volunteers lined up to give gifts, shake everyone’s hand, welcome them, and thank them for coming. Some were shy, but you could see the majority of the prisoners craved love. Each song was effective, each sermon was powerfully anointed, and no one left unmoved. They came in worshiping like I haven’t seen in a regular church setting. Not just a few raised their hands, but every hand was raised, everyone clapped, everyone worshiped.
The first thing I noticed about the women, was that they looked like normal women, not like hardened criminals that I imagined. The majority of these women carried Bibles. Some of these Bibles were well-read and falling apart. In many of them, I could see various pages of notes stuck in-between the pages. I thought how many of us church people will go to church without our Bibles? How many church people take time to read God’s Word? Some of these women took notes on every scripture reference, and would look at their friends when a specific verse was mentioned, and would finish the scripture, reciting along with the various ministers. These women were well-acquainted with the Word, yet they were starving. Starving for the preached Word, starving for worship, starving for love, starving to feel the power of the Holy Ghost. My heart was lost to them within the first five minutes of meeting them.
On the first night, the preacher finished preaching, and opened the front for those who wanted the Holy Ghost. The women poured down to the altar. We volunteers stood in the front facing them, and soon were inundated by scores of women who wanted prayer. As soon as one received the Holy Ghost, there were many women all around them with their arms raised asking for prayer. I couldn’t stop crying as one by one these women were receiving the Holy Ghost. They fell on my neck, thanking me for coming, and showing them love. I wept with them, knowing they were my sisters-in-the-Lord. Not only did they need me, I needed them.
Before I walked into the prison yard, I had felt some apprehension, not knowing how this was going to unfold, but I can’t begin to explain the joy I had in being involved in this prison ministry, and the hunger I have to go back and continue to spread this precious Truth!
I was humbled by some of the testimonies I heard. Chaffey College was having a graduation ceremony at the same time we were having the Saturday morning service. One of the girls told me she was graduating with her bachelor’s degree. She said, “I had to make a decision whether I was going to walk and get my diploma, or come to church.” She was crying as she spoke, saying, “It was an easy decision to make. They can always mail me my diploma, but there won’t always be a Holy Ghost church service.”
Another girl said that she got her diploma, (missing the early morning session.) She hadn’t seen her family for seven years. Her family had come a long way to see her graduate and spend a little time with her. Knowing how little time these prisoners get to see their loved ones, the few moments together are cherished. Yet, this young lady walked down the aisle, got her degree, and then told her folks goodbye, because she had to go to church.
These testimonies gripped my heart, because those women cherish church above everything. So many women thanked me for loving them. (They were so easy to love.)
The first night I came home, I couldn’t sleep, seeing their faces lifted in prayer, feeling their hugs, and them gripping my hands tearfully asking me not to forget to pray for them. How can I forget?
It was during a worship song on Saturday when I felt God speak to me that I need to focus on His work. I had been focusing on my son who has been bound by sin and desperately needs deliverance. If I will focus on His kingdom and the souls that He loves, then He will focus on my prayers for my family and those that I love. It’s a win-win situation.
The last prisoner spoke to me as they were leaving and said that many churches have come to the prison, but never in her life has she felt such power and such love. She said, the love affected her more than anything. She felt loved by God, and by His people. She wondered why she had never felt love like this before.
I told her, “Honey, it’s the Holy Ghost love that you feel.”
My mind went back to the scripture, “This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.” (John 15:12 KJV) Oh, how He loves us, and them!
She said, “It has to be, because I’ve never seen anything like this in all my life. Please don’t forget us. Please come back and help us learn more!”
I thought of the scripture that says:
“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.”
Matthew 25:41-43 KJV
May that never be said about me. Lord, I will go.
Nila Marxer
He Was Ashamed Of His Stuttering, But He Gave Him A Tract Anyway!
He Was Ashamed Of His Stuttering, But He Gave Him A Tract Anyway!
(To The Embarrassed Man, Who Stuttered… Thank You!)
No one knows your name.
You came out of nowhere. You stopped when you saw the car teetering on the edge of the cliff with the front tires dangling out into space.
A young man sat behind the wheel with his foot on the brake desperately trying to keep the vehicle from moving forward. Only a wrecker could pull the car back onto the road. His friends had gone to get one.
Uncertainty showed in your body language. You knew you couldn’t do anything for the car, but yet you came closer. You walked with your head down and only glanced up to make sure you were walking in the right direction.
When you arrived at the driver’s window, you dug into your pocket and pulled out what looked like an old and well-worn Gospel Tract.
You were nervous and stuttered badly as you handed the tract to the Catholic boy behind the wheel.
It seemed like it took you forever to say, ‘I want you to read this.”
The young man thanked you and watched as you shuffled out of his life. But he never forgot you.
He wondered why the tract you had given was old and not new. Was it your personal favorite or was it the last one you had?
What You Didn’t Know!
You didn’t know that the young man had been raised Catholic.
You didn’t know that he had been a gang leader in Los Angeles and a fugitive from justice as well.
You didn’t know that he wanted to turn his life around.
You didn’t know that he would read your old tract slowly taking in every word.
You didn’t know that when the tract talked about the coming of the Lord and asked the question, “Are you ready?” that the young man realized he wasn’t ready.
You didn’t know that you were the first person to ever make him think about his soul being lost and that he needed the Lord.
You didn’t know that he prayed, “God if there is more for me from You, then I want it. If it is real, I want it.”
What You Never Knew!
The power of a single tract.
The young man soon visited an Assemblies Of God Church in Fresno, California.
Rev. Charles Price preached him to the altar that night and he received the Holy Ghost speaking in tongues.
What You Couldn’t Have Known!
The past caught up with him and he went to San Quentin Prison.
He regularly attended a Bible Study group.
His cellmate was a backslider from a Trinitarian church and he once had the Holy Ghost.
The cellmate would watch the others in the Bible Study group but never join in.
One day the cellmate received a tract from his wife about Acts 2:38. She had just been baptized in Jesus Name and wanted him to be as well.
The backslidden cellmate didn’t want the tract, so he gave it him.
What You May Never Know!
The young man you gave the tract to, read this 2nd tract and received a revelation of the Oneness of God and the importance of Jesus Name baptism, and was thrilled with the new knowledge.
He preached his first sermon in the prison yard. “Though Thy Sins Be As Scarlet, They Shall Be White As Snow!”
After being released, he went into the Army and searched for two years for someone to baptize him.
He found that place in Christ Church, Oregon City, Oregon. The Pastor, Andrew Baker baptized him in Jesus Name.
His family disowned him for leaving the Catholic Church.
He married the most lovely and godly young woman you could ever hope to find. They had five children who also were baptized in Jesus Name and filled with the Holy Ghost.
He pastored nine churches, six of which he started.
He evangelized everywhere for twenty-five years and pastored twenty-five years as well.
His sermons were life changing and unforgettable.
All who have his tapes and CD’s still treasure them.
You would have cried and rejoiced listening to him preach under the anointing.
You would have cried listening to him and his wife sing.
His son became a preacher.
Of his four daughters, one died in her teens, the others are involved in ministry.
Two of his son’s in law are preachers.
He has eleven grandchildren who all have received the Holy Ghost and have all been involved in ministry of some kind.
Five became pastors.
Of his twenty-one great-grandchildren, those who are old enough have been baptized in Jesus Name and filled with the Holy Ghost.
The oldest ones are presently preparing themselves for the work of the Lord.
What I Want You To Know!
He never forgot your willingness to witness, in spite of your stuttering and embarrassment.
You were the first one to ever witness to him, even though you simply handed him an old tract.
He’s not here today to say thank you.
He died on September 11, 1994. His wife, Content died on January 13, 2012.
So I would like to thank you for him!
You see, I’m his son.
His name was Carl Joseph Ballestero.
Your Performance Interview With God Is Coming!
Your Performance Interview With God Is Coming
What if God called you on the carpet? What if He asked you some personal questions about your conduct… spiritual and otherwise?
Employees of many companies are given performance interviews on a scheduled basis. Some of the questions asked by the interviewer are similar to some of those I once found at www.jobinterviewquestions.org.
Performance Interview Questions
- Tell me about your last position and what you did.
- Tell me about the last time you made a mistake and how you corrected it.
- If you don’t leave your current job, what will happen there? How far can you advance?
- Of all the work you have done, where have you been most successful?
- I see you were unemployed for a period of time. Tell me about it.
- Give me an example of when you’ve demonstrated your customer service skills.
- How do you define continuous improvement? What is the last new procedure you integrated into your job?
- What makes you stand out among your peers?
- What have you done to reduce your department’s operational costs or to save time?
- What would your current supervisors say makes you most valuable to them?
- If I asked your boss to evaluate your performance, what would he or she say?
- Have you held positions similar to this one? If so, tell me about them.
- What is the most important thing you learned at a previous job?
- What did/do you enjoy most/least about your last/present job?
- If there were two things you could have changed about that job, what would they be?
- How did your job change while you held it?
- What qualifications do you have that make you successful in this field?
- What have you learned from previous jobs?
- Describe a typical day at work.
- How have your previous positions prepared you for this one?
- What parts of your job do you consider most important?
- What job tasks do you feel most successful doing?
- What special skills or knowledge have you gained to help in this job?
- Describe an important project you worked on.
- You have a lot of experience. Why would you want this job?
- What do you consider your greatest strength?
- What is your most significant professional accomplishment?
- What was the last job-related book you read?
- What was your favorite job? Why?
As 2017 comes to a close, so does another year of living for the Lord. If He were to ask us about our performance in His Kingdom this year, how would we do? Could we answer His questions easily? Would our heads have to drop after the Lord asked us a direct question? Here is a list of possible questions He might ask:
The Lord’s 2017 Performance Interview Questions
- What if He asked about the Spirit and Attitude we manifested this year?
- What if the Lord asked us about our obedience or our Submission?
- If the question of Soul-Winning came up, how would we score?
- If questions about our involvement in Worship were asked, what would the answer be?
- What would happen if the Lord asked us about our Prayer Life in 2017?
- Would the answer be favorable to you if there were questions about paying your Tithes
- and giving in Offerings?
- Faithfulness in church attendance is sure to be asked. How would you do on that one?
- Surely, a question about any unwillingness to Forgive will be asked.
- Would He ask about the display of the Lusts of our Flesh?
- Would Jealousy or Envy be mentioned?
- A lack of Brotherly Love, or not Preferring One Another, will not sit well with Him.
- What if the Lord asked us about our lack of Sacrifice in service, or in giving?
- Would any questions about our involvement in Gossip put us in a bad light?
- What if the subject of Tale Bearing came up?
- If we were asked about Criticizing our Pastor, what would the answer be?
- Surely the Lord will act questions about our showing any signs of Loving Pleasure More
- Than The Things Of God.
- What is He asked us about our Love of the World?
- Do you think He might ask us why we had a problem with Holiness?
- Would there be any questions about Loving Our Neighbor?
- What if He asked us if we Love Him with All Of Our Heart, Our Soul, And Our Might, And
- Our Strength?
I pray that you do well in your Interview with the Lord. (He already knows the answers, before He asks.)
If you’ll pardon me, for a while… I think I’ll have a talk with Him right now. I need to before He talks to me later!
There is coming a Day when we shall all stand before Him, as we are judged. That Interview will be both an Entrance Interview for some, and an Exit Interview for others!
Revelation 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Revelation 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
(May your Performance Interview of 2017 end with Joy, and not with Grief!)
Join me in pledging to do better and do more for Him in 2018! May we all hear Him say in that day, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.”
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!
You Are A Committee Of One
You Are A Committee Of One.
Webster’s Definition: Committee Of One
Noun
- An individual person designated to function alone as a committee.
Society teaches us that we are a committee of one and that each one of us must do the right thing.
The US Army
The Army recently scrapped its memorable advertising slogan, ”Be all you can be,” and replaced it with one intended to appeal to the individualism and independence of today’s youth: ”An Army of one.”
Smokey Bear
For many years public service announcements on the radio have showcased Smokey Bear saying, “Only You can prevent forest fires.” The meaning is clear. Everyone venturing into the forest is expected to handle fire responsibly.
Some things in life depend on just us. We are the bottom line. There is no one else to blame. We then must strive to be responsible.
“The Buck Stops Here”
Last year during a visit to President Harry Truman’s Library, I took note of his signature desktop motto. “The Buck Stops Here.” Seeing that one plaque was one of the more memorial highlights of the tour. The President made it plain, he wasn’t passing the buck, but will to stand up and face the challenge.
We Have Biblical Examples
- Ester Was A Committee Of One When She Went Before The King.
- Elijah On Mt. Carmel Was A Committee Of One.
- David Was A Committee Of One Fighting Goliath’s.
Staying In Church And Being Saved Is Up To You!
Acts 2:40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
“Save Thyself,” Is Still The Message!!
- Each one must want to be saved enough to make the effort.
- The fact is most preachers want to see some folks saved more than they do.
- If you are no longer saved today, you have no one to blame but yourself.
You Are A Committee Of One When It Comes To Staying Saved.
Protecting Yourself From False Doctrine is Up To You.
1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Paul’s advice warned Timothy to:
- Watch yourself
- Be careful
- Pay attention to your personal life
- Pay attention to your doctrine
- Your life depends on it
- Others are looking at you to follow your steps
- It’s up to you Timothy.
You Are A Committee Of One When It Comes To Spiritual Carefulness.
Holding On To This Apostolic Message, Is Your Responsibility.
The Apostles spoke to the church warning them to protect themselves from false doctrine.
Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
2 Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
2 Tim 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
- Be careful what holiness and doctrinal arguments you listen to.
- Smooth talkers will lead you astray from truth if you let them beguile you.
- Some try to reason the Acts 2:38 truth and holiness standards away.
- You cannot let them lead you into delusion.
- False doctrine is just an “amen” away.
- If you don’t know the truth, your soul is on the line.
- You are an army of one in protecting your soul.
You Are A Committee Of One When It Comes To Resisting Error.
Being Ready For The Coming Of the Lord Is Up To You.
Matt. 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
- The ‘watch ye’ is understood. It’s your job to watch.
- Watch, Jesus is coming.
- Watch, you have to get yourself ready, and be ready.
- Watch, it’s up to you.
- ‘Preppers’ prepare for potential national and end time disaster.
- They believe survival is up to them individually.
- Some are preparing more for government failure and stockpiling for the tribulation than they are preparing their hearts for the coming of the Lord.
You Are A Committee Of One When It Comes To Being Ready For The Lord’s Return.
Getting Past Grudges And Hurts Is Up To You.
James 5:9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
- How long will you let this battle go one?
- You hold the key to the door of Peace.
- If you don’t forgive others, God won’t forgive you.
- It’s your call.
You Are A Committee Of One When It Comes To Forgiving Others.
Restoration Is Your Duty.
Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
- Don’t be foolish and act too holy to love and restore the fallen.
- Restoration is your duty.
You Are A Committee Of One When It Comes To Restoration
Worship Is Your Job
Psalms 150:6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
- Worship Is Everybody’s Business
- How can anyone be so spiritual clueless as to feel comfortable letting others do the praising for them?
- Don’t let worship leader or praise team do the worshipping for you. It’s your job to praise the Lord.
- Worship is everybody’s business
- Don’t let the same old six or seven lead out in worship. You do it.
- Let everything that has breath… It’s up to you.
You Are A Committee Of One When It Comes To Worship.
You Are A Committee Of One In The Prayer Room.
James 5:16 … The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
- Your prayer is powerful.
- Your prayer can flip the switch the kills the power of the enemy.
- Your prayer is the bottom line of spiritual defense.
- We fight the evil on our knees.
- The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man
You Are A Committee Of One When It Comes To Prayer.
Being A Witness Is Your Job Too.
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
You Are A Committee Of One When It Comes To Soul Winning.
At What Level Do You Wish To Play?
At What Level Do You Wish To Play?
In the 1980’s electronic chess games became the rage in certain cerebral circles. One particular model would ask its user, as soon as the power button was switched on, “At what level do you wish to play?”
Everyone knew it was just a game. The unit was a cheap handheld device that anyone could play. The user could play in the beginner mode, or even play at the expert level. No one would criticize the level he or she played. It was just a game, and it was only played for fun.
But The Question It Asked Is Still Valid In Real Life Today. At What Level Do You Wish To Play (Or Participate)?
‘Live Like You Were Dying’ is the title of a popular song made somewhat famous a few years ago. The message from just the title of the song is enough to make one think about prioritizing their life.
Like the electronic chess game, some things are just for entertainment, and some things are mainly used to pass the time. Then there are other things that have life and death importance attached. Our souls get intertwined in the process. You have to know which ones are which.
Your Friendships
Your God-fearing friends tell the world the level at which you wish to play.
Your worldly friendships probably display the level you really wish to play. If that is the level you wish to play, so be it.
Friends are more than just pals. Your friends matter to God.
- They Influence you.
- They generate peer pressure that will change you.
- They can take you away from God.
- They can bring you closer to God.
- Chose your friends carefully. You will soon become what they are.
- What do your friendships today say about the level you have chosen to play?
- In Your Friendships, At What Level Do You Wish To Play?
Your Marriage
The way you cherish your spouse and give yourself to your marriage tells your family, friends and the whole wide world the level you have chosen to play.
- God becomes deeply interested and involved in your relationship with your spouse.
- His Word even directs you how to love and express your love to each other.
- Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
- Ephesians 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
- He pays attention to your mistreatment and neglect.
- 1 Corinthians 7:3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
- 1 Corinthians 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
- Those who have trouble at home soon have trouble in church. The Lord knows that, you should too.
In Your Marriage, At What Level Do You Wish To Play?
At Church
Your Response And Involvement:
- In the Worship service says volumes about the level you wish to play.
- In the Prayer room shows the level you are playing.
- In the Altar service shows the level you are playing.
- In Outreach shows the level you are playing.
- In Giving To Missions shows the level you are playing.
- In Giving Your Tithes shows the level you are playing.
- In the way you argue about Standards shows the level you are playing.
- In Obeying God’s Word shows the level you are playing.
Your Reaction to the Preaching even when it corrects you makes clear the level you wish to play.
Saying Amen to the Word tells God, the devil, the Pastor and the Church family the level you wish to play.
Pictures and Posts on Social media sites tell everyone the level at which you are probably really playing.
Old timers used the phrase, Playing Church. Never let that be said about you.
Living For God Is Not A Game.
At Church, What Level Do You Wish To Play?
Everyone Counts Or No One Counts
Everyone Counts Or No One Counts
1. That was what the Homicide Detective told himself as he looked at the pictures of the dead street-walker. Some people were glad she was off the streets. Cops had busted her many times over the years for solicitation. Her rap sheet was about as long as her arm.
He certainly did not approve of her lifestyle. But just because she had lived on the streets didn’t mean she didn’t deserve justice. He would do his best to find her killer.
The ‘perp’ was still out there. He looked at the cold case file again. He reread the files that recorded all the initial investigating efforts on her case, hoping to find a clue.
No one else in the department seemed to care about finding her killer now. It had been eight years, but that didn’t matter. He wasn’t going to give up. “Everyone counts or no one counts.” That was his motto.
2. The Sunday School Bus Captain from The First Pentecostal Church and her team pulled up into The Richland Heights’ parking lot. The church name was prominently displayed on the side of the bus.
Some of the older church members had given her disapproving stares last Sunday because she had brought a big load of children from these projects.
One Sunday School Teacher had resigned because she resented the ‘low income’ people coming to their fancy new church. After all, this was a congregation whose members had a lot of money. Some argued that influential people may not come now, because of these undesirables. Besides, the children were wild and out of control. “Another good reason not to bring them here,” someone had said.
The pastor accepted the Teacher’s resignation. He told her, the Bus Captain, and the whole congregation, “Everyone counts or no one counts.” The Bus Captain agreed. That was why she was back, trying to fill up her bus again this week.
3. Jesus hung on the Cross and looked at the throng gathered there. These were the ones He was dying for. Some were mocking and taunting Him. He knew their hearts. The actually hated Him and wished Him dead.
Standing there too, were some of His followers. His Disciples, and His Mother stood close by. They mourned. Some had tears running down their cheeks.
Others just stood there uncaring. They watched Him without any reaction.
His faithful believers and those who rejected Him surrounded him now. The sinner and the righteous believer stood there together, shoulder to shoulder.
He was dying in their place. He was their substitute. He was suffering this punishment of all sinners. Most didn’t even appreciate what He was doing for them. But He was not willing that any of them should perish. Salvation was for everyone.
He Knew, “Everyone Counts Or No One Counts.”
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.
Some Did, Some Didn’t
Some Did, Some Didn’t
Fall is a beautiful time in Indiana. The farmers have little roadside vegetable stands set up that stay busy with city slicker customers looking for fresh produce.
By this time of year, most crops have already been harvested. Well, except for maybe soybeans, pumpkins and the field corn.
The average crop of field corn is beautiful when it is harvested. Trucks can be seen hauling the yellow corn to the ethanol plants and to the local Co-op.
For the most part, all the ears of corn look very much alike. But what catches the eye, are the ears of corn that don’t look like the others. Some cobs are full with golden kernels; others are not. There are ears of corn of varied lengths and descriptions. In every truck load.
What these ears of field corn have in common, is that:
- They all were planted by the same farmer.
- They all were purchased at the same feed store.
- They all were planted in the same field.
- They all received the same amount of fertilizer.
- They all received the same amount of sunshine.
- They all received the same amount of rain.
- They all received the same amount of wind.
- They all received the same amount of weeding.
- They all received the same amount of irrigation.
- They were all planted the same day.
- They were all harvested the same day.
- They didn’t all turn out the same.
- Why?
Was it difference the farmer’s fault? Was the problem with the seed, or was it the soil? I’ll never know. The harvest shows the disparity of each ear.
There is another harvest that comes to mind. That one is a Harvest of Souls.
Apostolic churches are beautiful in spirit and worship. They are lovely in holiness and truth. Their love and fervor for the name of Jesus is without equal.
Yet, not every church member looks and acts the same. Here and there exceptions are found in every congregation.
- Some don’t pray like the rest.
- Some don’t worship like the rest
- Some don’t pay tithe like the rest.
- Some won’t dress like the rest.
- Some won’t live like the rest.
- Some won’t be faithful like the rest.
- Some won’t witness like the rest.
- Some don’t love holiness like the rest.
- Some won’t obey God’s Word like the rest.
- Why?
What made them different from all the others? How come others connected with God, the church and the pastor and they didn’t? I can’t answer that, and you may not be able to either.
- They all went to the same church.
- They all sang the same songs.
- They all prayed at the same time.
- They all had the same pastor.
- They all heard the same sermon.
- They all received the same encouragement.
- They all received the same correction.
- They all were given the same love.
- They all were given the same hope.
- They all attended the same revivals
- They all came forward to pray at the end of the service.
Yet some got on fire, and others did not. Some submitted to God, and others did not. Some got a good experience of the Holy Ghost, and others… who knows?
Some lived a life of carefulness. Others did not. Some looked godly. Others did not. Some dressed modestly. Others did not. Some knew God. Others… who knows?
Some women had uncut hair. Others did not. Some men were clean-shaven. Others were not. Some always said ‘Amen”. Others did not. Some had a fiery testimony. Others did not.
Some day, some will hear Him say, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.” Others may not.
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 