Archive for the ‘Rejection’ Category
The Reason I’m Not Your Friend Anymore.
The Reason I’m Not Your Friend Anymore.
It’s not because you’ve not been nice to me. Over the years you have been very friendly and treated me with kindness. You’re likable, but you have pushed me to the point I had to “Unfriend” you on Facebook. After I thought about that for a moment, I just went ahead and blocked you completely. Then, I unfollowed you on Instagram.
If it had been just a slight, a misunderstanding, or a difference of opinion, this would have never happened. We could have apologized and forgiven each other and gone forward. But not this time. This time it’s different. You’ve put me in this position. I had no choice.
If our paths ever cross, I can’t ever again say, “God bless you.” I once loved you, but now I am not allowed to even pray for you.
I really don’t owe you an explanation. If I were to even give you one, it would not be received well and would only make you defend yourself further. And, that’s part of the problem.
You see…
You’ve left your first love.
You’ve walked away from the Apostolic Doctrine of Acts 2:38.
You’ve lost your revelation of Holiness.
You’ve re-evaluated all of your standards and discarded them all.
You’ve turned your back on the revelation of One God.
You’ve turned your back on your revelation Jesus Name Baptism
You’ve lost your respect for your pastor. The one who first preached the truth to you.
Now, you refer to him as “That old one God preacher.”
Now, you are having people from the church over to your house to try and proselyte them.
Now you text and call your old church friends and talk against everything you’ve been taught.
If I Had Kept You As A Friend, I Would Have Been In Direct Disobedience To Scripture!
2 John 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
2 John 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
2 John 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
I Am Not Even Allowed To Go To McDonalds With You.
1 Cor. 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
The Bible Cautioned Me About Even Talking To You.
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.
Col. 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily
You Have Departed From The Faith
Your Conscience Is Seared
You Now Believe Doctrines Of Devils
1 Tim 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1 Tim. 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron
God Has Turned You Over To A Reprobate Mind
Rom. 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient
God Has Allowed You To Be Filled With A Strong Delusion
2 Thess. 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2 Thess. 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2 Thess. 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness
The Bible Says For Me To Back Away From You
2 Tim. 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2 Tim. 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away
Because I love truth, I can’t be your friend anymore.
There will be no recovery for you.
When God turns you over, there is no restoration possible.
God wouldn’t let Samuel pray for Saul because he had crossed the line.
I won’t pray for you either.
I am disappointed in you.
What happened to you?
You know too much to go to hell.
It saddens me to say that I won’t see you in heaven.
I can’t be your friend anymore.
The Bible won’t let me.
Living Right With Wrong
Luke 17:1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come:
- Wrong things happen to everyone, not just you.
- Sometimes, the wrong isn’t fixed overnight and we are forced to live with what hurts us the most.
- Our reaction to this wrong determines the outcome.
- It will decide how you feel now and how you will feel later.
- It also affects how God will feel about you in your tribulation.
- An old man-made adage reminds us, “Two wrongs don’t make a right.”
Rom. 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Rom. 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
David Had To Cope With Javelins Being Thrown At Him By The King.
Saul threw javelins at David but he just kept dodging them and never threw one back. He was doing his best to live right with wrong.
Are You Living With Angry People? Speak Kind Words.
Prov. 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
Are You Mistreated? Turn The Other Cheek.
Matt. 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Did You Lose A Lawsuit? Give Them More Than They Required.
Matt. 5:40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
Are You Coping With Unreasonable Demands? Go The Extra Mile.
Matt. 5:41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Forgive Without Limitation!
Matt. 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Matt. 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Avoid The Company Of And Do Not Eat With These Types Of People:
- Fornicators
- Covetous People
- Critical People
- People Who Don’t Put God First
- People With Addictions
- Blackmailers
1Cor. 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
Do Not Hurt Those That Have Hurt You.
1Thess. 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
Love, Bless, And Pray For Your Enemies And Then Treat Them Nice.
Matt. 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Leave Revenge Up To God. Don’t Ever Try To Get Even.
Rom. 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Let The Lord Fight Your Battle.
Exo. 14:14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
Avoid These Destructive People:
2Tim. 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Tim. 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Tim. 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Tim. 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Tim. 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Even Though They Are Not Nice To You, Treat Others Like You Want Them To Treat You.
Matt. 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Don’t Take Your Brother To Court.
1Co 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
1Co 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
1Co 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
1Co 6:4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
1Co 6:5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
1Co 6:6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
1Co 6:7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
1Co 6:8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
Got A Problem Between You And Your Brother? Fix it God’s Way.
Mat 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
Mat 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Mat 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Be A Peacemaker And You Will Be Called A Child Of God.
Matt. 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Put A Time Limit On Your Displeasure.
Eph. 4:26 …let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Rom. 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Pretending To Be OK!
The Boxer
The Champ was hit hard with a flourish of jabs from the Contender. A quick 1-2 punch to the body with a solid left uppercut staggered him and he fell backwards into the ropes.
He was saved by the sound of the bell and happily retired to his corner. He was tended to by his trainer and cut man. When the bell rang again, the Champ came out of his corner, dancing and doing his best not to let the Contender know that he had been hurt. He was pretending that he was OK.
The Card Player
The card player’s cards are not very good. But he can’t let anyone know that. He has to act like he has the best hand in the game. He bets that he does. The other players study his face and do mental math to see if they think he’s lying.
He knows his hand is bad, but by bluffing, he’s pretending he’s OK.
The Lost Husband
He looks out the window secretly hoping to find a familiar landmark. He may not know where he’s at, but he’s not lost in his own mind. He feels that he can still get you to your destination, even if it takes him an extra hour. His ‘man-hood’ is at stake. He won’t ask for help, he’s pretending he’s still OK.
You
What is your response when someone walks up to you with a half-hearted, “How ya doing?”
- You always say, “Fine, thank you.”
- Don’t you?
- You too are pretending you’re OK.
Sinners / Backsliders
They especially pretend that they’re OK. It keeps them from admitting they need help; that they are in need of God. To admit that would be to confess they are wrong. They would have to stop sinning.
If you are not living for God and going to church like you should, then you are just pretending you are OK.
Holiness Haters
- If you have left the highway of holiness. If you have re-considered all your holiness standards and changed. If you defend your decision to look like the world while still claiming to have the Holy Ghost, then you are just pretending you are OK.
- If you have rejected the life of separation from the world. If you now justify looking and dressing like the rest of the world. If you now claim to have more freedom and to be happier than ever before, then you are just pretending you are OK.
- If you now make fun of holiness minded men and women and mock the way they dress. If you try to act superior in your new revelation and lifestyle. If you have a need to flaunt your disdain of holiness. Then you are just pretending you are OK.
- (No one would even admit to Pretending.)
The hardest thing in the world for some folks is to admit they are wrong.
To admit they’re not OK is to admit they were wrong. They would rather pretend they are OK here on earth and take their chances with God in the Judgment. How insane.
Paul said to Timothy:
2 Tim. 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
Notice:
- We humans are our own problems (oppose themselves)
- If God peradventure (there’s a chance He will)
- Will give them repentance. (The opportunity to repent is a gift from God)
- To the acknowledging of the truth. (Truth about what? The truth about themselves and the error of their ways)
It’s not God’s will that you have to pretend that you are OK. No one has to pretend when they are obedient to all of His Word. It’s those that are trying to cut corners with God that feel a need to pretend. Admit it!
Miso-Veritas
This guest blog is written by my brother-in-law, Rev. Eric Marxer. He attends Inland Lighthouse in Rialto, CA. – mjb
Miso-Veritas
2 Thess 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2 Thess 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2 Thess 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2 Thess 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Miso-phonia: literally “hatred of sound“, is a neurological disorder in which negative experiences (anger, flight, hatred, disgust) are triggered by specific sounds. For some people with this condition, mealtime can be torture. The sounds of other people eating – chomping, chewing, slurping, clicking their dentures or sucking their teeth – can send them into an instantaneous, blood-boiling rage.
The last part of verse 10 in our text says, “because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” The word “truth” in Greek means “verity” which came from the Latin word “Veritas”. Therefore, if Miso-phonia means, a hatred of sound.
Then Miso-veritas means, a hatred of truth, and could be defined as a spiritual disorder in which negative experiences (anger, flight, hatred, disgust) are triggered by specific truths. For some people with this spiritual condition, church time can be torture.
When an Apostolic teacher/preacher delivers this precious truth of One God, repentance, be baptized in Jesus’ name, be filled with the Holy Ghost (with the evidence of speaking in other tongues) holiness message – it can send them into an instantaneous, blood-boiling rage.
Sadly, the scripture gives the ultimate effect from this condition, ” And for this cause (of not having a love of the truth) God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:”
Professional Wine Connoisseurs Are In Your Church!
Professional Wine Connoisseurs Are In Your Church!
They’re a snobbish lot. Some, if not most, may consider themselves a marked cut above the general population.
After all, their sensory gifts are able to determine the “great” from the “mundane” or even from the “good.”
Some are so good, that just by tasting they can tell you the name of the wine and the year it was bottled.
They also run in very elite circles and hobnob with the movers and shakers in town. Good wines cost a lot of money. So it they aren’t blessed with the green stuff, they hang out with those that are.
From time to time in the upper-crust circles, wine tastings are hosted. Often, it is even a black tie event.
The Sniff
The connoisseurs know their stuff. They all know that judging the color is the first step in tasting wine.
There are five basic steps in tasting wine I am told: These are sometimes known as the “Five S” steps: see, swirl, sniff, sip, savor.
The Sip
Then comes the scoring of the wine.
1. The appearance of the wine,
2. The nose or smell,
3. The palate or taste, and
4. Overall.
After watching the wine tasters swirl the wine in the goblet, sniff the bouquet, sip it and then hold it momentarily in their mouth… they spit it out. That’s right.
The Spit
There are even websites that boast that they can teach you how to spit wine like a pro.
Expectoration may have been the last thing some would have expected. But the connoisseur, the professional wine taster, chooses not to swallow. He is not here to drink. He has come to judge.
I suppose that in the secular world their logic makes sense. The problem is, that the same thing is being done in God’s House.
Who would have thought it? Of all the places wine tasters could have met, most of them seem to meet in our churches.
“What are they doing in our churches?”
“Why, they are wine tasting of course!”
“During the service?”
“Sure!”
“During the preaching?”
“Why, that’s when they do it the most!”
They sit there listening.
They can’t afford to get inebriated like others around them.
They look at the color as they swish it around in their glass.
They sniff at the thought process of the sermon.
They take a sip of it and hold it in their mouth.
They are so gifted; they can identify in their mind the very vineyard it came from and the year it was bottled.
Umm… that was “Worship 1977.”- I think that was “Holiness 1962.”
- That was “Doctrine AD 34.”
- “New Birth, Day of Pentecost!”
Oh yes. They know it when they hear it.
Then they spit it out.
They hear the Word, but they refuse to apply it to themselves. They feel they are superior in doctrine, and quite possible in intelligence, to almost every one in the church. Including the pastor.
They’ve heard it all before. They know it all forwards and backwards. But if you think they are going to swallow what they hear in church today, “you got another think a coming.”
They’ve been spitting it out for years! They will keep spitting it out too, until they die. To change and start swallowing would draw too much attention. They would lose their place in the church as a ‘deep’ saint of God. they would also lose face.
Actually they are not deep at all. Anyone can spit. That doesn’t require a gift or ability. They are not connoisseurs of the preached Word of God. They are only critics.
The reason they spit it out is because they are truth rejecters. (While I am on the subject, it seems like God mentioned spewing some folks out of His mouth too.)
The greatest danger you can do to yourself is to hear the Word and not apply it to your own life. Receive it and prosper. Receive it and live. Reject it and die.
They didn’t spit it out when Peter preached to them on the Day of Pentecost!
Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
The only way to grow in God is to be a doer and not just a hearer.
James 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
James 1:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
So… What are you going to do the next time you hear preaching?
Spit it out, or receive it?
Pushed Away
Pushed Away
Our Boxer Pandy lay in the whelping box with her first litter of puppies. She had all eight of her newborn pups snuggled up to her as she washed them very carefully. The first-born one was also the biggest of the litter by far. What was more striking was the big pup’s coloring. It was a dark chocolate with flashy white markings. Very rare indeed!
L-R, Pandy, My Dad - Carl Ballestero, Shawn
My wife had stayed with Pandy for several hours, before and after the delivery, giving support when needed. It was past 1am when I joined them and was immediately excited about the chocolate colored Boxer pup.
For some reason unknown to either my wife or me, Pandy pushed the big chocolate male puppy away from her. We watched with mild alarm. It was Pandy’s first litter and we knew she didn’t have any mothering skills. She had never been a mother before.
My wife picked the puppy up and placed it back in position to nurse. Pandy allowed it to nurse for a few moments, then pushed it away again. This time the little guy rolled over on his back and we had turn him over on his feet.
After the third time of pushing the puppy away and not letting it nurse, my wife gave me instructions to go to the only 24 hour drug store in our area. I bought a baby bottle with several types of extra nipples and some baby formula.
The nipples were quickly trimmed back to allow for fast consumption of the formula. Every few hours for weeks, day and night, my precious wife would hand-feed the puppy. Pandy still would not allow it to come near her and nurse. We were both disappointed in the mother dog’s lack of nurturing skills.
The puppies were all taken to see the vet to get their check-up and shots. The Vet examined them all and bragged on their health, the markings on their coats and their progress. He saved the big chocolate one for last. He had much praise for it’s markings and coloration too.
After he examined the big pup for a moment or too, he froze. He checked it’s vitals, looked in it’s mouth and then shook his head.
“Mrs. Ballestero, I am afraid I am going to have to put this one down. I can’t allow it to live.”
My wife burst into tears. This was our pick of the litter. This was the one we wanted to keep for our own. This one was special. It was rare. Yet, the Vet wanted to put the little dog down.
My wife had become very emotionally attached to this little guy and the Vet’s explanation sounded so far away.
“He has a cleft palate and will never be able to drink water or eat. That is why Pandy pushed him away. She could tell something was not right about him. That’s why you had to bottle-feed him yourself. She knew something that you didn’t know.
He also has water on the brain. That is why he rolls over easily and you have to keep turning him over. He has no balance. This puppy doesn’t have a chance.
Knowing the doctor was right she gave her permission, but she couldn’t stop her sobbing. Her heart was in love with the little chocolate Boxer puppy. It was a horrible day of grief in our home. We grieved, and our five children did as well.
This then brings be to a most difficult passage in the Holy Scripture. It is one that I am not sure I can properly and fully explain to everyone’s satisfaction.
King Saul was no longer humble and little in his own eyes. He now had become reckless and disobedient concerning the things of the Lord. Even after God had sent the prophet Samuel and advised him, Saul still disobeyed.
Samuel was very worried about King Saul. He worried about him enough to cry for him. As a matter of fact, he wept all night long for Saul.
1 Samuel 15:10-11 Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying, It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.
Then God stepped in and stopped Samuel from praying anymore. God pushed Saul away like Pandy pushed away her pup.
1 Samuel 16:1 And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
Our humanity keeps trying to save everyone we can. We do not want to lose them. We love them. We pray for them. We beg them to come back to church and get right with God.
We can only look on the outside. That’s the only part we can see. We may very well like what we see. But God looks on the inside as well as the outside. What if God doesn’t like what He sees on the inside? What if God knows something about them that we don’t know.
As a preacher I feel uncomfortable saying that God gets weary dealing with some people, even though I know it’s sobering and true.
My advice?
Please, Don’t Ever Live The Kind Of Life That Would Cause God To Push You Away.
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 