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How Do You Know If He’s Repented?

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How Do You Know If He’s Repented?

How can you tell if she’s really done with her wild lifestyle? Marriages are under attack constantly. The desires of carnal flesh often guide the weak and vulnerable to ruin and shame.

After the heartbreak what next? Can Humpty Dumpty be put back together again? Can trust ever be built again?

Some just say they are sorry and nothing changes. How will I know if this is the real deal? How will I know if they mean it this time? I’m tired of going through meaningless apologies. I don’t want to hear another half-hearted “I’m sorry” again.

I’ve pastored too many years to not know humans have problems and need to change. I mean, really change. They can change too. But before they change, sincere repentance must sweep their heart clean.

Several thousand years ago, God laid down a guideline for the repentant. It’s there so that He knows and everyone else that’s connected knows, that true repentance has taken place. It involves more than words. It involves actions. Actions that loudly proclaim “I’m Sorry.”

2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

2 Corinthians 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

There are Seven Evidences here, (or Fruits, or Proofs, or Signs, or Steps) of Repentance in God’s eyes. This verse is NOT talking about something that happens AFTER the Holy Ghost. This is what happens when someone really repents. Here’s how you know!

 

Verse 10

The sorrow of the world? Some folks are just sorry they got caught.

Only Godly sorrow leads to true repentance.

Verse 11

1. “What Carefulness it wrought in you.” Repentant people are careful.

  • They no longer have numbers in their cell phones that shouldn’t be there.
  • They have removed email addresses from their computer that shouldn’t be there.
  • Careful people don’t work on the same job with the other person anymore. They transfer if necessary.
  • Become accountable to their spouse and others if needed.
  • Drive home a different route if necessary.
  • They understand their flesh is weak. They become careful.
  • If there is no carefulness, there is no repentance.

2. “What Clearing of yourself.” Repentant people make things right.

  • If they stole something, they take it back.
  • If they said something, they go apologize.
  • If they did something, they make it right.
  • “I’m sorry” is not always enough. God even wants to see if they are making things right with the injured party.  Matt. 5:23-24
  • If there is no clearing, there is no repentance.

3. “What Indignation!” If they’ve truly repented, they get mad at the devil for destroying their:

  • Marriage
  • Home
  • Reputation
  • Finances
  • Family
  • If there is no Indignation, there is no repentance.

4. “Yea, what Fear.” Repentance makes them tread lightly.

  • The problem, no doubt, started because of the lack of the Fear of God.
  • Repentance makes the sinner wake up to the reality of God’s judgment.
  • That Fear keeps the repentant walking the straight and narrow.
  • If there is no Fear of God in their heart, there is no repentance.

5. “What Vehement desire.” Repentance brings an overwhelming desire to do right.

  • There is now a vehement desire to live right and do right.
  • No one has to beg them to come to church.
  • No one has to beg them to come home.
  • If there is no vehement desire to live right, there has been no repentance.

6. What Zeal. Their experience now is greater than even before.

  • If they’ve only gotten what they used to have, they will fall right back to where they are now.
  • True repentance brings zeal.
  • If zeal is absent in their life, there has been no repentance.

7. What Revenge. What better revenge than helping others escape from the same trap.

  • At this level, the repentant person has gone on the offensive.
  • The penitent has by now, gone to the level of helping others.
  • No revenge mode? No repentance.

Verse 11 concludes with:

“In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”

Notice the word Clear.

These seven things are evidences of repentance. Before the Holy Ghost was ever given, Jesus said to sinners, “Go thy way and sin no more.”

Sin is a choice. The sinner is not helpless. The sinner makes a choice to quit sinning. When they quit sinning, here’s how you will know.

Written by Martyn Ballestero

October 29, 2011 at 12:09 am

Posted in Repent

Tagged with

+ = − , − = +

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+ = − , −  = +

Plus Equals Minus, Minus Equals Plus!

What kind of math is that? If Albert Einstein were to read that statement, I’m sure his brow would wrinkle in puzzlement. But, it’s true!

It’s not new math. It’s old math, it’s really old math. It was the Lord that first introduced it to man.

This Old Testament verse explains both concepts:

Proverbs 11:2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

This New Testament passage also explains how it works.

Luke 14:8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;

Luke 14:9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.

Luke 14:10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.

1. + = −  (Plus Equals Minus)

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 13:10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

Proverbs 29:23 A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

2. − = + (Minus Equals Plus)

Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

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.

It’s God’s Math. His Math principles never change.

Man’s Pride seems to be his biggest Minus.

Man’s Humility turns out to be his biggest Plus!

Written by Martyn Ballestero

September 26, 2011 at 1:16 am

Posted in Pride, Repent

Tagged with ,

When The Lady Of The Night Got The Holy Ghost

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When The Lady Of The Night Got The Holy Ghost

For many years, I preached annual revivals in a very small West Texas town. The town was so small that after church it was not uncommon for the pastor or saints to drive an hour and a half to Odessa or Midland just to get something to eat.

The pastor was a dear family friend. The church was one that really worshipped and was easy to preach in. They loved the Word and the loved their “Man of God.”

The church had not grown significantly in many years. The little group prayed for revival and worked hard to bring visitors to the revival.

A seventeen-year-old Foster child sought for the Holy Ghost for over an hour every night. He sought fervently and with tears. He had prayed every night of the 4 week Revival.

The last Saturday of the revival, the pastor and I talked about Home Bible Studies. He said, “When I came up in church, we’d never heard of them. I’ve been here for 30 years or so and we’ve never taught any Home Bible Studies. Not only do we not have any material, if we had some, we wouldn’t know how to go about teaching them. Could you teach our people how to teach a Home Bible Study?”

Although I said that I could and would, there wasn’t any material within 100 miles. There also wasn’t any Internet connection to download anything.

I was relieved to find a copy of Bishop Gerald Adam’s ‘Deeper Life’ Home Bible Study in my briefcase. Bro. Adam’s was kind when I called and granted permission for me to make copies of his Bible Study for the occasion.

(The Deeper Life Home Bible Study is now digitized and can be found on the Hopkinsville, KY church website.) http://www.lifetabernaclechurch.org/Life_Tabernacle_Church/Bible_Study.html

I asked the pastor what he thought about me putting a table in front of the pulpit Sunday morning and teaching a Home Bible Study to some one while everyone else watched and followed along with their copy. He agreed and said he would have the table and chairs set up right after the preliminaries.

Standing on the platform Sunday morning I noticed two new visitors. A teenage boy stood on the right side and a 20 something young woman on the left.

For a few minutes after the song service, the church family went around and personally welcomed the visitors and greeted each other.

I noticed the boy seemed very sincere and responsive during the singing, so I went over and welcomed him. The young man smiled warmly when I introduced myself. He told me his name was Billy.

I said, “I’m a visitor here too, Billy. They’ve asked me to teach what they call a ‘Home Bible Study’ this morning. It’s a thing where two people sit at a table and basically just read scriptures from the Bible.

“I really don’t know who to choose to help me out today. But whoever does, doesn’t have to say a word. All they have to do is just act like they are reading the material. Do you think maybe you can help me out today?”

“Sure,” he said.

Later when they introduced me to speak, I explained to the church that I had asked Billy to help me and invited them to make him welcome. They gave him a good round of applause.

Billy and I sat at the small table in front of the pulpit. Each person there was given a copy of the Home Bible Study. I saw the look of sincerity and interest in the young man’s face.

He nodded as I spoke to him. I looked only at him and not at the crowd. We took less than an hour to go through the study.

The organ player began to play softly as we all stood. The table and chairs were removed. I looked to my left where Billy had stood and then I looked down. He was kneeling at the altar. All the others came forward too. Billy received the Holy Ghost in just a few minutes.

I heard shouts go up at the other end of the altar and saw that the young woman was praying and the ladies were rejoicing. She also received the Holy Ghost and excitedly thanked the Lord.

The pastor whispered in my ear, that someone had just told him, this new girl was the town’s hooker. The town’s only hooker. Her name was Sarah.

The saints were ecstatic about what God had done in the service that morning.

Sunday night’s service started.  The front doors burst open as the 17-year-old Foster kid entered the church crying and speaking in tongues. He had prayed during the day, and while taking his shower before church had received the Holy Ghost while still in the shower. He was still talking in tongues when he got to church. He couldn’t stop and he was excited. The saints rejoiced. I mean really rejoiced.

Billy and Sarah came back too. The church shouted and ran the aisles. Joy was in the camp.

The front door again opened and an unhappy faced man walked in and sat on the back row. Sarah was too lost in worship to notice that her pimp was there. He watched the worship for a while. Several were uneasy not knowing what would happen.

Testimony service had new life that night. When Sarah got done testifying and thanking the Lord, the guy on the back row got up and walked out shaking his head.

He was officially out of business. Sarah never noticed.  She started to dance before the Lord. She had been delivered.

 

Written by Martyn Ballestero

September 17, 2011 at 9:18 am

The Pentecostals At The Church Of Christ Funeral

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The Pentecostals At The Church Of Christ Funeral

The funeral chapel was jammed with about 30 Pentecostals and nearly 100 Church of Christ members.  Evidently this funeral was considered important. Six Church of Christ pastors were in attendance and each one spoke. No Pentecostal preacher had been invited to speak; yet several of us came anyway. I sat close to the back with my brother-in-law Pastor Nathan Yandris and my sister Ramona.

The large framed picture sitting on the closed casket was one of a beautiful middle-aged woman named Phyllis. She had a look of professionalism and class about her. Her brown hair was cut shoulder length. It appeared her make up had been professionally applied for the photo, and her jewelry looked very expensive.

The front row contained a grieving husband and beside him, his redheaded son and daughter-in-law. The son appeared to be the only child. No others sat near, leaving the guests to assume the mourners were alone in this crowd.

The Church of Christ preachers spoke one by one, and each said comforting things that I am sure helped. The final speaker did a superb job, actually. One could tell this was not his first funeral.

At the conclusion of his homily, the minister announced, “It is the wishes of the family that those who wish to say a few words about our beloved sister, should have an opportunity to say a public goodbye. He then walked to the front row and sat down.

One at a time, six middle-aged women walked to the podium and spoke sweet words about the loss of their friend. All of them mentioned that they had met Phyllis at either AA or Al-Anon.

They spoke of her friendship, of her church activities, her help with their lives, and her struggle with addictions and theirs.

After the last one sat down, there was a moment of quietness as all waited for someone else to stand. No one did.

Turning around and giving the crowd a swift appraising look, the redheaded son clutched a new Bible as he stepped to the small podium. His 25 years seemed much older. He was poised. He held the Bible in his left hand up close to his heart.

With a voice that never broke, he thanked everyone for coming. He thanked the ministers that spoke and he thanked his mother’s pastor as well.

With a smile to the women who had come to the front to speak, he thanked them as cherished friends.

That is where his story began!

“Almost 6 weeks ago, I first heard that my mom had cancer.  The doctor said that it was terminal and inoperable. I was shattered. Then they said she only had a few days to live. I was an immediate basket case.

“My mom was young, she was beautiful too,” He said, pointing at her picture.

“I went home that night and sat on my front porch. I was drinking a beer and smoking a cigarette, and was crying my heart out, when this man saw me and stopped.” (He pointed at a large black man on the 2nd row.) “He asked me if I was alright? I told him no.

“When he came up to the porch I told him the news about my mom. He spoke comforting words to me and asked if he could pray for me. I said yes and he did. I felt something I had never felt before.

“Then he sat down beside me and taught me what he called a short Home Bible Study. He showed me about Acts 2:38. He said that I needed to repent, and get baptized in Jesus name and that the Lord would give me the Holy Ghost. He said that Jesus would be my comforter.

“I prayed right there on my porch and asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins. I told him I wanted to be baptized the Bible way, so he took me to his church, Apostolic Tabernacle, and the pastor came over and baptized me in Jesus name. When I came up out of the water, I was speaking in tongues. I got the Holy Ghost just like they did in the Bible!” He said, as he raised and then waved his Bible.

The Pentecostals responded with much noise and many of us stood and clapped our hands. The Church of Christ crowd went silent.

“I was thrilled! I had never been so happy in my life! That night I prayed that God would help me to share this with my mom. I knew she had to have this before she died.

“I prayed that God would help me find a way to speak to her. I knew she was wrapped up in her Church. She had been a lifetime member, and had always been involved in one department or another.

“The first thing the next morning, I prayed before I went over to mom’s house. When I got there, I was surprised to see a Bible lying open on the kitchen table.”

“I asked mom what the Bible was there for, and she said that she was close to dying and didn’t feel saved. She said she was looking for more than what she had.

“I said mom, you been a member of the Church of Christ for 45 years.”

She said, “That’s right, but I’m not ready to meet God. I need more!”

(He turned to the Church of Christ pastor and said, “Sorry sir!”)

The redheaded new convert was filled with Holy Ghost enthusiasm as he told his story. His eyes were red rimmed and watering.

I said, “Mom, let me tell you what had happened to me last night. I told her the whole story. About the beer, the Bible study, the baptism and the Holy Ghost.

“Mom started crying and said son, ‘Tell me what he told you.’

I sat down with her and showed her the same scriptures in Acts that my new friend had told me.

“She got down and began to repent like the Bible said to. When she finished, she said that she couldn’t leave the house to go to church. She was too weak and was attached to an oxygen tank.

“Mom said, maybe we could fill her big Jacuzzi tub up and baptize her in that. Dad helped me and I baptized my mom in Jesus name. She came up out of the water speaking in tongues just like I did. I was so happy, I shouted all over the room.”

(All of us Pentecostals are now on our feet, with our hands in the air, worshipping!)

“My dad said, ‘Baptize me too!’ So I did and he got the Holy Ghost too”

“I sure did,” came a strong voiced reply from the front row. The dad had his hand in the air.

The Pentecostal’s worship was so overwhelming that even some of the church of Christ people started crying by now.

They all knew that a man with an experience is never at the mercies of a man with an argument.

The worship of the small group of saints roared in the ears of opposition. For several minutes it went on. It felt unstoppable.

“All of you Church of Christ members need this Holy Ghost, he went on. “It will do for you what AA can’t. It will do for you what Al-Anon can’t. You need to be baptized in Jesus name to be saved. You need the Holy Ghost speaking with other tongues to be saved. If you want to see my mom in heaven, then obey Acts 2:38.

When he walked back to his place, the crowd stood and gave him a standing ovation.

Written by Martyn Ballestero

September 15, 2011 at 9:41 am

He’s Out Of Touch

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He’s Out Of Touch

This is the day of instant communication and social networking. Cell phones are so common now that even pre-teens are seen with them. Facebook and Twitter keeps friends in touch and provides them with up to the minute news of each other’s lives. Everyone has an email address today it seems. This generation prides itself in being connected and having the ability to stay in touch regardless.

For several months this summer, I have been in Camp Meetings located in rural areas around our nation. At least 4 of those campgrounds had very limited or no cellular phone service, or Internet connection either. My blog postings have taken a major hit recently because I have had very limited access to the outside world. I was out of touch.

The phrase, “Out of touch” is used several ways

Out of touch (with somebody)

  1. Not in communication

Out of touch (with something)

  1. Not informed about something
  2. Not reflecting what is true or actual

Politicians fling that phrase at their opponents. The public says that about some politicians.

The Brooks Brothers salesmen and the sharp dressing in-crowd look at me as though my clothes are from another planet. I can tell they feel I am out of touch with what’s cool. I’m a grandpa, and grand fathers are sometimes given a pass, along with a side-glance and a smirk. (I’ll keep buying from Goodwill if I want to, so there.)

I shouldn’t use the grandpa defense however. I’ve been a nerd all my life. I’ve never been considered cool or looked like I stepped out of a bandbox. What’s sad is, I’m OK with that.

Each generation accuses its elders of being out of touch, if only in their minds. Call it the generation gap, or by whatever term is more current, it still means the same thing. Young people think older people are out of touch with their world. Older folks think that the younger generation is clueless about the real world. Each accuses the other of being out of touch.

I make no effort to defend myself on that point. There are many things about this generation I do not understand. Further more, I have no desire to understand. Things like:

  • The Tattoo craze (I’ve never seen one that makes the person more beautiful or handsome. Why do they do it?)
  • The Bed-Head and Spiked hair look.
  • Living together and raising families without getting married.
  • Doing drugs.
  • Being part of Flash mob events.
  • Rioting and looting.

I condemn such actions and thereby am considered to be out of touch.

Society locks people up in padded rooms when they are considered to be out of touch with reality. Delusional patients are kept separate from society because they are no longer living in the real world. They are out of touch with reality.

Out Of Touch With God

Good Saints come to church early to pray before service. They want to stay in touch God.

Godly thinking people have personal devotions and a family altar time in their home because they choose to stay in touch with the Lord.

Some deluded Pentecostals feel that Mainstream Apostolics are out of touch in this generation. They distance themselves from the Holiness crowd. They cut their hair, put on makeup, women wear slacks and skimpy apparel, and they adorn themselves with jewelry. They use terms like, Emergent and Relevant. They on the other hand are no longer Apostolic nor do they look or act Apostolic. They are out of touch with God’s Holiness.

Most of them mock those of us that continue to live a life of modesty in dress and still believe in separation from the world, declaring that we are out of touch. In reality, they are the ones that are out of touch.

God is Holy. Why do you want the Holy Ghost if you don’t want to be Holy like Him? Anytime you make a mockery of Holiness, you are hell-bent and out of touch. Being out of touch with God and His Holiness, is always fatal.

The Old Testament admonition is still relevant today.

2Chr. 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.

God gave those that were out of touch, the key to getting back in touch with Him.

  • Humble yourself
  • Pray
  • Seek His face
  • Turn away from your sinful life

Now For The Bad News

It’s one thing when man gets out of touch, but the subject gets taken to the ultimate level, when God choses to be out of touch. He was out of touch with Israel for 400 years.

Why would God want to be out of touch with us? I’ll let Him explain that in His own words.

Isa. 59:1 Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

Isa. 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

  • God chose not to listen to the prayers of some because of their willful sinning.
  • He also chose to ignore those that needed help for the same reason.
  • In addition, He also said He wouldn’t even look in their direction.
  • Those people chose the life of iniquity.
  • They refused the ways of Godliness.
  • So God refused them.

They wanted to disconnect from God, so God disconnected from them. God does what you do. Repentance is wayward man’s ONLY hope of getting back in touch with God.

Are You Out Of Touch With God?

Written by Martyn Ballestero

August 12, 2011 at 11:48 am

The Night The Blind Lady Ran The Aisles

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The Night The Blind Lady Ran The Aisles

The grandfather’s clock struck 12:30am as the CB radio crackled with static and mundane conversation. A female voice called, “Pastor Ballestero?”

I picked up the microphone and responded. The caller was Mary Swift, a blind lady. With a voice choked with tears Mary said, “I really need God. I want to repent. Tell me how to be saved.”

I was ready for bed and completely caught off guard by her interest in God and her request for guidance. I sat down in my Lazy Boy chair and began to answer her questions.

Mary was someone who I mainly knew from Amateur and CB radio. I had heard her voice for several years. None of her family was in church, nor did they seem interested. Mary’s midnight call was a major event in her family.

I carefully explained to Mary about the need for repentance, baptism in Jesus Name and the Holy Ghost speaking with other tongues. I knew that many were listening to our on-the-air Home Bible Study. I read several verses from the book of Acts chapters 2, 8, 10 and 19.

Every time Mary responded, I could detect sniffles and hear the tears in her voice. When I finished, it was about 1 am.

Mary asked, “Can I be baptized tonight?”

“You sure can,” I said, “I’ll meet you at the church at 1:30!”

My wife Marcia and I met Mary and her husband John at the side door. I baptized Mary in Jesus Name and she received the Holy Ghost while still in the water.

That was Wednesday night; it was also our Bible Study night. At church, I stood at the pulpit and announced the wonderful news of our new baby ‘sister’ in Christ.

I looked at Mary. With unseeing eyes, she was beaming with joy. Mary was sitting beside one of the most precious older women in the church who immediately had taken the new blind lady under her wing.

When the church heard the news of Mary’s hunger and midnight conversion, they yelled with excitement and began to run the aisles.

Mary, new to Pentecostal worship and demonstration, asked the older woman beside her, “What are they doing?”

“They are running the aisles,” was the reply.

“Why?” Mary wanted to know.

“Because you got the Holy Ghost.”

“I want to run the aisles too.” Mary said, “Here, take my hand and lead me.”

The older sister beside Mary was always responsive in worship, but was not one to run the aisles. Tonight however, she had no choice. She took Mary by the hand, and together they ran several laps around the church.

For years some had depended on excuses to exempt them from running the aisles. Tonight saw a blind Sister Mary running. They knew they didn’t have any excuses now. They all got up and ran with her.

That was the night every body ran the aisles. The blind led them in praise and rejoicing.

That makes me ask the question, “What are we waiting for?”

Why do we hold our praise and demonstration in reserve?

Are we waiting to feel condemnation before we worship too?

Worship is everybody’s business.

There are no excuses not to praise the Lord.

Mary continued to worship every service and never tired of running the aisles assisted by her friend.

When she told me they were moving south, I shed tears. Her husband wanted to buy a farm down in Arkansas and she had little choice in the matter. John has never gotten in church to my knowledge.

Thank you Sister Mary Swift. Your desire to lead in worship lingers heavy on mind after all these years. What an example you were to us all. Bless you!

Worshippers are the ones you miss the most.

 

Written by Martyn Ballestero

August 3, 2011 at 1:31 pm

It’s Called Filth

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It’s Called Filth

My mother was an expert on pigsties. She came into my bedroom one day when I was in the 7th grade and told me that my room looked like a pigsty. She ordered me to clean it up, in no uncertain terms. I did. Mama had zero tolerance for filth.

I recently went with a pastor to visit some sick people in the hospital.  A small boy had contracted Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease. He was 4 years old and refused to wear shoes indoors or out. His constant hand contact with his feet and then his mouth was a major issue.

His feet were covered with blisters, as well as his hands.  His mouth was full of them besides. The youngster was in a coma.

As I left the Hospital, I looked for the hand Sanitizer dispenser in the lobby by the front door. I used two dozes just in case one application didn’t catch all of the germs.

I shake dozens of hands before and after church. It’s important to me to be able to wash the fellowship off of my hands before sitting down to eat after service. I don’t want the germs from their unwashed hands in my mouth.

It doesn’t take much for germs to spread. I do not which to get germs nor do I wish to spread them.

There are times when I wish I could wash my mind and my thoughts because of what I heard or what I saw that day. We may call the influence of the world in our lives by nicer names, but I’m afraid that most of it falls under the classification of filth.

Sometimes I wish I could pull my heart out and put it on the scrub board of God’s Mercy and scrub it clean. I wish I could scrub it clean of all impurities and filth. I am not talking about immorality, I’m just talking about the filth of this generation that swirls around us everyday. It’s called Life.

David even spoke of the same desire to be clean in Psalms. He also wanted to scrub away the filth of life and be clean so that he might be acceptable in the presence of the Lord.

Psa. 51:2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

Psa. 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Peter warned us all that there would be a constant need to protect ourselves for the present evils of the age.

Acts 2:40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

This indecent, unbecoming, uncomely, unseemly world of ours freely spreads it’s filth around every day. It infiltrates our ears, our eyes, our minds, and most of all our hearts. We must work constantly to keep ourselves pure.

1John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

We have to do some washing ourselves. That is the reason why daily devotions and our prayer closet times are so important to keeping ‘disease free’ in a filthy and sick world.

Thank God for the altars in our churches. Thank God for a place where hearts can be scrubbed clean.

No Levite or Priest could enter into the Holy Place of God without first washing the filth off in the Laver, and neither can we. Every one of us needs to be washed on a daily basis.

Saints of old sang songs about being washed and being clean. I wish they still did.

 

Search Me, O God

James E. Orr, 1936

Copyright: Public Domain

  1. Search me, O God, and know my heart today,
    Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts, I pray;
    See if there be some wicked way in me;
    Cleanse me from every sin, and set me free.
  2. I praise Thee, Lord, for cleansing me from sin;
    Fulfill Thy word and make me pure within;
    Fill me with fire, where once I burned with shame;
    Grant my desire to magnify Thy name.
  3. Lord, take my life, and make it wholly Thine;
    Fill my poor heart with Thy great love divine;
    Take all my will, my passion, self and pride;
    I now surrender, Lord, in me abide.
  4. O Holy Ghost, revival comes from Thee;
    Send a revival, start the work in me;
    Thy Word declares Thou wilt supply our need;
    For blessings now, O Lord, I humbly plead.

Written by Martyn Ballestero

June 9, 2011 at 9:26 pm

The Mourners At The Old Man’s Funeral

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The Mourners At The Old Man’s Funeral

The casket was closed. That alone made everything seem final. There was not even a picture of the deceased anywhere to be seen. He was only still alive in the memories of those that had known him.

Family members, fellow employees, acquaintances, and friends both old and new were in attendance. Some of them mourned and consoled each another with knowing looks and tear-stained faces. Their great sense of loss was clearly evident as they continually wiped the tears away.

In the same room, others were smiling oblivious to the tearful around them. They hugged each other for joy. They seemed very happy that the old man had finally died. He had been a real source of irritation to them for a long time. They seemed to be sighing with great relief that he was finally out of the way.

Even the preacher actually seemed happy that the old man was dead too. This was unusual. Preachers normally don’t get happy at funerals, but this one did.

The sniffles and the sobs attracted everyone’s attention again. The old man would be sorely missed. For them, it was unthinkable that he was dead.

They had comforted themselves with stories of his exploits. They struggled with their losses. He’d meant something special and important to them. They were greatly irritated by the smiling faces in the room. What was wrong with those other people? How could anyone smile like that at a funeral?

Passion looked at the casket where “the old man” lay and sobbed. His best friend was dead.

Lust wept at the loss of a child.

Habit greatly mourned the slave who had broken free from it’s chains.

Guilt shook with disbelief. They had travelled many miles together.

Heartache was crying and refused to be comforted.

Selfishness and Pleasure wailed for their departed friend and comrade.

Pride hung it’s head in grief. It had evidently failed at keeping him alive.

Satan himself was the chief mourner.

The funeral procession was mixed with tears of sorrow and smiles. It’s sounds were those of weeping and shouts of joy. The two crowds kept separate from each other. Tension was strong between the two camps.

The shouters wanted to make sure “the old man” was buried. They wanted to make sure that some green grass was growing on top of him. The mourners were hoping for a miracle of resurrection.

The preacher made the final pronouncement of burial and the sound of rejoicing was overwhelming loud and raucous. There was so much joy in the camp, that the mourners all made a hasty retreat.

Rom. 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

Rom. 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Rom. 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Is Your “Old Man” Yet Alive, Or Has He Died Out To Sin?

If He Is Still Alive, You Need To Make Funeral Arrangements Today!

You Can Find Out How To Make Them By Reading Acts 2:38.

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.

Written by Martyn Ballestero

June 4, 2011 at 11:54 am

You Don’t Fall Down In One Town And Get Up In Another

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You Don’t Fall Down In One Town And Get Up In Another

In the Kingdom of God, we sometimes hear stories of someone quitting church, or “backsliding”. Our hearts are deeply saddened by their disappearance from the church family.

Quite often then, news comes that the missing person has ‘prayed through’ over at Brother So & So’s church.

The person in question seldom comes back home. They just continue at their new place of worship. They expect everyone to rejoice that they are back in the fold.

It almost seems like they wanted to change churches and knew their reason was inappropriate.  So what did they do?  They figured if they backslid, then they could pray through anywhere they wanted to. (I wonder if they shopped a few churches to find one that was less restrictive?) By so doing, they would then be free of their old church and move on.

Too many make a horrible mistake in assuming that they can freely move around in the Kingdom of God like they were in a game of checkers, going from church to church without consequence.

To pacify their conscience, they just make sure that the sign at the new church has the magic name or initials painted on it, and then it’s OK. They are still in the body.

The church jump is made in such a way that the man of God’s opinion and influence gets bypassed. They choose to bypass it too. It’s a very dangerous and cowardly move.

My Mother-in-Law, Sister June Davis is a wise woman. She has a very practical saying that is time-tested. “You Don’t Fall Down In One Town And Get Up In Another.”

Church members that devise means to escape in such a way from the pastor under which God has placed them, will surely bring great damage to themselves and their families.

I am talking here about people leaving good pastors and good churches. They just don’t want to live it like they used to, so they leave.

If they just had a personal problem and quit, why didn’t they come back home and pray through?

Backslider! If you’ve really prayed through, you will come back home. The Prodigal Son did. You should too!

I’m not so sure folks have really prayed through if they don’t come back home. More often than not, the reason they don’t want to come back home is that they know they would have to repent and that’s always a problem for the proud, for the rebellious and for the cowardly.

Oh, and the other pastor that welcomes you to his church instead of sending you back home isn’t ethical either!

“You Don’t Fall Down In One Town And Get Up In Another.”

Written by Martyn Ballestero

April 12, 2011 at 2:42 am

Two Ways To Remove Your Past

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There Are Two Ways To Remove Your Past, Man’s Way And God’s Way.

The laws of man have provided a way for the guilty to get their past sealed or expunged. I was in the Federal Building in Tacoma today and saw a very nice pamphlet that described to the general public how to expunge their criminal record.

Reading that made me look further. Online I found a great website that describes the process in detail for the residents of Washington. I am glad that this is available for those that wish to turn their lives around.

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http://www.articlesbase.com/criminal-articles/expungement-of-criminal-records-in-washington-state-7-steps-to-clearing-your-record-588959.html

Expungement of Criminal Records in Washington State -7 Steps to Clearing Your Record

You don’t have to be stuck with a criminal conviction on your record.  Your Washington State criminal conviction can be expunged if you meet the criteria.  And after your conviction is expunged, Washington State law permits you to state you have not been convicted for employment purposes.

Expungement is an often misunderstood term and process.  In Washington State expungement of a criminal record or criminal conviction is accomplished by Vacating the Criminal Conviction.  The terms Expungement and Vacating are largely interchangeable, the difference being that Vacating is the legal term.

Expungement of a criminal record by vacating the conviction does not destroy or seal the file.  However, it is possible to destroy, or expunge, an arrest record if the eligibility requirements are met.  When an arrest record is expunged, the booking photos and fingerprints are destroyed and removed from the police record.

In Washington State, the expungement process differs between felony and misdemeanor convictions.  The following 7 steps are an overview of what is involved.

1.  The Required Time Period has Passed Since the Case Completed.

The first eligibility requirement to expunge your conviction in Washington State is passage of the required time period.  For a misdemeanor, the time period begins to run on the date the case is Closed.  For a felony conviction, the time period begins to run on the date a document called a Certificate of Discharge is filed with the court.  In both instances, a case is Closed or a Certificate of Discharge is filed after all the sentence conditions are completed as required.

2.  The Conviction is Eligible for Expungement.

Certain convictions, and classifications of convictions, are not eligible for Expungement in Washington State.  Generally, class A felonies (the most serious), sex crimes, and violent crimes cannot be expunged in Washington State.  Among misdemeanors, Washington State does not permit a DUI conviction to be expunged.

3.  You Meet the Clean Behavior Requirement.

Two situations will make your conviction ineligible for expungement.  For a misdemeanor, if you were convicted of another crime on a later date then you would not be eligible to have the misdemeanor expunged.  For example, if you were convicted of a misdemeanor in 1995, and another crime in 1997, then the 1995 crime would not be eligible to be expunged.  For a felony, if you were convicted of another crime after the date the Certificate of Discharge was filed then you cannot expunge the felony.

4.  Special Rule for Misdemeanors.

Washington State has an interesting rule that applies only to misdemeanor convictions.  To expunge a misdemeanor, you cannot have had any other conviction expunged (vacated).  What this means is if a person has a felony conviction and a misdemeanor conviction, and the person expunged the felony conviction first, then the misdemeanor could no longer be expunged.  However, if the misdemeanor was expunged first, and if the misdemeanor conviction occurred before the felony conviction, then the felony could still be expunged.

5.  Preparation.

An expungement, or vacation of a criminal conviction, requires a judge to sign a court Order.  The court process is begun by filing a Motion to Vacate Conviction with the court.  Prior to filing the Motion, you should get copies of the Docket and the Judgment & Sentence from the court clerk.  You should also obtain a criminal history report, called a WATCH Report, from the Washington State Patrol website.

6.  Your Day In Court.

Most Washington State courts require a hearing to Expunge, or Vacate, a criminal conviction.  Most courts do not require you to attend if you have a lawyer appearing at the hearing on your behalf.  If the preparation has been done properly, then the hearing should go very smoothly and the judge will sign the Court Order Vacating your criminal conviction.

7.  Your Criminal Record is Cleared.

The court clerk processes the Order and sends a certified copy to the Washington State Patrol, which removes the conviction from the public database.  The FBI record is updated based on the Washington State record.  And, if the Order was prepared correctly, a copy will also be sent to the police department that handled the case and your record will also be cleared in their file.  Your conviction has now been expunged (vacated), and your criminal record is cleared.

As you can see, you don’t have to be stuck with a criminal conviction on your record.  It is not difficult to expunge a conviction in Washington State if you meet the straightforward criteria.  In most cases, these 7 steps take only a few weeks to complete.

Copyright ©2008 Douglas Stratemeyer.  All Rights reserved.
Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/criminal-articles/expungement-of-criminal-records-in-washington-state-7-steps-to-clearing-your-record-588959.html#ixzz1EM5KIxdu

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He can do it in one day. Once you have repented of your sins and been baptized in Jesus name according to Acts 2:38.

Your Sins Are Then:

1. Covered By His Blood.

Rom. 4:7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

2. Forgiven Immediately

Col. 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

3. Blotted Out

Col. 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

4. Removed

Psa. 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

5. He Forgives All Sins.

Mark 3:28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:

Matt. 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men:

6. Your Sins Will Be Washed Away In Baptism In Jesus Name.

Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

7. If You Sin, He Will Even Be Your Defense Attorney.

1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

1John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

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We All Are Invited To Take Advantage Of This Immediately.

Heb. 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

Heb. 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Heb. 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Do It Today!

Sinner! Backslider! I don’t care what you’ve done, where you’ve gone or how low you have fallen, God’s Mercy is available for you today. He’s waiting for you to make that move. Get your sins forgiven and washed away now.

Written by Martyn Ballestero

February 19, 2011 at 11:21 am