Archive for the ‘Salvation’ Category
“Tell Him You’re Stupid!”
Tell Him You’re Stupid!
The National City Church, Rev. Leamon Reynolds, Pastor. circa 1959
Betty parked her Austin Healey convertible in the parking lot and walked into the modest-sized Pentecostal church in National City, California. She was doing quite well for a single girl in the business world in the late 1950’s.Betty Picklesimer looked professional in her classy dark suit. She was, after all, an Officer at the local Bank. She knew very little about Pentecost, only what her brother had told her. She had seen wonderful changes in him and wanted to visit his church.
She sat near the back on the right side as she entered the revival service. The church was full. Her brother, Alan Picklesimer was already a member there. He was 21 and the Sunday School teacher for teenage boys. I was 14 and in his class.
My father, Carl Ballestero was the nightly evangelist. Betty came down to the altar when he finished preaching and the invitation was given.
She repented and cried for a long time. When she finished praying, she asked to be baptized. The church rejoiced and shouted when she received the Holy Ghost and began speaking in tongues while still in the water.
The next night, Betty was back in service again. She was praising God and rejoicing in her newfound relationship with the Lord.
During the altar service that night, Betty began praying with new seekers in the altar. My father became curious about what this new convert was saying to them.
Betty began praying with a woman from Tijuana, Mexico. Here she was, a well-dressed professional businesswoman, praying with a very poor and uneducated woman. Dad moved closer so as to overhear her words. Betty shouted words of encouragement into the little lady’s ears.
“Tell Him you’re stupid! Tell Him you’re ignorant! Tell Him you don’t know nothing!” Betty was yelling in the new seeker’s ear. “That’s what I told Him and He gave me the Holy Ghost!”
The Mexican lady immediately received the Holy Ghost!
Seeker?
Are you ready to tell God that you’re stupid?
That you’re ignorant?
That you don’t know anything?
Maybe you should.
The Holy Ghost comes easily to hungry hearts that are willing to humble themselves!
Sister Betty Picklesimer 2007
The Holy Ghost, Without Tongues, Isn’t!
The Holy Ghost, Without Tongues, Isn’t!
Isn’t what?
It Isn’t THE Holy Ghost!
There Is Only One Kind Of Holy Ghost.
Everywhere in the Scriptures where the Holy Ghost was poured out or given unto men, there was a noise associated with its appearance. The use of the definite article, ‘the’ (meaning only one) is connected with the words Holy Ghost, 89 times.
There is no such thing a quiet-kind of Holy Ghost, or a non-speaking-in-tongues Holy Ghost. No one receives the Holy just by praying the sinner’s prayer and saying they believe Jesus is the Son of God.
1) Speaking In Tongues Was Prophesied In Isaiah.
Speaking in tongues always accompanies the Gift of the Holy Ghost.
Isaiah 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
Isa 28:12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
2) The Speaking In Tongues Was Prophesied By Jesus.
Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
3) When The Holy Ghost Was First Given On The Day Of Pentecost, They All Spoke In Tongues.
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Acts 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
- The evidence that they had received the Holy Ghost was that they spoke in tongues.
4) Peter Said That The Holy Ghost Experience Was For Everyone, Just Not Those In The Upper Room Or For Those Present.
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.
Act 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
5) The Proof That Cornelius And His Household Actually Received The Holy Ghost, Was That They All Spoke In Tongues Just Like Those In The Upper Room.
Acts 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
Acts 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Acts 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
- When the Gentiles spoke in Tongues, Peter was convinced that they had received the same experience he had.
6) Just Because You Are A Believer Doesn’t Mean You Have Received The Holy Ghost.
Acts 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
Acts 19:2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
Acts 19:3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
Acts 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
Acts 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
7) Do NOT Confuse The Gift Of The Holy Ghost, With The Gift Of Tongues.
- The Gift of the Holy Ghost is necessary for Salvation.
- The Gift of Tongues is given to some who already have received the Gift of The Holy Ghost.
Paul: 1Co 14:18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
8) The Holy Ghost Is Jesus Christ In You.
Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory
9) The Lord Will Not Claim You As His Child Unless You Have Received The Holy Ghost.
Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10) Everyone Must Be Born Again Of The Water And Of The Spirit To Be Saved.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
- Born Of Water = Baptism in the Name of Jesus
- Born Of The Spirit = Holy Ghost, Speaking In Tongues
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Don’t Stop Praying And Seeking God Until You Have Received All That He Has For You!
If It Is Real.
If it is From God.
If It Is For You.
You Want It!
You Need It!
It’s Come As You Are, Not Stay As You Are!
It’s Come As You Are, Not Stay As You Are!
Come As You Are? Yes.
Stay As You Are? No.
Most churches have promoted an open-door policy to every new visitor. They want everyone to feel welcome to attend. Although the Bible doesn’t actually say, “Come as you are,” churches reach for everyone. Apostolic Pentecostal Churches are no different. (But, it might be amazing to see what some actually are willing to wear to God’s House using the ‘come as you are’ umbrella as an excuse!)
That, however is not the real problem. Some folks not only come to church as they are, they have chosen to stay as they are. They are not willing to change. They ignore how the saints dress, worship and live. They have chosen not to change or to submit.
Living for God is all about change. Completely change. Change is necessary. Change is required. Change is the will of God for everyone. With salvation comes change. With deliverance comes change. Unchanged people have no hope of deliverance, no hope of being a testimony, no hope of being used of God, and no hope of heaven.
How Do We Become A “New Creature In Christ Jesus” If We Don’t Change?
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
How Do We Become “Transformed” If We Don’t Change?
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
How Do We Become “Born Again” If We Don’t Change?
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God
How Do We Become “Holy” If We Don’t Change?
1 Peter 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
How Can We Come Out From Among Them And Be Separate, If We Don’t Change?
2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
How Can We Have Christ In Us And He Never Changes Us?
Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Do You Mean To Tell Me That When We Repent We Really Don’t Have To Change Anything?
Do You Mean To Tell Me That When We Get Baptized In Jesus Name, We Don’t Change?
Do You Mean To Tell Me That We Can Be Filled With The Holy Ghost And Never Be Changed?
When Jacob Prepared To Go To Bethel, He Changed.
Genesis 35:1 And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.
Genesis 35:2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:
Genesis 35:3 And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.
Genesis 35:4 And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.
When normal people come into the presence of the God, they quickly remember their sins. At that point, they must choose to keep them or confess and forsake them.
God might be merciful and forgiving, yet His word tells every confessor to forsake their sins.
If the God you serve lets you do whatever you want, and live like you want, then your god is you. You became your own god!
Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
If We Want God’s Mercy, We Must Not Only Confess Our Sins But Forsake Them!
Mercy comes to those who confess and forsake. That is the change God looks for. Forsaking your old life is what living for God is all about.
1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1 Corinthians 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
- (And Such Were Some Of You!) That Is Change!
Repentance Must Bring Change. If It Doesn’t Bring Change It Wasn’t Real Repentance!
In The Old Testament, God Chose Not To Bless Israel Until They Changed.
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
- Change Puts Us In The Direct Path Of God’s Blessings.
Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Romans 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Let’s Get Real Plain…
If you see a sinner man and a Holy Ghost-filled man standing together talking, you should be able to tell which one is which.
If you see a sinner woman and a Holy Ghost-filled woman standing together talking, you should be able to see the difference.
When we obey Acts 2:38, (by repenting of our sins, getting baptized in Jesus name, and being filled with the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues.) We are no longer the same. We are changed on the inside. What is changed on the inside quickly shows on the outside!
- We don’t do the things we used to do
- We don’t talk like we used to talk
- We don’t go where we use to go
- We don’t have the kind of friends we used to have
- We don’t dress like we used to dress
- We don’t drink what we used to drink
Why?
Because Now We’re A New Creature In Christ Jesus.
How Do We Lay Sin Aside And Not Change?
1 Peter 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
- (Growth is change, too)
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
- Removing things from our life that will keep us from being saved, is change.
If we say we are saved, yet remain unchanged… We are not honest with our soul, with God, or with the truth.
Our Heart Must Change
Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation (our old lifestyle) the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Ephesians 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Our Speech Must Change
Ephesians 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Our Outward Appearance Must Change
1 Peter 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Change Requires Modesty For Men And Woman
1 Timothy2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
1 Timothy 2:10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
Deuteronomy 22:5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.
Hair Care Changes
1 Corinthians 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
1 Corinthians 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
Our Priorities Must Change
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Even Our Furniture Must Change
Psalms 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
The Things We Love Must Change
1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
We Say We’re A Christian, (Christ-like) And Yet…
- We’ve Never Changed On The Inside Or The Outside?
- We Neither Look Like Nor Act Like An Apostolic Saint?
Who Are We Fooling? Only Ourselves.
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
If we balk at Biblical correction and refuse to allow God’s Word to change our life… then we have shown to everyone that we are not a true child of God. We are of illegitimate birth in the Kingdom of God.
Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Hebrews 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Hebrews 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Hebrews 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Hebrews 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
What’s Missing In Our Lives That Would Keep Us From Allowing God To Change Us?
No Conviction of Sin?
No Fear of God?
No Respect?
No Obedience to His Word?
No Love for His House?
Are we just being Rebellious?
Are we just Clueless?
Are we not able to see that we don’t measure up to God’s Standards?
Are we just Insincere?
How can we come to church for months and even years… claiming to be Spirit-filled, and never change?
Ask Yourself…
If we had a beard and applied for a job at a company that had a ‘no beards’ policy, would we be willing to change?
If we worked for a fancy restaurant that had a no tattoo ‘visible’ policy for its employees, would we be willing to cover ours?
If we got hired by a good paying company but we had to work nights, would we change our sleeping habits?
If our job gave us a promotion, but we had to relocate, would we be willing to change towns?
If the doctor ordered us to change our diet because of cancer, would we?
If our heart doctor wanted us to change our lifestyle to live longer, would we?
If our homeowner’s association didn’t approve of our lawn display, would we take it down?
What if God reminded us in the Judgment of all the changes in our life that we made for man and for money, yet we chose not to make any changes for Him. What will our answer be then?
We Must Allow God To:
Change us like He changes Night into Day, Winter into Spring.
Change us like He changes a Caterpillar into a Butterfly.
Pastor Lester Has A Problem With Pastor Ballestero
Pastor Lester Has A Problem With Pastor Ballestero
“Pastor Ballestero?” The female voice on the phone asked.
“This is he,” I responded as I settled into the Lazy Boy recliner.
“I’m calling on behalf of Pastor Lester. He would love for you to come to our new FM Radio Station tomorrow night.
“He would like for you to evaluate our new Christian Radio Station’s transmitter. Could you come at 7 pm tomorrow night?
“He will give you a personal tour of our new facilities, and I think he will try to encourage you to come on board as one of our regular broadcasters.”
I laughed. “Tell him that I’ll do my best to be there, thanks.”
That I was into Amateur (Ham) Radio, was no secret. I had even worked as an Electronics Wholesaler but I knew next to nothing about Commercial Broadcasting equipment. Why would I get invited to ‘evaluate’ the new 50,000-watt FM radio station? I couldn’t legally.
What was the catch? Was that just a ploy to get me to move our church radio broadcast to their new FM station? Probably.
At 7 pm sharp, I walked up to the front office and announced myself to the receptionist.
“Pastor Lester is expecting you,” she said as she welcomed me and shook my hand.
I heard my name announced over the intercom and almost immediately I was shaking hands with Pastor Lester.
We walked down the hall towards the transmitter room and he placed his arm around my neck like we were old friends. Actually, we’d never met. I only knew of him because I’d heard him on the radio from time to time over the last several years. He pastored the large Charismatic church in our town.
“I just got back last week from Africa.” He began. “I saw over 100,000 get the Holy Spirit in one service in my Crusade!”
“That is amazing!” I blurted out! How do you get 100,000 people to get the Holy Ghost in one service?”
“Aw, that’s easy… I just stretched my hands toward the crowd, and said in Jesus Name, receive the Holy Ghost!”
“And they did?”
“They sure did. Not only that, but we had over 50,000 confirmed miracles the same day.”
I replied, “How did you get 50,000 people healed in one day?”
“Why, I just stretched my hands toward the people and prayed… be healed in Jesus Name!”
“And they were healed?”
“Yes, they were. But I also cast out over 1,000 demons the same day as well.”
I stopped walking. “How did you cast out 1,000 demons in one day?”
“I just pointed my hands toward those who were bound and said, in Jesus name, come out of them!”
“And they came out?”
“Yes, they did.” He said.
I looked puzzled at him, then I said, “I’m starting to see a pattern here. I notice that when you prayed for the Holy Ghost to be poured out, or when you prayed for healing, or even when you prayed for demons to be cast out, you said ‘In Jesus Name’ every time. Why is that?”
“Why, Bro. Ballestero, Pastor Lester said in his most condescending tone of voice, the Bible says that ‘Whatsoever we do in word or deed, do all in the Name of Jesus’.”
He smiled.
I smiled.
I put my arm around his shoulder, positioning his head so we could lock eyes.
“Then why don’t you get baptized in Jesus Name?” I asked.
Pastor Lester took his arm off from around my neck, shook his head, and walked back to his office without a goodbye.
Hmm, I never did get to see that new 50,000-watt transmitter!
My Old Man Is Crazy!
My Old Man Is Crazy!
I’m not saying he’s bipolar.
I’m not saying he has schizophrenia.
I’m not saying he should be in an institution or that he’s stupid.
I’m just saying he’s crazy. He’s very smart, yet he’s really crazy.
My old man’s not right.
I hate him too.
He embarrasses me in front of my friends.
When you tell him how horrible he is, he agrees but doesn’t change.
He even makes me cry sometimes.
He has hurt me so bad that I was embarrassed to tell even my closest friends.
I hate to say this, but I really don’t even like him.
I’ve even told him that I don’t love him and I never will.
My Old Man Is Crazy!
He does stupid and random stuff that truly scares me.
I am ashamed for him to be around me.
He lives in denial and keeps justifying all his craziness.
He likes things he shouldn’t.
He really needs help, but no one can help him.
He’s read up on his condition and says he knows what he needs to do.
But, I don’t think he is making any progress.
He really needs to stop and consider his horrible actions.
My old man is not loved by anyone.
His craziness pushes everyone away.
They all roll their eyes when he shows up.
His so-called friends just shake their heads in dismay and disappointment.
My Old Man Is Crazy!
He does things he shouldn’t.
He says things he shouldn’t.
He is very good at rationalizing and justifying himself.
He’s crazy, I’m telling you.
Some would like to see him dead.
I know some would even come to his funeral just to make sure he was really dead.
He’s just that bad.
He is so bad that God doesn’t like him.
I hate everything about him.
He’s horrible.
I loathe him.
He’ll never change.
My Old Man Is Crazy!
No self-help book has a remedy for him.
No prescription can help.
Therapists can’t fix him
Warnings and threats don’t seem to work.
And it’s driving me crazy too.
I wish he was out of my life.
I can’t tell you how happy I would be just to know my old man is graveyard dead,
My old man is crazy.
I told him he is not welcome in my house.
I told him to leave my family alone.
I told him that I cannot allow his influences in my life.
I told him to go away, I never wanted to see him again.
My Old Man Is Crazy!
I told him I am sick and tired of putting up with his mess.
I want my old man to be forever gone.
Judge me if you must,
I want my old man dead.
My old man makes me cry.
His actions are corrupt.
His words are deceitful, and his life is a sham.
I hate everything he does.
He wants attention.
His life is all about him and no one else.
No one can tell him what to do.
He hates that.
My Old Man Is Crazy!
My old man was always there.
He was there when I was born.
He’s been there for every event of my life.
Good times or bad, he was there.
That’s not even a good thing.
He gets all up in my business.
He meddles in every area of my life.
He messes up some of the most wonderful moments of my life.
I got to the place I had to tell my old man he was going to have to die.
He resisted and argued loudly with me.
But I wouldn’t budge, or back down.
He said he wouldn’t die willingly.
My Old Man Is Crazy!
So, I told him to prepare to be buried alive.
I forced him to his knees and kept him there.
I reminded him of every horrible thing he had done to me and my family.
My old man said he felt so dirty and ashamed, but I wouldn’t stop.
He cried and asked for mercy and forgiveness.
That’s when my old man died.
I started smiling for the first time in years.
My old man was dead.
“What shall we do with him?” Someone asked.
“Bury him,” I said.
Several gathered around to help bury my old man.
The Preacher buried him in water in Jesus Name.
My Old Man Is Crazy!
I shouted all over the church when my old man died.
The heaviest weight of my life was lifted.
My friends and family rejoiced with me.
I even told my neighbors that my old man was dead, and I smiled a big smile.
My life became peaceful and serene when my old man died.
I put a marker on his grave.
For all the world to see.
“Here lies My Old Man… Flesh”
(You’re not going to believe this.)
Some days later, I got the shock of my life.
I wanted to scream in horror.
I almost died from fright.
My Old Man Is Crazy!
There standing at my door was my old man.
He just grinned and pushed his way in.
This can’t be happening!
This is unreal!
But there he stood anyway.
My family cringed in fear.
How could this be happening?
My old man was like some un-earthling who could come back alive.
My mother told about a man named Paul.
He had a similar problem with his old man,
And he had to make him die every day.
Every day? E-V-E-R-Y DAY? Oh, No!
My Old Man Is Crazy!
I took him to church.
I needed some help.
I couldn’t let him live in my house anymore.
He couldn’t move back in.
I told him to pray.
I told him to fast.
I told him to deny himself.
I told him I want him to die again.
He doesn’t make going to church a priority, he’s not faithful.
He won’t pray like he knows he needs to.
He doesn’t like the subject of tithes.
He doesn’t read his Bible.
My Old Man Is Crazy!
He’s a rebel.
He hates standards.
He hates preachers.
He makes fun of holiness
My Old Man Is Crazy!
He gets defensive when the preacher said corrective things to him.
Like a macabre nightmare, sometimes he seems dead, then comes right back alive again.
I wish he’d stay dead.
He’s so bad, even God even wants him dead.
The preacher is tired of him, too. He won’t stay dead.
Many preachers have tried to get him to change but without any success.
The church family has tried to tolerate him.
His whole family has about given up on him.
As long as my old man is alive, my life is spent in vain.
As long as my old man is alive, I’ll never be saved.
As long as my old man is alive, I’ll never please God.
As long as my old man is alive, my inheritance is at risk.
My Old Man Is Crazy!
So now it’s a daily routine.
When I wake up in the morning and start my day.
He’s sitting on the edge of my bed.
Very much alive.
My daily routine now includes the unimaginable.
I have to figure out a way to make my old man die every day.
It’s not always easy to do
But it must be done.
My crazy old man.
My flesh.
Must die.
Everyday.
My Old Man Is Crazy!
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Joseph asked his brethren this question about his earthly father.
He called him, “the old man.”
Gen. 43:27 And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?
Today, I Ask This Question Of Your Flesh… Is Your Old Man Alive?
Eph. 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation* the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
*lifestyle
Paul Said That His Old Man Had To Die Every Day. 1 Co 15:31
Is Your Old Man Still Alive?
All He Ever Wanted, Was Someone To Love Him
All He Ever Wanted, Was Someone To Love Him
Proverbs 30:18 There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:
Proverbs 30:19 The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.
All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.
He had it all.
Actually, He had everything.
Well, He had everything, except one thing.
He had no one to love Him.
He had Angels who praised Him continuously.
He had Angels who did His bidding without question.
But He had no one to love Him.
He had no one to dote on Him.
He had received honor before.
He had received praise before.
But He had never been loved before.
He had never seen love demonstrated.
He had never seen love displayed.
He had never seen love expressed or shown.
He had never seen romance before.
He understood things like physics, gravity, light, sound, space travel and how to make something out of nothing.
He understood emotions like rebellion, pride, and obedience.
He just wanted to know more about this thing called love.
He had always heard over 10,000 Hallelujahs at any given moment of every day.
He heard multitudes cry “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty” every day.
What He’d never heard was someone say, “I love you!”
He knew the journey to finding love would be very long.
He had seen twinkles in stars before, but never in an eye.
His plan already included man, Calvary, and the Church.
He was prepared to do whatever it took to get a bride.
He wanted to find someone to love Him.
He spoke and the heavens and the earth came into existence.
By His own words, the sun, moon, and stars were created and flung perfectly into space.
By His own voice, the light was created, flowers and trees sprung up.
He said the words, and fish, birds, and animals appeared.
He looked it all over and said. “That’s good.”
Then He stopped talking.
Adam And Eve
He knelt down on the ground and with His hands, he began to form someone He could love. He called the man, Adam. The woman was named Eve.
He loved them. He visited every day. They walked and talked together every day without distraction.
He watched Adam and Eve smile at one another. He saw how Adam responded to Eve’s touch and Eve to Adam’s.
He watched them hold hands and kiss.
He liked what He saw. He saw the twinkle in Adam’s eye. He saw romance in its purest form.
He tried to imagine a mere mortal loving Him.
His mind raced ahead thousands of years. He thought of Himself and the Church. He pondered about His bride-to-be. “So… this is what it’s going to be like to be in love!”
He’d never been in love before. He saw Adam and Eve enjoying each other’s company. He told Himself, “That’s the kind of love I want. That’s the kind of romance I want.”
He so enjoyed being with Adam and Eve, that He turned His attention from the sounds of “Hallelujah” and “Holy-Holy” for a few hours every day just to come and see them.
He had no competition in the love department on earth. Maybe they would fall in love with Him.
Then came the heart-wrenching day when the evil serpent beguiled Eve. Sin, the enemy of the Most Holy One entered the picture. Paradise was no more.
Pain, sorrow, shame, and regret now entered the picture. The hope of Adam and Eve continuing their relationship with Him was over. Sin did it’s best to destroy that relationship.
They chose to listen to the voice of His enemy rather than listen to His voice.
All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.
Enoch
Seven generations later, a man was born by the name of Enoch. He heard his father and grandfather talk about Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. He heard the stories about God walking with them in the cool of the day.
Enoch began to imagine what it would be like to have God for a friend. That seemed to be all he could think about.
He inquired often of his family, asking them many questions, hoping to hear more stories about those precious days. He even got to talk to Adam himself and listened intently. He dreamed of having a similar experience with God.
One day Enoch started calling on the Lord as he walked. He began talking to God as if He was beside him. The Lord did appear beside him and they began walking together and talking together every day.
Enoch was perfect in God’s eyes. His love thrilled the Lord. This was true love. Here was someone who chose to love Him, who took time out of their day and focused only on Him.
They walked and talked together every day for years. Then one day while they were walking, the sun started going down.
The Lord noticed it too. He also knew it was a long way back to Enoch’s house. So He said, “Enoch, it’s closer to my house than it is to yours. Why don’t you come on home with me?” Enoch said, “Yes.”
“And Enoch was not, for the Lord took him.”
All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.
Israel
He looked the world over and His eyes fell upon her. He could really love her. Her father was a Hittite and her mother was an Amorite. But He didn’t hold that against her.
He stood there looking at her, watching her. She was beautiful to Him.
She had no family, no one to look after her. There was no one else that loved her.
She was unwanted and unloved by everyone else in the world. She was considered second class and discarded by those who knew her.
- She wasn’t beautiful, but He loved her.
- She wasn’t rich, but He loved her.
- She wasn’t mighty, but He loved her.
- She wasn’t even faithful, but He loved her.
He, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the First and the Last, The Lord God Almighty tried vainly to woo her. He did everything He could to show her He could supply her every need.
He was the richest Man in the world and of all the people in the world; He chose her, the poorest of all. He alone could make her prosper. She wasn’t impressed for long.
He showed her things about Himself that no one else had ever known. He gave her some names she could call Him by that would reveal His protecting love for her.
- Jehovah Jireh – The Lord will Provide.
- Jehovah Rapha – The Lord our Healer.
- Jehovah Nissi – The Lord our Banner
- Jehovah Shalom – The Lord our Peace
- Jehovah Raah – The Lord our Shepherd
- Jehovah Tsidkenu – The Lord our Righteousness
- Jehovah Shammah – The Lord is Present
When she got sick, He made sure she got well. When she was hungry, He provided food for her and took care of her every need.
He loved her, and yet she wasn’t happy with Him. Her heart easily turned aside. She often looked at others the way He wished she would look at Him. It grieved Him continually.
While still on their honeymoon, problems arose. They hadn’t been gone from Egypt a month and things turned ugly. Before He could even get her to the Promised Land and the home He had given her, she showed her unhappiness.
He talked with Moses about His plans for her and gave him detailed instructions.
But before Moses could talk to her she started looking at someone else. She began to dress to please them. She brazenly displayed her disdain for His wishes.
- She murmured.
- She complained.
- She rebelled.
- She flaunted herself in front of others.
- She became brazen.
- She couldn’t even blush.
It broke His heart. Yet He fought for her when everyone tried to kill her. He supplied her every need. He cared for her more than she cared for Him.
He still loved her. He sent her letters, but she ignored them. Even after she got settled in her new home, she started looking for other lovers.
She played the harlot and was unfaithful to Him. She only dressed to please Him if she was in the mood. She often saw others that attracted her and she dressed and displayed herself in a way to please them. She longed for their affections, not His.
All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.
Hosea
No one seemed to care how He felt. He had no one to share His pain and problems with.
In His Divine Heartache, He looked upon His prophet, Hosea. Hosea was unmarried.
He told Hosea to marry a woman who stood on the street corners at night. “Just go pick a prostitute, anyone will do.”
He wanted someone to feel like He felt, every day.
He wanted to see again how mere mortals handled rejection from those they loved.
Hosea found such a girl. Her name was Gomer. Everyone in town knew Hosea. They were shocked at his choice of a wife. In their minds she was trash.
- She had dirtied herself.
- She had lowered herself.
- She had ruined her name.
- She would destroy their marriage.
- Of all the girls, why pick her?
The romance burned brightly and then quickly faded. The Lord watched how their love life went.
He watched Gomer sweeten his coffee with her kisses and then walk out the door disappearing for long periods of time.
Then came the babies. Their very names carried not only a prophecy to Israel but also a wake-up call to Hosea about his two-timing wife.
Jezreel, “God will disperse”
Lo-ruhamah, “Not pitied, or No Mercy”
Lo-ammi, “Not my people”
Hosea could tell by the names he named his children that he was not their father.
Gomer eventually got so involved in her wild lifestyle that she was overpowered and put into slavery by one of her lovers. She later was placed on an auction block and sold like a farm animal.
Hosea got word that his wife was being sold. He knew what she was and what she had done. But he loved her in spite of it all.
Anyone can tell by what he paid for her, that he gave all the money he had and emptied out his meager pantry besides. He gave his all to buy her back. He paid fifteen pieces of silver, and 1½ homers of barley.
All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.
The Lord watched as Hosea gave all he had to buy his unfaithful wife back.
He turned his attention again to Israel. She wasn’t on an auction block. She wasn’t held against her will. She was happy to be unfaithful.
So He wrote her a bill of divorcement and He didn’t talk to her for 400 years.
All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.
Calvary
One day, He finally stepped into His closet and clothed Himself in a robe of flesh. He was born in Bethlehem to a young virgin.
He chose not to arrive in splendor, so He came to earth in obscurity. He came as God manifested in the flesh. He walked almost unnoticed around her.
He didn’t make Himself handsome so that she would love Him for His good looks. He wanted her to love Him for who He was, not what He looked like.
But He came unto His own and His own received Him not. They didn’t believe Him.
- He wept.
- His love was everlasting. Her love was fickle.
- She tried to find fault with Him. She only followed Him for what He could give them.
- He wanted to talk.
- She was too busy, too preoccupied.
He said to her, “You say you love Me, but you say that only with your lips. It’s just words. Your heart is far from Me. You don’t love Me with your heart.”
He saw her as she really was. A slave. She was in bondage and held fast by her own sins.
He knew He was the only One who could redeem her.
He willingly offered Himself on Calvary for Her. He willingly gave His all to buy her back. He gave His blood to wash away her sins and He arose on the third day to give her hope of a new life.
All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.
The Church
Over 2,000 years have come and gone. He’s ready now to take His bride to a home He has prepared just for her.
He wanted someone who would love Him enough to heed all of His Word. After all, if she really loved Him, she would keep His commandments. Not pick and choose which ones she liked. He was in love, why wasn’t she?
Yet He sees her still looking at the world. Sometimes she tries harder to please her other lovers than she does Him.
She has started complaining again if she thinks He’s asking her to dress a certain way just for Him. She doesn’t always act like she is in love with Him.
She says, “He doesn’t care how I dress. He doesn’t look on the outside. He only looks on the inside, on the heart.”
But when He looked in her heart, He saw nothing there that looked like love to Him. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
- She dreads talking to Him on a daily basis. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
- She doesn’t think about Him during the course of the day. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
- Yet she talks freely to everyone else but Him. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
- All she seems to want is a sugar daddy. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
- She has to be begged to visit His house. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
- He blesses her with money and yet she is not faithful to give her tithe to Him. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
- He sends blessings her way and loads her down daily with benefits. She soon forgets. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
- He sends healing to her every situation. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
- He calms her storms of life. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
- She has all the songs memorized and sings them without feeling. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
- She hears His Word preached and chooses which parts she likes and doesn’t like. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
- He says He’s coming to get her and she’s not even looking out the window for Him. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
- He says He is coming to get and to take her to heaven with Him, and she is not even making herself ready. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
- He knew it would happen this way.
- A long time ago He said that she would love pleasure more than she loved Him.
- He said that her love would wax cold.
- He said she would leave her 1st love.
- And He was right.
All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.
You
- Do you love Him? I mean, do you really love Him? Do you love Him with all of your heart? He wants to know.
- He wants to know if you love another. Do you?
- He wants to know if your heart belongs only to Him or not. Does it?
- He’s looking for a bride that will love Him with all of her heart, her soul her mind, and her strength.
- Could that person be you? He’s looking your way right now. He wants it to be you.
All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.
She Put Her Gum In The Offering Plate!
She Put Her Gum In The Offering Plate!
Agnes was mad, she was really mad! She had long ago gotten past being upset. She was irritated by what was happening in her world. Her world was out of control. This was not the life she had planned for herself.
Her family was by far the richest in her hometown of Bolivar, Missouri. They owned the entire town. Well, at least most of it was theirs. Her maiden name of Burke was a name that was well-respected in Bolivar. It got respect because it carried most of the money.
Everything had been wonderful in her world up till now. Her husband Bill was not rich nor did he come from a moneyed family like hers, but he wasn’t afraid of hard work and was a good provider. They loved each other. They had recently moved to the Riverside, California area.
When Agnes found out that Bill had somehow wandered into one of those Pentecostal Holy Roller churches, she was mortified. They were good Baptist people from a long line of Baptists. This should not be happening.
When Bill came home from the little Pentecostal church, he was acting differently. He said he’d gotten the Holy Ghost and had talked in tongues.
Agnes was not happy and went through the roof. She argued. She ranted. She raved. This was unbelievable and totally unacceptable! She had to find a way to get Bill back on track and away from all of them low-class Holy Rollers.
She finally decided to go to the little church with Bill and see if she could fix the mess Bill had just gotten them into.
The ladies looked horrible to her with their long hair, long dresses, and long sleeves. The women had their hair
all done up. They looked old-fashioned and out of date. Agnes knew she would never fit into a church like this one. All of the women in the church dressed that way. Agnes refused to comply. She was determined to show her disdain for their manner of dress. She was determined to never be part of something so ridiculous.
She seldom missed a service, however. Her attendance was not because she was interested. She wasn’t. She despised everything about this new religion of Bills. Somehow, she had to get him away from this craziness.
To express her disdain for the ‘holiness’ dress code of the holy rollers, she wore things she knew they would disapprove of. She wore sleeveless dresses to church. She wore slacks. She even wore mini-skirts just to get a reaction from them.
She hated everything about these holy rollers. She criticized Bill’s involvement. She made his life a hell, at home.
At church, Agnes purposely didn’t smile much. She just sat there and chewed her gum. She always did. She knew that chewing gum in a church was considered disrespectful, but what did she care. When the offering was being received, Agnes would take her gum out and press it into the dollar bills in the plate.
She was pleased to watch the church secretary try to separate the gum from the paper dollars. It was one of the few things she enjoyed about going to this church.
Her husband Bill had laid on the floor, she found out, when he was praying to receive the ‘Holy Ghost,’ or whatever it was called. He evidently thrashed around quite a bit and rolled back and forth so much that the Pastor, Carl Ballestero, actually sat on him to hold him still so he could receive the Holy Ghost. How stupid, she thought. For six months now, Agnes had constantly shown her disdain and disrespect for the Pentecostals.
One night, a visitor came. The visitor was an old woman who had been in the original Azusa Street Mission. The presence of the Lord fell and people began to worship, but not Agnes. The old lady came to where Agnes was standing and even though she refused to pray, the old sister began to minister to her. In a few moments, she laid her hands on Agnes and prayed. God immediately filled her with the Holy Ghost.
She soon dropped to her knees, and then fell on the floor talking in tongues. She rolled. She rolled down the aisle. She rolled up under the piano and lay there for two hours, talking in tongues. She couldn’t stop.
Bill took his wife home drunk in the Holy Ghost that night. She went to sleep still talking in tongues. At 3 am, Agnes got out of bed and went next door to her neighbors, and beat on the door.
The neighbor lady said, ‘Agnes, what are you doing beating on my door at 3 am? Is something wrong? Do you need something?” All Agnes could do was speak in tongues. She gave up and went back to her house. She spoke in tongues for three days straight.
In time, God called Bill to preach the Gospel. A transformed Agnes and her husband, Bill (Wild Bill) Yandris, went to Merced, California and built a beautiful church to the glory of God. The Apostolic Tabernacle.
Bro. & Sis. Bill Yandris
The very godly Sister Agnes Yandris and her beloved Bill, have now both gone home to their glorious reward. Their children are carrying on this glorious message!
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)
Bishop Adam's Blog
James Groce Blog – "Toward The Mark"
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Philip Harrelson – "The Barnabas Blog"
Verbal Bean Ministries
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