Posts Tagged ‘Honor’
Welcome To A World Of Honor
Congratulations New Convert!
Welcome To A World Of Honor.
You Have Been Greatly Favored Of The Lord! He Has Chosen To Honor You!
1. He Honored You By Opening Your Understanding.
Luke 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
2. He Honored You By Allowing You To Repent Of Your Sins!
No one can unilaterally choose when to repent.
It was God that drew you to repentance.
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him:
It was The Goodness of God led you to Repentance.
Rom 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
3. He Honored You When He Washed Your Sins Away In Baptism In His Name, According To 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.
Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
4. He Honored You When He Filled You With The Holy Ghost Speaking In Other Tongues!
One of the world’s highest honors is for Christ to choose your body as a temple to dwell in.
You have been highly favored of the Lord!
You Have Now Embarked Upon A Journey Full Of Honor And Divine Favor.
5. He Honored You By Giving You A Wonderful Pastor Who Would Preach The Truth And Lead You In The Paths Of Righteousness.
Always Honor Your Pastor. He Is Here In Christ’s Stead.
1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
6. He Honored You By Giving You A Revelation Of Who He Is. God, Manifested In The Flesh!
Matthew 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar–jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
7. He Honored You By Guiding You Into All Truth.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
8. He Honors You By Providing Healing For All Of Your Diseases.
1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
9. He Honors You By Supplying All Your Needs.
Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
10. He Honors You By Protecting And Defending You.
Remember! Honor Is A Two Way Street!
God Especially Focuses On The Subject Of Honor.
He Is Well Pleased When Those He Has Honored, Choose To Honor Him In Return.
1 Timothy 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
He Tells Children To Honor Their Father And Mother.
Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
He Tells Us To Honor Our Seniors And Show Respect.
Leviticus 19:32 Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the Lord.
He Tells Us To Honor The Widows.
1 Timothy 5:3 Honour widows that are widows indeed.
Honor Him With Your Praise And Worship.
Psalm 71:8 Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.
God Requires That You Honor Him With More Than Just Words.
Isaiah 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
Matthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
He Expects You To Honor Him With Your Tithes. In Doing So, You Honor Him For What He Has Given You. He Then Will Honor You More.
Proverbs 3:9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
Proverbs 3:10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
Your Lifestyle Should Honor Him.
1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Your Conduct
Your Spirit
Your Faithfulness To His House Honors Him.
He Places His Honor in His House.
Psalm 26:8 Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.
Your Love For Others Honors Him
Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Your Moral Purity And Separation From The World Honors Him
1 Thessalonians 4:4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
Your Modest Clothing Honors Him
1 Timothy 2:9 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.
Your Prayer Honors Him.
Your Reaching For The Lost Honors Him.
Your Service In His Kingdom Honors Him.
Your Manifesting The Fruits Of The Spirit Honors Him.
Your Putting Him First In All Things Honors Him.
Your Asking Him To Direct Your Every Step Honors Him.
Your Including Him In Your Decision Making Honors Him.
Does Your Life Honor Him?
Be A Vessel Of Honor, Not A Vessel Of Dishonor.
2 Timothy 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
2 Timothy 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
God Has Chosen To Honor You.
The Way You Thank Him, Is Not Just With Words Alone,
You Honor Him When Your Life Is Surrendered To Serving Him.
You Honor Him When You Keep His Commandments.
You Honor Him By Surrendering To His Will.
You Honor Him By Doing His Will.
You Honor Him By Laboring In His Harvest.
Memorial Day 2011
Memorial Day 2011
Thank God for those who gave willingly of themselves for our country and for our freedom. Their memories are hollowed in our hearts because of their sacrifice. We will never be able to repay that debt. May their love for America never be forgotten.
My father, Carl J. Ballestero and my wife’s father, William R. Starr, both served during World War II. My uncles Stan and Wendell Gleason served as well. Today, my heart breathes a personal word of thanks to them especially.
My prayer is that God will continue to bless America.
My Dad, Pvt. Carl J. Ballestero
Carl J. Ballestero
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William R. Starr
William R. Starr
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There are some veterans of another war that I’d like to honor today too. They fought in a Spiritual War and in a Spirit filled Army. These men all preached to me. Some counseled me and redirected my focus. They fought against hell to save me. All in some measure have affected my life and my ministry and I honor them. May they all rest in peace. They will never be forgotten in my heart.
Starting first with my Father. My Father was also my pastor. He pastored 25 years and evangelized for 25 years. Everything I know and everything I am, I owe to God and to him. If you ever heard him preach, you never forgot what you felt and heard. He was truly a man of God. I miss him everyday. I am very proud to call him Dad.
Carl Ballestero - My father and my pastor.
Carl Ballestero preaching on the streets of Fresno, CA.
My dear Father-In-Law, William R. Starr was a tremendous preacher and a giant among men. He was a wise leader of men, a church planter and revivalist. He not only worked a secular job, but was pastor of a large church and District Superintendent of Michigan for 28 years at the same time. A true Christian if I ever met one. He is greatly loved and sorely missed.
My Wife's Daddy - Pastor William R. Starr
William R. Starr
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My uncles (My mother’s brothers) Two of the kindest and gentlest men in Pentecost. Both of them were great preachers.
Uncle Wendell and Uncle Orion Gleason
Jimmy Davis - My Dad's pastor, a preacher and teacher without peer.
Ike Terry - Whatever he preached or said to you, you never forgot it.
Robert Cavaness - Beloved friend and practical Bible teacher.
Pastor/Missionary Robert McFarland - baptized me.
Verbal Bean - his ministry moved my walk with God to a higher level.
Pastor/Missionary Leamon Reynolds - my pastor when I received the Holy Ghost.
Paul Jordan - Great preacher and friend.
Pastor/Missionary Juan Alvear - his anointing always made me cry when he preached
Roger Evens - What an anointing. Tremendous Bible teacher, singer, musician and friend.
Pastor/Missionary Harvey Davis. My father's friend and mine. What a preacher.
Missionary J.B. Lambeth - Helped put a passion in my heart for winning souls.
Lee Davis - Great family friend and preacher. He built a great church.
H.B. Morgan - I loved to hear him preach on the Godhead.
Bill Bowman - Fearless minister of the Gospel and a dear friend.
J.T.Pugh - This man preached a message that saved me and my ministry. It truly changed me.
Joe Duke - put the fear of God in us and helped us all pray through.
C.W. Shew - Defender of Apostolic Truths and lover of good men.
I thank God for, and honor the memory of these men who helped mold my life and my ministry. They may have all died, but they live on in my heart.
Do You Love Your Doctor More Than You Love Your Pastor?
Do You Love Your Doctor More Than You Love Your Pastor?
It seems like people love their doctor more than they love their pastor. There is a great disparity of respect in the hearts of society between the two. This is openly demonstrated in the way their advice is treated.
That was a sentiment shared with me in a recent conversation with my friend, Pastor Jerry Rowley Jr. I have taken great liberties attempting to expound on his comment.
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The role of a doctor is greatly honored by our society. A doctor’s diagnosis and his orders are so respected that state laws support him. In extreme cases some states have been known to incarcerate individuals for their non-compliance to the doctor’s orders.
A pastor is greatly honored as well. The members of the congregation can choose to heed his advice. His words are sometimes received with suspicion or outright rejection. The following fictional scenarios may help describe the difference:
PATIENT 1
The new patient sat anxiously in the examination room while the doctor looked over the file holding all the test results. He made notations every now and then. Without a word, he picked up a thick book and thumbed back to the index. He located the reference he was looking for and made a few notations on the chart.
The doctor then asked a few pertinent questions, and checked the patient’s vital signs. He then turned and began to write several prescriptions.
The doctor folded the top cover back over the chart and in his best bedside manner broke the news to the patient and his spouse.
“As you know, your blood work came back and I didn’t like what I saw. So, that’s why I ordered the MRI. The bad news is, you have a mass that concerns me, it’s still contained, but if it is cancer and left untreated, it will be fatal.”
The patient then willingly goes through several months of chemo treatments. They endure more moments of pain and nausea than they wish to remember. They change their eating habits and strictly adhere to the diet the doctor gave them.
They also go back every week or so to the doctor’s office for checkups. The journey to recovery may be years. They will pay the cost and tolerate every inconvenience just to survive. They brag on their doctor and sing his praises when they go into remission.
The cost of the treatment: It varies, but sometimes runs into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The weekly office visits aren’t cheap either.
Patient 2
The Holistic Doctor looked at her patient. She told him that the cancer had spread. Her prescription was not written on paper, but she advised her patient to drink nothing but a mixture of carrot and asparagus juice. Eat no solid food, and drink only water and the carrot juice cocktail.
She then sells the patient an expensive juicing machine. The patient goes home and ingests nothing into his body but water and the prescribed juice for one year. Friends shake their heads at the patient’s willingness to follow through with the strict regimen.
Visits are made to the office to monitor his progress. After a year, the results are in. The patient is cancer free. He testifies openly and brags on the results. The diet worked.
The costs of the doctor’s visits weren’t cheap either. Even though the health insurance wouldn’t pay, he happily refinanced his house to pay for his recovery.
In both scenarios, the patient did whatever was asked of them, and willing paid for their costly treatment. They had no problem doing weekly or monthly follow-up visits. They love their doctors. They are healed.
Church Scene 1
The pastor sits in the office with a crying young man. He tells the pastor what has happened. He is ashamed.
The pastor had great hopes for him. He had shown so much potential. Now there’s much damage and others will be affected.
When the crying ends, the pastor prays with the man and then says, “I’m afraid I’m going to have to take you off the platform and set you down for a while. I want to help you recover yourself”
“How long will I be set down?”
“We’ll see. It depends on how you do. I want to see you in the prayer room before every service. I don’t want you having anything to do with the people we just talked about. I want to see some evidence of your repentance. You can recover. I will be here for you. Call me anytime if you need me or feel yourself getting weak again. I love you.
When the office visit is over, the pastor/saint relationship is over too. Rather than submit to the pastor’s prescription for recovery, and be set down for a while, the man changes churches.
The cost was nothing to the church member. The pastor gave of himself to no avail. The church lost money, a member and quite possibly, a soul.
Church Scene 2
The pastor stood behind the pulpit, his sermon had been impressed upon him in prayer. The Lord stirred his heart to preach against the things of the world that were in the church.
Signs of worldliness had shown itself here and there in the congregation. He preached the essentiality of Acts 2:38. He said when you get this Holy Ghost experience, your life changes. Your friends change. You dress holy. You don’t do the things you used to do. You no longer go to the places you used to go.
The lack of response from the audience loudly stated their reaction to the sermon. A few members looked sideways at their friends and family to catch their reaction. They mostly just looked at the preacher without visible reaction.
After service a few phone calls were made. A private meeting was set up. Then a formal meeting was arranged. The pastor was voted out.
The cost? Whatever it was, the people refused to pay it.
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I am not talking about bad doctors or bad pastors. I am addressing how even good doctors and good pastors sometimes get treated differently.
There are many people alive today because they followed the good doctor’s advice. There are many people spiritually alive today because they followed the advice of their good man of God.
Thank God for every saint that loves his or her pastor enough to obey him.
You follow the advice of those you love.
Jesus said: John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Do You Love Your Doctor More Than You Love Your Pastor?
Apostolic Expository Series
Christy Ballestero (My Beautiful DIL)
http://marciaballestero.com/
Pastor Anthony & Kim Ballestero, New Destiny Worship Center, Clearwater, FL (My Son)
Pastor Bryan & Christy Ballestero, Temple Of Pentecost, Raleigh, NC (My Son)
James Groce Blog – "Toward The Mark"
Kenneth Bow Blog
Kingdom Speak Podcast
Philip Harrelson – "The Barnabas Blog"
Verbal Bean Ministries
Holy Ghost Radio
The Ballestero Blog 