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Posts Tagged ‘Sin

When It Is Finished!

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When It Is Finished!

 

James 1:15 …and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

  • When The Holy Ghost Is Finished With You, You Live!
  • When Sin Is Finished With You, You Die!

 

If There’s Not A Day When You’re Through With Sin…

There Will Be A Day When Sin Is Through With You!

 

When An Artist is Finished,

  • Signs his name on the canvas.
  • Puts his thumbprint on the canvas.

When A Student Is Finished With School

  • They give him a diploma.

When A Cook Is Finished,

  • She turns off the stove.

When An Author Is Finished,

  • She writes, “the end.”

When A Prison Sentence Is Finished,

  • The prisoner is released.

When A Letter Is Finished,

  • The writer signs her name.

When A Diner Is Finished,

  • He wipes his mouth with a napkin.

When A Mechanic Is Finished,

  • He wipes his hands.

When A Sin Is Finished,

  • You’re done for!

 

When Sin Is Finished With You…

You Die

  • A Physical Death
  • An Emotional Death
  • A Spiritual Death
  • An Eternal Death

 

Some Never Learn, They Keep Going Back To Sin

2 Pet 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

In The Bible, Leprosy Is A Type of Sin.

  • Because it eats away destroying it’s victim one day at a time.

When Leprosy Is Finished With You, You Die!

  • But, Jesus can heal a leper!

Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

  • Sin may be about finished with you now.
  • Sin finished with some while they were still in their teens, 20’s and 30’s.

But, Just Because Sin Is About Finished With You

  • Doesn’t mean God is finished with you!

 

Sin Demands That You:

  • Doubt God, but trust your sinner friends.
  • Disobey God
  • Not fear God
  • Not love God with all your heart.
  • Accept what God rejects.
  • Make light of God’s Word.
  • Ignore God’s Call.
  • You reject God.
  • That you miss church.
  • That your job that keeps you out of church.
  • That you justify worldly friends.
  • That you feel like God doesn’t love you.
  • That you feel like the Church doesn’t love you.
  • That you feel the Pastor doesn’t love you.
  • That you believe sinful living is really freedom.
  • That you die.
  • When Sin is finished with you, you die.

 

But God Is Not Finished With You,

  • That’s Why You’re Still Here!

 

Sin Demands Your Innocence.

  • The early loss of your virginity to be accepted by the world, the in-crowd.
  • Sin wishes to devalue you in your own eyes and the eyes of others.
  • Sin demands that you live in shame

 

Sinful Styles Demands:

  • That Holiness and modesty be ignored.
  • That you wear things that God calls an abomination. (It’s in style)
  • That all clothes be designed without the church in mind.

 

Sin May Try To Finish You Off With Lust.

  • Lustful Gratification becomes important, regardless of the cost.
  • You risk your health.
  • You risk your reputation.
  • You risk your soul.
  • You disregard risk of embarrassment or injury to your friends, church, family
  • Become immoral.
  • Experience shame.
  • Live with fear of STD, HIV, Aids.
  • When Sin is finished with you, you die.

 

Sin May Try To Finish You Off With Perversion

  • You become without natural affection.
  • You live in a closet of deception all your life.
  • You continually risk your health.
  • You continually risk HIV infection.
  • You continually risk the violent reactions of others.
  • You live in fear of being outed.
  • You live in fear of rejection by your family and others.
  • You live a lifestyle that God hates.
  • When Sin is finished with you, you die.

 

Sin May Try To Finish You Off With Drugs.

  • It takes some drugs just one time to hook the user.

 

Drugs make you do whatever you have to do to get the money.

  • Sell your body for more drugs.
  • Steal
  • Get a criminal record.
  • Become HIV positive (dirty needles)
  • Live a lie.
  • Change into a crazed animal at times
  • Beat and abuse others.
  • Birth children with serious birth defects.
  • Risk losing the ones that love you.
  • Warp your personality.
  • Damage your ability to think clearly.
  • Fry your brains for life.
  • Live with flashbacks for many years.
  • Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

 

Sin May Try To Finish You Off With Alcohol .

  • Destroys your family
  • Puts your marriage on the rocks
  • Makes you choose the Bottle over your own family.
  • Forces you to miss work.
  • Lets you lose your job.
  • Lose your career.
  • Consider homelessness an option.
  • Damage your vital organs.
  • Destroy your liver.
  • May make you lose your Driver’s license and possibly your freedom.
  • Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

 

Hollywood Demands:

  • You accept it’s morality.
  • That TV becomes More important to you than Heaven.

 

Your Senses Become Hardened By:

  • Murder
  • Violence
  • Vulgarity
  • Nudity
  • Pre-marital Sex
  • Infidelity
  • Perversion
  • Humanistic values

 

Hollywood Demands Christians be portrayed as:

  • Weirdo’s
  • Wicked and Hypocritical people.
  • Churches put in a bad light.

 

Sin Demands That You Let It Do Your Thinking.

  • Preachers are always bad people.
  • Christians are crazy people.
  • Makes you believe that you will go to Heaven without going to church.

 

Sin Demands:

  • Your involvement
  • Your participation, physically/emotionally.
  • That you recruit.
  • That you not go to hell alone… take others.
  • Your time
  • Your finances – That you throw money to the devil, but have a problem with tithes.
  • Become addicted.
  • Sin Demands Your Life.
  • Sin Demands Your Future.
  • Sin Demands Your Soul.
  • When sin is finished with you, you die.

 

Sin Demands That You Live In:

  • Bondage
  • Condemnation
  • Shame
  • Guilt
  • Regret
  • Reproach
  • In Fear of Dying

 

Sin Demands You:

  • Reject God’s Love.
  • Receive it’s wages.
  • Go to Hell.
  • Feel Uncomfortable in Church.
  • Feel Uncomfortable in the presence of God.
  • Become hardened in your heart.
  • Believe a lie and be lost.
  • You backslide.
  • Get rebellious.
  • Stay away from church.
  • Lose your testimony.
  • Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

 

Sin is working on you right now

  • Day and night
  • Sin demands you never tell it good-by
  • Sin, at best, can only bring temporary pleasure

 

Sin Doesn’t Care About You.

  • Why Not Say Good-bye to the Sinning Business?
  • Just because sin is about finished with you doesn’t mean God is!

 

You Better Pray God Doesn’t Wipe His Hands Like A Mechanic When He Looks At You.

  • He’s Not Willing Any Should Perish.
  • No Such Thing As A Throw-A-Way Soul.

 

Remember The Shepherd And The Ninety And Nine?

  • The Shepherd wouldn’t stop seeking the lamb until He found it.

 

Sin Demands That When It’s Done,

  • You are thrown away.
  • To Jesus, there is no such thing as a throwaway soul!

 

He’s Not Willing That Any Should Perish!

 Sin May Be About Finished With You, But God’s Not…

 

When Jesus Said, It Is Finished,

He meant that mercy was now available for all

 

Mercy Is Available Now…

  • Now, when sin is finishing up with you.
  • Now, when it looks hopeless.
  • Now, when you’re feeling desperate.
  • Now, when the Hell thinks your soul is doomed.
  • Now, when you’ve nowhere else to turn.

 

Jesus is still reaching out to you!

He’s Reaching Out Right Now!

Receive His Mercy Right Now!

 

  1. Repent of your sins.
  2. Be baptized in Jesus Name.
  3. Receive the Gift of The Holy Ghost

 

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

January 24, 2017 at 1:25 am

Posted in Backsliders, Mercy, Repent, Salvation, Sin

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The Defense Never Rests

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The Defense Never Rests

After the State has presented its charges against the defendant in a court of law, it signifies to the judge that it is finished by saying in open court, “The State rests.”

The Defense Attorney then begins to present a defense for his client, which hopefully will offer reasonable doubt to the mind of the jury. When the Defense has exhausted its resources and explanations, it too announces in similar manner, “The Defense rests.”

When the Defense rests, there is not much more to be said on behalf of the accused. The trial is about over. The defendant’s life is ready to be handed over to the jury.

 

My Father’s Funeral Sermon

The eloquent and ‘adopted’ other son of the late Carl J. Ballestero’s family, is Bro. A.W. Buie Jr. He was deeply loved by my Father. Bro. Bill Buie showered Dad with great honor and affection. At my Father’s funeral in September of 1994, Bro Buie brought me to tears as he preached one of the most beautiful messages I have ever heard. He entitled the funeral sermon, “The Defense Rests.”

Pastors and preachers are but mere mortals. Their life span is measured out on heaven’s Time-Line and no one can lengthen it. There are only so many sermons a man can preach as he reaches for the lost and hurting before he dies. His hope of seeing mercy for the guilty is limited only by his short life. Although they died, hope has not died with them.

 

There Is One Defense Attorney Who Is Not Dead, And He Never Rests.

  • He NEVER quits,
  • He never gives in,
  • He never gives up.

 

Jesus Is The Advocate  (Defense Attorney)

1 John 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:

  • An Advocate is a Defense Attorney. Jesus is our Defense Attorney.

 

He Makes Daily Intercession For Us.

Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

  • Notice the progressive verb ending, ‘eth’ on maketh. That means Jesus Christ will never stop making intercession for us.

Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Simply put, The Lord Jesus is our Defense Attorney. That’s what the Cross was all about. From the moment He spoke the words, “Father forgive them,” He officially became our Advocate.

 

Believe the Word of God.

The Lord has not, and will not give up on us. No matter what the charges are against us, may our hearts have peace knowing that if we sin, we have a Defense Attorney that won’t give up on us.

 

What Is The Price Of His Retainer?

Repentance. If we are willing to repent, then this blessed opportunity is waiting for us. We must not stop until we have fully obeyed Acts 2:38, just like all of the New Testament church believers did.

 

Don’t give up on yourself. You’ve got the best Defense Attorney in the world!

He ever liveth to make intercession for you!

 

 

Written by Martyn Ballestero

January 8, 2013 at 12:21 am

Heaven’s Not A Sin Away

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Heaven’s Not A Sin Away!

Rom. 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The following is an excerpt of an old song by The Kendalls. Their song claimed that Heaven was just a sin away.

“Heaven’s Not A Sin Away”

by

The Kendalls

Oh way down deep inside I know that it’s all wrong

Your eyes keep tempting me and I never was that strong

 

Devil’s got me now oh oh, gone and got me now

I can’t find him anyhow I’m think he’s gonna win

Heaven’s just a sin away oh oh, just a sin away

Heaven help me when I say I think I’m giving in

 

Oh way down deep inside…

Devil’s got me now oh oh, gone and got me now…

Heaven’s just a sin away oh oh, just a sin away…

 

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

 

But, Heaven’s Not A Sin Away!

 

1. With Sin Comes Guilt And Condemnation.

  • How long do you pay for a mistake in your mind?
  • How long do you pay for a mistake in the minds of others?
  • A Moment of Weakness – Will Bring A Lifetime Of Regret.

Ask David – Bathsheba

  • Heaven’s Not A Sin Away!

 

2. With Sin Comes God’s Displeasure.

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

Is. 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.

Ask Cain

Gen 4:13  And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.

  • Heaven’s Not A Sin Away!

 

3. When Sin Is Done With You, There Won’t Be Much Left.

Amos 3:12 Thus saith the LORD; As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear;

  • Addictions
  • Immorality
  • HIV
  • Reputation Lost

Ask Samson

Heaven’s Not A Sin Away!

 

4. Willful Sin Is A Major Problem.

It Was For Esau. He Couldn’t Get Right With God Again!

Heb. 12:17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

  • What Woman is worth going to hell over?
  • What Man is worth going to hell over?
  • What Job is worth going to hell over?
  • What Friend is worth going to hell over?
  • What Entertainment is worth going to hell over?
  • What Sport is worth going to hell over?
  • What Style of Clothes is worth going to hell over?
  • What Lifestyle is worth going to hell over?
  • What Unforgiven Hurt is worth going to hell over?
  • What Temptation is worth going to hell over?

Matt. 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Ask Eve   –   She saw that the fruit of the tree was pleasant to the eye, and she gave in to temptation. That brought the curse upon us all and banished Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden.

Heaven’s NOT just a sin away!

 

Ask Saul

(1 Sam 26:21)  Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

 

5. You Better Be Glad God Is Merciful

  • To God, There’s no such thing as a throw-a-way soul
  • He is NOT willing that any should perish
  • We Don’t Deserve His Mercy
  • We ALL Deserve to be lost

 

The Story Of A Backslidder

Bob had backslid many times. He’d been in and out of the little Home Missions Church so many times that he’d lost track. He thought it had been maybe 13 or 14 times. He was ashamed. Why couldn’t he live for God? Maybe he just was one of those that God couldn’t help. Or maybe God had finally given up on him because of his many failures and weaknesses.

It had been nearly two years since he’d been back to church. The devil really wanted him to believe that there was no more hope for him. Bob was easily convinced. There was no point in even going back and trying anymore. He’d done that over dozen times without success. Besides, no one believed in him anymore. Bob was though with church and through with God, because he just knew God was through with him.

Bob was a good worker and men at the plant respected him for his abilities. His personality gained him many friends as well.

One day at work Bob got a chemical on his hand that left a bad stain. He tried to wash it off and even used hand cleaner. All his attempts to remove the stain were unsuccessful.

He was so embarrassed that night when he had to wear a suit to go to a fancy restaurant, that he kept his hand in his pocket so no one would see the stain.

The next day at work, Bob got too close to a machine and it sliced his hand deeply. Blood gushed everywhere.

“Call 911,” several people shouted. “Bob’s hurt bad!”

“Naw, don’t call 911, just take me to Med-Point.” Said Bob as he tried to wrap a shop rag around his hand and apply pressure to stop the gushing of blood.

“How bad is it?” Some one asked?

Bob took the shop rag off and wiped away the blood to see home deep the cut was. When he looked at the cut and then at his hands, he saw that the stain was gone. He immediately started to cry. The blood had washed away the stain.

His legs gave way and he fell to his knees. With tears running down his cheeks, Bob raised his hands in the air. The blood was still pumping profusely.

The men looked at Bob in amazement as they heard him speaking words they couldn’t understand.

“Call 911, Bob’s really hurt. We’ve never seen Bob cry!”

The men were concerned. Very concerned.

“Don’t call 911”, Bob said, “I’ll be alright! “

“Well if you’re alright, then why are you crying?”

Bob stopped long enough to say nineteen words that forever changed his life and restored his soul.

“Because I see for the first time in my life that the Blood of Jesus will wash away my sins!”

 

6. With Sin Comes The Need To Repent.

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.

Repent Today. Then Let The Blood Of Jesus Wash Away All Your Sins In Baptism. Jesus WILL Give You The Holy Ghost!

Heaven’s Not A Sin Away

Heaven’s Just A Prayer Away!

 

Written by Martyn Ballestero

August 21, 2011 at 2:33 pm

He’s Worse Than A Stalker

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He’s Worse Than A Stalker

When I was a kid, this guy I knew kept getting me in trouble. At times we had a lot of fun, but things turned ugly a time or too. My parents talked to me about him. The talks helped, it seemed like they didn’t do much lasting good.

It was like I couldn’t get rid of him. He kept getting all up in my business and everything. He followed me everywhere. He was worse than a stalker.

He went to our church. He would talk to me sometimes during the service. During worship he would occasionally smirk at me with disapproval when I lifted my hands. He would try to intimidate me. In the prayer room he sometimes tried to distract me and shorten my prayer time.

I talked straight to him many times. I told him how I hated what he did to me. I told him how I hated how he got me in trouble all the time. How he let me take the blame for his stupid ideas. I told him I didn’t want him messing up my life anymore.

My Pastor read him the riot act too. My Parents even told him they disapproved of his conduct. My Friends talked about him. It was unbelievable. He still never went away.

He was nice enough and apologetic. But he somehow always slipped back into his old ways as soon as the pressure was off.

We went to the same school together and he got me in trouble there too. I was dumb enough to do most of the things he dared me to do. He would tell me stuff and when I repeated it, it got me into a lot of trouble.

I spent a lot of time in the Principals Office and in Detention because I did what he told me to do. It was like I couldn’t help myself. I was weaker than I thought. He brought me much shame and embarrassment. I paid dearly.

My friends got frustrated and sometimes put some distance between him and them. My family tried to not hurt his feelings, but I can tell, he sometimes maxes them out.

I’ve even taken him over to the Prayer Room several times and told him in no uncertain terms that I wanted to pray him through. And a few times I did.

This dude has interfered into my life more times than I can count. The Police won’t arrest him for stalking. They haven’t been successful with running him off either. He ignores restraining orders. It’s like I can’t get away from him. Every time I look into the mirror, he stares back at me.

†††

Rom. 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Rom. 7:16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
Rom. 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom. 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom. 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom. 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom. 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

Written by Martyn Ballestero

January 16, 2011 at 12:37 am

Posted in Christian Living, Prayer, Sin

Tagged with , ,