The Ballestero Blog

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Posts Tagged ‘Worship

The Best Worshipper In Pentecost Has Just Died!

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Most of us are thunderstruck when we read about the emotional outbursts of King David as he worshipped the Lord! David was wild in his worship!

David was well-known for dancing and clapping his hands and lifting up his voice in praise.

In one place, the King even twirled in the air as he danced, when the Ark was coming back home.

But, I’m afraid the good King David will only win the 2nd Place Award in Heaven, when the Awards are handed out for Exuberance In Worship.

The 1st Place Trophy for Exuberance in Worship will just have to go to none other than Brother Donald L. Zhiss!

I can imagine King David taking lessons on the Street of Gold from him, right about now, laughing his head off, just watching Brother Don cavort and rejoice!

I’m also sure they are joining together in worship. I can see it now. Both of them Worshipping and Praising like they never imagined they could!

Today, part of me is sad that this chapter of life has closed for Bro. Don.

But, going to Heaven and seeing Jesus was what he always longed for.

The other the side of me has a big Holy Ghost grin pasted on it.

How many nights have the dear old saints of Christ Temple in South Bend heard Brother Don Zhiss thrill us, as he rejoiced in the revelation of the mighty God Jehovah, manifested in the flesh of Jesus Christ?

I’ve lost track how many times he would quote:

Deut. 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.

Or,

1 Tim. 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.

I can still hear him quoting;

Isaiah 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

(And then he would proceed to tell us what His name is… Jesus!)

By the time he was finished with his scripture quoting, you could count on him to be out in the aisle. That’s when the shouting would begin. You’ve never seen such rejoicing since the days of King David.

He continually, and exuberantly, rejoiced over the revelation of one God, and knowing that his name is Jesus!

I’ve seen him run the aisles, and a time or two fall down in his running. That didn’t stop him, he would even roll on the floor.

One thing for certain, no man in his right mind would run very close behind Bro Don while he was taking a lap or two around the church, because he was known to change his mind.

Many times he would do a quick reversal a run back the other way, without giving anyone notice. Slower thinking people might be apt to get accidentally run over. How a man of his stature could be so quick on his feet was amazing!

If you don’t have a Don Zhiss story, then you never visited Christ Temple twice.

I never knew him to have an off night, when it came to praise and worship. Will we miss him? You know it!

Worshippers are the ones we miss the most. No one misses a stick in the mud.

This man was a pastor dream. Never, in the 52 years have I known him, have I been aware of him causing a pastor or a saint any problem.

He had no enemies. He was indeed, a pastor’s friend.

Every time he drove by the parsonage and saw a car, with an out-of-state license plate, he would immediately go the Kentucky Fried Chicken and pick up a big bucket of chicken to help us feed our guests.

 

  • Remember the night during Bro. Duke’s revival when he thought he could fly?
  • Remember the night when a table got flattened during a worship service in the basement?
  • Remember the night when he “forgot to mind the things of the flesh?”
  • Remember the night when he didn’t wear his suspenders?
  • Remember the night during Testimony service, when Casey got his head polished?
  • Remember the night when all the men were out in the aisle, and Ted Stone got run over, several times?
  • Remember the night he came home from a Youth Rally in La Porte, with Bro. Jimmy Wyant and Brother Dick Nicely and they had to stop the car several times so he could have a ‘run-away’?
  • Remember how many dead services he single-handedly brought back to life with a testimony?

 

That’s a little of what I’m talking about.

Stories about this dear man will make you laugh harder than you’ve laughed in ages.

When I was a Pastor, Missionaries, Pastors and Evangelists from all around America repeatedly asked me about Brother Don Zhiss.

Their comments would always go something like this:

“What’s the name of that big Jew guy that’s in your church? You know, the man who worships real good?

“What’s his name again?”

“Don Zhiss?”

“Yeah, that’s him! How’s he doing? Is he still alive? I sure did like him! Man he loved to have church!”

They never asked about anyone one else. They all loved this man, because he never had to be prompted to worship.

What Brother Don possessed was like a well of living water springing up!

He was ‘cited about name of the Lord. He never said excited, he just said that he was ‘cited about the Lord!

  • Brother Don was almost always the first one to say amen to the preacher.
  • He also had a conscious that was very tender and very careful.
  • His life was wrapped up in church.
  • When the church doors were open, you could count on him to be there.
  • As long as I’ve known him, he faithfully attended church, when his health permitted.
  • He never let the fire in his soul go out! He never lost his Joy.

Almost every church in Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan has enjoyed a visit or two from Brother Don Zhiss. When he came, few ever forgot him.

Wednesday of this week, we said our final good byes to the best worshipper you could ever hope to meet.

What’s Going On In Heaven Right Now? “I Can Only Imagine!”

 

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At The Request Of Family And Friends, Here Is His Home-going Service.

Written by Martyn Ballestero

November 16, 2012 at 10:25 am

Posted in God's House, Praise, Worship

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The Ballestero Girls

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The Ballestero Girls

My Daughter, My Daughters (In Love) and my oldest Grand Daughter have given their lives, their time and their talents to worshipping the Lord. The Ballestero Family is richly blessed by all of the wonderful and marvelously talented women God has placed in it. I regret that I am not able to display the talents of all of our girls here.

Some of their recorded projects are on display below. Also included are a few clips of them singing.

Click on any of the pictures to purchase their music! Enjoy!

Don’t you just love our girls!! The sad part is, you didn’t get to hear anything from my other two girls, Jasmine Robinson Ballestero or Marisa Ballestero Hartzell. Stay tuned though. Who knows what can happen next!

(NOW IF I CAN ONLY TALK MY WIFE INTO GETTING BRAVE ENOUGH TO RECORD!)

Written by Martyn Ballestero

October 22, 2012 at 12:08 am

Please Welcome Kalyx Ballestero – My Grand Daughter

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Kalyx is seventeen, and the oldest of our thirteen grand children. Her sweet smile and tender ways endears her to us all. She graduates from High School in 2013, and she also graduates from St. Petersburg College with an Associate Degree. Attending two schools at the same time is a very heavy load. Kalyx makes us all proud.

She is very intense about worship and living for God. At her local church or at a General Conference, if you look on the front row, you’ll find her putting her heart into the service, with her hands in the air. I know God loves this girl. Grandma Marcia Ballestero and I sure do too!

This year she won a Talent Search, and was interviewed in last month’s Pentecostal Herald.

(As Seen On My Hope Radio)

http://www.myhoperadio.com/articles.asp?AID=608

This Week’s Featured Artist

Kalyx Ballestero

            Tell us a little about your family.

My Dad is the pastor of New Destiny Worship Center in Clearwater, Florida, where my family lives. My mom is the music director at our church. I have two little brothers; Carlton is twelve, and Braden is ten. I also have a puppy named Luigi!

            Describe your spiritual journey.

I received the Holy Ghost and was baptized when I was six years old. God has truly kept me ever since that day! My testimony is that I’ve never known what it’s like to live for the world because I’ve been hidden in the shadow of the Almighty. He’s all I’ve ever known, and I’m so thankful for that!

            What is your music background?

I started taking piano lessons when I was four years old; I also sang a song “Jesus, Light of the World” on my Mom’s CD when I was four! Singing and playing piano have been my two biggest passions ever since. My mom influenced me and of course made me practice every day, and took me to lessons through the years. My parents allowed me to be in charge of Kids Music at our church when I was about nine years old, and that helped me to become comfortable leading kids in worship and being in front of people.

            Tell us about your experience at the 2011 North American Talent Search.

Wow! What a life-changing experience it was! To be honest, I was so surprised that I even made it to the final round of the Talent Search. My family helped me decide which song I needed to sing. After I had tried just about every contemporary song I could think of, I started singing an old hymn about the name of Jesus. As soon as I did we felt the Holy Ghost come right into our living room. That’s how we knew which song to choose. When they called my name as first place winner that night, I was totally stunned! Afterwards, I went back to my seat and just cried! I couldn’t believe God’s favor, and at the same time I was like “What? I can’t record a CD! How am I going to do that!?” But God led the way, and I learned so much throughout the entire experience. I’m so thankful to Him for the opportunity.

            What was the inspiration for you to do an EP?

I’ve always dreamed of recording an album, but I didn’t think it would actually happen until I was in my forties or something! When this opportunity arose, I was unprepared but excited for the challenge. The idea behind the album’s title Everyday is that God’s mercy and grace are following us every day that we live. So, we don’t have to worry! I hope it also challenges people to live whole heartedly for him every day of their lives and hopefully love the CD so much they want to listen to it every day too!

            What was your favorite part about making this EP?

I loved getting to sing a duet with my girl Jessica Bounds! We had a blast, and she made the song “People Get Ready” sound amazing. Her voice is incredible. I was really happy we got to do that.

            What is the best musical advice you have ever been given from a mentor or influence in music ministry?

Technical wise: “Get in there and practice piano, Kalyx!” Spiritually: I recently heard Sis. Vani Marshall speak at a conference about not allowing things (even ministry) to make your schedule so full that you get distracted from your first love. It really spoke to me, because I often have a tendency to want to do more than I have time for. She later told me to just go to His river of living water daily and drink it in. It’s helped me to realize that ministering when you yourself are on empty is so dangerous!

            What is one of your musical dreams or goals that you would love to see come to pass?

I want to go to Bible College and major in music. I would also love to one day record an album of my own original songs.

            Where can we listen, purchase, and connect with you?

You can listen to and purchase my recent project Everyday on cdbaby.com and connect with me on Facebook.

            Fun Stuff

What would you do with a million dollars?

Pay my tithes of course! 😉 Among many other things, I would give to missions, pay all my college tuition, and buy my parents a mansion. Ooh, and I might buy a VW Jetta. They’re so cute!

            If you could sing anywhere in the world, where would you sing?

I think it would be awesome to sing in and be a part of a crusade overseas. I’ve never been on a missions trip, but, hope to go someday!

            Who do you want to send a ‘shout out’ to?

All the people I look up to! Thanks Kristen Keller, Cortt Chavis, and Lia Matthews for being amazing role models!

Click On This Picture To Go To Her Store And Hear More Of Her Music

Written by Martyn Ballestero

October 15, 2012 at 1:05 pm

Posted in Worship

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It’s Amazing The Excuses Some Have For Not Worshipping!

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It’s Amazing The Excuses Some Have For Not Worshipping!

Psa 149:3 Let them praise his name in the dance…
I took this picture recently because it struck a cord with me.
Your excuses for not being completely Biblical in your worship may be good enough for you, your pastor and your church friends. It sounds however, like there is an old sinner out there somewhere, that thinks you’re not being honest.

Written by Martyn Ballestero

September 23, 2012 at 1:39 am

Loud Pipes Save Lives

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Loud Pipes Save Lives

Most cars, trucks and SUV drivers who cause motorcycle crashes, claim they never saw the motorcycle at all. Loud pipes help bikers let the other vehicles on the road know they exist. Before the motorcycle is ever seen, it is heard. It’s loud pipes may no doubt help save the rider’s life.

Harley Davidson teaches classes to new riders. My son Bryan took such a class last year. They informed all the students of the importance of loud pipes. Telling them, it just might save their life.

If you believe, as I do, that loud pipes save lives, then maybe you know about loud pipe manufactures like :

  • Rhinehart
  • Samson Sinisters
  • Samsom Street Sweepers
  • Thunderheaders
  • Pipe Dreamz
  • Sideshots
  • Bassani
  • V&H Bigshots
  • V&H Straightshots

These are only a few of the products of companies that specialize in making motorcycles LOUD.

Let me talk about another set of pipes.A Set Of Pipes” is a figure of speech we use for someone one with a great voice. Especially, if they have a very loud voice.

Dictionary.com’s Slang Dictionary defines:

“set of pipes”

  1. n.
    a very loud voice; a singing voice.

The Psalmist said,

Ps 98:4 “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.”

Will loud worship save anyone?

I don’t plan to find out if I can afford to ignore this passage and others just like it. For some reason, God wants our worship to be energetic and very vocal. He wants us to use our set of pipes and sing with a loud voice.

I believe that Loud “Pipes” save lives, even in church! Don’t keep quiet during the worship service. The life you save may be your own.

Written by Martyn Ballestero

September 21, 2011 at 1:12 am

Posted in Worship

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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

Making Melody In Your Heart

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Making Melody In Your Heart

Eph. 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

This verse is among the Paul’s final words to the church family in Ephesus. It is cloistered sweetly amid his fatherly farewell.

Paul, in a later epistle admonishes the saints of Philippi to rejoice aloud unto the Lord all the days of our life.

Phil. 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord I: and again I say, Rejoice.

Paul promoted vocal worship in the house of God. But while writing to the good folks in Ephesus, he shows a side of himself, which is most revealing. Paul evidently made a melody in his heart even in his darkest moments.

In those few words, he wrote of the importance of singing on the inside. He encouraged all of us to have a song in our heart, and if there was no song, then to make a song. Make a melody in your heart.

This encouragement came from a man who had been through the worst events that hell could manufacture. But he didn’t stop singing. When he couldn’t sing on the outside, he was doing it on the inside.

  • We knew him as a Missionary.
  • We love him as a writer.
  • We read about him as a preacher.
  • But Paul the singer?
  • Who knew?

Paul Kept Humming A Song.

2Cor. 4:8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

2Cor. 4:9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

Paul Still Kept On Humming.

2Cor. 11:23… in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

2Cor. 11:24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

2Cor. 11:25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

2Cor. 11:26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

2Cor. 11:27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

2Cor. 11:28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

Paul Never Stopped Humming.

No matter what he had been through, he never allowed his circumstances to shut down his inner praise machine.

The story of Paul and Silas perfectly shows how quick Paul was to make melody in his heart unto the Lord. In spite of his pain, he sang.

Even though he had been beaten, his melody maker was still working.  Even though he was falsely accused and imprisoned he had a melody going on in his heart.

  • It was that melody that caused the earth to shake.
  • It was that melody that caused all of the prisoner’s chains to come off.
  • It was that melody that opened the prison’s doors for them.
  • It’s unimaginable what can come out of having a melody in your heart.

My precious and godly parents sang a song many years ago written by Ira Stanphill. It’s words still echo inside my heart.

You Can have A Song In Your Heart In The Night

Ira Stanphill

1. You can have a melody down in your heart

When it’s aching, almost breaking

Even though the sorrow makes the teardrop start

You can have a melody down in your heart.

CHORUS

You can have a song in your heart in the  night,

After every trial, after every mile

Anyone can sing when the sun’s shining bright

But you need a song in your heart at night.

2. Do not let your worries drive your song away,

Though tomorrow brings its sorrow

Just remember after night time comes the day

Do not let your worries drive your song away.

3. Soon the night will pass and morning bring the day

I am longing for its dawning

Until then we’ll labour here and watch and pray

Soon the night will pass and morning bring the day.

Written by Martyn Ballestero

May 22, 2011 at 12:40 am

No Nutritional Value

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No Nutritional Value

The evening camp meeting service was over in Ontario. I stood there talking to three Outfitters and five Hunting Guides. The men were all from Ontario and New Brunswick, Canada. They were talking to me about the moose-hunting story that I had told in my sermon.

After a few minutes, one of the Outfitters said to me, “Brother Ballestero did you know that if you were stranded and had nothing to eat but moose meat, you would eventually starve to death? Even with your stomach full? It has basically, no nutritional value. It’s too lean, besides.”

“No!” I said. “That’s unbelievable! I didn’t know that,”

I stood there in unbelief. Just the thought of having a full stomach and yet not being fed caught me off guard.

While I knew that the old Outfitter was probably not a nutritional expert, there were years worth of practical and sound advice being dispensed here for my benefit. I chose to believe him. That’s what he did for a living. He organized and guided moose hunts. He was a woodsman.

My mind immediately went to the lunch conversation I’d had with Brother Wade Bass. He and I had eaten at the little roadside café in Henrietta, Oklahoma back in July. Because he was fighting cancer, his Doctor had him on a very strict diet. He ordered only a salad for his meal.

“Do you have any ‘Romaine’ lettuce?” He’d asked the waitress.

While she went back to the kitchen to ask, he explained to me that he had to eat a lot of salad on his diet. He said that Iceberg lettuce had basically no nutritional value in it, so that’s why he’d asked for the Romaine.

With these two incidents freeze-framed in my mind, I begin to think about spiritual foods and spiritual diets. Or maybe I should have said, “unspiritual” diets.

How many sit every week in church services and hear sermons, sing songs, and then go home pretty much unchanged?  Even though they felt like they were absolutely ‘full’? This type of pill is hard to swallow as a preacher, it is something we need to keep close to our hearts.

Is it possible to get ‘full’ on sermons that don’t say much and never seem to change any lives?

It’s possible, I think, to get full on ‘worship’ services that never touch the heart and are not much more than drum beats accompanied with powerless repetitive phrases.

I pretty much enjoy all kinds of Worship. But if I can’t feel God touching my heart, I know there is no nutritional value involved.

There is a big difference too, between being fed the “finest of the wheat” or having to live on a constant sermon diet of Faith, Blessing and Prosperity.

Am I against those sermon subjects? Not at all! Keep preaching them.  We need our faith built and we sure could use some prosperity. But there’s more to the Word than just that. Feed me some ‘doctrine’ and feed me some ‘practical living’ sermons while you’re at it. I need something to feed me, not just fill me.

Thank God if you are blessed to be in a good church where you are not only get full, you get fed!

Written by Martyn Ballestero

April 7, 2011 at 2:23 pm

Posted in Christian Living, Doctrine, Worship

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15 Things To Do In Church Before You Die

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15 Things To Do In Church Before You Die

1. Pray

  • Pray till you get the absolute Victory.
  • Intercede for a lost or wayward soul.
  • Let God use you in the Spirit of Travail
  • Pray till the Fire falls.
  • Pray someone through to the Holy Ghost.
  • Pray before church.
  • Pray around the altar after church

2. Sing

  • Don’t make the Song Leader beg you to sing.
  • Don’t let the Praise Singers do your singing.
  • Sing till you cry.
  • Sing till you shout.

3. Shout

  • Dance in the Spirit
  • Leap for Joy
  • Lead. Be the first one to shout.
  • Run the aisles

4. Believe God

  • Believe God for a Healing.
  • Trust Him to supply your needs.
  • Believe Him for a Miracle and see it come to pass.

5. Get ‘Lost in the Spirit’

  • Be taken home drunk in the Holy Ghost

6. Witness

  • Teach a Home Bible Study
  • Win a soul

7. Say Amen

  • Say Amen from your heart. Be willing to Obey.
  • Stand to you feet and say Amen
  • Say Amen from even if you’re the only one.
  • Say Amen even when the Scripture or the Preaching touches a sore spot.

8. Give

  • Give your last Dollar, if God impresses you to.
  • Become faithful in your tithe and offerings
  • Give without expecting anything in return.

9. Read

  • Read the Bible through.
  • Have a daily Scripture reading.
  • Get a Revelation of One God.

10. Testify

  • Don’t give some narrative about “he said, and I thought to myself.”
  • Just brag on Jesus!

11. Fast

  • Fast to crucify your flesh.

12. Love Your Brother and Sister

  • Prefer them. Put them first
  • Let all jealousy die

13. Refuse To Listen to a Rumor

  • Tell the talebearer, “I really don’t want to hear this.”
  • Refuse to pass a rumor on.

14. Forgive

  • Put all your yesterdays behind you.
  • Empty yourself of all Bitterness.
  • Be merciful.

15. Get the Pastor’s Heartbeat.

  • Try to feel what he feels.
  • Work with him for Revival.
  • Feel the Spirit of Unity

Now, Let’s Have Some ‘Church’ Around Here!

Is God Ugly?

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Is God Ugly?

I don’t mean for this question to sound like it borders on blasphemy. It is important for me not to be flippant or sacrilegious about things that are Divine. With that being said, I will ask the question one more time. Is God ugly?

The Prophet Isaiah makes an amazing prophecy about the coming of the Messiah. He describes him and portrays him in a very uncomplimentary manner.

Is. 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

Is. 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

When man makes a grand entry, he normally tries to ‘put his best foot forward’. Why then did Jehovah choose to wrap Himself up in human flesh that apparently wasn’t the best He could make?

The mind of man would think, ‘Why He could have gotten more followers if He’s had some ‘great’ looks. People will follow someone that’s easy to look at. That was not how God planned to present Himself.

When God came to earth in the flesh, there was nothing beautiful about Him. I want to talk about that very thing. Look first at the Old Testament.

1. Noah’s Ark – The wood was covered with pitch. It looked ugly on the outside. No one in Noah’s generation outside of his own family was able to get past the ‘Ugly’. They all perished.

2. The Tabernacle In The Wilderness – The outside of the Tabernacle was covered with dyed badger skins. To those that had been there, they KNEW the real beauty was on the INSIDE. It was on the INSIDE that the golden vessels were displayed. It was on the INSIDE that the beautiful Veil hung concealing the Holiest of Holies. INSIDE there was the Shekinah, the Glory of the Lord.

Once the Israelites got past the Ugly, they found the real beauty.

1Pet. 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

1Pet. 2:7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

1Pet. 2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

To those that take the time to Know Him and Believe, He is Precious.

  • If Living for God is Ugly to you, you just don’t know Him very well.
  • If Worship is Ugly to you, you just don’t know Him very well.
  • If Giving God the Tenth of your income is Ugly to you, you just don’t know Him very well.
  • If Holiness is Ugly to you, you just don’t know Him very well.
  • If the preaching of Doctrine is Ugly to you, you just don’t know Him very well.
  • If Long Hair on Women and Short Hair on Men are Ugly to you, you just don’t know Him very well.
  • If Standards are Ugly to you, you just don’t know Him very well.
  • If Separating yourself from the World is Ugly to you, you just don’t know Him very well.
  • If the Prayer Room is Ugly to you, you just don’t know Him very well.
  • If Winning Souls is Ugly to you, you just don’t know Him very well.

And the list goes on…

When living for God is longer attractive to you, you don’t really know Him very well. It tells me that you don’t really Believe. It tells me you are Disobedient. (1 Pet 2:7)

Can you get past the Ugly? If you can, He will become Precious to you!

Written by Martyn Ballestero

January 29, 2011 at 4:33 pm