Why I Preached
"The Handwriting On The Wall"By Pastor Carl Joseph Ballestero
As explained by Elder Ballestero in his book: "How High My Mountain, pp 242-244).
"Afterward, we made ready for the 1964 United Pentecostal Church conference we had come to attend" (which was held in San Antonio, Texas).
I was chosen as one of the speakers but I began to feel bad and had to go to bed.
Quite a number of preachers and friends came up to my motel room and prayed for me. We had spent two days in Montrey, Mexico with the Munseys and I had now come down with a fever. It looked like I would be bedfast for awhile.
Brother Bean came up to the toom and prayed with me. His habit was to stay and pray until something happened. Feeling better, I arose and made ready for the evening service. My subject that night was, "The Handwriting On The Wall."
I never tell anyone what I am going to preach, not even my wife. The Ecclesiastical law, written and unwritten, taught that a special meetings, a minister should follow certain accepted word paths and mingle with the thinking of the mainstream of Pentecostal belief and practice.
Whatever others may have to do, let them do it. I must represent God to the best of my ability and do so as if He stood by my side. I was sincere in my message. If my spirit was questioned, someone read me wrong. Incidently, why, all of a sudden, so much interest in 'spirit'? I sought to caution, to advise and to represent the Lord as He best enabled me. If a manpreaches what another does not believe, why is his spirit questioned? What is the real reason for complaint if not because of compromise? In rebuttal I ask, why not question those whose spirits are permissive, worldly, and fearful?
No one has eve asked my why I preached what I did at San Antonio. The answer is easy to submit.
(1) BECAUSE: It was needed. In the past, a few had skirted smoldering issues at large gatherings and were admonished to refrain from controversal themes.
(2) BECAUSE: red flags were out. No one cared to run the gauntlet of unjust criticism. Their reputations were to precious to risk by speaking out for what they claimed as convictions.
(3) BECAUSE: It was part of our Pentecostal belief and culture. I felt these should be preserved in our hearts and practiced in our daily walk. I often feel that Truth becomes diluted because of vague and worldly creeds or is subjected to be crippled by endless resolutions and amendments. Eventually, truth is wrapped in the shrouds of fear and compromise and laid to rest in Ecclesiastical limbo.
(4) BECAUSE: I had to. Every preacher worth his salt, knows when he has to mind God. Often, a preacheris made to feel about a situation just as God does and finds release from the burden, only by obedience.
It is a comfort to see noble ministers today, across the country, taking their liberty without reprimand and Pentecost is the better for it.
Years ago, at an Indiana camp meeting, a visitor approached me and asked a pointed question. He was a man of Pentecostal legend and history. His opening remark was, 'Are you just as radical as you used to be?' I answered, 'If you mean do I believe that baptism is Jesus's name is essential to salvation, and that our receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost is imperative, and not optional, then I still believe it is God's plan for our day.
He countered with this statement, 'Even the Baptist will be in the Bride of Christ.' And this from Howard Goss, a former supertendent of our organization.
Yes, it is a comfort to still see so many of the brethren who are termed 'radical' for this truth, still sounding the trumpet. Consider please, that every advancement on the face of the earth, came about because someone was radical. The prophets were stoned because they were radical. Ask Socrates or any of history's sages. Pose the question to inventors, teachers, great musicians, and you will find them all radical. Even Jesus and His Apostles were radical.
Ministers stepped out of their pulpits and started all over again because of our radical message. In fact, it looks as though no one will be saved unless they become radical."
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To read more of Pastor Ballestero's biography purchase his book.
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Special Note:
The Handwriting is no longer on the wall. Anyone who knows anything about the UPCI knows it has been taken over by those of the Persian spirit and has fallen into decay and ruin. Yes, we may say a Persian brought the UPCI down as he set up liberals and men of worldly compromise throughout the system.
The shame of Pastor Ballestero's message, is that it could not and did not change the UPCI direction toward backsliding in holiness. And it changed none of the Gossites who do not believe Acts 2:38 is the plan of salvation.
If you are in the UPCI, WHY?
Do you not know that the words of a Prophet, perhaps the last Prophet the UPCI ever produced, will condemn you?
It is now time for all Pastors to come out of this organization and restore the Truth one held proudly by Jesus Name Pentecostal Apostolics.
Pastor Reckart