Mark Ballenger | AGW MINISTRIES

What Does the Bible Say About Taking Care of Your Body?

January 1, 2016 by Mark Ballenger

Bible Verses: John 21:12-15, 1 Kings 19:4-9

Life is exhausting, especially when we are seeking to please the Lord and we have failed. Nothing wears us out like our own sin. In times of failure and exhaustion, we know we need a touch from God, but sometimes we can’t hear him. So what should we do?

While there are many spiritual answers that would be appropriate (read the word, pray, fellowship with other believers, resist the devil), the Bible often points to one aspect of our life that we frequently devalue: taking care of our bodies.

Sin Is Progressive

October 11, 2018December 30, 2015 by Mark Ballenger

Sin is progressive by nature. Unrepentant sin always gets worse and worse. Sin, left to its progressive nature, therefore, eventually leads to death (Romans 6:23). But God does not want this. In fact, one of the reasons God lets people get worse is because he desires for them to get better.

What Does the Bible Say About Selfies?

October 24, 2016December 26, 2015 by Mark Ballenger

What does the Bible say about selfies? Nothing, of course, since the idea of taking a picture of yourself and posting it to social media was obviously a foreign concept when the Bible was written. But the Bible does talk a lot about the motivations of the heart, and what makes “selfies” good or bad depends on the inner intent.

The Bible Says Self-Exaltation Is Sin/Bad. Is Your Motive in Posting Selfies Self-Exaltation?

A “selfie”, which is taking a picture of yourself, is not bad. Why we do what we do with that picture will determine if God is pleased or displeased with our actions. Most often, selfies are rooted in self-exaltation.

Is Solitude Good or Bad?

December 24, 2015 by Mark Ballenger

Is solitude good or bad? Does solitude help or hurt our Christianity? Is solitude an ingredient for hearing God?

Yesterday, I was doing some cardio on the treadmill in my basement while listening to an audio format of the Bible. I was tracking pretty well with what was being read to me, but then the heater came on. I could still hear the words quite clearly, but I could also hear the heater. I only realized my mind was drifting into the worthless space of “lala land” when the heater finally clicked off. Suddenly it was much easier to simply hone in on the words being read.

How To Be Pruned by God, Not Cut Off

December 24, 2015December 23, 2015 by Mark Ballenger

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. -John 15:1-2

Try as we might, no one can avoid getting cut or pruned by God in this life. God touches everyone, and many times his touch hurts. How we respond to these trials will be the evidence of what type of wound we have received. God cuts everyone but everyone who is cut does not experience the same outcome.

How to Resist Temptation (James 1:25)

December 18, 2015December 18, 2015 by Mark Ballenger

But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.-James 1:25

It had been a very, very long Sunday. Setting up the church in our rented space for the morning service, navigating a few difficult personalities in the foyer, trying to make new people welcomed, trying to make sure no one goes into the children’s ministry whose not supposed to, trying to stay in a good spirit even though where I was stationed in the church there was no air conditioning and it was now a humid 90 degrees, and a whole host of other random tasks a pastor ends up doing on Sunday where beginning to take their toll. As I was driving into our night service, McDonald’s golden arches seemed to be shining a little brighter to my weary eyes.

How To Be A Christian Leader

December 18, 2015December 17, 2015 by Mark Ballenger

How can someone become a Christian leader? The only way to be a Christian leader is if other Christians follow you as you follow Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). But, ironically, the hardest part of Christian leadership is that no one naturally wants to follow because of sin.

Sin is rebellion against God’s authority and leadership. Therefore, human nature, because of sin, simply does not like Christian leadership either since it is a delegated leadership role from God.

So what’s a Christian leader to do? How can you be a Christian leader if no one wants to follow you? The only hope a Christian leader has is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

How to Fight Against Satan

September 10, 2018December 14, 2015 by Mark Ballenger

Satan is a liar (John 8:44), Satan is a deceiver (Revelation 12:9), and Satan is an accuser of Christians (Revelation 12:10). Satan is the Christian’s chief enemy, for we fight not against flesh and blood, but against Satan’s spiritual forces (Ephesians 6:12). And we are to resist him (James 4:7), but how? How do we fight against Satan?

Why Does God Allow Satan to Tempt Us?

September 4, 2018December 11, 2015 by Mark Ballenger

Bible Verses: James 4:4-10

With just a quick read of Scripture, there’s no doubt that God not only allows Satan to live, but God allows Satan to tempt us. But why does God allow Satan to tempt us? Or maybe an even better question is why did God allow Satan to tempt Jesus?

Why Does God Allow Satan to Tempt Us? For God’s Glory

It’s a good place to start by noting that any question that starts with “Why does God . . . ?” can always be answered “For his own glory and our good.” Everything God does ultimately is rooted in his sovereign plan of glorifying himself and loving people.

Who Would I Be?

December 9, 2015 by Mark Ballenger