Numbers Tonight we will continue our study of Numbers. We will be in Numbers 24 and 25.

Transcription

1 Good evening, church. Numbers Tonight we will continue our study of Numbers. We will be in Numbers 24 and 25. P a g e 1 Now remember we are in the midst of a bizarre section of scripture. We have learned of the man Balaam who has a great reputation in the ancient Near East of being able to curse nations. The King of Moab sees this great multitude of Hebrews drawing near to his land. Now, remember the Jews have no quarrel with Moab. The Moabites are decedents of their own relative Lot. Israel s mighty army could have just passed through, if Balak just came out peaceably. But Balak is thinking out of fear, and comes up with his own scheme to do away with the decedents of Abraham.

2 P a g e 2 He sent for the notorious sorcerer Balaam, who very clearly explained to Balak s messengers he could only speak what Yahweh allows. Balaam, this demonic wizard even knows the Hebrew s God is Supreme. Balaam, however, is bedazzled by the enormous profit he can make off this job, and he looks for a loophole in God s will. And his heart is so set on the treasure that awaits, he ends up going against the will of God, and makes his way to Balak. He is stopped on the way by the Angel of the Lord, and almost killed had it not been for his donkey. To stop this fool from making a huge mistake, God opens up the voice box of his unintelligent beast. However, this supernatural spectacle was still not enough for Balaam s covetous heart to be stopped. And God hands him over to his evil heart, and lets him go.

3 P a g e 3 This is similar to another Bible story, but they have two different outcomes. Saul of Tarsus to was on a journey to do harm to God s people, and on the road to Damascus, he encountered God in a supernatural way. This left Saul with a choice; he could obey the Word of God, or continue with his devious plans. Saul left the Road that Balaam traveled, and found in his obedience a great calling. Balaam, however, fails to obey, and he chooses the wrong path, and becomes a story of foolishness and lost potential. And so far we have seen him twice try to attempt to perform his sorcery against the Hebrew army, and his curses were turned in to some of the most amazing words of blessing that we have seen in scripture thus far for the nation of Israel. King Balak at this point is a frustrated employer; the man he hired to do a specific job is not only failing at it, but doing the complete opposite of his contract.

4 P a g e 4 Balaam explains that he can only say what God speaks. But he is still anxious to get paid, and last time we were together, we saw him stage a third attempt. Numbers 23:27-30 Then Balak said to Balaam, "Please come, I will take you to another place; perhaps it will please God that you may curse them for me from there." 28 So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, that overlooks the wasteland. 29 Then Balaam said to Balak, "Build for me here seven altars, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams." 30 And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on every altar. But as we will see tonight, Balaam on this attempt will try something different. He will put his sorcery aside, and instead he will get a good view of the army of Israel. Let us continue this story in chapter 24 Balaam Foretells the Happiness of Israel 24:1 Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times, to seek to

5 P a g e 5 use sorcery, but he set his face toward the wilderness. 2 And Balaam raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him. This time Balaam does away with divination, and we see this time, instead of God putting the word in Balaam s mouth, we see the Spirit of God came upon him. It seems Balaam this time is overcome in some kind of trance as he sees this vision. No longer is he speaking words God has given him, but here the Lord speaks through him. We see Balaam looks out at this amazing spectacle in the wilderness. God s armies are encamped beautifully and in order. Each tribe placed by God in this orderly fashion. No army in Israel s day would sit so organized.

6 P a g e 6 You know, when sizing up your opponent in any fight, when you see order, structure and discipline it intimidates the opponent. You know, if your football team comes out in mismatched jerseys, and they have no respect for their coach, they just run whatever plays they want, and players coming in and out whenever they feel like it. You would know that team is going to be destroyed on the football field. But when the opponent comes out, and they are well structured, jerseys are spotless and tucked in, they are disciplined, and running each play the way it was designed to run, well, that will be an impressive team, that would put dread into their opponent. No wonder king Balak is terrified, he has never seen an opponent so wonderfully arrayed as Israel is, and as soon as Balaam s eyes behold the 2 million plus army in strength and in their ranks, the Spirit of God comes upon him.

7 Remember Israel has already defeated the Amorites, the Amorites have defeated Moab. Moab here is by far the weaker of the armies, and terrified. P a g e 7 Their only hope is that somehow, Balaam has secured the favor of the Hebrew s God in this new approach, and it seems well for them as the Spirit of the Hebrew s God comes upon this wizard. Let us look at his message this time 3 Then he took up his oracle and said: "The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor, The utterance of the man whose eyes are opened, 4 The utterance of him who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Who falls down, with eyes wide open: This is a huge turn of events, the Seer s eyes have now been open to who God is. The Seer sees.

8 P a g e 8 It is fascinating that this man can see truth so clearly, the Spirit of God even coming upon him, yet his covetous heart still refuses to believe. This man is so blinded by his pursuit of a payday; he never comes into the family of God. 1 Tim 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Today much of the religious show in the church is nothing but a racket scheme to make money. They use religion as a guise to fill their pockets with wealth. I have heard of Board meetings consisted of ideas on how to get the wealthy business men into the church as to bring more money, a brother mentioned to me that he spoke up for the poor and needy, the sinner, and those who the church was supposed to reach, the pastor dismissed the idea, and continued on with ideas on getting more money into the church.

9 P a g e 9 On Sunday, a man reminded me of the congregation that he came from, where every service was centered on giving. They took up to four offerings a Sunday, and stood in line, to show how much they were giving to everyone else. And many ministries today have taken the way of Balaam, to turn a profit instead of giving out the Word of God. This man Balaam had more evidence of the truth of who are God is, then any of us ever will, and his wickedness and greed still overruled the truth he knew. Don t ever think for a moment just because someone is able to teach a sermon, or speak godly words, that they are saved. Many have disguised their true motives with outward piousness. But inwardly they are nothing more than a hireling working for a check.

10 So Balaam here is controlled by the Holy Spirit now and speaks on the future health of this nation in Canaan P a g e 10 5 "How lovely are your tents, O Jacob! Your dwellings, O Israel! 6 Like valleys that stretch out, Like gardens by the riverside, Like aloes planted by the Lord, Like cedars beside the waters. This verse starts out with Balaam seeing the orderliness of the camp of Israel, and then he looks into their future dwelling in the land. Balaam sees the future glory and vitality, as something growing next to a body of water. Balaam clarifies next this abundance of blessing comes from God 7 He shall pour water from his buckets, And his seed shall be in many waters. We see a picture here of a man carrying buckets, the buckets are overflowing with water. This emphasizing once again the fruitfulness of Israel.

11 They will flourish, and their population will increase. P a g e 11 Next, we see an even more specific prophecy, one that is problematic for many. "His king shall be higher than Agag, And his kingdom shall be exalted. Now, the problem lay in the name Agag, because he does not show up in the pages of scripture until centuries later. When Saul fights against the Amalekites in 1 Samuel 15, and he defeats Israel s oldest enemy. Remember the Jews first battle out of Egypt was against the Amalekites where the victory came from Moses intercession and Joshua s sword in Exodus 17. Israel will have a future king that will destroy their first enemy. Saul was supposed to utterly extinguish the king Agag, and all the spoil. Remember he disobeyed the Lord, and spared Agag, but Samuel hacked him to pieces before the Lord.

12 P a g e 12 Now, some antagonist of the bible, say this shows us that some of the manuscripts are out of order and cannot be trusted. They believe this was written closer to David s time, and these are tall tales from a future generation. How could Balaam speak of a future man named Agag king of the Amalekites? Well, it might be simpler then that. Agag seems to be more of a title for the king of the Amalekites. Similar to the Pharaohs of Egypt, or even Abimelech in Gerar in Genesis chapter 20 and chapter 26 which serve as titles of the rulers. This Oracle of Balaam seems to be speaking of a day when Israel will prevail completely over the Amalekites. This Oracle, perhaps finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, the Jews Messiah. The Psalmist prophesied of this future King as well

13 Ps 89:27 Also I will make him My firstborn, The highest of the kings of the earth. P a g e 13 Jesus will one day come and defeat all the enemies of Israel. Next, Balaam continues. 8 "God brings him out of Egypt; He has strength like a wild ox; He shall consume the nations, his enemies; He shall break their bones And pierce them with his arrows. 9 'He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him?' "Blessed is he who blesses you, And cursed is he who curses you." We see Israel s strength comes from the God who delivered them out of Egypt. They are strong like an ox, they will move slow and steady, and they will consume nations and their enemies and break their bones. Israel sitting now in their camp is like a sleeping lion.

14 When they awake the fury of their strength will be unleashed on their enemies. Notice the Abrahamic blessing. And think of Balak here who is trying to curse this nation? Now, I imagine Balak is horrified at all of this. P a g e 14 Now king Balak and the prophet Balaam are bringing their own judgment upon themselves. As the words come out of Balaam s mouth, he speaks a curse upon himself. Too many today, fail to understand the covenant of God with this nation. As they speak against the nation of Israel, they are speaking their own curse upon their head. We have preachers today, who believe the church has replaced Israel and we have inherited all their promises.

15 P a g e 15 No Christian church professing those kinds of lies will experience the blessings associated with the promises of God. Anyone who blesses the Jews will be blessed, and those who curse them will be cursed, it is that simple. The church has been grafted in to the rootstock; we are not the natural branches. The root and substance is made up of Judaism. And God will be true to His Word and what He has spoken to the Jews. When this church age is through, after the rapture of the true believers, Jew and Gentile alike, God will turn His attention back fully to the Jews in the tribulation. God is not done with this special people group. Be very wary of any preacher who speaks negatively about the nation of Israel. So next, these two debased men still do not repent, and they continue on in their plotting and planning.

16 Let me remind you Israel has no quarrel with Moab, Balak can at any time bring an offer of peace to the encampment. But he is a paranoid determined degenerate. P a g e Then Balak's anger was aroused against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, and look, you have bountifully blessed them these three times! 11 Now therefore, flee to your place. I said I would greatly honor you, but in fact, the Lord has kept you back from honor." 12 So Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not also speak to your messengers whom you sent to me, saying, 13 'If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the Lord, to do good or bad of my own will. What the Lord says, that I must speak'? 14 And now, indeed, I am going to my people. Come, I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the latter days."

17 P a g e 17 Balak remains defiant to truth, he fails to understand the Word of God through Balaam. He tells Balaam that there will be no reward nor honor for him. Balaam reminds him he has not deceived Balak, but has only done what he has said from the beginning Balak sends Balaam home with no payment, this would be a great insult to this notorious sorcerers greed. And in disgrace Balaam is about to leave but before Balaam goes anywhere he burst forth into a fourth oracle. This time no sorcery was done, and no sacrifice, this was a spontaneous Word from God. Balaam's Fourth Prophecy 15 So he took up his oracle and said: "The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor, And the utterance of the man whose eyes are opened; 16 The utterance of him who hears the words of God, And has

18 P a g e 18 the knowledge of the Most High, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Who falls down, with eyes wide open: This oracle will bring more depth to the last one, as this time Balaam will clearly speak of the coming Messiah 17 "I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult. It is fascinating that God has chosen this pagan sorcerer to speak one of the greatest prophesies of the Old Testament that give clear credence to Jesus Christ the Jewish Messiah. This Star out of Jacob will come, and He will rule the universe in righteousness, all rebellion will be done away with in His glorious Kingdom. Jesus says of Himself in Rev 22:16 I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star." Also remember the Messianic prophecy Jacob pronounced over his son Judah

19 Gen 49:10 10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people. P a g e 19 Balaam speaking of this Scepter, this King who will rule the nations with a rod of iron. Warren Wiersbe points out that although king David fulfilled these prophesies in a lesser way, Revelation 19:11-20:6 shows us Jesus the Son of David fulfilled them completely. As many of the Old Testament Messianic prophecies do, this one seems to have a dual meaning. We see next 18 "And Edom shall be a possession; Seir also, his enemies, shall be a possession, While Israel does valiantly. 19 Out of Jacob One shall have dominion, And destroy the remains of the city." Edom who as of right now has no fight with Israel.

20 P a g e 20 Remember Israel went around their relatives to avoid conflict with them. But one day they will rebel against their brethren, and as was prophesied to Rebekah Gen 25:20 "Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger." When Esau s decedents come against Israel, they will be defeated, and ruled over. Seir is a reference to Mt. Seir where the Edomites dwelt. Verse 19 once again seems to be Messianic, speaking of the ultimate reign of Christ. It seems Israel s ultimate blessing centers in her Deliverer from all enemies. Christ came the first time to bring salvation to the world, through the Jewish nation.

21 P a g e 21 His second coming will fulfill the prophecies pointing to Christ the Conqueror. Now after Balaam, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit blesses Israel, God speaks through him to curse Israel s first enemy. 20 Then he looked on Amalek, and he took up his oracle and said: "Amalek was first among the nations, But shall be last until he perishes." And this great people group will ultimately be destroyed. This reached its fulfillment in the days of Hezekiah through the sons of Simeon as recorded in 1 Chron. 4:43. Next, the Seer speaks about the Kenites. 21 Then he looked on the Kenites, and he took up his oracle and said:

22 P a g e 22 "Firm is your dwelling place, And your nest is set in the rock; 22 Nevertheless Kain shall be burned. How long until Asshur carries you away captive?" The Kenites were neighbors to the Amalekites. But unlike the Amalekites they were on good terms with Israel. Moses brother-in-law was a Kenite. Verse 22 explains that the tribe of Asshur will one day subdue the Kenites. Gordon Wenham explains this small tribe lived in northern Sinai. And God is using Balaam to next to speak against Asshur. 23 Then he took up his oracle and said: "Alas! Who shall live when God does this? 24 But ships shall come from the coasts of Cyprus, And they shall afflict Asshur and afflict Eber, And so shall Amalek, until he perishes."

23 P a g e 23 Again Gordon Wenham says this can be a prophecy of when Alexander the Great makes his conquest through this region or even the Romans. But he thinks it is more probable this is speaking to the Philistines, who were the best-known sea peoples in the region. As difficult as these verse are to understand, we can clearly see one nation will supplant another until the very last will too perish. And with all this turmoil pronounced for these other nations, Balaam can only bless the nation of Israel. You see, this man is allowed to use his oracles to take down nations, and that is contrasted with the blessings that came abundantly to Jacob s decedents who are sitting down in the valley, unaware all of this is taking place. God is doing a marvelous work to protect them from the demonic activity trying to come against them. So we read next

24 25 So Balaam rose and departed and returned to his place; Balak also went his way. P a g e 24 Now it does not seem Balaam went home to his home 400 miles away near the Euphrates River, because he will be destroyed in the defeat of the Moabites. It seems more likely he had a home that he was staying at while within Balak s kingdom. Now, we go from these amazing blessings of God, pronounced on the people of God, to the most outlandish and disappointing portraits of this people of God. No army could come against them, no principality could prevail against them, no outside force could ever defeat them. So the satanically influenced Balaam, comes up with a more sinister plan, to have Israel destroy themselves. The only hope of defeating Israel is to let Israel defeat themselves. Understand here, this is a picture of our own spirituality.

25 P a g e 25 No weapon formed against us can prevail, Satan knows this, so he will try to get you to defeat yourself through the temptation of your flesh. Now it is not clear here in the text where this plot came from, but later on in Numbers, we know the source of this plan. Moses explains in Num. 31:16 Look, these women caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the Lord in the incident of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord. We see Balaam led by greed, finds a way to be paid So we read Israel's Harlotry in Moab 25:1 Now Israel remained in Acacia Grove, and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab. 2 They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel.

26 Balaam failed in his mission to curse Israel. P a g e 26 It seems here King Balak is done meddling with God s chosen people. But his allies the Midianites work with Balaam to bring down Israel. In Judges when Jephthah recounts Israel s history to the people of Ammon, he makes it seem like Balak and Moab retreated at this time. Judg. 11:25 25 And now, are you any better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever strive against Israel? Did he ever fight against them? The Midianites also dwelt in the land of Moab. And here there will be a distinct break in the two groups. Balak disappears from the narrative perhaps wising up to the truths he heard, but the princes Midian and Balaam work to their own demise, Israel will destroy them in chapter 31.

27 So Balaam knew if the people could be seduced into worshipping other gods, then Yahweh would judge them. As the Midianites from Moab sent their parade of beautiful woman as a delegation of peace to Israel s camp, the men would have been unsuspecting. These women use their bodies to mesmerize their victims. To bring them to their worship feast. P a g e 27 This has been one of Satan s greatest tools against the sons of faith throughout history. Solomon warned his son in that God s Word would Prov. 6: keep you from the evil woman, From the flattering tongue of a seductress. 25 Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, Nor let her allure you with her eyelids. 26 For by means of a harlot A man is reduced to a crust of bread; And an adulteress will prey upon his precious life. 27 Can a man take fire to his bosom, And his clothes not be burned? 28 Can one

28 P a g e 28 walk on hot coals, And his feet not be seared? 29 So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife; Whoever touches her shall not be innocent. And as the seductresses of Midian grab the hearts of the awestruck men, they are able to persuade them into worshipping Baal. This is the first mention of the worship of this god that will prove to be the downfall of Israel time and time again. This was the Canaanite god of fertility and rain. And it seems every time a drought came to Israel, they would turn to this demonic god instead of repenting and turning back to their own God. The fertility rites of the worship of Baal included temple male and female prostitutes. Many of the pagan religions had sensual priestesses, perhaps this is why God delineates from them, and only allows men to be the priest in Israel. As we will see in a moment, one of these priestesses is able to seduce a prominent man within Israel.

29 They will do unspeakable things within the camp of Israel. Perhaps this leader thought this could be an offer of peace, as nations in antiquity often gave their inhabitants in marriage as a peace treaty. Whatever the reason, Balaam s plan succeeds. Next, we read P a g e 29 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Take all the leaders of the people and hang the offenders before the Lord, out in the sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel." 5 So Moses said to the judges of Israel, "Every one of you kill his men who were joined to Baal of Peor." Now this extreme circumstance calls for extreme measures from the Lord. This judgment is beyond anything we have seen before from God. He asks Moses to hang the offender s bodies before the sun.

30 And Moses tells the judges, the leaders here, to put their own hands to this punishment. This is a horrible scene here for a horrible crime. This is not only the people committing sexual immorality, but it is a breach of the covenant. P a g e 30 This new generation of Hebrews will have this day as a landmark day to refer back to, to understand the severity of the Lord. They will have the gruesome pictures of these offenders dead bodies hanging before the hot desert sun. They will understand the severity of the covenant with God. As long as they kept their end of the deal, no harm would come to them, when they broke the covenant God Himself would come against them. We see every person who was yoked together with the false god Baal, was to be surgically removed from the congregation.

31 These people were a cancer to the whole body and needed to be dealt with immediately. They were to be openly and publically dealt with. P a g e 31 Understand, Jericho is right across the way here, they are on the cusp of going into the promise land, and here is where they commit the most heinous of all their sins to date. And the call is for the judges to kill their own people. The whole population was now in danger of God s judgment. And this may perhaps seem pretty harsh, but we will get an idea of the blatant disregard of God within this rebellion next 6 And indeed, one of the children of Israel came and presented to his brethren a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. 7 Now when Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose from among the congregation and took a

32 P a g e 32 javelin in his hand; 8 and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stopped among the children of Israel. 9 And those who died in the plague were twenty-four thousand. As we will see in verse 14, this man Zimri was a leader of tribe of Simeon. He not only attended the pagan feast with the Midianite priestess named Cozbi, he brought her back to the holy camp of Israel to the center of their worship. While Moses and the children of Israel were weeping at the tabernacle, this man presented this seductress to his brethren. And this flagrant scene seems to take place within the tabernacle. It seems perhaps this in fact all took place in the Tent of Meeting.

33 These two prominent leaders perhaps thought they had some kind of privilege within the camp. P a g e 33 They take Cozbi s form of pagan worship into the tent of meeting. This is a highhanded deliberate sin. Aaron s grandson Phinehas rose up, and in a righteous act, thrust them both through. And the description of the killing, shows one was on top of the other, seemingly performing one of these sexual rites. Now, I do not know how this man could have thought this was okay. Perhaps because this woman was royalty and he thought on his own he could bring these two nations together and consummate their relationship in the worship place of the Most High God. Whatever the reasoning, the faith filled Phinehas proved is faith by his works, and it will be accounted to him as righteousness.

34 It is one thing to be called by God into the ministry, and another to walk in that calling. Phinehas by birthright was given the title priest, but here he operates in the office of priest. It is possible to be called of God, and never step into that calling fully. P a g e 34 And here because Phinehas believed, he performs heroically to stop this plague, he will receive a special covenant with the Lord. 10 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 11 "Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned back My wrath from the children of Israel, because he was zealous with My zeal among them, so that I did not consume the children of Israel in My zeal. 12 Therefore say, 'Behold, I give to him My covenant of peace; 13 and it shall be to him and his descendants after him a covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel.'" Now Phinehas did not act out of selfish motives here.

35 He had no idea God had a great reward and promise for the man who defended His Holiness. Phinehas motive was pure here. P a g e 35 And because of this he receives a special reward from the Lord, an everlasting priesthood for himself and his decedents. Phinehas was motivated by his zeal for God s Law. And because he spilled the blood of the sinner within the camp, that blood atoned for the children of Israel. Because the sinner was put to death, the normal animal sacrifice was unnecessary. Blood was spilt. Notice Phinehas in his zeal did not go on murder spree in hot anger. His only motive was the defense of God s honor, and he precisely avenges God s holiness on the one who deserves it. And because he represented God so rightly, it seems this covenant secures the high priesthood for Phinehas.

36 P a g e 36 But we see 24,000 lay dead because of the plague sent through the camp because of this heinous compromise. And next, we see that indeed these offenders were leaders within their communities. 14 Now the name of the Israelite who was killed, who was killed with the Midianite woman, was Zimri the son of Salu, a leader of a father's house among the Simeonites. 15 And the name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Cozbi the daughter of Zur; he was head of the people of a father's house in Midian. 16 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 17 "Harass the Midianites, and attack them; 18 for they harassed you with their schemes by which they seduced you in the matter of Peor and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a leader of Midian, their sister, who was killed in the day of the plague because of Peor." God commands an attack on the Midianites, which will take place in chapter 31.

37 P a g e 37 So last time we were together we spoke of the way of Balaam as discussed by Peter in 2 Peter 2:15-16 which is warning to watch out for false teachers. We also discussed the error of Balaam, from Jude 11, which was the false teaching of a works based faith. And here in Chapter 25 of Numbers we see the third New Testament lesson from this story of Balaam, to beware of the doctrine of Balaam. Jesus told the church in Pergamos Rev 2:14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. You know we live in a pluralistic society, that tells you that there is no absolute truth. And we live in such a promiscuous and perverted culture. Sex outside of marriage is celebrated; twisted ideas of marriage are promoted.

38 P a g e 38 God s holy institution of marriage being between one man and one woman is mocked and diminished. And much of our culturally relevant church today, has allowed false teachers to come in with this doctrine of Balaam, to compromise to the culture. The Doctrine of Balaam today comes through teachers who teach that the grace of God gives you freedom to sin. The Doctrine of Balaam is the deceptive message that it is permissible for Christians to live like the world to reach the world. But any kind of teaching that makes you feel like it is okay to sin or compromise is false doctrine. And many peddle this doctrine today because their greed is great, and when they scratch itching ears the carnal person flocks to listen. When the teacher appeals to the flesh of man, they will be celebrated and praised. But the Word of God is clear

39 P a g e 39 1 Tim 6:3-5 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. Listen, Satan uses the doctrine of Balaam in our seductive culture today to captivate the heart of many church-goers. He uses pornography to poison the purity in a godly marriages bedroom. His seductress now avail themselves at the tip of our fingers on our phones. And once those pictures start to overwhelm your heart and mind, you throw all reason out the door. Many within the church even bring the filth of their secret lives in the house of the Lord.

40 They have mingled unholy with holy. The world will tell you all is well, Baal worship is still here today. P a g e 40 I cannot tell you how many young men who I have seen forsake their entire Christian heritage for the sake of a seductress; they sell their souls for moments of pleasure and ecstasy. They forsake all reason and walk the fatal path of compromise, there is no amount of pleading, warning, or cautioning. They throw every word of wisdom to the wind, as they follow their passions. And in the end, it leads to death. There is only one way to find freedom, because sexual desires, and perversions put a stronger hold on the heart then heroin or crack. It is only by availing yourself to the mercy of God, pleading with him to help with the duplicity you have allowed in your life.

41 P a g e 41 Perhaps your outside is holy, as you lift your hands to a holy God in worship, but your insides are as foul as Zimri the Baal worshipper. You have justified your sexual cravings, and accepted your hidden sins. But you will find in the end it will be your demise. Compromise is not the new morality as many suggest today. God s Word says to the compromised church Rev 2:16 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. Repent this evening if this is your struggle, make an appointment with one of the pastors if you must. The only way to be free of the guilt and shame of the perversity within your heart is to repent and turn form it. Now, for the rest of us, who are in a fight daily with our flesh.

42 P a g e 42 We must be as Phinehas was, quick and decisive when it comes to sin in our camp. When that temptation comes your way you must not give room for it to metastasize in your life. You must take any weapon available to you and thrust that Zimri and Cozbi through. Sometimes our weapons are prayer, getting quickly into God s Word, or a huge weapon in our arsenal is confession and accountability. You know, Jess and I came out of a really perverse lifestyle. Sex and drugs went hand and hand. When I came to Christ, those perversities were harder to overcome then my drug addictions. But I will tell you early on, for Jess and I, we would confess to one another our struggles, and we would hold each other accountable. I found being honest with my wife turned out to be the greatest strength for me.

43 P a g e 43 Maybe you have hidden your compromise from your spouse, you think you are getting away with it, be challenged tonight to confess to them. My wife to this day is still my accountability partner, we still confess our struggles with each other. Listen, I don t care who you are, in our immoral society, every believer should have an accountability person, if you are not married, find a trustworthy partner. When people think they are above accountability, it is not long before they fall. 1 Cor. 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. Remember compromise on Holiness is the Doctrine of Balaam, be vigilant like Phinehas to put to death the deeds of the flesh. Please know too, your struggle is not unique, we are here to come along side of you if the Lord is revealing anything to you tonight.

44 Come up for prayer, or like I said call the office and make an appointment to meet with a pastor. Well, I would like to remind you during this last song the elders will be available for any prayer need you have tonight. Please come up and pray whatever you are going through tonight. Let us pray P a g e 44