I have been wanting to place these thoughts about Balaam's downward spiral on this blog for quite some time now, and I am finally just going to make the time to do it...
I have found this stuff to be facinating as I have come across it while studying for a message from a series I did on the Seven Churches in Revelation, chapters 2 & 3. When I came to the 3rd Church, Pergamos, I found it...the Doctrine of Balaam. We remember him from the Old Testament and his talking donkey; but there is so much more that we rarely catch. Hopefully these next few blogs will catch some of us up on his ways and teachings that seem to still be creeping their way into the Church at large in 2008...
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1. The WAY of Balaam
2 Peter 2:15 - …forsaking the right way they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness…
You see, Balaam typifies all of us who try to pressure and persuade God into our plans…
-So that we can do what we want to do? Have you been there?
-And while we rationalize what we are wanting to do…we are giving in to compromise…and ultimately, the devil!
Church, the “way of Balaam” refers to those who nag God into letting them do what they want to do…even in direct opposition to His will and purpose.
It means that you are going YOUR WAY instead of GOD’S WAY!
And, God will permit it, only because you have “free will.”
But, listen to the truth in this one passage… Proverbs 14:12 - There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
2 Peter 2:15 - …forsaking the right way they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness…
You see, Balaam typifies all of us who try to pressure and persuade God into our plans…
-So that we can do what we want to do? Have you been there?
-And while we rationalize what we are wanting to do…we are giving in to compromise…and ultimately, the devil!
Church, the “way of Balaam” refers to those who nag God into letting them do what they want to do…even in direct opposition to His will and purpose.
It means that you are going YOUR WAY instead of GOD’S WAY!
And, God will permit it, only because you have “free will.”
But, listen to the truth in this one passage… Proverbs 14:12 - There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
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I know this is a very short synopsis of it, but more is to come. However, in your spare time read up on the history of Balaam, and see just how he handles his temptation. Check it out in Numbers 22.
I leave you with one thought in Balaam's story that can be applied to us all...
“Any praying about the known will of God is rebellion against God!”
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