Balaam
Okay, let’s look at this Bible character named Balaam, who is probably in hell today, to see if we can learn what not to do as leaders.
The Word of God is wonderful, in that it tells the truth, and we can learn from even bad examples, what not to do.
Ps 19: 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes….
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
Here we see the end of the story, Balaam the prophet, being killed by the people of God:
Numbers 31:8 And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.
Joshua 13:22 Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.
Question is, why did God have Balaam killed?
Num 13:
15 And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive?
16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.
17 Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.
Numbers 31:16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.
What was the counsel of Balaam?
Jude 1:11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
Here we see the error of Balaam, and his motive. He was greedy, and sold out the gift of God for reward.
Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
Yet, here, we see what he did, he counseled the enemy of God to tempt the people of God, to eat food sacrificed to idols, and to have sexual relationships out of marriage.
Numbers 25:1 ¶ And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.
2 And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.
3 And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.
Deuteronomy 23:4 Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.
Deuteronomy 23:5 Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee.
Joshua 24:9 Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you:
Joshua 24:10 But I would not hearken unto Balaam; therefore he blessed you still: so I delivered you out of his hand.
Nehemiah 13:2 Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.
Micah 6:5 O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.
2 Peter 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Jude 1:11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
So, we see it. Balaam, the prophet, the one who heard and knew the voice of God, sold out his gift for money and position. It cost him his life, and he is eternally in hell today.
What he did is amazingly wicked!
Three times Balak hired him to curse the children of Israel, and 3 times, God flowed through him pronouncing a blessing instead of his intended curse. Had he been smart and righteous, he should have left Balak, and joined the people of God, and won every battle, and lived for God.
Yet, he got greedy. Obviously, the Midianites and Moabites had material wealth, and he wanted him some of it.
He was once a broke prophet, living peacefully in his hut, now he has kings knocking at his door.
So what does he do?
He knows that God is holy, and cannot lie. In fact, he had even prophesied it: Nu 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
20 Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.
21 He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.
22 God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.
23 Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!
Do you see it?
God was with Israel! His manifest presence, His glory, His power, His blessing, His anointing, and surely the host of heaven, angel armies protecting His people.
Yet, in this verse we see why.
The children of Israel are living according to the law of God. They are fully separated unto Him, so that the prophet, by the Spirit of God proclaimed: ‘He beheld no iniquity in Jacob, nor has he seen perverseness in Israel’
Holiness produced power!
Fully obedient people, were met, blessed, protected, delivered and prospered by the person and presence of the living God, Creator of heaven and earth!
Here is where amazing wickedness occurred:
Balaam knew God, and knew His word. He saw this by the Holy Spirit, and knew that the people of God, with God, were unstoppable.
So what does he do? He counsels Balak, to throw a party for the men of Israel. Get your best delicacies cooking, and the prime cuts of meat that you have sacrificed to your gods, demon spirits. Then, get your women dressed seductively, and have them seduce the men of God, and have sex with them.
When you do, God Himself will withdraw from His people, and will destroy them Himself.
This he did, and Scripture records:
Number 23: 16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.
Now, what are we to learn from this today?
We, that bear the holy offices of God, five-fold ministry gifts, set into the earth to train, equip, and edify the people of God, the Body, the Bride of Christ.
Well, we are to prepare a holy bride for Jesus: one without spot or wrinkle.
Jas 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
God is still holy, and again I find myself stuck on this theme.
I am convinced that a holy, obedient people, in the hands of our God is unstoppable.
Strong, healthy, wealthy, blessed, joyful, loving, victorious in the trials of life!
Yet, how many of us fail the money test?
We get an extra couple of dollars, and we spend it watching a worldly movie, or attending a worldly event.
We say: ‘Father, if You give me an extra $50 this week, I will spend it on (missions, orphans, our ministry building program, or whatever financial need is before us in the kingdom), yet we flunk the prosperity test.
God gives the money, and instead of using it for the work of God, we go out whoring with the world.
Does God give prosperity?
Yes!
Deut 8:18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
Money with a mission, wealth given to establish His covenant in the earth, or in this dispensation, the gospel.
Mr 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
Ro 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Ga 5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
1Ti 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
Do I preach prosperity?
Yes!
I cannot see in the word of God, anywhere that people of God, fully serving God, were not prospered.
Yet, beware the sin of Balaam.
That is compromising the Word of God, in any area, for financial gain.
To whom much is given, much is required.
In my life, I have withdrawn for many great business opportunities, simply because I do not feel strong enough in my office and calling, to take the chance of mixing ministry and business. I fear God, and seek purity of heart and holiness, and I am coming out of the business world, having stepped again into full time ministry.
My message will always be, holiness unto the Lord, be pure, and ALL IN, 100% sold out to Jesus, without compromise. I will use all of my position,, influence, words, wealth, and teaching to promote only the cause of Christ, for I feel that the time is short, and there is no time to do anything else in these last days.
Yet, I have seen the sin of Balaam at work, yea even here in Tulsa, Oklahoma, bless the holy city.
I drove a friend home from Friday night prayer one night, and he lives in an apartment complex, known for weekend partying and gang activity. This man is sold out for Jesus, and is doing great things in reaching people with the gospel. As we drove, he shared his vision of raising up a strong ministry in the North side of Tulsa, to reach youth for Christ.
When we pulled into his parking lot, full of the Holy Ghost and fire, I rolled down my window as four youth with a case of beer on one guys shoulder, were approaching the truck, obviously on their way to party somewhere. So, I called out to them: ‘Hey, my friend and I were talking about getting some sort of ministry going around here, that would be relevant to your lives, to reach you for Jesus, what do you think would work?’
Now I wouldn’t try this approach in an area other than Tulsa, where there are 1400 or so churches, and many Christian television and radio stations. You would think that everyone here, has at least heard the gospel, once.
Well, one of the guys, kind of gave me a dirty look, and kept walking, but the two girls with them approached the truck. One of them sat cross legged on the ground beside my driver’s window, and we began to talk.
She said: ‘Are you serious? Do you really want to know what it would take?”
I said, ‘Yes, tell me sister!”
She said, ‘I am 19 years old, pregnant with my third child. The first two children are from youth pastors who I slept with, who will not admit we had sex. I’m not saying that what I did was right, but if you want a ministry to reach youth here, in this community, you gotta solve the zipper problem with most of the ministers.’
Ah, the old fashioned Billy Graham statement comes alive:
‘As a man of God, don’t touch the girls, the gold, or the glory!’
Charisma does not equal character.
Balaam had charisma. Imagine if you will, the great pomp and ceremony, by which he built the alters of God, and ceremonially sacrificed before the Lord, the animals required. He had anointing. He had the gifts of the spirit. He had reputation as a prophet of God. He had a heavenly office.
Yet, he did not develop the character to carry the call.
Here is where I live: fighting daily, to watch over my words to fulfill them. Fighting to avoid any appearance of evil with women, money, or pride. To allow Holy Spirit to go deep inside my heart, searching my deepest motives, and transforming me, so that even my motives are right before the Lord.
I am not content to only do the right thing, but seek to do the right thing, for the right reason: that is for the glory and love of Jesus.
I shared my heart for a reason, man of God.
You are right there with me. The pressure, the subtle flirtatious innuendo’s of seductive women (yes, they are real, it’s not personal, it’s just demons working through carnal women, to destroy you and your ministry), the business deals and multi-level ‘opportunities’ that flood your inbox, the praise of flatterers testing you, are common to every leader, and you must not fail!
Proverbs 27:21 KJ21
As the refining pot for silver and the furnace for gold, so is a man tried by praise
Whether you are called in ministry, business, government, education, or media, whatever your vocation, holiness is the standard: a clean, pure life, free from sin.
Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.
Jesus spoke of the differences between hirelings and true shepherds who lovingly lay down their lives to protect God’s people:
But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
Be strong, courageous, pure, holy, and fulfill your heavenly office and calling, without compromise.
This is not a job, or any mere earthly vocation, but a heavenly office and calling.
Be the true shepherd you are created to be.
If you are compromised, let God forgive, purge, prune, and deliver you from your unhealthy relationships and business deals that make merchandise of the flock in your care.
I am not sure who this is for, my ramblings…but let’s pray:
‘Father, I pray for the brother or sister reading this today. May they fully consecrate to holiness, obedience, purity, and excellence of conduct, in whatever you have called them to do. Bring Your power, and truth, to extricate them from situations, relationships, business dealings, and distractions, that are contrary to Your will for their lives, that they might live, led by You, in purpose, passion, joy, and victory. I ask this, knowing I am heard, for I ask in Your name Lord Jesus, Amen.’
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