GODS DIRECTION FOR OUR LIFE: Balaam & His Donkey!

My question today is ‘are we opening our eyes to the direction God wants us to go, or are we going our own way?’

I. WE MUST OPEN OUR EYES TO GODS DIRECTION A. At first Balaam was just guided out of the way 1. God tries to guide us in directions 2. We feel we should be in control 3. Illustration 1: Parents love their teenagers, and when they decide they want something they do not need or shouldn’t have, they guide them to the correct path. 4. GOD GUIDES US AS A LOVING PARENT 5. Romans 8:14 – "For as many as are led by the spirit of God, they are the sons of God" B. Then the animal added pain by smashing his foot 1. God sometimes will allow adversity 2. We fight and say it is unfair 3. Illustration 2: If the initial guidance fails, the parent may resort to some kind of deterrent like grounding or restriction. 4. GOD DISCIPLINES AS A LOVING PARENT 5. Job 5:17 says, "Behold, Happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty" or God blesses you by correcting you, so don’t get upset with Him. C. Finally the animal stopped walking and lay down 1. Eventually God will let you go your own way 2. This happens when we insist on being in control 3. Illustration 3: Once parents have done all they can to lead in the right direction, sometimes they step aside. Not because they stop loving their child, but they are willing to allow a child to make a mistake in hopes that the child will learn a lesson. This is very hard for parents because they want to embrace and protect the child, like God wants to embrace and protect us. 4. GOD DOES NOT CONTEND 5. Genesis 6:3 says, "…My Spirit will not always strive with man…" 6. Strive: to struggle in opposition Transitional statement: Not only does God lead us if we allow Him, but…

II. WE MUST OPEN OUR EYES TO GOD’S POWER A. Balaam’s anger caused him to overlook God’s miracle 1. Can you imagine what you would do if an animal SPOKE to you? 2. We ask how could he have taken such a miracle so nonchalantly 3. We are so fixed on ourselves that we usually pay no attention to God a) Childbirth / seeing life brand new b) Nature / trees, plants and animals c) Life itself / we are not here by accident, we are a miracle d) It is said by scientists that if you took the information going on in your body and put it into book form, the pages would be so many they would fill the Grand Canyon.



Transitional statement: As much as God has taken the responsibility to guide us, we have a responsibility as well…

III. WE MUST OPEN OUR EYES TO GOD’S GUIDANCE A. The Truth was there all along, Balaam just chose not to see it B. THERE IS NO ONE SO BLIND, AS HE WHO CHOOSES NOT TO SEE C. His stubbornness had kept his eyes closed 1. Is your stubbornness keeping your eyes closed to the truth? a) Romans 2:5 says, "But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed" b) STUBBORNESS IS THE PROBLEM c) Stubborn: hard to convince, persuade, or move to action 2. Do you intentionally close your eyes, so that you can have your own way?

Conclusion: Optional Illustration: Have you ever seen ‘Cops’, the television show? They run up to someone’s front door, and kick right through it. That is the same way we choose to proceed in life sometimes. Instead of allowing God to open doors for us, we choose to kick the doors down ourselves. But it is a lot harder to put a door back up, than it is to kick it down. In life we should look toward the doors God is opening for us, instead of trying to impose our own will by kicking the doors we want down.

Balaam fought to get his own way. If he had continued going his own way it would have led to his destruction. God is trying to lead us; He has a plan for our lives. If we are fighting His will to get our own way, then we are bound for destruction as well. Satan is standing, sword in hand, ready to entice you into the wrong direction, and destroy you. God’s plan for all of us is to diligently follow Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. His entire direction for our lives can be found in His Holy Word.

 

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Remember Lot's Wife

Genesis 19:12-17/PARAPHRASE/

1. Lk. 17:22-37: The false security of the ungodly exposes them to sudden destruction and judgment ("the days of the Son of Man"). 2. Remember Lot’s wife (17:32): She minded earthly things and disregarded God’s warning (17:33) -- Salt. 3. Remember: To keep in mind, keep in memory, always thoughtful of. 4. Why remember Lot’ wife? Gen. 19:17 a. Escape for your life: Must escape sin to avoid eternal death. b. Do not look behind you or stay anywhere in the plain (don’t look back): Cut ties with sinful past. (Rom. 6:2) c. Escape to mountains (or be consumed): Place of refuge in Christ. 5. Things to be learned from Lot’s wife (Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:11).

I. GOD’S PLAN IS SIMPLE 1 Jno. 5:3. (Heb. 1:2; Matt. 17:5; Jno. 14:6; 8:32; 7:17; Eph. 5:17; 3:4 A. Leave this Wicked and Sinful World, 1 Jno. 5:19; Gal. 1:4; 1 Jno. 2:15; 2 Cor. 6:17. B. Come to Christ, Jno. 10:9; Matt. 11:28-30; Rom. 8:1; Eph. 1:7 (cf. Psa. 9:9-10). C. How? Plain and Simple: 1. Hear...Romans 10:17 2. Believe...John 3:16, Mk. 16:15-16; Gal. 3:26-27 3. Repentance, Acts 2:38 } Baptism 4. Confession, Acts 8:36-37; Rom. 10:9-10 ) 5. Be Baptized...Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, Romans 6:1-6

II. OUR OBEDIENCE IS NECESSARY 2 Cor. 5:7 (Heb. 11:6); 2 Pet. 1:5; 1 Cor. 16:13. A. To Leave the World of Sinful Pleasures, Heb. 11:24-26; 1 Cor. 6:9-11. B. To Leave a False Religion, Gal. 1:13-14. C. To Leave Family for Christ’s Sake, Matt. 10:34-37. D. To Look Forward and not Backward, Phil. 3:13-14.

III. WE MUST OBEY THE BIBLE COMPLETELY Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 10:33; Jas. 2:10. A. God’s Grace is obtained by an Obedient Faith, Titus 2:10-11. B. Lot’s Wife did Part of What God Said. 1. Left city...but looked back – Might as well have stayed in the city! (Lev. 10:1-3) 2. Convince ourselves that we are doing some things right--Okay! a. Plan of salvation ("Believe + Repent + Confess faith...but not baptism!"). b. Worship: Can pray, L.S., sing, give, & still be vain if don’t have proper heart, John 4:24. c. Attend/ prayer/study/moral … some of the time, Rev. 3:15-16. 3. God’s grace requires our complete obedience.

IV. KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE (GOAL) A. On Christ, Heb. 12:1-2 (Lk. 6:40; Col. 3:10). B. On Heaven, Col. 3:1-4; Heb. 11:10, 13-16. -Don’t turn back to the world and its sin, 2 Pet. 2:20-22.

V. UNDERSTAND THE CONSEQUENCES OF DISOBEDIENCE Gen. 19:26; Gal. 6:7-8; Heb. 2:1-3. -Punishment is swift, certain and inescapable (1 Ths. 5:2-3)

VI. FLEE TO SAFETY! 2 Tim. 2:22 -Ungodly entertainment -Drugs -Fornication -Social drinking -(Every form of evil, 1 Ths. 5:22)

Conclusion 1. The swift and certain nature of divine judgment (Lk. 17:32). 2. Leave sin: Don’t look back…Flee to safety (or be consumed)! 3. Remember Lot’s wife!

Ear today and Gone tomorrow: Healing of Malchus’ Ear

Temper...temper

I. OBSERVATION

A. Luke 22:47-53

Luke 22:47-53 (ESV) - While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, "Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?" 49 And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said, "No more of this!" And he touched his ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness."

1. Although the other writers mention the event, Luke is the only one who records the miracle. (Matt 26:51; Mark 14:43f; John 18:10)

2. Of course Luke is the Doctor...He wanted to show the ear being healed

B. Progression Stated: Logical

C. Presentation Summarized:

1. Context

a) Will we see Malchus in heaven? Probably. b) How do we know his name is Malchus? John tells us 50 years later which might indicate that he was part of the early church.

John 18:10 (ESV) – Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.)

c) This is the only external wound that Jesus heals.

2. Content

a. A quick thought 22:49

1. Shall we strike with the sword? The disciples wanted to defend Jesus and themselves. 2. I’m sure they were confused by Jesus’ lack of defense or attempt to escape.

b. A quick temper 22:50 (hmm...Peter maybe?)

*John 18:10 tells us that Peter is the one who strikes with his sword. Perhaps the others are asking and Peter is acting. Why don’t Matt, Mark and Luke mention Peter? John writes after the destruction of Jerusalem. The others wrote before. Maybe it would have caused harm to Peter.

*Jesus had just told Peter that he would deny Him, but here we see Peter standing up for Jesus. Luke points out that it is just a piece of the right ear. Perhaps this shows us that by ourselves we can accomplish nothing - except to make matters worse.

c. A quick touch 22:51 1. Matt records that all those who live by the sword, die by the sword. 2. If you think that is the way you will be protected, then you are wrong. 3. Jesus tells Peter to put away the sword. 4. It is part of the need of the suffering Messiah. 5. He had the power to escape but the purpose to stay. 6. Understand what the Christian Armor truely is!!! (Ephesians 6:10-19)

  II. INTERPRETATION

A. The Son of Man(Jesus) must suffer the cross. B. He could have escaped, but his purpose was to die. C. The arrest did not take Jesus by surprise. It was a part of the plan.

1. ...Jesus...really? Judas? Are you kissing me right now? Really? 2. ...I’m sure Jesus had no idea that this was going to happen(sarcasm) 3. Jesus gets arrested? He’s gonna get crucified?



 

III. APPLICATION

A. Zeal without knowledge can be disastrous. B. Attention to the Lord’s instruction, keeps from being the Lord’s obstruction. - This means that we do what God asks of us, so that we don’t become part of the problem. C. The Kingdom of God is not established by the sword.

 

 

The Mount Carmel Experience

Introduction:

A. The background of today’s mountaintop experience takes place in Northern Israel where the land has been under a God-induced drought—initiated by an announcement from Elijah (1 Kgs 17:1). 1. After 3 years of drought, the Word of the Lord came to Elijah to go and show himself to Ahab, king of Israel. 2. According to Obadiah, a godly man who feared God, Ahab had searched every Home, warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse, and doghouse looking for Elijah because he was the one who had announced the drought.

1 Kings 18:17,18 - When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, "Is it you, you troubler of Israel?" 18 And he answered, "I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father's house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals.

2. You are the one who has gone after the idols. Stop shifting the blame." 3. Isn’t it true that when something goes wrong—we tend to want to blame others? 4. I don’t know all of your problems or who is to blame for them. 5. But I can tell you this: We can always find the solution to your drought.C. On Mount Carmel, Elijah challenged the citizens of Israel to compare gods. 1. The prophets of Baal confronted Elijah, the challenge was for the people. 2. They needed to see: worshipping Baal was a waste; serving God was productive. 3. They had a real problem and must discover the real solution to their drought.

D. Our Father in Heaven is a God who wants to be loved. He wants our heart, mind, soul, and strength to be completely dedicated to Him. 1. But far too often, God gets the leftovers while we serve Him up as dessert. 2. And while we do, we are left to rely upon our own limited resources. Phil. 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 1. But God doesn’t give up. No, if we’re willing, God leads us up the mount of examination so that a comparison can be made between Him and the thing(s) that steal our attention from Him. E. As we climb up Mount Carmel I want to share with you a "4step process" to making a comparison between the idols we serve and the God we should be serving.

1. Identify Your Life-Stealing Crutch (vv. 20,21)

1 Kings 18:20,21 - So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." And the people did not answer him a word.

A. Once the people came together, Elijah asks a question that cut into the heart of the problem: "How long will you go limping between two opinions?" (lit. "hobble on two crutches") 1. The picture that Elijah paints is of a person who cannot stand on his own

two feet. 2. He relies upon something to prop him up. But he spends more time hobbling back and forth between two leaning posts than he actually spends in propping himself up.

B. The Israelites they kept hobbling back and forth between two gods, leaning on whichever one would satisfy their present need. 1. Elijah tells them to make a decision, "If Jehovah is God, follow Him. If Baal is god, follow him." 2. We all need to be reminded when we are guilty of limping between two opinions. Jesus did this many times: Matthew 6:24 - You cannot serve money and God at the same time. Matthew 16:24 You cannot serve the world and your soul at the same time. Matthew 10:37- You cannot serve yourself and Jesus at the same time. Mark 7:9 - You cannot serve your traditions and the commands of God at the same time. Matthew 16:23 - But perhaps the most challenging statement of Jesus in this regard is after Peter forbid Jesus from going to Jerusalem to be crucified.

3. Peter was limping between two opinions— between what Jesus wanted & what he wanted. 4. His personal desires were making him an adversary and hindrance to Jesus.

C. Any emotion, thought, object, grudge, or person can potentially become a god that hinders our complete dedication to Jesus. 1. Whatever it is—if it hasn’t done it already— it will steal your dedication, your time, your effort, and your life away from God. 2. That’s what idolatry does to the soul. 3. So, you need to Identify the Crutch (your idol) that is stealing you away from God.

2. Propose a Challenge for your Crutch (vv. 22-25) A. Elijah proposed a challenge before all of the Israelites. 1. In the minds of the Baal sympathizers, the challenge was in their favor. 2. Baal had 450 prophets, Jehovah had 1. 3. They got to choose two bulls and then they got to pick the best of the two. 4. They got to go first and use as much time as they needed to call for Baal’s response. 5. The challenge was extended and the challenge accepted. And for just a short period of time God’s grace suspended His perfect will so that He could remind Israel that He was their God.

B. God got a hand-me-down altar, a rejected bull, and the second time slot—leftovers. 1. This is the God who said "Do not put God to the test" (Deut. 6:16). 2. God allowed Himself to be a subject of testing and comparison for Israel’s benefit. 3. God’s grace is real and far more reaching than we often give grace credit. Deut. 6:16 - It is a sin to test God. 4. It is unthinkable to degrade God to lab-rat like testing (Is. 46:5). But by His grace, C. God urges us to compare His greatness against anything and everything for the purpose of seeing His greatness. 1. That’s why God told the Jews test Him (Mal. 3:10)…to see what God will do. 2. That’s why Jesus performed miracles—to prove that He was God (Acts 2:22). 3. That’s why the apostles performed miracles—to affirm God’s message (Mk. 16:20). 4. That’s why God urges us to measure our crutches vs. Him—to see that He is God.

D. I propose that we need to be in the habit of measuring all of our crutches against God. 1. Do you idolize possessions? Measure them against God and see what you get.

2. Do you idolize your ambitions? Measure them against God and see what you get. 3. Do you idolize your lusts? Measure them against God and see what you get. 4. Do you idolize yourself? Measure them against God and see what you get. 5. If we would simply take the crutches that we lean upon and compare them against the God upon whom we should solely lean, we’d all be holier, stronger in faith, and not hypocritical.

 

3. Let the True God Speak for Himself (vv. 26-38)

A. What happens next is unreal. If it wasn’t so sad it would been funny (vv. 26-29). 1. For six hours, the prophets of Baal cried, But there was no Answer. a) They danced around the altar, they even cut themselves to testify of their faith. b) But no one ever answered. – BECAUSE Baal was not real!!! c) When Baal’s prophets’ voices fell silent... 2. Then it was God’s turn (vv. 30-38). a) Elijah repaired a broken altar, using 12 stones that represented 12 tribes of Israel. b) He dug a trench around the altar and poured in 7 quarts of seed. c) He placed the wood on the altar and then the bull. d) Then he poured 12 jars of water and soaked the entire offering. 3. Elijah then offered a simple threepoint prayer to ask for God’s intercession (36,37)

1 Kings 18:36, 37 - And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, "O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, 1.let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that 2.I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have 3.turned their hearts back." a) No sooner than Elijah finished his prayer, fire fell from heaven and consumed all of the contents of the altar down to the water that had flooded the trench. God had answered

B. Whenever you compare Idols to God, you want the examination to speak for itself. 1 Kings 18:24 - And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God." And all the people answered, "It is well spoken." 1. Consider applying a few probing questions for your evaluation: a) Does the offering of dedication to your God make sense? 1. It made sense to Elijah because God told him what to do. 2. The offering couldn’t make any sense for the prophets of Baal because they had nothing but their own imagination to guide them. 3. Dedication to God makes sense because He gives you direction. Isaiah. 43:11 - I am the Lord, and besides me there is no Savior!

C. God will always make sense, promote goodness, and return His Blessings.

Baal couldn’t offer that. The prophets of Baal had blinded themselves into believing a lie and convinced an entire nation of a lie. They even mutilated themselves because of it.

You will know that you have become dedicated to an idol if anything to which you cling can or can potentially ruin you and your relationship with others. (2 Pt. 2:19)

Which God demands more effort in which to trust?

It took an insane amount of blind faith to be dedicated to Baal. Not so for Elijah. He knew exactly who he was serving, when and how he should.

When you dedicate yourself to God you will always know what to give and how to give it.

Which God gives you a sustainable return on your investment?

The prophets of Baal heard nothing from their god. I’m sure they were well-fed, wealthy, and commended by Ahab and Jezebel, but nothing sustaining.

If you give yourself to God, He will give Himself to you. (Jn. 16:23)

As human beings, we have a natural instinct to serve something. It may be ourselves. It may be our lusts. It may be money or possessions. It may be our jobs. And in some natural and fleshly way they may make sense…temporarily, but if you dedicate your entire being to the God of Heaven, He will always make sense, promote goodness for your life, and return His sustaining blessings upon you.

 

4. Prove Yourself to the True God (vv. 39,40)

1 Kings 18:39,40 - And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, "The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God." 40 And Elijah said to them, "Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape." And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there. A. The Israelites needed to prove themselves to God. 1. As soon as the Israelites saw the demonstration of God, they fell on their faces. 2. They cried, "The Lord He is God; the Lord, He is God." 3. Elijah ordered the prophets of Baal to be executed per the command of God (Deut. 17:2-7)

B. God proved...that He is GOD. 1. If the Israelites were sincere in their repentance, they needed to prove themselves to God. They did this in a two-fold fashion: A) They admitted that God is alive—the people fell to the ground and cried out, "The Lord He is God, the Lord, He is God!" B) They purged the 450 prophets of Baal as instructed.

C. Was it true repentance? 1. Admit that God is the only True God and purge the source of your problem. 2. On your list, circle which God is the God that you should be dedicated to? 3. Once you circle it, answer this: Are you completely dedicated to Christ? 4. Why not admit that He is the true God and purge yourself from any and all idols that have stolen your dedication away from Him.