Hello friends and welcome
to 3ABN Fall Camp Meeting
00:00:48.31\00:00:51.88
here in Thompsonville/
West Frankfort, Illinois,
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here at the 3ABN Worship Center.
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We have been blessed already.
If you missed the last message,
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you've got to get a copy of it.
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Cherie Peters really shared
a wonderful, relevant message
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about the forgiveness of God.
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And we're going to
continue all day long.
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So if you're not too far away
and you can drive to get here
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we'd like to encourage
you because the weekend is
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building up. More
meetings this afternoon,
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tonight, and also tomorrow
is going to be a blessed
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Sabbath day. Can the people
of God say "Amen" to that? Amen!
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And so this morning
the message is entitled
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Baligamy... the
man with two gods.
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And I happen to be the presenter
and the one who's going to bring
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this message. But
before we do anything
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we're going to have some
music by one of our favorites:
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Jimmy Rhodes. He's going
to play a Camp Meeting medley.
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But before he does
that let's bow our heads
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and ask the presence of
God to continue with us.
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Heavenly Father, we
thank you for Your blessing.
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We know that we can
never be disappointed
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when we turn to you, Father,
and ask for You to empower us
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to do Your will.
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So come near to us now,
Father, and open our hearts.
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Empower our
minds. Give us clarity
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that Jesus may be heard
and His will may be done in us.
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In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
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Let's welcome Jimmy
Rhodes with a hearty "Amen. "
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Can you say
"Amen" to that? Amen.
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Amen!
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Can we say "Amen" again? Amen!
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I think I met Jimmy before.
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Have you ever heard of the
guy that's the one man band?
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Boy, that's amazing.
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On that last piece he
had to think trumpet note,
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keyboard note, and
bass note at the same time.
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I think you need
three brains for that.
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But praise the Lord...
what a wonderful blessing.
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Let's bow our
heads. Father in heaven,
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this is Your
message. Bring it to life
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and use it to intend Your
purpose to be accomplished.
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In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
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You know, when I put
this message together I was
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struggling about the title.
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It is: Baligamy,
the man with two gods.
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But I also was
tempted to entitle this sermon
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Dumb and Dumber.
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And you'll discover
why a little later on.
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If you've watched football
before, you'll discover that
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football is pretty
entertaining but it gets intense
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when the home team
is at the two-yard line
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and there are just a few
seconds left in the game.
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The defense really
bulks up to make sure
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that the home team does
not get that winning touchdown.
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Now brothers and sisters,
whether we know it or not
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we are using that illustration
to indicate that we are
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the home team.
We're at the two-yard line
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and there are just a few seconds
left in this game called life.
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And Satan is bulking up
to keep the people of God
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from making it in
for that final touchdown.
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But God is on our side.
Can you say "Amen" to that?
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Amen! And we are excited that
God is going to carry us in.
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But the battles are intensifying
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as we stand on the
border of the Promised Land.
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If you have your Bibles,
go with me to Deuteronomy
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this morning.
Deuteronomy chapter 10
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is the verse we're going
to use as our springboard
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but Numbers chapter 22
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is where our story
is going to come from.
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The entire illustration
for the message this morning
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entitled Baligamy...
the man with two gods.
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Deuteronomy chapter 10
and verse 12 reads as follows
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and I'm reading the
New King James version.
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The Word of the Lord
says: "And now Israel
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what does the
Lord God require of you
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but to fear the Lord your God?
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To walk in all His
ways and to love Him.
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To serve the Lord your God...
" With how much of your heart?
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All. "with all your
heart and with all your soul. "
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There is never a
more opportune time
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to attack the people of God
than on the day before they plan
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to enter the Promised Land.
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Such was the story recorded
here in the book of Numbers
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chapter 22. The
journey that they took
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was only supposed to
be eleven days long...
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but it became a
forty-year nightmare.
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From Egypt to Canaan was
only supposed to be eleven days
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but it became a
40-year wandering.
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What God never intended
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became the
experience of the people of God.
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I don't want to be in this earth
any longer than I have to be
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here. What do you say? Amen!
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But for many reasons that
are outlined in this story
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for whatever reason
we are on this earth
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much longer than God intended.
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When you look at
the journey of Israel
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it went through three phases.
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The first phase was revival:
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from Egypt to Mt.
Sinai where God established
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principles of
revival for 40+ days.
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They went from revival to
rebellion for the next 38 years.
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And I looked at
this. Thirty-eight years
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three months and 10 days.
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But just before they
entered the Promised Land
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God went through one more step:
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and that was the
step of reformation.
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And that's where Satan attacked
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with greater
intensity the people of God.
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God never intended
for it to take so long
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for the children of Israel
to enter the Promised Land.
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And God never intended for them
to have all the battles that
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they had. They had more battles
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than God ever
envisioned that they would have.
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Eleven days... forty years.
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Quite a bit more
battles than God ever intended.
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But the good news is
armies great and small attacked
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the people of God, but
when the battle was over
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the headlines
read: ISRAEL PREVAILED.
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On 28 separate occasions
you find the Bible gives the
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name of the nation
that Israel defeated.
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But before we get
into the message today
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I want to say this: I want
to make it very, very clear
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that the power to
prevail was not in Israel...
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it was in the
God of Israel. Amen.
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The power for us to win
our battles is not in us -
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not in our
strategies, not in our plans -
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it always lies
in the power of God.
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By the time you get
to Numbers chapter 21
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the Amorites notice that
nation after nation was falling
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when they attempted to bring
down the children of Israel
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and all of a sudden
they got very concerned.
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In Numbers 21 verse 24
you read these short words:
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"Israel defeated him
with the edge of the sword. "
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Now sometimes when you read
the Bible you've got to look up
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those phrases because they never
appear in the Bible arbitrarily.
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Any time you find a
phrase repeated 35 times
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there's a reason behind it.
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So I did the research, Monte,
and I looked up the phrase
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"edge of the sword.
" And I discovered that
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the edge of the sword is
the sharpest part of the weapon.
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The edge of the sword is the
strongest part of the weapon.
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So today we've got
the edge of the sword.
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As a matter of fact,
we've got something sharper
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than the edge of the
sword. Hebrews tells us in 4:12
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that "the Word of
God is quick and powerful
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and sharper than
ANY two-edged sword. "
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So the battle that they...
So the weapon that they used
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is not as powerful as the
weapon that God has given to us.
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What do you say? Amen.
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They stood firmly
in the Word of God
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and today we stand
firm in the Word of God.
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So it's not enough just to
have on the whole armor of God
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because the armor of God
includes the most powerful
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weapon... and that is
the Word of God and prayer.
00:12:39.76\00:12:42.95
So in these last days we've
got to have on the entire armor
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but we have to be skillful
in our use of the Word of God.
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And then even after that
we've got to keep praying.
00:12:50.99\00:12:52.89
What do you say? Amen!
00:12:52.99\00:12:54.36
From the time
that Israel left Sinai
00:12:54.48\00:12:56.42
Satan employed
whatever means he could
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to keep them from
entering the Promised Land.
00:12:59.60\00:13:01.87
Go with me to Numbers chapter 22
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and look at the
story as it unfolds.
00:13:04.03\00:13:05.91
It is amazing how
patient the devil really is.
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He waits his turn.
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He lays his trap.
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Outside of my window
just a few days ago...
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outside of our window I
should say because I'm not
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the only one that lives there...
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But I said to my wife:
"Honey, look at that spider. "
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A HUGE spider... and he was
just patiently spinning his web
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planning his breakfast menu,
00:13:30.89\00:13:32.74
his dinner menu, his lunch menu.
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And she says:
"Go knock it down. "
00:13:35.81\00:13:37.18
I said: "No, he's my friend.
00:13:37.21\00:13:38.58
He's going to eat the
mosquitoes and the flies. "
00:13:38.88\00:13:42.23
That's the kind of guy you want
on your side, what do you say?
00:13:42.43\00:13:44.67
And so I looked at
that and I realized
00:13:44.98\00:13:47.24
you know, the Bible talks about
"the snare of the fowler. "
00:13:47.35\00:13:51.07
Satan spins his web
and the bird doesn't know
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until it flies into
the snare of the fowler
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and is caught and
becomes a victim of the fowler.
00:13:57.98\00:14:00.97
But it takes time to spin a web.
00:14:01.27\00:14:03.05
And when you read the
story of the children of Israel
00:14:03.25\00:14:05.62
at the border of
the Promised Land
00:14:05.82\00:14:07.76
it took time for Satan to
plan strategically how he was
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going to attack them right at
the border of the Promised Land.
00:14:12.85\00:14:15.65
And he sought to employ somebody
00:14:15.75\00:14:18.05
that was
employed by God already.
00:14:18.25\00:14:20.60
Follow this very carefully.
00:14:21.13\00:14:22.50
Numbers chapter
22 verses 1 to 3.
00:14:22.86\00:14:25.20
The Bible says: "Then
the children of Israel
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moved and camped
in the plains of Moab
00:14:28.86\00:14:32.45
on the side of the
Jordan across from Jericho.
00:14:33.75\00:14:38.34
Now Balak the son of Zippor
00:14:38.98\00:14:41.23
saw all that Israel
had done to the Amorites.
00:14:42.34\00:14:45.84
And Moab was exceedingly...
" What's the next word?
00:14:46.93\00:14:50.02
Afraid. "afraid of the
people because they were many.
00:14:50.23\00:14:54.14
And Moab was sick with dread
00:14:54.44\00:14:57.52
because of the
children of Israel. "
00:14:57.72\00:15:00.57
Let me tell you
something, brethren:
00:15:00.77\00:15:02.14
the devil ought to be
afraid of the people of God.
00:15:02.20\00:15:04.08
What do you say? If the
devil's not afraid of us,
00:15:04.18\00:15:06.69
then we are not standing
where God wants us to stand.
00:15:06.89\00:15:09.11
The children of
Israel were only powerful
00:15:09.52\00:15:12.43
as they were faithful
because God does not empower
00:15:12.63\00:15:15.84
those that are not faithful.
00:15:15.94\00:15:17.31
So as long as they were faithful
they had the power of God.
00:15:17.69\00:15:20.29
Whenever they were not
faithful they had no power.
00:15:20.49\00:15:22.74
God did not work through
lives that were not determined
00:15:22.84\00:15:25.81
to be faithful.
00:15:26.02\00:15:27.39
When you read Numbers
chapter 22 and verse 4
00:15:27.59\00:15:29.53
you will discover that
Balak the king of Moab was
00:15:29.63\00:15:32.16
so afraid of the kingdom that
he possessed being destroyed
00:15:32.26\00:15:36.47
by the people of God
00:15:36.57\00:15:38.48
that he looks for someone
to curse the people of God.
00:15:38.59\00:15:43.15
The question is:
Who does he find?
00:15:44.09\00:15:45.97
Satan always finds someone will-
ing to curse the people of God.
00:15:46.97\00:15:51.91
Look at verses 5 to 6.
00:15:52.21\00:15:54.13
"Then he sent
messengers to Balaam
00:15:56.32\00:15:59.81
the son of Beor, at Pethor,
00:16:00.11\00:16:03.35
which is near the
river in the land of the sons
00:16:03.66\00:16:06.84
of his people to call him.
00:16:06.94\00:16:09.26
And he said:
'Look, a people has come
00:16:11.49\00:16:15.52
from Egypt. See, they
cover the face of the earth
00:16:15.72\00:16:18.75
and are settling next to me.
00:16:18.95\00:16:21.07
Therefore, please come at once.
00:16:21.37\00:16:24.64
Curse this people for me
00:16:24.84\00:16:27.36
for they are too mighty for me.
00:16:27.47\00:16:29.36
Perhaps I shall be able
to defeat them and drive them
00:16:29.56\00:16:33.07
out of the land.
00:16:33.17\00:16:34.73
For I know he whom
you bless is blessed
00:16:35.13\00:16:39.29
and he whom you
curse is cursed. ' "
00:16:39.59\00:16:43.86
You know sometimes...
and this is a solemn warning
00:16:44.16\00:16:47.81
to those who are in
positions of leadership...
00:16:47.91\00:16:49.75
God only gives His leaders
the ability and the privilege
00:16:50.05\00:16:54.66
to bless His
people. God never gives
00:16:54.86\00:16:57.43
those that He chooses
the ability or the blessing
00:16:57.63\00:17:01.03
or the power to
curse His people.
00:17:01.23\00:17:02.92
Am I right?
00:17:03.22\00:17:04.59
So whenever God
gives us the responsibility
00:17:04.79\00:17:07.02
what Balaam remembered
but had chosen to forget
00:17:07.22\00:17:09.92
that's why he was on
Balak's list... that's why
00:17:10.13\00:17:12.99
Balak sent him a text message.
00:17:13.09\00:17:14.46
He said: "There's somebody
that's willing to sell out. "
00:17:14.52\00:17:16.83
But Balaam knew that God made
a promise with His own people.
00:17:18.18\00:17:22.23
And He said: "I will
bless those who bless you
00:17:22.43\00:17:24.52
and I will curse
those who curse you. "
00:17:24.72\00:17:27.18
And this blessing
continued with the people of God
00:17:27.38\00:17:29.72
no matter where they went.
00:17:29.82\00:17:31.19
So even though
Balaam appeared to be
00:17:31.34\00:17:33.73
powerful, he was only
powerful when he was obedient
00:17:35.61\00:17:40.22
to the will of God.
00:17:40.42\00:17:41.79
We are only
powerful, we are only blessed
00:17:42.46\00:17:45.69
when we are
obedient to the will of God.
00:17:45.99\00:17:48.86
God never blesses us
when we step outside of the
00:17:49.16\00:17:52.40
will of God.
But... for some reason...
00:17:52.50\00:17:54.26
Balak sends and
calls for Balaam.
00:17:55.48\00:17:59.70
Look at verse 7 in chapter 22.
00:17:59.90\00:18:03.75
Disobedience always has a price.
00:18:06.12\00:18:08.61
"So the elders of Moab
and the elders of Midian
00:18:09.12\00:18:13.89
departed with... "
What? "the diviner's fee
00:18:14.19\00:18:19.37
in their hands.
00:18:19.57\00:18:21.00
And they came to
Balaam and spoke to him
00:18:21.21\00:18:23.58
the words of Balak. " I
saw that phrase "divier's fee"
00:18:23.78\00:18:27.82
and I came to the conclusion
there is no such thing as
00:18:27.93\00:18:30.74
sin without a price.
00:18:30.94\00:18:32.35
Any time somebody's
offering you money be careful
00:18:32.55\00:18:35.50
because they know that you
wouldn't do what they're asking
00:18:35.70\00:18:38.42
you to do for free.
00:18:38.52\00:18:39.89
Any time someone
offers you a price be careful
00:18:40.09\00:18:44.31
because they hope and they
are perceiving that you can be
00:18:44.51\00:18:47.43
bought. But what God needs today
is people that cannot be bought.
00:18:47.53\00:18:51.17
What do you say? Amen!
People that are true to God
00:18:51.37\00:18:53.78
no matter what the price...
00:18:53.88\00:18:55.66
because we are standing at
the border of the Promised Land
00:18:55.96\00:18:59.08
and once again Satan is
looking for somebody to buy.
00:18:59.18\00:19:02.66
So they stand there
with this diviner's fee
00:19:02.86\00:19:04.88
and Balaam knew the
answer before he asked God
00:19:04.98\00:19:06.78
the question. And they
came to Balaam asking him
00:19:06.88\00:19:08.88
"Now Balak has a concern
and he wants you to help him. "
00:19:09.08\00:19:11.62
And notice what
Balaam responds by doing.
00:19:11.83\00:19:16.30
He knew what God's answer
was before he would ask God
00:19:16.51\00:19:19.76
but notice what
he decides to do.
00:19:19.86\00:19:22.20
Verse 8:
00:19:22.50\00:19:24.59
"And he said to
them: 'Lodge here tonight
00:19:24.79\00:19:29.53
and I'll bring back word to
you as the Lord speaks to me. '
00:19:29.83\00:19:35.03
So the princes of
Moab stayed with Balaam. "
00:19:35.24\00:19:38.18
Now you know, if God
says something is wrong
00:19:38.38\00:19:40.52
on Tuesday it's going
to be wrong on Wednesday.
00:19:40.73\00:19:42.27
What do you think? You
don't need a good night's rest
00:19:42.37\00:19:44.77
to decide whether or not
God is going to change His mind
00:19:45.37\00:19:48.09
overnight. God is the same
yesterday, today, and how long?
00:19:48.20\00:19:51.58
Forever. And I can look back at
my life and one of the reasons
00:19:51.78\00:19:54.04
why I ended up where I was...
00:19:54.14\00:19:55.53
You see, in the church I
attended we had what we called
00:19:55.73\00:19:58.41
shared sin. Let me
explain what that is.
00:19:58.61\00:20:01.69
We had a 1,200 member church
and there were a lot of young
00:20:02.09\00:20:05.23
people in our church including
myself - including me -
00:20:05.33\00:20:08.12
that we shared
sin. We partied together
00:20:08.32\00:20:10.65
after the Sabbath ended.
00:20:10.85\00:20:12.22
We partied
together on Friday night.
00:20:12.25\00:20:14.15
So we covered each other's sins.
00:20:14.35\00:20:16.65
So we couldn't tell on
each other because we were all
00:20:16.85\00:20:18.54
in the very same camp.
00:20:18.64\00:20:20.01
Satan found
somebody that he could use.
00:20:20.20\00:20:22.21
But praise the Lord, where I was
00:20:22.41\00:20:25.01
I am no longer there.
What do you say? Amen.
00:20:25.21\00:20:27.84
Shared sin... partakers of sin.
00:20:28.07\00:20:31.66
Balaam knew what the
answer was before he even asked
00:20:31.86\00:20:35.65
God the question.
00:20:35.85\00:20:37.22
He knew what
God's requirements were,
00:20:37.33\00:20:39.63
but he saw the money
that they brought with them
00:20:40.03\00:20:42.38
when Balak sent
his representatives.
00:20:42.58\00:20:46.02
He looked at the check and
said: "I could use that money
00:20:46.32\00:20:48.56
so stay overnight
and let me see if God's
00:20:49.14\00:20:52.87
going to change His mind. "
00:20:52.97\00:20:54.57
He said: "Man, what
could I do with that money! "
00:20:55.82\00:20:57.68
Now some people say that
money doesn't buy happiness.
00:20:57.78\00:21:00.31
I often say: "Give me a
chance to decide that myself. "
00:21:00.51\00:21:02.99
Amen? Now money
doesn't buy happiness
00:21:04.05\00:21:06.90
but I'd like to have more
of it than I have right now.
00:21:07.10\00:21:09.58
Come on, you can
say "Amen" to that
00:21:10.79\00:21:12.52
'cause you're in the same boat.
00:21:12.72\00:21:14.19
It doesn't buy happiness
but it sure makes gettin' happy
00:21:14.39\00:21:16.88
a lot easier
than when you're poor.
00:21:16.98\00:21:19.04
So Balaam looked at that check.
00:21:19.24\00:21:21.21
And they... I'm sure they
showed him the check and said:
00:21:21.41\00:21:23.08
"Now Balaam, check this out...
00:21:23.18\00:21:24.81
check this out. "
00:21:25.12\00:21:26.51
And Balaam said: "I know
it's not right, but let me just
00:21:27.99\00:21:30.20
talk to God and see
if God changes His mind
00:21:30.30\00:21:32.23
because God probably
knows that I need that money. "
00:21:32.33\00:21:35.00
And so he spent the night
asking for God's permission.
00:21:35.75\00:21:39.80
And verse 9 is
very interesting to me
00:21:40.20\00:21:43.17
because he goes to talk to
God and look what God says.
00:21:44.55\00:21:48.44
"Then God came
to Balaam and said:
00:21:48.74\00:21:52.11
'Who are these men with you? '
00:21:52.41\00:21:55.04
Now I want to suggest to
you God knew who these men were.
00:21:55.34\00:21:58.81
So God was not
asking for information.
00:21:59.01\00:22:01.12
It was intended to
arouse Balaam to the danger
00:22:01.32\00:22:03.76
of the path that he
was about to travel.
00:22:03.86\00:22:06.34
In other words, the
Lord is saying to him:
00:22:06.54\00:22:08.12
"The people that you're
hanging out with should tell you
00:22:08.32\00:22:10.96
that you're headed in
the wrong direction. "
00:22:11.16\00:22:13.05
How many of you remember
hearing that from your parents
00:22:13.35\00:22:15.48
when you were young?
00:22:15.68\00:22:17.05
"Who are those people
you're hanging out with? "
00:22:17.08\00:22:18.45
I remember my mom
used to always say to me:
00:22:18.48\00:22:19.94
"Who are you going with? "
00:22:20.05\00:22:21.50
"Who... why are you always
hanging out with the bad guys
00:22:21.80\00:22:24.85
in the community? " Company
does determine our destiny.
00:22:24.95\00:22:29.95
The people that we hang out with
does influence our decisions.
00:22:30.15\00:22:33.80
And so God is saying to
Balaam: "Now you're My prophet
00:22:34.10\00:22:36.71
but they're not. Why is
it that you're considering
00:22:36.92\00:22:40.46
hanging out with this
group? Who are these guys
00:22:40.66\00:22:42.25
that you're with? "
00:22:42.45\00:22:44.10
And Balaam somehow ignored that.
00:22:44.40\00:22:46.32
And instead of Balaam
understanding the reason
00:22:46.42\00:22:47.97
for the question, you
look at verses 10 and 11.
00:22:48.07\00:22:50.15
You read that on your
own. Balaam decides to give God
00:22:50.25\00:22:52.41
information as though
God needs information.
00:22:52.51\00:22:54.77
"Now Lord, let me
tell You who they are.
00:22:55.07\00:22:57.71
This guy's name is Sam;
that guy's name is Jeff. "
00:22:57.91\00:23:00.99
God doesn't need
that information.
00:23:01.09\00:23:02.46
God knows exactly
who they are. Amen? Amen.
00:23:02.60\00:23:04.79
God doesn't ask for information.
00:23:04.89\00:23:06.26
You notice in the Bible,
whenever God asks a question
00:23:06.37\00:23:08.72
like He said:
"Adam, where are you? "
00:23:08.82\00:23:10.30
God didn't need a GPS to
find Adam. He knew exactly
00:23:10.50\00:23:13.09
where Adam was.
00:23:13.19\00:23:14.56
He was waiting for
Adam to come out and confess
00:23:14.59\00:23:16.20
"Lord, it's me. It's
me, it's me, oh Lord...
00:23:16.31\00:23:18.60
standing in the
need of prayer. "
00:23:18.63\00:23:20.00
Adam, instead of confessing,
well you know what he did.
00:23:20.03\00:23:22.42
He blamed his wife.
00:23:22.72\00:23:24.31
And so Balaam finds
himself in the same position
00:23:24.61\00:23:26.88
and instead of
remembering what Adam had done
00:23:27.08\00:23:29.63
and others after Adam...
00:23:29.83\00:23:31.53
God does not need
information. God knows it all.
00:23:31.73\00:23:35.06
So when God asks
"Where you goin? "
00:23:38.77\00:23:40.43
He's not asking for location...
He's alerting us to the danger
00:23:40.53\00:23:42.96
that lies ahead. When God
asks us "What are we doing? "
00:23:43.06\00:23:46.30
He's not asking
for the description
00:23:46.40\00:23:48.15
but He's warning us of
the consequences of our act.
00:23:48.45\00:23:51.20
My mother used to
ask me that question.
00:23:51.50\00:23:53.09
Whenever I'd say to her:
"Mama, could I do this? "
00:23:53.19\00:23:55.08
and she'd say:
"Say that again. "
00:23:55.18\00:23:56.76
"Mama, can I? "
"Say that again. "
00:23:56.96\00:23:58.33
"Mama, can I? "
"Say that again. "
00:23:58.36\00:23:59.93
Have you heard that
before? "Say that again. "
00:24:00.13\00:24:02.02
And she'd ask me the same
question over and over and over
00:24:02.22\00:24:04.25
again until I
realized what I was asking for.
00:24:04.36\00:24:06.94
"Say that again. "
00:24:07.14\00:24:08.51
"Mama, could I? "
"Say that again. "
00:24:08.70\00:24:10.27
And God answered
Balaam only to reinforce
00:24:11.42\00:24:15.52
what Balaam chose to forget.
00:24:15.82\00:24:18.55
Look at verse 12.
00:24:18.75\00:24:20.12
"And God said to Balaam:
'You shall not go with them.
00:24:24.18\00:24:29.45
You shall not curse the people
00:24:29.86\00:24:33.63
for they are blessed. ' "
00:24:33.84\00:24:36.40
I want you to keep
the title in your mind:
00:24:36.70\00:24:38.87
The man with two gods.
00:24:38.97\00:24:40.79
But look at Balaam's response.
00:24:41.09\00:24:43.39
Verse 13: "So
Balaam rose in the morning
00:24:43.79\00:24:48.83
and said to the
princes of Balak:
00:24:49.03\00:24:51.43
'Go back to your land
00:24:52.56\00:24:54.48
for God has refused
to give me permission
00:24:54.68\00:24:58.76
to go with you. '
" Did you get that?
00:24:58.96\00:25:02.48
"See, I'd go... but
God said not to go. "
00:25:02.68\00:25:05.37
I've used that line 100
times or more growing up.
00:25:05.67\00:25:09.76
Come on... anybody else?
00:25:09.87\00:25:11.24
"I want to go but my
mom said I can't go. "
00:25:11.27\00:25:13.15
"I mean, I'd go
but... you know...
00:25:13.36\00:25:15.37
if I go I'm
getting in trouble. "
00:25:15.57\00:25:17.28
The same line that we used as
children Balaam comes and says
00:25:17.58\00:25:22.10
to those that were sent by Balak
00:25:22.30\00:25:25.41
"I would go but the Lord has
refused to give me permission
00:25:25.61\00:25:28.81
to go with you. " And
the reason why God refuses
00:25:28.91\00:25:31.56
to give us permission,
brothers and sisters,
00:25:31.66\00:25:33.27
is He sees the end of a thing
before we see the beginning
00:25:33.47\00:25:36.90
of it. He sees way down
the highway before we even
00:25:36.93\00:25:41.26
get into the car. He
sees way around the corner
00:25:41.36\00:25:43.72
before we even make a turn.
00:25:44.02\00:25:45.39
He sees the end of the party
before the party even begins.
00:25:45.42\00:25:48.30
He sees us sprawled
out, drunk somewhere,
00:25:48.51\00:25:51.13
before we take the first sip.
00:25:51.23\00:25:52.60
He sees us addicted before
we try the first marijuana drag.
00:25:52.68\00:25:56.94
He sees the life falling
apart from sexually-transmitted
00:25:57.24\00:26:01.06
diseases before we
even decide who to go with.
00:26:01.16\00:26:04.14
God always sees the
end from the beginning.
00:26:04.54\00:26:07.04
Don't ask God for permission
00:26:07.14\00:26:08.64
for things that we know
that God does not support. Amen.
00:26:08.84\00:26:12.60
I believe more people
would choose God if God
00:26:15.11\00:26:17.44
simply agreed with them.
And Balaam was hoping that God
00:26:17.54\00:26:20.31
would agree with him so he
asked for God's permission.
00:26:20.51\00:26:23.89
And so they go back
and they tell Balak that
00:26:24.09\00:26:25.89
"Well you know, good
attempt. We showed him the check
00:26:26.09\00:26:29.46
but he's not coming. "
00:26:29.76\00:26:31.33
And Balak does not
take no for an answer.
00:26:31.63\00:26:34.90
He simply increases the bribe.
00:26:35.00\00:26:37.06
He says: "Well maybe that
check wasn't good enough. "
00:26:37.36\00:26:40.42
And so he writes a larger check.
00:26:40.62\00:26:42.07
And... But he said: "Now
next time you go, tell Balaam
00:26:42.27\00:26:44.91
I'll deposit it in his account
down in the Cayman Islands.
00:26:45.11\00:26:49.69
Nobody would know. It'll
be just between him and me
00:26:49.89\00:26:52.46
but it's going
to be a huge check.
00:26:52.67\00:26:54.15
And by the way, when you go back
00:26:54.45\00:26:57.55
let's sweeten the pot.
Let's send people that are
00:26:57.75\00:27:00.10
more important than these
guys. These guys are novices.
00:27:00.20\00:27:02.73
Let's pull out all the stops.
Let's send people that really
00:27:02.93\00:27:05.45
impress. Let's send them in
limousines, and maybe Balaam
00:27:05.55\00:27:09.60
needs to see somebody
roll up in a Maserati.
00:27:09.70\00:27:12.12
Let's put him in a Maserati.
00:27:12.22\00:27:13.59
Let's give him
those expensive suits.
00:27:13.62\00:27:15.67
Let's invite Balaam to a
really expensive dinner tonight.
00:27:15.87\00:27:20.31
Let's pull out all the
stops: best music, best band.
00:27:20.71\00:27:23.72
Let's give him
everything that he really wants.
00:27:23.92\00:27:25.79
I think there's a way... "
And the reason why they sent
00:27:25.99\00:27:28.67
them back is because
Balaam didn't say a "no"
00:27:28.87\00:27:32.62
that really meant no.
00:27:32.72\00:27:34.48
He kind of says:
"God... You know, yeah I'd do it
00:27:34.78\00:27:37.60
but God is not going
to give me permission. "
00:27:37.80\00:27:39.36
That's why the Bible says
we should let our yes be yes
00:27:40.50\00:27:43.12
and our no be what? No.
00:27:43.32\00:27:44.75
In other words,
say no and mean it!
00:27:44.95\00:27:46.54
"I'd go with you on Sabbath
00:27:47.64\00:27:49.92
but God said don't do it. "
00:27:50.02\00:27:54.44
"See, I'd wear those earrings
but you know the Bible says
00:27:54.54\00:27:59.32
I'm not supposed to. "
00:27:59.52\00:28:00.89
"I'd go to that concert
with you but the Bible says... "
00:28:01.16\00:28:05.57
You know brethren,
we need a constitution
00:28:05.77\00:28:07.79
that even if the Bible
didn't say it we wouldn't do it
00:28:07.99\00:28:10.60
because we stand before God
as those who want to represent
00:28:10.70\00:28:13.50
God in all we do. Amen!
00:28:13.60\00:28:14.97
There are some people
that if they don't find the
00:28:15.11\00:28:16.86
Word of God saying
you shouldn't do it...
00:28:16.96\00:28:18.58
Like there are some
people that say: "God's Word
00:28:18.78\00:28:20.20
doesn't say you can't smoke
marijuana. Show me the verse. "
00:28:20.30\00:28:22.56
Have you heard that before?
00:28:23.79\00:28:25.33
"God's Word doesn't
say we should not... "
00:28:25.36\00:28:26.79
"You know, as a matter of
fact, Jesus turned the water
00:28:26.89\00:28:29.01
into wine. I mean,
that's evidence enough
00:28:29.12\00:28:30.51
that I can drink. "
"Show me where God's Word says
00:28:30.61\00:28:34.24
thus and so. " And
when you can't find it
00:28:34.44\00:28:36.44
they say: "See, I told you. "
00:28:36.54\00:28:37.91
And nowadays we've got people
doing all kinds of things.
00:28:38.09\00:28:40.76
And even Adventists
doing all kinds of things
00:28:40.96\00:28:42.74
because they believe that
God's Word doesn't really just
00:28:42.94\00:28:46.11
say it that way.
00:28:46.21\00:28:47.58
We ought to be like the Hebrews:
00:28:47.73\00:28:49.10
"Even if God doesn't deliver
us we've made up our minds
00:28:49.20\00:28:52.22
that we're not going to bow.
" Can you say "Amen" to that?
00:28:52.32\00:28:54.35
Amen. We need people like
Joseph: "How can I do this great
00:28:54.45\00:28:57.92
wickedness and
sin against God? "
00:28:58.12\00:28:59.92
He had a constitution that
did not need him to go back
00:29:00.12\00:29:03.11
and say "Now
honey, you look good.
00:29:03.21\00:29:05.05
Wait till I come back.
I'll check the Bible. "
00:29:05.15\00:29:06.60
Did you get the story?
00:29:07.62\00:29:09.12
'Cause Potiphar's
wife laid a trap for him.
00:29:09.22\00:29:11.68
And if you study
on how she dressed...
00:29:11.99\00:29:14.21
That's why, gentlemen, you
can't stand up and negotiate
00:29:14.51\00:29:17.49
with women when
they're dressed a certain way.
00:29:17.59\00:29:19.60
Amen somebody? Amen!
00:29:20.29\00:29:22.59
You've got to say:
"You know I've got to go. "
00:29:22.90\00:29:24.27
And don't walk away like this.
00:29:24.53\00:29:26.75
You'd better run for your
life. You'd better do an Elijah
00:29:28.62\00:29:31.17
'cause God can find you.
But you can't stand around,
00:29:32.06\00:29:34.36
you cannot compromise with sin.
You can't say: "Well, you know,
00:29:34.56\00:29:37.94
sunset. See, it's almost
sunset. If it wasn't sunset
00:29:38.14\00:29:40.38
I'd have been with you right
now... I'd of been hanging out
00:29:40.48\00:29:41.88
with you right now but it's
sunset so I've got to go home
00:29:41.98\00:29:44.43
and get ready for the
Sabbath. " Those who were Jews
00:29:44.53\00:29:46.91
cared more about the
sunset and the Sabbath
00:29:47.11\00:29:49.72
than they did
about representing Jesus.
00:29:49.92\00:29:51.75
We can't be like
that. We've got to be moral;
00:29:52.05\00:29:54.96
we've got to be firm...
even if we can't find the text
00:29:55.09\00:29:58.86
and verse that says that
we shouldn't specifically
00:29:58.96\00:30:02.78
do thus and so.
00:30:02.98\00:30:04.35
And so Balak ups
the ante. Verse 15:
00:30:04.54\00:30:10.46
"Then Balak again... "
See, you've got to get that word
00:30:11.59\00:30:14.79
again... "sent
princes more numerous and more
00:30:14.89\00:30:20.64
honorable than they. " You've
got to get this in your head.
00:30:20.74\00:30:22.87
You've got to see
this thing coming together.
00:30:22.97\00:30:24.34
Here is Balaam sitting at home
and he hears in the distance...
00:30:24.71\00:30:28.63
he hears a processional coming.
00:30:28.83\00:30:31.40
And in those days
they didn't have quiet
00:30:31.60\00:30:34.94
cars with rubber
wheels. They had chariots.
00:30:35.24\00:30:39.33
They had horses. And I
could imagine he could say...
00:30:39.44\00:30:42.53
Have you been sitting in a house
and a car goes by? Whuuummm.
00:30:42.73\00:30:46.76
And you say: "What was that? "
00:30:46.86\00:30:48.23
I could see Balaam sitting in
his house: "What's that noise?
00:30:48.26\00:30:51.45
Sounds like thunder in the
distance. What's that noise? "
00:30:52.78\00:30:56.05
And he could see a path of dust
00:30:56.35\00:30:58.60
being led by a
trail of white horses,
00:30:58.90\00:31:02.69
golden chariots, and
princes dressed to kill.
00:31:02.89\00:31:07.02
And when they pulled up
in front of Balaam's house
00:31:07.95\00:31:10.82
they were escorted
out of their chariots.
00:31:11.12\00:31:13.66
Somebody opened the chariot door
00:31:13.86\00:31:15.89
for them to get
out and Balaam said:
00:31:16.19\00:31:18.09
"Hey, honey,
look... look at this.
00:31:18.29\00:31:20.93
They're in front of our house.
00:31:21.33\00:31:23.66
I wonder if this is Publisher's
Clearinghouse Sweepstakes?
00:31:23.96\00:31:27.76
They're knocking on our door. Do
you think we hit the lottery? "
00:31:27.96\00:31:30.44
They're in front
of Balaam's house.
00:31:31.58\00:31:33.82
And then he sees what
really gets his attention
00:31:34.94\00:31:37.45
because he remembered
that when they came last time
00:31:37.55\00:31:39.23
they took a check out of
their pocket but this time
00:31:39.26\00:31:41.80
they have four guys
carrying a treasure chest,
00:31:42.10\00:31:45.43
hardly able to carry
it because it's so heavy
00:31:46.56\00:31:49.45
with reward for Balaam.
00:31:49.65\00:31:53.27
The Bible says that Balak again
00:31:53.47\00:31:56.50
sent princes more
numerous and more honorable
00:31:56.70\00:32:01.47
than they.
00:32:01.77\00:32:04.57
Be careful because flattery
is the door to deception.
00:32:04.77\00:32:08.13
You see, Balaam felt honored
that Balak would recognize his
00:32:08.33\00:32:11.10
importance by sending princes
00:32:11.13\00:32:14.42
more numerous
and more honorable.
00:32:14.62\00:32:19.44
And so the story
continues to unfold. Verse 17:
00:32:19.64\00:32:25.27
Balak appeals again.
00:32:26.60\00:32:29.12
"For I will
certainly honor you greatly. "
00:32:29.42\00:32:32.57
They bring the message
from Balak... they're reading
00:32:32.67\00:32:34.43
the e-mails. "For I will
certainly honor you greatly
00:32:34.53\00:32:38.06
and I will do
whatever you say to me. "
00:32:38.16\00:32:41.13
See, last time it was a
check with a certain amount.
00:32:41.23\00:32:42.93
Now he says: "Whatever
you want you've got it. "
00:32:43.03\00:32:44.98
"Whatever you
want you've got it. "
00:32:45.18\00:32:46.89
And I think that's
the problem sometimes:
00:32:47.09\00:32:48.85
there seems to be no limit.
00:32:49.05\00:32:50.42
You know, when the devil
presents sin before you...
00:32:50.45\00:32:52.60
He did that to Jesus. He
showed him all the kingdoms
00:32:52.80\00:32:56.20
of the earth and their glory.
00:32:56.30\00:32:57.67
And there are those
here... many people that I was
00:32:57.86\00:32:59.23
raised with... that are selling
out for the earth, the kingdoms,
00:32:59.26\00:33:02.35
and its glory. I'd
rather be relatively unknown now
00:33:02.45\00:33:05.37
and be known in the
kingdom. What about you? Amen!
00:33:05.47\00:33:08.43
"Whatever you say to
me, whatever you want,
00:33:08.73\00:33:12.70
I promise I'll do it.
00:33:12.90\00:33:14.29
Therefore, please
come and curse this people
00:33:14.49\00:33:19.59
for me. " And
when you read verse 18
00:33:19.79\00:33:21.37
Balaam makes it sound
like he can't be bought.
00:33:21.67\00:33:24.43
He said: "Even if you filled
the entire house with silver
00:33:24.53\00:33:27.02
and gold I'm not going to go.
00:33:27.12\00:33:28.85
I promise I'm not...
Even if you filled this house
00:33:30.24\00:33:32.46
with silver and
gold I refuse to go.
00:33:32.56\00:33:34.60
But stay overnight...
let me see what God says. "
00:33:35.00\00:33:37.60
Did you get that?
00:33:39.74\00:33:41.11
"I don't care how much
you give me I cannot be bought
00:33:41.85\00:33:43.97
but stay overnight...
let me see what God says. "
00:33:44.07\00:33:46.45
That's where Balak
found a kink in his armor.
00:33:46.66\00:33:49.68
You see, if we won't
disobey God for a small salary
00:33:49.98\00:33:53.65
don't disobey God
for a large salary.
00:33:53.95\00:33:58.25
Because no matter the price
the wages of sin is still death.
00:33:58.46\00:34:02.93
I remember working at an
insurance company in New York.
00:34:03.13\00:34:05.01
I think I've shared this story
before, but if you forgot it
00:34:05.11\00:34:06.98
I'm going to remind you.
00:34:07.08\00:34:08.45
I was... That's when
they began to change over
00:34:08.48\00:34:10.78
and start people
working on Saturdays.
00:34:10.89\00:34:12.93
But when they began that I
was working downtown Manhattan.
00:34:13.13\00:34:15.86
That's when I lived in
New York before I got married.
00:34:15.96\00:34:17.74
And they started
bi-monthly... every...
00:34:17.94\00:34:22.00
bi-weekly... every two
weeks. And so my turn came up
00:34:22.10\00:34:25.19
to work, and I worked
for an insurance company.
00:34:25.40\00:34:27.81
And they said: "Well tomorrow
you should come in at 9 o'clock
00:34:28.11\00:34:31.92
and 9 to 5 on Saturday. "
00:34:32.22\00:34:34.18
And I said: "I'm not coming
in. " They said: "Well you're
00:34:34.29\00:34:35.92
scheduled to come in. " I
said: "I'm not coming in. "
00:34:36.02\00:34:37.42
I told my supervisor on
Friday "I'm not coming in. "
00:34:37.82\00:34:40.59
Can somebody give
me an "Amen" to that?
00:34:40.79\00:34:42.43
Amen. I'm not going to sit home
and say: "Now should I go? "
00:34:42.63\00:34:45.81
I mean, there are some
folks that would work on Sabbath
00:34:46.21\00:34:49.60
because they get double salary.
00:34:49.81\00:34:52.20
I know some of them.
00:34:52.50\00:34:53.91
"Why'd you work on the
Sabbath when you're not in the
00:34:54.22\00:34:56.94
medical field? When you're
not in a position where God
00:34:57.04\00:35:00.04
can support that
decision? Why would you? "
00:35:00.24\00:35:01.99
"Well you know I
get time and a half! "
00:35:02.09\00:35:03.80
"I get double time. "
00:35:04.10\00:35:06.12
The price is still the same.
00:35:06.29\00:35:08.93
So I decided not to go
in and I didn't show up.
00:35:09.13\00:35:12.36
And when they went to
work... people that went to work
00:35:12.46\00:35:14.47
said: "John didn't show up.
" And I got a call on Monday
00:35:14.57\00:35:16.85
morning into the office. He said
"Now how come you didn't come? "
00:35:16.95\00:35:18.68
I said: "I told you on
Friday I wasn't coming. "
00:35:18.78\00:35:20.54
He said: "Well you're
scheduled for two more weeks.
00:35:20.84\00:35:23.20
In two more weeks
you're scheduled again. "
00:35:23.50\00:35:25.66
You know what I said?
"I'm not coming. " Amen.
00:35:25.96\00:35:29.44
So I worked for... I
only had two more weeks
00:35:29.58\00:35:31.87
left at that job by the
way. I want you to know that.
00:35:31.98\00:35:33.77
Because when I didn't
show up the second Sabbath
00:35:34.07\00:35:35.96
they called me back
on that Monday morning
00:35:36.17\00:35:37.56
and I saw it on the desk.
00:35:37.76\00:35:39.13
Back then they
really did give pink slips.
00:35:39.21\00:35:41.73
Nowadays I don't know
what the color of the slips are
00:35:41.93\00:35:44.12
'cause I don't get those
slips any more. Amen somebody.
00:35:44.42\00:35:46.78
Amen. But they gave a pink slip
00:35:46.98\00:35:48.97
and he said: "Now John,
two weeks ago I told you
00:35:49.17\00:35:52.08
and so, you
know, I regrettably...
00:35:52.38\00:35:55.22
I do this with regret but we're
going to have to let you go. "
00:35:55.62\00:35:58.72
And I said: "That's fine.
No problem; I'm OK with that. "
00:35:58.92\00:36:01.50
I left that company, walked
three blocks to Chase Manhattan
00:36:01.80\00:36:05.62
and got a job and
started the next day.
00:36:05.65\00:36:07.71
Amen. See, sometimes God
allows you to be faced with
00:36:07.91\00:36:11.22
a test to see whether
or not you can be bought.
00:36:11.32\00:36:13.84
Balaam was in a position where
he said: "No matter how much
00:36:14.04\00:36:16.97
money you give me I
cannot be bought, but WAIT
00:36:17.07\00:36:18.91
overnight and see what
God says the next day. "
00:36:19.01\00:36:21.57
"And the Lord said...
" You've got to get this
00:36:24.19\00:36:26.96
because if you
don't get this passage -
00:36:27.16\00:36:28.70
verse 20- you can think that
somehow God was joining Balaam
00:36:28.91\00:36:31.37
in his rebellion.
"The Lord said: 'Now Balaam
00:36:31.47\00:36:33.32
don't go. But unless
they come and call you...
00:36:33.52\00:36:35.45
Don't go unless they
come and call you. ' "
00:36:35.65\00:36:38.04
It's like a parent
saying to a child: "Now you know
00:36:38.24\00:36:40.29
you shouldn't be
going with your friends...
00:36:40.39\00:36:42.08
but if they call, you go. "
00:36:42.39\00:36:45.15
Like saying:
"You want to go? Go.
00:36:45.45\00:36:47.12
But don't go
unless they call you. Go.
00:36:47.32\00:36:49.47
But you shouldn't
be going... but go.
00:36:49.77\00:36:52.04
If they call, you go. "
00:36:52.24\00:36:53.61
So God is testing
Balaam to see whether or not
00:36:53.66\00:36:55.91
he's more willing to obey
God than to give in to the price
00:36:56.11\00:36:59.78
that Balak has set.
So what did Balaam do?
00:36:59.98\00:37:02.80
When morning came
Balaam didn't tell them at all
00:37:02.90\00:37:05.45
about the conversation
that he had with God.
00:37:05.55\00:37:07.43
He got up in the
morning... Look at verse 21:
00:37:07.63\00:37:09.45
"So Balaam rose
in the morning... "
00:37:09.65\00:37:11.66
And the phrase in the
morning means he rose early.
00:37:11.86\00:37:14.49
He got up really
early. You know why?
00:37:14.69\00:37:16.54
Because he saw dollar signs.
00:37:16.64\00:37:18.17
"He got up really
early, saddled his donkey,
00:37:19.23\00:37:22.15
and went with the
princes of Moab. "
00:37:23.84\00:37:27.84
Now I don't know about
you but I could imagine
00:37:28.34\00:37:30.64
while he's traveling in his
head he could hear God talking.
00:37:30.84\00:37:33.64
Have you ever been in your way
to sin and you can still hear
00:37:33.88\00:37:35.53
God's voice in your head?
00:37:35.63\00:37:37.00
Anybody?
00:37:37.20\00:37:38.69
Here you are in the
club, music is kicking,
00:37:38.99\00:37:40.99
and you say: "Man,
Dwight, I shouldn't be here
00:37:41.19\00:37:43.30
but this is really
cool. You know, this is hip. "
00:37:43.50\00:37:45.50
One Friday night I
was disc jockeying at the
00:37:45.71\00:37:47.38
World Trade Center...
the old World Trade Center.
00:37:47.49\00:37:49.28
Obviously not in the new
ones yet because they're not
00:37:49.38\00:37:51.10
completed. I was on
the 44th floor, Cherie,
00:37:51.20\00:37:53.44
and on the Windows of the World
disc jockeying 2 turntables,
00:37:53.55\00:37:58.19
mixing back and
forth and partying hard.
00:37:58.29\00:38:00.11
The atmosphere was hot;
the atmosphere was good.
00:38:00.31\00:38:02.95
I mean I was into it.
00:38:03.05\00:38:04.42
And my girlfriend shows
up. Angie, the woman I married.
00:38:05.27\00:38:08.30
And there she is at the
counter saying: "You know
00:38:09.49\00:38:11.69
you shouldn't be
here... it's the Sabbath. "
00:38:11.79\00:38:13.73
And I'm thinking... you know,
00:38:14.37\00:38:16.62
"I'll be at church
tomorrow. Would you just leave?
00:38:16.82\00:38:19.34
I'll be at church tomorrow.
Would you just LEAVE! "
00:38:19.54\00:38:22.30
And she's there
rebuking me with all get out.
00:38:23.21\00:38:24.95
And I'm: "How'd you
find out where I was? "
00:38:25.05\00:38:27.02
I learned... I
learned as a married man
00:38:27.22\00:38:29.87
your wife will always
find out where you are.
00:38:30.07\00:38:32.54
Women have something
that men don't possess.
00:38:35.08\00:38:37.53
A woman could be in the
next room and her husband
00:38:38.46\00:38:40.17
can't find her.
"Honey, where are you? "
00:38:40.28\00:38:41.86
But her husband could be in
Saudi Arabia on the 14th floor
00:38:42.16\00:38:45.18
in room 1406 and
she'll show up in two minutes.
00:38:45.28\00:38:47.86
"What are you doing here? "
00:38:48.06\00:38:49.43
So Balaam's on his way
00:38:50.73\00:38:52.57
with the princes of Moab
and he could hear in his head...
00:38:52.88\00:38:55.17
And when she left I
remember telling her
00:38:55.37\00:38:57.62
"Just leave... just leave.
" And I remember her leaving
00:38:58.12\00:39:00.51
and when I was shooing her out
00:39:00.61\00:39:03.02
one of my
speakers began to smoke.
00:39:03.22\00:39:05.36
And I thought: "Boy, God could
have burned this thing down. "
00:39:05.76\00:39:08.45
You know what? I
didn't get it then.
00:39:08.75\00:39:10.12
I got this just
about a year ago.
00:39:10.36\00:39:12.01
It dawned on me
when I told that story
00:39:12.21\00:39:14.56
I remembered that night.
00:39:14.76\00:39:16.13
I had to open up the
back of the speakers.
00:39:16.16\00:39:18.27
And if you're electronic
at all, you understand this
00:39:18.47\00:39:20.41
terminology. I had to
bypass the crossover -
00:39:20.62\00:39:23.69
that limited the
pressure on the speaker itself -
00:39:24.60\00:39:27.47
because the
crossover began to smoke.
00:39:27.67\00:39:29.98
And I didn't think about
it until I told this story
00:39:30.18\00:39:32.38
about a year and a half
ago and God was saying to me:
00:39:32.49\00:39:34.30
"See, I could have
burned that speaker down. "
00:39:34.40\00:39:36.35
But God sometimes
allows us to move forward
00:39:38.21\00:39:40.61
in our own rebellion
00:39:40.71\00:39:42.08
to realize that the road
we choose is never as blessed
00:39:42.11\00:39:44.66
as the road that God chooses.
00:39:44.86\00:39:46.52
So here it is. Balaam
now, he gets in his Maserati.
00:39:46.62\00:39:49.64
His Maserati is
called a donkey by the way.
00:39:49.84\00:39:52.28
And he is
following the princes of Moab
00:39:53.29\00:39:55.09
and the most ridiculous
thing begins to happen.
00:39:55.29\00:39:57.26
You see the
story begin to unfold.
00:39:57.36\00:39:58.73
I'll just give it
to you in nutshells.
00:39:58.89\00:40:00.26
In verse 23 the donkey sees
the Lord and runs into a field.
00:40:00.29\00:40:04.25
And what is Balaam's
response? He hits the donkey.
00:40:04.45\00:40:06.84
He kicks the car.
He bangs the dashboard.
00:40:07.04\00:40:10.70
Then the donkey
again crushes Balaam's foot
00:40:11.00\00:40:13.97
against a wall.
What's Balaam's response?
00:40:14.17\00:40:16.46
He hits the
donkey. He gets upset
00:40:16.66\00:40:18.71
and shakes the steering wheel.
00:40:18.81\00:40:20.18
And the third attempt:
the donkey sees the Lord
00:40:20.33\00:40:22.78
and lies down under
Balaam. And what does Balaam do?
00:40:22.88\00:40:25.88
He hits the
donkey and gets upset
00:40:26.08\00:40:29.00
and throws a tantrum.
00:40:29.20\00:40:30.57
And he doesn't realize that
after 3 mysterious encounters
00:40:30.70\00:40:33.59
it should dawn on the
sensible mind that these events
00:40:33.79\00:40:36.68
are not coincidental.
00:40:36.78\00:40:38.57
William Cowper said: "God
moves in mysterious ways. "
00:40:42.70\00:40:46.34
You know, sometimes our plans
fail because God is trying to
00:40:46.54\00:40:49.52
spare us from that
which is not for our good.
00:40:49.62\00:40:52.20
Sometimes God allows us
to get injured to prevent
00:40:52.40\00:40:54.79
the greater evil. Sometimes
God causes the engine to die
00:40:54.99\00:40:59.97
to prevent a fatal accident.
00:41:00.07\00:41:01.44
Sometimes God allows
the plane not to move.
00:41:01.47\00:41:03.26
I was in the Marion
airport I think it was last year
00:41:03.56\00:41:05.85
or maybe year before last and
I was supposed to be in Miami,
00:41:05.96\00:41:09.09
Florida, to preach for
a men's ministries weekend
00:41:09.29\00:41:12.60
and I scheduled
to fly out of Marion
00:41:12.81\00:41:16.39
because I was kind of
tired of driving back and forth
00:41:16.49\00:41:18.36
to St. Louis. It's a long drive.
00:41:18.46\00:41:20.14
And so I decided to go ahead and
take the plane out of Marion.
00:41:21.14\00:41:23.09
And I got on the plane...
00:41:23.29\00:41:24.66
And I wasn't crazy about
that plane. When I saw it
00:41:24.69\00:41:26.68
in front of the terminal
I thought: "Man, this is a
00:41:26.88\00:41:28.88
little plane. I don't fly
in planes like this often. "
00:41:28.98\00:41:31.86
And I got in the
seat... My wife and I prayed
00:41:31.99\00:41:33.90
before I got on the plane.
And my wife prayed this prayer:
00:41:34.00\00:41:36.96
"Lord if it's not Your intention
for John to be on this plane
00:41:37.26\00:41:42.85
don't let the
plane go anywhere. "
00:41:43.05\00:41:44.65
Well now what even
made it more scary was
00:41:45.79\00:41:49.01
I was in the co-pilot's seat.
00:41:49.21\00:41:50.86
You've got to understand how
things happen in the Midwest.
00:41:51.56\00:41:53.88
I was in... The pilot
said: "Come on up front
00:41:54.89\00:41:57.82
and sit with me.
" And I'm thinking:
00:41:57.92\00:41:59.29
"How do they know
I'm not a terrorist? "
00:41:59.32\00:42:01.30
I'm in the right seat
and the pilot in the left.
00:42:01.60\00:42:04.55
He starts up the plane
00:42:04.85\00:42:07.08
and opens the window.
Checks all the - you know - the
00:42:07.48\00:42:11.69
whatever they call that...
the list that you go through.
00:42:11.89\00:42:14.67
Pre-flight checklist.
00:42:14.97\00:42:16.67
And then he reaches
down and releases the brake
00:42:16.88\00:42:19.68
and then
"roarrrr" throttles up...
00:42:19.89\00:42:22.51
and the plane doesn't move.
00:42:22.61\00:42:24.16
And he looks at me and
kind of like was embarrassing.
00:42:24.19\00:42:27.06
"Don't worry, I got it.
" And he reaches down again
00:42:27.16\00:42:29.10
and this time he
pulls really hard.
00:42:29.30\00:42:31.60
The plane doesn't move.
00:42:33.83\00:42:35.20
And he does it a third
time and a fourth time.
00:42:35.31\00:42:38.22
And then it
really gets embarrassing.
00:42:38.36\00:42:39.73
And he says to the passengers:
"We have a just slight problem.
00:42:39.76\00:42:43.27
Just get off the
plane. We'll check it out and
00:42:43.47\00:42:45.44
you can get back on board. "
Well I want to tell you this:
00:42:45.64\00:42:47.50
God did not allow
those brakes to be released
00:42:47.70\00:42:49.61
because He
answered my wife's prayer.
00:42:49.81\00:42:51.45
Amen somebody? He knew
something that we didn't know.
00:42:51.66\00:42:54.66
My wife prayed. She said:
"You know, when I was driving
00:42:54.76\00:42:57.48
away from the terminal I
prayed that prayer again. "
00:42:57.59\00:42:59.60
"Lord, if You don't
want John to be on this plane
00:42:59.81\00:43:02.38
don't allow that
plane to go anywhere. "
00:43:02.58\00:43:04.04
I want to tell you this
story: when I got off the plane
00:43:04.24\00:43:06.03
and decided "Well you know what?
00:43:06.24\00:43:08.09
I'm just going to go
ahead and drive to St. Louis
00:43:08.30\00:43:10.21
and I'll leave the next day. "
00:43:10.41\00:43:12.31
You know, when I got off
the plane and left the airport
00:43:12.51\00:43:15.75
then the plane left.
00:43:15.96\00:43:17.46
It was not God's intention
for me to be on that plane
00:43:17.96\00:43:22.39
because God knew
for whatever reason
00:43:22.52\00:43:24.52
the devil probably thought
that "I can bring this down.
00:43:24.72\00:43:27.57
I just need to
get John in that seat.
00:43:27.87\00:43:29.59
I need to be in a situation... "
00:43:29.69\00:43:31.06
And the weather wasn't
that great and I'm crazy about
00:43:31.17\00:43:33.21
weather anyway. And
so I was so glad that God
00:43:33.31\00:43:35.78
decided to block. You see, some-
times God blocks our intention
00:43:35.98\00:43:39.30
for our greatest blessing...
00:43:39.50\00:43:41.87
because the only thing
worse than disappointment
00:43:42.08\00:43:44.08
is destruction.
00:43:44.28\00:43:45.72
So here is
Balaam on his way now.
00:43:45.92\00:43:47.49
And when you
read verses 20 to 30
00:43:47.69\00:43:49.33
or 28 to 30, this is
where I decided I could have
00:43:49.53\00:43:53.01
named the
sermon Dumb and Dumber.
00:43:53.11\00:43:54.88
Because it goes from the
mysterious to the ridiculous.
00:43:55.18\00:43:59.06
Because this is where now
the donkey doesn't just act
00:43:59.36\00:44:02.32
but the donkey does
what donkeys don't do:
00:44:02.62\00:44:05.48
he begins to talk.
00:44:05.88\00:44:07.88
Here it is. I'm not going
to read it, I'm just going to
00:44:08.08\00:44:10.42
break it down. The
donkey talks to Balaam.
00:44:10.52\00:44:12.36
That's ridiculous, isn't it?
00:44:12.76\00:44:14.36
But even more
ridiculous Balaam talks back.
00:44:14.56\00:44:16.69
It never dawns on this idiot
00:44:18.59\00:44:20.57
that there are no other
reports of talking animals
00:44:20.68\00:44:23.05
in the community. The
donkey talks to Balaam.
00:44:23.15\00:44:26.74
Balaam talks back.
00:44:26.94\00:44:28.31
Then the dumb
speaks to the dumber.
00:44:28.41\00:44:33.55
The dumb animal
speaks to a dumber prophet.
00:44:33.75\00:44:37.00
They are full
swing in a conversation
00:44:37.20\00:44:40.02
and it doesn't dawn on
Balaam that he's in a situation
00:44:40.22\00:44:42.54
that has never
been documented before.
00:44:42.74\00:44:44.71
Conversation... God's
prophet has a conversation
00:44:44.91\00:44:48.23
with a dumb animal.
00:44:48.43\00:44:50.20
Who's dumber is the question.
00:44:50.41\00:44:52.16
You know, I've talked to animals
before and some of you have -
00:44:52.37\00:44:54.23
you've talked to
your cats and dogs -
00:44:54.43\00:44:55.80
but I have never had
an animal talk back to me.
00:44:55.94\00:44:57.78
Anybody else? It
doesn't dawn on Balaam
00:44:57.88\00:45:00.56
until his eyes are opened
that he realized that he was
00:45:00.86\00:45:04.16
resisting the attempts of
God. And Balaam finally saw
00:45:04.26\00:45:07.15
that no one could be blamed
for his troubles but himself.
00:45:07.45\00:45:10.99
He finally sees that where he is
and where he is intended to be
00:45:11.19\00:45:13.79
is where God never
intended for him to be.
00:45:13.99\00:45:17.23
The man with two
gods. Caught between the God
00:45:17.43\00:45:19.50
that called him and
the god that he's pursuing.
00:45:19.60\00:45:21.76
The god of money
and the God of heaven.
00:45:21.96\00:45:24.25
Caught between two gods.
00:45:24.35\00:45:25.72
And you know if you look
at the story of salvation
00:45:25.75\00:45:27.24
that's exactly what the
story of salvation often is.
00:45:27.44\00:45:29.61
When you look at
the rich young ruler...
00:45:29.81\00:45:31.18
The Lord said to the rich
young ruler: "There's only
00:45:31.21\00:45:32.66
one thing you
lack. " And most of us
00:45:32.76\00:45:35.68
in our journey to salvation
00:45:35.88\00:45:38.34
are battling day in and day
out with one god or the other.
00:45:38.54\00:45:41.63
Am I telling the truth? Yes.
00:45:41.83\00:45:43.62
In every one of
us there's a Balaam.
00:45:44.95\00:45:47.27
One god or the other.
00:45:47.57\00:45:50.04
But as I wind up, the
question is: "How can we tell
00:45:50.34\00:45:52.84
that Balaam was
torn between two gods? "
00:45:53.04\00:45:55.65
Point one... you
want to get this:
00:45:55.85\00:45:57.95
God allowed Balaam
to follow his own course
00:45:58.15\00:46:01.13
because Balaam was determined.
00:46:01.33\00:46:04.55
Evidence that we are
caught between two gods:
00:46:04.75\00:46:07.35
when we determine to
follow our own course
00:46:07.55\00:46:10.00
no matter what God's Word says
00:46:10.20\00:46:12.21
we are torn between two gods.
00:46:12.42\00:46:14.26
When I was a disc jockey
I remember that very well.
00:46:15.43\00:46:18.49
I had gone to a church
once and I might just tell you.
00:46:18.59\00:46:21.56
I was a young man... I
was in my teenage years
00:46:21.66\00:46:23.09
and I went to a church
because I figured if I could
00:46:23.29\00:46:25.23
find a church that would still
allow me to be a disc jockey
00:46:25.33\00:46:28.27
I'd join that church.
00:46:28.47\00:46:29.84
And so I went to a Nazarene
church, and I remember very well
00:46:30.63\00:46:32.68
I went and I asked
the Nazarene pastor
00:46:32.78\00:46:34.83
you know to tell me about
the Sabbath. And as a teenager
00:46:35.03\00:46:37.51
he invited me to
stand up out of my seat,
00:46:37.72\00:46:39.56
walked me through
the halls up the steps
00:46:39.66\00:46:41.20
across the hallway down
the steps and he told me
00:46:41.40\00:46:44.04
never to come back
to his church again.
00:46:44.24\00:46:46.02
And I went to a
Catholic priest...
00:46:46.33\00:46:48.19
And so I went to a Pentecostal
preacher and asked him
00:46:48.39\00:46:50.51
the same question, and he
sat me in his office and left me
00:46:50.61\00:46:53.19
sitting there for
more than two hours.
00:46:53.29\00:46:55.25
Then I went to a Catholic
priest and he was the only one
00:46:55.45\00:46:57.42
that told me the truth. And
I was trying to find a place
00:46:57.52\00:46:59.31
to worship where I could
still belong to the world.
00:46:59.41\00:47:02.14
But God did not allow me
to be caught between two gods.
00:47:02.34\00:47:04.99
Balaam was
caught between two gods.
00:47:06.13\00:47:07.91
Whenever we are determined
to follow our own course
00:47:08.11\00:47:10.29
no matter what God's Word
says, we are caught between
00:47:10.49\00:47:13.44
two gods. That's
point number one.
00:47:13.54\00:47:15.23
The second point:
Balaam made his own decision
00:47:15.43\00:47:18.80
but he sought God's approval.
00:47:19.00\00:47:21.47
Don't miss that one.
00:47:22.30\00:47:23.67
When we make sinful decisions
and claim divine approval
00:47:23.90\00:47:27.91
we are torn between two gods.
00:47:28.11\00:47:30.76
Now get this:
because God allows it
00:47:30.96\00:47:33.02
does not mean
that God sanctions it.
00:47:33.22\00:47:35.33
There are some people that
say: "Well if God didn't want me
00:47:35.54\00:47:37.72
to smoke He
wouldn't make tobacco. "
00:47:37.82\00:47:39.88
"If God didn't want us to drink
beer He wouldn't make barley. "
00:47:42.20\00:47:45.93
God allows us to
use what is for our good
00:47:47.07\00:47:50.28
sometimes to our destruction.
00:47:51.79\00:47:53.19
Because God allows it doesn't
mean that God sanctions it.
00:47:53.39\00:47:56.60
There are those people
that would date other people
00:47:56.70\00:47:58.27
that are not in the
faith and that person will be
00:47:58.37\00:48:00.12
leading them down a path.
And you know they'll think
00:48:00.22\00:48:02.40
in all their mind they
think "Well I could convert that
00:48:02.50\00:48:04.24
individual. Give me time...
I'll change their heart. "
00:48:04.34\00:48:06.64
But if you don't like the
person the way they are when you
00:48:06.84\00:48:08.36
find them, chances are
they're going to be that way
00:48:08.46\00:48:10.38
for a long time.
00:48:10.48\00:48:12.07
He made his own decisions
but he sought God's approval.
00:48:13.93\00:48:16.27
There are those
people that look in the Bible
00:48:16.37\00:48:17.74
and I don't want to harp
on anything... but there are
00:48:17.77\00:48:20.37
those individuals that are
searching the Bible nowadays
00:48:20.47\00:48:22.47
in the Adventist church trying
to find scriptures to support
00:48:22.68\00:48:25.34
wearing tiny earrings.
00:48:25.54\00:48:27.23
Tell me "duck. " All right?
00:48:27.53\00:48:28.90
Before you throw
something tell me when to duck.
00:48:29.04\00:48:31.12
There are
those... I kid you not...
00:48:32.28\00:48:36.35
Something's got to be wrong
when you have a movie entitled
00:48:36.49\00:48:38.75
"Seventh-gay Adventists. "
00:48:38.95\00:48:40.89
Something's got to be wrong
to think that you can be gay
00:48:41.09\00:48:43.62
exercising,
living that lifestyle
00:48:43.76\00:48:46.02
and still be a practicing
Seventh-day Adventist Christian.
00:48:46.22\00:48:49.13
Something's wrong.
Somebody's got to be making
00:48:49.33\00:48:51.39
their own decision but looking
for divine approval somewhere.
00:48:51.49\00:48:54.63
The third evidence that
you are caught between two gods
00:48:57.95\00:49:00.69
is Balaam's desires and
inclinations were more important
00:49:00.79\00:49:04.25
than God's Word. Have
you noticed over and over
00:49:04.46\00:49:07.22
something I keep
repeating? God's Word.
00:49:07.42\00:49:09.58
I believe that God's
Word is a reliable book. Amen.
00:49:09.79\00:49:13.32
If we simply read God's Word,
00:49:13.73\00:49:15.50
we'll never have to ask
questions about whether or not
00:49:15.71\00:49:18.25
we should or should not. I
remember Elder C. D. Brooks
00:49:18.36\00:49:20.44
said: "If you've gotta
ask a question, that means
00:49:20.55\00:49:22.68
you're not
converted. " Some people say:
00:49:22.78\00:49:24.15
"Now what's
wrong with dancing? "
00:49:24.19\00:49:25.56
He says: "When you are converted
you won't ask those questions. "
00:49:27.56\00:49:30.17
"Now what's wrong with
this or what's wrong? "
00:49:30.38\00:49:32.54
Whenever we are reading
the Word of God, we'll have
00:49:32.74\00:49:34.88
less questions about
"What's wrong with... "
00:49:34.98\00:49:37.15
and more desire to
support what God's Word says
00:49:38.47\00:49:41.66
is right with it. Amen. Amen?
00:49:41.76\00:49:44.46
The other thing is:
00:49:44.86\00:49:46.23
Balaam spoke as though
God did not choose him.
00:49:48.23\00:49:51.02
He was a prophet.
00:49:51.12\00:49:52.49
Today there are so
many that have chosen
00:49:52.52\00:49:54.59
to lead that speak as
though they are not chosen.
00:49:54.80\00:50:00.63
One of the reasons I'm
keeping my eyes on the Lord is
00:50:01.79\00:50:04.03
because the church right
now is going through a lot of
00:50:04.13\00:50:05.88
struggles, a lot of
battles, a lot of issues.
00:50:05.98\00:50:08.06
I'm not going to get caught
up in the struggles and the
00:50:08.46\00:50:10.57
battles and the
issues. Anybody else?
00:50:10.77\00:50:12.49
Amen! Because if you get
caught in one camp or the other
00:50:12.69\00:50:15.16
you know right now
one of the hotbed issues
00:50:15.26\00:50:16.81
is whether or not to
ordain or not to ordain.
00:50:16.91\00:50:19.04
Let me put it this way:
00:50:19.44\00:50:21.30
if you've got a mouth,
you ought to open your mouth
00:50:22.90\00:50:25.90
and use it to
proclaim the ministry of God.
00:50:26.11\00:50:28.19
What do you say? Now
whether God chooses to
00:50:28.29\00:50:30.36
ordain Cherie Peters
or not He still uses her
00:50:30.46\00:50:34.38
to proclaim the good news of
His salvation. What do you say?
00:50:34.58\00:50:37.18
Amen! So I'm not going to
get caught up in that camp.
00:50:37.38\00:50:39.50
I was looking
recently on the Internet
00:50:42.10\00:50:46.75
and sometimes you've got
to be careful where you look
00:50:46.85\00:50:48.84
on the Internet.
Am I right? Amen.
00:50:48.94\00:50:51.79
You know, some people spend
time on Facebook and fail to
00:50:51.93\00:50:54.11
realize that one day we're
going to have to face the Book.
00:50:54.22\00:50:56.45
And then we get all these
friends that connect to our
00:50:56.85\00:50:59.77
Facebook page.
And I tell you what:
00:50:59.87\00:51:01.54
if you look at the
friends that you have sometimes
00:51:01.65\00:51:03.51
they can get you more
discouraged than if you spend
00:51:03.71\00:51:05.68
more time looking at
the Word of God. Amen.
00:51:05.78\00:51:08.22
And then friends write e-mails.
00:51:08.32\00:51:09.69
And then there are those
who are spending their time
00:51:09.74\00:51:11.77
searching out whether or not
another person is living right,
00:51:12.07\00:51:14.22
another person is
doing what they should do.
00:51:14.32\00:51:15.76
Brothers and sisters, I
don't have time for that.
00:51:15.96\00:51:17.39
I've got to study God's Word
and determine whether or not
00:51:17.42\00:51:19.96
I'm doing what God
has called me to do
00:51:20.16\00:51:22.46
rather than becoming a police
in somebody else's life. Amen!
00:51:22.56\00:51:26.45
Balaam spent more of his
time determining his own course,
00:51:26.57\00:51:29.57
his own way, his own
ideas, his own ideology.
00:51:29.67\00:51:32.82
And for many years
that's the camp that I was in...
00:51:32.92\00:51:35.28
caught between two gods.
00:51:35.48\00:51:36.88
A room filled with records,
a room filled with albums,
00:51:37.08\00:51:40.31
a room filled with
pool sticks and boom boxes
00:51:40.42\00:51:43.57
and living my life on a
different road all together.
00:51:43.77\00:51:46.64
Not really concerned about
whether or not I was living
00:51:46.84\00:51:49.07
to the pleasing
call of God on my life.
00:51:49.17\00:51:51.52
And there even are some times...
and I want to confess...
00:51:51.72\00:51:54.18
there are even some
times when we would sit down
00:51:54.38\00:51:56.96
and look at the things
that the world has to offer.
00:51:57.16\00:51:58.68
I've told you this story.
00:51:58.78\00:52:00.15
We sometimes look at the
things that the world offers
00:52:00.18\00:52:02.00
and we think: "Now you know,
if I go out there, maybe I could
00:52:02.11\00:52:04.21
be a lot better
off financially. "
00:52:04.31\00:52:06.20
But finances is
not the best blessing
00:52:06.40\00:52:08.52
because you cannot buy
your way to the kingdom. Amen.
00:52:08.72\00:52:11.40
You've got to serve God because
what God has in store for us
00:52:11.53\00:52:14.13
is far greater than
anything that money can buy.
00:52:14.34\00:52:18.08
Sometimes I'd sit down
and look up at the stars
00:52:18.48\00:52:22.31
and I'm one of those
guys that likes astronomy.
00:52:22.51\00:52:25.04
I'm one of those guys that
likes to look up at the stars
00:52:25.34\00:52:27.61
and sometimes go
beyond the things that I have
00:52:27.71\00:52:29.44
and look at what
God has in store.
00:52:29.64\00:52:31.01
And there are some
nights that I look at the stars
00:52:31.04\00:52:32.81
and I say: "If
God can create that
00:52:33.01\00:52:34.76
I can only imagine what
God has in store for me. "
00:52:34.97\00:52:37.91
And then I'll look at
the things of the earth
00:52:39.53\00:52:40.98
and then that song all of
a sudden comes into my mind
00:52:41.08\00:52:43.09
"And the things of
earth will grow strangely dim
00:52:43.29\00:52:46.62
in the light of
His glory and grace. "
00:52:46.82\00:52:49.44
Let me encourage you: the
blessings that God has in store
00:52:49.54\00:52:52.02
for us are far greater than
any blessing that we can ever
00:52:52.13\00:52:55.93
experience on this tiny little
speck called planet earth.
00:52:56.03\00:53:01.98
Amen.
00:53:02.01\00:53:03.38
My wife and I have decided
00:53:03.41\00:53:05.26
that come what may we're
going to make up our minds
00:53:05.56\00:53:07.89
and that's why
we study our Bibles.
00:53:07.99\00:53:09.68
That's why we read our Bibles.
00:53:09.88\00:53:11.25
You know, we have to
always be continuing to filter
00:53:11.28\00:53:14.42
our lives and filter the
things that come into our home.
00:53:14.52\00:53:17.43
I remember that
we... just a few weeks ago
00:53:17.63\00:53:19.40
turned on our television.
And we have DISH Network
00:53:19.70\00:53:23.29
and we were
thumbing through the channels
00:53:23.39\00:53:24.76
and we noticed that
we didn't order this;
00:53:24.94\00:53:27.57
all of a sudden HBO showed up.
00:53:27.77\00:53:29.40
I said: "HBO? Doesn't that
stand for Hell's Box Office? "
00:53:29.60\00:53:32.73
And then... And then I
said: "HBO? We've got HBO. "
00:53:34.86\00:53:39.18
And then we kept
going further. "Cinemax.
00:53:39.28\00:53:41.34
Isn't that Sin to the Max? "
00:53:41.54\00:53:42.95
I'm thinking: "Why
is that in our house? "
00:53:43.25\00:53:45.18
We've got to filter our
lives because no matter how long
00:53:46.39\00:53:49.83
we are Christians sometimes
Satan chooses the timing
00:53:50.03\00:53:54.04
to re-insert himself
into our lives. Amen?
00:53:54.24\00:53:56.75
So we've got to
always filter our lives.
00:53:57.05\00:53:58.64
Don't be like Balaam thinking
that" Hey, maybe there's
00:53:58.74\00:54:00.52
something in it. "
Because as long as you stand
00:54:00.62\00:54:02.86
in front of sin
and compromise with sin
00:54:02.96\00:54:05.72
you'll discover that
there's always a price
00:54:06.03\00:54:08.32
to going in the wrong direction.
00:54:08.52\00:54:10.69
The fourth evidence that
you're caught between two gods -
00:54:11.09\00:54:13.83
and this one to me is
the most powerful one -
00:54:14.03\00:54:15.59
Balaam prayed for
answers that he already knew
00:54:15.89\00:54:20.32
what the answers would be.
00:54:20.52\00:54:21.89
You know sometimes we
pray: "Lord, I need this job. "
00:54:22.19\00:54:24.42
And God... They get up off their
knees and then somebody calls
00:54:24.62\00:54:27.83
them to work on
Sabbath and they come and say:
00:54:27.93\00:54:30.38
"Pastor, I got a job! "
"Well where'd you get a job? "
00:54:30.48\00:54:32.92
"I'll be back to prayer meeting
but I'll be working on Sabbath
00:54:33.12\00:54:35.53
from now on. And I'll be back. I
haven't forgotten the church. "
00:54:35.63\00:54:37.82
God does not answer that
kind of prayer. What do you say?
00:54:38.02\00:54:40.91
Amen! So when you pray
for an answer opposite to what
00:54:41.11\00:54:44.30
God's Word already supports
00:54:44.40\00:54:46.29
you are caught between two gods.
00:54:46.49\00:54:49.84
You've got to be familiar
with what God's Word says
00:54:50.14\00:54:52.88
before you ask God
00:54:53.28\00:54:55.40
to decide to join you
in your rebellious thought,
00:54:56.62\00:54:59.47
in your journey, in
your decision to follow
00:54:59.67\00:55:02.54
the wrong course.
And so the question is:
00:55:02.74\00:55:05.05
which one was
torn between two gods?
00:55:05.35\00:55:07.72
An obedient donkey or
a disobedient prophet?
00:55:08.50\00:55:12.48
Which one was
torn between two gods?
00:55:12.78\00:55:15.70
A donkey that sat
when God said "sit"
00:55:15.90\00:55:18.79
or a prophet that refused to
stand when God said "stand? "
00:55:18.89\00:55:23.48
Which one was
torn between two gods?
00:55:23.78\00:55:26.50
A donkey that
stopped when man said "go"
00:55:28.26\00:55:31.22
or a man that kept
going when God said to stop?
00:55:32.32\00:55:36.72
Which one was
torn between two gods?
00:55:37.02\00:55:40.18
At the border of
the Promised Land
00:55:40.65\00:55:42.32
Balaam was torn
between two gods.
00:55:42.52\00:55:46.34
Church: once again we are at
the border of the Promised Land
00:55:46.64\00:55:50.09
and this is too late of an hour
00:55:50.49\00:55:52.21
for us to be
battling between two gods.
00:55:52.41\00:55:54.57
So you've got to
examine your life.
00:55:54.67\00:55:56.04
Camp Meeting is the
place where we challenge you
00:55:56.07\00:55:58.11
to go back and examine
the kind of life you live.
00:55:58.21\00:56:00.31
To see whether or not
there are any gods in your life
00:56:00.52\00:56:03.19
that you are choosing through.
00:56:03.39\00:56:04.76
There are some
Monday to Friday gods.
00:56:04.79\00:56:07.08
Then there are Sabbath gods.
00:56:07.29\00:56:08.66
And so we live one
way during the week
00:56:09.03\00:56:10.68
and come to church on
Sabbath. And the reason why
00:56:10.78\00:56:12.29
we're so off and not able to
get anything from the message
00:56:12.39\00:56:15.50
is because we spend so
much time in that god's camp
00:56:15.70\00:56:18.00
that this God's
camp doesn't even measure
00:56:18.21\00:56:20.60
when we come to church.
Which god are you torn between?
00:56:20.80\00:56:24.69
The god of music and of fashion?
00:56:24.89\00:56:26.82
The god of entertainment?
00:56:27.02\00:56:28.39
The god of prestige
and fame and notoriety?
00:56:28.42\00:56:31.50
Which god are we
still torn between?
00:56:31.70\00:56:35.22
Don't forget the
words of Moses and he said:
00:56:35.52\00:56:37.95
"And now Israel, what does
your Lord God require of you
00:56:38.25\00:56:42.08
but to fear the Lord your God?
00:56:42.28\00:56:43.65
To walk in all His
ways and to love Him.
00:56:43.94\00:56:46.19
To serve the Lord your
God with all your heart
00:56:46.39\00:56:50.06
and with all your soul. "
00:56:50.36\00:56:53.41
I don't want to be
caught between two gods.
00:56:53.61\00:56:55.19
I want to serve God and
Him alone. What do you say?
00:56:55.39\00:56:57.28
Amen! Those of you who are
watching and listening to the
00:56:57.48\00:56:59.86
program, the hour is too late.
00:56:59.96\00:57:02.28
What other god may be in
your home that's taking your
00:57:02.48\00:57:04.83
allegiance from God,
let us cast off that god
00:57:04.93\00:57:08.13
and put on the armor of light.
00:57:08.33\00:57:10.01
Let's make our decision
to serve God and Him alone.
00:57:10.21\00:57:12.59
For when He comes
I want to meet my God
00:57:12.80\00:57:15.51
in peace... my God in obedience.
00:57:15.72\00:57:19.09