Shall we bow our
heads for prayer?
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Our Father in Heaven, what a joy
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it is to be in Your house of
worship on Your holy Sabbath.
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We thank you Father,
for the beautiful sunshine,
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but we also
thank You for the rain,
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which has made
everything so green
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and beautiful in this valley.
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We ask Father, that the
rain of Your Holy Spirit
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will fall upon our hearts
and our minds this morning.
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We ask that the
sunshine of the face of Jesus
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might also shine
upon our countenance
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as we open Your Holy Word.
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We thank You for the
promise that you will be with us
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when we sincerely
ask from our heart.
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And so Father, we ask
that You would be present
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through the
ministration of angels,
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through Your Spirit.
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And we thank you
Lord, for hearing our prayer
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for we ask in Jesus name, amen.
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As we've studied before
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the journey of
Israel from Egypt to Canaan
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is actually a
symbol of the journey
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that we are in the midst
of from the earthly Egypt
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to the heavenly Canaan.
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Now if you remember
in the history of Israel,
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Israel arrived on the
borders a Promise Land.
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And it was God's
plan to introduced Israel
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immediately into
the Promised Land.
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But because of a lack of faith,
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because of unbelief we
find that God told Israel
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that they would not
enter the Promise Land.
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They would have to wander
in the wilderness for 40 years.
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And so that whole generation
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with the
exception of these two men
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and all of the young
people 18 years and under
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went through the
course of the wilderness
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for a period of 40
years because of unbelief.
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In other words there was a delay
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in the coming to
the Promised Land.
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Four years later,
Israel once again arrived
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at the borders
of the Promise Land.
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You can imagine what it
must have been like for them.
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They have spent 40
years in the wilderness
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at least the 18-year-olds.
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And now they came
to the valley of Siddim
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which is on the east
side of the Jordan River.
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The valley is filled with
fountains of clear waters.
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It has an abundance of
trees primarily palm trees
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and acacia tree just
absolutely lushly beautiful,
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a sight for sore eyes.
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Imagine this scene
after spending 40 years
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of seen only sun, sand,
rocks, serpents and dust.
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And now they see
this beautiful scene
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before them crystal clear
brooks, beautiful palm trees.
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And as they looked
out towards the west
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they could see
beyond the Jordan River
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the glistening of
the city of Jericho
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known as the city
of a Thousand Palms.
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But folks, here in
the Valley of Siddim,
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Israel was going to face
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a more formidable
enemy then they would face
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as they attacked the
cities in the Promised Land.
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In that spectacular Valley,
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Israel was going
to face a temptation
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which would be
far greater than any
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that they had
faced up till this time.
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In fact, there in
that lush beautiful valley
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there would be a
final great shaking
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before Israel
entered the Promised Land.
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In fact, we could
look at the first arrival
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at the borders of
Canaan as the Alpha of apostasy
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and we could look at this
second arrival 40 years later
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as the Omega of apostasy.
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It's interesting to
notice what this place was like.
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Yes it was beautiful, yes
it had crystal-clear brooks,
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yes it had wonderful trees,
it was a sight for sore eyes,
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but in that place you have
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all sorts of
idolatrous practices.
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In fact, incest, homosexuality
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and prostitution, rampant there.
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Despicable acts of
idolatry were practice there.
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In fact, the main
god which was worshipped
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in the high places
was Baal the sun god.
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And so Israel in
this beautiful place
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lush and wonderful after
being in the desert in the dry
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and deselect desert was
faced with the temptations
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which existed there
in that beautiful place.
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Now I want you to notice
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as we enter our
study this morning
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that the devil has
used two methods throughout
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the course of human
history to try and destroy
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God's people as individuals
and as a corporate group.
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The first method that the
devil has used is persecution.
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He's tried to
physically destroy God's people
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by persecution from
the face of the earth.
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But there's a second
method that the devil uses
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to try and destroy God's
people and it's not persecution,
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it's not trying to
physically destroy God's people,
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it is the method of infiltration
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or corrupting
God's people from within.
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And here on the
borders of the Promise Land
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we see the devils two attempts
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to try and destroy
the people of Israel
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by using these two methods.
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Now turn with me in your Bibles
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to the Book of
Numbers Chapter 22,
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Numbers Chapter 22
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and we're going to go through
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Numbers 22-26
in our study today.
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It's the final apostasy
in the encampment of Israel
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before they finally
entered the Promise Land.
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And we're going to
notice that the devil attempted
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to use the first
method and he actually
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was successful in
using the second method.
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Now notice Numbers 22:1.
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It says there "Then the
children of Israel moved,
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and camped"
that's an important word
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"camped in the plains of Moab
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on the side of the
Jordan across from Jericho."
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Now it was God's
plan that Israel arise
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and enter the
Promise Land immediately,
00:09:06.14\00:09:09.92
but we're told in this verse
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that Israel decided to
camp in the plains of Moab.
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Now we're told in verse 3
that when the King of Moab
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actually heard that Israel
had arrived on the borders
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of the Promise Land
he was scared to death
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along with his people.
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Notice Numbers 22:3,
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"And Moab was
exceedingly afraid of the people
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because they were many,
and Moab was sick with dread
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because of the
children of Israel."
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You see, they knew that Israel
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had spent 40
years in the wilderness.
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Who could live 40
years in the wilderness
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and not have
your clothes wear out?
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Who could live for 40
years in the wilderness
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and find enough water to
drink or enough food to eat?
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They knew that it was
the miraculous preservation
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of God that had kept Israel
in the midst of the wilderness.
00:10:14.40\00:10:18.07
And now when Israel arrives
00:10:18.10\00:10:19.43
on the borders
of the Promise Land,
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Balak is scared to death.
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And so Balak
comes up with a plan.
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He is going to curse Israel
and if he can curse Israel
00:10:29.51\00:10:34.57
then he will be able to take
his armies and destroy them.
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Now Balak had heard that Israel
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had a certain
prophet called Balaam.
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He was an insider.
00:10:46.52\00:10:48.29
In fact Balaam, was a faithful
prophet of God at first.
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And so Balak said,
maybe I can entice Balaam
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the prophet to go
and to curse Israel
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so that when I come
upon them with my armies
00:11:00.87\00:11:03.41
I'll be able to destroy them.
00:11:03.44\00:11:06.73
And so we're told in the story
00:11:06.76\00:11:08.92
that Balak encouraged Balaam
00:11:08.95\00:11:11.94
to use
divination and incantations
00:11:11.97\00:11:17.17
by the way that means
sorcery to curse Israel.
00:11:17.20\00:11:22.08
And of course when Balaam hears
00:11:22.11\00:11:23.99
about Balak's plan to have him
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curse Israel Balaam says well,
00:11:26.40\00:11:29.26
I must consult
with the Lord to see
00:11:29.29\00:11:31.66
if the Lord will
allow me to do this.
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Balaam knew very well that
God was not gonna curse Israel,
00:11:34.50\00:11:37.48
because Israel was in a
proper good relationship
00:11:37.51\00:11:40.57
with God at this point.
00:11:40.60\00:11:42.41
In other words
Israel was faithful to God.
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They were
keeping God's covenant.
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They had learned their lesson
in the wilderness for 40 years.
00:11:46.51\00:11:50.08
But Balaam anyway
consults with God and he says
00:11:50.11\00:11:54.17
Lord, will You give me
permission to curse this people
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that You have a blessed?
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And God told him You
will dare not curse My people,
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I forbid you to curse them.
00:12:07.06\00:12:10.34
And so Balaam goes back
to Balak and he says Balak,
00:12:10.37\00:12:13.80
I'm sorry, but God has told me
00:12:13.83\00:12:16.14
that I cannot curse
Israel from outside.
00:12:16.17\00:12:19.69
I cannot pronounce incantations
and sorcery against them
00:12:19.72\00:12:23.55
and I cannot go
beyond the word of the Lord.
00:12:23.58\00:12:28.12
Now Balak wasn't
about to give up.
00:12:28.15\00:12:30.88
So he says maybe I just
didn't offer enough money,
00:12:30.91\00:12:34.79
maybe I just did
not send princess
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that work high enough
in rank to impress Baleem.
00:12:37.77\00:12:42.42
And so now for a second time
00:12:42.45\00:12:44.99
Balak attempts to
convince Balaam to curse Israel.
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And so we find in
chapter 22 and verse 18
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that when the messengers
higher in rank are sent to him
00:12:56.57\00:13:01.27
and with more riches
that had been offered before
00:13:01.30\00:13:05.23
refined Balaam saying
in chapter 22 and verse 18.
00:13:05.26\00:13:10.25
"Even if Balak
gave me his palace
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filled with silver and gold,
00:13:15.02\00:13:18.14
I could not do anything
great or small to go beyond
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the command of the Lord my God."
00:13:22.76\00:13:26.57
And so Balaam says to Balak
just give me a chance to go
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and check with
the Lord again to see
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if He's changed His mind
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if He will allow
me to curse Israel.
00:13:34.41\00:13:38.42
And so Balaam decides
00:13:38.45\00:13:40.03
that he is going to
consult with the Lord.
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And the Lord this time
seen that Balaam is insistent,
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He says yes, go
with the princes.
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And so Balaam
gets his donkey ready
00:13:48.74\00:13:51.18
and you know the
story of the donkey.
00:13:51.21\00:13:54.48
And he begins riding his donkey
00:13:54.51\00:13:57.09
and as he's riding
three times the donkey stops.
00:13:57.12\00:14:03.63
And the third time, I'm
making a long story short,
00:14:03.66\00:14:06.28
the third time the donkey
stops and he will not budge.
00:14:06.31\00:14:10.74
And Balaam begins
beating his donkey.
00:14:10.77\00:14:15.05
And you can imagine how
angry Balaam must have been,
00:14:15.08\00:14:20.26
but the Bible tells
us that the donkey--
00:14:20.29\00:14:23.45
it doesn't say he
turned, but maybe he did.
00:14:23.48\00:14:25.93
The donkey turned and he
says, why are you beating me?
00:14:25.96\00:14:32.37
Now if I were in my
senses and a donkey spoke to me,
00:14:32.40\00:14:39.49
I would be out
of there in no time,
00:14:39.52\00:14:42.91
but Balaam was so furious
00:14:42.94\00:14:45.60
that when the
donkey spoke to him
00:14:45.63\00:14:48.45
he actually said to the donkey,
00:14:48.48\00:14:50.42
you know I really ought
to kill you for not budging.
00:14:50.45\00:14:54.76
And then the Bible tells us
00:14:54.79\00:14:56.40
that the eyes of
Balaam were opened
00:14:56.43\00:14:59.69
and he knew why the donkey
had not advanced any further.
00:14:59.72\00:15:03.55
It says there that
the angel of the Lord,
00:15:03.58\00:15:05.82
by the way the angel of Lord
00:15:05.85\00:15:07.07
in the Old Testament is Jesus.
00:15:07.10\00:15:09.00
The angel of the Lord
had his sword unsheathe
00:15:09.03\00:15:13.29
and therefore the
donkey would not budge.
00:15:13.32\00:15:16.12
God was warning the sword
00:15:16.15\00:15:17.52
is the symbol
of the Word of God.
00:15:17.55\00:15:20.49
God was giving Balaam
a warning, He was saying,
00:15:20.52\00:15:23.68
don't you dare, go
and curse my people.
00:15:23.71\00:15:29.85
And so Balaam goes to
Balak and he says to Balak,
00:15:29.88\00:15:34.97
I can only speak that
which God puts in my mouth.
00:15:35.00\00:15:42.42
And so Balaam goes
to a high elevation,
00:15:42.45\00:15:45.10
Balak actually takes him there
00:15:45.13\00:15:47.24
and Balak is
expecting Balaam to curse
00:15:47.27\00:15:50.80
the children of Israel
and Balaam opens his mouth
00:15:50.83\00:15:54.84
and he pronounces the words
00:15:54.87\00:15:56.18
that we find in
chapter 23 and verses 8-10.
00:15:56.21\00:16:01.92
"How shall I curse
whom God has not cursed?
00:16:01.95\00:16:07.69
And how shall I denounce
whom the Lord has not denounced?
00:16:07.72\00:16:12.98
For from the top of
the rocks I see him,
00:16:13.01\00:16:16.61
and from the hills I behold him.
00:16:16.64\00:16:19.03
There!
00:16:19.06\00:16:20.20
A people dwelling alone,
00:16:20.23\00:16:22.21
not reckoning
itself among the nations."
00:16:22.24\00:16:25.07
Notice that they
were a separate people,
00:16:25.10\00:16:27.43
they were not
reckoned among the nation.
00:16:27.46\00:16:31.52
"Who can count
the dust of Jacob,
00:16:31.55\00:16:34.29
or number one-fourth of Israel?"
00:16:34.32\00:16:37.52
And then he says "Let me
die the death of the righteous,
00:16:37.55\00:16:41.70
and let my end be like his!"
00:16:41.73\00:16:46.38
And of course
when Balaam pronounces
00:16:46.41\00:16:48.27
these wonderful
words about Israel
00:16:48.30\00:16:51.11
and about the God of Israel,
Balak is filled with fury.
00:16:51.14\00:16:56.39
And he says to Balaam, listen,
00:16:56.42\00:16:58.46
I said that I would
pay you to curse Israel
00:16:58.49\00:17:01.22
all you've done is
speak well of them,
00:17:01.25\00:17:03.38
all you have
done is bless Israel.
00:17:03.41\00:17:06.85
And so Balak
thinks, he says well,
00:17:06.88\00:17:08.90
maybe it's because
I took him to a place
00:17:08.93\00:17:10.83
where he can see
all of the people
00:17:10.86\00:17:13.68
and he was intimidated
00:17:13.71\00:17:15.06
by the number of
the people in Israel.
00:17:15.09\00:17:17.65
So now he takes
Balaam to a place
00:17:17.68\00:17:19.86
where he can only see a
portion of the camp of Israel.
00:17:19.89\00:17:22.97
He says maybe if
he sees less of them
00:17:23.00\00:17:25.41
he'll be impressed
to curse this people.
00:17:25.44\00:17:30.13
And so Balak takes
him to this elevation.
00:17:30.16\00:17:33.76
And I want you to notice,
00:17:33.79\00:17:35.11
once again what we find in
chapter 23 and verse 20-23,
00:17:35.14\00:17:42.41
the reaction of Balaam.
00:17:42.44\00:17:44.90
"Behold, I have
received a command to bless,
00:17:44.93\00:17:50.55
He has blessed, and
I cannot reverse it.
00:17:50.58\00:17:55.29
He has" now notice why
"He has not observed inequity
00:17:55.32\00:18:00.48
in Jacob, nor has He
seen wickedness in Israel."
00:18:00.51\00:18:05.39
What condition was Israel in?
00:18:05.42\00:18:07.99
According to this God had
not seen inequity in Jacob,
00:18:08.02\00:18:11.65
nor had He seen
wickedness in Israel.
00:18:11.68\00:18:15.13
"The Lord his God is with him,
00:18:15.16\00:18:18.27
and the shout of a
King is among them.
00:18:18.30\00:18:22.41
God brings them out of Egypt,
00:18:22.44\00:18:25.10
He has strength like a wild ox.
00:18:25.13\00:18:28.24
'For there is no
sorcery against Jacob,
00:18:28.27\00:18:31.70
nor any
divination against Israel.
00:18:31.73\00:18:35.09
It now must be said
of Jacob and of Israel,
00:18:35.12\00:18:38.54
Oh, what God has done!'"
00:18:38.57\00:18:43.65
And so here Balaam is
supposed to go to the elevation
00:18:43.68\00:18:46.95
and he's
supposed to curse Israel
00:18:46.98\00:18:49.03
and all he's
doing is pronouncing
00:18:49.06\00:18:51.66
wonderful glittering messages
and blessings upon Israel.
00:18:51.69\00:18:57.31
And so Balak says
perhaps where was the angle
00:18:57.34\00:19:00.99
at which he saw the people.
00:19:01.02\00:19:02.47
So he takes him
to another elevation.
00:19:02.50\00:19:05.69
And he says Balaam
curse these people,
00:19:05.72\00:19:09.12
so that when we attacked
them they can be destroyed.
00:19:09.15\00:19:14.00
And what's
interesting is that Balaam
00:19:14.03\00:19:16.81
instead of cursing Israel
00:19:16.84\00:19:19.66
he curses the
enemies of Israel by name.
00:19:19.69\00:19:23.81
He mentions Edom, Amalek,
the Canaanites, Ashur and Eber.
00:19:23.84\00:19:30.15
In other words he
curses the very nations
00:19:30.18\00:19:32.70
that are scared of Israel.
00:19:32.73\00:19:34.41
And so Balak is
simply filled with fury.
00:19:34.44\00:19:37.34
He says forget it.
Don't even bless or curse.
00:19:37.37\00:19:44.05
And now Balaam, of
course, wanting the money
00:19:44.08\00:19:46.93
and wanting the
power and the prestige
00:19:46.96\00:19:49.54
he begins thinking and he says,
00:19:49.57\00:19:51.51
now what could I do
to gain these riches
00:19:51.54\00:19:55.92
that Balak has offered me.
00:19:55.95\00:19:57.38
Because he won't
give me these riches
00:19:57.41\00:19:59.60
and this prestige if
unless I curse Israel.
00:19:59.63\00:20:04.09
And so Balaam
comes up with a "plan B."
00:20:04.12\00:20:09.51
Now I want you to notice
00:20:09.54\00:20:10.57
that "plan A" is
to destroy Israel
00:20:10.60\00:20:14.93
by removing God's blessing
from Israel, by crushing them.
00:20:14.96\00:20:20.68
But they were in a
proper relationship with God.
00:20:20.71\00:20:23.18
There was no inequity in Israel
00:20:23.21\00:20:25.77
and therefore
Israel had the guarantee
00:20:25.80\00:20:28.27
of the protection of God.
00:20:28.30\00:20:29.80
They could not be cursed,
00:20:29.83\00:20:31.12
they could not be
destroyed from outside.
00:20:31.15\00:20:34.57
But now Balaam comes
up with another idea.
00:20:34.60\00:20:38.64
He says to Balak,
you know I know a plan
00:20:38.67\00:20:41.69
which just might work.
00:20:41.72\00:20:43.54
If you can't
fight them, join them.
00:20:43.57\00:20:50.14
And so we find that
Balaam speaks with Balak
00:20:50.17\00:20:57.21
and with the harlots of Moab
00:20:57.24\00:21:00.26
and encourages
the harlots to come
00:21:00.29\00:21:02.63
in among the Israelites
to corrupt them from inside.
00:21:02.66\00:21:07.85
Let's read about
it in Numbers 25:1-3,
00:21:07.88\00:21:12.74
Numbers 25:1-3.
00:21:12.77\00:21:17.31
It says "Then Israel"
now notice this is important.
00:21:17.34\00:21:20.41
"Israel remained
in Acacia Grove."
00:21:20.44\00:21:26.14
Was that God's
plan for them to remain?
00:21:26.17\00:21:28.64
Absolutely not.
00:21:28.67\00:21:30.08
They were to arise and
conquer the Promise Land,
00:21:30.11\00:21:33.39
but they
decided to remain there.
00:21:33.42\00:21:35.66
And so it says "Then Israel
remained in the Acacia Grove,
00:21:35.69\00:21:40.29
and the people
began to commit harlotry
00:21:40.32\00:21:44.08
with the women of Moab.
00:21:44.11\00:21:46.61
They invited the people to
the sacrifices up their gods,
00:21:46.64\00:21:50.89
and the people ate and
bowed down to their gods.
00:21:50.92\00:21:54.84
So Israel was
joined to Baal of Peor,
00:21:54.87\00:21:59.05
and the anger of
the Lord" was against
00:21:59.08\00:22:03.08
or "was aroused against Israel."
00:22:03.11\00:22:06.70
You see Israel felt
that they could trust Balaam
00:22:06.73\00:22:10.37
because he was a
prophet of the Lord,
00:22:10.40\00:22:14.32
but Balaam the
individual who claim to speak
00:22:14.35\00:22:18.38
from God betrayed
Israel from within.
00:22:18.41\00:22:23.19
What the devil
could not do from outside,
00:22:23.22\00:22:26.03
he did from inside by
infiltration, by corrupting
00:22:26.06\00:22:30.17
the children of
Israel on the inside.
00:22:30.20\00:22:34.39
There's a very
interesting statement.
00:22:34.42\00:22:35.77
And I'm gonna
read some statements
00:22:35.80\00:22:37.11
from Patriarchs and Prophets.
00:22:37.14\00:22:38.44
There's a wonderful chapter
00:22:38.47\00:22:40.04
where Ellen White
comments on this experience.
00:22:40.07\00:22:44.40
And I want to read a statement
00:22:44.43\00:22:46.08
that's found in Page
451 where she says this.
00:22:46.11\00:22:50.59
Speaking about Balaam's plan.
00:22:50.62\00:22:53.17
"He immediately
returned to the land of Moab
00:22:53.20\00:22:57.43
and laid his
plans before the king.
00:22:57.46\00:23:01.02
The Moabites
themselves were convinced
00:23:01.05\00:23:05.46
that so long as
Israel remained true to God,
00:23:05.49\00:23:09.87
He would be their shield."
00:23:09.90\00:23:13.18
Even the Moabites
knew that as long as Israel
00:23:13.21\00:23:15.56
was faithful to God,
God would be their shield.
00:23:15.59\00:23:20.12
She continues saying.
00:23:20.15\00:23:21.67
"The plan proposed by Balaam
was to separate them from God
00:23:21.70\00:23:27.38
by enticing them into idolatry.
00:23:27.41\00:23:30.78
If they could be let to engage
00:23:30.81\00:23:32.70
in the licentious
worship of Baal and Ashtaroth,
00:23:32.73\00:23:36.81
their omnipotent protector
would become their enemy,
00:23:36.84\00:23:41.41
and they would soon
fall a prey to the fierce,
00:23:41.44\00:23:44.79
warlike nations around them.
00:23:44.82\00:23:48.31
This plan was
readily accepted by the king,
00:23:48.34\00:23:53.30
and Balaam
himself remained to assist
00:23:53.33\00:23:56.69
in carrying get it into effect.
00:23:56.72\00:24:00.23
Balaam witnessed the success
of his diabolical scheme."
00:24:00.26\00:24:08.16
You know, this has a
very important lesson for us
00:24:08.19\00:24:11.35
who are living in
the very end of time.
00:24:11.38\00:24:14.98
As we look at what's
happening in the world folks,
00:24:15.01\00:24:17.44
there's no doubt whatsoever
that we're on the brink,
00:24:17.47\00:24:21.02
we're just about there,
00:24:21.05\00:24:23.38
we're about to
enter the Land of Canaan
00:24:23.41\00:24:25.55
this time the heavenly Canaan.
00:24:25.58\00:24:27.61
Is it just possible
that the devil has determined
00:24:27.64\00:24:31.13
that he is not able
to destroy the church
00:24:31.16\00:24:34.36
who is in a proper
relationship with God
00:24:34.39\00:24:36.98
and he will attempt to use
00:24:37.01\00:24:38.86
the second
method of infiltrating
00:24:38.89\00:24:41.90
and corrupting
the church from within
00:24:41.93\00:24:44.24
so that God withdraws
00:24:44.27\00:24:45.92
His protection
and the church falls?
00:24:45.95\00:24:50.76
There are several lessons
that I want to share with you
00:24:50.79\00:24:54.28
about this experience of
Israel in the Valley of Sittim.
00:24:54.31\00:24:59.02
There's actually nine points
that I want to cover with you.
00:24:59.05\00:25:02.87
Number one, this
temptation came to Israel
00:25:02.90\00:25:09.23
when they were at ease.
00:25:09.26\00:25:13.41
When they should have
been out marching for the Lord
00:25:13.44\00:25:16.27
and conquering for the
Lord they were at ease.
00:25:16.30\00:25:22.91
You've heard the expression
that the idle mind is what?
00:25:22.94\00:25:27.90
The devil's workshop.
It's kind of like David.
00:25:27.93\00:25:33.98
You know, when he
should have been out
00:25:34.01\00:25:35.14
fighting the wars of the Lord
00:25:35.17\00:25:37.35
it says that he
stayed in the palace
00:25:37.38\00:25:40.22
and that's where
the big temptation came.
00:25:40.25\00:25:42.73
Solomon when he
had all of these riches
00:25:42.76\00:25:45.05
he felt comfortable.
00:25:45.08\00:25:47.02
The Laodicean
Church which feels rich
00:25:47.05\00:25:49.33
and increased with
goods and in need of nothing.
00:25:49.36\00:25:51.68
These are the
most dangerous moments.
00:25:51.71\00:25:54.91
And so while they're at
ease they lower their guard.
00:25:54.94\00:26:00.47
In Numbers 25:1, I read.
00:26:00.50\00:26:02.91
"Then Israel remains"
that's an important word
00:26:02.94\00:26:05.54
"They remained in Acacia Grove,
00:26:05.57\00:26:07.78
and the people
began to commit harlotry
00:26:07.81\00:26:10.33
with the women of Moab."
00:26:10.36\00:26:12.57
Patriarchs and Prophets,
Page 459 we find this comment.
00:26:12.60\00:26:16.80
"It was when the Israelites
00:26:16.83\00:26:19.39
were in a
condition of outward ease
00:26:19.42\00:26:23.33
and security that
they were led into sin."
00:26:23.36\00:26:27.39
And Ellen White goes on to say
00:26:27.42\00:26:28.82
that they should
have been meditating
00:26:28.85\00:26:30.14
upon the goodness of God,
00:26:30.17\00:26:31.59
they should have been praying
to the Lord as they prepared
00:26:31.62\00:26:35.48
to conquer the
nations of Canaan,
00:26:35.51\00:26:37.71
but instead of
this they were at ease.
00:26:37.74\00:26:39.78
In other words,
their great temptation came
00:26:39.81\00:26:42.41
when they left their guard down.
00:26:42.44\00:26:45.64
The second important
lesson that I want us to notice
00:26:45.67\00:26:48.23
about this
episode is that the people
00:26:48.26\00:26:51.04
had more to fear from
within than from without.
00:26:51.07\00:26:56.08
They were betrayed by an insider
00:26:56.11\00:26:59.36
who had a desire for
wealth and popularity and power.
00:26:59.39\00:27:07.19
Once again in the book
Patriarchs and Prophets,
00:27:07.22\00:27:09.64
Page 459 we find these words.
00:27:09.67\00:27:14.08
"It was the
traitors within the walls
00:27:14.11\00:27:19.19
that overthrew the
strongholds of principle
00:27:19.22\00:27:23.32
and betrayed Israel
into a power of Satan."
00:27:23.35\00:27:27.98
Not only do we learn the lesson
00:27:28.01\00:27:30.56
that when we are at
ease instead of preparing
00:27:30.59\00:27:34.47
for battle and
fighting the battles of the Lord
00:27:34.50\00:27:37.01
are we endanger we discovered
00:27:37.04\00:27:39.02
that the greatest
enemies to entice God's people
00:27:39.05\00:27:42.60
into apostasy
come not from outside,
00:27:42.63\00:27:45.94
but from where, from inside.
00:27:45.97\00:27:49.78
Third lesson, the
process of apostasy was slow.
00:27:49.81\00:27:54.90
Ellen White says
that the harlots of Moab--
00:27:57.92\00:28:01.85
notice this word, she says
00:28:01.88\00:28:03.34
they began to
steal into the camp.
00:28:03.37\00:28:08.08
Now when a thief comes,
steal has to do with the thief.
00:28:08.11\00:28:10.95
When a thief comes he
says "here I am, here I come."
00:28:10.98\00:28:14.98
No, they began to
steal into the camp.
00:28:15.01\00:28:19.79
In fact she says
that they famed interest
00:28:19.82\00:28:23.39
in the religion of Israel.
00:28:23.42\00:28:25.59
And maybe the
Israelites thought,
00:28:25.62\00:28:27.05
you know, maybe we
can convert these people,
00:28:27.08\00:28:29.20
'cause they're showing
an interest in our religion,
00:28:29.23\00:28:31.85
they're showing an
interest in our God.
00:28:31.88\00:28:37.55
In other words,
at first the apostasy
00:28:37.58\00:28:40.26
did not take place openly,
00:28:40.29\00:28:42.97
it was a slow gradual
almost imperceptible process.
00:28:43.00\00:28:48.79
Once again in
Patriarchs and Prophets
00:28:48.82\00:28:50.65
we find these
words, Pages 453 and 454.
00:28:50.68\00:28:54.83
"On every side were places
00:28:54.86\00:28:58.63
noted for idolatry
and licentiousness."
00:28:58.66\00:29:01.07
You know, I could describe
to you some of the things
00:29:01.10\00:29:02.83
that
archaeologists have discovered
00:29:02.86\00:29:04.80
but if I describe
those things to you
00:29:04.83\00:29:08.69
it would be embarrassing for me
00:29:08.72\00:29:10.85
and it would be embarrassing
for you it was that bad.
00:29:10.88\00:29:13.90
One
archaeologist have discovered
00:29:13.93\00:29:15.51
in terms of the
licentiousness and the incest
00:29:15.54\00:29:18.16
and the
homosexuality and the corruption
00:29:18.19\00:29:21.00
of their system of religion.
00:29:21.03\00:29:23.28
She says "On every side
were places noted for idolatry
00:29:23.31\00:29:26.86
and
licentiousness, the very names
00:29:26.89\00:29:30.28
being suggestive of the vileness
and corruption of the people.
00:29:30.31\00:29:34.68
These surroundings exerted
00:29:34.71\00:29:36.47
a polluting
influence upon the Israelites.
00:29:36.50\00:29:40.27
Their minds became familiar
00:29:40.30\00:29:42.89
with the vile
thoughts constantly suggested,
00:29:42.92\00:29:46.90
their life of
ease and inaction."
00:29:46.93\00:29:49.30
See the idea again
"Their life of ease and inaction
00:29:49.33\00:29:53.36
produced its
demoralizing effect,
00:29:53.39\00:29:56.78
and almost
unconsciously to themselves
00:29:56.81\00:30:00.93
they were departing from
God and coming into a condition
00:30:00.96\00:30:04.99
where they would fall an
easy prey to temptation."
00:30:05.02\00:30:09.08
Ease, imperceptibly
they could hardly notice
00:30:09.11\00:30:13.55
what was happening,
00:30:13.58\00:30:14.61
but they were
exposing their eyes
00:30:14.64\00:30:16.45
and their minds to the religion
00:30:16.48\00:30:18.94
and to the
practices of that society.
00:30:18.97\00:30:22.83
Also we find this statement,
00:30:22.86\00:30:26.66
"At first there
was little intercourse
00:30:26.69\00:30:29.53
between the Israelites
and their heathen neighbors,
00:30:29.56\00:30:32.99
but after a time
Midianitish women
00:30:33.02\00:30:36.94
began to steal into the camp."
00:30:36.97\00:30:41.24
On page 459 we find these words.
00:30:41.27\00:30:44.28
A long-- listen to this.
00:30:44.31\00:30:45.83
"A long preparatory process,
00:30:45.86\00:30:50.01
unknown to the
world, goes on in the heart
00:30:50.04\00:30:54.71
before the
Christian commits open sin."
00:30:54.74\00:30:58.70
That is an important statement.
00:30:58.73\00:31:00.89
"A long preparatory process,
00:31:00.92\00:31:02.77
unknown to the
world, goes on in the heart
00:31:02.80\00:31:05.83
before the
Christian commits open sin."
00:31:05.86\00:31:08.91
That's the
reason why Jesus said,
00:31:08.94\00:31:10.64
whoever looks upon
a woman to covet her
00:31:10.67\00:31:13.38
has already committed
adultery in his heart.
00:31:13.41\00:31:16.32
You know, the act of adultery
does not happen overnight.
00:31:16.35\00:31:20.08
The act of homosexuality
does not happen overnight.
00:31:20.11\00:31:24.58
It's actually the result
of a long slow gradual process
00:31:24.61\00:31:29.34
where the mind is corrupted
00:31:29.37\00:31:30.91
and when the mind is
corrupted the result is
00:31:30.94\00:31:34.32
that the life or
the actions are tainted.
00:31:34.35\00:31:37.93
She continues saying
00:31:37.96\00:31:39.42
"The mind does
not come down at once
00:31:39.45\00:31:43.05
from purity and
holiness to depravity,
00:31:43.08\00:31:46.72
corruption, and crime.
00:31:46.75\00:31:49.25
It takes time to degrade
00:31:49.28\00:31:52.36
those formed in the image of God
00:31:52.39\00:31:54.77
to the brutal or the satanic."
00:31:54.80\00:31:58.49
Another very important
lesson that we learned,
00:31:58.52\00:32:00.73
this is number four
from this experience,
00:32:00.76\00:32:03.32
is that not even the leaders
00:32:03.35\00:32:06.29
in Israel perceive the dangers
00:32:06.32\00:32:09.26
of what was happening.
00:32:09.29\00:32:12.00
Allow me to read you
00:32:12.03\00:32:14.58
a couple of
statements on this point.
00:32:14.61\00:32:17.80
Page 454 of
Patriarchs and Prophets,
00:32:17.83\00:32:22.04
"Their appearance"
that is the harlots of Moab.
00:32:22.07\00:32:24.38
"Their
appearance excited no alarm,
00:32:24.41\00:32:27.43
and so quietly were
their plans conducted
00:32:27.46\00:32:31.10
that the attention of Moses
was not called to the matter."
00:32:31.13\00:32:35.94
That's amazing, not
even the attention of Moses
00:32:35.97\00:32:38.87
was called to the matter.
00:32:38.90\00:32:40.34
She continues saying.
00:32:40.37\00:32:42.11
By the way, if Moses had
actually seen the dangerous
00:32:42.14\00:32:45.36
he would have done
something about it,
00:32:45.39\00:32:47.17
but he didn't
perceive the dangerous
00:32:47.20\00:32:48.81
that was so slow and gradual.
00:32:48.84\00:32:50.93
She continue saying "It
was the object of these women,
00:32:50.96\00:32:54.70
in their association with
the Hebrews to seduce them
00:32:54.73\00:32:59.19
into
transgression of the law of God,
00:32:59.22\00:33:02.24
to draw their attention
to heathen rites and customs,
00:33:02.27\00:33:05.81
and to lead them into idolatry.
00:33:05.84\00:33:09.03
These motives were
studiously concealed
00:33:09.06\00:33:12.99
under the garb of friendship,
00:33:13.02\00:33:16.26
so that they were not suspected,
00:33:16.29\00:33:18.55
even by the
guardians of the people."
00:33:18.58\00:33:23.32
That's amazing, even
the guardians of the people
00:33:23.35\00:33:26.97
did not perceive the dangers
00:33:27.00\00:33:29.45
of what was coming
into the camp of Israel.
00:33:29.48\00:33:32.76
And you notice
that they concealed this
00:33:32.79\00:33:34.76
under the garb of friendship.
00:33:34.79\00:33:37.75
Let's be friends.
00:33:37.78\00:33:39.52
You know, you're not really
so much different than us.
00:33:39.55\00:33:42.80
You know, you would almost be
able to use the word ecumenism
00:33:42.83\00:33:48.45
with regards to
what was happening there.
00:33:48.48\00:33:51.49
Patriarchs and
Prophets, page 454
00:33:51.52\00:33:54.15
we find these words.
00:33:54.18\00:33:55.64
"The rulers and leading men
00:33:55.67\00:33:59.90
were among the
first to transgress,
00:33:59.93\00:34:03.78
and so many of
the people were guilty
00:34:03.81\00:34:06.57
that the
apostasy became national."
00:34:06.60\00:34:09.83
Who were the first
ones to transgress?
00:34:09.86\00:34:12.45
Was the leaders.
00:34:12.48\00:34:15.39
By the way, did this happen also
00:34:15.42\00:34:16.90
when Israel
worshiped the golden calf?
00:34:16.93\00:34:20.20
Absolutely.
00:34:20.23\00:34:21.48
Aaron should have
stood as a strong leader
00:34:21.51\00:34:23.70
and said this is not
gonna happen, bury it.
00:34:23.73\00:34:27.00
But instead of doing that
00:34:27.03\00:34:28.26
Aaron gave into
the will of the people,
00:34:28.29\00:34:30.87
he did not have the
moral backbone to be the leader
00:34:30.90\00:34:33.95
that God wanted him to be.
00:34:33.98\00:34:36.88
Patriarchs and
Prophets, page 457 and 458
00:34:36.91\00:34:40.03
we find this comment.
00:34:40.06\00:34:42.72
Speaking about our time now
00:34:42.75\00:34:44.57
"As we approach
the close of time,
00:34:44.60\00:34:47.31
as the people of God
stand upon the borders
00:34:47.34\00:34:49.89
of the heavenly Canaan"
00:34:49.92\00:34:51.00
Folks, that's us.
00:34:51.03\00:34:53.00
"Satan will, as of old,
00:34:53.03\00:34:56.53
redouble his
efforts to prevent them
00:34:56.56\00:34:59.06
from entering the goodly land.
00:34:59.09\00:35:02.29
He lays his
snares for every soul.
00:35:02.32\00:35:06.27
It is not the ignorant,"
notice, "and uncultured merely
00:35:06.30\00:35:10.78
that need to be guarded,
00:35:10.81\00:35:12.94
he will prepare his temptations
00:35:12.97\00:35:15.31
for those in the
highest positions,
00:35:15.34\00:35:19.43
in the most holy office,
00:35:19.46\00:35:22.96
if he can lead them
to pollute their souls,
00:35:22.99\00:35:25.90
he can through
them destroy many."
00:35:25.93\00:35:30.96
The fifth
lesson, is that as Israel
00:35:30.99\00:35:35.02
was constantly exposed to sin
00:35:35.05\00:35:39.12
their minds
adapted to those sins
00:35:39.15\00:35:43.37
and sin looked less offensive.
00:35:43.40\00:35:47.61
You know, there is a
very important principle
00:35:47.64\00:35:49.52
in 2 Corinthians 3:18
00:35:49.55\00:35:52.45
were it says that, by
beholding we become what?
00:35:52.48\00:35:55.91
By beholding we become changed.
00:35:55.94\00:35:58.68
And that applies not
only to beholding Jesus
00:35:58.71\00:36:02.01
which makes us more like Jesus
00:36:02.04\00:36:04.01
it also applies to
beholding evil things
00:36:04.04\00:36:07.52
which make us more
in character like Satan.
00:36:07.55\00:36:13.21
Now in Patriarchs
and Prophets, page 454,
00:36:13.24\00:36:18.23
we find a few of the things
that enticed Israel mentioned.
00:36:18.26\00:36:25.02
She says this,
"Beguiled with music."
00:36:25.05\00:36:31.47
That's not a
problem today, is it?
00:36:31.50\00:36:36.30
"And dancing
00:36:36.33\00:36:37.64
and allured by the
beauty of heathen vestals,
00:36:42.43\00:36:49.77
they cast off
their fealty to Jehovah."
00:36:49.80\00:36:53.70
That means their
loyal to Jehovah.
00:36:53.73\00:36:56.54
"And they united
in mirth and feasting,
00:36:56.57\00:37:00.19
indulgence in wine
beclouded their senses
00:37:00.22\00:37:03.36
and broke down the
barriers of self-control.
00:37:03.39\00:37:07.28
Passion had full sway,
00:37:07.31\00:37:09.67
and having defiled
their consciences by lewdness,
00:37:09.70\00:37:13.90
they were persuaded
to bow down to idols.
00:37:13.93\00:37:16.79
They offered
sacrifice upon heathen alters
00:37:16.82\00:37:20.28
and participated in
the most degrading rites."
00:37:20.31\00:37:27.14
That's Israel who
a short while before
00:37:27.17\00:37:30.02
was in a proper
relationship with God.
00:37:30.05\00:37:32.78
And they could not be
destroyed from outside.
00:37:32.81\00:37:36.35
Here are they under
the idea a friendship.
00:37:36.38\00:37:41.31
Oh, let's not say that
we're different than they are,
00:37:41.34\00:37:43.57
you know, let's we're
all part of the same people,
00:37:43.60\00:37:47.85
let's just make
friends with them.
00:37:47.88\00:37:49.85
You know, their
practices aren't so bad
00:37:49.88\00:37:51.78
we can refine them
and we can make them
00:37:51.81\00:37:54.50
acceptable in the sight of God.
00:37:54.53\00:37:57.69
Patriarchs and
Prophets, page 459
00:37:57.72\00:38:00.26
we find these words.
00:38:00.29\00:38:01.44
"Satan is using every means
00:38:01.47\00:38:03.87
to make crime and
debasing vice popular.
00:38:03.90\00:38:09.51
We cannot walk the
streets of our cities
00:38:09.54\00:38:11.67
without encountering
flaring notices of crime
00:38:11.70\00:38:15.71
presented and some novel,
00:38:15.74\00:38:17.57
or to be acted
out at some theater."
00:38:17.60\00:38:22.36
You know, used to be
in the Adventist church
00:38:22.39\00:38:23.62
that we say that we shouldn't
go to the movie theatre, right?
00:38:23.65\00:38:27.59
How many people
really actually follow that
00:38:27.62\00:38:30.04
teaching of the church anymore?
00:38:30.07\00:38:33.68
Not all.
00:38:33.71\00:38:36.71
Let me ask you, is
there really anything
00:38:36.74\00:38:38.60
good to see in the theatre?
00:38:38.63\00:38:42.01
You know, we've made
a mistake as Adventist.
00:38:42.04\00:38:43.52
We've said that it's
the place that's wrong.
00:38:43.55\00:38:45.76
And our kids don't buy it.
00:38:45.79\00:38:49.12
Because movie theatres I
understand are pretty nice
00:38:49.15\00:38:52.50
and they don't allow smoking
and they don't allow drinking.
00:38:52.53\00:38:56.26
So you're in a
pretty good environment.
00:38:56.29\00:38:58.92
So it doesn't have
anything to do with the place.
00:38:58.95\00:39:01.94
It has everything to do
00:39:01.97\00:39:03.25
with what you're
gonna see in that place.
00:39:03.28\00:39:07.38
And I sustain today
that there's nothing
00:39:07.41\00:39:09.21
that Hollywood
produces that is worth watching
00:39:09.24\00:39:13.96
because even the good
is tainted with immorality
00:39:13.99\00:39:18.46
and vulgarity and pride
00:39:18.49\00:39:22.57
and a desire
for fame and riches.
00:39:22.60\00:39:25.95
If you don't believe so
just watch the Oscars sometime.
00:39:25.98\00:39:30.41
It's all a huge
exercise in vanity
00:39:30.44\00:39:33.54
and as we expose our
minds to these things
00:39:33.57\00:39:36.07
our minds adapt to
what we're watching
00:39:36.10\00:39:38.76
and the mind says,
00:39:38.79\00:39:40.19
you know, this
thing really isn't so bad,
00:39:40.22\00:39:41.88
the more we watch it
the mind says this is okay,
00:39:41.91\00:39:43.92
it's all right, it's all right,
00:39:43.95\00:39:45.10
until finally
we think it's okay.
00:39:45.13\00:39:47.23
We deceive our own mind,
00:39:47.26\00:39:49.44
we deceive our own conscience.
00:39:49.47\00:39:51.92
She continues saying
00:39:51.95\00:39:54.35
"The mind is educated
to familiarity with sin.
00:39:54.38\00:40:00.16
The course pursued
by the base and vile
00:40:00.19\00:40:03.30
is kept before the people
in the periodicals of the day,
00:40:03.33\00:40:06.89
and everything
that can excite passion
00:40:06.92\00:40:09.59
is brought before
them in exciting stories."
00:40:09.62\00:40:12.78
What would she say today
00:40:12.81\00:40:13.86
with the exciting
stories on television?
00:40:13.89\00:40:15.34
She is talking
about newspapers here.
00:40:15.37\00:40:18.34
She wrote in a time
00:40:18.37\00:40:19.40
when they were
only printed materials.
00:40:19.43\00:40:22.13
She says "They hear and
read so much of debasing crime
00:40:22.16\00:40:28.75
that the once tender conscience,
00:40:28.78\00:40:31.92
which would have recoiled
with horror from such scenes,
00:40:31.95\00:40:36.33
becomes hardened, and
they dwell upon these things
00:40:36.36\00:40:40.52
with greedy interest."
00:40:40.55\00:40:44.00
And then she says "By
beholding we become changed.
00:40:44.03\00:40:47.52
By the indulgence
of impure thoughts
00:40:47.55\00:40:50.17
man can so
educate his mind that sin
00:40:50.20\00:40:54.42
which he once loathed
will become pleasant to him."
00:40:54.45\00:41:00.51
What, sin which once you hated
00:41:00.54\00:41:05.06
and you said this is terrible,
00:41:05.09\00:41:08.83
come to the point
where you would actually
00:41:08.86\00:41:10.59
think that it's okay?
00:41:10.62\00:41:15.20
Sixth lesson and
this is very significant.
00:41:15.23\00:41:20.56
Have you ever noticed
00:41:20.59\00:41:21.62
what happened with the
leaders in this rebellion?
00:41:21.65\00:41:25.04
This is one of those episodes
00:41:25.07\00:41:26.20
that people don't
like to read these days.
00:41:26.23\00:41:28.98
They only like to
read about the love
00:41:29.01\00:41:30.85
and mercy of God and by the way,
00:41:30.88\00:41:32.47
God is loving and merciful.
00:41:32.50\00:41:35.71
God is grace, yes He is.
00:41:35.74\00:41:38.64
But God also will
not be trifled with
00:41:38.67\00:41:42.24
because God is our Father,
00:41:42.27\00:41:43.60
but God also is the
judge of the universe.
00:41:43.63\00:41:47.59
And so we need to
look at several models
00:41:47.62\00:41:49.92
of God in Scripture.
00:41:49.95\00:41:51.85
Notice what God had
done with the leaders.
00:41:51.88\00:41:56.71
Numbers 25:4, 5
00:41:56.74\00:42:00.57
it says "Then the
Lord said to Moses,
00:42:00.60\00:42:05.25
'Take all the
leaders of the people
00:42:05.28\00:42:07.59
and hang the
offender's before the Lord,
00:42:07.62\00:42:12.13
out in the sun, that
the fierce anger of the Lord
00:42:12.16\00:42:16.63
may turn away from Israel.'
00:42:16.66\00:42:18.73
So Moses said to
the judges on Israel,
00:42:18.76\00:42:21.39
'Every one of you kill his men
00:42:21.42\00:42:23.42
who were joined
to Baal of Peor.'"
00:42:23.45\00:42:27.22
Whoa, it's God
that is saying this.
00:42:27.25\00:42:31.87
God wanted the people to see
the leader's hung in the sun,
00:42:31.90\00:42:35.14
because He wanted them to know
00:42:35.17\00:42:36.82
how terrible this apostasy was.
00:42:36.85\00:42:41.59
How sinful sin is
in the sight of God.
00:42:41.62\00:42:45.94
He wanted them to
be clear on this point
00:42:45.97\00:42:48.27
and it was the
leaders that suffered this.
00:42:48.30\00:42:50.85
You say well, that
doesn't happen today.
00:42:50.88\00:42:52.54
But you know
Ellen White says that
00:42:52.57\00:42:55.45
it might not happen now,
00:42:55.48\00:42:58.41
but it will
happen when Jesus comes.
00:42:58.44\00:43:02.04
It's just a matter
of when the destruction
00:43:02.07\00:43:03.84
is gonna take place.
00:43:03.87\00:43:05.38
In the Old
Testament it was a theocracy
00:43:05.41\00:43:07.08
so it took place at that point.
00:43:07.11\00:43:09.85
And by the way, the
Book of Revelation says
00:43:09.88\00:43:12.26
that those who are
rebellious against God
00:43:12.29\00:43:16.19
will be destroyed with the sword
00:43:16.22\00:43:17.67
that comes from
the mouth of Jesus.
00:43:17.70\00:43:20.44
Do you know how Balaam died?
00:43:20.47\00:43:22.81
He refused to listen to
the warning of the sword
00:43:22.84\00:43:26.07
saying, don't go down that road.
00:43:26.10\00:43:28.54
And therefore we're
told in the Book of Numbers
00:43:28.57\00:43:31.53
that he went out the battle
00:43:31.56\00:43:32.99
and he was actually
killed by the sword.
00:43:33.02\00:43:37.47
The sword which he
refused to listen to,
00:43:37.50\00:43:39.75
which was warning
him arose to destroy him.
00:43:39.78\00:43:44.62
This has a very important
message to us, leaders.
00:43:44.65\00:43:46.78
I'm talking to myself now.
00:43:46.81\00:43:49.91
I'm talking to
ministers, to church leaders,
00:43:49.94\00:43:54.65
to leaders in the church
00:43:54.68\00:43:56.03
of the different
departments of the church folks,
00:43:56.06\00:43:59.00
we are held more
accountable in the sight of God.
00:43:59.03\00:44:02.29
In fact we find
in early writings
00:44:02.32\00:44:03.72
that the leaders
in the final rebellion
00:44:03.75\00:44:07.20
will be punished ten times worse
than the common ordinary person
00:44:07.23\00:44:10.91
which they deceived,
00:44:10.94\00:44:12.78
because we as
leaders of the people
00:44:12.81\00:44:14.34
are to give a good example.
00:44:14.37\00:44:16.59
We're supposed to lead
people down the right road.
00:44:16.62\00:44:20.39
And do you know
what was happening
00:44:20.42\00:44:21.58
as people were dying by plague,
00:44:21.61\00:44:24.27
in the encampment
this is besides the leaders
00:44:24.30\00:44:26.86
thousands were dying by a
plague that came into the camp.
00:44:26.89\00:44:31.98
Something happened which
you'd say this is unbelievable.
00:44:32.01\00:44:35.74
Let's read about
it in Numbers 25:6-8,
00:44:35.77\00:44:39.22
Numbers 25:6-8.
00:44:39.25\00:44:43.61
This is while Israel is
wailing and crying out to God,
00:44:43.64\00:44:46.49
because of a plaque that's
killing thousands of people.
00:44:46.52\00:44:50.23
It says "And indeed,
00:44:50.26\00:44:52.34
one of the
children of Israel came
00:44:52.37\00:44:54.97
and presented to his brethren
00:44:55.00\00:44:56.74
a Midianite woman
in the sight of Moses
00:44:56.77\00:44:59.92
and in the sight of
all the congregation
00:44:59.95\00:45:02.23
of the children of Israel,
00:45:02.26\00:45:03.94
who were weeping at the door
of the tabernacle of meeting."
00:45:03.97\00:45:08.59
Can you believe that?
00:45:08.62\00:45:10.87
In other words
Israel was crying,
00:45:10.90\00:45:12.71
because of what was happening
00:45:12.74\00:45:14.08
and here this guy is
presenting his harlot
00:45:14.11\00:45:17.34
to the congregation of Israel
00:45:17.37\00:45:18.74
in the sight of Moses
and everybody was crying.
00:45:18.77\00:45:22.95
This is rebellion with
a high hand against God.
00:45:22.98\00:45:26.89
And now notice verse 7,
00:45:26.92\00:45:29.25
"Now when Phinehas
the son of Eleazar,
00:45:29.28\00:45:34.07
the son of Aaron
the priest, saw it,
00:45:34.10\00:45:36.83
he rose from
among the congregation
00:45:36.86\00:45:39.71
and took a javelin in his hand,
00:45:39.74\00:45:42.36
and he went after the
man of Israel into the tent
00:45:42.39\00:45:46.50
and thrust both of them through,
00:45:46.53\00:45:49.21
the man of Israel, and
the woman through her body.
00:45:49.24\00:45:52.76
So the plague was stopped
among the children of Israel."
00:45:52.79\00:45:59.43
Folks, we might
not like the picture
00:45:59.46\00:46:02.97
that's been presented
here, but it is biblical.
00:46:03.00\00:46:07.58
And it teaches us
tremendous lessons.
00:46:07.61\00:46:09.44
It doesn't mean
that we're going to slaw
00:46:09.47\00:46:10.94
everybody in the
church that practices sin,
00:46:10.97\00:46:14.97
but it does mean that
00:46:15.00\00:46:16.03
we can use the
sword of the Spirit
00:46:16.06\00:46:18.83
to get rid of sin in the church,
00:46:18.86\00:46:20.92
at least open
known sin as leaders.
00:46:20.95\00:46:24.51
In other words we
have to rebuke known
00:46:24.54\00:46:27.17
and open sin in the church.
00:46:27.20\00:46:30.72
Lesson number eight,
00:46:30.75\00:46:32.31
there was a
terrible shaking in Israel
00:46:32.34\00:46:34.86
before they
enter the Promise Land.
00:46:34.89\00:46:37.56
In fact 24,000 were
shaken out of Israel
00:46:37.59\00:46:43.14
before the plague
ended before Israel
00:46:43.17\00:46:46.37
was ready to go
into the Promise Land.
00:46:46.40\00:46:48.62
We find that in Numbers 25:9,
00:46:48.65\00:46:51.03
it says "And those
who died in the plague
00:46:51.06\00:46:53.91
were twenty-four thousand."
00:46:53.94\00:46:59.20
And then point number
nine, this is so interesting.
00:46:59.23\00:47:03.37
After the camp of
Israel had been cleansed
00:47:03.40\00:47:07.18
from the transgressors
in Numbers Chapter 26
00:47:07.21\00:47:11.58
you have a census of
the 12 tribes of Israel.
00:47:11.61\00:47:17.04
By name, by each of the
names of the sons of Jacob
00:47:17.07\00:47:21.33
you have the census the number
00:47:21.36\00:47:23.35
of those who were going
to enter the Promise Land
00:47:23.38\00:47:26.34
from among the Israelites.
00:47:26.37\00:47:29.21
Now some of you might
be wondering Pastor Bohr,
00:47:29.24\00:47:31.23
can you really take this passage
00:47:31.26\00:47:33.72
in Numbers and apply it to us.
00:47:33.75\00:47:37.32
The fact is that
not only can I apply it,
00:47:37.35\00:47:40.63
but the Apostle
Paul does apply it.
00:47:40.66\00:47:44.42
Notice what we find in
1 Corinthians Chapter 10,
00:47:44.45\00:47:48.25
1 Corinthians Chapter 10
00:47:48.28\00:47:51.40
the Apostle Paul
speaks about this experience.
00:47:51.43\00:47:53.94
I'm not gonna
read the whole passage.
00:47:53.97\00:47:55.76
But the Apostle Paul
speaks about this experience
00:47:55.79\00:47:59.66
among others.
00:47:59.69\00:48:01.00
And notice what
he says in verse 11.
00:48:01.03\00:48:04.86
He says "Now all these
things happened to them
00:48:04.89\00:48:10.24
for examples and they are
written for our admonition,
00:48:10.27\00:48:15.79
upon whom the ends
of the ages have come."
00:48:15.82\00:48:21.28
Have the ends of the
ages come upon us? Yes.
00:48:21.31\00:48:24.17
For whom are these
experiences written?
00:48:24.20\00:48:27.28
They are written for us.
00:48:27.31\00:48:30.96
Let me ask you, does
God still command His people
00:48:30.99\00:48:33.96
to remain separate
from the practices,
00:48:33.99\00:48:36.65
from the sinful
practices and ideas
00:48:36.68\00:48:39.17
and philosophies of the world?
00:48:39.20\00:48:41.74
You look at the
Christian churches today
00:48:41.77\00:48:43.77
you don't see any difference
00:48:43.80\00:48:44.89
between Christians
and non-Christians.
00:48:44.92\00:48:47.59
The dresses the
same, the food is the same,
00:48:47.62\00:48:50.68
the entertainment is the same,
the divorce rate is the same,
00:48:50.71\00:48:55.17
the music is the same.
00:48:55.20\00:48:58.09
Now there as
hardly a distinction
00:48:58.12\00:48:59.80
between Christians
and non-Christians,
00:48:59.83\00:49:02.04
because the leavening
process has been taking place.
00:49:02.07\00:49:05.23
You say, well,
Pastor, your being a fanatic,
00:49:05.26\00:49:08.25
you been a legalist.
00:49:08.28\00:49:09.83
Let me tell you what
this is all about folks,
00:49:09.86\00:49:12.68
in order to enter the kingdom
00:49:12.71\00:49:14.11
we must reflect the
character of Christ.
00:49:14.14\00:49:17.08
We must reflect Jesus.
00:49:17.11\00:49:20.63
And when we're
looking at these things
00:49:20.66\00:49:22.19
and listening to this music
00:49:22.22\00:49:23.34
and participating
in this entertainment
00:49:23.37\00:49:25.40
we're developing a character
00:49:25.43\00:49:26.58
totally unlike the
character of Jesus.
00:49:26.61\00:49:29.74
How was Jesus
gonna take us to heaven
00:49:29.77\00:49:32.13
if we have a
character totally unlike His?
00:49:32.16\00:49:35.92
It's about Jesus,
00:49:35.95\00:49:38.02
it's not about rules and
regulations and legalism,
00:49:38.05\00:49:41.40
it's about not
exposing our minds,
00:49:41.43\00:49:43.99
it's not exposing
ourselves to that which corrupts
00:49:44.02\00:49:47.21
and makes us like the devil
00:49:47.24\00:49:48.55
instead of making us like Jesus.
00:49:48.58\00:49:51.13
That's what it's about.
00:49:51.16\00:49:53.33
Notice James 4:4.
00:49:53.36\00:49:57.19
This is New
Testament by the way,
00:49:57.22\00:49:58.65
for those who say
it's only the Old Testament
00:49:58.68\00:50:00.47
that speaks about the
need to remain separate.
00:50:00.50\00:50:02.91
It says
"Adulterers and adulteresses!
00:50:02.94\00:50:06.73
Do you not know that friendship
00:50:06.76\00:50:08.76
with the world
is enmity with God?
00:50:08.79\00:50:12.74
Whoever therefore wants
to be a friend of the world"
00:50:12.77\00:50:15.23
we would say Moab
in the Old Testament.
00:50:15.26\00:50:18.63
"Whoever would be
a friend of the world
00:50:18.66\00:50:20.52
makes himself" what?
00:50:20.55\00:50:22.45
"An enemy of God."
00:50:22.48\00:50:24.50
See the matter is,
you're a friend of God
00:50:24.53\00:50:26.72
or an enemy of God?
00:50:26.75\00:50:28.33
To use the words of George Bush
00:50:28.36\00:50:29.77
you're either with
Him or you're against Him.
00:50:29.80\00:50:33.60
There's no two ways about it.
00:50:33.63\00:50:35.10
You can't be a Christian
and live like a worldly.
00:50:35.13\00:50:38.99
God says you're
either My friend or My enemy.
00:50:39.02\00:50:42.70
And what determines that
00:50:42.73\00:50:43.87
is your attitude
towards the world.
00:50:43.90\00:50:46.14
Notice 2 Corinthians 6:14-18,
00:50:46.17\00:50:49.57
2 Corinthians 6:14-18.
00:50:49.60\00:50:52.41
We've all read this before
00:50:52.44\00:50:53.54
and we usually
applied to marriage,
00:50:53.57\00:50:55.03
it applies to much
more than marriage.
00:50:55.06\00:50:57.61
It says here "Do
not be unequally yoked
00:50:57.64\00:51:00.21
together with unbelievers."
00:51:00.24\00:51:02.13
That is what the Moabites.
00:51:02.16\00:51:04.79
"For what fellowship has
righteousness with lawlessness?
00:51:04.82\00:51:08.38
And what communion
has light with darkness?
00:51:08.41\00:51:11.55
And what accord
has Christ with Belial?
00:51:11.58\00:51:14.47
Or what part has a
believer with an unbeliever?
00:51:14.50\00:51:17.64
And what agreement has
the temple of God with idols?
00:51:17.67\00:51:21.17
For you are the
temple of the living God.
00:51:21.20\00:51:24.30
As God has said,
'I will dwell in them
00:51:24.33\00:51:27.28
and walk among them.
00:51:27.31\00:51:28.75
I will be their God, and
they shall be my people."'
00:51:28.78\00:51:31.83
But there's a condition for God.
00:51:31.86\00:51:33.89
Being our God and
us being His people.
00:51:33.92\00:51:36.41
It says "Therefore
'Come out from among them
00:51:36.44\00:51:40.64
and be separate, says the Lord.
00:51:40.67\00:51:44.04
Do not touch with is unclean,
and I will receive you.'
00:51:44.07\00:51:48.59
'I will be a Father to you,
00:51:48.62\00:51:50.46
and you shall be
my sons and daughters,
00:51:50.49\00:51:53.28
says the Lord Almighty.'"
00:51:53.31\00:51:57.06
There are condition for
being sons and daughters of God.
00:51:57.09\00:52:00.33
There is conditions
for God being our God.
00:52:00.36\00:52:03.25
There are conditions for us
00:52:03.28\00:52:04.55
being His
peculiar special people.
00:52:04.58\00:52:07.07
And there is come ye out
from among them and be separate.
00:52:07.10\00:52:11.29
Let me ask you in the end time,
00:52:11.32\00:52:12.71
is God gonna use the
harlots spiritually speaking
00:52:12.74\00:52:16.08
to try and entice
God's people into apostasy.
00:52:16.11\00:52:18.77
You've all read
Revelation Chapter 17.
00:52:18.80\00:52:21.88
It speaks up about the
mother and her daughters,
00:52:21.91\00:52:24.29
apostasy
Christianity which will try
00:52:24.32\00:52:26.93
to entice God's people
into rebellion against God.
00:52:26.96\00:52:32.49
You see, Satan is not
able to destroy the church
00:52:32.52\00:52:34.73
when it is in a
proper relationship with God.
00:52:34.76\00:52:38.09
So it says if I
can't fight them,
00:52:38.12\00:52:40.15
I will join them.
00:52:40.18\00:52:43.52
But in the
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:52:43.55\00:52:45.16
almost
imperceptibly we have embraced
00:52:45.19\00:52:47.77
all types of worldly practices.
00:52:47.80\00:52:51.01
Dress, music,
entertainment, television,
00:52:51.04\00:52:57.22
video games, the
theatre, Sabbath,
00:52:57.25\00:53:01.94
lack Sabbath
observance, laxness in our diet.
00:53:01.97\00:53:05.81
You know it used to be
00:53:05.84\00:53:06.87
that people didn't
drink caffeinated drinks
00:53:06.90\00:53:08.91
in the Adventist church.
00:53:08.94\00:53:10.16
So Pastor, now you
really becoming legalist,
00:53:10.19\00:53:12.69
you're living in the Stone Age.
00:53:12.72\00:53:15.96
So what happened recently
that makes caffeine okay now
00:53:15.99\00:53:18.90
and it wasn't okay before?
00:53:18.93\00:53:22.11
Is there any radical thing
00:53:22.14\00:53:23.20
that happened that
sanctified caffeine?
00:53:23.23\00:53:27.60
I don't think so.
00:53:27.63\00:53:29.49
I mean, if
caffeine was detrimental
00:53:29.52\00:53:30.94
for our health
before it is today.
00:53:30.97\00:53:33.62
So who is changed?
00:53:33.65\00:53:35.91
Not the caffeine,
what's changed is us,
00:53:35.94\00:53:40.56
our perspective of things,
00:53:40.59\00:53:42.39
because we become
familiarize with the world.
00:53:42.42\00:53:46.66
You know, if you want to
read some challenging books
00:53:46.69\00:53:48.90
that have not been too
popular in the Adventist church
00:53:48.93\00:53:52.06
read some books
that were written
00:53:52.09\00:53:53.12
by Joe Crews many years ago,
00:53:53.15\00:53:55.42
Creeping Compromise,
Reaping the Whirlwind,
00:53:55.45\00:53:58.70
Enemy at the Gate
00:53:58.73\00:54:00.21
and if you don't particularly
like Adventist literature
00:54:00.24\00:54:02.77
read the book
"Love Not the World"
00:54:02.80\00:54:04.42
by Watchman Nee
that Chinese theologian.
00:54:04.45\00:54:08.50
Little booklet tremendous
00:54:08.53\00:54:11.20
or is even
stronger than Joe Crews
00:54:11.23\00:54:13.15
in speaking about
the need of the church
00:54:13.18\00:54:15.30
being special and unique.
00:54:15.33\00:54:19.31
You see like Israel
00:54:19.34\00:54:20.50
we're on the
borders of the Promise Land
00:54:20.53\00:54:23.06
and the devil knows it.
00:54:23.09\00:54:25.52
And there's gonna
be a tremendous shaking
00:54:25.55\00:54:27.20
among God's people.
00:54:27.23\00:54:29.24
And whatever can be
shaken out will be shaken out
00:54:29.27\00:54:31.99
and what will be
shaken out is that
00:54:32.02\00:54:34.06
which has conformed and
adapted to the worldly standard
00:54:34.09\00:54:38.30
both according to the Bible
and to the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:54:38.33\00:54:42.81
You see, the story
of Cain and Abel shows
00:54:42.84\00:54:44.51
that the devil
destroyed Abel by persecution.
00:54:44.54\00:54:50.51
But of course
Abel died a conquer,
00:54:50.54\00:54:51.99
because he was faithful to God.
00:54:52.02\00:54:54.80
But in Genesis 6 we have
the other method of the devil
00:54:54.83\00:54:57.81
joining the Sons and God
with the daughters of men.
00:54:57.84\00:55:00.06
See there you have
the amalgamation idea
00:55:00.09\00:55:02.78
and of course the devil
did much more by doing that,
00:55:02.81\00:55:07.28
because the whole
world became corrupted
00:55:07.31\00:55:09.29
out of millions of people
00:55:09.32\00:55:10.81
when the devil
blended the righteous
00:55:10.84\00:55:12.70
with the unrighteous the Sons
of God with the daughters of men
00:55:12.73\00:55:15.11
there were only eight
people left faithful to God.
00:55:15.14\00:55:18.87
So the devil were saying
if I can't destroy the seed,
00:55:18.90\00:55:21.23
but like I did
by destroying Abel
00:55:21.26\00:55:23.23
God raised up
another seed itself
00:55:23.26\00:55:25.13
I can destroy
them by persecution
00:55:25.16\00:55:27.02
I'll blend the two
seeds, I will amalgamate them.
00:55:27.05\00:55:29.96
And the whole world became
demoralized before the flood.
00:55:29.99\00:55:34.60
You know, on the
borders of the Promise Land,
00:55:34.63\00:55:36.57
God is also gonna do a census.
00:55:36.60\00:55:40.14
It's found in
Revelation Chapter 7.
00:55:40.17\00:55:41.96
Have you ever read
the census of the 144,000?
00:55:41.99\00:55:44.73
Those who are the
living saints when Jesus comes.
00:55:44.76\00:55:48.37
The sons up Jacob
are mentioned by name
00:55:48.40\00:55:50.73
and the numbers from
each one of the tribes
00:55:50.76\00:55:53.31
are mentioned in a census before
we enter the Promise Land.
00:55:53.34\00:55:57.38
Folks, we are on
the brink of eternity.
00:55:57.41\00:56:00.73
God is telling us to
get serious about Him.
00:56:00.76\00:56:03.63
He's telling us to fill
our minds and our hearts
00:56:03.66\00:56:06.18
with that which will
make us more like Jesus.
00:56:06.21\00:56:09.05
"Be like Jesus, this my song.
00:56:09.08\00:56:11.53
Be like Jesus, all day
long! I would be like Jesus."
00:56:11.56\00:56:16.04
That's what it's all about.
00:56:16.07\00:56:17.92
In fact we need to prepare
00:56:17.95\00:56:19.87
a special
character for eternity.
00:56:19.90\00:56:22.64
You know, it
says in Hebrews 12:14
00:56:22.67\00:56:25.13
that "We need
to develop holiness
00:56:25.16\00:56:26.66
without which no
one will see the Lord."
00:56:26.69\00:56:30.59
In Matthew 5:8 it says
"Blessed are the pure in heart,
00:56:30.62\00:56:34.71
for they shall see God."
00:56:34.74\00:56:36.48
Psalm 119 says "Thy word
have I hid in mine heart,
00:56:36.51\00:56:40.94
that I might not
sin against thee."
00:56:40.97\00:56:43.35
1 John 3:3 says
00:56:43.38\00:56:45.21
"Everyone who has this
hopes of the coming of Jesus,
00:56:45.24\00:56:48.09
cleanses or purifies
himself even as Jesus is pure."
00:56:48.12\00:56:52.96
Jesus will have a
church which will be shifted.
00:56:52.99\00:56:57.50
Those who have
confirmed to the world
00:56:57.53\00:56:59.26
will be shaken out,
00:56:59.29\00:57:00.32
but God will have a
church that will be without spot
00:57:00.35\00:57:04.79
or wrinkle or any such thing,
00:57:04.82\00:57:08.70
but it will be pure and
perfect in the sight of God.
00:57:08.73\00:57:12.91
Not because she is perfect,
00:57:12.94\00:57:15.03
but because they have
accepted Jesus into the heart
00:57:15.06\00:57:18.00
and Jesus lives his life
00:57:18.03\00:57:20.94
through the
instrumentality of the church.
00:57:20.97\00:57:23.52
I pray that God will
do that with our church.
00:57:23.55\00:57:26.50