Title: Doctrine Of Balaam
Memorize: They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 2 Peter 2:15 (Nkjv)
Bible Reading: Numbers 25:1-9 (Nkjv)
[1] Now Israel remained in Acacia Grove, and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab.
[2] They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods.
[3] So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel.
[4] Then the Lord said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of the people and hang the offenders before the Lord, out in the sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel.”
[5] So Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Every one of you kill his men who were joined to Baal of Peor.”
[6] And indeed, one of the children of Israel came and presented to his brethren a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.
[7] Now when Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose from among the congregation and took a javelin in his hand;
[8] and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stopped among the children of Israel.
[9] And those who died in the plague were twenty-four thousand.
Message:
While the Israelites journeyed to the Promised Land, they conquered several nations until they got to Moab.
King Balak was afraid of being conquered, so he consulted Balaam, a prophet, to curse them. Fortunately, he failed.
Balaam later advised the king to pretend to be friends with the Israelites, invite them to a feast, and get seductive ladies to entice their men.
Unfortunately, this worked; they fornicated with the ladies and started worshipping in their shrines.
We read in today’s Bible reading that God became angry and killed 24,000 of them. When Jesus made reference to the story above in His message to the church at Pergamos (Revelation 2:12-17),
He was saying that there were people who taught the satanic philosophy of ‘once saved, forever saved,’ which means that once you have been saved, you are free to do whatever you like.
They believed they could take an excuse from God to commit adultery, provided they returned to ask for forgiveness.
This error is just a means of turning God’s children into victims and prodding them towards judgment.
My dear child, study the Bible and know Biblical doctrines for yourself so that you can tell a false doctrine from a correct one
Key Point:
The doctrines you imbibe will either lead you to eternal life or destruction.
HYMN 55 – CHRISTIAN, SEEK NOT YET REPOSE
1. Christian, Seek Not Yet Repose;
Hear Thy Guardian Angel Say,
“Thou Art In The Midst Of Foes:
Watch And Pray!”
2. Principalities And Powers,
Mustering Their Unseen Array,
Wait For Thy Unguarded Hours:
“Watch And Pray.”
3. Gird Thy Heavenly Armour On;
Wear It Every Night And Day
Ambush’d Lies The Evil One:
“Watch And Pray.”
4. Hear The Victors Who O’ercame;
Still They Mark Each Warrior’s Way;
All With One Sweet Voice Exclaim,
“Watch And Pray!”
5. Hear, Above All, Hear Thy Lord,
Him Thou Lovest To Obey;
Hide Within Thy Heart His Word:
“Watch And Pray!.”
6. Watch, As If On That Alone
Hung The Issue Of The Day;
Pray, That Help May Be Sent Down:
Watch And Pray.
Bible In One Year: Nahum 1:1-3:19; Revelation 8:1-13
AUTHORS: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE AND FOLU ADEBOYE