Podcast appearances and mentions of king balak

In our last reading King Balak of Moab had hired Balaam, the professional soothsayer and prophet for hire, to come and put a curse on Israel. The king had heard about how Israel had plowed through the Amorites when that nation refused to let Israel pass through, and he was scared. After two attempts, Balaam finds himself unable to curse Israel, because the God of Israel is so powerful that Balaam must do as the Lord says. Our reading today begins with Balaam's third and final attempt to curse Israel, but instead, when proclaiming a fourth oracle, he prophesies the coming of the Christ. Many scholars believe that this prophecy of the star that comes from Jacob was passed down to the Magi of the gospels, who see the star and travel to see the Christ child.Numbers 24 - 1:05 . Numbers 25 - 6:26 . Numbers 26 - 9:20 . Psalm 56 - 15:55 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.facebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Our reading opens with another instance of Israelite rebellion, and this time, the Lord punishes them by sending poisonous snakes into their camp. In order to be healed, they must lift their eyes upward to look at a bronze snake mounted to a pole. You've probably seen an image of this on the side of an ambulance as a symbol of healing. By acknowledging their need for salvation and looking upon that their curse, they would be saved. We'll also begin the side story of Balaam the professional soothsayer. King Balak hires him to curse Israel, but the Lord opens the mouth of his donkey to warn him of an angelic assassin. This serves as a parallel to Balaam and Balak; if the Lord can speak to a man through a donkey, surely he can speak to a king through a pagan like Balaam.Numbers 21 - 1:01 . Numbers 22 - 7:29 . Numbers 23 - 14:43 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.facebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Baalam's first encounter with God (22:7-14)Baalam's second encounter with God (22:15-20)Baalam's third encounter with God (22:21-35) -Donkey's first time seeing the angel of the Lord (22:22-23) -Donkey's second time seeing the angel of the Lord (22:24-25) -Donkey's third time seeing the angel of the Lord (22:26-35)Baalam's first blessing of Israel (22:41-23:12)Baalam's second blessing of Israel (23:13-26Baalam's third blessing of Israel (23:27-24:25)

In Numbers 22:7-14, and 23:4-8, Balaam is hired by King Balak to curse Israel but acts as God guides him to instead bless them. Balaam, not understanding God, followed Him over economic and personal safety. Pastor Cana implores us to also trust God's prompting to follow Him, even when we don't understand.

Deception is simply taking a piece of the truth, and twisting it. That's what makes it so convincing. It sounds right... sort of. Almost. I believe I first read in one of C.S. Lewis's books, probably in several of them, that evil defines itself by the absence of God, just as darkness defines itself as the absence of light. Satan cannot create anything; all he can do is pervert something that God made, and intended for good.   The introduction of Jonathan Cahn's most recent book, "The Dragon Prophecy," puts this extremely well, so I'm going to just quote him. He writes, "If God is good, then how could there be evil? And if God is evil, then how could God be good? But if God did not create evil, then how could evil exist? Or how could God be God?... If evil was created, it would not be a problem, nor would it be evil. Evil is a problem for the very reason that it was not created. It should not exist, because it was not created, and yet it does. The existence of evil defies the created order. It is not of the creation and thus exists in opposition to the created order. Evil exists in defiance of existence... evil is not simply a force, like that of an earthquake, a hurricane, or a fire. All these bring calamity and destruction. But none would constitute true evil. Serial killers are. Why? The hurricane is an impersonal force. It acts without consciousness, will, choice, volition, or intent. But the serial killer commits his acts with conscious intent, will, an volition--and so is evil. And so evil is not an impersonal force--but a personal one, requiring consciousness, volition, will, and intent. Thus in our search for an answer to evil, we are led to personhood... Evil is an inversion--an inversion of truth, of reality, of existence. Evil is, by nature, inverted and, by nature, inverts. It twists, bends, and turns existence in upon itself. It exists as anti-existence. Its being is anti-being, and its nature, anti-nature. It is a negation and therefore seeks to negate, a nullification that exists to nullify. It has no true, ultimate, or absolute existence and therefore acts to bring that which exists into non-existence... Possessing no absolute or true existence of its own, evil is, as well, by nature, parasitic... Evil must use the good. And so though good can exist without evil, evil cannot exist without good. Truth can exist without falsehood, but falsehood cannot exist without truth. Laws can exist without crimes, marriage without adultery, and life without murder. But crimes cannot exist without laws, adultery without marriage, nor murder exist without life. Destruction requires structure, immorality requires morality, and sin requires the holy. The good is primary. Evil is the parasitic inversion of the good. And so the existence of evil inadvertently testifies not against the existence of the good--but for it. It bears witness, unwillingly, to the existence of the good--the existence of God" (9-10). So if evil itself is an inversion of something created to be good, then nearly everything God created for our pleasure and enjoyment can also become evil... but because it contains the seeds of something that was originally good, Satan can also use that kernel of goodness, or truth, to convince us that the twisted version is actually good and true, too... and if we don't know the truth well enough to tell the difference, we'll fall for it.  The Syncretism Trend According to Dr George Barna's research with the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, the dominant worldview of Americans (92%) now is syncretism (https://www.arizonachristian.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/CRC-Release-AWVI-2-April-23-2024.pdf): that is, an amalgamation of disparate and contradictory beliefs, pulled from multiple religious or philosophical ideologies, according to an individual's personal inclinations and emotions. Syncretism is therefore not a single worldview, but a mishmash of beliefs--hence the common phrase, "your truth" and "my truth." The implication is that these can be mutually exclusive, without any logical contradiction. This strategy of Satan's is nothing new. He is a liar and the father of lies by nature (John 8:44). He sticks with this approach because it works.  Syncretism in the Old Testament Syncretism has  been around since the days of the Old Testament, and was the main reason why the Israelites couldn't seem to stay on the "blessing" side of God's covenant (Deuteronomy 28). Literally the first of the Ten Commandments was "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Ex 20:3)--and al, the Hebrew word translated "before", also means "by" or "beside." So God wasn't saying they simply had to worship Him the most, but it was okay if they occasionally sacrificed to Baal or Molech or Asherah--so long as He was the most important. No; they were to have no other gods besides Him. Period. The entire Old Testament history is a cycle of the Israelites' disobedience of this one commandment. The first example after the Ten Commandments were given is the golden calf that Aaron made with the spoils from Egypt while Moses was up on the mountain receiving God's law (Ex 32). These Israelites had spent their entire lives in Egypt, where a pantheon of gods were worshipped (many of whom God specifically humiliated by the plagues chosen to eventually force Pharaoh to let them go). When they made the golden calf, the Israelites declared that this was God--the One who had delivered them from Egypt (Ex 32:4). So they weren't exactly abandoning Yahweh for some other god; rather, they were mixing Him with the gods they had grown up with. Then, the Israelites tended to mix worship of Yahweh with worship of the gods of neighboring nations, even before they ever got to the Promised Land. Israel's enemies feared God, and one of them (King Balak of Moab) sent for Balaam, a local seer, to curse Israel (Numbers 22-24). God wouldn't allow Balaam to curse Israel, but Balaam wanted Balak's money... so instead, he told Balak how to get the Israelites to curse themselves, by placing themselves on the "cursing" side of God's covenant (Deuteronomy 28). Numbers 25 shows the result: the Moabite harlots used sex to entice the men of Israel into idolatry. The issue in this case wasn't so much the sex, as it was that sex was used in worship of false gods.  The cycle repeats throughout the Old Testament: Israel falls into idolatry, they fall under the 'cursing' side of God's covenant as a result (bringing themselves out from under His protection, and subject to Satan's machinations), they get oppressed by their enemies, they cry out to God, and God delivers them. They renew their vows to and worship of the One True God in varying degrees, but then they forget again, fall into idolatry, and the cycle repeats. God had laid out very clearly that they would be blessed if they followed His laws, and cursed if they didn't (Deut 28), and the very first commandment was no gods before Him. It was the first for a reason: God knows that we were made to worship something, and we treasure what we worship. "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matt 6:21), and our hearts guide the course of our lives (Prov 4:23).  Eventually Israel split into two kingdoms (Northern and Southern, or Israel and Judah) over this very issue. Most of the subsequent kings of both nations perpetuated idolatry, though a few tried to purge the nation of idolatry to varying degrees, and enjoyed the 'blessing' side of the covenant for a time as a result (Deut 28). But God sent prophet after prophet to the Northern and Southern nations (writers of most of the major and minor prophetic books of the Old Testament), warning them of impending destruction if they did not repent of their idolatry. They ignored the warning, and eventually both nations were taken into captivity because of their idolatry: Israel to Assyria and Judah to Babylon. (Though of course, God was not done with Israel, and His promises to them still stand--Ezekiel 37 prophesied their restoration to their own land as a resurrection of dry bones, which miraculously took place on May 14, 1948. And the nation of Israel takes center stage throughout most of the book of Revelation, from chapter 5 on.)  Syncretism in the New Testament  Syncretism was around during the time of the early church, too, particularly in Paul's ministry. God sent him as the apostle to the Gentiles, who practiced varying forms of pagan beliefs already. They attempted to mix Jesus with these beliefs, until Paul's preaching convicted them to follow Jesus only, burning their books of magic arts and getting rid of their idols of Greek and Roman gods (Acts 19:11-20--which turned into a big riot in the city, v 21-41). Paul described the end times as being a time of "unrighteous deception among those who perish" (2 Thess 2:10), so we can expect that as we approach that day, this will only increase. Jesus told us that in the last days, "if possible, even the elect" would be deceived (Matt 24:24). The Greek work for deception in these verses is planao, and it means "to lead away from the truth, to lead into error." This inherently means that there is such a thing as truth. If you believe something contradictory to that truth, that is deception. We're living in an age that largely borrows from postmodernism as part of the syncretic worldview. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, "Postmodernists deny that there are aspects of reality that are objective; that there are statements about reality that are objectively true or false; that it is possible to have knowledge of such statements (objective knowledge); that it is possible for human beings to know some things with certainty; and that there are objective, or absolute, moral values." Holders of this worldview are therefore confused about even observable or mathematical truths, let alone those that are not observable (such as whether or not there is a God, and if there is, how many, and which one, how do we get to Him, etc). So before we even approach the topic of how to avoid being deceived, we have to establish that there is such a thing as objective truth. If there isn't, then there is no such thing as deception, either, since deception derives its definition from truth (just as darkness derives its definition from light, by the absence of it). What Is Truth (i.e. Is There Such A Thing As Objective Reality?) The best argument I've heard on the topic of whether or not there is an objective reality comes from Dr Jason Lisle's "The Ultimate Proof of Creation" (which is a book, but here is his lecture on the argument https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ_UxcV-xcM). While there is an abundance of apologetic evidence for the scientific and historical accuracy of scripture (here's the first in an apologetics series I did on the subject, https://www.drlaurendeville.com/anthropic-fine-tuning/), Lisle points out that none of these arguments can be definitive, because someone who holds a different worldview can simply invoke a "rescuing device" to explain away any evidence that seems to contradict his own position. We all do this, and it's not necessarily a bad thing--for example, if someone points out an apparent contradiction in scripture, my first reaction isn't, "Oh, I guess the Bible is wrong!" Rather, I assume there's additional information I don't happen to know about yet, which resolves the apparent contradiction, and then I go look for it. Even if I can't find it at the time, I am still certain it exists, and someone will find it eventually. That's a rescuing device, to preserve an otherwise deeply held worldview without logical contradiction. The real key to establishing which worldview is correct lies in that last statement: "without logical contradiction." There are laws that govern the way the world and the universe works--laws that we all have to believe in and abide by in order to know anything at all. C.S. Lewis expounded on this concept in "Mere Christianity" (https://www.authorcagray.com/posts/mere-christianity/) with respect to morality, in particular--the idea that we all know that there are universal laws of decency and conduct, and we further know that we don't live up to them. But, that being the case, who made those laws? Where did they come from? He argues that their very existence necessitates a lawgiver. Lisle takes this argument further--the existence of non-moral rules that govern how the material world works, such as the laws of logic, and principles of math and science, are the presuppositions upon which all knowledge is based. Everyone has to abide by these, no matter what their worldview is, or it would be impossible to know anything at all. But who made those rules? Where did they come from? Why does math work? Why do we all assume the laws of logic in order to have a coherent conversation? This, too, necessitates a creator. Many who abide by laws of math, science, and logic (and morality, for that matter) don't happen to have a theistic worldview, but that in and of itself is a logical inconsistency; they can't account for those rules in their worldviews at all. They have to borrow from the theistic worldview in order to make any of their other arguments.  This is the very place where postmodernism diverges, though. If there is no objective reality, then knowledge of any kind doesn't exist. Most of those who hold this worldview at least believe in morality of some kind. Lewis's argument might be most relevant here--you'll never get someone persuaded by postmodernism and religious syncretism to argue that murder, or genocide, or racism are fine, for example. They know these are wrong because they "feel" them to be wrong--and they're not just wrong for them, they're wrong for everyone. Now we have at least one absolute... which necessitates a lawgiver not only for morality, but also for at least one logical law: that of non-contradiction. This already establishes the existence of an objective reality. If there is an objective reality, then necessarily, some statements about it must be true while others must be false. The world is round and not flat, for example. If a world exists at all, both things cannot be true about it at the same time and in the same way, simultaneously--that would be a logical contradiction. Which Objective Reality Is It? (Can Anybody Know?) If some objective reality does in fact exist, how do we know which one it is? How do we know that our senses are reliable, first of all, and that we're not living in a simulation a la "The Matrix," for instance--one in which the laws of morality, logic, math, and science are simply foundational to the code? This argument goes back to Descartes, who concluded that at the very least, he must exist after some fashion, because his consciousness told him he must. C.S. Lewis in "Mere Christianity" used a similar line of reasoning, arguing that if there were a deeper reality, one that created this reality, we couldn't possibly find out anything about it through our five senses. Of course we couldn't; those senses are of the physical world, and can thus only give us information about the physical world. Our consciousness, however, has no identifiable physical reality. (To this day, science cannot explain what consciousness actually is - https://www.drlaurendeville.com/electromagnetism-vital-force/.) So Lewis argues that, if there were anything knowable about the world beyond our own, the only place where we might possibly expect to find clues about it would be in our own consciousness. And there, in fact, we do find such clues: specifically, we all have a sense of right and wrong. While we might quibble about the details therein--someone might say that under such and such a condition, killing someone is not murder, for example--no one will seriously argue that murder is morally fine. One might have different rules surrounding the morals of sex, but nobody is going to say you can just have any person you like anytime you like. This establishes several things, according to his argument: the existence of a moral law outside of our reality, of how we ought to behave (even though we know we don't, or at least not always, and certainly not perfectly), which necessitates the implied existence of a law-giver. The very fact that we do not keep the law (even though we know we should) is the whole point of the law of the Old Testament, too (Romans 7)--but even those who didn't know the Old Testament were aware of the moral law to this extent, so that no one is without excuse (Romans 1:18-2:16). Once we know that there is a moral law, and that we're incapable of keeping it on our own, that narrows down the possible religions considerably. We must choose one that hinges on the concept of grace, not works. There is literally only one of those. (More on that in this podcast: https://www.drlaurendeville.com/relational-apologetics/). That's why we call Christianity the gospel, which means good news: the good news is that, while you can't make yourself righteous no matter how hard you try, you don't have to make yourself righteous because Jesus did it for you. All you have to do is accept what He did on your behalf. Once you've gotten to this place, now all the scientific apologetics (start here: https://www.drlaurendeville.com/anthropic-fine-tuning/) can fall into their proper place: as corroborating evidence for the Bible. But the Bible has to be philosophically established as authoritative first. Once we've established that the Bible is truth (John 17:17, Psa 25:5, Psa 91:4, Psa 96:13, 100:5, 117:2, 119:142, 151, 160; 138:2, Prov 3:3, Col 1:5), we've got to learn what it says--well enough that Satan can't take it out of context and feed it back to us, or add a tiny bit to it to change the meaning. That's exactly how he works, though. He even tried that with Jesus (Luke 4:1-13). Fortunately Jesus was the Word made flesh (John 1:14), so He didn't fall for it... but the less we actually know the scripture, the more vulnerable we'll be to this strategy. Knowing the Truth Well Jesus warned us that as the last days approach, Satan will double down on this strategy: that false prophets will rise up and deceive many (Matt 24:11), claiming to be Jesus returned (Mark 13:6), some with signs and wonders. At the same time, Revelation suggests that in the last days, the church will become apathetic, so prosperous materially that we will be unaware of our spiritual emptiness (Rev 3:14-22). (This sounds a lot like the seeds choked by thorns in Jesus' parable of the sower: the seed is choked by "the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches, and he becomes unfruitful", Matt 13:22). Peter tells us that "scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, 'Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.'" (2 Peter 3:3-4). Paul tells us that the last days will be accompanied by a great "falling away" (2 Thess 2:3). Deception comes in many forms, but one thing they all have in common is that they act almost like a vaccine against the truth. There's just enough truth to them, mixed with a lot of untruth, that it's hard to tease apart the good from the bad. In that way, they can deceive "even the elect, if possible" (Matt 24:24, Mark 13:22). We protect against this, in a nutshell, by knowing the truth really, really well. This is the way bankers are trained to recognize counterfeit money: they don't study every possible counterfeit (there will always be a new one). Rather, they learn what the real thing looks like so well that they'll know when something seems off, even if they can't articulate what it is. In the same way, we're to renew our minds with the Word (Romans 12:2); that's how we will recognize truth from lies. Otherwise, it's all too easy for Satan to take a sliver of truth, mix it with a lie, and so deceive us. An Old Testament example of this is found in 2 Kings 18. The back story: in Numbers 21:6-9, the people had sinned, had come out from under the protection of God's covenant, and were dying from bites from poisonous snakes. God commanded Moses to make a bronze serpent on a pole, and told the people that if they would only look at the serpent, they would be healed. We know with hindsight that this was a type and shadow of Jesus, who was made sin for us, and became our substitutionary sacrifice ("by His stripes, we are healed," Isaiah 53:5). But the Jews didn't realize that; all they knew was that God ordained healing through looking at the pole, so the pole became a symbol of deliverance. But over the centuries, they made looking at the pole into a formula: the shadow without the substance of Jesus behind it. It became an idol, which they called Nehushtan. Back to 2 Kings 18, centuries later: verse 4 tells us that King Hezekiah had torn down the high places and broke Nehushtan in pieces. Later in the chapter, Judah is threatened with destruction by a messenger from the King of Assyria, Rabshakeh. This would have been especially terrifying, since Israel (by this point they has become two nations, Israel and Judah) had already been carried into captivity by Assyria, in punishment for the fact that the people kept falling into idolatry and had forsaken God. So when Rabshakeh threatened the people with destruction, he said, "You broke down God's symbols of worship! Why would He come through for you?" (2 Kings 18:22). The people of Judah had to know God and His word well enough to know that what Hezekiah did was actually right in God's eyes (2 Kings 18:5-7). God had originally ordained the serpent on the pole, yes, but the people had made it into an idol, which broke the first of the Ten Commandments. Hezekiah's actions had placed the Jews on the right side of God's covenant (Deut 28), so they, unlike their sister nation of Israel, could trust that God would come through for them. But if the people had not understood all the back story, they might easily have believed Rabshakeh's taunts. They could have lost faith that God would come through for them, convinced that they would go the way of Israel before them, and turned against Hezekiah, thinking he'd brought them out from under God's protection. This is how the enemy works. The serpent is subtle and cunning (Gen 3:1, 2 Cor 11:3-4). Satan tried to deceive Jesus not even by misquoting scripture, just by quoting it out of context (Matt 4:6). This happens to us today all the time. One common example is the teaching that God causes or (directly) allows sickness in order to discipline us, or to teach us something, or for the "greater good". This sounds so spiritual, and a host of out of context scriptures even seem to back it up--yet Deut 28 makes it clear that sickness is always considered a curse. Jesus became a curse for us and redeemed us from the curse (Gal 3:13-14), and even before that, He healed all who came to Him (Matt 15:30, Matt 4:23-24, Matt 8:16, Matt 9:35, Matt 10:1, Matt 12:15, Matt 15:30, Luke 4:40, Luke 10:9). Jesus He was a perfect representation of the Father (John 5:19, 5:30, 8:28, 12:49). So this cannot be right. He may take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it for good (Gen 50:20), but that doesn't mean He caused the evil in the first place. Not even close. (For more on this, see https://www.drlaurendeville.com/why-bad-things-happen-from-a-biblical-perspective/). Truth is the foundation of the spiritual armor (Eph 6:14)--it must go on first, before anything else. The Bible can testify to us that not only is the Word truth, but God is the God of truth (Isa 65:16), that Jesus is the truth (John 14:6). Only knowing the truth will make us free (John 8:32). If we focus on knowing the truth, we will recognize deception. It's important to also rely upon the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth (John 14:17, 15:26, 16:13, 1 John 5:6), to guide us, rather than on our own understanding (Prov 3:5-6), or the wisdom of the world (1 Cor 1:20-2:7), or any other spirit besides the Holy Spirit. The world is confused about what truth is (John 18:37-38) because they don't hear His voice--but we do. This shouldn't be a problem for us.  Cross-Reference What You Hear Along those lines, just because we hear a doctrine preached from the pulpit doesn't mean it's so. It's our responsibility to be like the Bereans in Acts 17--when Paul and Silas preached the word to them there, Luke writes of them, "These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed" (Acts 17:11). They didn't just take Paul and Silas's word for it; they went straight to the source text to confirm it. Paul later wrote to the Galatians, "even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed" (Gal 1:8-9). He repeats himself, because this is so important. Forget him--even if an angel preaches it, let him be accursed! We are not to blindly follow any person simply because of his or her authority. (We're to respect authority of all kinds, Romans 13:1-7--that's a different issue. But when what someone in authority says comes in conflict with God's word, we obviously go with God's word, Acts 4:19). There are plenty of warnings about false teachers in scripture (though one important note here--there's a difference between a false teacher, and a good person doing his or her best who is simply flawed. None of us is going to get everything right. This is the reason why James says that not many should become teachers, as they will "receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things," James 3:1-2.)  A false teacher, though, is one who will distort the truth (Acts 20:29-30, 2 Peter 3:16), by mixing it with myths/fables (Titus 1:14) or "merely human commands" (Matthew 16:1-12) or the traditions of men (such as forbidding to marry, abstaining from certain foods, 1 Tim 4:3), according to the principles of the world (Col 2:4-8). They will pretend to be godly or moral, though (2 Cor 11:13-15, 2 Tim 6:5)--so we must use discernment. There are a few criteria we're given to distinguish a false teacher from just a flawed human being, in process like the rest of us: Anyone who denies that Jesus is the Christ is a false teacher (1 John 2:22-23, 4:2-3) Some may lie intentionally for their own gain (Deut 18:20, Ezekiel 13:9, Jer 14:14, Jer 23:16, Titus 1:10-11) or in hypocrisy (1 Tim 4:2-5), using "godliness" as a means of their own selfish gain. Others may be so blind that they truly believe they are doing God a favor in persecuting His true followers (John 16:2). Romans 16:18: Paul said in this verse that these individuals use good words and fair speeches and deceive the hearts of the simple. This means that they flatter people (2 Timothy 4:3) and appeal to the same selfish desires that they themselves have, to draw people after themselves (Acts 20:30). We can't judge another person's motives (Matthew 7:1-3), but we can, and should, judge the fruit of their lives and ministries (Matthew 7:15-20, 1 John 3:7-9). There are many who claim to be believers but aren't (Matthew 7:21-23) and they'll be among us until the end of the age, when God will finally separate them out (Matthew 13:24-30). Truth, "Signs," and Our Emotions We are the gatekeepers of our hearts (Prov 4:23), and have to guard its boundaries, careful of what we allow in. I always thought the parable of wheat and tares (Matthew 13:24-30) only referred to evil people sown amongst the good people of the church. But what if it also means good and bad ideas from good and bad spirits within a given individual-- in other words, we can bear good fruit and bad fruit from different 'trees' even within our own hearts? This might be why Jesus could tell Peter "get behind me Satan" (Matt 16:23) and James and John, "you don't know what spirit you are of" (Luke 9:55), but the men themselves were still His. This also probably goes along with the Parable of the Sower (Matt 13:3-15)... the 'tares' we allow into our own hearts are part of what can choke the word and render it unfruitful. Truth of course must correspond to an accurate description of reality (Gen 42:16)--which should negate any postmodernist philosophy, or syncretism, blending contradictory descriptions of reality. Once we know the truth, we are to continue in what we were taught (Col 2:6-7, 1 John 2:24), not mix a little Christianity with a little of some other contrary message. Paul rails against this practice in many of his letters. In 2 Cor 11:3-4, Paul is angry that the Corinthians' minds may be corrupted so that they receive the one preaching a different Jesus or gospel from the one he preached. In Galatians 1:6-9, as mentioned earlier, the Galatians are falling prey to a perverted gospel, and Paul curses those who preach such a gospel. In Eph 4:14, he writes that only "children" in Christ are tossed about by every wind and wave of doctrine, taken in by trickery and craftiness and deceit. We're supposed to guard against not just what we hear from other humans, but to test what the spirits say too--hence Paul's angel comment (Gal 1:8-9). John also tells us, "do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God" (1 John 4:1). In a lot of denominational churches that don't believe in the supernatural gifts of the spirit (1 Cor 12), this may not come up much. But in those that do, or for individuals who might ascribe to varieties of syncretism (believing in "signs from the universe" if they seem especially coincidental, perhaps), this will become important. Just because a prophet seems to be speaking from a supernatural source doesn't mean what they're saying is from God. It might be, but we have to test it. Just because an idea out of left field pops into our minds doesn't mean it was the Holy Spirit who put it there. Just because a black crow perches on a tree doesn't mean it's an omen foreshadowing our future. Just because we see the same state license plate on every car doesn't mean God is telling us to move there, etc. Solomon writes, “A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps” (Prov 14:15). Elsewhere "simple" is used as a synonym for "fool" (Prov 7:7, 8:5, 9:13). We have to remember that the physical world is a battleground. Until the earth lease is up, Satan is still technically the god of this world (2 Cor 4:4). So God can send us signs in the physical realm, yes--but so can Satan. God can whisper thoughts to our minds--but so can Satan (in fact, this is his primary tactic, 2 Cor 10:3-6). Peter writes that the scriptures are a "more sure word of prophecy" even than hearing an audible voice from heaven (2 Peter 1:19-21), probably for this exact reason: anything using the physical realm has the potential to be counterfeited. That doesn't mean God can't use physical means to communicate with us, but it's clear that the primary means He uses for His own are the scriptures, and the Holy Spirit (John 14:17, 26), who also often speaks to us by bringing the scriptures we know to our remembrance. He also will speak through the prophets (1 Cor 12:1-11), dreams and visions (Acts 2:17-18), but we have to check all of this against the Word. Scripture will divide between soul and spirit (what originates with us vs Him, Hebrews 4:12), as well as what might originate with a malevolent spirit sent to lead us astray. David tells us it's the scriptures that make the simple wise: "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple" (Psalm 19:7). What if an idea comes to us as an idea, a dream, a vision, a prophecy, or a "synchronicity" moment that seems supernatural, and it's something that isn't addressed in scripture at all, though? How do we know if it's from God, from us, or from the enemy then? The first thing to check there is whether or not the message is consistent with God's character. Jesus said we can ask anything in His name and He will give it to us (John 14:14). What's in God's name (https://www.drlaurendeville.com/names-of-lord-psalm-9-9-10-meditation/)? He is Jehovah Nissi (the Lord my Banner), Jehovah-Raah (the Lord my Shepherd), Jehovah Rapha (the Lord that Heals), Jehovah Shammah (the Lord is There), Jehovah Tsidkenu (the Lord our Righteousness), Jehovah Mekoddishkem (the Lord who Sanctifies You), Jehovah Jireh (the Lord who Provides), Jehovah Shalom (the Lord is Peace), Jehovah Sabaoth (the Lord of Hosts).  The next thing to check is the fruit that message produces (Gal 5:19-23, Romans 8:6-8). God won't lead us into anything producing negative fruit--if the fruit is bad, it's from the flesh or the enemy, and not the Spirit. If it passes those tests, though, then as we continue to pray about the message (dream, vision, prophecy, idea, etc) then it's also biblical for us to ask for additional confirmations of the message--Paul says in 2 Cor 13:1 that every word should be established by two or three witnesses. If the message is from God, He'll make sure you know it. His Spirit guides us into all truth (John 16:13). And as you continue to seek Him and pray about it, peace (a fruit of the Spirit) should grow, confirming that the message comes from God (Col 3:15). Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Numbers 22:1-6,Then the people of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. 2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 And Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel. 4 And Moab said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will now lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak the son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, 5 sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the people of Amaw, to call him, saying, “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me. 6 Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.” Well, in Numbers chapter 22, we read that the Israelites have made it to the plains of Moab. Which was near the Jordan River. Near the city of Jericho. Near the long-anticipated promised land of Canaan. What this signals for us then, is the beginning of a transition, a passing over of the baton, from the first generation of Israelites who failed to trust God in the wilderness, to the second generation of whom God said, “They shall inherit the land.” And it's no coincidence that as bookends to this section of Scripture (Numbers 22-25), we find two contrasting men on either side. One, who like the first generation, seems to know a thing or two about God, seems to claim a sort of allegiance to him, yet proves, in time, to be far from him. His name is Balaam, and his story will run through chapters 22, 23, and 24. In chapter 25, we'll see the second man, Phinehas. A man who not only knows about Yahweh and has given his allegiance to Him, but demonstrates that allegiance through action.So the aim for this morning is to analyze these two men, asking, on one side, What are the marks of worldliness? (And we'll spend the majority of our time there,) and what are the marks of godliness? We'll then end with a look at a third question: what are the promises given to the godly? What are the marks of worldliness?What are the marks of godliness?What are the promises given to the godly?1. Worldliness (Balaam)So, first question: what are the marks of worldliness? We're asking because, as Christians, we believe that examples of worldliness like these are in Scripture for our benefit… That we might inspect them, and so learn from them of how not to be.Just as Paul says, regarding these Old Testament examples of worldliness, 1 Corinthians 10:6, …these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”And in his very next sentence, he references this very narrative here involving Balaam, saying:We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did [that is, the people we'll meet this morning in Numbers 25] and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.”Application, 1 Cor. 10:12, “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.”The marks of worldliness are here to serve as lenses into our own hearts. Lenses through which to look and ask: Where do I see remnants of this yet dwelling in me?With that, let's take a look at Numbers 22. So, as Peter just read, Israel is in Moab, and they're not alone. The people of Moab and Midian are there as well, and they're in “great dread” and “overcome with fear” on account of mighty Israel's arrival. Balak, King of Moab, fears war with the Israelites. He knows he cannot defeat them by force. But, he thinks, “perhaps I can through sorcery.” Enter Balaam — the Gentile prophet for hire. In verse 6, King Balak sends his messengers to Balaam, saying, “Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me.” And whether its a show of flattery, or something he actually believes it, Balak says of Balaam what should never be said of anyone other than God. “For I know [Balaam] that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.” What follows can be a bit of a confusing story. Confusing because it can leave us a bit unsure of what to do with Balaam. What should we make of him? Is he godly? Is he worldly? At first glance, it can seem tough to tell. After all: Balaam is going to refer to God by his covenantal name, Yahweh. God himself is going to speak to Balaam and through Balaam for the good of his people. In challenging moments, Balaam is going to claim that he's under obligation to speak only what God tells him.Those sound like marks of godliness, right? Well, they're not. And that's going to become increasingly apparent throughout these chapters. In fact, we can begin to see that as early on as verse 8. After all, just put yourselves in Balaam's shoes for a moment, and ask yourself: How might I respond, were these messengers to show up at my door, and say, “Our Master Balak wants to hire you to curse Israel, for he knows that he whom you curse is cursed and he whom you bless is blessed,”?How might you, given all you know of what God has said and done concerning this people Israel, beginning in Genesis, and stretching all the way through Exodus, Leviticus, and this point in Numbers. What might you say to these men? “Get lost,” right? Israel is the apple of God's eye (Zech. 2:8). Israel is God's treasured possession (Ps. 135:4). The people with whom God has made a covenant. The people of whom God said, “I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you, I will curse” (Gen. 12:3). You don't love God and curse his people, do you? That is not Balaam's response. But, rather, verse 8, “Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the Lord speaks to me.” First Mark of WorldlinessWe're looking for marks of worldliness. Well, here's the first: Worldliness considers sin, ponders it, weighs it in a balance. It says, “Wait here a moment, while I calculate whether this is worth my disobedience to God.”It does not slam the door upon sin, as it ought. It does not resist sin at first sight, as it ought. Instead it demonstrates a deadly patience toward sin, allowing it to linger, and make its case, and then mull over its prospect.Where is this kind of mulling over the prospect most likely to happen in our lives today? I'd venture to say that's its most likely to happen with a screen open before you, and the thought beginning to work its way into your mind: Perhaps this click is worth my disobedience to God. Worldliness considers sin. Balaam should've slammed the door in the face of those men. Instead, he welcomed them in.Let's pick up the speed a bit. Second Mark of WorldlinessBalaam's going to inquire of God — “Should I curse this people?” God's going to give his response. And it's not complicated. Verse 12: “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” End of story, right? Not exactly. Balaam will turn away this first group of messengers, but King Balak will simply send back more, and with an even sweeter offer, in verse 16:“Let nothing hinder you from coming to me [Balaam], for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Come, curse this people for me.” But Balaam's already got his answer, right? God has told him clearly not to go. So why does Balaam say this, in verses 18-19?“Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the LORD my God to do less or more. So you, too, please stay here tonight, that I may know what more the LORD will say to me.”What more? God has given you his answer Balaam — What more need he say?Do you see what's going on here? Balaam is feigning ignorance. Pretending he actually does not know what God wants of him… Sure, God said not to go the first time, but what about now? Perhaps there's a chance he's changed his mind. Perhaps there's more nuance to his answer. Perhaps there's more that needs to be considered before I completely shut the door here.Here's a second mark of worldliness. Worldliness pleads ignorance. It claims: I just don't know what God thinks about this thing. I just don't know what God thinks about me sleeping with my boyfriend. I just don't know what God thinks about me going to this party. I just don't know what God thinks about me cheating on this test.The fact is, most of us know all too well what God thinks about these things, and many others — we just doesn't like it. Least not by nature. And so, we play pretend. We shut our eyes and stop our ears, and say, “Well, since I really can't know for sure…” Second mark of worldliness. Worldliness pleads ignorance.And like the kid who just keeps shaking up the eight-ball till he finally gets the answer he wants, Balaam is just going to keep “inquiring of God,” as if he didn't know any better, till God finally lets him go. And God will. God will give him over to what he truly wants. “Balaam, you want to go, you can go,” but, verse 20, “You can only do what I tell you.”Third Mark of WorldlinessNow, just a show of hands quick: You ever experience a bit of car trouble while out on the road? Flat-tire, over-heated engine, the kind of thing that forces you to pull over on the side of the road? It's amazing, even in our “post-Christian” age, people still tend to attribute that kind of thing to an act of God. “An act of God prevented me from making it to my intended destination.” Well, at this point of the story, Balaam is going to experience not a bit of car trouble, but a bit of donkey trouble. Three-times over, his donkey is going to prevent him from making progress toward the plains of Moab. And amazingly, Balaam is never once going to consider that it may actually be God whose preventing his progress. His donkey will. In fact, unlike Balaam, the donkey is going to see the angel of the LORD standing in his way with sword drawn, and that's the reason he's going to stop these three times.During stop number 3, God's going to do something remarkable. In verse 28, he's going to open the mouth of Balaam's donkey to speak to him. God can use Balaam, a prophet-for-hire as his mouthpiece, and he can even use a donkey to do the same. God then opens Balaam's eyes to finally see what's in front of him. Verse 31, “Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand.”Jump down to the middle of verse 32: “Behold [says the angel], I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me. The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live.”And now, just consider all that Balaam has experienced of God up to this point: God has spoken to him, twice. God has opened the mouth of his donkey. God has revealed an angel to him. In just a short while, God himself is going to speak through him. And God's even going to use him to bless his people. But you know what's really alarming? None of these experiences will ultimately change Balaam's heart.Sure, Balaam's going to be humbled in verse 31 — Frightened by this angel, he'll not dare go beyond what God says to him, for fear of his life.Balaam's going to be grieved in verse 34 — confessing his sin of ignorance (I didn't know the angel was there) but not his rebellion (I shouldn't have even been there in the first place). Balaam's even going to show some interest in God's people — 23:10, “Let me die the death of the upright, and let my end be like his [meaning Israel's]” None of it will fundamentally change Balaam. Like the parable of the soil and the weeds, Balaam's apparent interest in God will be choked out by the cares of this world.Balaam's EndAnd that's not conjecture. Scripture tells us that Balaam's last act, following these events, did not involve a dedication of his life to God. But a back-door method for getting paid. The advising King Balak and the women of Moab — “Look, you can't curse Israel, but you can seduce them.” As Numbers 31:16 reads, “…on Balaam's advice, the women of Midian caused the people of Israel to act treacherously against the Lord in the incident of Peor, and so the plague came among the congregation of the Lord.” As 2 Peter 2:15 reads, Balaam did this because he loved gain from wrongdoing. Third, and most alarming mark of worldliness: Worldliness can experience God and go on unmoved. Brothers and sisters, beware of heart-absent Christian activity. In your Bible reading, prayer, church life — beg God to awaken you to his glory. Plead with God to change you from one degree of glory to the next. Ask God, “Father, show me your glory through this act of worship before you.” What are the marks of worldliness?Worldliness considers sin, feigns ignorance, and can even go on unmoved by the experience of God.So, that's Balaam. Our portrait of worldliness. Far more briefly now, we'll look at Phinehas, and he as a portrait of godliness.2. Godliness (Phinehas)Turn with me over to chapter 25, and see that it opens with the Balaam-incited episode between the sons of Israel and the daughters of Moab and Midian. Verse 1, “While Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab. These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor.”They were seduced into idolatry.God's response to this peoples' sin, just as in other times, was righteous wrath. Plague breaks out. Verse 9 tells us that 24,000 Israelites died in this incident — likely finishing off the remainder of that first generation of Israelites of whom God said would not enter the land but die in the wilderness.Now, 24,000 is a large number. But it would've been even larger had it not been for Phinehas. Again, we're looking for marks of godliness, and what we'll see in Phinehas is essentially the opposite of what we saw in Balaam. It begins with the disturbing scene of verse 6: “And behold, one of the people of Israel came and brought a Midianite woman to his family, in the sight of Moses and in the sight of the whole congregation of the people of Israel, while they were weeping in the entrance of the tent of meeting.”Israelites are literally dropping left and right because of the plague. Mourners have gathered near the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. And in the sight of everyone, this man Zimri takes a Midianite woman in his hand and leads her to his chamber, nonchalantly walking past the Holy Tabernacle of God as they do so. Worldliness considers sin, yes? Godliness does not — but strikes it down from the start. So, verse 7: “When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand.”He does not consider following suit and he too grabbing the hand of a Midianite woman. He grabs his spear instead. First Mark of Godliness: Godliness opposes sin from the start.And why does he? What's so wrong about taking this Midianite woman? Maybe Zimri really likes her. Maybe she likes him. Maybe it's really no big deal. Worldliness feigns ignorance, yes? Godliness doesn't. God has said, Ex. 20:2-3, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me.” Yet this man is bowing down to these Midianite gods.God has said, Numbers 15:30, “But the person who does anything with a high hand, whether he is native or a sojourner, reviles the Lord, and that person shall be cut off from among his people.” Yet this man is carrying out his sin in the sight of the whole camp, and without a care.God has said to Moses and Aaron, Num. 3:38, “guard the sanctuary…protect the people of Israel. And any outsider who [comes] near [they are] to be put to death.” Yet this man is bringing a Midianite woman right past the Holy sanctuary, threatening to defile it as they pursue their end.Worldliness feigns ignorance, yes? Godliness responds to God's word. Phinehas knows what God had to say about these things. So, again, he takes his spear. Lastly, Worldliness experiences God and goes on unmoved, yes? Phinehas, as Aaron's grandson, member of this second generation of Israelites, had seen all that God had done, heard all that God had said, throughout the years of the wilderness wanderings. And he did not go unmoved by them. He became captivated by the glory of God through them, and jealous for the spread of his glory in the world. As we read in 25:11, Phinehas did what he did out of jealousy for God's name. His heart won over to God's.What are the marks of godliness?Godliness opposes sin from the start.Godliness responds to God's word.Godliness is jealous for God.3. PromisesSo, we've got Balaam and worldliness on one side. Phinehas and godliness on the other. In between, promises given to the godly. Briefly, one of the most encouraging things to note regarding these God-given oracles of Balaam in chapters 23-24 is that for the most part, they're simply reaffirming the promises God has already made to this people before. For example: To Abraham he said, Gen. 22:17,“I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore.”Numbers 23:10,“Who can count the dust of Jacob or number the fourth part of Israel.”Ex. 29:45,“I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God.” Numbers 23:21 reads,“The Lord their God is with them, and the shout of a king is among them.”Gen. 22:17,“…Your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies”Num. 24:8,“God brings him out of Egypt…he shall eat up the nations, his adversaries,”The fact that God is reiterating his promise here should greatly encourage us. For though this first generation has proven faithless, God remains faithful. His promises still stand though the first generation failed to receive them. For, as 23:19 states,“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” God never fails to keep his promises. Which means that, as his new covenant people, when Jesus says things to us, like John 10:27-30: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand..” And we think, “well, yeah, but what about my inadequacy? My failings? My sin? Won't my shortcomings erode God's promise to me? In the midst of such worry and anxiety, we remember:“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” A Coming KingNow, I had said that most of these promises simply reaffirm the promises God has already made to this people. But what brings us to the table this morning is the introduction of a new promise here in Numbers. The promise of a coming king.In 24:17, we read:“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth. Edom shall be dispossessed; Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed. Israel is doing valiantly. And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion and destroy the survivors of cities!”This coming king will rise up out of Jacob. This coming king will crush the enemies of God's people. And indeed, he already has. And in this season of Advent, we're waiting for him once more. What brings us to the table this morning is the reality that King Jesus has come and disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame. He has crushed our greatest enemy, death itself, through his own death and resurrection, in which robbed the grave and stole Hell's keys, and now bids us all, “Come to me, and I will give you eternal life.” This meal which represents Jesus' broken body and shed blood is a meal for those who love this King Jesus. So if you're here today and you've trusted in Jesus, then we invite you to take and eat. If you've not put your trust in Jesus, we ask that you'd let the elements pass for now, but encourage you in this moment, turn to Jesus and receive this King and his promises offered to you.

For a few chapters, Moses turns our attention toward the camp of Israel's enemy. King Balak of Moab realizes that physical force will not succeed against Israel, so he attempts spiritual warfare against Israel's God. Balak offers to pay the false prophet Balaam to curse Israel. Balaam agrees to go, saying that he will only be able to say what has been spoken to him first. When Balaam's actions displease the LORD, the LORD sends His angel to block the way, but Balaam only recognizes what is happening when the LORD opens the mouth of Balaam's donkey to speak. By the time Balaam gets to Balak, the stage has been set for both men to witness firsthand that God's Word will be spoken and accomplished, no matter what human might or wisdom attempts.  Rev. Sean Daenzer, Director of Worship for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and chaplain for the International Center in St. Louis, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Numbers 22:1-41.  "Wilderness Wanderings” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Numbers. After the LORD delivers His people from slavery in Egypt, He leads them toward the Promised Land. Although the first generation of Israelites proves faithless, the LORD remains faithful to His people and brings a new generation of Israelites to the plains of Moab. This strengthens us to listen to God's promises today and stay faithful to Him as He guides us toward resurrection life.  Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God's Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

                 Numbers 23:19 says God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill. In this chapter we see King Balak trying to get Balaam to curse Israel.  Balaam is out of the will of God in going with this king and trying to do something that God will never do.  God has a plan and a purpose for Israel and would not go back on these promises because He is God.  Balaam is constantly changing his mind and going back and forth on what he is doing or wants to do.  So, here we see the contrast between man and God.  Are we like the double minded man here or are we able to be blessed because we are walking in His will?  God will always do what He says He will do and will not curse those He has chosen to bless.    Mark 8:36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?              John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? He can Save you if You ask Him based on His death, burial, and resurrection for your sins. Believe in Him for forgiveness of your sins today.               “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  -John 8:32             Our mission is to spread the gospel and to go to the least of these with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ; We reach out to those the World has forgotten.              hisloveministries.podbean.com #HLMSocial hisloveministries.net https://www.instagram.com/hisloveministries1/?hl=en His Love Ministries on Itunes Don't go for all the gusto you can get, go for all the God (Jesus Christ) you can get. The gusto will get you, Jesus can save you. https://www.facebook.com/His-Love-Ministries-246606668725869/?tn-str=k*F             The world is trying to solve earthly problems that can only be solved with heavenly solutions

Have you ever wondered why a pagan prophet's words are featured so prominently in the Torah? Join us as we explore the enigmatic story of Parsha Balak, where King Balak's relentless efforts to curse the Jewish people through Balaam the prophet are thwarted by divine intervention. We unravel Balaam's complex character, revealed through his bizarre interaction with a talking donkey and his covetous nature. In particular, we scrutinize the poignant verse from Chapter 23, Verse 10, where Balaam paradoxically wishes to die as righteously as the patriarchs despite failing to live a life of righteousness. This episode powerfully illustrates the futility of seeking repentance at the eleventh hour and underscores the daily opportunities to connect with God through the 613 commandments.We then delve into the spiritual treasure trove that is the Shema, drawing wisdom from the Zohar. We discuss how the Shema's 248 words correspond to the 248 limbs of the human body, emphasizing the power of its recitation in dispelling negative energies. Simple yet profound morning rituals like washing hands, wearing tzitzit, and putting on tefillin are highlighted, offering practical guidance on living a meaningful Jewish life. With an engaging analogy involving a chocolate bar, we reflect on how dedicating even a small portion of our day to these mitzvot can yield profound spiritual rewards. Wrapping up, we encourage listeners to maximize every moment by connecting with the Almighty through His commandments and Torah study, enriching our lives in service to Hashem. May we all be blessed to live this way. Amen._____________This episode (Ep 6.40) of the Parsha Review Podcast by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe on Parshas Balak is dedicated in Honor of Rabbi Yaakov & Dr. Sara Nagel & in honor of our Holy Soldiers in the Battlefield and our Torah Scholars in the Study Halls who are fighting for the safety of our nation!Download & Print the Parsha Review Notes:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ncaRyoH5iJmGGoMZs9y82Hz2ofViVouv?usp=sharingRecorded in the TORCH Centre - Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on August 5, 2024, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on August 6, 2024_____________DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!_____________SUBSCRIBE and LISTEN to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.tansistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at https://www.TORCHpodcasts.com_____________EMAIL your questions, comments, and feedback: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Please visit www.torchweb.org to see a full listing of our outreach and educational resources available in the Greater Houston area! ★ Support this podcast ★

Have you ever wondered why a pagan prophet's words are featured so prominently in the Torah? Join us as we explore the enigmatic story of Parsha Balak, where King Balak's relentless efforts to curse the Jewish people through Balaam the prophet are thwarted by divine intervention. We unravel Balaam's complex character, revealed through his bizarre interaction with a talking donkey and his covetous nature. In particular, we scrutinize the poignant verse from Chapter 23, Verse 10, where Balaam paradoxically wishes to die as righteously as the patriarchs despite failing to live a life of righteousness. This episode powerfully illustrates the futility of seeking repentance at the eleventh hour and underscores the daily opportunities to connect with God through the 613 commandments.We then delve into the spiritual treasure trove that is the Shema, drawing wisdom from the Zohar. We discuss how the Shema's 248 words correspond to the 248 limbs of the human body, emphasizing the power of its recitation in dispelling negative energies. Simple yet profound morning rituals like washing hands, wearing tzitzit, and putting on tefillin are highlighted, offering practical guidance on living a meaningful Jewish life. With an engaging analogy involving a chocolate bar, we reflect on how dedicating even a small portion of our day to these mitzvot can yield profound spiritual rewards. Wrapping up, we encourage listeners to maximize every moment by connecting with the Almighty through His commandments and Torah study, enriching our lives in service to Hashem. May we all be blessed to live this way. Amen._____________This episode (Ep 6.40) of the Parsha Review Podcast by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe on Parshas Balak is dedicated in Honor of Rabbi Yaakov & Dr. Sara Nagel & in honor of our Holy Soldiers in the Battlefield and our Torah Scholars in the Study Halls who are fighting for the safety of our nation!Download & Print the Parsha Review Notes:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ncaRyoH5iJmGGoMZs9y82Hz2ofViVouv?usp=sharingRecorded in the TORCH Centre - Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on August 5, 2024, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on August 6, 2024_____________DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!_____________SUBSCRIBE and LISTEN to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.tansistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at https://www.TORCHpodcasts.com_____________EMAIL your questions, comments, and feedback: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Please visit www.torchweb.org to see a full listing of our outreach and educational resources available in the Greater Houston area! ★ Support this podcast ★

Parshat Balak:  Balaam the Prophet?  -  English only.  God told Balaam the prophet that he could go to King Balak. Why then did God send an angel to stop him? Recorded July 20, 2024

On this week's parsha, Parashat Balak, King Balak orders the prophet Balaam to curse the people of Israel. And Balaam tries and tries - even by way of a talking donkey! - to fulfill the king's wishes. Yet each time he tries, he gives blessings instead. Why does King Balak care more about destroying the Israelites than he does about caring for his own kingdom? What can this teach us about our own blessings and curses? And what's it got to do with Mohammad Deif and Donald Trump? Tune in to find out. Sivan Rahav-Meir is a leading Israeli journalist, media personality and Torah scholar. You can sign up for her The Daily Portion WhatsApp group, where Sivan sends small insights about Judaism and current affairs. Check out Liel's new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books. You can find all of Tablet's podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Send us a Text Message.This Podcast is Hosted at;https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.comEnjoy hours of exclusive content every month and help keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free  for listeners everywhere at;patreon.com/JeremyMcCandlessSubscribe here to receive my new church history podcast every few weeks at.https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.comEpisode Notes: Balaam and the DonkeyIntroduction:Theme: Consequences of disobeying God's commands and prioritizing personal gain over obedience. The story of Balaam serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of straying from God's will.Summary:Setting the Scene (Numbers 22:1-4):The Israelites camp near Moab, causing fear in King Balak due to their victories.Balak seeks out Balaam to curse the Israelites.First Encounter with Balak (Numbers 22:5-6):Balak seeks Balaam's help in cursing the Israelites, offering rewards.Balaam initially refuses due to God's command.Second Invitation and God's Response (Numbers 22:15-20):Balak sends more prestigious messengers with greater rewards.Balaam seeks God's guidance again but receives permission with restrictions.Balaam's Journey and Encounter with the Angel (Numbers 22:21-34):Balaam sets out with the messengers, but God sends an angel to oppose him.Balaam's donkey sees the angel and speaks, revealing God's presence to Balaam.Balaam acknowledges his sin and submits to God's will.Meeting with Balak (Numbers 22:35-41):Balaam meets Balak and participates in sacrificial rituals, compromising his faith.The chapter ends with Balaam's obedience but with questionable motives.Lessons and Reflections:God's Permission vs. Approval: God may permit actions He does not approve of, but there are consequences.Greed and Disobedience: Balaam's love for money led him to disobey God's commands.Priority of Obedience: Obedience to God's commands should always take precedence over personal gain.Application: The story warns against prioritizing material wealth over righteousness in the church and personal life.Conclusion:The story of Balaam teaches crucial lessons about obedience, greed, and God's sovereignty.New Testament references to Balaam emphasize the dangers of following his example.Ultimately, the story serves as a warning against letting greed drive decisions and prioritizing obedience to God above all else.Support the Show.Jeremy McCandless is creating podcasts and devotional resources | PatreonHelp us continue making great content for listeners everywhere.https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Numbers 24 - 1:05 . Numbers 25 - 6:26 . Numbers 26 - 9:20 . Psalm 56 - 15:55 . In our last reading King Balak of Moab had hired Balaam, the professional soothsayer and prophet for hire, to come and put a curse on Israel. The king had heard about how Israel had plowed through the Amorites when that nation refused to let Israel pass through, and he was scared. After two attempts, Balaam finds himself unable to curse Israel, because the God of Israel is so powerful that Balaam must do as the Lord says. Our reading today begins with Balaam's third and final attempt to curse Israel, but instead, when proclaiming a fourth oracle, he prophesies the coming of the Christ. Many scholars believe that this prophecy of the star that comes from Jacob was passed down to the Magi of the gospels, who see the star and travel to see the Christ child. :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.facebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Numbers 21 - 1:01 . Numbers 22 - 7:29 . Numbers 23 - 14:43 . Our reading opens with another instance of Israelite rebellion, and this time, the Lord punishes them by sending poisonous snakes into their camp. In order to be healed, they must lift their eyes upward to look at a bronze snake mounted to a pole. You've probably seen an image of this on the side of an ambulance as a symbol of healing. By acknowledging their need for salvation and looking upon that their curse, they would be saved. We'll also begin the side story of Balaam the professional soothsayer. King Balak hires him to curse Israel, but the Lord opens the mouth of his donkey to warn him of an angelic assassin. This serves as a parallel to Balaam and Balak; if the Lord can speak to a man through a donkey, surely he can speak to a king through a pagan like Balaam. :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.facebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Micah 6:1 – 8; 7:18 – 20 NLT 6 Listen to what the Lord is saying: “Stand up and state your case against me. Let the mountains and hills be called to witness your complaints. 2 And now, O mountains, listen to the Lord's complaint! He has a case against his people. He will bring charges against Israel. 3 “O my people, what have I done to you? What have I done to make you tired of me? Answer me! 4 For I brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from slavery. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to help you. 5 Don't you remember, my people, how King Balak of Moab tried to have you cursed and how Balaam son of Beor blessed you instead? And remember your journey from Acacia Grove to Gilgal, when I, the Lord, did everything I could to teach you about my faithfulness.” 6 What can we bring to the Lord? Should we bring him burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High with offerings of yearling calves? 7 Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? 8 No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Chapter 7 18 Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love. 19 Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean! 20 You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love as you promised to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago.

Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ...   King Balak brought Balaam to curse the large army that came out of Egypt which was camped beside his land of Moab.   God told Balaam not to do this because these people were blessed by God.   But Balaam desired the reward the king would give him if he cursed the nation of Israel.  

Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ...   The children of Israel had 603,000 men of war in their army walking through the wilderness of the land for 40 years before entering the promised land.   God was leading them from place to place and the people of those lands heard about them and were very afraid of them.   Numbers 22   1 And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.   2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.   3 And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.   4 And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.   5 He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:  6 Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot (know) that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.   7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.   8 And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.   9 And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?     (What is it that these men are here with you?  A negative statement from God.  What are you doing being with this type of person?)   10 And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,   11 Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.   12 And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.   13 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you.   The men returned to their land and their king, Balak, and told him Balaam refused to go with them.   But Balak didn't give up and sent even more honorable men with rewards to Balaam.   In his heart Balaam had a desire for the rewards that the king could give him and he shows his lust through the next things he did.   Balaam decided to ask God again if he could go with the king's men.   What did God say the first time Balaam asked this of God?   12 And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.   This should have ended the matter with Balaam.   Keep the Word from God in front of you and go forward doing that word and being led by that word.   How could you want to curse people who are blessed?   (You are sure to lose doing that!  You will bring curses upon yourself doing that.  And why would you even want to do that, setting yourself with enemies of God and setting yourself against God and HIS people?)  

In this week's Torah portion of Pinchas, we meet the High Priest Aaron's grandson, for whom the portion is named. Pinchas suddenly emerges as a bold new leader for this new generation of the Children of Israel, and his unprecedented strike against the heinous immorality calculated by the wicked Bilaam and King Balak to destroy Israel, earned him a Divinely-appointed 'Covenant of Peace'… and a covenant of 'Eternal Priesthood.' This week's Jerusalem Lights podcast focuses on the unusual step taken by Pinchas to save his people from the abyss of immorality. Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman connect the themes of the portion with our contemporary reality, and offer some deep insights into the existential separation anxiety and spiritual roots of the annual ‘Three Weeks' of mourning for the Holy Temple, which begin with the Fast of the Seventeenth of Tammuz, observed this year on July 6th. ___ Rabbi Chaim Richman Jerusalem Lights | Torah for Everyone Please support the work of Jerusalem Lights, a USA recognized 501 ( c ) 3 non-profit organization to enable these productions to continue and grow: Paypal: infojerusalemlights@gmail.com or: https://paypal.me/JerusalemLights?loc... In the USA: Jerusalem Lights Inc. Post Office Box 16886 Lubbock Texas 79490. In Israel: Tel. 972 54 7000395 Mail: PO Box 23808, Jerusalem Israel Subscribe to our newsletter at https://www.rabbirichman.com Subscribe to our YouTube channel:    / @jerusalemlights-...   Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RabbiChaimRi...

Balak: Light from darkness and a talking donkey! Enjoy this week's session of the Land of Israel Fellowship recorded live on July 10, 2022 when Ari Abramowitz and Jeremy Gimpel this week when they discuss the Torah portion of Balak. Join The Land of Israel Fellowship and gain access to all the Bible teachings from Judea and receive your personal invitation to join the exclusive live online gatherings with families around the world every week. To join go to: secured.israelgives.org/donate/Fellowship

Welcome to session #16 (Part 1). In this video, Dr. Michelle walks you through chapters 21-36 of Numbers. Lean in close, get your notebooks and note-taking apps ready, and let's dive in! 0:00 On the Way to Canaan (Ch.21) 4:14 The Bronze Serpent (Ch. 21) 7:05 Sihon, King of the Amorites, and Og, King of Bashan (Ch. 21) 9:05 King Balak, Balaam and Israel (Chs. 22-24) #bible #biblestudy #bibleinayear #Holiness #Numbers #Moses #priesthood #Sinai #wilderness #Aaron #Balak #Balaam

Numbers 24 - 1:05 . Numbers 25 - 6:26 . Numbers 26 - 9:20 . Psalm 56 - 15:55 . In our last reading King Balak of Moab had hired Balaam, the professional soothsayer and prophet for hire, to come and put a curse on Israel. The king had heard about how Israel had plowed through the Amorites when that nation refused to let Israel pass through, and he was scared. After two attempts, Balaam finds himself unable to curse Israel, because the God of Israel is so powerful that Balaam must do as the Lord says. Our reading today begins with Balaam's third and final attempt to curse Israel, but instead, when proclaiming a fourth oracle, he prophesies the coming of the Christ. Many scholars believe that this prophecy of the star that comes from Jacob was passed down to the Magi of the gospels, who see the star and travel to see the Christ child.:::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.facebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Numbers 21 - 1:01 . Numbers 22 - 7:29 . Numbers 23 - 14:43 . Our reading opens with another instance of Israelite rebellion, and this time, the Lord punishes them by sending poisonous snakes into their camp. In order to be healed, they must lift their eyes upward to look at a bronze snake mounted to a pole. You've probably seen an image of this on the side of an ambulance as a symbol of healing. By acknowledging their need for salvation and looking upon that their curse, they would be saved. We'll also begin the side story of Balaam the professional soothsayer. King Balak hires him to curse Israel, but the Lord opens the mouth of his donkey to warn him of an angelic assassin. This serves as a parallel to Balaam and Balak; if the Lord can speak to a man through a donkey, surely he can speak to a king through a pagan like Balaam.:::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.facebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany The Collect: Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Old Testament: Micah 6:1-8 1Hear what the Lord says: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. 2Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the Lord, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for the Lord has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel. 3“O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer me! 4For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and redeemed you from the house of slavery; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. 5O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised, what Balaam son of Beor answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the saving acts of the Lord.” 6“With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” 8He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Psalm: Psalm 15 1 Lord, who may dwell in your tabernacle? *        who may abide upon your holy hill? 2 Whoever leads a blameless life and does what is right, *        who speaks the truth from his heart. 3 There is no guile upon his tongue;   he does no evil to his friend; *        he does not heap contempt upon his neighbor. 4 In his sight the wicked is rejected, *        but he honors those who fear the Lord. 5 He has sworn to do no wrong *        and does not take back his word. 6 He does not give his money in hope of gain, *        nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. 7 Whoever does these things *        shall never be overthrown. Epistle: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 18For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 20Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. 22For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength. 26Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, 29so that no one might boast in the presence of God. 30He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12 1When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: 3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.4“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 8“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Entrance Hymn #569 God the Omnipotent!Sequence Hymn #656 Blest Are the Pure in HeartOffertory Anthem Exsultate! (Lightfoot)Communion Hymn #488 Thou My VisionPost-Communion Hymn #556 Rejoice, Y e Pure in Heart!THE COLLECT OF THE DAYThe Fourth Sunday After the EpiphanyAlmighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.FIRST READING Micah 6:1-8Hear what the LORD says: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the LORD, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for the LORD has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel.“O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer me! For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and redeemed you from the house of slavery; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised, what Balaam son of Beor answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the saving acts of the LORD.”“With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high?Shall I come before him with burnt-offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with tens of thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?PSALM Psalm 15 Domine, quis habitabit? 1 LORD, who may dwell in your tabernacle? *who may abide upon your holy hill?2 Whoever leads a blameless life and does what is right, * who speaks the truth from his heart.3 There is no guile upon his tongue;he does no evil to his friend; *he does not heap contempt upon his neighbor.4 In his sight the wicked is rejected, *but he honors those who fear the LORD.5 He has sworn to do no wrong *and does not take back his word.6 He does not give his money in hope of gain, * nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.7 Whoever does these things * shall never be overthrown.SECOND READING 1 Corinthians 1:18-31The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved itis the power of God. For it is written,“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose...

Matthew 5: 1-12 1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 And he began to speak and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Micha 6: 1-8 Hear what the Lord says: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. 2 Hear, you mountains, the case of the Lord, and you enduring foundations of the earth, for the Lord has a case against his people, and he will contend with Israel. 3 “O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer me! 4 For I brought you up from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. 5 O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised, what Balaam son of Beor answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the saving acts of the Lord.” What God Requires 6 “With what shall I come before the Lord and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” 8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?

Theme: Forge us in the radical vision of your reign COLLECT God of all blessing, in Christ you open for us a new way of living: purge us of our easy acceptance of the ways of the world, and forge in us the radical vision of your reign, that your will may be done on earth as in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. READING Micah 6: 1-8 The Lord says, “My people, what have I done to you? How have I been a burden to you? Answer me. 4 I brought you out of Egypt; I rescued you from slavery; I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to lead you. 5 My people, remember what King Balak of Moab planned to do to you and how Balaam son of Beor answered him. Remember the things that happened on the way from the camp at Acacia to Gilgal. Remember these things and you will realize what I did in order to save you.” 8 No, the Lord has told us what is good. What he requires of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God. READING 1 Corinthians 1: 18-31 23 As for us, we proclaim the crucified Christ, a message that is offensive to the Jews and nonsense to the Gentiles; 24 but for those whom God has called, both Jews and Gentiles, this message is Christ, who is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For what seems to be God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and what seems to be God's weakness is stronger than human strength. GOSPEL according to Matthew 5: 1-12 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. PRAYER for Africa God, refresh Africa and all the world, Protect and grow our children. Convict with justice and truth, all our leaders And fill all hearts with your peace. For Jesus Christ sake. Amen. THE BLESSING Go out into the world. Walk with integrity. Do only what is right. Speak the truth with courage. Additional music: Gratitude - Brandon Lake The Chosen season 2, episode 8 (sermon on the mount): https://watch.thechosen.tv/episode/season-2-episode-8-beyond-mountains

William Shakespeare was a master of the insult, a “quality” that actor Barry Kraft adeptly leverages with his Shakespeare Insult Generator. The clever little book consists of obscure insults drawn from Shakespeare’s plays. For instance, you might disparage someone by saying, “Thou thrasonical, logger-headed rampallian”—which is so much more creative than saying, “You brag a lot and you’re not very smart, you scoundrel!” Kraft’s light-hearted book is in good fun. But an ancient king of Moab once tried to pay a mysterious prophet, not merely to insult the Israelites but to outright curse them. “Come and put a curse on these people,” King Balak told Balaam (Numbers 22:6). Instead, Balaam enraged the king by blessing the Hebrew people—multiple times (24:10). One of his blessings included this prophecy: “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near” (24:17). Clearly the individual in view is not yet on the scene, but just who is Balaam talking about? The next line holds a clue. “A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel” (v. 17). The “star” would one day lead wise men to the promised Child (Matthew 2:1–2). Think of it! An ancient Mesopotamian prophet who knew nothing of Messiah pointed the world to a future sign declaring His arrival. From an unlikely source came not cursing, but blessing.

In this episode, we cover Numbers 22 + 23. During these chapters, Israel is going to camp at Moab and we get the story of King Balak and seer Balaam. Buckle in to see how a talking donkey steals the scene. Thank you for being a part of the club. Make sure to take a peek at the show notes below for Hayley's recap!Show NotesBlogThe Path to Good or EvilCamp Diagram by Jan Luyken (Rijksmuseum)Show notes are also available to view on Susanme.com/shownotes/Contact Bible Book ClubLike, comment, or message us through Bible Book Club's InstagramLike or comment on Susan's Facebook or InstagramLeave us an Apple reviewContact us through our website formThanks for listening and happy podcasting!

- Balaam arrives at King Balak's house and they go up on the mountain together to "curse" God's people.  - Balaam ends up blessing the people.  - Balak does't get it and keeps trying for a different result.  - Jenn comments on how God never changes, and that the blessings He gave in the past are the same ones He gives now.  Share the episode if you like it! (Or if you don't, you may still share it.) Curious about your purpose? Get the Out of the Mire devotional by Jenn Kokal: https://www.amazon.com/Out-Mire-Because-waiting-eight-session/dp/B095GNV1NX 

- The prophet Balaam travels to see King Balak. - God's angel is ready to kill Balaam, but gets stopped due to Balaam's donkey.  - God gives the donkey a human voice.  - The angel yells at Balaam for his stupidity.   If you liked this episode, please consider sharing it around, liking it, subscribing to it, and reviewing it.  Go to www.p40ministries.com/shop to get your Bible Explained merch. 

Micah 6 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 Listen to what the Lord is saying: “Stand up and state your case against me. Let the mountains and hills be called to witness your complaints. 2 And now, O mountains, listen to the Lord's complaint! He has a case against his people. He will bring charges against Israel. 3 “O my people, what have I done to you? What have I done to make you tired of me? Answer me! 4 For I brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from slavery. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to help you. 5 Don't you remember, my people, how King Balak of Moab tried to have you cursed and how Balaam son of Beor blessed you instead? And remember your journey from Acacia Grove to Gilgal, when I, the Lord, did everything I could to teach you about my faithfulness.” 6 What can we bring to the Lord? Should we bring him burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High with offerings of yearling calves? 7 Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? 8 No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Fear the Lord if you are wise! His voice calls to everyone in Jerusalem: “The armies of destruction are coming; the Lord is sending them. 10 What shall I say about the homes of the wicked filled with treasures gained by cheating? What about the disgusting practice of measuring out grain with dishonest measures? 11 How can I tolerate your merchants who use dishonest scales and weights? 12 The rich among you have become wealthy through extortion and violence. Your citizens are so used to lying that their tongues can no longer tell the truth. 13 “Therefore, I will wound you! I will bring you to ruin for all your sins. 14 You will eat but never have enough. Your hunger pangs and emptiness will remain. And though you try to save your money, it will come to nothing in the end. You will save a little, but I will give it to those who conquer you. 15 You will plant crops but not harvest them. You will press your olives but not get enough oil to anoint yourselves. You will trample the grapes but get no juice to make your wine. 16 You keep only the laws of evil King Omri; you follow only the example of wicked King Ahab! Therefore, I will make an example of you, bringing you to complete ruin. You will be treated with contempt, mocked by all who see you.”

Triple Blessings - Numbers 23-25 This week we conclude the story of Balaam. He is hired by the King of Moab to curse the Israelites who have just moved into the land of  Moab. Balaam is a sorcerer who seeks knowledge and power from God but also prays to false gods which have demonic spirits. Balaam is not a prophet of God, but in the Bible God answers him when he asks God about cursing the Israelites. Balaam practiced his art for money. Even though God told him not to go to the King of Moab, and not to curse the Israelites because they had been blessed by God, Balaam did what he wanted. Although an angel almost killed him, Balaam kept negotiating with God and finally God allowed him to go, but told him to only speak what God tells him. Finally arriving at his destination, the King of Moab was very excited to have Balaam with him. Now, he could do what he was paid to do and curse the Israelites. Three separate times, in three different locations, 7 altars were built and burnt sacrifices of bulls and rams were offered on each as offerings to God. Balaam would go pray to God and then return to speak the word of the Lord before the King of Moab. Balak, the king, expected to hear curses but instead, words of great blessings over the Israelites came out of Balaam's mouth. Changing locations had the same results. God had already told Balaam that the Israelites had His blessings on them. Perhaps Balaam thought if they gave a lot of sacrificial offerings to God, He would change His mind. Naturally, the King was very angry at Balaam, but Balaam reminded him that he could only speak what God tells him. But, Balaam doesn't  give up. He knows he can't curse the Israelites, but he also knows that God wants His people to worship Him and no idols and false gods. Their disobedience to God's commandments would bring God's anger on them.  Balaam advises the king to send women to the Israelites to tempt them  to party, go to their festivals, become sexually immoral and have them worship their gods. Unfortunately, this plan worked and in the end 24,000 disobedient Israelites died. Balaam and King Balak were eventually killed when the two nations went to battle. During one of the blessings,  Balaam spoke these words from God, “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent (change His mind). Has he said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19) In today's world when truth and lies are hard to distinguish, knowing that God's Word is the truth and we can rely and trust in His Word/Bible should encourage and reassure us as we grow in our faith. God does not lie and His promises are yes and Amen for His children. (2 Cor. 1:20) God has a great future for you and He loves you beyond any measure. (John 3:16; Jer. 29:11) Remember, you are blessed and you can speak blessings over yourself and your family each day.Read the rest at https://litwithprayer.substack.com/p/triple-blessings?sd=pf 

Blessings & Curses: Numbers 22-1-21 When the children of Israel were on their journey to the promised land, they moved and camped in the plains of Moab which was on the side of the Jordan river across from the city of Jericho. The inhabitants of the land had heard of their exploits and how the God of Israel had delivered them. The Moab people were very upset and afraid. The king of Moab, named Balak, sent his princes to call on the services of Balaam who was a practitioner of divination. Divination was the art of revealing the future and using supernatural means to cause good fortune or curses. Although Balaam sought supernatural knowledge and acknowledged God, he was not called a prophet of God in the Bible but a diviner. In the old testament the practice of divination was against God's law. In Deuteronomy 18:10-11 God tells the Israelites that when they come into the promised land they are not to follow the ways of those nations. They are not to practice divination, witchcraft, fortune telling, consult spirits, interpret  omens or use sorcery. Balaam was hired for a fee to put a curse on the Israelites. He had the reputation of successfully blessing or cursing people. King Balak sent his princes on a long journey to get him. He told the princes to stay the night while he sought a word from God. God asked Balaam, “Who are these men with you?” Balaam replied that  they came from King Balak and were sent so he could accompany them and put a curse on the people who had come out of Egypt. King Balak wanted to defeat and push them out of Moab. God told Balaam not to go with the princes and said, “you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” In the morning Balaam sent the princes of Balak back home to tell the king that God had not given him permission to leave. He left out the message that God had blessed the Israelites and he was not to curse them.   The king sent back more honorable and important people to ask Balaam to return with this group and he promised Balaam honor and whatever he wanted. Although God had told him “no” the first time, Balaam said, “If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more.”  However, he said he would seek what God had to say that night. Again Balaam sought God and this time God said, “If the men come to call you, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto you, you shall do.” The scripture does not say whether the men the next day came to call on Balak or if Balak got up himself and got ready to go. The  next verse says that Balaam rose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab. The next verse says that God's anger was aroused because he went with them. Balak disobeyed God and  his heart was set on getting wealth. Perhaps he thought he could place the curse, make a lot of money, and it wouldn't make a difference because the Israelites were blessed. But God told him not to curse them when He told him not to go. Have you prayed and felt that God was telling you what you should do, but deep down you wanted a different answer? Perhaps you were praying about taking a certain job  that would pay more but it would take up your Sundays and you couldn't go to church or you would be working so much and wouldn't be spending enough time with your family.  Perhaps there's a toxic relationship or bad influence in your life that you know you need to end, but you are afraid of being alone. Have you been tempted to read a horoscope to get guidance on what you should do rather than seeking God. Have you given God scenarios like “if you want me to do this then make this happen…?”Read the rest at https://litwithprayer.substack.com/p/blessings-and-curses?sd=pf 

Numbers 24 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 By now Balaam realized that the Lord was determined to bless Israel, so he did not resort to divination as before. Instead, he turned and looked out toward the wilderness, 2 where he saw the people of Israel camped, tribe by tribe. Then the Spirit of God came upon him, 3 and this is the message he delivered: “This is the message of Balaam son of Beor, the message of the man whose eyes see clearly, 4 the message of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open: 5 How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob; how lovely are your homes, O Israel! 6 They spread before me like palm groves, like gardens by the riverside. They are like tall trees planted by the Lord, like cedars beside the waters. 7 Water will flow from their buckets; their offspring have all they need. Their king will be greater than Agag; their kingdom will be exalted. 8 God brought them out of Egypt; for them he is as strong as a wild ox. He devours all the nations that oppose him, breaking their bones in pieces, shooting them with arrows. 9 Like a lion, Israel crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to arouse her? Blessed is everyone who blesses you, O Israel, and cursed is everyone who curses you.” 10 King Balak flew into a rage against Balaam. He angrily clapped his hands and shouted, “I called you to curse my enemies! Instead, you have blessed them three times. 11 Now get out of here! Go back home! I promised to reward you richly, but the Lord has kept you from your reward.” 12 Balaam told Balak, “Don't you remember what I told your messengers? I said, 13 ‘Even if Balak were to give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I would be powerless to do anything against the will of the Lord.' I told you that I could say only what the Lord says! 14 Now I am returning to my own people. But first let me tell you what the Israelites will do to your people in the future.” 15 This is the message Balaam delivered: “This is the message of Balaam son of Beor, the message of the man whose eyes see clearly, 16 the message of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open: 17 I see him, but not here and now. I perceive him, but far in the distant future. A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel. It will crush the heads of Moab's people, cracking the skulls of the people of Sheth. 18 Edom will be taken over, and Seir, its enemy, will be conquered, while Israel marches on in triumph. 19 A ruler will rise in Jacob who will destroy the survivors of Ir.” 20 Then Balaam looked over toward the people of Amalek and delivered this message: “Amalek was the greatest of nations, but its destiny is destruction!” 21 Then he looked over toward the Kenites and delivered this message: “Your home is secure; your nest is set in the rocks. 22 But the Kenites will be destroyed when Assyria takes you captive.” 23 Balaam concluded his messages by saying: “Alas, who can survive unless God has willed it? 24 Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus; [...]

Numbers 23 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 Then Balaam said to King Balak, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven young bulls and seven rams for me to sacrifice.” 2 Balak followed his instructions, and the two of them sacrificed a young bull and a ram on each altar. 3 Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stand here by your burnt offerings, and I will go to see if the Lord will respond to me. Then I will tell you whatever he reveals to me.” So Balaam went alone to the top of a bare hill, 4 and God met him there. Balaam said to him, “I have prepared seven altars and have sacrificed a young bull and a ram on each altar.” 5 The Lord gave Balaam a message for King Balak. Then he said, “Go back to Balak and give him my message.” 6 So Balaam returned and found the king standing beside his burnt offerings with all the officials of Moab. 7 This was the message Balaam delivered: “Balak summoned me to come from Aram; the king of Moab brought me from the eastern hills. ‘Come,' he said, ‘curse Jacob for me! Come and announce Israel's doom.' 8 But how can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I condemn those whom the Lord has not condemned? 9 I see them from the cliff tops; I watch them from the hills. I see a people who live by themselves, set apart from other nations. 10 Who can count Jacob's descendants, as numerous as dust? Who can count even a fourth of Israel's people? Let me die like the righteous; let my life end like theirs.” 11 Then King Balak demanded of Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies. Instead, you have blessed them!” 12 But Balaam replied, “I will speak only the message that the Lord puts in my mouth.” 13 Then King Balak told him, “Come with me to another place. There you will see another part of the nation of Israel, but not all of them. Curse at least that many!” 14 So Balak took Balaam to the plateau of Zophim on Pisgah Peak. He built seven altars there and offered a young bull and a ram on each altar. 15 Then Balaam said to the king, “Stand here by your burnt offerings while I go over there to meet the Lord.” 16 And the Lord met Balaam and gave him a message. Then he said, “Go back to Balak and give him my message.” 17 So Balaam returned and found the king standing beside his burnt offerings with all the officials of Moab. “What did the Lord say?” Balak asked eagerly. 18 This was the message Balaam delivered: “Rise up, Balak, and listen! Hear me, son of Zippor. 19 God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? 20 Listen, I received a command to bless; God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it! 21 No misfortune is in his plan for Jacob; no trouble is in store for Israel. For the Lord their God is with them; he has been proclaimed their king. 22 God brought them out of Egypt; for them he is as strong as a wild ox. 23 No curse can touch Jacob; no magic has any power against Israel. For now it will be said of Jacob, ‘What wonders God has done for Israel!' 24 These people rise up like a lioness, like a majestic lion rousing itself. [...]

Numbers 22 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 Then the people of Israel traveled to the plains of Moab and camped east of the Jordan River, across from Jericho. 2 Balak son of Zippor, the Moabite king, had seen everything the Israelites did to the Amorites. 3 And when the people of Moab saw how many Israelites there were, they were terrified. 4 The king of Moab said to the elders of Midian, “This mob will devour everything in sight, like an ox devours grass in the field!” So Balak, king of Moab, 5 sent messengers to call Balaam son of Beor, who was living in his native land of Pethor near the Euphrates River. His message said: “Look, a vast horde of people has arrived from Egypt. They cover the face of the earth and are threatening me. 6 Please come and curse these people for me because they are too powerful for me. Then perhaps I will be able to conquer them and drive them from the land. I know that blessings fall on any people you bless, and curses fall on people you curse.” 7 Balak's messengers, who were elders of Moab and Midian, set out with money to pay Balaam to place a curse upon Israel. They went to Balaam and delivered Balak's message to him. 8 “Stay here overnight,” Balaam said. “In the morning I will tell you whatever the Lord directs me to say.” So the officials from Moab stayed there with Balaam. 9 That night God came to Balaam and asked him, “Who are these men visiting you?” 10 Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent me this message: 11 ‘Look, a vast horde of people has arrived from Egypt, and they cover the face of the earth. Come and curse these people for me. Then perhaps I will be able to stand up to them and drive them from the land.'” 12 But God told Balaam, “Do not go with them. You are not to curse these people, for they have been blessed!” 13 The next morning Balaam got up and told Balak's officials, “Go on home! The Lord will not let me go with you.” 14 So the Moabite officials returned to King Balak and reported, “Balaam refused to come with us.” 15 Then Balak tried again. This time he sent a larger number of even more distinguished officials than those he had sent the first time. 16 They went to Balaam and delivered this message to him: “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Please don't let anything stop you from coming to help me. 17 I will pay you very well and do whatever you tell me. Just come and curse these people for me!” 18 But Balaam responded to Balak's messengers, “Even if Balak were to give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I would be powerless to do anything against the will of the Lord my God. 19 But stay here one more night, and I will see if the Lord has anything else to say to me.” 20 That night God came to Balaam and told him, “Since these men have come for you, get up and go with them. But do only what I tell you to do.” 21 So the next morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and started off with the Moabite officials. 22 But God was angry that Balaam was going, so he sent the angel of the Lord to stand in the road to block his way. As Balaam and two servants were riding along, 23 Balaam's donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. The donkey bolted off the road into a field, but Balaam beat it and turned it back onto the road. [...]

DONATE: https://evidence4faith.org/give/ (https://evidence4faith.org/give/) Get more info on the Israel Trip: https://evidence4faith.org/2023israel/ (https://evidence4faith.org/2023israel/) Listen to previous episodes: https://evidence4faith.org/portfolio/keepthefiresburning/ (https://evidence4faith.org/portfolio/keepthefiresburning/) Balaam and his “talking” donkey is a famous children's Sunday school story. The real Balaam from the Bible was a prophet for hire who tried to curse Israel at the behest of Balak, King of Moab. The kingdom of Moab was the next stop on the Israel Exodus. Having just destroyed the Amorites, King Balak decided to stack the deck in his favor, including any possible divine decks. Find out how that worked out for them. This lesson is from our series Keep the Fires Burning. Keep the Fires Burning is a Bible Study series of the minor characters of the Bible that can teach us major lessons. Each episode will introduce you to a new character and help you understand why they are mentioned. MUSIC CREDITS: Stock Music provided by mv_production, from Pond5 Enjoyed this content? Help us keep it free by donating online at https://evidence4faith.org/give/ (https://evidence4faith.org/give/) Evidence 4 Faith is a 501(c)(3) non-profit ministry based in the USA. WEBSITE: https://evidence4faith.org/ (https://evidence4faith.org/) NEWSLETTER: http://eepurl.com/hpazV5 (http://eepurl.com/hpazV5) BOOKINGS: https://evidence4faith.org/bookings/ (https://evidence4faith.org/bookings/) or email april@evidence4faith.org CONTACT: Evidence 4 Faith, 5821 Bear Trail, Rhinelander WI 54501 , info@evidence4faith.org FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/E4Fofficial (https://www.facebook.com/E4Fofficial) INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/evidence4faith/ (https://www.instagram.com/evidence4faith/) GAB: https://gab.com/evidence4faith (https://gab.com/evidence4faith) My goal is that their hearts, having been knit together in love, may be encouraged, and that they may have all the riches that assurance brings in their understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. - Colossians 2:2-3 #biblestudy #bible #christian #christianity #podcast #apologetics #minorcharacters #israel #oldtestament #balaam #balak #cursetoblesssings

3,300 years ago King Balak of Moab hired a professional hitman named Bilam to destroy the Nation of Israel. His words had incredible power, and we recall them every day.

In this episode, Balaam finally “sees” the angel that had been blocking his way, only to be told that the ass had saved his life. When Balaam finally was poised to speak to Israel, he did not curse but bless—twice. Of course, King Balak was irate. Still, the stubborn king did not give up thinking that Balaam would come through in the end. He may have been delusional, but he cannot be accused of giving up easily.

If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. Matthew 16:25 NLT   And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:18-20 NLT   QUESTIONS THAT DETERMINE WHOSE WAY WE ARE CHOOSING   Then Balak tried again. This time he sent a larger number of even more distinguished officials than those he had sent the first time. They went to Balaam and delivered this message to him: “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Please don't let anything stop you from coming to help me. I will pay you very well and do whatever you tell me. Just come and curse these people for me!” But Balaam responded to Balak's messengers, “Even if Balak were to give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I would be powerless to do anything against the will of the Lord my God. Numbers 22:15-18 NLT   1. DO WE PREFER GOD'S WILL OR THE WORLDS WEALTH?   MONEY PROMISES THINGS ONLY GOD CAN DELIVER   Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! Ecclesiastes 5:10 NLT   For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:10 NLT   “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?… Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:24-27;33 NLT   I'll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” Matthew 19:24-26 NLT   So the next morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and started off with the Moabite officials. But God was angry that Balaam was going, so he sent the angel of the Lord to stand in the road to block his way. As Balaam and two servants were riding along… This time when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down under Balaam. In a fit of rage Balaam beat the animal again with his staff. Then the Lord gave the donkey the ability to speak. “What have I done to you that deserves your beating me three times?” it asked Balaam. “You have made me look like a fool!” Balaam shouted. “If I had a sword with me, I would kill you!” “But I am the same donkey you have ridden all your life,” the donkey answered. “Have I ever done anything like this before?” “No,” Balaam admitted. Then the Lord opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the roadway with a drawn sword in his hand. Balaam bowed his head and fell face down on the ground before him Why did you beat your donkey those three times?” the angel of the Lord demanded. “Look, I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me. Three times the donkey saw me and shied away; otherwise, I would certainly have killed you by now and spared the donkey.” Then Balaam confessed to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I didn't realize you were standing in the road to block my way. I will return home if you are against my going.” But the angel of the Lord told Balaam, “Go with these men, but say only what I tell you to say.” So Balaam went on with Balak's officials….Balak asked Balaam. “Didn't you believe me when I said I would reward you richly?” Balaam replied, “Look, now I have come, but I have no power to say whatever I want. I will speak only the message that God puts in my mouth.” Numbers 22:21-22;27-35;37-38 NLT   2. DO WE UNDERSTAND GOD IS EVER-PRESENT IN OUR LIVES?   YOUR EMOTIONS HAVE “THEIR” BEST INTEREST AT HEART, NOT YOUR BEST INTEREST AT HEART!   YOU MUST LIVE UP TO YOUR CALLING AND RESIST LIVING DOWN TO YOUR COMPROMISE!   For the Lord sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes. Proverbs 5:21 NLT   The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2 Chronicles 16:9 NLT   King Balak flew into a rage against Balaam. He angrily clapped his hands and shouted, “I called you to curse my enemies! Instead, you have blessed them three times. Now get out of here! Go back home! I promised to reward you richly, but the Lord has kept you from your reward.” Balaam told Balak, “Don't you remember what I told your messengers? I said, ‘Even if Balak were to give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I would be powerless to do anything against the will of the Lord.' I told you that I could say only what the Lord says! Numbers 24:10-13 NLT   3. ARE WE WILLING TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE OVER THE POPULAR CHOICE?   DOING THE RIGHT THING IS ALWAYS THE RIGHT THING   For they loved human praise more than the praise of God. John 12:43 NLT   IF YOU LIVE FOR PEOPLE'S PRAISE THEN YOU WILL DIE BY THEIR CRITICISM   If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. John 15:18-19 NLT   I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NLT   Obviously, I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant. Galatians 1:10 NLT   HOW TO CHOOSE GOD'S WAY? WE MUST NEVER BE ASHAMED OF JESUS AND THE WORD OF GODJesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Matthew 28:18 NLT   WE MUST DECIDE TO LIVE THE MANDATE JESUS HAS GIVEN US? Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19 NLT   WE MUST CHAMPION NEXT STEPSTeach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. Matthew 28:20 NLT   WILL WE WALK WITH THE CONFIDENCE THAT JESUS IS WITH US? And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20 NLT

The first calling of a Quorum of Seventy; the first Quorum of Twelve are sent on a mission; How to test if one is a prophet; the giants (descendants of the Nephilim) are back for the first time since Genesis 6; the battle with giant King Og who had a 13 foot long x 6 foot wide bed due to his giant stature; fringes or marks in sacred garments to remind one of their covenants with the Lord; Moses is punished by God for failing to speak to the rock and causing water to come forth; the fiery serpent episode with a very similar comparison to the recent pandemic response of church members nearly 3500 years later; the difference between administrative prophets and apostles to spiritual prophets and apostles (such as the Apostle Paul, Eldad and Medab); the gentile prophet Balaam gets offered money and honor by King Balak to curse Israel; Balaam prophesies of Jesus. All this and more in this week's Come Follow Me lesson. Come increase your testimony of Jesus Christ through the expository preaching of Dr. D. Todd Harrison. Having testified of Jesus Christ and His Church to more than 30 million people, and with more than 650,000 followers on Facebook alone, Dr. Harrison is one of the most well respected and followed Leaders in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Thousands have reached out to the missionaries for baptism or for further study after hearing his videos or having read his written messages. Many of these are now currently serving as full time missionaries for the Church. Come join us for his Spirit filled preaching. For baptism: https://www.comeuntochrist.org/requests/missionary-visit For all past videos archived, and for weekly written messages: Join Dr. Harrison on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrDToddHarrison/

Numbers 24 - 1:05 . Numbers 25 - 6:26 . Numbers 26 - 9:20 . Psalm 56 - 15:55 . In our last reading King Balak of Moab had hired Balaam, the professional soothsayer and prophet for hire, to come and put a curse on Israel. The king had heard about how Israel had plowed through the Amorites when that nation refused to let Israel pass through, and he was scared. After two attempts, Balaam finds himself unable to curse Israel, because the God of Israel is so powerful that Balaam must do as the Lord says. Our reading today begins with Balaam's third and final attempt to curse Israel, but instead, when proclaiming a fourth oracle, he prophesies the coming of the Christ. Many scholars believe that this prophecy of the star that comes from Jacob was passed down to the Magi of the gospels, who see the star and travel to see the Christ child.:::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.facebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Numbers 21 - 1:01 . Numbers 22 - 7:29 . Numbers 23 - 14:43 . Our reading opens with another instance of Israelite rebellion, and this time, the Lord punishes them by sending poisonous snakes into their camp. In order to be healed, they must lift their eyes upward to look at a bronze snake mounted to a pole. You've probably seen an image of this on the side of an ambulance as a symbol of healing. By acknowledging their need for salvation and looking upon that their curse, they would be saved. We'll also begin the side story of Balaam the professional soothsayer. King Balak hires him to curse Israel, but the Lord opens the mouth of his donkey to warn him of an angelic assassin. This serves as a parallel to Balaam and Balak; if the Lord can speak to a man through a donkey, surely he can speak to a king through a pagan like Balaam.:::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.facebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

“But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it." '. I believe that each of the seven churches in Asia could very well represent some of the characteristics of our churches today. As we have already seen the church at Ephesus represents the careless church that has left its first love. The church of Smyrna represents the crowned church because as a persecuted church it was purified. Now the church at Pergamos appears to look like the compromising church. Despite their courageous stand against persecution, the believers in Pergamos were not faultless before the Lord. Satan had not been able to destroy them by coming as the roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8), but he was making inroads as the deceiving serpent. A group of compromising people had infiltrated the church fellowship, and Jesus Christ hated their doctrines and their practices. These infiltrators are called "Nicolaitans." The name means "to rule the people." What they taught is called "the doctrine of Balaam" (Rev. 2:14). The Hebrew name Balaam also means "lord of the people" and is probably synonymous with Nicolaitans. Sadly, this group of professed believers "lorded it over" the people and led them astray. Understanding the story of Balaam helps us interpret this insidious group more accurately (see Num. 22-25). Balaam was a true prophet who prostituted his gifts in order to earn money from King Balak, who hired him to curse the people of Israel. God prevented Balaam from actually cursing the nation—in fact, God turned the curses into blessings!—but Balak still got his money's worth. How? By following Balaam's advice and making friends with Israel, and then inviting the Jews to worship and feast at the pagan altars. The Jewish men fell right into the trap and many of them became "good neighbors." They ate meat from idolatrous altars and committed fornication as part of heathen religious rites. Twenty-four thousand people died because of this disobedient act of compromise (Num. 25:1-9). Why did this bit of ancient history apply to the believers at Pergamos? Because a group in that church said, "There is nothing wrong with being friendly to Rome. What harm is there in putting a pinch of incense on the altar and affirming your loyalty to Caesar?" Antipas refused to compromise and was martyred; but others took the "easy way" and cooperated with Rome. The Lord accused the Christians in Pergamos of sinning, of committing "spiritual fornication" by saying, "Caesar is Lord." Of course, this compromise made them welcome in the Roman guilds and protected them from Roman persecution, but it cost them their testimony and their crown. Believers today also face the temptation to achieve personal advancement by ungodly compromise. The congregation or the individual Christian that compromises with the world just to avoid suffering or achieve success is committing "spiritual adultery" and being unfaithful to the Lord. James tells us that whoever become a friend of the world is the enemy of God (James 4:4). May the Lord keep us from compromising our faith and our relationship with the Lord to please the world! God bless!

Teaching from Numbers 22-23, we hear of the story of the prophet Balaam and how he is asked to curse the Israelites for King Balak, but is unable to do so because God will not curse what He has already blessed. Through this story, we understand justification by faith and how God sees us in […]

Torah Portion "בלק/Balak" which means "Destroyer" delivered on June 26, 2021. This week's portion covers Numbers/Bemidbar 22:2-25:9 and begins, "And Balaq son of Tsippor saw all that Yisra'ĕl had done to the Amorites. And Mo'aḇ was exceedingly afraid of the people because they were many, and Mo'aḇ was in dread because of the children of Yisra'ĕl."In this week's Torah portion we learn about Balak, King of Moab and the prophet Balaam hired to curse Am Israel. Pastor Richard asks a question "How does someone have the ability to curse you?" When HaShem tells the prophet Balaam that he cannot curse His people Israel, Balaam plots another way. If he can't curse them then he will teach Balak what he can do to have the people curse themselves. Pastor Richard teaches that what HaShem has blessed, is blessed. So in order to destroy the blessed people they must curse themselves. This is still going on today because Balaam taught the King how to get the people of Israel to break the Torah. Israel mixed their walk of faith with the pagan religions and worshipped the pagan gods of the Moabites, breaking the covenant with HaShem. Instead of continuing their walk with HaShem in His ways (Torah, commandments, etc.) they changed and felt they could mix HaShem with pagan gods.Pastor Richard gives an understanding of why King Balak targeted and wanted to destroy them: it is the seed of Messiah within, and this spirit is still in the world today trying to get the people of HaShem to mix their worship. This teaching provides much insight on spiritual battles and why we can not mix religion into the walk of faith with HaShem. Shalom!This week our Haftorah teaching is delivered by Brother Mark from Micah 5:6-6:8. The New Testament teaching is delivered by Ro'ah Alpha from 2 Peter 2:1-22. We hope and pray that you find blessing in our teachings. And we ask that you please join us each week as we dig deep into scripture to learn more about who our God is, and reveal the Messiah throughout the Old Testament. Pastor Richard Cortes The Foundation of The Word Outreach Ministries www.thefoundationoftheword.org

A Bible Story from Egermeier's Bible story Book. Copyright 1969. Read by Jessica McVeigh, accompanied by her children. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Audio Transcript: This media has been made available by Mosaic Boston Church. If you'd like to check out more resources, learn about Mosaic Boston and our neighborhood, churches, or donate to this ministry, please visit mosaicboston.com.Good morning. Welcome to Mosaic Church. My name is Jan, one of the pastors here at Mosaic. And if you're new or if you're visiting welcome, we're so glad you're here and we'd love to connect either through the connection card and the worship guide or in the connection card in the app or online. If you filled out allegedly, we will get in touch with you over the course of the week. That said, would you please pray with me over the preaching of God's word?Heavenly Father, we thank you for the privilege it is to come into your presence because of the sacrifice of your son, Jesus Christ on the cross, by the power of your Holy Spirit. Lord, you command us that we are not to have any gods before you. You summarized Jesus, the law of the Lord by saying, love God with all your heart, soul strength, and mind, love your neighbor as yourself. I pray today. Lord, you show us that love without obedience toward you is not love. When you call us to love you. You call us to honor you and revere you and fear you. And make us the people who care about honoring your name. People who care about holiness and righteousness, people who allow you to be Lord and King over every aspect of our lives. No matter how intimate to us.I pray. Lord, open up your Holy scriptures to us and give us hearts to hear and to receive and to love these truths. We'll pray, Holy Spirit, fill us, rebuke us, where we need to be rebuked, and comfort us where we need to be comforted. We pray all this in Christ's Holy Name. Amen.We're continuing our sermon series through the book of Malachi this week, two more weeks, I was just covering chapter by chapter. And then that will lead us into advent and where we'll just look at Matthew:1-2, so the very next pages in the Holy scriptures. Malachi and the title of the sermon series is a refiner's fire. Malachi is a prophet of God. His name means my message, your God has sent this prophet to speak a work of fire to the people of God, to burn off the dross that has encapsulated their hearts. Their hearts are numb toward God, desensitized toward God, and they need a fire to burn that dross off.And really that the heart of this book, it is the question, do you love God with all your heart, soul strength, and mind? Does God have a central place in your life? Meaning does faith in God permeate all of your life? Does God get to be God over every aspect of your life? Or does he just get a little time slot on your Google calendar of Sundays for an hour, hour and a half, a few minutes at the beginning of each day, perhaps?Is God the absolute most important person in your life? Do you do everything that you do for the glory of God? Through the prism of worshiping God, boil a question down is, God central or is He supplemental? And many of us struggle with the centrality of God because a lot of us have learned to compartmentalize God. There's my school box. There's my career box. There's my relationship with box. There's my money box. There's my sex box, whatever it is. And then there's my God box. And this is that part of life where I honor God, I sing songs to Him, I pray some prayers and I do some scripture. And when God gets compartmentalized in our lives, He just becomes an afterthought and we run to Him when we need something. When we need a blessing, when we need forgiveness, when we need spiritual cleansing, when we need him to remove shame or guilt, when we need rescue, we run to Him when we sin.God forgives, Jesus died on the cross for my sins. I've sinned. I see the calamity of my sin. I don't want to deal with the consequences of my sin. Jesus forgive me. And as soon as I'm forgiven, I run back to my sin. And we see the cycle over and over in the Holy Scriptures. He gets our sin, we get forgiveness and we go back to our sin and God gets our leftovers. We actually only go to God, to say, "God, forgive me, deal with the excrement in the filth of my soul in my life." And then we go right back to it. So how does God feel about that cycle? About that tepidness? About that lukewarmness? How does God feel about us bringing our leftovers to him?Well, today we will find out what God says, actually your worship to me, what you're giving me, it's actually feces, is the word dung. And he says, "I'm going to take the dung that you're bringing me. I'm going to rub your face in it. So you realize that this isn't going to work." So that's the text that we're in today, Malachi 2:1-9 to begin with, and then we'll deal with verses 10 through 16, after that.Malachi 2:1-9. “And now, O priests, this commandment is for you. If you will not listen if you will not take it to heart, to give honor to My name,” says the LORD of hosts, “Then I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not take it to heart. Behold, I will rebuke your offspring and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings; and you shall be taken away with it. So shall you know that I've sent this command to you? That my covenant with Levi may stand," says the LORD of hosts."My covenant with him was one of life and peace. And I gave them to him, it was a covenant fear and he feared me. He stood in owe of my Name. True instruction was in my mouth and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge. And the people should seek instruction from his mouth for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. But you have turned aside from the way, you've caused many to humble by your instruction, you have corrupted the covenant of Levi," says the LORD of hosts. "So I make you despised and abased before all the people inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction.” This is the radium God's Holy inerrant, infallible authoritative word, He writes these eternal truths upon our hearts, three points to frame-Up our time. Verses 1-9. Stop giving God your Paresh, we'll talk about what that means. Two is don't marry pagans, that's verses 10-12. And three, fight for marital faithfulness verses 13-16.Point one; stop giving God your Paresh. He writes and speaks these words to priests, that's verse one. "And now, O priests, this commandment is for you." In context, talking directly to spiritual leaders in the Old Testament, these were the Levites. In the new Testament, spiritual leaders of the pastors or the elders. And so in context, He's talking about those who are entrusted to teach the people of God, the truths of God, and to not just teach them the instruction, but also show them, model how it's to be done. "Imitate me as I imitate Christ," the Saint Paul says. Life and doctrine go together. 1 Timothy 4:16, "Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching, Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers." So if you are to teach the word of God to others, if you're going to instruct people from the word of God, you first have to pay attention to yourself, make sure you're living it yourself, and pay attention to your teaching. That's in line with the teachings of scriptures.In James 3:1, says, "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers for you know, that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness." God sets a higher standard for those who preach his word, who teach his word. The job of spiritual leaders wasn't just to do the work of the ministry. It was to teach God's word. It was to ordain the worship service, that's the word of God. "We commit ourselves to the word of God and to prayer," as the book of Acts says. And then also it's to keep people accountable to that teaching and equip the saints for the work of the ministry. How does this apply to us? This text primarily applies to spiritual leaders. So Pastor Jan, you're preaching to yourself, Pastor Jane, Pastor Andy, the spiritual leaders. Also, applies to community group leaders. If you're leading a community group in the church, you need to know that this text's for you.But it also applies to any Christian because any Christian is called to make disciples of other people. Jesus gave us the command in the great commission, "Go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, Son, the Holy Spirit." On top of that, every Christian is called a priest. 1 Timothy 2:9 "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness and into his marvelous light." So in the church age, Jesus Christ has fulfilled the Levitical code and superseded it. He's our great high priest and we are priests under him. So there's levels of authority given Jesus at the very top, then the spiritual leaders in the church. And it just descends, but every single one of us in some capacity, are called to teach the word of God to those in our community. And as we do, we need to know that there are standards that God sets for priests.Malachi 2:2 "If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name," says the LORD of hosts, "then and I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I've already cursed them because you do not lay it to heart." The first thing that a minister of the gospel, the first thing that any priest, any Christian needs to do is to learn to listen, not just with our ears. Jesus used this phrase often. He says, "Do you have ears to hear, take care of how you listen." And twice in this verse, he emphasizes, "take it to heart." So he's saying not just listen with your ears, but listen with your heart. Not listen to your heart, listen with your heart.And what's the connection between the heart and listening heart and learning truths? The connection's the same as the connection between faith and love. You can't believe in God or believe in doctrines about God without loving God because faith isn't just a matter of the mind. It's a matter of the heart, even more so. And we have a propensity to listen, in particular, things that we love, things that we want to hear. So he says, "First of all, when you're listening to God's word, you got to make sure your heart is calibrated to hear, to listen, particular, his warnings." Do you heed God's warnings? Do you heed his rebukes in the scripture? When the word is preached, as you read it, do you take the rebukes from the word of God? Do you take them to heart? And if not, then maybe the real issue is that you do not fear God, you do not honor God. And that's the connection. "If you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name."The scripture talks often about loving God and we in the American Church, we've done a great job talking about a God who is love and a God who calls us to love him because He first loved us. I think we've done that at the expense of talking about God, who is to be feared, who is an awesome God, a God who is to be revered and honored. He is to be so honored. So feared that we even revere his name, that we speak his name with honor with reverence. That's what he's saying here, "Will you give honor to my name?" This is such a big of a deal. This was one of the 10 commandments, "Thou shall not take the Lord's name in vain."Yes, don't just say, "OMG," don't you just throw out God's name when you're not talking about God or thinking about God, but that's only a surface-level understanding of what that commandment means. What that commandment means is that God has made us his own. We are the children of God. Christ said, "You are mine. I've given you my name, you're Christians live with Christ. So don't take my name in vain, where you take my name, but you dishonor me with your lifestyle." That's what he's really getting at, is that these priests were not honoring God with their lives. And that's really where everything fell apart. They were teaching people about God and then people were looking at their teaching, then comparing it to their lifestyle. And they had nothing to do with God. And thus, they led the people of God astray. So God says, "You're saying, God bless you. God bless you. God bless. But I'm actually going to turn these blessings into curses." And that's the second part of verse 2, "I'm going to curse your blessings. Indeed, I've already done that."And then in the text, he talks about cursing. The blessings cursing, the Levi's offspring where there'll be cut off from the ministry, and then their ministry will be cursed. What he's saying is you talk about God. You want God to bless your life, but your life has nothing to do with the doctrines of God, the order of God, the tenants, and the laws of God, and God cannot bless what he already promised to curse. Then Malachi 2:3 Behold, words of God. "I will rebuke your offspring, the offspring of the priests, and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings and you shall be taken away with it."And this is the Hebrew word Paresh. And what he's getting at, is what this Paresh means. Excrement, it's bodily waste from these animals that they were supposed to bring as a sacrifice, as an offering, a sin offering to the Lord at the festivals. In Exodus 29:14, it's outlined there where it says, "But the flesh of the bull and its skin and it's dung, you shall burn with fire outside the camp." It is a sin offering. So the job of the priest was to take the animal to the people, brought to the priest, and say, "This is our offering to the Lord, our sin offering." And there was a take the choice parts of the animal and sacrifice to the Lord as a sin offering, a sacrifice for their sin, atonement for a little time. But the inner parts, the intestines, including the excrement, they were supposed to take outside of the temple, outside of the camp.And there's two indictments here. The first indictment is the priests, were allowing the dung to stay at the temple. And they were bringing that as a sacrifice to the Lord. And the second indictment is, and we read this in chapter one, that they were allowing the people to bring their leftover animals to God, their lame animals, the blemished animals, the blind animals. When God said, "If you're going to bring a sacrifice, it's got to be the best that you have." And what God is saying. He's saying, "Your worship to me is dung, it's excrement, it's feces, that you're presenting your worst to me. I'm going to take this and I'm going to take these feces and smear them in your face because you are making a mockery of the worship. You keep shoving, literally bull Paresh, BS, in my face and asking me to bless it? And I'm about to return the favor." What's he getting at?He's saying you've learned that there is a way for your sins to be forgiven through the sacrificial system. And you come and you go through the motions of the sacrificial system and the whole sacrificial system was giving as a way of repentance. It was the method of repentance. This is how we're repenting of our sins. You're doing this, you're going through the motions. And then you're going back to your sins. Meaning you love something more than God. You want God just to forgive you so they can keep on doing the sin. And this cycle of sin, ask for forgiveness, sin, ask for forgiveness. And what happens ... on the outside, you're presenting this religion to me on the inside there's nothing but death and corruption and Paresh. And this is the thing that Jesus Christ stood against more than anything else, warned against more than anything else. He has all of his woes in the gospel in Matthew. Woe against the hypocrites. Why did he talk about that so often? He says, be careful in presenting this front of facade of religiosity and cleanliness and purity and caring, nothing about purity on the inside."And that's why he gives us this very vivid imagery expressing the revulsion that the Lord felt when he saw that these priests were presenting an image of cleanliness, but there was nothing like that on the inside. That's what Jesus talking to the hypocrites. Those who claimed to know God and love God. He said, "You're whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and uncleanliness. You clean the outside of the cup and the place, but inside are full of greed and self-indulgence." He says, "Be careful of a worship that has nothing to do with your heart." Be careful of coming to God and singing songs about loving God and giving him lip service. And then when no one's looking, your life looks nothing like what you were singing about. Be careful of the inner corruption.Now, Malachi 2:4-6 "So shall you know that I've sent this command to you that might covenant with Levi may stand." Levi was the first priest of the Levitical code, says the LORD of hosts. "My covenant with him was one of life and peace. And I gave them to him. It was a covenant fear and he feared me. He stood in owe of my name, true instruction was in his name and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness. And he turned many from iniquity." Why was Levi's ministry as a priest so successful? Because he feared God, he honored God. He stood in awe of God. He lived according to God's principles. And when no one was watching, and because there was a love for God, a true love for God from the inside. When he taught people, it blessed people and moved people away from iniquity. He turned many away from iniquity.And the emphasis here is on, "He walked with me." He walks with me is a Hebrew, halacha. Enoch walked with God and he was no more. Noah walked with God. Abraham was told by God, "Walk with me." Jesus Christ, when he comes, the first thing he says to his disciples is, "Follow me, walk with me." This is what it means to be a follower of the Lord. You walk in his ways, you know his ways, you follow him in his ways. That's the only way you can show others how to walk in his ways. He's talking about a lifestyle, a lifestyle of reverence, and obedience and love. And also a lifestyle of hating sin. To fear God means that you hate sin, that you rebuke yourself of your own sin. Proverbs 8:13 "The fear of the Lord is that hatred of evil." To love God is to fear God. And to fear God is to hate evil.The question that's before every single one of us as believers of the Lord is, do you truly hate evil? Not just the consequences of evil. Do you truly hate evil because you love God because you fear God? And you can't honor and fear God without hating your own sin, rebuking your own sin. You can't be a priest of the Lord without rebuking yourself for your own sin and doing the same to your own brothers and sisters with whom you have covenant community. And this was one of the rebukes of God against Eli. Eli was a great priest in the old Testament. But at the end of his life, God comes and he rebukes him and he says, "You've dishonored me. Why Eli? Because Eli taught people the way of God. And he tried to do the same, but he did not rebuke the closest people to him of their sin. Primarily his sons. He didn't confront their evil.1 Samuel 2:30 Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel declares: "I promise that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever." But now the Lord declares, "Far be it from me! For those who honor me, I will honor, and those who despise me will be lightly esteemed." He's saying, "Eli, you claim to honor me, but you allowed evil to reside in your own home without doing anything about it." You need to confront evil. You need to speak truth in love and that's exactly what Malachi is doing.Malachi 2:7 "For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge. And the people should seek instruction from his mouth for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts." So every priest, every pastor needs to understand that they are nothing but messengers. They're not editors. They're messengers. They get a message from the Lord, from the Holy scriptures, thus saith the Lord. Malachi was messenger, the priest is supposed to be a messenger. We're supposed to be messengers and we have to guard and preserve and store up what this message is, even if people don't want to hear it. And why does Malachi begin with verses 1-9 talking about, do you love God? Do you fear him? Do you honor him? Do you revere his word? Are you a messenger? Because in a little while in the very next text, he gets to the very intimate parts of life where he begins to meddle in people's intimate lives with the word of God and apply it. And at that point, people have a decision. Are we going to repent of our sin? Or are we going to try to kill the messenger?Martin Luther said this. He said, "Always preach in such a way that if people listening do not come to hate their sin, they will instead hate you." One of my favorite examples of this is Karl Barth, who was a theologian in Germany prior to World War II. When Hitler was fanning the flames of antisemitism, and some of that was going on in Karl Barth's church. And Barth came out and he preached a sermon on John 3:16. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." And what he said was, "Jesus Christ was a Jew and Jesus Christ died for the whole world and Jews a part of the world. So we need to stand against any hatred of Jews. We need to love Jews and actually love our neighbor." Many in the congregation got up and discussed. So the Jews killed Jesus and the whole antisemitic ideology.And they wrote him scathing letters. And one of the biggest donors in the church wrote him a letter, the scathing letter, denouncing the sermon. Barth responded with a single sentence. And he said, "It was in the text." I'm just delivering the mail. This is the Bible. And this is how we as Christians need to judge any church, any sermon. And then this is how we also need to judge our own teaching about God. Are we speaking truth about God? Is it from the text? This is how we evaluate. Because the whole ministry of God, the whole ministry of the church is founded on this.Act 6:4 "The apostle said we are going to devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word." We're going to devote ourselves to prayer. That's the worship service. That's the ordinance of worship. The worship guide for the anchoring church is called the book of common prayer. It's not just praying to God. It's the whole worship experience of the congregation. And then the word of God, which is the ministry of preaching the word and teaching the word of God. That's what the church depends on. That is our life source, it nourishes and it strengthens. And we need to unabashedly speak the word of God because that's where life is even if our audience doesn't like it. Do we fear God more than men, than people?And actually, this is what Malachi says in verse eight and nine. This was the problem with the priest. They feared people more than they feared God, "But you have turned aside from the way, you have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi," says the LORD of hosts. "And so I make you despised and abased before all the people inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction." What's the issue here? The issue is that for a price, the priest told the people whatever they wanted to hear, the ministry of the word was being bought. In this case, the priests were overlooking clear disobedience in the community and the people are offering substandard sacrifice and the priest said, "Oh, that's fine."Micah spoke against this in chapter three, verse 11, of Micah. Its heads give judgment for a bribe. Its priests teach for a price. Its prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean on the Lord and say, "Is not the Lord in the midst of us? No disaster shall come upon us." Priests are teaching for a price. I'll teach what you want to hear as long as you keep paying my salary, that's what was going on. And the priests are, "If we demand from people exactly what God demands from the people, the people are going to get offended, they're going to leave. Then we need to make the message a little more palatable. So people show up so that people give so that we have a livelihood." This has always been a temptation in the church.Samuel Butler in the 17th century wrote a little poem about it. And he says, "What makes all doctrines plain and clear? About 200 pounds a year. And that which was proved true before, prove false again? 200 more. You want to know the truth? Pay me 200 pounds a year. You don't like it. Pay me another 200 pounds a year. That's what was going on. Does any of that go on today? Yeah. Look at the religious landscape of Boston. 99% of churches that have buildings today, that's what they do. They don't preach the gospel, but they have an endowment that allows them to just not preach the gospel. And I knew early on in the ministry, I knew this was the thing. And practically I made a decision, I don't know who gives what to the church. The only person I know that gives any money, how much? Is my wife and I. We know exactly how much we give. And I will preach whatever the truth of the gospel is, no matter what. And this gig doesn't work out. It's okay. I've got crazy painting skills. I'll go paint houses with my dad, no, no big deal.And you're like, "Okay, that's the pastor's house, how does it apply to us?" Are you willing to stand up for your faith publicly? Are you willing to tell people in your life; colleagues, students, neighbors, roommates, that you love Jesus Christ, that you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins. Specific sins, particular sins, sexual sins, lust, pride, whatever, specific sins. Do you believe that God ordained before the foundation of the world people to salvation that God has an order of this is gender? This is marriage. This is what it means to raise a family? Are you willing to stand up and say, "Yes, I am a Christian." Do you fear God more than you fear people? What they said about Jesus, Luke 20:21. So they asked him, "Teacher we know that you speak and teach regularly and show no partiality but truly teach the way of God." We Mosaic we want to do God's work God's way which is all in line with God's word, whatever that word is.Now, Malachi gets really specific. He set that foundation. "Do we honor God, revere God, do we honor his word? And are we willing to teach it and live it both at the same time?" And he has two prime examples that get really intimate, and where he goes is marriage, marriage, and sexuality. So is point two, don't marry pagans. So he set that foundation in the verses 10 through 12, he says this, "Have we not all one father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another profaning the covenant of our fathers? Judah has been faithless; and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the Lord, which he loves and has married the daughter of a foreign god." May the Lord cut off from the tents of Jacob, any descendant of the man who does this, who brings an offering to the LORD of hosts.So one of the issues that he gets really particular with, but specifically, the priest started allowing marriage to pagans. And they started even doing it themselves. Why? Because people came to them and said, "How dare you priests tell us whom to marry?" There's my God box. And then there's my marriage box. It's this hermetically sealed compartmentalization that happens when there's a cognitive dissonance where people want the sin and don't want God to intrude. So Malachi comes in and says, "Actually it is God's business whom you marry." If you're a child of God, that's why he starts with, "Have we not one father?" Pure child of God, then God expects obedience and as a father, a loving father, yes, God gets to have a say in whom you marry, the father gets a say in the child's choice of a marriage partner, because God loves you. And what does God say here? "Whom does God want these people to marry? There's basically one condition, it's that they love God, that they're Christians, that they're saved, that the regenerated, that they do not worship as verse 11 says, "A foreign God."And so the issue here is not racial intermarriage and it's not ethnic intermarriage. And we see a lot of examples of people from other races who came to the people of Israel, Rahab, Ruth, Abigail, but they were converted, they repent of their sins, became believers in the Lord. So the question is spiritual intermarriage, and he uses the word abomination here. This isn't just a little mistake. This isn't just a matter of options. An abomination, a word that's used for idolatry, witchcraft, and sacrificing children. This is a big deal. And we see that this is a problem all throughout the Old Testament, also in the New Testament. And why was this an issue in during this time of the people of God when Malachi came to speak?Well, because it's been centuries from the time where Moses said, "Do not intermarry with people of other faiths." Centuries have passed. And now at the time of Malachi that people say, that's antiquated. That's regressive. Why does God care whom I marry? No, no, no, my God doesn't do that. It's too restrictive. We shouldn't take it seriously. We shouldn't take it literally. It's inapplicable in the modern-day.The objection is, well, God doesn't care about whom I marry, he just cares about my heart. Because God cares about your heart. He cares about whom you marry. God demands that we love him with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. And how can we give our heart that's committed to God fully to a person that doesn't love God fully? If we have a covenant with God, how can we make a covenant with a person that doesn't love God the same? This is a problem all throughout the Old Testament, all throughout the New Testament. It begins with Genesis 6 where Satan's ploy to take down humanity is spiritual intermarriage, and that actually leads to the flood. In Genesis 24, Abraham makes his servant swear, "Please don't let Isaac, my son marry a Canaanite who worships a foreign God." So Isaac marries Rebecca and then they have two kids, Jacob and Esau. Esau marries two unbelieving wives that brought grief to both Isaac and Rebecca. Jacob marries a believer, but his daughter, Dina is involved with Canaanite men. Those men then invite Jacob's other children to intermarry with them.Jacob's son, Judah marries a Canaanite woman, begins to live like them, and to protect Abraham's descendants so that Jesus could come from this line because God promised to Abraham, God sovereignly takes Joseph out of that land so that he doesn't marry a Canaanite. And that leads to 400 years in Egypt. God then leads them out. In Deuteronomy 7:3-4, God speaks through Moses to the people of God and says, "You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to your sons or taking your daughters for your sons for they would turn away your sons from following me to serve other gods. Then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you. And he would destroy you quickly."Why is this such a big deal? Because Satan knows the way that your faith flourishes if you love God. So if he can pull your heart away from God, when you love a person who competes with your affection for the Lord, and that person then pulls you away. And this was really the strategy of Balaam. If you study the false prophet, Balaam is hired by King Balak who was the King of Moab. Balak says, please curse the people of God. There's so many, they're going to take over. Please curse them. He tries multiple occasions, the curse but he can't because God already blessed them. So then Balaam comes up with a plan. He said, "I can't curse them, but get them to intermarry with Moabite women. And that will destroy their faith. And they will destroy their reverence and honor to the Lord."And we see this ploy by Satan continued. Samson, the strongest man gets taken out through the same tactics. Solomon, his heart gets pulled away from God because of all his wives who worshiped other gods. Ahab with Jezebel, and after captivity, Ezra comes in back to the land with Nehemiah and they see the same thing going on. In the new Testament. Saint Paul says, "Marriage in the Lord. That's the only requirement, that you love the Lord." And 2 Corinthians 6:14-16, "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial, it's a false idol? And what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols for? For we are the temple of the living God.In 1 Corinthians 7:12-16, Saint Paul tells people who are married to unbelievers, how to continue the relationship. When he says, "Just love them in the Lord. If you're married to an unbeliever, love them in the Lord. Witness to them, reflect Christ to them." But he's not endorsing entering such a marriage, he's giving to those who become believers after. Why? Why is this important? Because this is what we talked about in the very beginning. Does God get to be God over every aspect of your life? From the smallest to the greatest to the most impactful, is God the most important person in your life? If so, how can you entertain the thought of committing to make a person the most important person in your life who doesn't view God as the most important? Doesn't love the Lord, doesn't reference his word, and plan according to his will.But we love each other. That's the objection we hear. But we love each other. How can I say no to my feelings? Does God get to be God over your feelings? Yeah, he does. And when God speaks and says, "No, that feeling is wrong." You need to change that feeling, by the power of the spirit of that can happen. It's a question of obedience or disobedience. I've heard, but I've prayed and I feel like this is God's will, "No it's not God's will because God will never contradict what he's already said. It's not God's will." So if you, Christian are dating right now an unbeliever, you need to break up with them. Completely break up with them. "We're no longer dating." "Why?" "Because God said this is wrong." If you really love him, this is what you do. If you really love God, that's what...But I'm witnessing to them? You can witness to them without having to date them. Bring them to church and you're sitting six-feet-apart, praise God. It's not on you to save them. Tell them about Jesus. God's sovereign. If he saves them, tremendous. Then you can get married. Praise God. So are you willing to honor God there? And this is very important decision that you can make even prior to, so if you're dating. And then if you are hoping to get married, pursuing marriage, praying about marriage, your options are believers. And I understand that as Boston is limited. I understand all that, but we believe in a God of miracles. So just keep praying. And by the way, I'll just say, it's not that big of a deal. Marriage isn't that big of a deal. My wife's not here at the service, so I can say that. It's not that big of a deal. Saint Paul says in 1 Corinthians, he says, "If you're married, okay, great. If you're doing business, okay, great. What really matters ultimately is that you love God that you're satisfied in him. That's the most important relationship. So that's number one.Number two if you do get married still, you get to a place where you together are worshiping the Lord. So you can worship the Lord when you're married. That's the point there.Point three is fight for marital faithfulness. If you do get married, you fight for marital faithfulness as decreed by God. And this is Malachi 2:13-16. So one of the issues that the priests were allowing and actually participating themselves, they were marrying unbelievers. And then the second issue was once they got married, even to believers after a while, they're like, "Ah, we're not in love anymore." And they would pursue divorce. So Malachi speaks in verse 13. And this second thing you do, you cover the Lord's altar with tears, with weeping, with groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand. But you say, why does he not? So the people were like "We're worshiping God, we're asking for his blessings. He's not blessing us." There's a lot of emotion here. And God doesn't seem to be hearing their emotion. Well, because God doesn't bless a lifestyle that he has already rebuked in his law.But you say, why does he not? Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless. Though she is your companion and your wife by covenant, did he not make them one with a portion of the spirit in their union? And what was the one God's seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth, "for the man who does not love his wife but divorces her," says the Lord, "the God of Israel covers his garments with violence," the LORD of hosts. "So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not be faithless."So verse 13, the second thing you do that God sees and God does not honor is displeased with, you cover the Lord's altar with tears. That you are showing a lot of emotion. God's not blessing. That's verse 14 because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, same word that was used talking about intermarriage. Again, faithless talking about a lack of fidelity to God, which leads to a lack of fidelity in the marriage. And what's being forbidden here is not divorce in general. It's aversion divorce, divorce because of dislike.In the old Testament divorces permitted for a sexual infidelity, in the New Testament scripture also adds the desertion when an unbeliever desserts a believer, divorce is allowed. But the divorce that he's talking about here is neither of those. He's talking about divorce because they just fell out of love. And he emphasizes here, "No, no, you've made a covenant with the wife of your youth. She is your companion, your best friend." That's what marriage is at the heart of it. It's a friendship, husband and wife companions, best friends. And there's a covenant. That's the word that's used. A covenant is not a contract. A contract is if I fulfill my end of a bargain and you fulfill your end of the bargain and we keep the contract. If not, the contract is broken, a covenant is a lifelong commitment from the perspective of scripture. The Hebrew word for companion, since the covenant is being knit or joined together, pointing to the closest to the relationship.Verse 15, did he not make them one, husband, wife? And we see this from Genesis 2, Adam wakes up and he says, "You're bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, you're blood of my blood, we're the same blood, we're family." Marriage makes family and family is from God's perspective, family's to be permanent. So as asinine, as crazy, as ludicrous as it is to say to my kids, "I am going to abandon you, I am going to divorce you." From God's perspective, that's the same level. Marriage is permanent. And Jesus in Matthew 19, points to Genesis 2 and says, "Yes, that was intended from the very beginning. And Malachi looks at divorce from the perspective of Genesis 2, but then also from the perspective of children. "With a portion of the spirit and the unions of God makes them one with the Holy Spirit." And what was the one God seeking?So God has a purpose in our marriage and a purpose that transcends our feelings or fulfillment or satisfaction. And the purpose is godly offspring. He attacks the sin from the perspective of children because this decision of marriage is where children are influenced to understand God, who God is. And they understand what family is. And our marriage are to be gospel presentations to our children and to the world. And our families are to be gospel presentations that God does not abandon his children. Jesus Christ loves his bride and doesn't divorce her. So from God's perspective, he says, "It's not just about your feelings, not about your desires. It's not about your satisfaction." How does this impact your children from a generational perspective? So this is why you don't marry an unbeliever because God's desire is Godly offspring. And this is why you work at staying married. He says, "Guard yourselves in the spirit, protect yourselves, because God cares not just about this relationship, but generationally speaking.My wife and I were talking about this. And she's like, "What are you preaching on?" I was like, "The fact that God tells me to love you." And she's like, "Why does God have to tell you to love me?" She doesn't come to the service. I can be a little more honest. It's kind of a catch 22. So my answer was, "You know exactly why? Because God tells you the same thing." There are times where you're married even if you don't like each other, just like there are times when you are still caring for your kids. There are times where I don't like my kids, there are. And you do it because God tells you, that's the reason why God's telling you because he has to tell you because there's flesh and sinful desire and all of this. So when we view marriage as just something romantic and then when the romance is gone and then we ... No, it's, it's a matter of obedience. Love is a choice. Love is a commitment.And by the way, there's also times when I don't like myself and you don't like yourself, and it's not like you get divorced from yourself. You still like, "We're in this together, me and myself." Where you just keep going.C. S. Lewis has this great definition of love in Mere Christianity. He says, "Love as distinct from being in love is not merely a feeling. It's a deep unity maintained by the will and deliberately strengthened by habit, reinforce in Christian marriages, the grace, which both partners ask and receive from God. They can have this love for each other, even at those moments when they do not like each other, as you love yourself when you do not like yourself." So from God's perspective, we need to understand that marriage isn't about us. Marriage is so much more. It's to be a picture, a sign of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And God has plans for our marriage, for our families that are so much more than just ourselves.In Malachi 2:16 "For the man who does not love his wife but divorces," says the Lord, "the God of Israel covers his garment with violence," says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not be faithless. Twice he says, this isn't for me. This is from the Lord. Why does he do that? Because people don't like to be told what to do. In particular, in the most intimate parts of life. Did God really say? That's the first temptation in the garden? Yes, he did. And here he talks about the man that does see divorce. He covers his garment with violence. What's he talking about? It's referring to the Hebrew custom of a man when he proposed, he would cover the woman with his garment, draping and over her as a picture of protective care and provision. I'm devoting myself to care for you. And he says, "When you divorce, it's like yanking off that protective covering." And the idea here is that the husband is the head of the wife called to tenderly, nourish, cherish, and protect her as his own body.The Bible doesn't command men to be the head of the wife. It's an inescapable fact. The question is, what kind of head of the household are we husbands? Are we faithful and diligent and effective, or we passive inattentive and ineffective? And it's not that we Lord over. And we don't King over our wives. We shepherd. We are under-shepherds under Jesus Christ. We follow Jesus Christ. So we, as the shepherds, we know where we're going because we're following Christ, we're leading by example. And we're involved, responsible, protecting, providing, instructing, and correcting. And so here, this is a word of the Lord for spouses, for our marriages. What's the marriage secret technique that God gives us here? Is guard your spirits. Guard your spirit do not be faithless. Guard your spirit don't be faithless, the word guard here means to fight, fight the good fight of faith that has to do with loving God, our relationship with God. And also, our relationship with our spouse with our family, it is a fight.We have an enemy in Satan, we have an enemy in our flesh. We have an enemy in the world. It is a fight. So we fight indifference, halfheartedness, passivity, and we fight it by looking to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ does not compartmentalize his faith. Everything he did was for the glory of God, everything. He loves people. He loved God. He loved his bride, which is the church. And he gave himself for her. Jesus Christ, the good shepherd laid his life down for the sheep. But he's also the lamb of God who went to the cross as a sacrifice for our sin. A lamb that was led to the slaughter. He was faithful even when we were faithless.And on the cross, Jesus gave his best. God gave his best to us. And God's best on the cross, God's son. This lamb of God that took away the sins of the world. He became sin. He became that offering, the part of that offering the dung, that was supposed to be brought outside the city. Jesus was brought outside the city in a sense, he became our sin so that we might receive the righteousness of God. That's how we see how much Jesus loves, how much God loves us. And when we see that it fills our heart with love. He fought for us, we are to do the same. He sacrificed for us, we are to do the same for him, for our spouses, for our children, for our church. Why? Because Jesus Christ paid it all, and all to Him I owe.So if you're not a believer, we welcome you to become a believer today in God. We welcome you to repent of sin and turn to Jesus Christ and give your life over to him. And if you are a believer and you're seeing yourself indifference, lackadaisical of spirit and following the Lord, come repent, receive grace. Let's pray, Lord, we thank you for this time. The Holy Scriptures, what an incredible book, the book of Malachi is. And we thank you, Lord, that you are faithful even when we are faithless. And we do repent that often we remove you from the centrality in our lives. And we put ourselves on the throne of our lives. We repent of that. And we ask that you come, you cleanse us. And that you also feel the Holy Spirit to empower us to live lives of righteousness, lives that honor you, lives that revere you, not just the name. And we pray this in Christ's Name. Amen.