Monday, March 28, 2011

Flawed Servants of God

Num 23:16 And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus.
Num 23:17 And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath the LORD spoken?
Num 23:18 And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:
Num 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Num 23:20 Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.
Num 23:21 He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.
Num 23:22 God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.
Num 23:23 Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!
Num 23:24 Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.
Num 23:25 And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.
Num 23:26 But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the LORD speaketh, that I must do?

A true prophet of God must speak what he hears from God. Baalam was a covetous prophet wanting the money and the fame offered by God's enemy. Balak the Moabite prince wanted Balaam to curse Israel, instead he spoke blessings from God. The LORD's servants are to speak his message, but they do not always act as men of God. A person of God must become like Jesus who had no sin or iniquity. Jesus warned the people around him of the scribes and the Pharisees actions.

Mat 23:1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
Mat 23:2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
Mat 23:3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

Like Balaam the lust of money and the lust for position and power came with the preaching of God's word. We are imperfect people who are given a responsibility to share the good news of God with the world. The world needs Jesus, Lord help us to also be examples to the world as images of our Lord and not of the world's values. We are to make disciples like Jesus, not like impure people of the world.

2Co 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Father forgive us for our sin of greed, envy, power and self pity. We want to serve you as your holy vessels with the holy word of God. Help us to be like you, in Jesus name, amen.

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