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weekly sermon 1-18-09 Can I Be Used? I have, many times, written messages, that God has sent to me, about faith and what it means, about grace and what it means, about salvation and what it means, and about how we are to act and live for God, and what all that means to us. I have also been made aware that there are many out there that truly wonder if they are someone that could be used by God to do His will. There was a message some time back that was posted here about Paul and how evil he was and how God had turned Paul to righteousness and made him one of the greatest apostles the Bible ever knew. I showed then; that if God could take a man like Paul, with all of his evilness, and turn him into someone that could do so much good, then why would God not be able to do the same for you or me.
Today I want us to look at something that should really be able to convince us that; yes God can do exactly the same for us. I want to look at a man named Balaam. He was a gentile prophet that was as much like folks in this world today as any that ever existed in the Bible. When I say he was a gentile prophet, that would lead you to believe he was a man of God, a prophet if you will. Yes, he was a prophet of God, but he had his faults just like the rest of us, with the exception of the type of faults. Balaam was what I like to call a fence straddler, meaning that who ever he was around that is the thing he liked. If he was around Godly folks then he was a Godly man. If he was around ungodly folks then he was also an ungodly man. It was not so much that he was ungodly as it was that he wandered after the ways of the world too much. He was a lover of God, but at the same time he was a lover of money and lusts of the flesh. Balaam has had many of his prophecies recorded in scripture, as he was the one that predicted the star of Bethlehem. He was, in that day and time, consider a type of celebrity because of his many dealings and happenings. His celebrity status however did not come to him because of his Godliness, but rather do to his ungodly ways. Balaam was very well known for his demonic curses far and wide. He was a man that lusted after money, prostitution, and fame. The demonic curses would bring him all of the things he lusted after. He was even responsible for the death of 24,000 Jews at one time. Now do not get me wrong, I am in no way trying to compare any one to Balaam or his demonic abilities, I am simply trying to show that he was someone that wanted fortune and fame, as many in our day and time do. I would in no way try to reference that anyone out there would want fame so bad that they would kill so many folks to get it, but if we look around, that still happens today. I do not have to remind anyone of 9/11 and how many lives were lost there, or the Pentagon and how many died there, or the wars that have taken place recently and are still going on in the Middle Eastern nations. The point I want us to really focus on here is how Balaam could really go either way, either Godly or worldly fame and fortune.
I want us to turn to a story, told in the Bible, concerning Balaam and what really opened his eyes. So as to not have to read the complete chapter, I will tell you most of the story, up to the time that we need to really dwell on what happened to Balaam. The Israelites have just defeated the Amorites on their journey to the promised land and had set up camp near Moab. Balak, the king of Moab, was fearing that Israel was focusing on his army next. In his desperation, knowing that his army was not capable of defeating the Israelites, sent word out to Balaam to come and curse Israel, that he may defeat them. Balaam, as I stated earlier, lusted after money, and refused to come and perform the curse. After several attempts by Balak, they finally reached an agreement where Balak would give Balaam a set fee to perform the curse. This was costing Balak everything, but he was sure also that it was assuring him the victory. Balaam had packed up what he thought he needed on his donkey and set off for his journey. He was on his way to Moab to meet with Balak, I am sure, relishing it the thought of all the riches that he would receive. While traveling, he went over in his head what he needed to do to receive his fee. While Balaam was mulling over what needed to be done, the Lord appeared to him, and this is where our story really begins.
Turn with me if you will to Numbers 22:22-31, "And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants [were] with him. (23)And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way. (24)But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall [being] on this side, and a wall on that side. (25)And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again. (26)And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where [was] no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. (27)And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. (28)And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? (29)And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. (30)And the ass said unto Balaam, [Am] not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since [I was] thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay. (31)Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face." re Israel, as we know are God's chosen people. He we see that God was now upset with Balaam because he was going to Moab to curse the "chosen" people of God. So here we see that God was standing in the way, but Balaam was blind towards God and could not see Him there. The ass, however, saw the Lord standing there and turned aside and went into a field. Well this upset Balaam enough to make him hit the ass and get her back on track in the direction he wanted to go. Just then an angel stood in this path, and once again the ass turned and rammed into a wall smashing Balaam's foot. Well Balaam, I am sure, was thinking, what is wrong with this crazy ass, and he hit her again to make her go in the direction he wanted her to go. Ok, now the angel wanted to make sure that there was no way out, so the angel stood in the narrowest place so that the ass could not turn in any direction. The ass then just fell down to the ground with her rider, Balaam, on her back. Well this severely upset Balaam and he started to beat the ass with his staff. Just at that instant, the Lord made the ass open it's mouth and speak to Balaam. The ass asked Balaam what it had done to make him hit her three times. Balaam said you are mocking me by not going the direction that I want you to go, and that if he had a sword right then, he would kill her. The ass then said, 'I am the same ass that you have been riding on every time you ride since you have had me, you really think I would mock you? NO.' Right then Balaam's eyes were opened and he could see the angel of the Lord with a sword in his hand standing there, and Balaam bowed down his head and fell down flat on his face.
Now, what can we get from this story? I titled this message, "can I be used", because I wanted us to see, first, who can be used, and secondly, how we can be used. I do not want you to only see Balaam in this story, but also the ass. Yes, Balaam had prophesied many things that God had showed him, and astonished many with his ability, but he had also used that ability to gain fame among the world. In other words, he took the ability that God had given him, and used it for his personal gain, NOT for the glorification of God, as it was meant.
First, I want us to notice that Balaam, being a gentile prophet of God, could not even see that his Lord was standing right in front of him. This tells me that Balaam was not truly a man of God because the Lord said, 'My sheep will know my voice and recognize me". Balaam obviously did not recognize that God was standing right there in front of him. Also notice that the ass who, we would like to believe, did not have as much sense as man, recognized God immediately and turned aside, not wanting to run Him over. Right then and there, Balaam should have wondered in his mind, why this ass would have acted in such a strange manner, but instead he just hit the ass to make it do something it did not want to do. Remember now that this is an ass that Balaam has had for a long time and has been riding for that same amount of time. We can then assume by this, and the fact there are no other recordings of him hitting her, that she was a well trained animal, going where he led her. I have been around livestock a good part of my life and personally know that if an animal does not want to go in a certain direction that many times, then there must be some good explanation as to why, whether it be danger, or something blocking it's path. As we know from the story, something was definitely blocking it's path.
Secondly, I want us to see what God used to open Balaam's eyes. He used the ass. God opened the mouth of the ass to talk in human tongue so that Balaam could understand it, to basically preach a sermon to Balaam. This ass, in not so many words, said, 'I am your ass that you have used to carry you around for all these years that you have had me and not once have I ever messed up with you on my back, and here you are now wanting a sword to strike me dead.' Basically what the ass was saying is; I am your servant, I have done your bidding, with no back talk, this whole time you have had me, and now you would like to kill me because YOU think I am messing up. What would we think if God were so vengeful as to want to strike us dead the first mistake we made? Now of course this got Balaam to thinking very hard about what he had just wanted to do to the ass, and of course, as it states in the story, opened Balaam's eyes.
Thirdly, I want us to notice something very important to this message. Notice the amount of times the angel moved and blocked the path. What does this really mean? It shows us here that God will do whatever it takes, and as many times as it takes, to get in front of us to makes us see what it is we are supposed to do. It also shows us that God gives us many chances to make the right decisions and do the things that we were put here to do, His will.
Now lastly, I want us to notice what Balaam saw the moment he truly opened his eyes. Balaam saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way with his sword drawn in his hand. Ok let us stop here for one second. When the ass, Balaam's servant, was not doing what Balaam wanted it to do, Balaam was wishing for a sword so he could kill the ass. As soon as Balaam's eyes were opened, he saw the angel with his sword there. The angel knew Balaam was messing up and he did not even have to wish for a sword, he had it in his hand. This whole time that Balaam was messing up, the angel could have at anytime struck him down with the sword, just as Balaam was wishing he could do to his ass. Right then Balaam realized what his mistake was and fell down on his face at the Lord's feet in forgiveness.
Can I be used? God used a mere ass to open the eyes of a man who, as I have stated, is no different that any man today. He wanted to be famous, have riches, have fortune, and overflowed with sexual desires. This describes much of the world's population in our day and time. Hollywood is just one of many examples of this type of disease. It is a place where, if discovered, you instantly gain fortune and fame, along with the rest of the responsibilities that go with it. There are so many failed marriages due to this, because of what it does to your head, and having things thrown at your feet because of the fame, including sexual infidelities. As you can see Balaam was, and still is, not alone here. There are many out there just like him, even great members and pastors of churches, that have fallen into this same trap. Would I like to be a gentile prophet, speaking the things that God told me to speak of things to come? That does not sound like a bad life, BUT, I think I would much rather be an ass. The ass could see the true God and what He stood for, and opened the eyes of those around her, that they might be able to see the same thing.
Can you be use? An ass was used and you are much better than a simple animal. Of course you can be used if the animal can be used. The big difference is, do you WANT to be used? If you are a believer in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and want to be used, then all you have to do is turn your whole life over to God and let Him lead you in the direction He wants you to go. If you have never came to Christ, but now have your eyes open and would like to get to know Him personally so that you know the direction He wants you to go, then all you would have to do is say a simple prayer with me.
Say this simple prayer with me, Dear Lord, I want you to be the Lord over my life, forgive me of my sins, and give me the gift of everlasting life. Amen.
If you have said this simple prayer, then we believe that you have received salvation. We would love to rejoice with you, so please drop us a note, in our link, to let us know and confess Jesus before man, so that we may send you a few things that we hope will help you in your new Christian walk.
With Love in Christ,
Pastor Stone
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