Deciphering Truth from Error. Part [10] 08/26/2024 (Morning thought)

Numbers 24:10 And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times. 12 And Balaam said unto Balak, Spoke I not also to thy messengers which thou sent unto me, saying, 13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad of my own mind; but what the Lord saith, that will I speak?

Thus, as the story goes, Balaam left feeling defeated as he was forced to bless instead of curse, and that night as he lay on his bed, rolling over in his mind all the words he was coerced to speak, he stumbled upon a sentence, that would turn out to be the key in reversing the blessings. Bingo! Here it is: Numbers 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.

Thus, Balaam goes to work studiously, if haply he may trigger a change of fortunes in the children of Israel. Could he, by blending paganism with the true worship of God cause them to become destabilized? And could he thus, kill two birds with one stone by granting to Balak what he previously asked for, while he himself could return home with rich rewards? He decides to give it a shot, and the rest is history.

Numbers 25:1 And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. 2 And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. 3 And Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel.

Exodus 32: 3 And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. 4 And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, these be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!

Deciphering Truth from Error. Part [9] 08/26/2024 (Evening thought)

Mark 6: 5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folks, and healed them. 6 And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

Therefore, because belief plays such a critical role in what folks will ultimately choose to do, it becomes even more important for us to be able to decipher truth from error, for it forms an integral part of the sealing work of God, in the forehead. The following two passages in Revelation chapter 2 must therefore be investigated in the context of the title of our study today, and it should be done in the most thorough manner.

Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balack to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. 15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

Question: What is the doctrine of Balaam? The doctrine of Balaam is the blending of paganism with the true worship of God. Constantine and most of his successors, continued that blend, in so much that much of contemporary Christianity has settled down with the hybrid.

Numbers 23: 16 And the Lord met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus. 20 Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. 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!

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!