Examples of Apostasy Pt. 6 "Balaam's Greed"
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
We have been studying apostates in the book of Jude for some time now, and have studied to verse 11...
Last Wednesday evening, we looked at the way of Cain.
We saw in studying that Cain rejected God’s will for salvation.
We will see tonight how Balaam rejected God’s will for sanctification, and Korah rejected God’s will for service.
An apostate always rejects the truth in some way or another.
I want you to see something right here though…in verse 11, Jude seems to just brush by these three categories of apostates and assume the reader already knows about them...
Now, who’s the book written to?
Jude 1 (KJV 1900)
1 ...to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
So Jude is assuming we all know what he is talking about.
I cannot emphasize enough the necessity of reading your Bible! We need to be familiar with these accounts…
The Error of Balaam
The Error of Balaam
Jude 11 (KJV 1900)
11 ...ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward...
But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
Jude tells us that apostates, like Balaam, are corrupt and covetous people who rebel against God and reject His will for separation.
Balaam was a prophet that had a word from God who is known for leading the people of God astray.
Jude tells us that apostates, like Balaam, are greedy and covetous persons that seek financial gain.
Run greedily: ekcheo, ek-kheh’-o; (ek) and cheo(to pour); to pour forth; figurative to bestow: gush (pour) out, run greedily (out), shed (abroad, forth), spill. This word means “to rush tumultuously, to pour out.” This word is in the passive voice in the Greek language which tells us that apostates have given themselves over to unbelief and they are carried along by their unbelief and ungodliness.
Jude describes apostates as those who run greedily in the error of Balaam.
Error: plane, plan’-ay; object fraudulence; subject a straying from orthodoxy or piety, deceit, to deceive, delusion, error. This word means “to make to wander and to lead astray.” The prophet Balaam went astray from the word of God and the will of God. He rejected God for gold! Apostates are like Balaam in that they run greedily in the error of Balaam.
Let’s learn more about the error of Balaam!
Balaam’s story is in Numbers 22 to 25 and 31. During the time of the Exodus, Israel advanced to the land of Moab, after defeating the Amorites. When the Israelites came near, King Balak of Moab sought the help of a prophet named Balaam.
The first delegation from King Balak arrived and God told Balaam to have nothing to do with them. God’s initial words to Balaam were,
Numbers 22:12 (KJV 1900)
12 ...Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.
After the first visit another, more prestigious delegation came with great riches.
Balaam wanted to go with them and God allowed him to go. Balaam lusted after the riches and prestige offered to him and broke.
God warned Balaam to turn back when he was on the way to see Balak. Yet his heart was set on the rich reward King Balak promised and he continued on.
Balaam even ignored a talking donkey, sent to warn him to turn back.
Balaam knew that he has done wrong. In Numbers 22:34, he said to God:
Numbers 22:34 (KJV 1900)
34 ...I have sinned... now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
But he didn’t turn back. He continued on, refusing to see that when God says no, we must take it as a no. Instead, God gave Balaam what his sinful heart desired.
Warren Wiersbe wrote, “Balaam knew it was wrong to cooperate with Balak, but his heart was covetous and he wanted the money and honor that Balak promised him. Balaam knew the truth of God and the will of God, yet he deliberately abandoned the right way and went astray.”
After meeting with King Balak of Moab, Balaam prophesied over Israel four times. But as he spoke forth God’s word, he did not curse Israel – instead he blessed her each time.
When he was unsuccessful in cursing Israel, Balaam advised Balak on how to bring Israel under a curse. Instead of trying to have a prophet curse Israel, he should lead her into fornication and idolatry and then God would curse a disobedient Israel.
Balak did just that, sending his young women into the camp of Israel to lead Israel into sexual immorality and idolatry.
Because of the people’s sin, God did curse Israel – He brought a plague of judgment upon Israel that killed 24,000.
Therefore Balaam was guilty of the greatest of sins: deliberately leading others into sin. Worse yet, he did it for money.
Money has caused many people to go astray.
Mark 8:36
"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"
Look at Demas.
2 Timothy 4:10
"For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens toGalatia, Titus unto Dalmatia."
I think there are other ways also that you can go in the error ofBalaam. PRIDE
POPULARITY
FAME
POSITION
These things can certainly lead a man astray.
Balaam taught Balak:
you cannot conquer God’s people so corrupt God’s people;
you cannot defeat God’s people so defile God’s people;
you cannot slaughter them in a fight so seduce them with your females.
Many Christians would never deny Jesus under persecution, but might deny Him if offered a large sum of money. There is not a single sin that corrupt man will not commit for the sake of money. Covetousness is such a dangerous sin that it caused Judas to betray Jesus – 30 pieces of silver helped put Jesus on the cross.
You might not admit it, but a lot of people have sold Jesus out for the money of this world…
Balaam tried to compromise with the world, but it just doesn’t work. If you’re selling God out for something tonight, I beg you to repent!
The Gainsaying of Core
The Gainsaying of Core
Jude 11 (KJV 1900)
11 ...perished in the gainsaying of Core.
(gainsaying) antilogia, an-tee-log-ee’-ah; dispute, disobedience, contradiction, gainsaying, strife. This word literally means “against the word.”
Jude gives his 3rd illustration in verse 11 that defines the apostate’s character and describes apostates conduct.
Jude’s audience would have been very familiar with all three of these Old Testament examples. They knew about the apostasy of Cain, the apostasy of Balaam, and the apostasy of Korah. Korah’s account is found in Numbers 16.
Korah was a Levite born of the tribe of Levi and was a prince in Israel. We learn from him what not to do. Korah rebelled against the appointed leadership from the Lord. He rejected God’s work through His servants.
Now, Korah was a prominent man in Israel, and one day came to Moses, saying,
Numbers 16:3 (KJV 1900)
3 ...Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?
Korah and his followers resented the authority God gave to Moses and Aaron.
In effect, he’s saying to Moses, what makes you so special that you are our leader? What gives you the right to stand on a platform above us and lead?
22 Saying, Touch not mine anointed, And do my prophets no harm.
A. B. Simpson said, “I would rather play with forked lightening or take in my hands live wires than speak a reckless word against any servant of Christ.”
When Korah said this, Moses fell on his face, knowing God’s judgment would soon come. Moses then proposed a test: each group took censers (for burning incense) and came before the Lord. The Lord Himself would choose which man He wanted to represent Him: Moses or Korah.
When they both came before God, the Lord told Moses to step away. Then, the ground opened up and swallowed Korah and his followers. After that, fire came down from heaven and burned up all of his supporters. They all perished.
Now, here’s something interesting!
Korah was a Levite, and as a Levite, he had had his own God-appointed sphere of ministry, yet he was not content with it.
He wanted to be elevated, he wanted to be powerful. There’s a picture here of Lucifer in Isaiah 14...
Korah wanted the ministry and the authority of Moses.
Korah needed to learn this essential lesson: we should work hard to fulfill everything God has called us to be.
At the same time, we should never try to be what God has not called us to be.
God's method has always been that He has a man who He speaks through.
In our day, it is the pastor or evangelist.
By the way, God never gives two pastors to a church, He gives one and the church is to follow him.
That is not a deacon, Sunday school teacher or a youth leader, but it is the pastor. And he is the pastor over the whole flock.
Acts 20:28
"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Hoty Ghost hath made you oversees, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."
THE CHURCH IS TO FOLLOW THE MAN OF GOD.
Korah rejected God’s authority by rejecting God’s appointed authority!
Conclusion
Conclusion
These three men came from quite different backgrounds: Cain was a farmer, Balaam was a prophet, and Korah was a leader in Israel.
Apostasy is never confined to one group of people. “There are apostates in the pulpit, in the palace, and in the poorhouse.”
Remember that all three of these men knew the truth, came to the truth and rebelled against the truth.
Cain - the way of Rejection (Rejected Salvation)
Balaam - the way of Compromise (Rejected Sanctification)
Korah - the way of Rebellion (Rejected Service)
Jude gives three illustrations of apostates. Cain, Balaam, and Korah serve as reminders to us of what apostates do, how apostates live, and what will ultimately happen to all apostates.
What way will we follow? The decision is ours, but we must choose wisely. Our decision will have a great impact on those whom we love.
We can choose to follow the Lord in the truth of His Word and gain His blessing.
Or we can choose to go our own way and bring upon us His judgment.
Which way are we going?