We hear of the teaching of Balaam 3 times in the New Testament:
1) Jude 11 - the "error" of Balaam.
2) 2 Peter 2:15 - the "way" of Balaam.
3) Revelation 2:14 - the "teaching" of Balaam.
Two things I've noticed about Balaam :
1) He thirsted for "gain." He was greedy for money and position. He was filled with "want."
He was willing to use his giftedness and annointing for personal gain.
He was interested in building his own kingdom more than God's kingdom.
His focus was on the "things" of God and not the God of things - this could happen to us as well.
2) He "mixed" with the world and he taught Balak how to get the Israelites to do the same.
When he realized God wouldn't let him curse his kids, he found a way to get God to curse them.
Why? Because there was a lot of money on the line - he had to find a way to please Barak.
His advice was to get the men to move away from the counsel of God, which would cause them to implode from the inside-out.
When you move away from God's counsel you stand in the way of God's curse.
Specifically, he knew the weakness Israelite men had for women, so he told Barak to let the Moabite women intermingle with the Israelite men.
This would lead them to fornicate and ultimately to worship the false gods of these women.
God would "have" to punish these men for doing this.
** Simply said, Balaam's counsel was to get the Israelites to mix the teachings and customs of Moses with other teachings, and to ignore what Moses taught concerning how to worship God and honor Him.
This was the same thing the Nicolaitins did - they "mixed" with the culture.
How did it turn out for Balaam? He got what he wanted but he was killed because of it.
Revelation 2:14 (12/18/14)
Teaching of Balaam
December 18, 2014 • Benham Brothers
Revelation - the players (12/27/18)
December 27, 2018 • Benham Brothers
* The players: * The Being on the throne is God. * The Lamb is Jesus. * The dragon is Satan. * The beast is the Antichrist. * The woman is Israel. * The baby is Jesus. * The “rest of her offspring” are God’s people. * The bride is the church - Christians who place their faith in Jesus when they hear the gospel. * The guests of the bride are believers before Christ came and the gospel existed. * Babylon is the world system of the Beast. It’s the political and economic system. * The “Harlot” is the corrupt religious system of the Beast that stands in direct contrast to the Bride. * The Beast can’t be successful in the first two systems without the third to approve of it. * There is a Babylon and a Harlot in every generation - it’s used by Satan to lead people astray. * ** a nation needs several systems to exist, mainly a political, economic, and religious.
Revelation & Red Letters (12/13/18)
December 13, 2018 • Benham Brothers
* Jesus is still speaking. * We don’t often attribute His words to the book of Revelation. * What would He say? * He addresses 7 churches (the number in seven is “perfect” or “complete” - so this message would apply to all the church past, present, and future). * 1) The church of Ephesus - they were the LOVELESS church who had lost their first love. * 2) The church of Smyrna - they were the PERSECUTED church who were enduring hardship for Christ. * 3) The church of Pergamos - they were the COMPROMISING church who put up with those in their midst who believed the teaching of Balaam and the Nicolaitans (sexual immorality and idolatry). * 4) The church of Thyatira - they were the CORRUPT church who tolerated the woman Jezebel (sexual immorality and domineering ambition). * 5) The church of Sardis - they were the DEAD church who looked alive but in reality they were dead. * 6) The church of Philadelphia - they were the FAITHFUL church who were doing good things in the midst of trial. * 7) The church of Laodicea - they were the LUKEWARM church who were riding the fence to avoid persecution.
Revelation 1:1 (12/8/16)
December 8, 2016 • Benham Brothers
* Jeremiah 29:11 - “I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” * God spoke an encouragement through Jeremiah because the Israelites were about to go into captivity. * So like a good father He reminded them that this was going to be good for them and that His ultimate plan was for their blessing, not their cursing. * The book of Revelation does the same for us. * A good coach knows you can’t land a big recruit without letting him know your plan for him. * He will continue to remind him from time to time to encourage him to stick it out (redshirt). * When we read Revelation it’s God reminding us to stick it out because something ossum is coming.