When Donkeys Speak - July 21, 2024

Welcome to today's sermon podcast! Inspired by the Apostle Paul's prayer in Ephesians 6:19, our pastor aims to speak fearlessly about the mystery of the gospel. In this episode, we delve into a fascinating story from the book of Numbers, focusing on Balaam and his talking donkey.

Our sermon revisits memorable Sunday school stories and emphasizes the importance of aligning our personal desires with divine direction. Balaam's journey and his encounters with divine obstacles offer profound lessons about ignoring God's warnings and the consequences of following our own sinful paths.

As we explore Balaam's errors, we learn the significance of heeding divine guidance and avoiding the pitfalls of sin. This episode encourages us to seek God's will, recognize His interventions, and live a life free from the bondage of sin. Join us in understanding God's plan for our lives through this timeless biblical narrative.

With Pastor Mike Curry.

“When Donkeys Speak: Experiencing Divine Intervention”
Numbers 22:21-31
Main Idea: God intervenes in our lives, even through unlikely messengers.
I. Introduction: A cussword in Church?
II. Learning Lessons from Balaam’s Error
1. Pursuing Personal Desires Over Divine Direction v. 20-21
o Some rush headlong into impending doom! (Jude 11)
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to
death.” - Proverbs 14:12
o We must be eager to do God’s will (James 1:19-22)—listen to it and
practice it.
2. Ignoring Divine Warnings vs. 22, 31
o We must not be blind as we are warned about God’s punishment for
sin (Romans 6:23) and lack of knowledge leads to destruction (Hosea
4:6).
3. Frustrated by Divine Obstacles vs. 23, 25, 27
o Sometimes roadblocks are in place to keep us from falling into sin.
• Work keeps us from idle sins (1 Timothy 5:13-14),
• Isolation keeps us from peer pressure (1 Corinthians 15:33)
• Lack of extra money could prevent us from the casual use of
alcohol, etc.
o Obstacles in our life may redirect us.
4. Foolishness in Following Sin vs. 28-29
o Sin makes a mockery of us.
• Wine is a mocker (Proverbs 20:1).
• Sin desires to rule over us (Genesis 4:7; John 8:24).
• We often do what we know is wrong (Romans 7:11, 14-20).
• We fail to take the way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13).
III. Conclusion
• May we recognize and respond to God’s interventions, even when they come
through unlikely messengers. Let’s commit to seeking His will above our own
and being attentive to His guidance.