THE PROPHET FOR PROFIT IS OF NO PROFIT TO GOD

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

Ecclesiastes 2:11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

Jeremiah 2:11 Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.

Jeremiah 16:19 O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.

2 Timothy 2:14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

 

Balaam is famous for having a donkey be smarter than himself. He is mentioned three times in the N.T. Each time can be considered a warning for all. The Bible mentions his way, his error, and his doctrine. Let’s check it out:

 

I. THE WAY OF BALAAM [2 Peter 2:15-16]

The way of Balaam is the covetousness of the one who does religious work for personal profit. - J. Vernon McGee

 

1. That Means He had the Wrong Root [1 Timothy 6:10]

 

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

Colossians 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

 

2. That Means He had the Wrong Love [1 John 2:15]

 

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

 

3. That Means He had the Wrong Master [Matthew 6:24]

 

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

 

II. THE ERROR OF BALAAM [JUDE 11]

The error of Balaam is thinking you can get away with this kind of rebellion. - Warren Wiersbe

 

1. Sin will take you further than you want to go [Num. 22:1-22]

 

When the plain sense makes good sense- seek no other sense.

 

2. Sin will keep you longer than you want to stay [Numbers 24:25]

 

And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.

Numbers 31:8 And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.

 

3. Sin will cost you more than you want to pay [Joshua 13:22]

 

Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them

 

III. THE DOCTRINE OF BALAAM [Rev. 2:14-16]

The doctrine is to teach you can violate your separation and get away with it. - Wiersbe

 

1. There can be no Common Fellowship [2 Cor. 6:14]

 

2. There can be no Common Ground [2 Cor. 6:15]

 

3. There can be no Common Worship [2 Cor. 6:16-18]