BE LIKE THE DONKEY!

 

 

Isaiah 1:3                  The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

The donkey or ass… is a domesticated member of the horse family. A male donkey or ass is called a jack, a female a jenny or jennet; a young donkey is a foal. Jack donkeys are often used to produce mules. Asses were first domesticated around 3000 BC and have spread around the world. They continue to fill important roles in many places today. As beasts of burden and companions, asses and donkeys have worked together with humans for millennia.

 

 I. THE SAVED DONKEY [Ex. 34:20]

 

But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou redeem him not, then shalt thou break his neck. All the firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty.

 

If you could have asked a donkey in Israel why he worked so hard he’d probably say, “Are you kidding me? I have been redeemed. I had the sentence of death upon myself but was saved by the blood of the Lamb. I am working because I have been redeemed. I don’t work to be redeemed- I work because I am redeemed.”

 

II. THE SPEAKING DONKEY [2 Peter 2:15-16]

 

Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet

A man’s life was saved because of this donkey. When we give the Words of Life souls can be saved for all eternity [Acts 5:20] We can also speak to help those that are saved [2 Corinthians 5:11]

Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

 

 III. THE SURRENDERED DONKEY [Mark 11:1-10]

 

 No rebellion here, no kicking at what God asks, no braying and complaining- just simple submission to the will of God.

 

 IV. THE SACRIFICED DONKEY [Judges 15:14-16]

 

And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands. And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith. And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men.

 

 This donkey did more after death it seems than in life. We serve the Lord better by dying to self.

John 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

1 Corinthians 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing  which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.