Don't Miss The Warnings

I'm chuckling, just a little bit, but also, incredibly self-conscious, as I consider where I've missed the mark. We talked yesterday regarding Moses and Aaron and for whatever reason, their not following through on a direct instruction from God.

Meanwhile, yesterday afternoon, as I continued through Numbers, in chapter 22, is the story of Balaam. And again, God gives a clear direction to Balaam, regarding whether he should go with the princes of Moab and Balaam goes... not waiting for the prerequisite that God instructed him to wait upon.

Of course, the cool part of the story is that God speaks to Balaam through his donkey.

But the powerful part of the story is what was going on in the spirit realm. Balaam's life is spared because another being in his life sensed something was going on and was attempting to protect him. Balaam didn't realize what was going on, but someone (in this case, his donkey) knew better.

Yet this is why God speaks to Balaam through his donkey. Balaam, unaware, keeps trying to move forward... not thinking anything was wrong. The angel of the Lord who stands before him even acknowledges, Balaam wouldn't not have survived.

All of this got me thinking... how much trouble to we get into because we don't heed the spiritual warnings to back off, turn away or even, turn around. Hence, my aforementioned, self-conscious chuckle.

This further affirmed last night, by a piece written by Herman Cain, on his explanation of why mass shootings are becoming so frequent. It's a brilliant write up that I highly recommend, but he "pens" these words are he bring his thoughts to a close:

"It's because we've arrived at a consensus that we don't need God, and we can work out right and wrong for ourselves. So people do. Or they just disregard the whole idea and perpetrate evil, because hey, why not?"

Such a perception and thought process that permeates this culture creates quite a block to any evangelistic efforts. What's worse, is that at times, even Christians and those in ministry can find themselves, at a place of either not needing God or not needing God as much. Of course, this is a dangerous place to be, for what if you missing the warning signs that would keep you from all kinds of trouble and perhaps, even certain death.

So, let's pray this #missionFriday, that missionaries would rely all the more on God and His Word. May their be an awareness in their lives and from those they surround themselves with, to know what is at work in the spirit realm and where God is directing them. Pray for their efforts to reach the lost with the Gospel. May God break through and tear down these walls and misconceptions about Him that culture has seemingly embraced ever so tightly in recent years. Pray for hearts and minds to be changed and transformed. May we ever alert to the leading and guiding of the Spirit and the power of God at work in our lives. Pray for a massive move of repentance and returning to God, before it is too late.

That we would be people who seek God.
To obey His Word.
To speak the truth
And change our world.
All with the help of God alone.
For the glory of God
And the advancement of the cause of Christ.

- PNC