DIVINE WARNINGS – STUDIES IN FAILURE AND REDEMPTION
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning…Rom 15:4 NKJV
As I walked through the Amsterdam airport, my eyes were drawn to the racks of magazines with scantily clad women on the covers. Jesus spoke up in my spirit and said, “Don’t embarrass Me, son!” Yes, Lord! Amen. Eyes front!
My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. James 3:1-2 NKJV
The calling of a man or woman of God is the most dangerous calling in the world, because we are responsible for what we teach, the people we teach, the people we lead, and where we lead them, and we are held accountable both here and in eternity. Consider this…Martin Luther’s stance on Romans changed the Christian world forever, but his vicious antisemitism became the philosophical underpinning of Hitler’s genocide of the Jews, and why most of the Lutheran churches, according to Bonhoeffer, in Germany in the 1930’s supported Hitler. Dangerous indeed!
Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. John 6:53 NKJV
God’s Word is so honest its almost offensive even to the saved one. But that honesty in love and mercy is necessary to turn a heart from darkness to light, from the power of Satan unto the power of God. The Word says to us as unsaved ones that we are DEAD in trespasses and sins. That throws the ‘I’m a good person’ argument completely out the window. No, you are not good…you don’t even have the slightest flicker of life or light in you. But then to us saved ones, the Word even speaks of how we can fail and how we can succeed, and it uses clear examples enabling us to learn.
I chose three examples from the Scriptures to teach on how not to fail like these dear ones. I make no judgment about my walk as opposed to theirs, because in many ways we all fall, and they may have been far superior in their anointing than I have been in mine. Let me also make the great point that mercy and grace is always available to all of us regardless of how far we have fallen. So, with that caveat, let’s examine Diotrephes, Balaam and Samson.
THE SAD STORY OF DIOTREPHES
My wife shared with me recently how she learned that a major American Christian leader had fallen into a homosexual scandal. In over forty years of ministry I have been exposed to dozens of such stories, many from an intimate point of view. The Lord allowed me to get close to a man whose ministry had turned thousands toward the Lord and His Word, and yet the man had a whole host of personal and sexual issues that damaged and destroyed many lives. When he died at a relatively early age he left a legacy of tragedy and disgrace, alongside the legacy of those he had touched for the Lord. Interesting dichotomy, and yet one to learn from and avoid the wickedness.
You might not necessarily be the personality that you appear to be to others, the man or woman that everyone loves, that steps on the platform, that preaches and heals and ministers. That’s not you…that’s your anointing! Your anointing and your character are not the same thing. Your character – who you are in your heart – is revealed in the one who acts in the dark, with no one watching, with no one to give account to, with no one applauding or judging. It’s in the dark, when you think you are alone, that you discover what is really in you. Are you a victim or a victor? Is it jealousy or rejoicing? Are you a self-worshipper or a Jesus worshipper? Is it selfish scheming or joyful planning? Are you angry or thankful? A thief or trustworthy? Rejected or accepted? Our character is tested and revealed in the dark, behind closed doors. Such a one who failed that test was Diotrephes…
I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence (Grk. PHILOPROTEUO) among them, does not receive (Grk. EPIDECHOMAI) us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind (Grk. HUPOMIMNESKO) his deeds which he does, prating (Grk. PHLUAREO) against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids (Grk. EKBALLO) those who wish to, putting them out of the church. Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. 3 John 9-11NKJV
Imagine that you get mentioned in the Word of God Almighty, but its only to get slammed by the great apostle, the one whom Jesus loved and be used as an example of evil! Diotrephes apparently had a mighty anointing, because he was a real influencer in that EKKLESIA that didn’t have ecclesiastical leaders or leadership offices, but real leaders. John wouldn’t have confronted him so strongly, or at all, if he were just a goofball. Why did John confront Diotrephes so forcefully? He is sandwiched between the good examples of Gaius and Demetrius. John was trying to do two things: (1) get Diotrephes to repent and (2) protect the people from his example.
PHILOPROTEUO – the love of being first; ambitious of distinction. That’s how I was! I could have been Diotrephes. Therefore, I thank God for every humiliation or humbling experience I have had, rightfully or wrongfully; every time being passed over for promotion, every rejection and frustration because it has taught me what is important, and that is to please Him. Therefore, I seek to be nameless and faceless, and thereby become very effective in the Kingdom of God.
EPIDECHOMAI – to receive and support the itinerant ministers and missionaries. HUPOMIMNESKO – to quietly remind the people of the deeds of Diotrephes which are PHLUARO, (1) to berate idly or mischievously the man of God, the Apostle John, (2 )no EPIDECHOMAI, not receive and support the brethren, and (3) EKBALLO, casting people out of the fellowship.
Diotrephes was turning people against the Apostle John and seeking to control them and their money, by being the first among them. John called this evil. We must be aware of this evil and seek to be ones who are making Jesus preeminent, not us, and not seeking to control people or their money, but supporting the fellow servants of God as they minister. Amen?
The desire for prestige brought down Diotrephes. What brought down Balaam?
BALAAM – THE STRANGE PROPHET
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Tim 6:10 NKJV
Balaam is a fascinating character. Who taught this guy, clearly a heathen, to revere the God of Abraham? Who taught him to hear the voice of God? Knowing a little bit about the gifts, my question is, ‘Who trained this guy?’ This guy had an international reputation, and probably would have a huge following on the social media of the time, the kind of guy kings consulted. His prophecies were incredible, his walk by the Spirit – with one major mistake on a ‘minor’ detail – was remarkable. I loved how he said he could only do what the Lord told him to do. His prophecies of the Messiah were the second recorded in the Word since Genesis Three if you count Abraham’s conversation in Genesis 15:1-4 (I have a whole different take than the accepted narrative on Genesis 15, but that is a story for another day). His prophecies were poetic, powerful, and courageous, seeing it contradicted everything the king wanted to hear.
Let me show you the first mistake he made…
And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. 5 Then he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying: “Look, a people has come from Egypt. See, they cover the face of the earth, and are settling next to me! 6 Therefore please come at once, curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”
See the reputation Balaam had! The river Euphrates was hundreds of miles from where the Moabites were confronting Israel, and from across all that way, the king knew about Balaam…
So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the diviner’s fee in their hand, and they came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak. And he said to them, “Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the Lord speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. Then God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?” Num 22:4-9 NKJV
See the relationship Balaam had with the Lord? He knew he could ask God something and God would answer him. It takes me a long time to train Christians to believe that!
10 So Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, 11 ‘Look, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the earth. Come now, curse them for me; perhaps I shall be able to overpower them and drive them out.'” And God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go back to your land, for the Lord has refused to give me permission to go with you.” Num 22:10-13 NKJV
This guy was disciplined. He feared the God of Abraham.
The secret of the Lord is with – THE LORD CONFIDES IN – those who fear Him, Ps 25:14 NKJV
Some commentators believe that Balaam could have been as great a prophet as Moses if he had stayed faithful to the God of Abraham, but he didn’t. Jesus said, some people are thirty-fold, some sixty, and some a hundred, meaning people had different levels of ability and capacity to bear fruit. This understanding explains someone like Elon Musk. I suspect Balaam was a hundred-fold guy.
Here is the mistake…
And the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.” Then Balak again sent princes, more numerous and more honorable than they. 16 And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me; 17 for I will certainly honor you greatly, and I will do whatever you say to me. Therefore please come, curse this people for me.'”
18 Then Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more. 19 Now therefore, please, you also stay here tonight, that I may know what more the Lord will say to me.”
20 And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men come to call you, rise and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you — that you shall do.” So Balaam rose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab. Num 22:14-21 NKJV
Do the men come to call him? NO! Balaam arises, saddles up and goes with the princes of Moab. There is no mention of the men coming to call him, and this was the criteria that the Lord demanded. This explains why the Angel of the Lord had to confront him along the way. Balaam was already focused on the money. He was going to do anything to get the money, and that would result in tragedy for Israel, and for himself.
What should have king Balak have done to Israel?
“An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the Lord; even to the tenth generation none of his descendants shall enter the assembly of the Lord forever, 4 because they did not meet you with bread and water on the road when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you. 5 Nevertheless the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam, but the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you. Deut 23:3-6 NKJV
How do you treat your neighbors, especially new ones? Balak should have broken out the welcome wagon, and blessed Israel, instead of reacting in fear. That loving action would have changed everything!
…because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Rev 2:14 NKJV
Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. Jude 11 NKJV
The desire for prestige brought down Diotrephes. The lust for money brought down Balaam. What brought down Samson?
SAMSON – THE REAL-LIFE SHAKESPEAREAN TRAGEDY
‘Romeo and Juliet’ and ‘Macbeth’ have nothing on the story of Samson, the judge of Israel, in terms of drama and tragedy. They were only plays, portrayed by actors, but Samson’s story was real, and holds real lessons for us today. The Samson in movies and stories is always portrayed by very muscular men, but the Samson of the Bible got his strength from the Spirit of God, not from weightlifting and resistance training. Samson was an ordinary man with an extraordinary anointing.
THE NAZARITE VOW
The call of God is dangerous and demanding.
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD: He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried. All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk. All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, Num 6:2-5 KJV
He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die: because the consecration of his God is upon his head. All the days of his separation he is holy unto the LORD. Num 6:7-8 KJV
One time I was at City Bible Church in Portland when a prophet came from South America, and he proceeded to lay hands on everyone in the congregation. When he laid hands on me, the words HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD appeared in my spirit and I went down. Samson would be a Nazarite from his mother’s womb and would begin to deliver Israel.
And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years. 2 And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not. 3 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son. 4 Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing: 5 For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines. Judg 13:1-5 KJV
When you are called of God, you must dedicate yourself to the calling. The times of Samsons youth were oppressive, as Israel was ruled by the Philistines. Samson should have married a nice Jewish girl – he was called to be separate, and Israel was to be separate from the nations – but he falls for a young Philistine woman – it was of the Lord – and this is where his challenges begin…
And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines. And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife. Judg 14:1-2 KJV
You can read the record. Like I said, it reads like a Shakespearean tragedy. Lots of people gets killed, the woman and her family are burned to death, and one thing after another goes wrong for Samson, meanwhile, he judges Israel for twenty years. Finally the Philistines deploy their secret weapon – Delilah.
The idea of ‘honey traps’ is as old as mankind. The old Soviet Union had a group of women spies that I think they were called SPARROWS who were sent to seduce western diplomats and leverage them for information or blackmail. They were very successful. Delilah was a Philistine sparrow, and she finally gets Samson to betray the source of his anointing – the Nazarite vow and his uncut locks…
That he told her all his heart and said unto her. There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man. Judg 16:17 KJV
Your heart goes out to Samson, because he was in a very tough situation his whole life, he made many mistakes, and he had no help from Israel. He was alone, like a one-man army, because there was no army in Israel. Do you realize why God had to raise up great evangelists like Graham, TL Osborne, Bonnke and others, almost like one-man armies? It was because the true army of God wasn’t doing its job, wasn’t winning the lost, wasn’t reaching out. So, God must answer the cry of the lost by sending out individuals and multiplying their effectiveness a thousand-fold, to make up for what others should have been doing. The true work of the evangelist is to raise up the army of God to win the lost, not be one-man armies. The next great move of God will not be with superstar one-man armies, but the true army of God moving out in power, authority and blessing…
Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison. 22 However, the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaven. Judg 16:21-22 NKJV
Of our three subjects, Samson is the one we can tell came back to his calling in the end of his life. He bounced back from failure to redemption and is honored in the FAITH HALL OF FAME in Hebrews Eleven, bless God forever!
And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Heb 11:32-34 NKJV
The desire for prestige. Greed for money. Wrong sexual relationships. The same attacks still come against men and women of God today. To be forewarned is to be forearmed, if we heed the warning and prepare properly. If not, our blood is on our own heads, and that affects us both now and throughout eternity, and the ones we influence and lead. To whom much is given, much is required. ABBA is a Father of grace and mercy, but you and I must make right decisions, and be disciplined to walk a right path. He will guide us, if we let Him. Amen? Love you!
Remember dear ones, we must be about our Father’s business…