Wednesday, June 7, 2023
Special Guest John Arroyo, OpenDoor Church, Burleson, Texas
Some of us wonder why we fight the same emotional and spiritual battles over and over again.
Through my own experiences, I realized there are both external and internal reasons:
- External: Spiritual Warfare
- Internal: I open the door which allowed the attack
We understand spiritual warfare. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you know we have an enemy (satan) who will try to engage you – especially if you are advancing the Kingdom of Heaven.
What do I mean by “We open the door?” You’ll understand in a few minutes.
Many of you know the biblical story of the donkey that spoke from the book of Numbers 22: 22-40. That is about Balaam of Beor. We read about him in Numbers 22 – 31.
Numbers 22: 1-6 (NKJV) – Then the children of Israel moved, and camped in the plains of Moab on the side of the Jordan across from Jericho. 2 Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 And Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people because they were many, and Moab was sick with dread because of the children of Israel. 4 So Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this company will lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” 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.”
In Numbers 22:10-12, Scripture goes on to say that Balaam asked God if he can curse the Israelites.
Numbers 10:12 (NKJV) – And God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”
You would think it’s a done deal. The story ends there. Scriptures shows that Balaam wanted the money being offered so he instructed the king on how the Israelites could be cursed.
Scriptures exposing Balaam’s greed:
Jude 1:11 (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.
2 Peter 2:15 (NKJV) – They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
Commentary: Andrew Wommack
Balaam didn’t curse the Israelites. He couldn’t. But he did tell Balak that the only way the blessing on the children of Israel could be overcome would be for them to forsake their blessings.
Numbers 31:16(NKJV) – Look, these women caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the Lord in the incident of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord.
Revelation 2:14 (NKJV) – But I have a few things against you, 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.
So Balak used the Moabite women to seduce the Israelite men. The Israelites destroyed themselves by forsaking their own mercies.
So you are asking, “John what does this story have to do with me?”
Because you are a blessed person and no undeserved curse can land on you.
Proverbs 26:2 (NLT) – Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.
Why do you think there’s a liquor store on every corner? Why is pornography easily accessible?
So that you will forsake your blessing and curse yourself.
I mentioned it earlier: We fight spiritual battles, but sometimes we open the door.
How?
Public View
Pride
Self-Promotion
Gossip
Slander
Greed
Pornography
Alcoholism
The other day, I felt anxious all of a sudden. I prayed, and asked where did it come from?
A thought came to me: “public view, pride, and self-promotion.”
I repented and renounced partnering with those spirits. And with my authority, I bound the spirits, commanded them to leave, and asked the Holy Spirit to fill any place other spirits took hold in my life.
Within a few minutes the anxiousness was gone. Let me walk you through an example of that prayer. (SEE VIDEO)
I want to pray for you and break the doctrine of Balaam that’s been in your life. (SEE VIDEO)
I challenge you, make sure you can share the gospel. You never know when God will ask you to share it.
This is not the time to just be a church attendee. You’re the answer in this hour.