KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 11:26 “And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”

 In our last study, Apostle Paul was sent to Tarsus to save his life from the Grecians who were planning to kill him. When the work of God was growing at Antioch, Barnabas decided to go for Apostle Paul. Tarsus was Paul’s home where he was a maker of tent.

Acts 18:3 says “And because he was of the same craft, he abodes with them and wrought for by occupation they were tent makers.” What was he doing at Tarsus? Had he gone back into tent making? Could it be that the first instant of the Jewish plot to slay him at Damascus, and the subsequent plans by the Greeks to kill him, had caused him to slow down on his aggressive work in witnessing? He could also have been involved in sharing the Gospel in Tarsus.

     The word says, Barnabas went for him. This is more of a subjective state. This suggest he had calmed down on his fervency. Barnabas did not give up or forget him. He went for him. Let us also be sons of consolation who would strengthen and lift up those that are weak.   A positive word would change somebody’s life and future forever. Make up your mind to build up than to cast down.

   James wrote in his epistle that a fountain cannot give out fresh and salty water simultaneously. It can only give one kind of water. The Lord Jesus was an uplifter of men. He said to the woman caught in the act of adultery neither do I condemn you but go and sin no more.

  Acts 11:26 says when Barnabas brought him to Antioch, they stayed there for a year teaching the brethren. I believe Barnabas who led him back would automatically be the leader of the team, yet because of Paul’s encounter with the master and the revelations granted him, he was made the main teacher of the brethren.  Barnabas had awakened a giant who might have been sleeping.  The impact of Paul and Barnabas’s ministry in Antioch made the brethren to be called Christians. This means to be like Christ.

I believe Apostle Paul’s insight into the new creation realities and the divine life of God available to every Christian spark in them the awareness of the oneness with Jesus and so they began to talk and act like Jesus. I believe miracles and healings were rampant. This is the hallmark of Jesus

 CONFESSION

I have the Holy Spirit the spirit of comfort and encouragement. I always lift the weak and have a positive word for all under all conditions. I bless and inspire towards fulfilment and success.

 FURTHER STUDIES

Matthew 5:44 “But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;’

James 3:10 ” Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 9:29 ” And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.”

Acts 9:28 reads “And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem”. Apostle Paul had finally gone to Jerusalem to see the leading members of the church. Although no man taught him the message of the gospel but the Lord himself, he needed to receive the right hand of fellowship among the churches. He had to associate with the existing leadership of the church so this could be possible. At that time the church had no divers’ denominations but only one body. We have a number of denominations in our time. Everyone in any particular denomination must recognize the authority of that particular denomination. You can’t do anything independent of the authority of that denomination.

What was the thinking of the Greeks? 1st Corinth. 1:22 says “For the Jews require a sign and the Greeks seek after wisdom “. The Greeks were philosophical in their views. The Greek saw the preaching of the cross as foolishness. Despite how worldly the Greeks were, Apostle Paul spoke boldly or freely such that he made nonsense of their thinking and teaching. Paul did not dispute with them along their lines of ‘wisdom’ but kept establishing that the death, and resurrection of Jesus is the wisdom of God to save men.

To get an idea of Paul’s defense of the gospel among the Greeks please read 1st Corinth 2.:1–16.Please read the following verses .1 Corinthians 2:6-7  “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to naught:

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: “Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you to defend the gospel.

The Grecians also planned to kill Paul. The brethren realising this took him away and sent him to Caesarea and later to Tarsus. May we always be alert to protect the set men God has placed over us. They are arrow heads whose impact is very effective and cuts deeply into the works of the enemy. Losing one anointed vessel is a great lose to the larger body of Christ. Paul’s life was saved by the brethren, and we must protect the anointed men God has given to us.

 PRAYER:

I pray the church of God as a whole would be strong to confound the world by her witness and her lifestyle.

FURTHER STUDIES

 1 Corinthians 2:13 ” Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

1 Peter 3:15 ” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 9:22. “But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews that dwelt in Damascus, proving that this is the very Christ.”

 Acts 9:20 reveals that Paul started preaching about the Lord Jesus   straight away. after his conversion. The question is what did he know about Jesus Christ to be able to teach and to confound the Jewish lawyers and teachers.? Apostle Paul as a new convert needed to be taught the truths about Jesus. This he said the Spirit taught him. Galatians 1:12 ” For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

These developments give credence to what Paul said in Galatians 1:15-17. It was after his visit to Arabia and being confined into the presence of the Lord that he received insight into the truths about Jesus. It was on his return to Damascus that he started teaching in the synagogues and confounded the Jews.

  From what Paul wrote to the Galatians about himself, we are able to explain what Luke wrote in the Acts of the apostles.  When we explain scriptures with other portions of the bible, we appreciate the clarity of what has being written.

 The Jews in Damascus realising they could not understand the level of insight and knowledge with which Paul taught about Jesus, decided to kill him.  (Acts 9:23). They laid in wait at the city gate so that when he passed by, they would attack and kill him. Apostle Paul got to know of it. Acts 9:25 says the disciples took him by night and let him down by the wall in a basket. These brethren who helped him to escape did not know they were saving somebody who would write about half of the letters in the New testament.  I do not believe they knew that God had given him a special revelation which would change the course of the world. Dear child of God, the convert you have been privileged to care and raise, may be a special instrument in God’s hand to affect many lives. He or she may be another Paul or Peter. He or she may be another Pastor Chris Oyakhilome or bishop Dag Heward Mills.  Give him or her every love, care and attention needed to make him or her stand strong in Christ.

Those disciples who let him down in the basket were risking their lives by doing that. The Jews who had wanted to kill Paul would have attacked them if they had seen them attempt to let Paul down the wall. Give every sacrifice to protecting, helping and raising that new Christian you have found.

The story continues that, when Paul got to Jerusalem, the brethren were so scared of him that they could not believe that he is a disciple. It took Barnabas whose name meant Son of rest or son of consolation to stand with Paul and defend him   before the apostles. Love believes all things. There is no fear in love. Don’t stay far and judge. Get close and allow the Spirit to communicate the truths about that particular individual to you, so you would be able to relate well with him or her.

PRAYER

Lord I pray for all Christians to be committed to lovingly and sacrificially discipling all new converts that they find in their midst.

FURTHER STUDIES.

John 21:15 ” So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.”

Galatians 4:19 “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Galatians 1:16   “To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood. “

Apostle Paul said after the encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ, he did not seek any human influence but went into Arabia (solitude). He went to Arabia which was very close to Damascus, precisely at the southern part of it. It was after three years, that he went to see Peter in Jerusalem.

  In the Acts’ account which was recorded by Luke, he talked about the blindness that fell on Paul and also about Ananias, one of the Lords disciples who was sent by the Lord to pray for him. His eyes were opened and he received the Holy Spirit. There is no conflict between these two reports. It is the case of what the Holy Spirit wanted to communicate at each instant. Why did Paul have to stay in Arabia and Damascus for a period of three years before coming to the brethren in Jerusalem? He needed to know the Lord who had commissioned him in a deeper way. It was in his solitude that he received most of the revelations. No wonder he came back to challenge the Jewish teachers.

  Paul ‘s personal devotion and confining to seek the face of the master allowed him to receive such mighty revelations. Some of the revelations were so deep that Apostle Peter had to admit that some of the things taught by Paul were hard to understand and those who do not understand and unstable wrest the message as they do to the other scriptures. (2nd Pet 3:16).

   Paul’s personal commitment to the Lord Jesus exposed him to these wonderful truths. Many are converted but do not have any personal relationship with the Lord. Dear child of God, the Christian life is a revelation of Jesus through you. How can he be revealed through you if you don’t know him? It must be your number one ambition to know him on a very personal level. Jesus said I am the vine and ye are the branches abide in me so you would bear much fruits. (John 15:5) Develop a deep personal devotional time with Him. Keep all destructions of phone, TV, and others out. The more you relate with him the better you would be useful to him.

   There are many people that we win through personal evangelism and we need to disciple them to become workers for God. We have to pray, teach and encourage them to develop a personal relationship with the master. So long as they know Jesus personally, they would remain fruitful. Please take this working definition of a disciple: One becomes a disciple when he becomes stabilized in the faith, and has an ongoing commitment to the lordship of Jesus Christ and has developed the basic disciplines of Christian living and services, so that the lifelong maturing process is guaranteed as much as humanly possible. This could be achieved through a discipleship program.

PRAYER.

I pray for all Christians to develop a strong desire to be acquainted with our master Jesus.

FURTHER STUDIES

John 15:7-8 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Isaiah 40:31 ” But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 9:4 “And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul why persecutest thou me.”

Saul had received letters from the Sanhedrin (High Priest) in Jerusalem to go to Damascus and arrest any Christians he finds. Saul by nature commits his total abilities to whatever he does. In considering his aggressive approach to which Paul does his activities, we would categorise him as of a choleric temperament. A temperament is an individual’s emotional disposition that dictates how one responds to a particular situation.

    Paul is the goal-oriented individual who would kick away anything that stands in his way from getting that anticipated goal. This behavioural trait was seen throughout his life.

The bible said in Acts 9:2 that as he and his entourage got to Damascus a light from heaven hit him to the ground. He describes this in Acts 26:13 as follows ” At mid-day oh king I saw in the way a light from the heavens above the brightness of the sun, shinning round about me and them which journeyed with me.” Through this encounter Saul’s course of life was changed.

Through a physical encounter with Jesus, Paul though, a rugged persecutor of the Christian church, became a Christian, defending the very faith he tried to destroy. God has various ways of encountering men with his good news to bring about a change in their lives.

 There are over a million and one ways of conversions. The method or process of conversion may not be so important as the result and impact of your conversion. Apostle Paul said in Galatians 1:16 he was saved so that, God will reveal his Son in him that he might preach him among the heathen, immediately he conferred not with flesh and blood.  

He meant he did not allow any human influence to get into his way. There was a drastic turn around in his life. What is the result of your conversion into Christ?  Can men testify of a change in your life? Has Jesus Christ indeed become the Lord of your life? Are you still controlled by the past or former habits? Apostle Paul said he conferred not with flesh and blood. He spent a total of three years in Arabia and Damascus receiving revelations from the master. His devotion to the master helped him to know a lot from the Lord, which made him very effective. Deepen your relationship with the master to increase your *usefulness unto him *

  PRAYER

Father, I pray for all children of God, especially leaders of the flock, to deepen their devotion unto God, so they could be more effective.

FURTHER STUDIES

Galatians 1:17-18 ” Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.”

Mark 3:14 “And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 8:1 “And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles”.

We now come to the new testament to study another important character, Paul. His Jewish name before his conversion was Saul. This means ‘desired’. Who was Paul?

We would take our studies about him from various passages and books that talk about him. Paul speaking about himself in Philippians 3:5, says he was “circumcised the eight day of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews, as touching the law, a Pharisee. The law required that the Hebrew males be circumcise on the eight day (Leviticus 12:3) and his parent did exactly that for him. Paul was a Pharisee. The Pharisee were the strictest seats who adhered to the laws of Moses. As a Pharisee, he sat under the feet of Gamaliel, a renowned doctor of the Jewish law. (Acts 22:3) He ardently persecuted the church and claims he was blameless in obeying the law (Philippians 3:6)

Our key scripture says Paul was consenting to the stoning of Stephen. Around that period too there was a very great persecution of the church. In Acts 7:58 “Paul stood by as, Stephen was stoned. Stephen did not call for God’s judgement on his killers, rather he prayed that the Lord should not lay their sin unto their change. Could Stephen’s prayer be an intercession on Paul’s behalf that helped to save his life? I believe it had a part to play in Paul’s conversion.

May we understand that, intercession for the lost and seeking for God’s mercy on them, is very important for the salvation of many that are lost. God may want to intervene in the affairs of men, yet without a man’s role of intercession God is legally hindered from intervening. It is very easy to get bitter and rain curses on those who may be persecuting and hurting us. The Christian must always know that our life is not a natural one. We have eternal life. We have the very life of God. This is the experience of all born again children of God according to 2nd Timothy 1:10 “But is now made manifest by the appearing of our saviour Jesus Christ who had abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel”. We have a super life. This is the reason Stephen did not curse his killers. This is also our reason to love all men inspite of what they do against us.

Our main duty towards the lost and those who oppose the spread of the gospel, is to intercede for them in love, and to reach out to them with the gospel. Without our intercessions, they will remain in their sin.

The persecution did not stop the spread of the gospel. As they were scattered, they kept spreading the gospel.

 PRAYER

 O Father stir up in the church the resolve to intercede diligently in love for the Lost, and also to share the good news with them.

FURTHER STUDIES.

1 Timothy 2:1” I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;”

Acts 9:1 ” And Saul, yet breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 1:3 “And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them;”

The children of Israel have been travelling in the wilderness for a period of forty years. Moses rehearsed all that had transpired in this period in the ears of the children of Israel. The book of Deuteronomy is a recording of Moses reminded of all that has occurred among them. Moses took pains to give details of all that went on, so later generations would learn and those who experienced these events would not forget. To forget means to grope in darkness. Moses was a great leader.

Apostle Peter when he wrote his second epistle to the Jewish Christians scattered among the gentile nations wrote in “2 Peter 1:13-14, Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;  Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me “He does not want us to lose touch with the truth.

Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 3:1b “…….. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.  It is very safe to keep the truths of God’s word in your hearts.

Apostle Paul exhorts all children of God in Colossians 3:16 as follows “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord”. The word is our light, our wisdom, our sword, our armour, our spiritual food and it builds our faith to conquer in this evil world. We must cherish it above all knowledge, passionately study it and strictly obey its instructions. All scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteous that the man of God may be perfect thoroughly furnished unto every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17). It is profitable. That means it adds up to you in many ways. Don’t just read about the Bible, read the Bible. You would be equipped and furnished for every good work.

  CONFESSION

As I read the word, I am reminded about the ways of God, His love, power, and my life is transformed to be what I read. I am transformed to be what the word says.

FURTHER STUDIES

2 Peter 1:12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

Joshua 4:7 Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel forever.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Numbers 27:12 ” And the LORD said unto Moses, get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel.”

The Lord spoke to Moses concerning how he was going to die. He told him to get to the mountain Abarim and see the land that He had given unto the children of Israel. And when he had seen it, he shall die.

Moses had walked so closely with the Lord such that death could not overwhelm him. God had to tell him; it is time for you to leave this life. Deuteronomy 34:7 reads “And Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural force abated”. What constituted to this condition of Moses? Moses was a man who he had a very close fellowship with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of life. The glory of God even rubbed on his face. It took God to tell him now you have to live this life. May you walk in the presence and power of the Spirit such that your physical body cannot be infirmed.

Moses, at this time had a very good relationship with the Lord yet, he was not to step on the promised land but, was only to see it. The Lord said he failed to sanctify him at the water before the eyes of the children of Israel (Numbers 27:14).

Moses did not act to bring honour to the name of God and for the glory of God. He said “……must we fetch you water out of this rock? He hit the rock twice. Life is to be led on God’s terms. It must be led to please him always failure in life is when a man does things to please himself. This was the experience of Moses and he was refused entry into the promised land.

The amazing act of Moses after God has said these things to him, was that he did not complain to God, rather he asked God for a successor to lead the children of Israel. Moses demonstrated the great deal of maturity. He was not selfish at all. “SELFISHNESS IS THE BEST PICTURE OF AN IMMATURE PERSON”. Moses was never selfish at this instant. He was thoughtful about the future of Israelites. *May we always be concerned about the bigger picture or the larger body. He was concerned about what affected the larger body rather than looking inwards to himself and his loss. Although Moses was not permitted to enter the promised land, he maintains his submission to the will of God. He allowed God to be the Lord of his affairs. Moses could have allowed bitterness to eat him up. He passed the test excellently. May you also come through successfully when life offers to you a very difficult test.

Once again know that life is not about us but about God and his interests. We are only successful when we seek his interests.

PRAYER

O God help us to remain submissive to your will at all times. Help us to always see the bigger picture that would bring glory to your name.

FURTHER STUDIES.

2 Corinthians 5:15 ” And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”

Hebrews 12:15 ” Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Numbers 27:7 ” The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father’s brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them.”

In the Jewish law the inheritance of the fathers goes to the sons. Jacob had a daughter called Dinah but she was not counted among his inheritance. It was the twelve sons who inherited him. In Numbers 27:1-11, one Zelophehad died leaving behind only daughters, seven in all. According to the law of God, they were not supposed to partake of the inheritance since they were women.

These seven girls did not keep quiet to suffer unnecessarily. They went to Moses and presented their case to him. Moses did not throw them out. He did not say you are women and God’s law is clear on the issue, but went to God with the case. The Lord said to Moses, the daughters of Zelophehad are right.

They received two kinds of inheritances as result of their stance.

1. The inheritance among their father’s brethren that belonged to their father was to be given to them.

2. Their father’s direct inheritance was to be given to them.

What would have happened if these girls had kept quiet? They would have continued to live a miserable life, although the Lord had a better answer for them.

The law of God was silent on their case but they had to speak out to the man of God to speak on their behalf. The Lord listened to them and was just to them. If God came through for them on an issue that He had made no direct command or instruction about, how much more on issues that his will has been fully and clearly stated. God’s word is clear about our authority over demons as children of God. No child of God must allow demons to molest and torment him (Lk 10:19). God’s word is so explicit about sin, and no one must give in to sin.(Rom 6:14)His position on our prosperity is very positive  (3rd John 2)  Sicknesses and diseases has been clearly stated as enemies of mankind(Acts 10:38) and the Lord has stated he has paid for our perfect health(Isaiah 53:4,5,1st Peter 2:24). . James 5:14 ask “Is any sick among you?”. This implies all must be well, but if any happens to be sick, let the elders he called and the prayer of faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up.

The scriptures are full of amazing promises that God is ready to back you to see its fulfillment. Go to God with these promises, decide not to take a no for an answer, for He has said, “all His promises are yes in Christ Jesus (2nd Cor 1: 20) and they would be granted.

 CONFESSION

God my father would not say no when my faith says yes. Every promise He has made concerning my case, I fully take a hold of. Since He says yes to every promise, I do not take a no for an answer.

FURTHER STUDIES:

2 Corinthians 1:20 ” For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us”.

2 Peter 1:4 ” Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Revelation 2:14 ” But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.”

In chapter 23 and 24 of Numbers we see Balaam prophesying about the greatness, uniqueness and the victories that the children of Israel will win over the nations around them. This made Balak to ask Balaam to stop prophesying.

In Numbers 25, something different happened. The children of Israel started fornicating with the children of Moab. This brought the anger of the Lord against them, and they started dying. How did this happen? We find the answer in our key scripture, Revelation 2:14 “But I have a few things against you, because you have there, them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication.”

What is the doctrine of Balaam? Balaam after being enticed by the rewards of iniquity must find a way to get the Israelites to be cursed in order to get the rewards from Balak. In Numbers 23:21, Balaam said “He had not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither has he seen perverseness in Israel”. This means they could not be cursed so long as there was no iniquity in their midst. To get them cursed, iniquity must be found in their midst. Balaam therefore advised Balak to ask the Moabite women to seduce the Israelite men. They must also make them eat foods offered to the idols. This they did and iniquity was found in them and so God’s anger and judgement fell on them. Many of them died. This counsel Balaam gave Balak is the doctrine of Balaam.

By allowing sin into their midst, they had thrown away their righteousness. Dear child of God, your righteousness is your authority. Hebrews 1:8 “But unto the Son he saith, thy throne O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom”(note: we have righteousness as a gift and righteousness as a lifestyle or right living. This verse is talking about righteousness as a lifestyle). The sceptre is the staff of authority of a king or ruler. This he said symbolises righteousness. Without righteousness you have no authority and every enemy can make a mess of you. Dear child of God the enemy cannot get you in any way when you walk uprightly.

Balaam, in our story must find a way to receive the rewards that Balak promised him, so he gave him that doctrine.  Numbers 31:16 “Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.”

 Balaam ultimately fell. No one can remain standing for the Lord when he or she decides to join the enemies of God into their path. You would eventually fall.  Your only sure security is to refuse to join them in the very first instant. If an offer would lead into sin refuse it.

 CONFESSION

I have decided to obey the voice of the Lord and never to be enticed by the deceitfulness of sin. My righteous walk is my authority to walk in dominion in this life. I will never let down on it.

FURTHER STUDIES

2 Corinthians 6:7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

Psalms 1:1 ” Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”