Jackass for Jesus

We can learn a lot from Balaam’s ass in Numbers 22 (I’d ask you to read the story to refresh yourself, but I doubt anyone really would). In fact, here are some characteristics that we as believers need to incorporate into our walk.

 

#1 A Beast of Burden

             A mule is a beast of burden. They hold up well under pressure and heavy weight. We as Christians are called to be burden bearers (Gal. 6:2). We need to come along side of our brothers and sisters, and seek to minister to them the love and power of Christ when they are hurting and in need.

              A mule is a servant. We need to serve one another. We need to look after the needs of each other. When someone is in need, we should lend a helping hand in Jesus’ name. Jesus said that He put before us an example of servanthood and that He “came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). We need to be givers. We are the most like God when we give, and respect nothing in return.

               Notice in the story, the donkey was beaten even though he was doing what he was created for. Though he was carrying his master, Balaam didn’t like it when the animal strayed off course. The animal had more sense to the spiritual than the self-seeking, carnal, greedy prophet did! Scripture says that spiritual things have to be discerned through spiritual means, and that the mind that relies too heavily on the natural isn’t able to comprehension it (1 Cor 2:4).

               Sometimes when we are following the Lord, those who we are serving and ministering to will not like the direction the Spirit of God leads us. But that’s okay. If we follow our Master, lean wholly upon Him, He will direct our steps and everything will turn out for the best. Balaam was wrong to strike his donkey, but the donkey endured it. We are called to endure hardship as a good soldier of Christ. War is never pretty. War is never comfortable, and never convenient. This is what we are called to. It’s all out war for the souls of men. Following Christ means that we continue to be faithful to what He calls us to do, even if we are beaten, smitten, or struck. We overcome the enemy through the BLOOD of the LAMB, the WORD of our testimony, and because we do not love our lives to the end (Rev. 12:11). Jesus said that those that love their lives would lose it, but those who lost it for their sake would, in the end, save it (Mark 8:35).

 

#2 Jackasses are Stubborn

             The key things that mules are known for is their stubbornness. We need to be stubborn for Christ! We must be stubborn in our holiness. Don’t compromise sin, because sin ISN’T there to entertain you, it’s their to TAKE YOU OUT. Sin always ends in death. It kills your joy, it kills your peace, and it will kill the anointing and presence of the Spirit in your life. We must keep our standards high. When we lower our standards, we lower the hedge of holy protection around us. If one snake get’s through the wall, soon it will cause an infestation, and overrun the place. It’s easier to take care of one snake than a whole nest (ask Indian Jones about the Temple of Doom…I’m sure he wished there was only one!). Don’t give in to sin and the flesh….give them NO ROOM. Be stubborn in your standards of holiness, and you will be rewarded (Heb 12:14).

             We must be stubborn in prayer. To many times we don’t gain from prayer because we give up praying too soon. Jesus said that if we would keep on knocking, keep on seeking, keep on asking, that we would on a constant and continual basis keep on receiving, finding, and doors in the spirit would continually open up. We don’t receive our request, because it isn’t that important to us. If it’s not important to us then why should the Lord take interest in it? A child will be constant in their pestering because to them, their request is something that is important and necessary to them. Be stubborn in prayer. Prayer will win every spiritual battle. Don’t let the enemy gain the upper hand just because you stopped talking to the Lord about your life, your parent’s lives, your friend’s lives, this nation, etc……

            Be stubborn for the supernatural. Don’t ever settle for nominal Christianity. Don’t settle for a powerless religion. Jesus said that we would do the same kind of things that He did, and He wasn’t only talking about loving our neighbors, and being a good boy. He was talking about the deaf hearing, the blind seeing, miraculous demonstrations of God’s love. He was talking about setting free the captives and those that are oppressed by the devil. He was talking about raising the dead, and cleansing the leper. Be stubborn for the supernatural. He said that we would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon us. He’s here for MUCH more than a little “shundi” on sunday! He’s here to produce Christ in us (the fruit) and demonstrate Christ through us (the gifts). Don’t settle for less than what the Bible says is rightfully yours. Don’t settle for less than what Christ left us with….the fullness of the Holy Spirit!

                We need to be stubborn to press past every obstacle and obstruction satan places in our way! Praise the Lord, He told us that we would take up serpents and they won’t harm us (Mark 16:18). That really means that we have the authority and power to remove out of our way every work of satan. The devil will try to get in the way, but when we are stubborn and use the authority of Jesus’ name and His BLOOD, the devil has to leave. Don’t put up with the devil and his mess. Tell him to hit the road!

 

#3 Balaam’s Ass had Double Vision

              I alluded to this before, but the donkey saw the things of this world, and in the spirit realm. He saw the angel the Lord had sent to kill Balaam. He had more spiritual sensitivity than the prophet. It doesn’t matter if you are an apostle or prophet or elder-bishop-deacon-doctor-reverend his high holiness. Selfishness will dull your spiritual sensitivity. Pride will blind your spiritual eyes. Carnality will lull your spirit to sleep.

               Keep your eyes on Christ. Keep your spiritual sense sensitive to His Spirit. Don’t let the flesh rob you of your anointing, and don’t let it rob someone else from being ministered to by you! Guard your heart, guard your eyes, guard your lips. Have double vision. Realize your natural circumstances, but KNOW that the supernatural rises above them and overrules it!

               Keep your ears open to the Spirit of God. He desires to speak, but we often don’t hear because we aren’t attentive. Practice attentive and patient listening, and you’ll hear Him. Hear what people are saying, but hear what the Spirit has to say about it. Follow along with Him, go with what HE says. He’ll lead you in paths of righteousness, abundant living, and a prosperous walk.

 

#4 The Jackass Spoke!

               Don’t keep silent! Speak out for Christ! If God can use a donkey to instruct a prophet, then most certainly He will use us to speak to a lost and dying world. He’ll speak words in due season to our brothers and sisters. We MUST be voices of righteousness. When asked why the mule did what he did, he spoke honestly in his defense convicting Balaam of his ways. Peter said it’s better to be persecuted for righteousness than to rightfully deserve what others dish out (read 1 Peter 3: 13-17).  

                BUT sometimes we need to be silent! Some of us do talk way too much. The old saying, God gave us two ears and one mouth…we should do twice as much listening than talking. Sometimes we talk just to hear ourselves talk, just to entertain ourselves, and half of what we say only caters to the flesh and doesn’t do anyone any good. Ephesians 4:29 says that we are not to let any “corrupt communication proceed out of [our] mouth[s], but that which is good to the use of edifying , that we may minister grace unto the hearers”.  If what we are saying doesn’t encourage and strengthen one another, if it doesn’t prod one another to press deeper into the Lord or go further in our walk with Him….perhaps it shouldn’t be said.

 

How much of a JACKASS are you?

Are you:

#1 a Servant of and on behalf of Christ

#2 Stubborn for Christ

#3 Spiritually Sensitive to His Spirit

#4 Speaking Out

Take a moment and ask the Lord to help you be more of a JACKASS FOR JESUS!