Don't Be a Dumb Ass !!

 

Don't Be a Dumb Ass !!

Slang is an abbreviation for something else. You have heard the words “Smart-Alec” and on Facebook often OMG , or gosh darn, (actually short version that means curse words). Today the Lord who has a humor at times told me to use the title of my message that was a bit strange. - - “Don't be a Dumb Ass!”

The meaning of DUMB ASS is to be a foolish or unwise person.

I am reminded of a story about a man riding his donkey at night through a field of corn. In the shadows, the wind was picking up and one of the corn stocks leaned toward the donkey and it scared him, causing him to jump. His master spoke sharply, “You foolish donkey, you are afraid of the very thing you should be full of.”

The story was like a parable, and was referring to Christians who are fearful to receive the Baptism-in-the Holy-Spirit and the Holy Spirit gifts, and they are especially afraid of the gift of other tongues.

Paul began his discourse to the Galatian believers by saying, “Who has bewitched you?” They were confused and making foolish decisions about the Holy Spirit. The Galatians had believed and had received the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Thus, Paul asks; “Did you receive these gifts because you were following the Law or because of your faith in the Gospel?”

The word “bewitched” in Paul’s first question meant “to utter foolish babble, Given all the truth the Galatians had embraced, the fact that they would now so hastily set the Gospel aside was so astonishing to Paul - False teachers came with their opinions and were attempting to water down the fire that had been burning so brightly.

Another time, Paul was urging Timothy 3 - - to beware of certain men who were lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who are always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Truth is discovered by comparing scripture with other scripture and also by revelation as truth is personally made known to you by the Holy Spirit.

As a side thought I was reminded of the Old Testament story about Balaam and his donkey. Balaam had been approached by Balak to curse God's people, but he refused when God told him not to curse but to bless. Balaam decided to travel anyway, just in case God changed his mind, because he needed the money.

Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials. But God was very angry about him going, and sent the angel of the Lord to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.  When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand; the donkey turned off the road into a field. Balaam was angry and beat the animal to make it get back on the road.

Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, the animal pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against the wall. So in anger, Balaam beat the donkey again.  Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and again he was angry and beat the donkey with his staff.

 Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it spoke to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?” Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.” The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden. Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?” “No,” he said.

Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he fell on his face to the ground. The angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me. The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared the animal.”

Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will turn and go back home.” The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s men.

In this case, the donkey was the wise one, and Balaam was the one not so smart.

Just prior to the death of Jesus on the cross, he told his disciples to go to a certain place and find a young donkey and bring it to him. The disciples, asked what shall we say if we are questioned? Jesus told them to say, “The Lord has need of it.” You will remember that as Jesus rode the donkey, the people shouted praises, they laid their coats and palm branches in the path, and the children joyfully sang and danced.

Not everyone was happy that day, because the religious leaders tried to stop the joyous celebration. Their ideas of who Jesus was, did not agree with those of the crowd.

That is how it often is when God's people seek for the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and for the gifts that are available according to the Scriptures. Yes, there will be scoffers and the fearful.

Today as we pray over our city, our State and our Nation, let us include the war torn areas in our world and those being persecuted for the Gospel's sake. Let our prayers be energized by the Precious Holy Spirit of Jesus, and if you have received the Baptism-in-holy-spirit do use your prayer language as we pray over our land.

The Holy Spirit is pleased when we ask Him to come along side of us and be our intercessor.

Today, do not grieve the Holy Spirit by rejecting all He has for you, including the Holy Spirit Baptism and His gifts. It is always important to have a teachable spirit if there are things hard to understand, then it is wise to check it out to see if they line up with God's Word.

Let us not be foolish as some are, but let us all be wise listeners and wise receivers of all God's precious gifts that are available to all believers in Christ Jesus.