Jude 11, 2 Peter 2:15, Numbers 31:16  All talking about this “Balaam”  Who is Balaam?

 BALAAM’S STRANGE PRAYER

(Numbers 23:10)

Introduction: 1. It is very possible that one’s prayer life resembles very little of one’s daily life.

2. Such is the case with Balaam.

3. Balaam’s prayer is strange in the sense that it was so different from his life.

4. Let’s examine a couple points Balaam made in his prayer.

I. The Prayer Itself Was A Very Good Prayer

A. It was a realistic prayer.

1. It acknowledged the reality of death.

2. (Psalm 90:10). The length of our days is 70 years or 80, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

B. It was an informed prayer.

1. Many know death is coming, but fail to see the difference between the death

of a righteous man and a sinner.

2. (Hebrews 9:27 Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment

 Matthew 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

3. Any informed person would want to die the death of the righteous Luke 16:19-31   Rich man and Lazarus

C. It expressed the most important concern a person can have.

1. We often ask for many things, some not too important.

2. (Mark 8:36   What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?

II. The Prayer Was Strange Because He Wanted To Die The Death, But Didn’t Want To Live The Life

A. He had the wish, but not the will (James 2:14-16  14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?

B. He had the desire, but not the determination (Matthew 19:16-26). Rich young ruler

C. He wanted to be a saint in heaven, but didn’t want to live as a saint on earth.

D. He prayed for the reward of the righteous, but “love the wages of unrighteousness”

(2 Peter 2:15 They left to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness.

E. He prayed for riches in heaven, but his eyes were on the riches of the world

Jude 11; Woe to them! they have rushed for profit into Balaam's error Matthew 6:19-21) rich young ruler

F. He prayed for what God could give him, but wanted what Balak had to offer more

(Matthew 6:24). "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

G. He prayed that in death he might be counted with the righteous, but in life, he was

willing to be numbered with the wicked.

H. He prayed for himself to be saved, but caused others to be lost

Numbers 31:15 "Have you allowed all the women to live?" he asked them. 16 "They were the ones who followed Balaam's advice and were the means of turning the Israelites away from the LORD in what happened at Peor, so that a plague struck the LORD's people. 17 Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man”

Conclusion: 1. Balaam’s was a strange prayer, but a very common one.

2. We can’t live wrong and die right.

3. We can’t ignore Christ now and find him later.

4. To die a Christian, we must live as a Christian.