Our Influence On Others
by David J. Stewart
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"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 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." -Hebrews 12:14,15
Hebrews 12:15 speaks of a "root of bitterness." This Scripture is a quote from Deuteronomy 29:18 in the Old Testament... "Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood."
When a believer sins, it often causes other believers to fall by the wayside. There's no better example of this than the false prophet, Balaam, in the Old Testament.
24,000 Israelites Killed because of Balaam's Sinful Influence
"Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand." -1st Corinthians 10:8
The Scripture above is referring to the 24,000 Israelites of Numbers 25 who died in ONE DAY as a result of committing fornication and idolatry. Balaam, a false prophet, had led the nation of Israel into apostasy and sexual sin. Balaam was a sinister minister. Balaam did this because of greed ... "And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me: For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people" (Numbers 22:16,17).
Balaam was a prophet-for-hire, just like MOST televangelists and preachers today. America has become so promiscuous and sex-perverted that fornication isn't considered a serious sin anymore. In fact, prostitution is LEGAL in most of Nevada. This is 100% Sodom and Gomorrah! How can we dare say ... "In God we trust" while knowingly allowing such wickedness to happen. If there is a message for America's preachers today, it is "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression..." (Isaiah 58:1).
Why aren't more churches and Christians speaking out in anger against this horrible sexual sin? I'll tell you why... because America's preachers have stopped preaching hard against sin!