This sermon focuses on a guy named Balaam and long before Shrek, he had a talking donkey. Have you ever asked God for an answer? Then you get an answer but really want to do something else so you do what you want and when it goes bad you beat up those dear to you? Why do we do that? What is God's response? What does a talking donkey have to do with it all?

“On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’” – Acts 63:1-6 (NIV)

Kicking Your Donkey

I. Balaam out
-So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, 5 sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the Euphrates River, in his native land.- - Numbers 22:4b-5 (NIV)

- __________________________________ of God’s people

- He had his feet in both _________________:

-having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.- - 2 Timothy 3:5 (NIV)

II. Stop kicking

- God is looking for _________________

-But God said to Balaam, -Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed-Now spend the night here so that I can find out what else the LORD will tell me.- - Numbers 22:12, 19 (NIV)

- Do not try to kick down a _________________

- You cannot _________________ God’s devotion

Ways we attempt to manipulate God

- P__________________________________

-Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error--- Jude 11 (NIV)

- W_________________, _________________ & _________________

-This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Do not let anything keep you from coming to me, because I will reward you handsomely and do whatever you say. Come and put a curse on these people for me.- - Numbers 22:16b-17 (NIV)

-Sometimes good is punishes us by allowing us to have our own way.- - Unknown author

- R__________________________________

-But Balaam answered them, -Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the LORD my God.- - Numbers 22:18 (NIV)

- When out of God’s will, God will put up _________________

-But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him.-

 - Numbers 22:22 (NIV)

- When God puts up roadblocks, do not __________________________________

3 effects of roadblocks & lashing out

- Get __________________________________

-When the donkey saw the angel-it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road.- - Numbers 22:23 (NIV)

- Get __________________________________

-When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat the donkey again.- - Numbers 22:25 (NIV)

- Get __________________________________

-When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff.- - Numbers 22:27 (NIV)

III. Talkin’ donkey

- Others may _________________ _________________ when you may not

- Listen for the _________________ _________________ areas to speak

- Get _________________ /_________________ to see God

- Learn from & be a donkey