Baals

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2 Chronicles 17:3-4 Who Are You Consulting?

The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David before him. He did not consult the Baals but sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel. 2 Chronicles 17:3-4

Regardless of where a person lives in the world, there are thousands of people and places to get advice on how to do nearly anything and everything desired. People will go to others, the internet and books to get advice on how to deal with some situation or just how to really live life.

God was with Jehoshaphat because he followed and obeyed God, rather than seeking the Baals as Israel was doing.

The world is filled with information on how to do anything that a person may ever want to do. While some of this information may be neutral and good, often it may not always be the way God wants something done. It is easy for someone to run to the ways of the world to get guidance, since everyone is doing it.

However, the world, under Satan’s control, is seeking to steal, kill and destroy, rather than build up and give life.

God’s ways are not the ways of man and often do not make sense in the eyes of a person. He sees and knows things that cannot be known by any person; thus, He is able to decide a course of action that is best no matter how it looks.

Instead of seeking the Baals of this fallen world, believers must be willing to seek God’s direction in life and then obey what He commands. If one does not obey what God says, then it does no good to seek His directions. Both seeking and obeying must occur in the life of a believer to gain His favor and presence in one’s life.

Every day you will be bombarded with the ways of the world. Do not allow yourself to follow the fallen ways of this fallen world. The world is not out to build you up and give you life, but to steal from you, kill you and destroy you in whatever way possible.

Go to God for your every need. He will guide you and direct you upon the path you must take. The Holy Spirit is with you to help you know what God desires of you in every situation in your life.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will consult God first in every situation in your life; that you will know God’s directions and obey them; and that God will give you strength to turn from the wicked ways of this world.

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1 Kings 18:18 Are You A Troublemaker?

“I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals.” 1 Kings 18:18

In a classroom there is often one student who is the class clown or class troublemaker. This is the one that causes problems in the class and will often draw many others into following him into causing more problems. The class ends up disrupted and in trouble with the teacher because they chose to follow the one leading in doing things the wrong way.

As Elijah went to meet with King Ahab, the king told him that he was the troublemaker of Israel. Elijah told him that it was he, the king, who made trouble by leading everyone into rejecting God’s commands and following false gods of Baal.

Whole nations can be easily led by a few people that stand up and make their voice be heard. People will quickly abandon what they know is right to follow the crowd in following some person in his popular ways.

Most people do not want to be left out alone and separate from everyone else.

Many different nations, such as America, have abandoned God’s commands and followed false gods because a few leaders led them astray. It begins with a leader, like the class clown, and spreads throughout the nation, often spilling over into the church pulling them further and further away from God, bringing on God’s judgement against them and loss of His favor.

The world calls believers the troublemakers, because they go against their false system. Believers need to make a solid, strong stand for God’s commands and refuse to follow the false gods of the land. They need to be the leaders in every area of a nation to keep the nation following God and His commands.

You may or may not be a leader of high position, but you do have an influence upon some people. You also have a choice for yourself as to whether you will follow God’s commands or not.

Make choice today that you will be a witness for God by leading others to follow and obey God’s commands. Do not allow yourself to be swept away with the crowds in following the Baals of your city, state or nation. Do not make trouble for your nation in leading them down the wrong path.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will follow all of God’s commands; that you will not make trouble for those around you in leading them away from God; that you will not be led away from following God; and that many will choose to follow God because of your testimony.

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1 Samuel 7:4 Get Rid Of The Baals

So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only. 1 Samuel 7:4

Most people in the world look at certain things or principles as what made them successful or gave them a good life. In the process of doing this, these things are often idolized and looked up to as being great and powerful.

Often people will then give their everything to these things, giving complete control over to these things to the point of worship. As this is done, they will rarely be willing to give it up for anything else.

As the Israelites were being captured by the Philistines, Samuel told the people what they must do. All the people chose to get rid of their Baals and Ashtoreths and serve God alone.

Although most people do not have physical idols that they physically bow down to and worship, they do have many idols in their life. People have things that they are willing to give all of their thoughts, time, money and energy to get, have and keep. Whole lives are dedicated to having these things, which then become an idol.

Believers can sometimes allow some of these idols in their lives to take the place of God. Instead of fully trusting God in every situation, believers will take on the world’s idols and trust those idols, pushing God to the side.

True believers will recognize this as idol worship and remove it from their lives, regardless of the cost. God is the only one that should be served. Everything that a believer does should be done out of honor and desire to serve, worship and honor God.

As the believer serves God alone, God will deliver him from the hands of the enemy.

The world is out to get you to turn away from God and serve their false gods. These false gods of the world will look good and enticing, but will only bring about captivity and death. Choose to serve God alone in every area of your life.

Seek God’s Holy Spirit to reveal to you any false gods that you have allowed in your life and remove them. Cast out anything and everything that takes your attention away from God. He, alone, is to be served and worshipped.

Put God on the throne of your life, allowing Him to be complete Master over your entire life.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will serve God alone; that God will reveal any false gods in your life; that God will give you strength to cast out any false gods in your life; and that you will trust God with your whole life.