Reflection from my message today at NRN - Breaking the rules Pt 2 - Breaking the Spirit of Baal

Today was an awesome day at North Raleigh Church of the Nazarene.  As I stood to preach I was still encouraged in my soul by the prayer encounter last Wednesday. As I have stated before, I truly believe this is one of the most important teaching series I have ever preached. As our world and culture is changing - it is so vital for Christians that we set ourselves apart from the world in many areas.  Today's message encourages us to be aware of the subtle messages of our culture. 

We are learning that there are spiritual forces driving the “New Norm” that is permeating our society. The spirit of Baal, the pagan god of power worshipped in biblical days, is still influencing our culture today. The drive for power, wealth, and control has produced a burned-out people filled with pride, and sacrificing the best in their lives on the altar of busyness and unending desire to attain. 

 Series: BREAKING THE RULES

Part 2: Breaking the Spirit of Baal

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”  Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?                                                        1 Corinthians 1:18-20

 

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.1 Corinthians 1:25 

The Big Three

Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God.                                                                                                               Deuteronomy 6:14-15

Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them.                                                     Deuteronomy 11:16

 MAMMON – god of POSSESSIONS.

 BAAL – god of POWER .

  ASHERAH  – god of  PLEASURE .

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.                                                  Genesis 3:6

Good for food                                    - Asherah

Pleasing to the eye                           - Mammon

Desirable for gaining wisdom            - Baal

The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”… Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down.”… Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”                                                        Matthew 4:3, 5-6, 8-9

Turn stones into bread                               - Asherah

Throw yourself down                                  - Baal

All this I will give you                                   - Mammon

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.                                                                      1 John 2:15-17

Cravings of sinful man                                - Asherah

Lust of his eyes                                          - Mammon

Boasting of what he has and does             - Baal

 Breaking the Spirit of Baal

This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”                                                 Jeremiah 6:16 

Keep THE SABBATH DAY HOLY

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens  and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.             Exodus 20:8-11

1. By  CEASING .

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.            Hebrews 4:9-11

2. By WORSHIPING .

A psalm. A song. For the Sabbath day. It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night…You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; fine oils have been poured upon me. The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God.               They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.                                                                                        Psalm 92:1–2, 10, 12, 14

3. By REPLENISHING .

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie 

down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.                                                                               Psalm 23:1-3

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”                                                                            Matthew 11:28