Back To Baal | A Spiritual Warfare Message
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Pastor Landon will be preaching a message on The Dark Trinity; Baal, Molech and Ishtar. This content is not appropriate for children.
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1 Kings 19:1-10
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1 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.
2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods deal with me, and ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like the lives of those you killed!”
3 And Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,
4 while he himself traveled on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”
5 Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.”
6 And he looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again.
7 A second time the angel of the LORD returned and touched him, saying, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.”
8 So he got up and ate and drank. And strengthened by that food, he walked forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.
9 There Elijah entered a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10 “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well.”
2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods deal with me, and ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like the lives of those you killed!”
3 And Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,
4 while he himself traveled on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”
5 Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.”
6 And he looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again.
7 A second time the angel of the LORD returned and touched him, saying, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.”
8 So he got up and ate and drank. And strengthened by that food, he walked forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.
9 There Elijah entered a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10 “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well.”
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1 Kings 19:11-18
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11 Then the LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD. Behold, the LORD is about to pass by.” And a great and mighty wind tore into the mountains and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
12 After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still, small voice.
13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14 “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well.”
15 Then the LORD said to him, “Go back by the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you arrive, you are to anoint Hazael as king over Aram.
16 You are also to anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah to succeed you as prophet.
17 Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu.
18 Nevertheless, I have reserved seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
12 After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still, small voice.
13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14 “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well.”
15 Then the LORD said to him, “Go back by the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you arrive, you are to anoint Hazael as king over Aram.
16 You are also to anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah to succeed you as prophet.
17 Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu.
18 Nevertheless, I have reserved seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
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Spiritual Warfare = Spiritual opposition to the will of God through the help of evil spirits.
Ephesians 6:12
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12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
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2 Corinthians 10:4-5
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4 The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
5 We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
5 We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
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Exodus 20:3-6
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3 You shall have no other gods before Me.
4 You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath.
5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
6 but showing loving devotion to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.
4 You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath.
5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
6 but showing loving devotion to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.
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Idolatry = the worship of a material representation of a deity
The Dark Trinity of Idolatry
1. Baal “The Possessor”
1. Baal “The Possessor”
Baal was chief deity (False God) of the Phoenicians and other Semitic nations (the Phoenicians, Canaanites, Babylonians, Assyrians).
His image was the bull. Baal is connected to almost all ancient people
He is a pagan god of sexuality and spiritual war. He is the primary god of idolatry.
4 Primary Meanings Of Baal
1. The most common is the Canaanite (Ancient) god
2. To marry
3. Owner or ruler, master, husband
4. Lord
His image was the bull. Baal is connected to almost all ancient people
He is a pagan god of sexuality and spiritual war. He is the primary god of idolatry.
4 Primary Meanings Of Baal
1. The most common is the Canaanite (Ancient) god
2. To marry
3. Owner or ruler, master, husband
4. Lord
Exodus 32:1-5
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1 Now when the people saw that Moses was delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him!”
2 So Aaron told them, “Take off the gold earrings that are on your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.”
3 Then all the people took off their gold earrings and brought them to Aaron.
4 He took the gold from their hands, and with an engraving tool he fashioned it into a molten calf. And they said, “These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!”
5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before the calf and proclaimed: “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD.”
2 So Aaron told them, “Take off the gold earrings that are on your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.”
3 Then all the people took off their gold earrings and brought them to Aaron.
4 He took the gold from their hands, and with an engraving tool he fashioned it into a molten calf. And they said, “These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!”
5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before the calf and proclaimed: “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD.”
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Exodus 32:15-20
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15 Then Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back.
16 The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.
17 When Joshua heard the sound of the people shouting, he said to Moses, “The sound of war is in the camp.”
18 But Moses replied: “It is neither the cry of victory nor the cry of defeat; I hear the sound of singing!”
19 As Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, he burned with anger and threw the tablets out of his hands, shattering them at the base of the mountain.
20 Then he took the calf they had made, burned it in the fire, ground it to powder, and scattered the powder over the face of the water. Then he forced the Israelites to drink it.
16 The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.
17 When Joshua heard the sound of the people shouting, he said to Moses, “The sound of war is in the camp.”
18 But Moses replied: “It is neither the cry of victory nor the cry of defeat; I hear the sound of singing!”
19 As Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, he burned with anger and threw the tablets out of his hands, shattering them at the base of the mountain.
20 Then he took the calf they had made, burned it in the fire, ground it to powder, and scattered the powder over the face of the water. Then he forced the Israelites to drink it.
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1 Kings 16:30-33
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30 However, Ahab son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him.
31 And as if it were not enough for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he even married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and he then proceeded to serve and worship Baal.
32 First, Ahab set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he had built in Samaria.
33 Then he set up an Asherah pole. Thus Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel before him.
31 And as if it were not enough for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he even married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and he then proceeded to serve and worship Baal.
32 First, Ahab set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he had built in Samaria.
33 Then he set up an Asherah pole. Thus Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel before him.
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The Dark Trinity of Idolatry
2. Ishtar the God of “Perverted Sexuality”
2. Ishtar the God of “Perverted Sexuality”
Ishtar the God of “Perverted Sexuality”
Ancient (mythology) believed Baal's wife was Ishtar!
Ishtar was also referred to as Ash-tar, Aphrodite, Venus, Juno, and “Spirit of Jezebel”
Ancient (mythology) believed Baal's wife was Ishtar!
Ishtar was also referred to as Ash-tar, Aphrodite, Venus, Juno, and “Spirit of Jezebel”
The Dark Trinity of Idolatry
3. Molech “The God of Murder and Child Sacrifice”
Molech, Moloch, Milcom was the god of murder & the originators of child sacrifice.
3. Molech “The God of Murder and Child Sacrifice”
Molech, Moloch, Milcom was the god of murder & the originators of child sacrifice.
Leviticus 20:2
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2 “Tell the Israelites, ‘Any Israelite or foreigner living in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech must be put to death. The people of the land are to stone him.
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Jeremiah 7:31
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31 They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Hinnom so they could burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I never commanded, nor did it even enter My mind.
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Isaiah 49:15
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15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the son of her womb? Even if she could forget, I will not forget you!
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Exodus 1:13-17
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13 They worked the Israelites ruthlessly
14 and made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar, and with all kinds of work in the fields. Every service they imposed was harsh.
15 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah,
16 “When you help the Hebrew women give birth, observe them on the birthstools. If the child is a son, kill him; but if it is a daughter, let her live.”
17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had instructed; they let the boys live.
14 and made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar, and with all kinds of work in the fields. Every service they imposed was harsh.
15 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah,
16 “When you help the Hebrew women give birth, observe them on the birthstools. If the child is a son, kill him; but if it is a daughter, let her live.”
17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had instructed; they let the boys live.
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Matthew 2:16
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16 When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi.
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The worship of Ishtar and Molech is sex and child sacrifice.
\When you worship sex, you sacrifice children!
\When you worship sex, you sacrifice children!
Matthew 18:6
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6 But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
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Proverbs 6:16
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16 There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him:
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Proverbs 6:16
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16 There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him:
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Matthew 19:13-15
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13 Then the little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them. And the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
15 And after He had placed His hands on them, He went on from there.
14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
15 And after He had placed His hands on them, He went on from there.
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Matthew 18:3
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3 “Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
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Luke 1:44
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44 For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
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Greek: brephos (bref'-Ahhs) = an unborn or a newborn child, infant, babe, child in arms.
Luke 2:16
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16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby, who was lying in the manger.
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God placed the same value on unborn babies as newborn babies!
Jeremiah 1:5
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5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
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Jeremiah 19:2
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2 and go out to the Valley of Ben-hinnom near the entrance of the Potsherd Gate. Proclaim there the words I speak to you,
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Jeremiah 19:4-6
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4 because they have abandoned Me and made this a foreign place. They have burned incense in this place to other gods that neither they nor their fathers nor the kings of Judah have ever known. They have filled this place with the blood of the innocent.
5 They have built high places to Baal on which to burn their children in the fire as offerings to Baal—something I never commanded or mentioned, nor did it even enter My mind.
6 So behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when this place will no longer be called Topheth or the Valley of Ben-hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter.
5 They have built high places to Baal on which to burn their children in the fire as offerings to Baal—something I never commanded or mentioned, nor did it even enter My mind.
6 So behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when this place will no longer be called Topheth or the Valley of Ben-hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter.
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Question: What would possess someone to do this?
It’s a demon possession!
It’s a demon possession!
The Dark Trinity
Baal was the “father” of false gods and idolatry
Molech mimics Jesus: Instead of laying down his life, instead of giving life, he takes it!'
Ishtar mimics the Holy Spirit: it’s the unholy spirit!
Baal was the “father” of false gods and idolatry
Molech mimics Jesus: Instead of laying down his life, instead of giving life, he takes it!'
Ishtar mimics the Holy Spirit: it’s the unholy spirit!
Matthew 12:43-45
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43 When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.
44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ On its return, it finds the house vacant, swept clean, and put in order.
45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there; and the final plight of that man is worse than the first. So will it be with this wicked generation.”
44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ On its return, it finds the house vacant, swept clean, and put in order.
45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there; and the final plight of that man is worse than the first. So will it be with this wicked generation.”
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When we turn from God, Baal comes back!
Caution: Baal worship rages in morality, spirituality, and culture. It’s an attack on righteousness through government, entertainment, media, education, and religion!
Cycle “Pattern” - Back To Baal
- Encounter God
- Tolerate Sin/Evil
- Embrace Sin/Evil (Apostasy)
- Back To Baal
- Judgement of God
Apostasy = When people say they’re for God but they live anti-Christ/anti-God
EXAMPLE: In ancient battle when a soldier would go to war and change sides mid-battle
- Encounter God
- Tolerate Sin/Evil
- Embrace Sin/Evil (Apostasy)
- Back To Baal
- Judgement of God
Apostasy = When people say they’re for God but they live anti-Christ/anti-God
EXAMPLE: In ancient battle when a soldier would go to war and change sides mid-battle
Baal worship is the end of a nation!
Question: Where are YOU on this cycle?
Question: How do we break the cycle?
We break the cycle of Baal worship by turning to JESUS!
We break the cycle of Baal worship by turning to JESUS!
Luke 1:17
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17 And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
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To turn culture towards God, we must turn our hearts towards God.
1 Kings 18:21
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21 Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people did not answer a word.
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1 Kings 18:37-39
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37 Answer me, O LORD! Answer me, so that this people will know that You, the LORD, are God, and that You have turned their hearts back again.”
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water in the trench.
39 When all the people saw this, they fell facedown and said, “The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!”
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water in the trench.
39 When all the people saw this, they fell facedown and said, “The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!”
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1 Kings 19:18
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18 Nevertheless, I have reserved seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
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