SUBJECT – THE GLOVES ARE COMING OFF!! [PT 8]
When I ended
part 7, it was,
'game on!!
Elijah, had made the challenge, the people agreed that they would observe what became of it, and the prophets of Baal, probably should have turned it down, but, pride, power, and prestige, were on the line.
Essentially, Elijah, had backed them in to a corner. It was time to
'put up, or shut up!!'
As I had mentioned earlier, the people, seemed to be at a loss, as to who to believe, in spite of the fact that it was God, who delivered them from Egypt, after sending all sorts of plagues against the Egyptians, while at the same time, isolating His people, from them. Then, He parts the Red Sea for them to cross over on dry land, and destroying Pharaoh's army, in it, when they tried to pursue them. And yet, not long after that, when a little hardship came up, they start moaning and complaining, about how they wish they were back in Egypt. And, that is when Baal's prophets, got to work on the people.
In this particular situation, there is a famine in the land, that has gone on for several years, due in large part, because of their, the children of Israel's, disobedience to God, by following these prophets' directions.
It is much like that today, with this nation, and, the black community, especially.
For over 4 decades, this nation has been torn between standing on God's Word, and following the whims of mankind. Just about every type of 'new religion' that comes to our attention, we have to try it out. What we use as an indicator of whether it is something we would like to involve ourselves in, is, how does it make us feel.
You know, when dealing with God, there are times when we may have to be chastened, because of something we are doing, which is part of His plan for us to be able to be the best, we can be. This is why He tells us, do the same thing with our children.
However, the prophets of Baal, tell us, that type of thing is cruel. It is child abuse, and bullying. They have a better way, which is pleasing to all. All you have to do is, follow them.
Well, when you follow them, you are essentially walking out from under the umbrella of God's protection, and blessing, much the same way as if in the midst of a rain storm, you walk out from under an umbrella, and you get wet. The umbrella was doing its job, in protecting you, but you chose to go out from under it, and you get wet. So, whose fault is it, that you got wet?? The umbrella is still capable of doing its job, but, you have discarded it.
Well, with God, it is the same thing. God is still there providing blessing and protection, to those that choose to obey Him. But you, you want to get away from His rules, and do your own thing. Then when things get bad, you want to blame Him, for not keeping you from harm. When, in effect, you left Him. And the reason you have left Him is because you have been misguided by spiritually blind preachers, that are serving Baal, and they don't even know it.
That's right. Practically ever thing that is wrong in this nation, can, and should be laid at the feet of preachers that have lost their way, if they ever have been in Christ, and are out there groping in Spiritual darkness, and resorting to carnal thinking, to get them over.
Listen. A carnally minded person, is one that relies on common sense, to make it in this life. Common sense = Carnal mind. And, a carnal mind, as the bible says, leads to death[
Rom 8:6]. The reason being, it is at war with God.
Israel was suffering because they were at war with God, and this nation is suffering because it is at war with Him. And to take it a step further, the black community, is suffering because we are leading the war against Him!!! And leading the black community, are Baal's prophets.
Now, as long as all they had to do, was shoot of their mouths, make snappy phrases, and rhyme some words, come up with ideas that appealed to the masses, they were set. They thrived on the people's misery. Just like those psychics I mentioned, that seem to be absent, when things are going good, but, pop up just like a jack in the box, the minute a crisis hits. And all they do, is help you stay in that condition, so you will continue to follow their advice.
But, just how good is that advice?? What kind of power is behind it?? When it gets right down to the nitty gritty, something is going to remain standing, and something is going to fall.
In this story, Elijah, gives the prophets of Baal, all the latitude they they could have wanted. He gave them their choice of the sacrifice, to offer up to their gods. And, he gave them first crack, at showing their god's power. All they had to do, was produce.
So, they began their arduous procedures of calling on their gods, by setting up the altar of sacrifice according to their god's direction.
Now, the whole idea of offering up a sacrifice, is the idea of showing God/gods, your acknowledgment that you first, are sorry for some wrong that you have done, that has offended Him/them. Secondly, you are offering Him/them something that represents the very best thing that you have. All of this is done, to gain His/their favor toward you.
So, they put on the sacrifice, and begin to call on Baal. All they want him to do, is send down fire from heaven, and burn up their sacrifice, as proof he is able to do it.
Well, as time passed, with nothing happening, they resort to sacrificing their own blood, by cutting themselves, and throwing themselves on the altar, to get him to prove himself, and even that doesn't work.
Looking at this scene, and comparing it to what we are experiencing today, is an exact parallel.
We call on psychics, we call on preachers, we call on government, to give us solutions that we want, to help us to either cope with, or completely obliterate our problems. And, as is the case, most of them want some money, or maybe your vote first. That's the sacrifice. You have to show them how much you believe in them. The more money you give, or the more votes you provide, determines how much favor you have with/receive from, them. The more, the better.
There are some of us in this nation, and especially the black community, that have literally sacrificed every dime we have, our children's, grand children's, and great grand children's futures down the tube, to achieve that ever elusive condition of peace, equality, and a level playing field. A sort of Utopia [Heaven on earth.]
The more they promise, the more we give. And when things don't change, and get worse, we are told by them, you have to give more!!! You can't return to the failed policies of the past. The reason you are in this condition, is because of them. Remember now, the prophets of Baal, told the people, the reason they were suffering in the wilderness, was because they left Egypt, a type of hell, and that it was God, that brought them out there, so that they could be destroyed.
These prophets had them yearning to go back to, Egypt.
Num 11:4 And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and
the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
Num 11:5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:
So, now that God has delivered them, they essentially are telling Him, He isn't doing for them, what they want Him to do, and that is, give them what they want. Well, God doesn't play that game. At least not without obedience to Him. These people found themselves in this particular situation, because of their continual defiance of God, just like we have today in this nation, and the black community.
One thing all of us needs to know, is, without God, we are, and have, nothing. When were slaves, we prayed to God for deliverance, and when it came, we rejoiced. Republicans from around the country, especially from the north, helped deliver us. I have to believe they were inspired to do so, by God. Much the same way, Moses was sent by God, to deliver His people from Egypt. Well, Israel turned against Moses, and the black community turned against Republicans, and essentially have returned to Egypt[the plantation] under the control of their former masters, the Democrats.
Getting back to our story, these prophets, can't seem to arouse Baal, even when they start shedding their own blood, to get him to answer them. For half a day, they are doing all types of things, and yet, no response.
At one point, Elijah started mocking them. “aybe he is asleep!!! Maybe he is drunk!! Maybe he is using the restroom!! Maybe he is some place, where he can't hear you!!!”I mean, Elijah got politically incorrect.
Have you ever noticed, that no matter what they promise you, if you vote them in to office, or follow their advice, things just never seem to be getting any better?? And, in a lot of instances, they actually get worse??
Why is this??
Because, any one, or thing, that is trying to accomplish something that God doesn't agree with, is not going to be able to do it. It is just that simple. Sometimes, He will let you succeed in something, but, that will only be, to let it destroy you, later.
If you will remember the story of Nimrod, and how he decided he was going to build a tower that rose in to Heaven. At that particular time, everyone, spoke the same language. As a result of that, all of them were of one accord, and mind. God didn't like it, so what did He do?? He made them not to be able to understand each other, and each group of people that could understand each other, got together, and formed their own nation. The unity between all mankind, had been broken.
More next month.
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