WORD FOR THE MONTH & WED., JUNE 1, THE WRATH OF BAAL
Scripture: 1 Kings 18:21, See Message: The Days of Elijah III

Shalom, to you my Friend and Co-Minister in the Great Commission,

Ancient Israel underwent a metamorphosis. At its beginning, the nation was worshiping God. The worship of the pagan god Baal was illegal, underground, taboo, done only in secret. Then there came the argument of toleration, that the people had to be tolerant of other ideas, other gods. The worship of Baal began to creep in. And then the worship of Baal began to ascend to the point where the majority were accepting of it. That's when the days of toleration ended.

From Toleration to Subjugation

The priests of Baal, those who once dwelt in the underground and the shadows of ancient Israel, were now raised up to high positions. They no longer demanded toleration, but the conversion, the silencing, the subjugation, the humiliation, and the elimination of all who didn't agree or go along with them - which, in this case, meant the followers of God, the saints, the prophets, the Elijahs. Now, every knee had to bow down to Baal. And those who wouldn't were now to be punished by the state.

The American Parallel

America is following the same trajectory, the same pattern, and the same metamorphosis undergone by ancient Israel. The anti-biblical ideologies and practices which were once espoused in the shadows of American society -- from atheism to sexual immorality -- are now ascendant. First there were the calls for tolerance. It was evident in the 1960s, the 1970s, onward. But as an anti-biblical and anti-Christian morality came into the open and then ascended to the point where the majority of Americans in some way embrace it, the days of toleration are ending. The priests of Baal are now in power. And they require no longer merely toleration, but the conversion, the silencing, the subjugation, the humiliation, and the elimination of those who don't agree with them or go along with them -- meaning, in this case, those who hold to the Word of God or a morality based on biblical principles.

The Punishments

Witness news stories that would have been unthinkable even just a few years ago: An executive is fired from his job for the crime of having, a few years earlier, supported the idea that marriage is between a man and a woman. A pair of reality show stars are punished, removed from the air because they advocated for the biblical view of marriage. Another reality show star is 'disciplined' and put on leave for saying in an interview that he was not in favor of homosexuality. A Christian woman is actually imprisoned because she could not see her name being put on what the Bible identifies as an abomination -- And the White House voices support for her imprisonment. We are clearly living in the days of Baal. When toleration yields to political correctness and political correctness yields to persecution. Elijah lived in these same days. Thus we must all now put on the mantle of Elijah, and be not weaker, but stronger, not more silent, but bolder, and stand for God, come what may, not for the approval man, but for the praise God, and despite the wrath of Baal. Be strong this month. Be an Elijah of the day. And may God greatly bless you as you do!

Your brother and co-laborer in His love and service,

Jonathan