Do you believe that Jesus saved you from your sin and He is going to bring you into His Kingdom that is free from sin one day?  Do you believe that God can overcome sin in your life now?  Do you blame God for your sinful desires or do you believe God can free you from them?  Are you trusting God to guide you, change you and give you what is best for you?   Your attitude toward sin in your life, which God hates, is a reflection of your attitude toward God, whom you claim to love.   You can’t honestly say you love God if you justify your sinful behavior as being more important than the justification of Christ upon the cross, who died to free you from the condemnation of your sin and He died to give you power to that help you overcomes your sin.  “Have Thy Own Way Lord” is the song of the repentant born again believer but “I Did It My Way” is the song of the unbeliever. 

I have reprinted the material below from this article “10 signs you have bowed your knee to Baal.

https://www.charismanews.com/opinion/the-pulse/77334-10-signs-you-have-bowed-your-knee-to-baal

1. You accept, celebrate, and teach that God blesses alternate forms of marriage and family that dishonor the God of Scripture

Jesus said “in the beginning God made them male and female ….” when affirming that the form of marriage He affirmed was between one man and one woman (see Matthew 19:4-6). Not marriage between one man and multiple women, robots (humanoids?), or other unbiblical expressions outside of this one man/one woman rubric. Truly holding onto this biblical view of marriage has become the tell-tale sign of either fidelity to Scripture or cultural compromise.

2. You live out the values of pop culture even when it collides with the way of Jesus

Many (church attending) Baal bowing “believers” may not say or preach the wrong thing but their life choices belie and betray the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints (see Jude 3).

3. You are afraid to represent Christ in public because of a fear of persecution 

Many believers allow themselves to be intimidated by mainstream culture and kowtow to Baal because of their intense desire to “fit in” with the crowd. They ignore the fact that Jesus taught that those persecuted for righteousness will be blessed (see Matthew 5:11,12).

4. You put personal happiness above the will of God 

Many “Christians” desire above all: a life of comfort and ease. Many have falsely been brought into a church with the false claims of the prosperity Gospel. However, the moment their quality of life is threatened legally they will prostate themselves so low before Baal they will clog their nose with the dust of the ground!

The apostle John had something to say to you when he admonished believers not to love the world nor the things of the world (see 1 John 2:15-17).

Your desire for happiness causes you to worship God only when convenient which means you bow to Baal when it’s inconvenient!

5. You love the praise of men more than the praises of God

You’re so insecure that you bow to Baal and sell your soul for the affirmation of your co-workers, neighbors, and culture.

The apostle John illustrated your life when he wrote that many of the rulers among the Jews believed in Jesus but were afraid to confess Him because they loved the praises of men more than the approval of God (see John 12:42,43). Furthermore, the apostle James said that friendship with the world is to be at enmity with God (see James 4:4). In your desire to appease the world you unfriend God and friend Baal.

6. You lack a biblical world view 

Your view of reality and truth is shaped more by secular culture than the scriptures. As a matter of fact—your lifestyle choices demonstrate that you lift the values, views, and vision of secular culture above the Word of God. However—one day—while the world and its Baal worshippers are licking the dust in disgrace, those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars in the firmament (see Daniel 12: 2-3). Your ignorance and lack of pursuing biblical truth is your downfall, resulting in your pathetic obeisance to Baal.

7. You drink the Kool-Aid of groupthink 

Instead of studying the Scriptures with a goal of cultivating the fear of the Lord and discernment so you can apply His truth in culture, you superficially believe and advance the views of pop culture, secular media, and/or your political party without digging beneath the surface. Consequently, you bow your knee to the Baal of celebrity pundits who make a living off of your ignorance.

8. You seek first “self-actualization” instead of God’s Kingdom  

Jesus called His true followers to lose their life so they can find it (see Mark 8:35). Some popular preachers allure people by promising them they can be true to themselves and their desires while serving God. This is only true if a person delights in the Lord (see Psalm 37:4) which enables God to trust their desires since they emanate out of a love for Him.

In this world, the most sacred principle is self expression – in the Scriptures – the most reasonable act is to offer your body wholly up to God so as not to be conformed to this world (see Romans 12:1-3).

If your main desire in life is self actualization you will bow your knee to the Baal god of self love – if your main desire is the worship of the One true God, then your self life will be crucified so Christ can live through you (see Galatians 2:20).

9. You are beholden more to a political party than to His Kingdom

It is so easy to allow other people and/or a group to do the thinking and speaking for you. The problem with this is – in a two-party system like we have in the USA – it is virtually impossible for a political entity that depends upon playing to their base to stay in power to always remain true to biblical standards.

Hence, when you blindly support your political party or leaders (because of entitlements, skin color, racism, economic empowerment or rhetoric) then you will invariably find yourself at times bowing your knee to Baal.

10. Your identity is intentionally shaped by things other than God’s design for you

As a God lover – you derive your identity primarily from the fact you are a child of God (see Ephesians 1:3-7, 1 John 3:1). When your primary identity emanates from your ethnicity, vocation or sexual preferences- you will bow your knee to Baal any time you have to choose between them and biblical standards.

0

0