Many times people fear others and what they might think so much that they perform actions they think the other’s want. We can do the wrong thing trying to please others instead of God. I know I have. The citizens of Gideon’s city were ready to kill Gideon for obeying God, for chopping down the Asherah tree and tumbling apart the altar to Baal (Judges 6:28-32). They were ready to do the work of a false god. But Gideon’s father Joash said, “If [Baal] is a god, let him contend for himself, because someone has torn down his altar” (Judges 6:32). This saved Gideon’s life and they renamed him “Jerubbaal” which means “Let Baal contend against him.” The false god did not have any power against an anointed man of God.

The contrast is seen when Elijah confronts several hundred priests of Baal who’s false god cannot ignite the fire of sacrifice. God sends an amazing flame to combust water-logged wood and it did even more!

38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God.”

1 Kings 18:38-39 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Let us worship and serve the God who came and died for us. The world wants to serve false gods who ask us to sacrifice babies on the altar. Let’s rescue babies, give them good homes and raise them in the love of God. Let’s take up our cross and follow Christ.

Our 9th fundamental truth finishes with this statement: “Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by the faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union, and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit.”