Who are you following?

Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent. Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only prophet of the Lord who is left, but Baal has 450 prophets. Now bring two bulls. The prophets of Baal may choose whichever one they wish, cut it into pieces, and lay it on the wood of their altar without setting fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood on the altar but not set fire to it. Then call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by setting fire to the wood is the true God!” And all the people agreed. So they prepared one of the bulls and placed it on the altar. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning until noontime, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no reply of any kind. Then they danced, hobbling around the altar they had made. They raved all afternoon until the time of the evening sacrifice, but still, there was no sound, no reply, no response. Then Elijah called to the people, “Come over here!” They all crowded around him as he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down. He piled wood on the altar, cut the bull into pieces, and laid the pieces on the wood. Then he said, “Fill four large jars with water, and pour the water over the offering and the wood.” After they had done this, he said, “Do the same thing again!” And when they were finished, he said, “Now do it a third time!” So they did as he said, and the water ran around the altar and even filled the trench. At the usual time for offering the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command. O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.” Immediately, the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench! And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The Lord—he is God! Yes, the Lord is God!” Then Elijah commanded, “Seize all the prophets of Baal. Don’t let a single one escape!” So the people seized them all, and Elijah took them down to the Kishon Valley and killed them there. - 1 Kings 18:21-24,26,29,30,33-40 (NLT)

Why was God so harsh when he judged those who promoted demonic doctrines? Why not just leave them alone to perish in their deceived state? An indifferent opinion concerning false doctrine will see death as a radical or out-of-control remedy, even for God. But again, the only reason people come to such a conclusion is that they do not view what is at stake the way God does. False doctrine leads people astray, and when fully embraced, it condemns them to hell. It was never God's intention for humans to occupy the corridors of hell. He created hell for Lucifer, his fallen angels, and the demonic spirits that work for them. Tragically, all humans are on a battlefield where a tremendous war is being played out. That war entails the hatred of Satan against all humanity versus the love of God for them. This is the fundamental reason why there are doctrines of demons. Satan's purpose for spreading falsehoods is not just for the sake of being evil. Nor is it to momentarily deceive or mislead. Satan’s eye is on a bigger trophy-- the souls of the unsaved. - Jack Hibbs, Living in the Daze of Deception

When we perceive God's judgment as being too harsh, we dismiss what sin does to humanity and what it did to the Son of God. - Jack Hibbs, Living in the Daze of Deception

Satan spreads his doctrines in ways that don't call attention to their origin. Regardless of the level of your awareness, I know that you have felt the force of demonic doctrines in opposition to your desire to live according to God’s Word. I have felt it, too, and I know these doctrines can feel oppressive, but I want to encourage you to use this force to your advantage. Satan's opposition to the kingdom of God will change direction, but unlike the winds, it will never stop. Thankfully, God has given us the means to turn into the wind and rise above Satan’s schemes: perfect love. First John 4:18 tells us that "perfect love casts out fear." Greater than any force coming against us is the perfect love of God for us! - Jack Hibbs, Living in the Daze of Deception

Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. - 1 John 4:18 (NLT)

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:38-39 (NLT)

Be Encouraged to fully embrace the perfect love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

- Jeffrey Thornton