We can seek to restore individuals from now to the end of time; however, there is a larger problem facing us. It has to do with the spiritual influences, the shifting shadows that seek to obscure the light and entice men and women into darkness. Where are the leaders who realize that we fight not against flesh and blood but against a spiritual realm that seeks to enslave us and rob us from entering into the fullness of Christ?
Where are the leaders who carry the anointing to release churches, and even cities, from the grip of Baal—the spirit behind greed and sexual perversion that is robbing thousands from their sacred destinies? The Church, as a whole, needs to be restored.
In the ancient days of Canaanite spirituality, the worship of Baal and Asherah, a pillar or image of wood was set up with the image of Baal and was worshiped with libidinous and lascivious practices. Originally, the idol was worshiped as a symbol of the tree of life, but later it was perverted to mean the origin of life and was pictured with the male organs of procreation (see Ezek. 16:17).
The worship of Baal eventually equated with the worship of the phallus as a symbol primarily of male generative power. With the worship of Asherah, the symbol sometimes changes to that of the female organ. Canaanites spread the images and sexual practices related to “fertility rites” to the rest of the world. Relics of it are found among all ancient civilizations. It led to the destruction of all Canaanite nations and, with other things, caused Israel to be dispersed among the nations. But Baal worship lives on and the spirit continues to strangle individuals, families, and nations.
Baal is the strongman behind sexual perversion and financial greed (fertility practices leading to a crop increase, which is actually materialistic greed). Those who open themselves up to this spirit soon discover how quickly they are overcome. If they align themselves with this spirit on an
ongoing basis, they will find it difficult to break free and cannot do so on their own. The nature of deception is such that the deceived one does not know how entrapped he or she becomes until it is too late.
Baal always goes after the next generation, trying to cut off the extension of God’s covenantal purposes. He is a violent spirit and even requires human sacrifice. Abortion is under Baal’s influence as the appetite for flesh can only be satisfied by death. Just as “cutting” has become popular among today’s younger generation, Baal worshipers also engaged in the practice (see 1 Kings 18:28). The prophets of Baal in Canaanite times cut themselves and danced around the fire before Elijah. Baal is fighting hard to avert the great awakening planned for the next generation by enslaving many in pornography and fantasy. It is also subverting today’s men and women from stepping into their destinies and the fullness of the anointing.
Baal is the principality over the world and his influence must be broken in men and women who are called to carry the anointing. Once the stronghold is released, I believe, people will move in a freedom of the Holy Spirit as never before and churches will see such an increase in the abiding presence of the Lord rather than a situational or subtle sense of His presence. Baal’s influence extends beyond the sexual; it is also seen in the increase of occult activity around the world. It is rooted in occult worship focused on ancient fertility rites. And it feels welcome to reside and nest in places where sexual expression is given free reign. Consider this: those in the
Church who are giving their time, money, and focus to Baal through Internet pornography are probably not giving their time, money, and focus to the Lord. The Church is very much impacted. Not only spiritually. As those spirits trail in the doors and affect the atmosphere, those they influence also are limited financially.
Leanne Payne, author of The Healing Presence, is well known as an anointed prophet who focused her ministry on helping men in ministry break free from sexual issues, including pornography and homosexuality, that undermine their anointing. During her Pastoral Care Ministry Schools,5 she addresses the topic of Baal’s influence on our culture and how to break its hold. She writes:
The people of Yahweh always had to withstand a people under the influence of Baal. Or they were overcome by Baal and under his influence. Elijah’s task was to bring them out from under the demonic stronghold.6
I attended a Leanne Payne conference once at the request of a man I had been dating and was very much in love with. He told me that he was struggling with homosexuality, and I was shocked. I never suspected that anyone as masculine as he was would have thoughts in that direction. I went to try to understand more about sexual issues that men struggled with and to see if there was any hope for us to experience a normal marriage. In the process, I received more healing than I ever
thought I needed.
Leanne’s ministry followed a pattern of teaching and ministry that was designed to build on one another and lead people right into the healing they needed. She taught about self-hatred, guilt, and shame and helped people break the cycle. She talked about true masculinity and true femininity and what that was according to God’s plan. At one point, she asked the whole room to stand and renounce Baal and Asherah worship and led us in a prayer of repentance. The prayer seems liturgical, more of a statement than words anointed with the presence of God. We all recited the scripted prayer after her. Suddenly, the room became electric and alive as several people fell or convulsed on the floor, the sexual deviancy broken as Baal screamed his way out the door. I saw more deliverance occur within just a couple of minutes than I had ever seen before. Homosexuals, those caught in pornography, men and women who had been raped and abused—all seemed to experience an instant deliverance.
Undeniably, once people had received a measure of counsel and teaching, if they were still not able to walk a “straight” walk, they needed a little deliverance. And Baal was the one who had to go.
How many men have lost their anointing, quenched the Spirit, and forfeited their inheritance for another hour of porn? Or a side trip to a prostitute? Leanne Payne would say that what they have abdicated is not just their anointing, but their true masculinity. How many women have lost their true
femininity due to the cultural influence of Baal?
I n The Healing Presence, Leanne talks about Gideon in Judges 6:25-26, who was called to tear down the altars to Baal and lead Israel out. She referred to him as one who came into his true masculinity and led Israel out of their sexual sin and compulsions. That same calling that was upon Gideon is part of the calling of a prophet or minister even today.
We now see this happen in large groups where hundreds are set free. But it is not something a Christian leader would begin to do before God has fully prepared him to minister in such a way. It is part of a prophetic ministry, one that has first of all called the people to a radical repentance, and is thereby enabled to minister deeply to the essential spirit and soul of the people. The prophets are indeed the healers…and that is because their call to repentance is clarion-clear. There is no uncertain sound in their message.… The minister who has, to any extent, reconciled good and evil can never call others to repentance for the trumpet he blows will give a very uncertain sound. A clarion call like that of the Baptist’s or Christ’s is required.7
The most solid men and women I have ever met are those who walk so closely in tune with the Holy Spirit that they begin to radiate His presence, which is the true anointing. They know that the anointing is something that needs to be protected and cherished. They walk in pure love and unadulterated power.