At first, I thought it was New Age culture. But I was wrong. It was occultism.
As I strolled through the streets of Key West on a 24-hour getaway with my daughter, I noticed something that I had never witnessed in Key West before: occultism seems fully woven through the culture.
I’ve been going to Key West for more than 20 years and have spent weeks at a time on the tropical island. But something disturbing has happened in the 10 years since I last visited—and it’s merely a microcosm of what’s happening in the world today.
You can no longer walk down Duval Street—the famous drag of shops and restaurants—without running into the likes of Mahadeo Jerrybandhan, a renowned “peerless palmist” from Trinidad with a long white beard and an even longer white robe. But Jerrybandhan is not alone. He has plenty of peers in Key West, from psychics to mediums to channels to healers to tarot card readers to astrologers. The only group I didn’t find down there were the crystal readers.
Then there’s “Robert the Doll.” Key West profiteers have designed so-called ghost tours that explore the haunted history of Key West, including old wooden houses where spirits purportedly walk. Tour guides will tell you that Key West is one of the most haunted cities in the world with elevated paranormal activity. A local voodoo’istic icon, Robert the Doll will supposedly curse you if you take his picture without permission or forget to thank him for the privilege.
The Abomination of Occultism As you can imagine, seeing all this grieved my spirit. But I should not have been so surprised. Occultism has been slowly creeping into American culture for decades as movie makers exalt witchcraft and vampires while the music industry pumps occult rock. Beloved, we are in the midst of a great spiritual crisis even now. Our literature, music, video games, comics, films and television shows are full of mysticism and the occult. Some of it is subtle. Some of it is blatant. All of it is wicked.
Again, this is nothing new. Occultism—which broadly includes magic, séances, channeling, hypnosis, necromancy, astrology, extra-sensory perception, alchemy, spiritualism and divination—is strongly condemned in the Bible.
“There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire [which is an ancient occult practice], or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord” (Deut. 18:10-12, brackets added).
The Lord rebuked Israel for practicing astrology (Isaiah 47:10-14). Jezebel practiced witchcraft (2 Kings 9:22) and we know how that ended. Ephesus was known for a population that practiced magic arts (Acts 19:19). And the book of Revelation makes it clear that “the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (Rev. 21:8).
Kabbalah, Kundalini and Jezebel And yet we see occult practices, like Kabbalah, gaining momentum in the church. We see “prophetic words” delivered in what appears to be Kundalini fashion, with violent shaking and demonic tongues against a backdrop of tribal bongos that set the congregation into hysteria. We see a Jezebel spirit working to seduce saints into idolatry and sexual immorality—and oftentimes succeeding. We see all sorts of strong delusion and strange fire with occultic ties in the modern church.
But we should not be surprised. The rise of occultism is a sign of the end times. Satan’s plan is to fascinate our hearts with occult power and deceive us. The Holy Spirit, meanwhile, wants to fascinate our spirits with a revelation of the Son of God. I believe God’s people are enticed by occultism when they begin seeking spiritual experiences above seeking God. It’s a subtle—and dangerous—shift. Many Christians are on fire for God, but that fire can suddenly turn strange if we are not rooted in the Word. If we seek supernatural experiences, we will find them—but they don’t always come from Jesus.
Beloved, we must not play with strange fire. Ultimately, the occult leads to murder and mayhem—immorality of all kinds. It’s not likely that you would ever willfully visit the likes of Mahadeo Jerrybandhan, the peerless palmist—or any of his peers. But could you ignorantly be engaged with occultic practices that are opening the door to deceptive dangers? Could it be coming from what appears to be godly influences—even within church culture?
Discernment or Deception? Don’t brush the question off before praying about it. If you want the truth, the Holy Spirit will lead you and guide you into all truth. Please hear me! Even a little occult is a deadly poison—a little leaven leavens the whole lump. The Bible warns about deceptive teachers, false apostles and deceitful workers. The Bible warns about self-deception. And it’s your responsibility to keep your heart pure. If you’ve stepped into this demonic ditch, repent now and warn others.
Friends, we’re in an end-times war with eternal consequences. Satan is using the occult to seduce people away from the kingdom of God to dance in the kingdom of darkness. I pray that the Lord gives you discernment and awakens your spirit, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming (Matt. 24:42).
Let me leave you with a warning from the apostle Paul: “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ” (Col. 2:8). Amen.
Jennifer LeClaire is news editor at Charisma.
Aug 14 2012
Posted by SitePastor in Going Back to the Source - Edit
1. When an activity is such as to raise the very esteem of Jesus Christ, who was born of the Virgin and was crucified (1 John 4:1-3; 4:15; Matthew 10:32; Romans 15:9; Philippians 2:11; 1 Corinthians 12:3). 2. When such operation is used to shine a light upon the Gospel of Christ. 3. When such operation seems more to confirm and establish in the minds of people the truth of what the Gospel declares to all of Christ being the Son of God and the Savior of men than any thing else. 4. When a spirit operates against the interests of Satan’s kingdom (1 John 4:4-5; 3:8). 5. When a spirit operates in such a manner as to cause in men a greater reward to the Holy Scriptures, and establishes these men more in their truth and divinity (1 John 4:6; Ephesians 2:20). 6. When a spirit operates in such a manner as to lead people into the full truth of the fundamentals (1 John 4:1-6). 7. When a spirit operates in such a manner as to promote a spirit of love to God and man (1 John 4:6-7). 8. When a spirit operates in such a manner as to promote agreement with the Holy Scriptures (1 John 5:5-10). 9. When a spirit operates in such a manner as to promote the holiness, greatness, and majesty of God (1 John 5:5-10; 4:1-7; Ephesians 4:24; Luke 1:75; Romans 6:19; 6:22; Hebrew 12:14; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:7; 1 Timothy 2:15; Titus 2:5; 1 Peter 14:16; Hebrew 12:10; Galatians 5:14; 6:2; 1 Corinthians 7:19; Romans 8:4; 12:2; 13:8-10; Philippians 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 4:3-7; 5:23; 1 Corinthians 1:8; 7:34; 2 Corintians 7:1). 10. When a spirit causes unusual and extraordinary events and effects upon the lives, minds, and bodies of persons that emphasize the holiness of God, His greatness, and His majesty (1 John 5:5-10; 4:1-7; Ephesians 4:24; Luke 1:75; Romans 6:19; 6:22; Hebrews 12:14; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 4:7; 1 Timothy 2:15; Titus 2:5; 1 Peter 14:16; Hebrews 12:10; Galatians 5:14; 6:2; 1 Corinthians 7:19; Romans 8:4; 12:2; 13:8-10; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 4:3-7; 5:23; 1 Corinthians 1:8; 7:34).
Aug 13 2012
Posted by SitePastor in Deliverance Ministries - Edit
Asmodeus and Osmodeus — Marriage breaking demons (Divorce) and cause rejection of sexual genders causing lesbian and homosexuality to occur.
Asmodeus and Osmodeus are also mythical spirits with characteristic such as – overpowering tendencies to rage, lust, impetuousness, impurity and psychic activities.
Asmodeus- Osmodeus are ruling spirits that are warring against all marriages. These spirits also are keeping many from getting married.
RULER SPIRIT
Asmodeus rules in sexual matters. He is sometimes referred to as “the genius of matrimonial discord and jealousy.” Because he has remained a relatively unknown spirit, he has masqueraded in many forms, deceiving scores of people and taking them captive. He says, “If you will serve me, you will never want for anything. I will take care of all your needs and you will never need a husband.” It sounded very good, almost like the Lord speaking, but it was a wrong (demonic) spirit. Once you open to receive this so called mythical spirits characteristics to cause overpowering tendencies to rage, lust, impurity, impetuousness, and psychic activities.
Researchers have pointed out that Asmodeus has many characteristics — some that even sound beneficial. On the one hand he is jealous, filled with rage, lustful and given to extreme excesses. On the other, he loves to have a good time, is sympathetic and is very religious.
Early church history points him out as the one that desired to possess young women in Christian service, to make them lustful and to destroy them and their work
It has been said that this spirit drove Solomon to all of his excesses. In his last years he missed the mark, allowing himself to open up to wrong spirits. That example alone should prove that none of us are above falling or missing it, even after years of Christian service or ministry. The Scripture tells us that the “devil goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.” It is necessary for us to be on guard at all times against the devil’s tactics.
In mythical writings Asmodeus is the one who killed the husbands of a young woman named Sara. The first time she was to be married her husband died on their wedding night. Seven times in all she got married and in each case her husband died on their wedding night. The reason was that Asmodeus wanted this woman all to himself.
Asmodeus is also a lustful spirit. Hee will motivate a marriage partner to be unfaithful, thus bringing in an adulterous spirit. Many marriages have been destroyed because of adultery, extreme jealousy, rage and physical abuse. Remember that men as well as women can be affected by Asmodeus.
A lie that Asmodeus tells single people is that they should stay single. The Scripture DOES tell us (Matt. 19:12) that there are those who are definitely called to be single, but it is the exception rather than the rule. Many young people have labored intensely over the issue of whether or not they should get married. I believe it is safe to assume that unless God definitely shows them otherwise (and He will if it is His will) it is His plan for them to be married, provided it is to the right individual.
Asmodeus is the same demon that tells people they should get a divorce so they can better serve the Lord. In fact, somebody actually prophesied that to a minister. The word sounded “good” to the man because his wife was not a Christian. Within days, however, she got saved and he realized that a deceiving spirit had been speaking to him.
The ploy of Satan has been to destroy every Christian. Satan is being exposed and his ruler demons finally being named so that victory for God’s people can be realized!
We know that generational curses can come down family lines. Think about this, if a couple decide to have sex outside of marriage, all the demons in both partners and the family lines, as far back as four to ten generations will come into this sinful act, body, soul, and spirit— and demonic infiltration will occur! The Bible shows that the Believer is protected through the bonds of marriage from demonic transfers. Look at (1 Cor. 7:14). “For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the hus husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.”
It is ironic that some do not have time for building their marriage relationships seem to have plenty of time for sex outside marriage — that is what we must conclude from the reports of marital infidelity in our country. Couples make a vow of fidelity at the altar, and many would agree with the Bible’s clear statements that adultery is sin (Exo. 20:14; Matt. 5:27, 28). However infidelity today is soaring to unprecedented heights
Psychologist Henry Vikler wrote a book on infidelity and concluded that- this can be one of the most painful and devastating experiences that a married person can ever encounter. It destroys trust and fuels the fires of both doubt and fear. Often it leaves the perpetrator feeling guilty and the victim feeling like a failure who was forsaken for another sexual partner. Infidelity frequently leaves lasting memories and deep insecurities in the minds of those who are affected.
It is tragic that infidelity and a lifestyle of casual sex are glorified in television and other media. This philosophy tells men and women that they do not have to be committed to a marriage partner or to their children, but that they should be free to express their sexual urges whenever there is an opportunity.
Sexual promiscuity has become the lifestyle of America; this cult of sensualist is more than a revolution of dirty magazines and sexually explicit motion pictures. Infidelity and marital Infidelity represent a pervasive lifestyle that always corrupts the family. Men and women who indulge in such practices knowingly sacrifice their own families to gratify their sexual desire.
This kind of lifestyle also leads to the destruction of careers, inner peace, and sometimes even lives. “The biggest mistake I ever made in my life was to leave your mother for other women,” a middle-age father recently wrote to his teenage son.
The man who wrote this note took his own life after his relationship and his career had fallen apart. The abusive person uses violence (or the threat of violence) to gain control. Abuse occurs in the households of both married can cohabiting couples, and it tends to take on three forms:
Physical abuse, sexual abuse, and psychological abuse (involving actions such as rejection, constant verbal criticism, demeaning comments, or even ignoring one’s mate completely).
One study estimated that approximately 3:5 million women and 250,000 men in the United States have been battered by a spouse or intimate partner.’ According to other research, 25 to 30 percent of all American women are beaten at least once in the course of intimate relationships.
Kommentare