In Revelations 19 v10 the bible says "the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy"
The testimony of Jesus Christ has changed my life - just like he said it would.
My testimony is long because I can't really give it without giving you the whole story, the whole background - which will shed some light on the subject I talk about.
I've written down my testimony of all I've seen & heard & I promise to the best of my ability I will not lie. Also my testimony is not without controversy.
Some people become mad, some irritated, some bored & I have had one person to get up and walk out one me. But it's mostly because they have not experienced what I've been through- & I thank God they haven't. Nevertheless I cannot be a man pleaser-- I must testify to what I've seen, heard, & learned from our Lord. Maybe if you don't agree with me - then just give me the benefit of the doubt.
Growing up I rebelled against everything - your average teenage rebel I guess.
BUT......
My "nightmare" began when I came back from my tour of duty overseas in the army in 1971. Over there I had been introduced to every drug imaginable - from marijuana to heroin. Over there drugs were legal until 1970. I came back drugged and wild and crazy. Within a few years I already had a criminal record. But I did manage to hold down a job & get married.
My first wife and I had an unusual neighbor........ Little did I know my first neighbor was a witch. I really didn't know much about witches. Hollywood movies had conditioned me to think witches were ugly old hags with warts & lived in run down creaky houses. BUT this witch was nice looking and acted sort of normal. Slowly we began sharing drugs & she began witnessing to my wife & I about the world of witchcraft. (There are people on fire for the devil you know)
We would do little spells like light candles & incense while chanting & then pray to the moon for luck & good fortune - sort of small fun things to do while "high" on drugs. I admit it was fun. It provided an euphoric high. It was exciting- like a child's first visit to a carnival with all the music & bright lights.
Looking back I see that this was the beautiful side to evil - a kind of kindergarten of deception. Hell has it's kindergarten. It is so subtle & so refined it's almost impossible to detect. If fact it is impossible unless you're saved. But it is no less from the depths of hell than that which is outright boldface demonic. BUT that is the purpose of evil- to deceive & trap people.
We continued doing spells & incantations according to the witches almanac, according to the phases of the moon -whether full, new, waxing or waning. Our grandest night of festivities was Halloween. It was the most exciting. It was like Christmas to us. We waited all year for this celebration. Occultist believe this is the Devil's night, and according to occult literature "this night the forces of darkness are at their strongest. This night the spiritual underworld & the earths physical existence was at it's closest." The force that separates the two worlds is at its weakest. Hence all the demonic activity.
We were fascinated by the devil and his mysteriousness. He was our hero. There was a strong attraction to this darkness. I decided to take the plunge one night & be baptized into the occult world. I'll never forget that night. It was storming and lightning real bad - an electrical storm. I ceremoniously got all my magical stuff together & lit a candle..... lighting my candle I began chanting the lord's prayer backward while imagining chains & shackles were being removed from my arms & feet. The Witches Almanac (which was my bible then) teaches that Jesus is the real king of the slaves and you must be freed from him. The higher my incantations the more I became aroused, the more evil began to indwell inside me.
From that point on I really became engrossed in witchcraft.
My neighbor's witnessing had payed off. My first book I bought was called "The Black Arts".
It was a book of dark sentences & dark spells & incantations.
Witchcraft is an art and it has to be practiced daily....so my first wife & I made our spare bedroom into a "magical room" where we cast spells and had occult ceremonies.
I want to pause and define witchcraft.
So many say witches aren't real. They are make believe - like Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse - a lot believe witchcraft is still about the middle ages, when it was rampant. But those who are wise know that witchcraft & Satanism are the fastest growing religions in the country. The strongest aspect of these religions is that of being invisible. If you didn't believe in me then I could come into your house & take over. Jesus said you must first bind the strongman of the house before you can steal and destroy his goods. What better way to bind someone than to become invisible to them.
Witches are real & witchcraft is real. God says so.. all through the bible (beginning in Deut. 18) witchcraft is condemned. God calls it an abomination. Why would God say this in the bible if it was not true?? In fact God says 'thou shall not suffer a witch to live". Those are strong words. Why would God say these things if witches were just imaginary? Why? After you have finished reading my testimony you will understand why God CONDEMNS witchcraft.
So what is witchcraft?? The dictionary defines witchcraft as a magical irresistible influence over someone or something.Witchcraft is the art of controlling other people, events, & circumstances.
Witchcraft has many forms:The form my x-wife and I used was a tool for controlling spirits to do our bidding; In our coven meetings we burned herbs & incense while chanting rhytmatic incantations. This combination of drugs, burning herbs, & incense & the rhythm of incantations were used to produce an altered state of consciousness where an interface with extrademsional forms (or demons) would occur. We used drugs to alter our consciousness to another reality. Drugs enhanced our awareness to the demonic world. Drugs are a spiritual experience.
(Those who use drugs just to get high are looking for that ultimate high, that euphoric feeling, a state of bliss. They are looking for that existence inside the mind where there is no more pain, no worry, no fear, no problems, (they're really looking for heaven). But the "heaven" that is created by drugs is a false heaven. - a false spiritual experience that can lead to death and hell. Drugs are the ultimate spiritual deception. This is not just my opinion, every drug abuse counselor will tell you, that's what the majority of drug users are looking for. An existence that is free from pain and suffering.)
The word drug is slang from the English word Pharmacy, which is taken from the Greek word, "Pharmakea". This same word is used in Revelations 18th chapter, verse 23. "By thy SORCERIES were all nations deceived" . Sorcery is interpreted from that Greek word "Pharmakeea". By the use of drugs were all nations deceived. That's really obvious to see nowadays. The revelation of Jesus Christ is as plain as our TV News and newspapers. Drugs are destroying our world.
So is it any wonder that God hates witchcraft so much. Sorcery is a bewitching with the use of drugs to create the ultimate spiritual deception. It's all interwoven together. The words drugs, sorcery, & pharmakeea can all be interpreted as one and the same.
There are many forms of witchcraft besides the kind I was using. In Paul's letter to the Galatians he asked them: O foolish Galatians, who hath "betwitched" you, that you should not obey the truth. False teachers were using their influence to make the Galatians believe they needed to keep the laws of Moses with Jesus as a means of salvation. They were trying to manipulate them into believing a lie. This is witchcraft. "A magical, irresistable influence over someone or something". The art or craft of trying to control other people or events to be outside of the will of God. You don't even have to be a witch to practice this form of witchcraft.
Another form of witchcraft I expose that really gets me in trouble is the medium of T.V. & the movies: Consider this: If you're high on drugs your mind is susceptible to anything, especially if your in your adolescent or formative years. If you get high on drugs every night (as I did) & you watch & absorb all that hellish ungodly life-styles coming out of Hollywood - night after night after night - what are you feeding your spirit? Certainly not bread from heaven! What are you putting into your mind and spirit? You could say like Paul said: O foolish Americans, who hath bewitched you, that you should believe all that worldly, fleshly knowledge.
Paul warned, BEWARE least you are spoiled by vain philosophies. This medium, this form of witchcraft will not help you stand when the storms of life come. These attractive life-styles will collapse when the rains descend.
TV is perhaps the largest medium, and most widespread use of sorcery in existence today. The images and imaginations that it projects into people's minds are shaping and molding many people into Hollywood's own image. Sadly, many are receiving this image. It is to many people and irresistible, magical force used to manipulate people and events. If you don't believe me, try doing without TV for a while. Don't get me wrong, You should not throw out the baby with the bathwater. There is a lot of good that could come from T.V.
So witchcraft or the "craft" as it is called today can assume many forms, and can be used through many different ways to accomplish its destruction.
With these definitions of witchcraft exposed let me continue with my testimony.
My wife & I continued for several years reading and studying occult books - using more and more drugs to produce higher levels of awareness in order to reach higher levels in the psychic world. When we first started in witchcraft you couldn't tell us apart from anybody - but after a few years the seeds we had planted began to ripen. I was reaching a point where I at times couldn't distinguish what was real from what was not. Reality was vague - It was like I existed in an unreal world, a real twilight zone, never certain of anything or anyone. A borderline psychosis - a schizophrenic personality. Everyone was my enemy.
This is the part of my testimony that's really hard to understand. Do you know people who are ruled by superstitions, even to an extreme degree?? Like people who are afraid to walk under a ladder for fear of bad luck - superstition rules theirs lives. Or maybe a black cat crosses the road in front of them and they turn their car around and drive around the other way. I know some who are terrified when these things happen...I could go on & on with how superstitions rule some peoples lives instead of the word of God.
My life of witchcraft was that way, only to an EXTREME.
The bible says in Phillipians 2 verse 5 "Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus", But can you imagine, "Let this mind be in you which is in Satan"-- It's a terrible reality to be alive in the grip of the snake. You believe & do really weird things.
One belief in the witches almanac is that crows can predict the future, they are an omen ......If you see crows: One for sorrow....Two for mirth.....Three for joy....Four for birth......
Consider if you can, these words to be as meaningful as the words of the bible. In my present state of mind this sounds really stupid. But back then it was GOSPEL to me. These verses & the witches almanac made a whole lot of sense to a mind filled with Satan's imaginations & superstitions & fears. When seeing a single crow I would go into a state of hyper apprehension.
ONE FOR SORROW.... I just knew sorrow was coming in a way that I would probably loose my car, get fired, or any number of things. I would even imagine loosing everything that I had. The worry and apprehension intensified with the paranoia from drugs was almost to much to bear. I remember once I sneaked upon a crow just inside a wooded area where I was doing a spell. The crow was slightly injured and could only hobble around, so I found a long limb and beat it to death. I beat it and beat it until it died. My imagination became Satan's tool for controlling my mind.....and on it went.....my imagination began to "run away", literally..........
The witches almanac even commanded you must bury your toenail & hairclippings. Your enemies could use them to mix into a spell and gain control over your spirit. So I would be very careful to bury my toenail and hair clippings. Superstitution controlled my life. The witches almanac was filled with all kinds of superstitions.
There was an endless list of these superstitutions in the witches almanac that "controlled" my life.
I was at this point where all these signs and omens were a living reality to me. A real twilight zone. Eventually everything was an omen that spelled out doom.
This is the same way horoscopes work. They use your "Imaginings" to control your life. Astrologers are vague in their predictions: they leave a lot open to the imagination, and in my state of mind back then it would really carry me away. But this is the purpose of astrology & witchcraft, to keep you away from the word of God, to keep you from standing firm.
Satan uses peoples imaginations & superstitions to control them. Now I know why Paul says in Corinthians 10 v 5:
CAST DOWN EVERY IMAGINATION THAT EXALTS ITSELF AGAINST THE WORD OF GOD & BRING INTO CAPTIVITY EVERY THOUGHT TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST...
When I first read this these words after I was saved they were like an ice cold drink of water in a hot, parched desert.
As hard as it is to believe, I continued in this altered state of reality for quite some time, continuing to indulge in every vice & sin I could possibly experience. Our magical spells turned destructive and towards even our friends.
Well--- sin can only cause destruction & chaos. Eventually my 1st wife & I was divorced.
I remarried later & continued with my witchcraft & drugs. Some things got better, some things got worse. It was off & on.
After a few more years, I eventually gave up practicing witchcraft: but my mind couldn't find rest. It began to be haunted by all kinds of evil pictures, evil imaginings--to horrible to mention here --It was like Satan didn't want to let me go. What I didn't realize then was : once you open the door the psychic world of witchcraft, you cannot close it. Only Jesus can.
So I even stopped using drugs in an attempt not to be so sensitive to the psychic world, and even the real world. Things got a little better when I quit using drugs, but I eventually got yet another divorce. It was up & down, up & down, nothing to hold on to. Like Isaiah 57, 20 & 21, "like the waves of the troubled sea - the wicked cannot rest-- There is no peace -saith my God to the wicked". Boy was that ever true.
Since the time I had been sent overseas in the army until this point in my life - which was in 1980 - was 18 years of hell - In that time frame I had filled up this mind & body with marijuana, speed, barbiturates, heroin, acid (LSD), all kinds of sex magazines, wife swapping, beer & whiskey, drunk more times than I can ever remember, all kinds of occult philosophies & practices, all kinds of devil books, violent acts, all kinds of movies from Hollywood, & on & on. You could say my cup was just about filled. I say all this to my shame, but to God's glory, because He stopped all that.
When I remarried in 1980 to my present & 3rd wife things seemed to get a little better. But for the first 6 years of marriage I still had "PSYCHIC ATTACKS". I still had no rest. Having two children help me settle down some. But I eventually went to see a psychologist - but that was like washing my foot with my sock on. It just didn't work. It was sort of like taking all my sins out of one bag & putting them in a brand new one & shifting the weight. It seemed "different" but the burden of sins was still there. Only Jesus can take away your sins.
So I was at the end of my rope. I believe I was ready for something, but I didn't know what. I started to watch some preaching on TV on Sunday mornings. Looking back, I see God began dealing with me, I know. It was like a series of events began to unfold - God must have been answering my mothers & grandmothers prayers.
At work a friend gave me a bible - I began to read it & read it...... Another friend at work began to witness to me about Jesus. Then I found a bible tract where Jesus said, "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest". I mulled this over in my mind, What does he mean come unto me? I said here I am, but nothing ever happened. I read it over and over but it didn't make any sense - yet I couldn't get it out of my mind.
I continued watching preaching on TV & soon afterwards I took another job that took me inside of a church to install new air conditioners. Many times I would stop and gaze at a picture of Jesus hanging on the wall. He was holding a lamb. I had an overwhelming desire to know more about this man. He seemed so gentle & kind, a radiance seemed to glow from around him, and he seemed so peaceful. That's what I was looking for. I remember I made several unnecessary trips by the picture so I could stop and gaze a little longer
My peace to come began one day when my daughter was invited to vacation bible school.
She came home asking questions like "what does it mean to be born again?" It got me to thinking. When they asked me to visit her class, I went to see what made her so excited. Next thing I know the preacher came out & witnessed to me. (Twice)
You know if this preacher had come over preaching all that name it and claim it stuff & telling me if I'd just get saved I could be living in great wealth & prosperity - I'd still be in my sins - I just don't have much patients for false preachers- Paul said let them be cursed. BUT this preacher was a fisher of men. He was a man in pursuit of God's holy plan - not power & glory. He actually cared for my soul. Can you imagine that. He told me about JESUS - how he came to free the captives (which I was) to set at liberty them that are bruised & to preach the gospel to the poor. This preacher made Jesus come alive. The holy spirit was with him.
I was convinced at this point I wanted to be saved. This was the peace I had been looking for. I walked the church isle that next Sunday and I told the preacher to please stop the proceedings because I wanted to confess Jesus with my mouth. (I had remembered reading that part in the bible the lady at work had given me & the Holy Spirit impressed that on me very much. So with my mouth I confessed Jesus & renounced the devil that I had been living for.
I was so happy I couldn't stand it..............
Nobody meets Jesus without changing. My life took on a new meaning from that day. I now had something to live for.
I became a living testimony of how Jesus can change a heart. I'm just like one of those 1st Century Christians Paul talked about in 1st Corinthians Chapter 6 - Paul said these couldn't inherit the kingdom of God: Fornicators, Idolators, adulators, thieves, extortioners, & revilers:
Paul said ....AND SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU. BUT NOW ARE YE WASHED, NOW ARE YE SANCTIFIED, NOW ARE YE JUSTIFIED, IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS.
(MAN THAT IS GRACE)
Now I'm washed - Now I'm cleansed. Now I'm whole & sanctified. Behold old things are passed away & all things are made new. I began to see everything in a new perspective - a new light - the light of the gospel.
* Instead of thirsting for beer & whiskey;.........I have a thirst for Jesus
* Instead of hungering for occult and playboy magazines.......I have a hunger for the Bible.
I began to renew my mind by studying God's word. It was wonderful. It was a reality that I never knew existed. It was & is absolutely wonderful.
Some ask me what it's like being born again. The only description I can even begin to crudely describe is like having lived in a deep dark cave, where the walls of the cave are sublit by reflected gray light and the floor was nothing but mud and slime. Then one day you begin making your way up the cave until one day you stumble outside onto a green mountainside, in the springtime, with blue skies & white clouds, a bubbling blue creek & yellow daises. You've gone from gray & black to living color.
It would be nice to end my testimony here & say from this point my life was just fine and dandy and no more problems, but the reality of life is that Jesus began to open my eyes to the scriptures. We are not saved to ride the gospel wagon, but we are saved to get out and push. He showed me the laborers are few,
.......or just as the song goes "Everybody wants to eat at my table but nobody wants to work in my fields.
So after a good rest & fill I started going to the county jail & witnessing for Jesus, & how he had changed my life & how he could change theirs too. It was very rewarding. There is no greater joy, than to see someone saved. Jesus said, "I have come that your joy might be full." I also began having deeper & more frequent bible study. This was a radical departure from my previous life-style.
But Jesus had other plans for me besides the jail house - there was another field he wanted me to work in. It was the field I had just come from, and I really didn't want to go back. So when Halloween rolled around after my conversion I wasn't enthusiastic to say the least. The Lord wanted me to warn others of witchcraft & the occult,
SO here's my testimony of what I've seen and heard.
During the Halloween season, when my kids began to bring home witches, ghosts & goblins, that they had colored in school, as they always had before - I became very angry (it had never really bothered me before my conversion) ........all sorts of memories would flash through my mind about how I had been seduced into the occult world through this celebration of death. I began to remember how my involvement began with a mere fascination with Halloween & all the seasonal activities associated with it. So I began to talk about the deception behind Halloween but no one would believe or listen to me. I couldn't understand why some people became so violent in defense of Halloween. Those who think Satan is not smart, should think again. Hiding behind children is a great weapon. Children only understand candy & fun, not evil posing as good. Jesus had opened my eyes to the real truth behind Halloween. You know somebody has to be lying. Either Halloween is fun and games and witches are nice people, like my neighbor was, & God is a liar........... or else; God is telling the truth and "Thou shall not suffer a witch to live". Pretty strong words huh?
Halloween used to be bobbing for apples, fun parties, etc., yet even this lighter side, this kindergarten of Halloween is eerie, when you consider for a minute, when you look behind the curtains, if you will : that on this night when children are gathering candy & having fun - the FBI Academy in Virginia, (the national institute for the study of violent crimes) has published a document that estimates 40,000 people are being ritualistically murdered in satanic covens all over the world. I have this documentation in writing it anyone wants to see it. This night witches & satanic covens all over the world are cursing God, blaspheming Jesus, eating raw human flesh, performing all kinds of twisted, perverted, unholy acts, from urinating on crosses to having black masses, Do you know what a black mass is?? It is extreme abomination. It is sickening. It will turn your stomach upside down. Go to the library and read about it. I guarantee that you will not want your children celebrating the same night as all these activities are going on. It is not Hollywood movies, it's the real thing.
It seemed the more I tried to educate people about what was taking place on this night the more I began to seem like a nut. Anyway when my kids brought these witches & things home I decided to go and talk to their teachers.
While I was walking the halls of the elementary school I took time to read some of the children's response to Halloween that a teacher had put on the bulletin board.
· one child says; it make me happy inside when I see spiders crawling across the floor.
· I want to be just like Frankenstein when I grow up.
· and the shocker was.... "I want to go
to Set's house".
What would a 3rd grader know about Set? Yet ....what grown up?
In the world of demonology Set is a high ranking demon. Sort of
a general if you will.
Also, my daughter came home asking me if I wanted to see Bloody Mary? I asked, "Who?" She said, "Bloody Mary, all you have to do is turn around three times in the dark, while calling out her name, and she will appear to you. She will also have a baby in her arms, and if you want her to she will stab it". I was dumbfounded to say the least..........
.....the spiritual world that can & will result in emotional & spiritual turmoil for many children. I know it did me. Years of anguish & needless suffering.
A I continued my walk down the halls of the elementary school I also saw life size witch posters hanging from the ceiling; ghosts, goblins, skeletons, witches riding brooms, & witches stirring cauldrons. They were plastered all over the hallways & classrooms. Most of them were in cartoon form but I tell you I wasn't fooled.
I've never understood why signs & symbols that are directly connected to the occult, to evil, are allowed to be accepted as normal. I know many parents (myself included) would object strongly to swastikas or even cartoon dolls of Hitler or Stalin being hung & plastered all over the walls. Why? - because these things form an association to evil.
Even psychologist warn their adolescent mental patients, who have become involved in the occult, (first thing) to get rid of all their signs & symbols of the occult that they have hanging in their rooms. They instruct the parents of these teenagers to "tear them down immediately".
Many children, teenagers & even adults are being drawn into the occult world through an attraction to this darkness.
I was at one time pursing a degree in Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counseling. I wanted to help others get through what I had been through. I was doing a research paper for my psychology class, that required information on the occult. I obtained information from Pinewood Mental Hospital. I talked with Norma Durrant who was at that time the administrative director for the adolescent wing. She told me 20% of all her referrals one year were teenagers who had become involved with occult activities. She went on to say she had talked with a Lieutenant of the Dallas Police Dept. He told her the mental hospitals in Dallas are being inundated with teenagers who are dabbling in the occult. (Dabbling means to undertake something without any serious intentions). He said there is an alarming increase in occult crimes.
Mrs Durrant gave me a copy of a government report published by the FBI Academy in Virginia; a national center for the analysis of violent crime; (same report as I mentioned a few moments ago.) that states "there is a flood of occult & satanic crimes occurring all across the country".
So much so that they predict that seminars in the near future will focus on "the impending end of the world". Now the FBI is not a religious organization but they, unlike many Christians, see firsthand the fruit of the occult revival that is sweeping the country.
There is a revival of the occult going on in this country. The evil darkness of old times (as in the days of Noah - which was not all eating and drinking, but lots of sorcery- this darkness is covering the land again.)
The book of Daniel says in Chapter 8 verse 25 "And he shall cause his CRAFT to prosper"....This craft he speaks of is not ceramics, or porcelain painting or even politics: but witchcraft, horoscopes, psychic activity & occult knowledge.
A craft that will influence (more than politics) every walk, every aspect of life.
Currently there are some 100 American Universities which offer courses in witchcraft. J.F. Kennedy University offers an accredited Masters Degree in Parapsychology (study of the occult) as well as a "psychic" training program. 300 Universities (75% State Approved) now offer courses directly involved in the New Age movement. The New Age movement is a religious, spiritual movement that is converting occult knowledge into spiritual, psychological & scientific terminology for the masses.
The new psychology that is being widely accepted is inundated with occult knowledge. Just a few years ago, as I mentioned earlier, I was pursing a degree in Alcohol & Drug Counseling. I wanted to help others. But while I was taking these counseling courses I immediately recognized the practices & terminology as coming from books I had read back when I was studying the occult. The practices of "Guided Imagery", "Creative Visualization", " Active Imagination", all sound real scientific - but these practices, until 10 years or so ago, could only be found in eastern religious books, or books of magic, or the occult book stores in Dallas (That was one of my favorite hangouts).
"Guided Imagery is a well known technique in the occult world that is used in meditation to contact spritual beings". Of course these practices were just a few. I have taken numerous courses in psychology & this knowledge is in all of them.
Modern psychology is full of occult knowledge. It was put there by the founder & Father of modern psychology; Carl Jung; you might want to research this man. He was a well known psychologist who openly practiced meditation, conducted seances & practiced a lot of the Black Arts. His occult writings & theories are being widely accepted today as normal hidden powers of the mind. Even though his acquired knowledge came from spirit guides. He even gives the name of his personal spirit guide that gave him this knowledge.
His biography, by Janet Dallet, revealed that he at times could not even distinguish what was real from what was not. (sounds familiar) Yet his writings are being accepted as revelation in the world of psychology.
It is evident way back in the early seventies when The American Psychology Association recommended turning most of the mental patients loose. After all they weren't as crazy as most people believed they were from the standpoint of the new revelations from psychology. Now we have widespread homelessness and psychotic crimes. Then in the late seventies the Association declared that homosexuality was not unnatural but just an alternative life-style, and so it is widely accepted today by them.
I was told in my counseling classes that I could not counsel to the homosexual people that their life-style was wrong. In so doing I would loose my state license.
So Carl Jung, the founder of modern psychology, has taken occult knowledge & psychologized it. He has taken occult terminology and made it acceptable & practicable as normal activities.
It is hard for many to recognize most of the other occult knowledge because they've never seen or practiced it before.
Before I left my pursuit in psychology counseling they had almost convinced me, through their "philosophy" that the bible was inadequate by itself to counsel people with emotional problems. That this type of counseling should be left to the experts, who were the psychologist. They teach that there is wisdom outside of scripture & a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that can better deal with emotional problems. That the sufficiency of Christ is no longer enough.
Sure Jesus is OK but you need something more practical, more down to earth (psychology). That's sort of what the Galatians were being bewitched with. Jesus plus something else. In there case the law. The bewitching of the Americans is the new emphasis on self-help groups; psychotherapy counseling; therapy of all kinds; a shifting away from the cross, away from self-denial, away from repentance & forgiveness of sins. The bible is to them foolishness. But Paul says in Corinthians that God has chosen the foolishness of preaching:
1Cor. 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
And remember what Paul said to the Galatians; "having begun in the spirit, are we now made perfect by the flesh.
In my classes.....sin was called a sickness & required therapy - not repentance- I was almost booed out of class for saying the sin word. When I talked about how I was freed from these sins by confessing them, all I got was head shaking & snickering.
We were even told by a visiting speaker who was a licensed counselor that "those who think that alcohol & drug abuse are sins instead of a sickness, should "get out", of this field. So I did.
The knowledge that was being taught in these classes was so filled with occult philosophies that it is almost unbelievable. Don't get me wrong. There was a spiritual atmosphere in these classes but it was more of a New Age atmosphere. Sin was irrelevant. In fact it even redefined sin.
I say again, the Anti-Christ is causing his craft to prosper.
The one area that really bothers me more than this psychologizing of the occult is the integration of psychology with the bible. Some preachers (Robert Schuller, I heard with mine own ears) are blending the word of God with the bible. Thus they claim " a more powerful tool". In effect the occult is being preached from the pulpit. If you blend modern psychology with the bible, you are preaching occult knowledge. You might say to them, O foolish Californians, who has bewitched you that you should believe all that philosophy?
Witchcraft is also popping up in many churches today. I realize this is hard to believe. This is also something I have tried to dismiss. But the lord wouldn't let me. Over five years I've come to see this first hand - as the movement is growing stronger every day. But when you stand behind the pulpit & tell people all they have to do is visualize in their mind they can have anything or anyone they want, & believe it hard enough, or just speak the words from your mouth believing real hard, then you will somehow engage divine laws or a divine force, that will heal, produce wealth, or bring success; "this is witchcraft"............
It is not "thy will be done Lord", but my will imposed on God & and everyone else - and it's spreading like wildfire. That's what my days of witchcraft were all about; trying to impose my will to direct spiritual forces to do my bidding. To cause to bring about my desires, my will. If I wanted something of someone I would visualize this taking place in my mind while chanting spells & burning herbs & incense.
Alister Crowley..... "ugh", I even hate to mention his name; the King of the Occultist, the King of Witches, in his book Magick, read by millions, he gave a new commandment to all; "Do what thou will shall be the whole of the law". I can see this law in every philosophy & occult book I've ever read. Even back in the 60's his law was in effect, it was "doing your own thing".
Witchcraft is an abomination before the Lord. The anti-Christ is causing his craft to prosper. There is a darkness covering this land. The night is coming and soon no man will be able to work. Remember Jesus asked, "Will he find any faith upon his return?"
I know I'm not popular for saying this but, America is not coming back. Jesus is coming back. The earth and everything in it is going to melt with a fervent heat, according to the gospel of Peter, and the book of Revelations.
We Christians should look for a new heaven, a new earth; filled with God's knowledge, not occult knowledge. Our hope is not in this world, but in Jesus & his return.
Let's not be like Peter. Everyone loves Peter & identifies with him in some way. But how tragic it can be when we like Peter do not heed the warnings of the bible. Jesus told Peter the shepherd would be struck down and the sheep would be scattered. Jesus said IT IS WRITTEN. Jesus was quoting the Hebrew bible- the old testament. Peter failed to believe what the scriptures said. Peter said, "Not so Lord." You know the rest of the story............
We should take seriously the warnings that God has given to us in the bible.
If he forbids us not to fellowship with evil, then we should take him seriously.
We should not play games when the devil plays for keeps.
If you know someone involved in witchcraft or occult activities,do not get involved with them but pray & pray hard for them. God listens to you mothers & grandmothers, fathers & grandfathers, friends & neighbors.
The most powerful force against the occult is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
For it is the power of God unto salvation.
What attracted me to Jesus was not his power & glory,which he rightly deserves, but his meekness, his sacrifice, his longsuffering, his love for a wretched individual like me.
The book of John says, Jesus came to destroy the works of darkness.... the gospel freed me from my bondage in the occult....not psychology.
What I want to emphasize over all this evil I've talked about is. Jesus Christ. No matter who you are or what darkness you've walked in, Jesus can make you a new person. He can give you a new heart & make you a new creation. As he created Adam from the dust, he can recreate you- as he did me, into a completely new born again creature. I am a living testimony to God's grace. not perfect far from it - just ask my wife- but just forgiven.
I love this scripture: this is my life's verse:
2Cor. 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
He is an awesome God we serve.
I am so thankful to Jesus for saving me. I probably would by dead now if it weren't for him.
O for a thousand tongues to sing.
Jesus doesn't really get the praise he deserves now, but one day soon, there's going to be a great coronation & the Lord of Life, the Giver of Life, the one who restored my life and yours will receive the praise for what he has done.
Praise God & thank you for letting me give my testimony of Jesus Christ. There's another scripture I want to close with; I love this scripture too:
Matt. 12:18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles. Matt. 12:19 He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. Matt. 12:20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
He is able to do all things.