We had a interesting experience Sunday night during our bible institute class.
We were in chapter 6 of the Evanglism II module, covering world religions and cults.
My lecture included an overview of New Age practices and beliefs with a brief look at modern day witchcraft and Wicca.
Towards the end of the lecture, one of our students quietly got up, left the classroom, and sought out Pastor Loraine for prayer.
I could sense an "uneasiness" had entered the room. Fear was at work.
Pastor Loraine entered the classroom with the student who had left, and called for a time of prayer. She said the student had come to her with symptoms of anxiety and dizzyness.
As the students took each others hands and prepared to pray, we instructed them to renounce all witchcraft, wizardry, new age and occult practices that may have entered into their lives by their own choice or by their upbringing as children.
All of us lifted our voices to heaven, asking the Lord to protect us as we repented and renounced any and all participation with the occult.
We felt the sense of fear and uneasiness dissipate as the presence of God entered the room.
After prayer, some of the students testified what had happened to them during that time.
One woman, a native Hawaiian by birth, said she did not recall anything in her life that warranted the renouncment of the occult. She said she had never knowingly dabbled in such things.
Once prayer began however, the Lord brought to her remebrance her indoctrination as a little girl into her culture's occultic folklore.
"Hawaii has gods for everything," she said, "Fire, earth, water...I was taught them all. I had no idea those beliefs and teachings were so ingrained in me."
Another woman, a native of North Carolina, told us how she and her her sister were always told they would carry on their families legacy of occult healing and divination.
A young man was convicted of his participation in 'travel' forms of occultism. He had travelled to places where tourists had been encouraged to give peace offerings to the 'native gods of the land' to appease their 'wrath'.
This was major.
I addressed the class and told them the occult is a sin as any other. It has no more power than lieing, stealing, etc.
The occult is subject to the blood and cross of Christ like ALL OTHER SINS!
The important thing is not to elevate our perception of the occult to a special status, thinking it is virtually impervious to the blood and power of Christ.
The occult is a work of the flesh like all other sins:
Galations 5:
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
When we belong to Christ Jesus, witchcraft, sorcery and the occult have ZERO power over us.
We can renounce and ask for forgiveness of these sins the same way we do for all others!
Jesus is stronger than any occult practice. He is stronger than any spell, incantation or curse.
Demons tremble in his presence!
So fear not!
As our experience Sunday night showed us, the power of God is always available to flush away the illusions, fears and onslaught of the occult!
Amen!
Monday, November 19, 2007
Monday, November 5, 2007
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