HYPNOTIC

October 8, 2015October 9, 2015 / thesouldoctor / Leave a comment

“…Who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth? (Gal. 3:1).

I am sure you have heard about the Florida school board who settled with three families for $600,000 dollars over the death of their children. It is very sad. I grieve with them. But these teenagers were not shot by some madman, nor were they the victims of domestic terrorism. They died because of hypnotism.

North Port High School Principal George Kenney was practicing hypnosis on students who were struggling with grades, anxieties due to tests and their athletic performance. He may have hypnotized over 70 students. His actions introduced an element into their lives for which they were not prepared-demonic activity.

Hypnosis causes a trance (an altered state of consciousness) in which the hypnotist can make suggestions to the subconscious of the person being hypnotized. Back in the 18th century occultist Franz Anton Mesmer from whose name we get the word word mesmerize—was a man who practised the occult in the name of alternative medicine. In fact, the above passage uses the word bewitched which means to mesmerize by magic arts, to fascinate, charm and take away the power of resistance. This stuff is demonic and you should stay away from it and warn your family and friends about it.

The hypnotic spirit of antichrist that has been attempting to lure people away from Christ for two millennia and hypnotize them to oppose the gospel (1 John 4:1-3) by all means possible. The real cure of the gospel message about Jesus Christ is seen as that dangerous by the Devil because it breaks the spell of the devil. That is why the Bible warns believers to be careful.

With the Christians at Galatia, Satan used teaching, yes teaching. It is called the teaching of demons (1 Tim. 4:1). Satan is actually speaking hypnotically through some teachers because they have abandoned the scripture for the philosophies of the world and apostate religion. The Galatians were hypnotized by legalism the idea that says you can get to heaven by doing good things. Instead of what the Bible teaches that human beings are sinners and only believing in Christ and what he did on the cross as the sole means to go to heaven. They gave up their liberty for the false security of doing religious things rooted in self righteousness instead of learning how to be empowered to live for Jesus by the Holy Spirit to obey God and love Jesus in any and all circumstances. They ended up hypnotized by a false gospel, an erroneous view of Christ and a different spirit (2 Cor. 11:3-4).

Many people don’t realize that some of the most popular “preachers” today could very well be the duped agents of Satan in deceiving millions (2 Tim. 3:13) because they do not preach the raw truth of the Gospel (Gal 2:14). Some of these so called ministers endorse “prayer practices” that are actually a form of hypnosis and they are dangerous. As far as I am concerned they need to be rebuked continually and repeatedly so they will repent.

Satan can hypnotize and introduce his thoughts as well through other means. You would never guess most of the time who is under his spell. You see them at work, at church even at home. He can use entertainment and media of all kinds. He has been using the Harry Potter saga, Twilight trilogy, movies about the Ouija Board even Annabelle the demon possessed doll. As idiotic as some of these horror movies are they may introduce spiritual darkness into the thinking of unsaved people and Satan can even assault lukewarm Christians and have them spinning in circles.

Lately, the fascination with the occult, demon possession, vampires, humans changing into animals and zombies are all part of Satan’s last day strategy just to enslave the thoughts of people. The thoughts of sinful men in the media are communicated unknowingly to the mind and spirit of those who open themselves to them. Christians should think twice about going to movies, what they see on the internet, cable or satellite television. “The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord.” (Prov. 15:26).

The devil can do this as well through drugs and alcohol. Sorcery (pharmakeia) is the abuse of drugs that can cause an altered state of consciousness (Gal. 5:23, Rev. 18:23). Alcoholism alters the personality and its no wonder people used to call it spirits. It is my belief that if enough alcohol is consumed not only does it create addiction but opens the persons spirit to demonic influence. The Bible overwhelmingly takes a negative tone concerning alcohol (Prov 20:1).

Satan, of course, can use our own weaknesses against us if we are not careful. He loves when we defeat ourselves before he can even get to us. If we get fixated upon worldly things and allow a carnal mind it will detract from the life and peace of the Spirit God wants us to have and brings death (Rom. 8:5-6). No Christian can be demonized or possessed by Satan. that is false doctrine. But a believer in Jesus can leave their mind open to his hypnotic suggestions. But we should throw down thoughts against God (2 Cor. 10:3-6). Like Martin Luther said, “You cannot keep birds from flying over your head but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.” We need to put on the helmet of salvation to protect our thoughts and give us mental toughness during trials (Eph. 6:17).

Satan wants us to distract people from Christ and place their focus on self or circumstances. He wants to traumatize people, take away their sleep, steal their health or introduce addiction through sex, drugs, worldly entertainment and alcohol. He wants to hypnotize you with, “…craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions.” (1 John 2:16NLT). He wants you to be at peace with him and the world’s way of doing things. Did you not know there is a war going on? (Eph. 6:10-12). Have you forgotten? Are you going run away from the sounds of war (Psa. 78:9)? You cannot turn the evil days of battle on and off. Like it or not you are in a fight for your soul and the souls of your family and friends. Satan is fighting hard in these last days and it seems more and more Christians and their leaders are asleep at their posts, some are even changing sides joining Satan’s campaign (Gal. 1:6). It’s time to wake up!!! “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” (Rom. 13:12).

It is part of Satan’s plan to attack the mind’s of people and enslave them to his power. Satan wants to breakdown your resistance. He wants you to focus on financial hardship and sickness, personal attacks on your reputation, troubles at work and home all to make suggestions that God is lying to you, holding back from you. The Enemy wants you to be hypnotized with thoughts that God does not love you or he will not help you. The devil and his agents want you full of anger, fear, anxiety, self-pity, discouragement and loneliness. Satan wants you to ruin your testimony for Christ and keep you from helping others!

You can fight back and stand your ground against Satan and he will run away terrified (James 4:7). You must get your focus off your problems and on the wonderful love and strength of your Savior Jesus Christ (Heb. 12:1-3)! The victory has been ours since the days Christ washed away all our sins. God’s promises of victory in the scripture is to the one who believes in Jesus and they have already overcome the world (1 John 5:5). Christ who lives in us is greater than Satan and his emissaries in this world (1 John 4:4). Now we can go in Christ’s authority and reprimand Satan in the name of Jesus Christ and tell him you will not be hypnotized by his lies.

GOD AND GOD’S BROTHER

March 23, 2015July 14, 2017 / thesouldoctor / Leave a comment

“And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:31).

After the night of the tent meeting, when I was baptized with the Holy Spirit, something changed in me, it was what I called holy boldness. I was a quiet kid and the Holy Spirit gave me a lion like quality when I talked about Jesus. I was gaining more confidence in God’s Word and was studying and learning that as a believer God sent me to preach the gospel, heal the sick and evict devils.

When I went back to school the nutty kids were all making out-kissing near the lockers all the way down the hall to my homeroom it was like they were having an orgy with their clothes on. Drugs were for sale on the side of the school and the type drug was signified by the color bandanna the dealer was wearing. I remember feeling angry and sad at the condition of my friends whom I saw as living on the precipice of hell and did not know it.

Although the occult has more influence now than ever, I did not realize the influence of witchcraft over teenagers and teachers even back in the 80’s. I remembered a substitute teacher who could hold articles of clothing or jewelry and employed a spirit of divination or clairvoyance. Somehow toward the middle of class they got on the subject. He was telling their fortunes with great accuracy. I was indignant in the Spirit.

He was holding someones ring and about to use his demons powers when under my breath I kept repeating, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”

He said, “I don’t know why but for some reason I cannot tell you anything.” I quietly praised God. I learned that day by experience that I had authority over demons.

You have to remember I was a young convert and I was still new at conveying the gospel. I remember one girl, who smoked incessantly arguing with me, saying she did not believe in God. I was shocked and not sure how to answer her.

So, I pointed at her pack of cigarettes and said, “There’s your god.”

She was surprised at my response and said, “You’re right.”

Well at least she was going to think about quitting smoking.

I was witnessing to everyone at arm’s length. So was my brother. We attended different classes but we had one thing in common we had had rooms with satanists in them. They even brought their satanic bible with them to school written by Anton LaVey. You can’t even get the wimpy Christian kids to bring their Bible to school today. They loved listening to anything they saw as satanic like Iron Maiden or Ozzie Osbourn.

I remember that they would see us and say things like, “Praise Satan!” and we would respond “Praise God!”

Sometimes they would see us and snicker saying, “There goes God and God’s brother.”

Or they would call us, “The Jesus Brother’s”

Man, I felt like Elijah on Mount Carmel with the prophets of Baal and Asherah all around us.

One time the Satanist head honcho came into my home room and he had his satanic literature with him. A kid named Scott was in my homeroom and he was being influenced by him. They were wondering if I was afraid of their devil bible and was scared of touching it-I was not. I took it and paged through it non nonchalantly. Then as I handed the it back to them I looked at them and said, “The highest reward Satan can give you is hell.”

Scott was freaked out and said to the devil worshiper, “Man, I don’t wanna go to no hell.” God had his way. Sometime after graduation, I led Scott to the Lord in front of a church I was visiting. It was exhilarating.

We would do all kinds of things to get the gospel message out. We would buy Chick Tracts and one time I “accidentally” dumped them on a table with kids sitting in the library.

They were like, “What are these?

I said, “Cartoons about the Bible and Jesus.”

Many of the kids took them and read them. Some were asking for more each day I saw them. I heard that one kid took bunch of them and read them in his basement all day. I was getting excited. I saw this as sowing the seed of the Word.

My science teacher passed by my desk one day and saw the symbols for Alpha and Omega written on my jean loose leaf cover and said playfully, “Gibney, you’re weird.”

One time another science teacher was teaching and to make her point she said, “Hey, this is gospel truth, just ask Gibney!” God had allowed my testimony to reach the teachers. Even my homeroom teacher called my family at home one night and was wondering why were were so “into Jesus.”

Health Class was interesting. I boldly protested unbiblical teaching. The kids thought I was crazy or a fanatic. One time we had to do oral reports. I decided to do mine on depression. You should have seen the look on their faces and their disgruntled sighing when I said, “Now the only solution to depression is Jesus Christ.” They had to listen to the gospel in class and they could not do anything about it and I knew it. Later on the teacher got saved.

One of those kids saw me on the bus and called me a Jesus freak.

I touted back, “God doesn’t turn people into freaks he turns freaks into people.”

He was stunned and left stuttering. Hey man, don’t rumble with the gospel.

I remember one kid who they used to call “Peach Fuzz.” He was short and well he was very blonde. He would debate with me about evolution, prophecy and Jesus all the time. I felt he was hopeless and like I was beating my head against the wall.

Then one day he stops me in the library and says, “Stephen, I believe I am born again!” I was shocked.

He said, “After you would talk all I could think about was God and the devil. Creation versus evolution. Heaven and hell.” I would go back to my classes and go home and it is all I could think about.”

He told me he got hold of a Bible and as he opened it in bed one night, God opened his heart to Christ. I was amazed and thrilled and learned not to judge by people outward rejection to the gospel. the Holy Spirit could be working on them and we not know it. I learned to tell people, “After we are done talking, my friend the Holy Spirit will be showing you the truth and you cannot hide from him.”

I had opportunity to witness and lead people to the Lord. God was on the move in my school.

Soon, God was going to get the entire schools attention. But he first he was going to teach me some things.

CASTING OUT DEVILS

October 26, 2013March 2, 2015 / thesouldoctor / Leave a comment

“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues.” (Mk. 16:17).

A Christian man or woman baptized in the Holy Ghost has the authority from God to set people free who are under the influence of demon spirits.

Christians engage in personal daily battle with the enemy (James 4:7; Eph. 6:10-19). The enemy does attack. Yet, no genuine Christian can be possessed or demonized (Col 1:13-14) because they are God’s property (1Cor. 6:19-20). If a person has demons, they are NOT saved. The Bible says, “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” (1 John 5:18).

The casting out of demons is part of gospel ministry. When we go and preach the message of salvation by Christ alone, especially about the blood and cross of Christ-the demons know and react. As we utter the name of Jesus (Luke 10:19; Acts 16:16-18) and the wield the sword of the Spirit -holy scripture (Luke 10:19) we will encounter people who are under the influence of the demonic and need to be delivered.

The word for casting out is ekballo and carries with it the sense of eviction of demons but not just “throwing something out” but to banish evils spirits with such rapid, violent, overwhelming force that they have no more power over a person. The believer In Jesus Christ has been given the authority to cast out devils or demon spirits as they minister in the power of the gospel and the Holy Spirit (Rom. 1:16). As we preach the Lord works with us in signs and wonders to confirm what we preach as the truth (Mk. 16:20). Pentecostals believe what the Bible teaches that the every royal child of the King of kings has been given power (John 1:12) to evict and enforce the obedience of these rebellious spirits (Mk 6:7, 12-13) to the Word of God.

Authority and power should be distinguished. Our authority comes from mighty name of Jesus (Acts 4:12) and the Holy Spirit empowers us against the devil (Mt 12:28). Authority is the right to act. Jesus gave us authority over all the most fearsome, poisonous, venomous demons (seen as scorpions and serpents) and “all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:20). We also have been given authority and power against unclean spirits (Mt 10:1).

Authority is freedom to act and power is ability, One man says, “It’s like electricity. The power company generates the power and delivers it to your house. It’s not your power, but it’s under your control. You don’t call the power company and ask them to turn the lights on. No! They won’t do that. They generate the power, but it’s under your command. You simply flip the switch on the wall and command the power to work. Does this mean you are the power source? Certainly not! You can put a light bulb in your mouth, and it will never come on. You aren’t the power source, but you are the one in control of what that power does. You can plead with the power company all you want, but they won’t flip the switch for you. You have to assume your authority and acknowledge the power is under your command.” (Andrew Wommack)

As we obey God in the Great Commission to reach the planet with the gospel we go not only teaching and preaching but healing and liberating those in need. Our society is drunk on the occult and witchcraft. Vampirism, casting spells, animism, zombie obsession is going to leave many people in the clutches of Satan and demonic slavery. Churches feel too refined to talk about demons and Satan. We can gloss over sin for a while. The debut of evil is always as an angel of light. Sin can seem like it is so empowering and pleasurable but eventually its true ugliness begins to form. All the sophisticated theology in the world will be meaningless in these last days. Only those simple folks who believe the scriptures teaching about the power of the blood and name of Jesus will be able to help people to be liberated from demons.

Soul Health Care

Proclaiming Christ as the Great Physician of the Soul

witchcraft

HYPNOTIC

GOD AND GOD’S BROTHER

CASTING OUT DEVILS