witchcraft

[Scott Hutchinson]

http://www.lakehamiltonbiblecamp.com...05LHCD9-3L.mp3

[Jay]

I know that the devil hates his people. I have not had the same issues as some here, but I have confronted spirits a number of times, and I have even requested the assistance of angels (I received it as well).

Anything dealing with the spirit world be it Christianity, Satanism, Witchcraft, or any other form of paganism is dangerous to dabble in. All of these interact with the spirit world and the supernatural. Christianity is the only one that actually protects and does not destroy its practitioners because we serve the only true and living God, before whom all other spirits must bow and give reverence. However, even it is dangerous if not taken seriously.

However, we have the greater power. Witches do not generally curse Pentecostals (it does happen, but not as common in America as it once was), because they have found that it does not work, and they are left facing the curse that they put on us. Bro. T.W. Barnes was a very excellent example of this.

I believe that I have faced down a spirit of illness once or twice, not a major illness, but one that would have hindered me. I have bound spirits of rebellion before services (that produced some very interesting results). I do not fear the devil and his minions. There is not point. Have an understanding that they have power granted to them by God? Yes. Fear them? NO! Because I have more power and authority than they do. They are the servants who rebelled against their King. I am the child of that King.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Jay

However, we have the greater power. Witches do not generally curse Pentecostals (it does happen, but not as common in America as it once was), because they have found that it does not work, and they are left facing the curse that they put on us. Bro. T.W. Barnes was a very excellent example of this.

Actually, "devils" do not have to curse "Pentecostals" simply because they have been so conditioned to both the prosperity gospel AND being "super spiritual" that ANYTHING that goes wrong is attributed to "Satan attacking!", even if it isn't.

Again, I go to Ruth R's post several years ago where she was lamenting the incredible persecution and attacks on her simply because people were questioning her Holy Magic Hair doctrine. I am sure in her mind that Satan himself was stepping on her throat.

[The Matt]

I have to say here, I try my hardest not to give the devil undue glory. I saw for myself "the devil did it" people and I do not want to live like that, in constant fear, always blaming everything on the devil. I actually feel like blaming everything on spiritual attacks is a form of sin, false discernment.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by The Matt

I have to say here, I try my hardest not to give the devil undue glory. I saw for myself "the devil did it" people and I do not want to live like that, in constant fear, always blaming everything on the devil. I actually feel like blaming everything on spiritual attacks is a form of sin, false discernment.

I don't think it is sin but it IS giving far too much credit to something that is simply dumb luck most of the time. What IS the issue is all those who feel they shouldn't have any problems simply because they faithfully give their 10% to the church -and attend church every time the doors are open.

[The Matt]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

I don't think it is sin but it IS giving far too much credit to something that is simply dumb luck most of the time. What IS the issue is all those who feel they shouldn't have any problems simply because they faithfully give their 10% to the church -and attend church every time the doors are open.

Amen to that.

[Jay]

Randy, I agree that I think that too many people give the devil credit for things that he has not done. I disagree with your attributing feelings to someone that did not ever express the sentiment that you stated. However, I do not believe that there is a demon under every doormat. However, I do believe that the devil will move against the church in direct fashion.

I will not say that every case of depression is of demonic influence. Some of it is weather related, situational/circumstantial, mental, or other factors. However, I do believe that there are cases where depression is demonic in nature. I have been through periods of depression, but for me they are generally because I have put myself in situations that I should have avoided, or dwelt on thoughts that I should not think. I also have noticed that I am weather related.

I do believe that a person must be careful before attributing something to demonic influence. So many people have blamed him for things he has not done that it has allowed him to avoid blame for what he does. I believe that a person must be spiritually sensitive in order to know when there is demonic influence at work.

I am by no means as sensitive to the spirit as I would like, but I had God tell me some things, and with in a very short amount of time there was a smell in my apartment that I notice when sick. However, I was not sick. I was also conscious of a small voice in the back of my mind saying that I was going to come down sick and be missing work, having financial difficulties because of it, etc. I determined right then that I was hearing a lie. I rebuked illness and the devil, and after two days the odor vanished and I was not sick to speak of the entire year. I do believe in my case it was an instance of demonic attack, but that is only due to a personal experience.

I have heard the 'testimonials' of people saying, 'I just want to thank God because the devil has been attacking me all week long, but I need you to pray that I will have the victory,' in the weepiest voices. Much of this is absurd. Further, they need to learn to stand on their feet, and if the devil is afflicting them, turn around and rebuke him, and then proclaim their victory. The reason in my opinion that the devil does not attack Pentecostals more is that they spend too much time whining about the general trials of life much less his actual assaults on them.

That might have been a very long winded saying that I agree with you.

[bbyrd009]

Spot on, though.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Jay

Randy, I agree that I think that too many people give the devil credit for things that he has not done. I disagree with your attributing feelings to someone that did not ever express the sentiment that you stated. However, I do not believe that there is a demon under every doormat. However, I do believe that the devil will move against the church in direct fashion.

I will not say that every case of depression is of demonic influence. Some of it is weather related, situational/circumstantial, mental, or other factors. However, I do believe that there are cases where depression is demonic in nature. I have been through periods of depression, but for me they are generally because I have put myself in situations that I should have avoided, or dwelt on thoughts that I should not think. I also have noticed that I am weather related.

I do believe that a person must be careful before attributing something to demonic influence. So many people have blamed him for things he has not done that it has allowed him to avoid blame for what he does. I believe that a person must be spiritually sensitive in order to know when there is demonic influence at work.

I am by no means as sensitive to the spirit as I would like, but I had God tell me some things, and with in a very short amount of time there was a smell in my apartment that I notice when sick. However, I was not sick. I was also conscious of a small voice in the back of my mind saying that I was going to come down sick and be missing work, having financial difficulties because of it, etc. I determined right then that I was hearing a lie. I rebuked illness and the devil, and after two days the odor vanished and I was not sick to speak of the entire year. I do believe in my case it was an instance of demonic attack, but that is only due to a personal experience.

I have heard the 'testimonials' of people saying, 'I just want to thank God because the devil has been attacking me all week long, but I need you to pray that I will have the victory,' in the weepiest voices. Much of this is absurd. Further, they need to learn to stand on their feet, and if the devil is afflicting them, turn around and rebuke him, and then proclaim their victory. The reason in my opinion that the devil does not attack Pentecostals more is that they spend too much time whining about the general trials of life much less his actual assaults on them.

That might have been a very long winded saying that I agree with you.

I may just be a case of those who claim of always being "attacked" or persecuted by demons are the ones who are always telling those about it, thus you always hear them and not the more rational people who realize that life is sometimes just life.

As far as depression goes, I have suffered from it literally my whole life (OK, from age 12 to the present). Sometimes it is sever and other times is is more mild but it is always present. Always. Now I am NOT bi-polar in that I am not depressed a couple of days then experience a day of being absolutely high and giddy. It also doesn't mean I am never happy -on the contrary, I have many good days and DO have fun, it is just that the depression never completely goes away. So I consider myself to have a certain psychological insight into people who don't suffer any sort of depression and then when they DO get the "blah's" they attribute it to some sort of demonic attack.

But, as Captain Kirk told Spocks brother "I need my pain" (coincidentally in the same move that the quote in my signature if from). My continual depression, while rarely fun, has shaped my personality for a reason. I believe I am skeptical when I need to be as well as being able to help others when the only advice they get is "You just need to pray through!".

[The Matt]

I feel for you, I suffer from depression too, though not as bad. I just have days where it feels like everything's crashing down, everything is about to go wrong. And I do have days when everything's great, nothing could go wrong. Sometimes it seems easier to just blame it on the devil, than to accept that my mind simply works this way. I'm going to say a quick prayer for you right now, and you will be in my prayers tonight.