Idols and Images

Idols and Images

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. (Joshua 1:8)

Chapter 1: General Information

Of all the Ten Commandments, perhaps the one most neglected and ignored is the second one. This is very strange. All ten are vital and binding. However, if listed in the order of importance, number two might rank ahead of those which have to do with relationships with other human beings.

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord they God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; (Exodus 20:4-5)

Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the Lord they God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me. (Deuteronomy 5:8-9)

It is significant that this is the only one of the Ten Commandments which specifically mentions that the sins of the fathers produce such serious consequences to children in succeeding generations. All sin carries curses from the sins of the fathers to be visited on the generations which follow. However, God calls special attention to this in connection with idolatry. (Remember that a generation is 40 years.)

The key words in the passage (all reference numbers are from Strong’s Concordance):

Graven: (#6459 Hebrew) carved
Image: (#6754 Hebrew) resemblance, representative figure
Visiting: (#6485 Hebrew) oversee, charge, bestow, avenge, commit, deliver, keep, lay up, have the oversight, punish, reckon

Shortly before Moses delivered the commandments to the people for the second time (Deuteronomy 5), he reminded them about the first time they were given. However, this time only the second commandment was emphasized.

And He declared unto you His covenant, which He commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and He wrote them upon two tables of stone. And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it. Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the Lord spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire: Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female, The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air, The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth: And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the Lord thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven. But the Lord hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto Him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day. (Deuteronomy 4:13-20)

Clearly, the images referred to will include: (a) male or female human figures; (b) animals of any kind; and the (c) sun, moon, and stars.

Note the key word here is divided: (#2505 Hebrew) meaning to apportion, deal, distribute, give.

The Lord gave the sun, moon and stars to all the nations. However, while other “nations” have made images and worship them, His own people are strictly ordered to abstain from having any such things.

The commandment begins by stating they are not even to make them because of the temptation to worship such creations. There is recognition also of the very real danger that, with the passage of time after making or acquiring images, it is only too easy to slip into the worship or veneration of them. At first, it is only an image, but later it may well become an idol. This is the reason for the strict prohibition against having them at all.

Moses continues to sound the warning about this before he delivered the law to the children of God:

Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee. For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God. When thou shalt beget children, and children’s children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger: I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed. (Deuteronomy 4:23-26)

Chapter 2: Image and Idols

An “image” is a representative figure, a resemblance. An “idol” is something which is worshipped. Note that the commandment specifically uses the word “image”. The scriptures use both words.

Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, either rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 26:1)

According to this passage therefore, God allows for neither idols nor carved images. This verse definitely ratifies the commandment, making a distinction between an idol and an image. Even images which are not idolized are forbidden.

The key word is translated a standing image: (#4676 Hebrew) a memorial, column, stone, standing image or pillar. Standing images, as referred to here, are phallic symbols, representing the male sex organ. Phallic worship was common and still persists today in many parts of the world.

In the beginning these were merely stones or upright posts, but as time went by, they were shaped and carved. Eventually, they were fashioned into obelisks, pillars whose tops are shaped like a pyramid.

There is a much-celebrated obelisk in Washington, D.C. and another very famous one in front of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, along with many more. These obelisks also eventually evolved into towers.

Today, several pagan religions use towers in the form of minarets and pagodas. These are prominently featured in their architecture and religious symbolism. Standing images were usually located at the entry to a temple.

They found their way into the Christian churches in the form steeples. There is no real reason for the existence of these towers on churches. (Cf. The Two Babylons by Rev. Alexander Hislop; Babylon Mystery Religion by Ralph Woodrow.)

Two methods of producing images were identified in the scriptures; graven, which were carved or sculpted figures or stone or wood; and molten or cast images made of metal. The metal was melted and poured into a mold to cool and solidify. This method was used when Aaron made the golden calf. (Exodus 32)

Thou shalt make thee no molten gods. (Exodus 34:17)

Later, when Moses continued to give out the Law, he again emphasized the second commandment on idolatry:

Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the alter of the Lord thy God, which thou shalt make thee. Neither shalt thou set thee up any image; which the Lord thy God hateth. (Deuteronomy 16:21-22)

The key word is grove: (#842 Hebrew) Ashera, Astarte, a grove, a Phoenician goddess.

Astarte (Diana, Aphrodite, Venus) was a pagan goddess of fertility, the moon and sexual love. It is said that “she makes towers in cities.” Her name, “Ash-tart” means exactly that. She was worshipped in groves and temple prostitutes served the worshippers there. These groves were groups of trees closely planted together or sometimes tree trunks or wooden poles erected in place of trees.

Chapter 3: Disposing of Images and Idols

In the following scriptures, the Lord tells His people what they must do concerning the idols belonging to the pagan nations they would encounter when conquering the Promised Land:

The shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works; but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images. (Exodus 23:24)

But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves. (Exodus 34:13)

Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places: (Numbers 33:52)

The key words are pictures: (#4906 Hebrew) a figure carved on stone, the wall or any object; conceit; imagery; picture; high places: (#1116 Hebrew) an elevation; height; high place (an elevated altar).

But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire. (Deuteronomy 7:5)

The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God. Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing. (Deuteronomy 7:25-26)

It is very clear that selling or giving away any images as gifts are also forbidden. Whatever value they may have should not be desired, and the only way to dispose of them is to destroy them. We should have the same hatred for them that God has.

These things are also cursed by God Himself. To bring such a thing into our house brings the curse down upon us. Our hedge of protection from God becomes damaged, leaving a breach through which Satan can come in to attack. Truly, “to obey is better than sacrifice.” (I Samuel 15:22)

And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and he shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. (Deuteronomy 12:3)

And in all things that I have said unto you to be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth. (Exodus 23:13)

Chapter 4: Good and Evil Kings

The history of the kingdoms of Judah and Israel are recorded in I and II Kings and I and II Chronicles. The ruling kings are judged to be “good” or “evil” based solely on their adherence and obedience to, or their breaking of, the second commandment concerning images.

Solomon, son of David
And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father. Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. (I Kings 11:6-7)

Jeroboam, King of Judah, son of Solomon
And Judah did evil in the sight of the Lord, and they provoked Him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done. For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree. (I Kings 14:22-23)

Hosea, King of Israel
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him. And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree: They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence. (II Kings 17:2, 10, 33)

Under Hosea, the people feared God, yet still clung to the pagan images. It is quite possible that we are doing a similar thing today. We must forsake our shallow obedience and move into a heartfelt and joyful observance of that which gladdens the heart of the Lord.

Hezekiah, King of Judah
And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did. He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan (which means a piece of brass). (II Kings 18:3-4)

Here is the case of something which had spiritual significance in the history of Israel. The brazen serpent should have reminded them of the peril of murmuring and complaining. It also spoke of judgment which God visited upon the disobedient.

However, as so often happens, a perversion developed and they began to worship the object rather than to remember the Lord. Remember this when people tell you that religious objects and mementos are only to remind them of spiritual truth or are “conversation pieces”. We are to worship the Lord “in spirit and in truth”. (John 4:24)

Remember that the Word of God judges the kings based solely on their obedience to the second commandment. Scripture describes the judgments of many kings. Read the accounts in the books of Kings and Chronicles. Also consider the following scriptures:

Isaiah chapters 10, 17, 21, 27, 30, 40, 41, 42, 44, 45, 48
Jeremiah: 8:19; 10:14; 50:2, 38; 51:47, 52, 17
Ezekiel: 6:4, 6; 8:3, 5; 7:20; 16:17; 21:21; 23:14; 30:13

Chapter 5: The Curse of Idols

The word pronounces a curse upon all who possess or have traffic with images and/or idols. Although God loves us, He will not abrogate His own Word just to accommodate our ignorance or disobedience.

This emphasizes the importance of careful study of the Bible. We need more than a superficial acquaintance with the facts. We need to know what the scriptures teach.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. (Hosea 4:6)

Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the Lord, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say Amen. (Deuteronomy 27:15)

And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcasses upon the carcasses of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you. (Leviticus 26:30)

As mentioned earlier, a curse such as this implies that our disobedience can break God’s protective hedge around us, leaving us open and vulnerable to demonic attack.

He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him. (Ecclesiastes 10:8)

A Word About Dolls

For a real surprise, read what any good encyclopedia has to say about dolls and their origins. Our root word for doll is idol. These originated in witchcraft and to this day, dolls are still used in it.

Do you suppose that the little ones who crowded around Jesus were clutching cute little dolls? Absolutely not! The children of Judah and Israel did not possess any likenesses of humans or animals. No teddy bears, cabbage patch dolls or Mickey Mouse!

Notice that the encyclopedia records that all dolls found at archeological digs were from Egyptian, Greek and other pagan cultures. Never did Israel or Judah permit the possession of such things except in times of apostasy.

Chapter 6: Images or Idols?

There is no doubt some figures are idols. Everyone can recognize a Buddha and know that it is an idol. In museums there are figures of clay, wood, or metal on display. Signs inform you that these are gods of certain countries or some remove civilization.

“Idols are the inevitable symptom of incipient decay. Go at autumn into the woods, and see how the members of the fungus tribes are scattered plentifully throughout the unfrequented glades. Where the shade is deepest, and the soil most impregnated with the products of corruption, they love to pitch their tents. Similarly, whenever there has set in upon the spiritual life the autumn of decay, you will be sure to find a fungus growth of idols.” (From Great Men of the Bible, Vol. I, by F. B. Meyer, Zondervan Corp., Grand Rapids, MI and Marshall Morgan & Scott, 1 Bath St., London ECIV 9LB England, copyright 1981, p. 94.)

Ladies, beware! It may be that you are especially susceptible to becoming ensnared in this sort of thing. It was beloved Rachel who could not bear to leave the little household gods of her father behind and put them in the baggage. They had to be surrendered before there could be any victory or peace in the camp.

Because of the extremely strong conscience placed in the male by God, the man is held responsible for ferreting out and destroying idols. And woe to the females who oppose this when it is scripturally right! She may indeed prevail by anger, weeping and nagging and hang on to the idols, but the consequences to her and the children will be terrible indeed.

Jacob was forced to flee before the alien tribes because of the terrible action of his sons. However, another reason was that very likely he had given in to the pleadings of Rachel to take the gods with her. Knowing what was right, he did not insist on it and deferred to his wife. Thus, by pacifying his spouse, he antagonized God by the presence of idols.

When there is failure and defeat, look for some hidden idols! Men must take the lead in this and search them out. No matter how Rachel may object and protest, bring out the accursed things and destroy them.

Jacob buried those idols right away! Had he kept or carried them with him, there would always be the temptation to bring them forth again. There was a mighty work of God among the Ephesians following the destruction of their demonic garbage in the marketplace (Acts 19:19).

The question arises, “How about other images? Are they harmless or harmful?” Some, especially the ladies, may protest loudly. After all, they are so attractive! There are little geese with ribbons around their necks, adorable ceramic kittens, and expensive porcelain birds, owls, frogs, dolls, etc.

Surely, these could not possibly be classed as idols! After all, we have no altars for them. We neither pray to them nor make offerings to them. All we do is dust them once in a while. They are merely conversation pieces!

Today, all over this planet, there are countries and cultures which worship animals and other creatures of all kinds. They have images of animals which are regarded as sacred gods. For example, the Hindus worship bulls, cows, monkeys, snakes, and many other animals.

American Indians worship eagles, bears, wolves, deer, turtles, pelicans and more. Various tribes in Africa, Asia and Australia are also heavily committed to idolatry and the witchcraft peculiar to their particular demonic religion.

Man’s history through the centuries has been one of complete identification with idolatry. Since God has so very vehemently forbidden it, we should expect that Satan has made it a special object of his cunning to entrap mankind.

Idolatry always involves the worship and veneration of images. In Egypt, cats were gods. There were sacred animals such as baboons, bulls, crocodiles and jackals. This is typical of other civilizations which have existed through history. The first chapter of Romans traces the downward march of humanity into the deception and the depravity which idolatry inevitably fosters and produces.

It is entirely possible that just about every animal under the sun has been worshipped as a god or considered sacred at one time or another through history. And it may be, that if you have images of animals, you could be harboring pagan gods and idols in your home.

You would do well to read the old classic, The Two Babylons by Hislop. On page 102 is a picture of a saucy little goose. There is an ornament around his neck and a little cupid is riding it. Hislop identifies it not only as a Babylonian god, but also as the Egyptian Seb and the Indian brahmany goose. Today, those attractive little ceramic geese are sold for home decorations. They are everywhere, on cookie jars, kitchen towels, etc.

These and other similar images have been distributed by the hundreds of thousands across the country. Perhaps some of these objects have found their way into your home. Of course, this is blatant disregard of the scriptural injunction and prohibition against bringing cursed objects into your dwelling place.

The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therin: for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God. Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing. (Deuteronomy 7:5-26)

If you want to have an animal, you might be better off with a real live one. There is no commandment against this unless you slide into inordinate affections and treat the creature as if it were a human being!

Chapter 7: My Personal Testimony

In July 1980, although I had been born again for three years, I knew I was not moving in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Something kept telling me that although He was using others, God had nothing for me. Even as I flew to a deliverance workshop in Chicago, these thoughts kept nagging at me. Others would receive deliverance, but not me, I thought.

A few months before, I felt in my spirit that I had demons and needed to seek for deliverance. The church I attended did not teach deliverance, so there was no help there. I asked my more mature Christian friends about deliverance, and where I could go to receive it.

“You, have demons?” followed by laughter, was the answer every time. “Why would you think you have demons?” they would inquire. “What makes you think I don’t?” was my retort. Next, they would relate a series of reasons: “You go to church all the time…you are such a good Christian…you read your Bible and even have a prayer meeting at your house every Friday…people like you don’t have demons!”

A friend called me about a book she found written by Pastor Win Worley of Hegewisch Baptist Church. I ordered the book and with it came an invitation to a deliverance worship, which I decided to attend.

It is hard to describe the services of the meetings since they were unlike anything I had ever seen. Then, although it was hard to believe, it happened! Demons came pouring out of me, talking and loudly speaking their names. I was receiving deliverance, and the Lord was setting me free!

Satan had told me that I would not receive deliverance, but it was a lie. Demons manifested and left screaming, terrified of the anointing in that church. All over the sanctuary this was happening. It was fascinating to see the entire Hegewisch membership ministering deliverance to the visitors.

One of the young women of the church approached me and took authority over the evil spirits, commanding them to leave me. I heard myself speaking in what sounded like an Asian language. It was certainly not my prayer language. The worker said, “You have a Buddha in your house!”

Of course, she had to be wrong, I thought. I said, “No, I don’t have a Buddha in my house. I would never have bought a Buddha!” She looked at me solemnly and said, “The Lord is showing me a Buddha this big,” signaling with her hands, “ and it is made of white ceramic.”

I was astounded! I actually did have such a thing, but I had never noticed that it was a Buddha! Now, the demon which spoke in an Asian language balked and refused to come out because of a stupid statue!

As she continued ministering, she asked, “Do you have any American Indian blood?” I told her that of course I did not, for I only had French and Spanish heritage.

“Well,” she said, “then you must have something Indian in your house.” This time I really put my foot down. I was sure that I knew what was in my house. Never had I felt an impulse to buy Indian blankets or artifacts. I did come into contact with them quite frequently as an interior decorator, but I had never purchased any of these items.

When I told her this, the worker refused to argue but pursued ministry for about two hours. So many spirits were flooding out of me that I lost count of them. She did tell me that as soon as I got home I must smash the Buddha and rebuke it in the name of Jesus Christ before throwing it away.

In one thing I was right: I had not purchased this Buddha. It was given to me at a famous Japanese restaurant several years before. We had dinner there and I ordered a drink, which was served in a ceramic figure cup in the shape of a geisha. At the close of the meal, the waitress washed and packaged the souvenir cup for me to take home.

At home, I noticed that they had switched my bag with someone else’s, and I had this ugly old fat man. However, because it was a nice white ceramic, I decided to keep it as a vase for a flower arrangement.

The evening of the next day when I arrived home, I destroyed the image of the Buddha. I then remembered that as I would sit reading my Bible, often my eyes would be drawn to that image. Deep inside, something like a voice would say that this was an idol! However, when this happened, I would rationalize, “This is not an idol. I never saw this listed in any book as an idol…it’s probably just a figure of Japanese folklore…and that would make it an idol…but I was not worshipping it…I pray to God in that other room facing a blank wall…so everything is alright.”

I assumed these were my own thoughts, not realizing that the Holy Spirit was giving me a word of knowledge. It was a warning about having an idol in my house. My husband said that I went on a rampage because I did not stop with breaking the image of the Buddha.

I took down a Star Wars Darth Vader (Dark Invader) poster my son had on the door of his bedroom. Although I always hated it, I had ignored it for the sake of family peace. I had heard at the workshop that some demons manifested giving the name of Darth Vader!

There was no stopping me now. I took the poster to the backyard, placed it on the grass and it refused to ignite! I had to soak it in charcoal lighter fluid to make it burn.

I finished breaking, burning and rebuking everything I could locate which might have some occult or other demonic root. Late that night I sat with my daughter in the kitchen, explaining everything in detail. Starting at the beginning, I told her about the Buddha.

As I came to the question of the Indian blood, it hit me! I did have something Indian in the house after all, a contemporary full-length print of an American Indian. It was personally autographed serigraph by a very well-known native Indian artist.

After framing it, I had no place to hang it and had leaned it against the living room wall until I could find just the right spot for it. Sure enough, as I sat in my living room to read my Bible, my eyes would be drawn to gaze at the Indian. The thought would come to me, “Why do you have this Indian here?” I would think that it was because I could find no other spot for it. But the picture had remained there against the wall. Once again, it dawned on me that God had been trying to warn me about it.

I dashed from the kitchen table and took the picture from the frame. Now I knew that I had just the right spot for it. I tossed in the middle of my backyard lawn where the grass was about four inches high. The body of the Indian I soaked with charcoal lighter fluid.

He had a smiling profile and was wearing a feather headdress to his feet and was on a plain yellow background. After soaking the center part of the picture, I added more fluid. Pitching a lighted match on it caused flames to leap up.

After flaring up briefly, the fire died out. I approached again, armed with charcoal lighter fluid and matches. I look at the picture with amazement. It had not burned and was not even smoked. Even the match was just lying there with only the head burned and blackened.

Determined to burn the thing, I thought, half to myself and half to God, “Well, I guess I will have to try again!” But God flashed the answer to me: “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds!” (II Corinthians 10:4) Quickly, I responded, “Ok, Lord! I won’t use the matches or the lighter!” This popped out before I could think.

I found myself wondering what to do next. Then I remembered the anointing and the power of God I had seen repeatedly demonstrated at the workshop. I simply commanded it to burn in the name of Jesus Christ. I waited, wondering anxiously when it would begin, for it was late. My daughter was in the house and watched from a window, but my husband had retired for the night.

The Indian lay there in the grass, still not burning. I decided I had waited a reasonable time and again I commanded it to burn. Still nothing happened. I tried to figure out why it was not burning.

I decided I had not used enough “authority”. I took a deep breath and tried to come up with all the authority I had. “I command you to burn, Indian, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth!”

Surely, now I had it right, and again I waited. I could not believe it. Nothing was happening and I was frustrated. I prayed urgently. “Heavenly Father, You’re going to have to send your fire from Heaven. This stupid Indian just does not want to burn.”

I was standing several feet from the picture. Suddenly, the tiniest of flames started on the ground, right off the soil, under the upper left corner of the picture. I was excited as the flame got stronger and taller. The corner of the picture began to burn and fire spread along the upper edge, blackening the paper and turning it to ashes.

Next, it started to burn evenly down both sides of the head of the figure. As it continued its downward path, something strange was happening: the big feather headdress was turning to ashes, but the Indian’s head was being spared. I was amazed. The burning continued down the body of the Indian and included all the yellow background, the feathers and the hatchet in his hand, but still did not touch the Indian’s body.

When the fire finally reached the feet, it turned up on the inside of the figure’s legs and met at the point where the legs separated. When the fire died out, the Indian had been spared as if someone had cut him out with scissors.

It is hard to describe my feelings at this point. I knew I was witnessing something absolutely supernatural. There I was, in the middle of the night, alone with that weird Indian figure that would not burn.

If I had been operating in the flesh, I would have run to the house. Instead, I was angry with this Indian. Wondering if Satan was making fun of God’s fire, I became furious. Hatred and indignation toward Satan and that stupid Indian boiled up inside of me.

At that moment I could have faced any materialized principality and would have charged recklessly against it. I practically shouted at the piece of paper lying at my feet, “Indian, you are going to burn in the lake of fire that God has prepared for you, but you are going burn right now, too!”

At that very moment all the edges of the figure burst into smoldering flames which moved rapidly toward the center, turning it to ashes. I remained there for a while, deeply moved by what had happened. After fervently thanking God, I went inside to sleep.

Chapter 8: The Consequences

At least two main demons gained entrance into me because of the images (the Buddha and the Indian) I had in my home. There may have been others also who were cast out in the deliverances I had following my image housecleaning. These two demons manifested but refused to come out in my first deliverance session because I had not yet done the necessary housecleaning. What you do not know can and does hurt you.

Frankly, I still do not know what the Buddha was doing to me as a demonic entity. Certainly he did nothing to help me. Recently, I again submitted to deliverance (nine years later) and I asked the worker to check on the Buddha spirit just in case he was still there. He was there and had to be cast out.

The evil spirit that came with the Indian is another story. During my subsequent deliverances, this demon had not left me, although he no longer had any legal right to remain in me.

He had not been thrown out because it did not occur to me to tell the worker to check on him. We were fully occupied dealing with the other one. It was truly a painful experience when this latter spirit began to act up.

About four or five years after the burning of the picture, I developed a dull chronic pain in my right arm. It was concentrated in an area about the size of a quarter. Day by day this pain escalated until finally I had to avoid moving the arm backwards. Any attempt to reach my back to close zippers or button dresses produced severe pain.

I fought it in the Spirit, praying and laying hands on myself. Nothing brought relief. In a woman’s prayer meeting, a sister told me that she had a word that a pain was afflicting me. Several ladies laid hands on me. As they prayed, I had to bite my lip to avoid screaming. The pain intensified and I felt as if something was tearing my flesh.

Tears streamed down my face and I understood the pain was wholly demonic. I was so relieved when they finally stopped praying. They thought my tears were from joy. I did not have the heart to tell them what really happened, for they would not have understood. I knew deliverance was the only way I would ever obtain relief.

The following week, Pastor Worley came to minister at a church in Beaumont, Texas. After the service that evening, I was the first to run up to the front for deliverance. Pastor Worley sat facing me and took my hands in his. He said, “Let’s ask the Lord what demon this is,” and prayed briefly in tongues. He looked at me and said, “The Lord tells me you have a werewolf demon.” I urged him to get it out fast. In Jesus’ name He commanded the demon to manifest and go. The spirit’s reaction was immediate and violent.

The thing was terrified of the pastor and caused my body to jerk. He pulled back as far as possible from the Pastor. At the same time, I felt my lips pull back, baring my teeth, and fierce growls from deep inside me snarled out of my mouth.

I was behaving like a cornered wolf, but managed to keep my eyes looking into Worley’s eyes, since I knew how demons hate to look into a deliverance worker’s eyes. As I glanced around, I remember seeing amazement written on the faces of some of the group gathered there.

It was not long before the werewolf spirit left. He threw my head back and came out in a long, loud screeching howl. Several days later, the Lord showed me that the evil spirit came in through the picture of the American Indian.

The wolf is an Indian god and an idol. When holding their ceremonies in the Kiva, the high point comes when they slowly change and transform into the expression of the animal idol of their choice. The same demon which enters them had come into me; in my case it was the spirit of the wolf. (For more information about American Indian witchcraft, read The Witch That Switched by Irene A. Park.)

It is interesting to note that the Indian ceremony and what occurs is so very similar to the Cuban Santeria’s “Bembe” ceremony. In this ceremony there is the drum-based music, eating, drinking and dancing with the images (santos). The Santeria is based on African voodoo. (See The Caribbean Santeria, Demolishing the Hosts of Hell, by Win Worley.)

Dancing around the table, the participant eats of the food offered to the particular santo (saint) by which he/she desires to be possessed. When it happens, the person falls into a trance with convulsions. To be chosen as the “horse” and to be entered and possessed by the demon is considered to be a great honor.

In similar fashion, New Age persons involved in channeling are also receiving a demon and feel privileged to be a vehicle for the dark powers. Whether you call them “ascended masters” or demons, they are the same thing. To invite them in is to invite darkness and disaster!

Chapter 9: The New Testament on Idols

Although we live under a New Covenant today, by no means has all of the Old Covenant been bypassed. From what has happened to me and others there is abundant proof that the Second Commandment is alive and well and definitely for today. It was never abolished or abrogated. Jesus said:

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-20)

They key word here is fulfill: (#4137 Greek) to replete or fill up (as a fishing net); to level up (as a hollow); to finish or complete (as a task); to be full or make full; to perfect; to supply (what is lacking).

Old and New Testaments heartily agree:

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. (II Corinthians 6:16-17)

Little children, keep yourselves from idols, Amen. (I John 5:21)

Note: This article only addresses the idolatry which is evidenced by actual physical idols and images. Other kinds of idolatry exists: money, success, fame, beauty, recreation, various possessions and many intangible things. These are equally obnoxious to God and open the doors for much demonic assault and invasion. Nevertheless, the message of God’s broken Second Commandment is very needful in our day of disobedience and powerlessness. Deliverance will help one to become free of all idolatry to follow the Lord.

Ignore The Devil…At Your Own Risk

Ignore the Devil…at Your Own Risk

For many years I have run into Christians who tell me, “I don’t think about the devil…I only think about Jesus,” or “Don’t talk to me about the devil…talk to me about Jesus,” or, “I ignore the devil…he is not worth my time,” and many similar statements along that vein. The attitude of the Christians who have made such statements to me has been “holier than thou” or know-it-all.

The serpent was in the garden. Satan was cast down to the earth with all his demons before Adam was created, and now he is not only the prince of the power of the air  (Ephesians 2:2), but the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Trying to ignore the devil and his demons is like living in a house full of serpents and scorpions crawling around on the floors and trying not to step on them. If the devil was not an innocuous personality, ignoring him might work. However, he is here to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). Even the Lord Jesus was tempted of the devil. But unlike most Christians, our Lord was fully aware that he was being tempted and by whom. And He knew how to deal with it.

Christians who ignore the devil are unable to recognize temptation when it comes or realize that the one behind the temptation is the devil. So they fall into the trap, reap the ensuing consequences and still don’t know what hit them when it’s over.

Satan is also behind many human diseases and infirmities that will not get healed unless the spiritual dimension is addressed and dealt with. Those who ignore the devil will have to live with ailments that are demonically caused.

The early Christians did not ignore the devil. Paul said that they were not ignorant of his devices (2 Corinthians 2:11). Paul also said that our battle was with the devil (Ephesians 6:12).

Since Paul was not ignorant of the devil, he not only thought about the devil, but also studied his “modus operandi”. All of us need to do that, but particularly the shepherds of the sheep, who many times tell the congregation to follow their lead in ignoring Satan.

History has shown that shepherds who have ignored the devil and opposed the deliverance ministry have fallen into the worst of temptations. They experienced dire consequences because they could not recognize the temptation or the devil behind it. These shepherds were easy prey with the end result being broken marriages and/or churches damaged or destroyed.

 

Do not ignore the devil!

 

Wherein in times past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. (Ephesians 2:2)

In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4)

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. (2 Corinthians 2:11)

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12)


All The World’s a Stage

All The World’s a Stage

Shakespeare said, “All the world’s as stage” in his play, “As You Like It”. Well, perhaps he had more insight into the reality of this statement than we may have ever given him credit for.

I was listening to a teaching about the time that Jesus walked upon the Sea of Galilee in the middle of a huge storm in which the disciples thought they were going to die. The scriptures say that “He would have passed by them” had they not called to Him for help. I thought, wow, was He just out for a casual stroll and didn’t notice the disciples needed help desperately? He was cool as a cucumber, which made me ponder the situation.

All of the sudden, the Lord gave me one of those capsule forms of the Word of Knowledge where in an instant you have some explosive insight into something scriptural. I pictured Jesus calmly walking upon this raging sea toward the boat that was about to be capsized with the totally-soaked disciples frantically bailing water, trying to keep the sail from ripping, hanging on for dear life and screaming out to Jesus in a sheer terror. Freeze frame.

What the Lord showed me was why He was so calm. He showed me the relationship between the spiritual and the physical world – it’s like a play or the theater. I had a vision of Jesus on the stormy see with the stormy sky all around, except that behind him the scene morphed into what looked like the backstage of a theater with cast and crew running frantically around to make sure the play keeps moving and things get ready for the next act.

I felt like the parable I was seeing was that the stage represents the physical world. It is what the audience sees (we’re the audience) – that’s all they can see – what’s before their eyes. Back stage is the spiritual world – what the audience can’t see, that is creating what is going on onstage – and what’s going on back stage is more real than what is happening on the stage. What is happening on the stage is secondary, almost unreal – it’s fake – a play is just pretend.

The disciples were the audience and they were very caught up in the play. They saw Jesus and this tremendous storm. Jesus represented the actor on the stage, in control of the audience, and the stage hands were creating the storm with their special effects to frighten the audience and convince them that the storm is deadly. But Jesus remained perfectly calm about the storm because He knew what was causing the storm, He knew it was just part of the play, and that everything was under control – His control. And, He also knew what was going on back stage: hundreds of people running around, getting ready for the next scene, applying makeup, moving lights, getting props ready, sound technicians, special effects personnel, etc. The stage hands are the metaphor for spirits: demons and angels.

I said earlier that what was going on back stage was more real than what was happening onstage. That’s because the spirit world is more real than the physical world. The physical world was created FROM the spirit world, not the other way around. In this particular story in Scripture, this storm was caused by demon spirits who didn’t want Jesus and the disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee to go to the land of Gad. Because when He arrived there, the people were excited to see Him and brought everyone who needed healing to Him, and the scriptures say He healed everyone. The demons didn’t want that to happen, thus the cause of the storm.

So to summarize, the audience, the disciples, couldn’t see back stage-they couldn’t see the spiritual world that Jesus could. But Jesus was trying to teach them something in the short time He was with them. In this case, He was trying to make them understand the power of God that would soon be theirs to command once He died on the cross, resurrected and ascended into Heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. They would soon have the power to change the next act as He did when He calmed the storm. “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” (John 14:12)

As Christians, we have the power to change the next act. We have the power to command the stagehands (we can ask the Lord to send angels to work for us, we can command demons to depart in Jesus’ name, and we can speak to the mountain and cast it into the sea). Therefore, those who believe the Word fully, trust the Lord completely, do not fear as the Lord commanded, and are doers of the Word have the power to take authority over the spiritual realm and make it manifest in the physical realm. We have to remember that the storms are there only to attempt to scare us and crumble our faith. They are nothing as long as we keep our mind on Jesus.

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. (Isaiah 26:3)

About Pastoral Madness

About Pastoral Madness

It is in the news. Pastors and evangelists who keep asking for money but live lavishly. They have, and they want more. Excessive spending on luxuries for their ministries and personal lives. Not a clear-cut line where the expenses for ministries end and personal expenses begin. So much so that a Congressional investigation has started, and those investigated claim separation of church and state as a shelter to continue their financial operations. Although high-profile ministers have come to the attention of officials, there are many more ministries that operate similarly but on a lesser scale.

More news: Ministers who divorce and continue ministering, with the approval of the congregation.

Not long after a lavish, spectacular wedding of a high-profile ministerial couple, the pastor-husband beats his evangelist-wife publicly. He is arrested, and after legal proceedings, comes back to the pulpit and receives a standing ovation from his congregation. Not only is there Pastoral Madness, but there also seems to be “congregation madness”!

Another high-profile couple co-pastoring a church divorces. The woman continues appearing on her TV program, and is offered a nice position with another ministry. The man does not miss a beat pastoring his church.

Not very old news: A highly influential, mega-church pastor is accused of homosexual activity by his homosexual partner, who also exposed the pastor’s alleged drug use. A few months after he stepped down from the pulpit, he wanted his “followers” to provide financial support for him and his wife to go college to obtain a certain degree.

Old news: A famous pastor is caught with a prostitute. This judgmental pastor was judging others while visiting prostitutes. His sexual escapade makes the news, he repents on national TV with tears streaming down his face, and later, he is caught with the prostitute again. He is still pastoring.

Old news, about the same time as above: A married couple with a large ministry and a very much watched TV program cry and moan for more money constantly or the program is going to fold. A financial mess is uncovered. An investigation uncovering excessive spending hits the news, where it became a joke that their dogs have air-conditioned dog houses. Jail time for him. Divorce. The woman marries the pastor’s best friend. He is out of jail and has started a ministry again, with a television show.

More stories like these are happening across the country in smaller, less famous churches and ministries. These stories rarely get in print, but there are many. What is happening to the churches?

 

Pastoral Madness!

 

I am one of those persons whom pastors like to call church-hoppers. But here is the catch: because I am in the deliverance ministry, many pastors don’t want me in their church. I have been kicked out of some churches. From others, God led me out, but not soon enough–I wanted to leave, but He would not let me go until He showed me something that He wanted me to learn.

I learned about Pastoral Madness in a very small church, rather financially poor. I had visited the church, and I did not like it–it looked dirty, and the children were not disciplined. God made me go to that church anyway. As I started observing some anomalies, I wanted to leave. The Lord said “No.” This was repeated several times, as I was seeing more and more things that disturbed me. I finally became disgusted with the pastor and desperately wanted to leave.

One day, the pastor’s face came to my mind, like a vision. This happened a few times thereafter. I did not want his face on my mind. Because of my experience in the deliverance ministry, I discerned a demon giving me that vision, so I called a friend for deliverance.

As soon as she told the demon to manifest, it did. She asked his name and he did not want to give it. She asked how he entered and he said “through her pastor”. She asked the name of the demon’s boss and he said “Pastoral Madness”. I was delivered of that demon and the vision did not return.

Now if you think this is far out and I don’t have scriptural backing, read this:

And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him. But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth. Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it? And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other. And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus. (Luke 6:6-11)

10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. 12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; 13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; 14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet. 17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. (2 Peter 2:10-22)

The first scripture refers to the Pharisees. They were accurate in all matters referring to the law; however, their thoughts were about murdering Jesus. Jesus knew it, and asked them if it was lawful to save life or to destroy it. They, the “ecclesiastical” group, were filled with madness.

The second scripture refers to a prophet filled with madness. In both scriptures, it shows that men who were spiritual leaders were filled with madness. In the first case, because of spiritual jealousy and a desire for power. In the second case, because of greed.

What the Lord showed me.

I came back home wondering about that Pastoral Madness demon. I felt I was released to leave the church. Then the Lord explained to me that Pastoral Madness is the demon that corrupts religious leaders, and he does it this way:

1- The demon starts by building the pastor’s ego. The demon speaks to the pastor’s mind telling him he is an important person now.

2- Next, he tells the pastor that he is one of God’s favorites, that he is special. The pastor starts feeling that he is superior to the congregation. This is the teaching of the Nicolaitians: clergy and laity. (Revelation 2:15)

3- The demon picks people from the congregation to start idolizing the pastor. In their eyes, the pastor can’t do any wrong. They laugh at all the pastor’s jokes, and applaud for any little thing the pastor says or does from the pulpit. This keeps building up the pastor’s ego.

4- The demon tells the pastor he deserves more salary, a luxury car, a bigger building, a TV program. The congregation starts feeling the pressure to give more and more money.

5- The demon tells the pastor that he is special, anointed, chosen, elected, and that in this exalted status he can do some things that are prohibited to other people, but not to him, of course. The demons tells him that he is so pleasing to God that he can get away with anything.

6- The pastor starts demanding more giving from the congregation. He might imply or even say outright that those who withhold their money will be cursed. By this time he is also thinking that his wife has not kept up with him, that she does not look the part, perhaps he made a mistake in marrying her, and this is not the woman that God had for him.

7- The pastor starts feeling he needs bodyguards, who not only keep him safe outside, but also keep members of the congregation away from him when he leaves the pulpit.

8- Due to his TV program, the pastor starts to become known, and he starts to be invited to speak in out-of-town places. Coach travel is no longer acceptable, only first-class will do. Later he feels he deserves to rent a private airplane, then buy his own airplane.

9- He now feels he needs a new wife, because his first wife is not a match for him. After all, he is not the same person that he was before. Now he is important, famous and rich. He has a chauffeur, a pilot and bodyguards. He needs a trophy wife.

I hesitated to write this next part, but this has been in the media lately: because a divorce does not look good for their careers, some pastors murder their wives, making it look as a suicide. In their madness, they believe murder is a better solution than divorce. About 15 or 20 years ago, there was a case in Dallas about a pastor who wanted to be bishop. He had been having an affair with a beautiful prophetess, the daughter of a bishop. He planned the murder of his wife, and created his alibi by using his car phone to leave messages on his home answering machine where he gave the time of each call, creating the illusion that there’s no way he could have murdered his wife as he was calling from his car phone at the time of the murder. However, the phone records showed that when he was leaving messages saying what time it was, it was not the correct time. He was the primary suspect, and there was a lengthy trial. Because of lack of evidence, he was freed. He moved to California and found a job at a church there. This is how far Pastoral Madness can go.

Pastoral Madness may be in a pastor from the beginning of his calling. I have ministered to poor and humble pastors in Mexico, and I have cast out Pastoral Madness from them. I was surprised, because I really did not expect them to have it. But greed, adultery and desire for fame and recognition can work their way into a soul no matter the financial status of man.

In my experience, the majority of spiritual leaders reject the deliverance ministry. They explain their position with cliches such as “we are Christ-minded, not devil-minded”, ignoring the fact that a large part of Jesus’ ministry was deliverance. Because of their rejection of this ministry and the erroneous belief that “Christians don’t have demons”, they succumb to the wiles of the devil, because they have not been trained to recognize the devil’s traps, much less combat them. Thus, instead of being overcomers, they become losers in the warfare. It becomes the case of the blind leading the blind.

The Game of Life

The Game of Life

This is the story of a woman gambler who lost the game of life. I am going to call her Consuela. We were both from Cuba. Consuela invited her Cuban friends to come over once a week to play cards.

One day, Consuela had an accident with a leg injury, leaving her unable to drive, so she invited me, my mother, and another lady named Martha to play cards at her house.

Consuela knew I was a Spirit-filled Christian. The other ladies were Catholic, and Consuela explained to me that her husband was an atheist and did not let her practice Catholicism or anything else.

One day at her house, I asked her if she would let me pray for her legs. She agreed, and I asked her to sit straight up in her chair so I could lift her legs and see if they were the same length. The legs were obviously different lengths, in the amount of an inch or so. My mother and Martha were around us watching closely, and they saw the difference.

I prayed for her legs, and there was a sudden movement as both legs became the same length. Consuela said excitedly that she could feel a pull in one of her legs. Her eyes were like saucers, I guess from trying to decide whether to believe the miracle or not. Martha, on the other hand, started walking in circles with her hands in her face, crying “Oh, my God!!” non-stop. My mother bit her lip, and I could see her mind going at full speed looking for an explanation that was logical and earthly, and not finding any, she went back to her chair and sat in silence.

The whole group of card-playing ladies really never fully accepted me because I was “a holy roller”. I had written a booklet especially for them which I titled, “A Letter To My Catholic Friends”. It was intended to explain why I was not a Catholic. I had it printed and gave one booklet to each lady. My supernatural testimony was there, which was enough for someone to ask some questions, but it elicited only one comment from one lady who did not agree with me on one minor point.

About two years later Consuela invited a new friend to her house and threw a party so she could introduce her new friend to us.

Not long after that, I went to Consuela’s house with a relative of mine who had not been there. Consuela wanted to show her the house (I went along for the tour) and she opened a cabinet door where there was a hidden altar. She promptly shut the door, but I can’t believe she had forgotten that the altar was there. It was almost like she wanted me to see it.

I knew what this altar was. It was a Santeria altar, Santeria being a specific form of witchcraft from Cuba. I acted as if I did not see it and did not question her about it.

She already had experienced the power of the Lord Jesus Christ and the miracle on her leg done in His name, and she never mentioned it or asked any questions about it. I realized that the new friend was inducing her into Santeria.

Consuela had always been an avid card player. She was the one who insisted on playing for money. Although she was very affluent, she would get angry if she did not win.

At our table, she was the best player, and I came in a close second. But I played primarily so I could bring my mother, as this was her only weekly outing and she enjoyed it. Secondly, because I enjoyed solving any kind of puzzles like card games. And thirdly, because of the fellowship.

I did not mind if I lost, but I tried to play the best I could. This was a dumb card game, the kind that children play. It was nothing like poker or bridge–just a step up from Old Maid.

We had played the same card game every week, and by now I knew the average time it took to win a game. One day, Consuela started to win games faster than normal. I found it strange and started observing her. When it was her turn, she would pick a card from the pile in expectation. And sure enough, it was the card she needed. I would watch her lay her cards down with an expression of triumph in her face.

I got a funny feeling, like there was something abnormal happening. Just then, the Holy Spirit told me, “witchcraft!” Very low, and shielding my face with the cards in my hand, I said, “I break the power of this witchcraft, in the name of Jesus.”

Things started to change. I watched her. The cards she was picking were not as she expected. At the beginning she showed unbelief, as if there was something wrong. Then she got angry.

I can’t remember who won that game. I went home and forgot all about it.

The next time we played, she started winning right away. She would lay her cards down when the rest of us were barely starting. Then I remembered what happened the week before, and again I commanded the power of witchcraft to be broken in the name of the Lord Jesus.

This time, Consuela knew it was not a coincidence. She started looking around the table, and she zeroed in on me. She knew I had done it, got very angry, and did not want to play with me again. She formed a new table with other ladies and left me and my mother out.

I wonder about those poor ladies losing every game they played, not knowing what was really happening.

Consuela had made a pact with the devil to satisfy her desire to win. A pact with the devil, selling her soul for four dollars a game. And that, after witnessing the power of God in her own body.

Recently I saw her at a restaurant with a young lady. When she looked at me, I saw fear in her face. She left the restaurant as fast as she could after finishing her meal.

I hope something happens that causes her to repent and bring Jesus into her life. If that does not happen, I wish her a very, very long life.

Moving The Boundary Stones

Moving The Boundary Stones

The leaders of Judah are like men who move boundary stones; I will pour my fury out upon them like water. (Hosea 5:10)

The leaders referred to in the book of Hosea, men called by God to teach His people where His established boundaries were, were “like men who move boundary stones” in God’s eyes. In the time of the writing of Hosea, stones were used to mark the boundaries of someone’s land, much like fences are used today around our home’s lot lines or to fence a ranch in. Back in the day, men moved boundary stones to enlarge their land holdings illegally, much like moving a fence in the middle of the night to take someone’s land without their knowledge and enlarge yours. The leaders of Judah were like those men, moving God’s boundaries illegally through false teachings.

A generation of leaders move the boundary stones out, and the next generation moves them out even farther.

Emperor Constantine was not a leader of Judah but of the Romans and the Roman Catholic religion. He appropriated the Judeo-Christian religion of his time and celebrated it with an orgy of boundary stone-moving.

One of the boundary stones moved was the fourth Commandment, the observing of the Sabbath, which was changed to Sunday. Sunday was the Roman pagan religion day of worship of the sun god. Thus the name Sun-day.

Another boundary stone he moved was the second Commandment. The Romans worshipped a multitude of gods, whom they represented with images of marble and stone and with paintings. Constantine had the genial idea of integrating the statues venerated by the Romans with the memory of the dead saints, changing the names of the statues to the names of the saints. This is called syncretism (the combination of different forms of belief or practice). An example is the statue of Saint Peter in the Vatican, whose right toes are worn down because of being kissed constantly by the Catholic worshipers. If I remember correctly, it was originally the statue of Zeus/Jupiter, the main god of the Roman and Greek pagan religions.

Constantine presided over the first general Council of the Roman Catholic Church in Nicaea, so he can be considered the first Pope (Peter was never a Pope). Every council held moved more boundaries.

The leaders of Judah had also moved the stones of the first and second commandment:

My people consult their piece of wood, their diviner’s wand speaks to them; for the spirit of whoring makes them err, they go off whoring deserting their God. (Hosea 4:12 CJB)

Since Israel was married to God, the Lord considered their idolatry unfaithfulness, whoring. However, Constantine made idolatry official and blessed in the Judeo-Christian community.

Today the protestant and evangelical communities move boundary stones also. At some point in history someone–maybe Constantine–decided that the Old Testament teachings do not apply today. The teaching of today is that we are under the blood, so we can do whatever we want to do. These teachers claim that God the Father looks at us through the blood of the Son and thus cannot see the sins in us, and so, we are home free.

Most Christians fear and obey the laws of men more than they do the laws of God. They see tangible punishment when the laws of men are broken, but they don’t see immediate punishment when they break God’s laws, so they go along with the teaching. Christians are law-abiding citizens when it concerns the laws of men.

However, disobeying the laws of God brings immediate spiritual punishment, which later becomes physical distress of different kinds. Under this torment, the people of God blame Satan, and they are only partially right. They should blame themselves also.

When a person moves a boundary stone set by God, a demon receives a legal right to enter that person, and his work begins immediately. First, he works on the mind of the transgressor, speaking to it through thoughts and ideas, and making the person believe lies which may motivate him or her to sin even more. Doors are opened to other demons that will work in different areas of the life of the person. Thus diseases, troubles and poverty might overcome the person. God allows this because the person moved the boundary stone.

A truth has been stretched. A lie has been believed. A law has been broken. Legal rights were received by the demon, and he made use of them.

I have heard leaders tweaking the laws. Just pushing a stone an inch or two. Moving boundaries, increasing their activity arena for themselves and for their sheep. Not comfortable with the boundaries? Easily solved, move the stones!

Go in through the narrow gate; for the gate that leads to destruction is wide and the road broad, and many travel it; But it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13,14 CJB)