Hegewisch Baptist Church » #02 BATTLING WITCHCRAFT & THE OCCULT

VOWS AND CURSES

mike — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 02:33:12 +0000

In the Bible, vows were solemn promises to God, either positive or negative. Under the Mosaic law, the vows and promises of dependents such as children, unmarried daughters and wives were void, except when ratified by the express of tacit consent of the father or husband. This afforded protection to them against rash vows. The whole matter is explored in Numbers 30. Other Scriptures dealing with vows include: Ecclesiastes 5:4-6; Numbers 30:2; Deuteronomy 23:21, 22.

Broken vows can be a source of real trouble. That is why Jonah repented and renewed his vows in the belly of the fish, saying, “I will say my vows.” If a vow is discovered to be contrary to Scripture and dishonoring to God, it should be formally renounced and forgiveness sought for making it (I John 1:9). A vow that is expressly evil or is for an evil purpose should never be made nor kept. To keep such a vow, for the sake of consistency, is to compound one evil by another (Matthew 5:33-37).

A curse has been defined as: Uttering a wish of evil against one; to imprecate evil; to call for mischief or injury to fall upon; to execrate, to bring evil upon or to; to blast, vex, harass or torment with great calamities. Such curses represent individuals working in concert with a specific form of evil spirit activity. We have dealt with cases where Satanic covens of witches and warlocks, or even a person merely dabbling with witchcraft and sorcery, cast spells, potions, enchantments and curses on a person (Psalm 109:15-18).

We have found that even the wrong kinds of “prayer” and laying on of hands, or “prayers” at a distance, have resulted in hurtful and dismaying results with the effects of a curse. It is not even necessary for the person on the receiving end of this to know what is happening. Demons will come and go into activity in susceptible persons in answer to this type of “praying.”

For example: Curses came on a man and woman through a couple who were casting witchcraft curses in a Full Gospel church! The pair who were “praying” for the sick had no idea what evil they were wreaking on those who came to them for help. The man had received his witchcraft (unconsciously to him) by studying extensively in the writings of Edgar Cayce and other occult writers. He had in turn transmitted this power to his wife. He taught Sunday school class which the demons referred to as “the Marketplace,” explaining the “Dark Sayings” were given out there in the guise of Bible teaching.

The woman supposed that she had a gift of divine healing and laid hands on those seeking prayer. This instead bestowed curses on them and they became worse, not better. Many evil spirits were thus transferred to open and unsuspecting persons receiving “ministry” at the hands of these two dupes. Were they sincere? Yes, they were, but deluded and deceived! Included in the great number of evil spirits which had to be cast from the people we dealt with were: Terminal Illnesses, controlled Cancer, Muscular Dystrophy, Leukemia, Tuberculosis, and several varieties of heart disease. This underlines how vital it is for the gift of discerning of spirits to operate, in order to separate the operation of occult spirits from the genuine healings by the Lord. UseGalatians 3:13 and Colossians 2:14 to break curses.

The following is an excerpt from “Battling Witchcraft and the Occult, Booklet #2″ by Pastor Win Worley. Copyright © 1983 by Win Worley, Revised © 1991. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including storage and retrieval system, without securing permission in writing from the publisher, WRW Publications, PO Box 852626, Mesquite, TX 75185.

If you’d like to obtain your own copy of not only this, but other materials authored by Win Worley, please contact WRW Publications at www.wrwpublications.com

PSYCHIC PRAYER EQUALS WITCHCRAFT

mike — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 02:08:18 +0000

Psychic prayer attempts to influence the Lord to cause someone to move in a certain direction. Whether or not the direction desired is God’s will for the person makes no difference. Praying with wrong motivations to pressure others to act, think or feel a certain way, constitutes psychic prayer. Because this is a disguised form of witchcraft and often Jezebellic manipulation, it is dangerous.

Soulish prayer enlists the human spirit attempting to pressure the spirit and mind of the other person to come around to the desired way of thinking. Attempting to play God and force decisions on others is a form of manipulation which can have hurtful effect, especially when the parties are open to each other.

For example, a man may desire to gain the affections of a young lady. Because he desires this so earnestly he is convinced it must be God’s will for a close relationship. Although he takes his request to the Lord, it is possible his mind is already made up and “prayer” becomes more of a pressing for confirmation than seeking God’s will.

Deceiving spirits can arrange circumstances to appear to be the desired confirmation. He may even feel sure that he has heard directly from the Lord with a revelation concerning the matter. Encouraged, he prays that her eyes be opened to receive the same “revelation” concerning him. Mentally he has put a claim on her spirit and is attempting to place her in a form of spiritual bondage to himself, even if she is unaware of this.

Continuing to pray in this manner will bring the force of his psychic prayers to bear to influence her, bypassing her will. She may begin to question why she is thinking about the man so much with no apparent reason, especially if thus far she felt no particular drawing toward him. He, on the other hand, noting the awakening of her interest, will believe firmly his prayers are being answered by God and will step up his efforts.

If there is a spirit of lust driving this process, this also can be transmitted through the media off psychic prayers. The female may begin to wonder why she feels a physical drawing to one who previously held no such attraction. If she is not a logical thinker, unable to discern what is going on, she may be pressured into a relationship by the sheer force of these psychic prayers.

Even if a woman is able to sit down and analyze the factors leading to this, and decides she really does not want this relationship, she is still sometimes overwhelmed by the strong witchcraft spirits at work. When this happens she is pressured into a relationship that will be a bondage for her.

When she does sidestep the relationship by refusing to become involved, she may go through months of confused feelings and psychic torment initiated by someone preforming charismatic witchcraft by projecting soulish thoughts and prayers upon her.

Relationships created by psychic manipulation will be marked by heaviness and intensity, rather than lightness and joy. This is because witchcraft spirits operating always include lustful desires to possess and dominate the other person. If the lady is friendly and open to the man, there will be a transfer of spirits and she will soon begin to feel as he does.

When a person begins to be driven to please a partner at the cost of sacrificing, hiding or altering his own personality, the relationship is based on bondage. When the real personality does surface, there will be confusion about proper feelings or actions which indicates a loss of freedom. It is possible for people to go on for years in this fashion and in the process actually lose their own identity by becoming submerged in the personality of another.

God never purposed that we become carbon copies, puppets or robots controlled by others. By so doing many have surrendered their wills to another person rather than to the Lord.

A witch casts a love (lust) spell on a reluctant partner by concentrating her psychic forces on the person, using articles of clothing or photographs. Through the force of psychic prayers a similar thing can be done. If the suitor has something in his possession which belongs to the one he wishes to influence, it is possible to unknowingly act as a witch holding onto these articles physically she is holding the person spiritually.

When such a relationship has been broken off, it is best to dispose of all articles and possessions belonging to the other person. This is to prevent these objects from being channels of psychic attack. Exactly how this works is not completely understood but many times it has happened and harmful soul ties are often involved. Rings seem to be particularly dangerous in this connection. Another example of psychic prayer occurs when groups of people gather for prayer to make “intercession” for a person whom they, knowingly or unknowingly, are trying to force into a course of action they approve. This could include prayer for a pastor that he lead the church in a certain way, take certain actions, or the his “eyes be opened” concerning his “deception.”

Any prayers which attempt to second-guess God’s will abut something is like walking a spiritual tightrope. We must learn to pray directed by the Holy Spirit lest we fall into the realm of witchcraft. We need to know the Scripture about prayer.

Spiritual warfare prayers are to be directed against the powers of darkness rather than toward a person. This form of prayer may indeed be the most pure, undefiled by our own carnal desires. To successfully war in the spirit, there must be discernment as to who and where the enemy is in order to collapse satanic strongholds which bind people. With such discernment and guidance much can be accomplished.

When the Lord Jesus taught the disciples to pray the model prayer there is no mention of trying to influence other people in any way. We should take this model and not allow our prayers to become soulish and degenerate into the realm of witchcraft an psychic powers.

The following is an excerpt from “Battling Witchcraft and the Occult, Booklet #2″ by Pastor Win Worley. Copyright © 1983 by Win Worley, Revised © 1991. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including storage and retrieval system, without securing permission in writing form the publisher, WRW Publications, PO Box 852626, Mesquite, TX 75185.

If you’d like to obtain your own copy of not only this, but other materials authored by Win Worley, please contact WRW Publications at www.wrwpublications.com

MARKS OF CULTISM

mike — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 02:06:57 +0000

Because of the prevalence of religious cults which have destroyed thousands, perhaps the identifying characteristics of them should be repeated.

All cultic systems have one or more of the following:

1. Deceptive Christology
2. Extra biblical revelations
3. Translocal totalitarian authority in leadership
4. Babylonian pyramiding control of the followers
5. Semi-secret sessions for teaching followers
6. Exclusivism or croneyism
7. Semantic juggling or a text out of context used to “prove” false doctrines and concepts
8. Punishment and reward motivation or control of behavior and attitudes through ruthless use of fear.
9. Denunciation of others, particularly of those who question or deny the cults
10.Separation and isolation of followers from their families and friends and the formation of communal living cells to facilitate centralized control and enforce obedience

The more of these practices which are in evidence, the more cultic and demonic the organization is. (For more information see Conquering the Hostsof Hell, page 47.)

If you’d like to obtain your own copy of not only this, but other materials authored by Win Worley, please contact WRW Publications at www.wrwpublications.com

BREAKING THE POWERS OF WITCHCRAFT

mike — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 02:03:34 +0000

BREAKING THE POWERS OF WITCHCRAFT

All of the occult sciences are extremely complicated. There are some which seem very innocent like Rosecrucians and theosophy, and then down the scale ending with black magic, satanism and other things openly and absolutely destructive in nature.

Accumulated books on the occult may cause an oppressive atmosphere in a home by just being present. Actually what we need to know about this life and the life to come is all contained in the Word of God. There is more in the Bible about the occult than we realize, although it just takes a bit of study and effort to dig out these things. Both Old and New Testaments reveal God’s mind about the occult.

Witchcraft and sorcery represent magic in its worst form. Not only are they destructive and corruptive, but they do much damage wherever they are found. We need to be aware that the Bible says, “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live” (Exodus 22:18). Divine judgement and wrath are poured out upon anyone delving in the occult “sciences.”

“Ye shall not eat anything with the blood; neither shall ye use enchantments, nor observe times. Regard not them that have familiar spirits, nor seek after wizards to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:26,31). We are not in any way to practice enchantments, soothsaying or witchcraft because all are abominable in God’s sight. He detests and abhors such practices. We become defiled, corrupted and are spiritually contaminated by becoming involved with these things so deadly in the sight of the Lord.

“And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits and after wizards; and to go awhoring after him, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people” (Leviticus 20:6). The practice of spiritual prostitution or whoring, depraves and corrupts us. We must be very careful that we ourselves and those under our spiritual authority avoid engaging in any of these practices which are so widely accepted today!

“A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death; they shall stone them with stones; their blood shall be upon them” (Leviticus 10:27). This is God’s death sentence (physical and spiritual) pronounced upon anyone engaging in occult activities. This deadly warning must be sounded to have no relationship with evil, especially consorting with Satan through the occult.

The most complete Biblical list of occult practices is found in Deuteronomy 18:9-14. It is helpful to check all these various categories with a good dictionary and concordance to determine the exact meaning of each word because this is an extremely serious matter.

The powers operating in the occult realm are very real and far greater and stronger than most people realize. In II Chronicles 33:6 is the story of wicked King Manasseh: “And he caused the children to pass through the fire in the valley of the sons of Hinnon: also he observed times and used enchantments, and used witchcraft and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger.”

It cannot be stressed too strongly that any involvement in witchcraft provokes God’s anger and brings His wrath upon you. Many, many families have suffered all kinds of moral, physical, financial and spiritual problems because someone engaged in an occult practice. Often this was done in ignorance and the person involved was wholly unaware of the dangers.

In Ezekiel 13:17-23 black magic is discussed: “Likewise thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, which prophesy out thou against them. And say, Thus saith the Lord God, Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you? And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies? Wherefore thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewit ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly. Your kerchiefs also will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly. Your kerchiefs also will I tear and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand to be hunted; and ye shall know that I am theLord. Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life: therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divinations; for I will deliver my people out of your hand; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.”

The pillows (amulets) and kerchiefs mentioned were objects used in connection with magical practices. Note that mention of “hunting the souls of My people”. Most people mistakenly assume that witchcraft cannot affect a Christian. They foolishly believe that being born again automatically protects against any kind of curse, spell or hex, etc., sent by people practicing witchcraft. This Scripture indicates that we are a favorite target of witchcraft which is hunting (catching or snaring) our souls (mind, will, emotions). Through witchcraft God’s people can be brought into bondage, thus becoming captives, having their souls entrapped.

The following is an excerpt from “Battling Witchcraft and the Occult, Booklet #2″ by Pastor Win Worley. Copyright © 1983 by Win Worley, Revised © 1991. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including storage and retrieval system, without securing permission in writing form the publisher, WRW Publications, PO Box 852626, Mesquite, TX 75185.

If you’d like to obtain your own copy of not only this, but other materials authored by Win Worley, please contact WRW Publications at www.wrwpublications.com