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Here is a video of Rick Joyner at Morningstar Ministries.
This U-Tube video rightly asks if this is revival or paganism. Please watch with discernment.
The young man at the end of the clip utters between convulsions:
“I need your hearts”
“You’re my people”
“I long for you”
“You are my creation”
Sadly, I do not think these words are from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Morningstar is linked with IHOP ministries, Freshfire Ministries (Todd Bentley) and many false teachings on godtv.
The Personal Testimony of Cathy Fowler.————-
I was a trueblue New Ager for 20 years. Over those years I
had many experiences with spiritual powers — or “forces,” as
they say. And I know they exist and are extremely powerful. If
someone had told me at that time that I was tampering with
Satan’s kingdom, I would have laughed in their face!
In fact, the reason I moved to Sedona, Arizona, was because
it is such a strong metaphysical area and community. Sedona is
advertised widely in metaphysical and occult circles as one of
the few “vortex areas” in the United States. (A “vortex area” is
an area where the veil between this world and the spiritual world
is allegedly very thin, so to speak. New Agers believe there is
a higher concentration of psychic or cosmic energy in such
areas.) I thought I could really find and experience “higher
consciousness” in Sedona. And guess what! I did. But through a
totally unexpected source — the Lord Jesus Christ!
The funny thing is that I grew up attending a Baptist church
and spent the first 18 years of my life going to church at least
three times a week. I was even baptized. But I never had a
personal relationship with Jesus. How do I know? Because I have
one now — and I know I’ve never had this before.
Many Christians ask me how I ever could have left the church
for “New Age” thinking. Didn’t I realize what I was mixed up in?
The answer to that is a big NO! I was always the curious sort and
even when I was very young, I sensed the spiritual side of life.
However, when I asked too many (or “wrong”) questions in Bible
studies or at home — or asked for genuine, credible reasons for
the Christian faith — I was always hushed with blanket answers
like, “Because the Bible says so, that’s why!”; no further
explanations were ever given. What all this really sounded like
to me was, “Shut up and don’t ask questions.”
So I started looking for answers elsewhere. And I thought I
had found answers too — in astrology, eastern religion, yoga,
reincarnation, crystals, channeled information, and meditation.
_I had arrived in the New Age._
As I look back over these years, I can say that channeling is
probably the most dangerous of the New Age practices from my
experience. New Agers take every word that comes out of the
channeler’s mouth as the “New Gospel.” I was no exception to
this.
It took me 20 years to build up a New Age belief system, with
new ideas being added all the time. Would you like to know how
long it took the Lord to knock this belief system down? Just
three months! I was led to books written by Christians about the
New Age movement, and I also had a very close Christian friend
who prayed for me on a regular basis. The books quoted Bible
verses and led me back to God’s Word which I hadn’t looked at a
single time in 20 years.
My Bible was on the bookshelf along with my more than 180 New
Age books. And guess what I found inside it when I opened it up
for the first time? A little daily devotional book opened to a
page entitled, “Test The Spirits.” All those 20 years, the
warning was there waiting for me to see it.
I could go on and on, but let me just wrap this up by saying
that I praise God every day for loving me enough to rescue me —
even though I had turned my back on Him by my involvement in the
occult. How gracious the Lord is! My life has totally changed
since a year ago last summer.
My daughter, who is now 16, was also interested in some of
the occult activities I was involved in and showed some genuine
ESP-type abilities. But now she’s deeply involved in a youth
ministry here which is an extension of the Bible church we now
attend. She has accepted Jesus Christ and can see the evil
deception going on under the guise of the New Age movement.
One last thing. Many church-going Christians either ignore or
are afraid of people involved in the New Age movement. Many
Christians are so wrapped up doing their church activities that
they rarely attempt to tackle the “outside world.” But New Agers
are easier to convert than most people might think. Why? Because
unlike the average person, they already have a strong belief in
the spiritual world; they just don’t realize exactly _what_
spiritual world they are mixed up in.
So please don’t ignore New Agers or laugh at them or give up
on them. Give them one of the many fine books on the New Age
movement written from a Christian perspective as well as a pocket
Bible. Miracles happen every hour of every day through Jesus.
—————————————————————-
Copyright 1994 by the Christian Research Institute.
—————————————————————-
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—————————————————————–
“Rescued from 20 Years in the New Age Movement” (an article from
the Christian Research Newsletter, Volume 2: Number 6, 1989) by
Cathy Fowler.
The editor of the Christian Research Newsletter is Ron
Rhodes.
People are desperate. They go to the doctors only to be given more medication upon medication. While there are worthwhile treatments people continue to feel exhausted, headachey, fuzzy-minded, anxious, and depressed.
If you are wondering what is going on and why you and others never feel good anymore there is some good news. This article is a departure from my usual Christian subjects, but I had an answer to prayer here and wanted share this information.
First let me say that I noticed, really back in the early 90’s, when I was working with a group of women that half of us suffered from headaches and fatigue. It is really epidemic now, but even back then I knew that our food and our environment was making us all sick. But life goes on, so you try different medications, lifestyles, exercises, food regimes, supplements to try to find ease of symptoms.
After being prescribed a double dose of anti-depressants I was angry and still am with the pharmeucetical industry and the prescribers. I was coaxed by my doctor to try Celexa when starting menopause. Okay I thought, this wasn’t too bad and it actually worked for awhile. But when this caused pain in my stomach, I was given another drug. This also was another anti-depressant…given for PAIN. These drugs caused many problems and I weaned myself of them, and my hormones. I am much improved.
But still there are problems. I noticed that when I ate dairy products I had extreme hot flashes. Milk? Cottage Cheese? The source of menopausal symptoms? I began to really research dairy products and found that hormones and antibiotics inserted into cattle find there way into our systems. Not only by the dairy but the meat itself is tainted.
This only started a week of research into additives. Food, drinks, cosmetics, and toiletries.
Here is how that week went.
Additives? Huh? So what is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)? Hmmm…it seems it is a cleanser that is used for cleaning, WHAT?, engines, floors and cars. This from wikipedia…..
Sodium lauryl sulfate is used in industrial products including engine degreasers, floor cleaners, and car wash soaps; as well as in household products such as toothpastes, shampoos, shaving foams, some dissolvable aspirins, fiber therapy caplets, and bubble baths for its thickening effect and its ability to create a lather.
I ran to my bathroom and opened the cabinets. Let’s look. My shampoo, oh yes, SLS. Great! I have been anointing my scalp every morning with engine degreaser. Okay, let’s look at my bath gel…..Oh no…here too. Full of the stuff. So not only am I washing my scalp with the stuff, I have rubbing it all over my body in the shower. Wonderful!
Toothpaste, yep its there. Hand soap….Uh huh…. So now I am totally discouraged at what my skin has been absorbing all this time. The skin is the bodies largest organ and I read that it easily absorbs the chemicals applied to it.
Next, back on the computer, I took a look at body lotions. Well! It seems that mineral oil is a “petroleum problem”.
Read this from:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-11/w-moc112408.php
From a quantitative standpoint, mineral oil is probably the largest contaminant of our body. That this contaminant can be tolerated without health concerns in humans has not been proven convincingly. The current Editorial of the European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology reflects on this and concludes that this proof either has to be provided or we have to take measures to reduce our exposure – from all sources, including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and the environmental contamination.
So again I rush to the bathroom to check out my lotions. I couldn’t believe it!!! Not only was I applying SLS on my body in the shower, after drying myself, I was slathering on a petroleum product. Three of the bottles I had, and they are all well-known, had mineral oil. And what made me so angry was that I thought I was taking care of myself.
I looked at a moisturizer I had purchased through Mary Kay. It was a heavy night cream. Mineral Oil. Now it made sense. I had used this product extensively during the summer and noticed how dry my skin was becoming and all of a sudden it was though I was aging overnight. It was the cream. What was meant for good was actually harming my body and making me worse thinking that I indeed, needed even more of this putrid goo.
Actually, I had to just sit back, contemplate and wonder how this could happen. Is there no one out there in the industries watching out for the consumer? I guess the answer is NO. We are on our own. Greed has taken over all the markets and we have to research everything for ourselves for safety.
Dare I go on?
I have known for 20 years that I am not able to eat corn products. Especially corn starch and corn syrup. These items are in everything of course. What I didn’t know was why I couldn’t eat these products. While researching high fructose corn syrup, I discovered how this product was making many people sick.
Read some of the comments here:
http://www.accidentalhedonist.com/index.php/2005/06/09/foods_and_products_containing_high_fruct
Most of the corn grown in the US is genetically modified and it is really is not food anymore. So is the soy crop. Stay away from these grains. Of course cattle and chickens are fed this altered corn, so when we eat these products….where will it end? In the US I guess. Most other countries have out-lawed GMO grains, but no, here in our great country, the almighty dollar is the determining factor.
We are switching to organic meats. This means that the cattle must be grass-fed and not be injected with hormones. Still you must check to make sure you are really getting the good stuff.
So there are poisons in everything. In our food, water (flouride was given to the prisoners during the holocaust), deodorant (aluminum) cosmetics, toothpaste and lotions. Oh and soft drinks. I haven’t gone there yet.
Please do not drink anything with the advertised sugar-free products. They will make you sick. They will make you fat. Sodas, chewing, candy, ice cream, all of it. Sugar is better for you if you use some it. Stevia is ok but you don’t hear about it because it does not harm you.
http://www.sweetpoison.com/aspartame-information.html
http://www.splendaexposed.com/
So, you can see where this is going…..
Not feeling well???? Let me ask….
Do you drink milk, eat meat, consume diet products, wash your hair, eat corn chips, corn cereals, take a shower or bath, use lotions, wash your hands, brush your teeth, shave, use deodorants, polish your fingernails (toluene and formaldehyde), eat cheese, buy processed foods that have high-fructose corn syrup, like crackers, canned goods, cookies, candies, chocolate, cakes, pies, and fuit juices? All these common products are suspect and are harming you.
Please…take a few minutes to research these products and begin to eliminate whatever you can. I went to the health food store and the natural sections in the grocery store and found quite a few products without the additives. You still have to read the labels. For instance at the health food store, there were six different toothpastes but only one brand had neither flouride or the SLS. So check those labels.
You see, I prayed….”Lord help me. I don’t feel good anymore…my head hurts, my thinking is fuzzy, my legs are always weak and tired. What is wrong? Will you show me?”
A Story of God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Paul and Danny have been best friends since high
school. Both are Christian and attend the same
church. They live in the same neighborhood and
get together often for fellowship and Bible study.
But their friendship and fellowship is about to be
tested, in ways they could never imagine.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Riiiing…Riiiing…Riiiing…
Hello?
Paul, this is Danny. You need to come over to my house as soon as possible! You won’t believe this!
Paul: What’s going on, Danny? Are you okay?
Danny: I’m fine. I visited a new church last night and, and…
Paul: Danny, calm down for a minute. You’re talking so fast I can hardly understand what you’re saying.
Danny: I can’t help it! I’m so excited! You’ve got to come over as soon as you can!
Paul: Okay. Okay. I’ll be there in a few minutes.
Danny: Please hurry!
No sooner than Paul pulled into Danny’s driveway, Danny ran outside, jumping up and down, and met Paul as he exited his car.
Danny: Paul, you’re not gonna believe this! You’ll have to see it with your own eyes! Praise the Lord! This is fantastic!
Paul: Okay. I’m here. What’s going on? What is it you want me to see?
“Paul, you’re not going to believe this!” Danny exclaimed, as he hurried Paul to the front door. Inside, Danny ushered Paul to a chair and said, “You need to sit down.”
Read Full Story Here:
http://www.christianresearchservice.com/DiamondsFromHeaven.htm
As you know I love posting personal testimonies – This one is from – “For the Author”
A PERSONAL TESTIMONY: WHY CHRISTIAN LEADERS SHOULD NOT PROMOTE HENRI NOUWEN
Please read the important article at Lighthouse Trails
Why Christian Leaders Should Not Promote Henri Nouwen
that inspired the diatribe which follows:
Why Christian Leaders Should Not Promote Henri Nouwen
that inspired the diatribe which follows:
I became a big fan of Henri Nouwen after discovering him on the reading list of the Spiritual Formation syllabus at a seminary where I took a few classes a couple of years ago. As an author, I found him to be warm, honest and engaging. He appealed to the scholarly side of me as well. I ended up choosing to write one of my papers for the Spiritual Formation class about two of the books he wrote. (It was a required class – I was enrolled in the Marriage and Family Counseling program).
Finish the article here
Over at the Earthquake Resurrection blog, David Lowe has posted a very powerful 5 minute video. I did not get through it without tears and it sent me to my knees in gratitude for what our Father gave for us.
Please click on the link
http://earthquakeresurrection.blogspot.com
to watch:
The Bridge: A Father’s Choice
A Cinematic Story of a Father’s Love…
Faced With an Unfathomable
Circumstance and Choice.
Faced With an Unfathomable
Circumstance and Choice.
After scouring the articles about Christians and Halloween, I decided to post this one from :
FOR THE AUTHOR – Taken from this highly recommended website
http://www.fortheauthor.blogspot.com/
Saturday, November 1, 2008
THE DAY AFTER A PAGAN “HIGH HOLY DAY”
Well, Hallowe’en is over for another year. It is a day, as a Christian, that I typically ignore. My sensible parents never allowed us to participate in the event other than to deposit gospel tracts in the bags of the candy-beggars. (My daddy was a pastor). We always had a great time, though, rounding up various unused items from the household (old belt buckles, other stuff we didn’t want) and added them to their bags of goodies, hooting with glee as we closed the door behind the unsuspecting trick-or-treaters. It continues to be a day that we don’t acknowledge other than as a pagan holiday. It always seemes to weird to me when people greet each other with “Happy Hallowe’en”! Happy? HAPPY!!? Scary, silly, or even devilish would be a more appropriate adjective to describe the event. It troubles me to think of what is going on behind the closed doors of the growing number of Wiccans, earth-worshippers and Satanists on that day. I hear their numbers are growing rapidly as people are turning away from the living God to worship created things. A lot of physical and sexual abuse is taking place behind those closed doors. It was interesting and informative to watch a television show on VisionTV yesterday talking about the true origins of Hallowe’en. They didn’t make any bones about its pagan past and its pagan present, speaking of its growth in popularity throughout North America.
Well, enough rambling. I found a good article about the issue that I thought I would pass on. “What is This? Christians Celebrating Halloween?” written Ray Gano of Prophezine, likens it to the act of adultery, or flirting with an old boyfriend after geting married. If you and your family are still “celebrating” Hallowe’en, you need to reconsider doing that, and ask yourself if it brings honor to Christ.
by Bud Press, Director
Christian Research Service
www.christianresearchservice.com
October 24, 2008
____________________________________________________________________
And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with
the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not
strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven.
And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called
the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to
the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him (Revelation 12:7-9).
____________________________________________________________________
In the opening stages of his 2003 article, “Angelic Hosts Part 1,” Todd Bentley focuses the reader’s attention on “teaching on the angelic realm and how you can release angels to fulfill God’s word”
( http://www.etpv.org/2003/angho.html ).
Next, Bentley reveals that he had “several daily visitations of angels which lasted for weeks,” and that,
Since the beginning of this year I’ve also sensed an increase in the presence of angels in our meetings. Many others have reported to me of increase of spiritual activity in their lives too.
Towards the end of his article, Bentley claimed that one of the angels he encountered was a female named “Emma”:
Now let me talk about an angelic experience with Emma. Twice Bob Jones asked me about this angel that was in Kansas City in 1980: “Todd, have you ever seen the angel by the name of Emma?” He asked me as if he expected that this angel was appearing to me. Surprised, I said, “Bob, who is Emma?” He told me that Emma was the angel that helped birth and start the whole prophetic movement in Kansas City in the 1980s. She was a mothering-type angel that helped nurture the prophetic as it broke out. Within a few weeks of Bob asking me about Emma, I was in a service in Beulah, North Dakota. In the middle of the service I was in conversation with Ivan and another person when in walks Emma. As I stared at the angel with open eyes, the Lord said, “Here’s Emma.” I’m not kidding. She floated a couple of inches off the floor. It was almost like Kathryn Khulman in those old videos when she wore a white dress and looked like she was gliding across the platform. Emma appeared beautiful and young-about 22 years old-but she was old at the same time. She seemed to carry the wisdom, virtue and grace of Proverbs 31 on her life.
She glided into the room, emitting brilliant light and colors. Emma carried these bags and began pulling gold out of them. Then, as she walked up and down the aisles of the church, she began putting gold dust on people. “God, what is happening?” I asked. The Lord answered: “She is releasing the gold, which is both the revelation and the financial breakthrough that I am bringing into this church. I want you to prophecy that Emma showed up in this service-the same angel that appeared in Kansas city-as a sign that I am endorsing and releasing a prophetic spirit in the church.” See, when angels come, they always come for a reason; we need to actually ask God what the purpose is. Within three weeks of that visitation, the church had given me the biggest offering I had ever received to that point in my ministry. Thousands of dollars! Thousands! Even though the entire community consisted of only three thousand people, weeks after I left the church the pastor testified that the church offerings had either doubled or tripled.
But “Emma” isn’t the only female angel that Todd Bentley has endorsed. There is another, and her name is “Mary.”
Mary, Mary, quite contrary…
In his June 1, 2008 book, The Reality of the Supernatural World, Todd Bentley included a chapter titled, “SUPERNATURAL ENCOUNTERS.” In it, Bentley introduces the reader to “some inspiring testimonies of ordinary people who have experienced powerful spiritual encounters” (p. 339).
On page 340, Todd Bentley gives his stamp of approval to the inspiring testimonies, stating that,
I’m so thankful for those who have shared their stories here, and I rejoice for what God has done in their lives and through our ministry. We thank them for “saying so,” for declaring His works, and making known to our readers that the Kingdom of Heaven is now.
One of the stories Todd Bentley is so thankful for is the testimony of a 15 year old girl named “Alyssa” and her “Supernatural Encounter With Angels” (dated April 5, 2007). Here is an excerpt from page 344:
Then, I went to sleep and I saw in a dream our whole house being taken over by angels, and even the Lord came into our house, walked around our beds, and blessed us and secured the whole place. Then the next night, a whole room full of angels came in and spoke with me and said, “We are so happy to have you back, ALYSSA!” Then a beautiful angel, named Mary, came and said, “We are here to believe in you.”
Alyssa concluded her testimony on page 344, stating that, “This has changed my whole life!” She hoped to attend the Supernatural Training Centre, sponsored by Fresh Fire Ministries ( http://www.freshfire.ca/index.php?Id=4 ).
In his article, “Confronting the Superstitious Church of the 21st Century,” Richard Fisher reminds Christians that their focus is to be on Jesus Christ, not angels:
The pursuit of angels should be off-limits for a Bible-believing Christian for a number of reasons. Paramount is a warning in Colossians 2:18 regarding intruding into the unseen realm of angels. The pursuit of angelic beings is a subtle diversion from the only Mediator who is superior by comparison and from the study of Scripture. [Personal Freedom Outreach, http://www.pfo.org/confront.htm ]
But the pursuit of angels is precisely what Todd Bentley, Alyssa, and many of his followers have done. And while Alyssa’s testimony will sound credible to the innocent, unwary, and those whose minds are blinded to the truth of God’s written word, it wasn’t heavenly angels and the Jesus of the Bible that appeared to her in her dream. What Alyssa encountered were counterfeit angels the Apostle Paul warned about in his letters to the churches of Galatia and Corinth.
In his letters, Paul warned about the false “Jesus” and demonic angels roaming the spiritual landscape. Galatians 1:6-9 and 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 serve as a chilling reminder that there are real counterfeit angels–all of whom make it their business to confuse, oppress, deceive, and lead the believer away from the real Jesus Christ and the real gospel and the real Holy Spirit.
And marching in-step with the counterfeit angels and “Jesus” are men and women who claim to be servants of Jesus Christ, but are, in reality, those who are well-trained in the dark art of deception and manipulation:
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).
Remember this: Where there be false apostles and deceitful workers, there be doctrines of demons and interactive fellowship with demonic angels.
Again, from Todd Bentley’s article, “ANGELIC HOSTS Part 1,” here is a chilling reminder of what happens when the counterfeits’ show up:
During this visitation the pastor’s wife (it was an AOG church) got totally whacked by the Holy Ghost–she began running around barking like a dog or squawking like a chicken as a powerful prophetic spirit came on her. [ http://tinyurl.com/BarkingClucking ]
For decades, the Charismatic movement has spawned and spewed a multitude of false prophets, false teachers, and false healers; all of whom have mocked, plundered, and twisted God’s written word; all of whom have taken advantage of the weak and conditioned the innocent; all of whom have caused tremendous damage to the cause of Christ worldwide.
While deception is seeker-friendly to both adults and children, Alyssa’s testimony demonstrates just how easy it is for a young teenager to be influenced and manipulated by the false teachers of our day.
After all, is there a better way to ensure the future of demonically-inspired teachings than to condition and deceive impressionable children, and lead them down the path to unrighteousness?
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren
who are in the world (1 Peter 5:8-9).
Recommended reading:
Bob Jones: A Tail of a Prophet
Does the Bible teach that angels visit us?
I grew up attending a protestant covenant church and accepted the Lord as a young girl. I had a strong biblical background. I began to backslide as a teenager and so I wandered for over 30 years. One day I came back to the Lord. I was so convicted of my sin that I wept in repentance. I became hungry for the Word of God. I joined BSF Bible Study when invited to attend. I hungered and thirsted for righteousness.
I was immersed in the Word and loving every minute of it. But something happened. I began to receive open visions. I saw the Lord’s hands. Gigantic numbers appeared in scenery as I was driving.
Then I began to get messages. Oh how I thought the Lord was using me. I told my mother who thought I was being extremely blessed. I began to take the advice from the voice that I was hearing. I told only a few people but one was impressed with how close I was to God and asked if I had a “Word” for him. Not being familiar with Pentecostal theology I had not heard of this. So I asked God for a “Word” for this person. Indeed I was given specific information regarding this person and shared it with him. It was an extremely joyful experience. However it only deepened my delusion.
Since I was a Christian and was “hearing” a voice, I thought surely I was hearing from God. I did not even question my experience. Satan is a tricky and deceptive being. He will use the best devices at his disposal to pull you away from God.
The messages I received were varied. Some sounded like scripture. Some were odd dreams. I dreamt about evil hanging over the city of Kansas City and the IHOP. (That one was true). Satan mixes truth and lies. I had strange manifestations at night. I once had two open visions of water flowing down the hallway in my home. A week later a water hose slipped from the connection and flooded the house. The demonic world can see circumstances around you and make you think you are prophetic. This list could go on and on.
One was an upcoming judgment of a city with a time frame of two weeks. I started to look for others who were receiving similar information.
Oh my! What I found was a whole world of prophetic people. I came across something called the The Elijah List. I poured over their predictions and visions. I was hearing some of the same things others were. I read them all. I did notice that some of the older posts had predicted future events that did not happen. One was a tsunami for the West Coast reaching up into the Willamette valley. That date had passed. I wondered about that.
But something happened…or didn’t happen I should say. The prediction I was given didn’t come true. It was a failed prophecy. I also read that these predictions are not always right that the prophet can be off, but still be a prophet. This is a standard teaching in the hyper-charismatic world. Someone said to me that perhaps my prayers had diverted the disaster. I wasn’t buying it. Something was wrong. I started praying for the truth…constantly.
Research took up most of time at this point. I was learning about all of the false doctrine entering the church. I was shocked. Contemplative prayer, LatterRain, yoga in the church, prosperity teachings, and the prophetic ministries. Mind boggling. While I was trying to find out why I was receiving these false messages, I was learning discernment. I also learned that I already had discernment because of the doubts in my mind.
One day I opened my Bible to Deuteronomy 18. I read in verse 22 where it says, “if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken…” This sent me to the floor. I was devastated. What I had heard was NOT from God. I knew then that I had been listening to the enemy. It is hard to describe the deflation of pride that happens when the Lord reveals HIS truth. He opened my eyes and scales fell off.
I asked the Lord to take away any gifts that I had that were not from Him. The messages stopped.
A couple years before this started, menopause had hit me and my doctor prescribed Celexa, an anti-depressant because I had become rather weepy. I didn’t think much of it… because it seemed to help. Then I started having colon problems. Another doctor prescribed a pill that seemed to take the pain away. This worked too.
I didn’t know it at the time but the second pill was also an anti-depressant. I was on two powerful psychotropic drugs and I was seeing things and hearing voices. These drugs pierce a protective veil in the mind and are mind-altering. I had opened up my mind with drugs. Another factor is these drugs affect the pituitary gland. This also opens up a person spiritually and this is dangerous. I didn’t know it at the time, and I surely did not want this to happen…But it did.
I want to add that while the drugs were the catalyst for my deception the same problems can happen by being open to false teachings, eastern-style meditation, and receiving impartations from occultism.
A friend alerted me to the predicament I was in and informed me of the influences I was under with the drugs…I had my answer. Praise God for this friend of mine. I went on a tapering program to get off the drugs and now I am totally free of them.
But here is the deal. I was joyful at the thought that I was being used by God. I felt “special”. What rises in a person is thinking that you have spiritual information not available to others. This is a form of Gnosticism. Special knowledge. Now I can see that this was actually spiritual pride. What a lesson. I had only discussed my situation with a handful of people but I had to confess to those I given a “word” to. Confession…..repentance…….restoration.
I was yet to receive another blow to my pride. One night I opened to 1 Samuel and read 15:23. “Rebellion is like the sin of divination.” I had been in rebellion to God by the loving the false messages. It was sin. Later the Lord instructed me on the next step of my undeceiving.
Because I had been reading my Bible every day for six years, I was able to find the truth. Prayer was a staple I needed to get through this situation. But I can see how beguiling the prophetic movement is and how much it actually harmed me and others spiritually. What if I had decided to try to post my “revelations“, lies from Satan, on one of the prophetic sites? I would have mislead many people.
Unfortunately, my problems did not totally stop here. While the messages and visions stopped I still was suffering from some manifestations. Once while commenting on this blog with a student of “A Course of Miracles” this young person said he was going to send me a benevolent spirit that night. A spirit did show up that night but it was anything but friendly. A cold bony hand gripped the back of my neck. I slipped to the floor and prayed it away in the name of Jesus.
It was an interesting experience. The deceived student thought the spirit he was communing with was good but as a born again believer it appeared to me in its true form as an evil spirit. But again I began to wonder, why I was able to discern the spirit world? Is this also a form of divination?
I had a written personal journal of “messages”, or “visions” that I had received over those three years. I was then led to Acts 19:19 which said that the people burned their magic books. This would be my next step. The very next morning I took my journal and burned it on the back porch on a pizza pan. That night I saw the angry red eyes of a demon. They turned away and left. Now I was also free from the manifestations that had lingered. This demon could see I was still reading his messages to me.
This gave me much freedom from the confusion this situation had been causing. I need to warn the reader again…some of the personal visions I received, did actually happen, and I think this was to enforce the delusion. Satan can see our personal instances and the world we live in and can make us believe that we have received a personal revelation confirming circumstances surrounding us. Some of the messages I received sounded very scriptural, but this is how Satan deceives, by mixing truth and lies together. Satan twisted scripture when he tempted Jesus, but Jesus resisted by using the Word….”It is Written” he replied. We need to resist temptation also, and we can use the Word of God and prayer as our strength and power to defend ourselves.
With all the false teachings that are abounding the one thing I fear most for the church at this time is the “anointing”. Those who desire this “impartation” must be prayed for. I have heard the stories of how these so-called prophetic powers can be passed onto someone by the laying on of hands. My situation was only one way that a person can open themselves to deception. But there are many ways. There is the impartation, false anointings, drugs, alcohol, eastern meditation, repetition of word, hypnosis, visualization (very occult) , and the seduction of today’s hypnotic music. The church is being bombarded with all these deceptions and spiritual influences. Sadly the church is embracing many of these occult methods because these methods create an “experience” of feelings, like the “soaking” we hear so much about today. Instead of serving God in humililty we are being taught to soak in ecstasy.
Whenever I hear of the church participating in something that sounds like a “spiritual awakening,” I cringe. New age techniques almost always accompany these gatherings.
It was not long ago I prayed…”Lord, why did I have to go through this? Why me?”
I knew immediately…I had been tested. Who was I going to turn to? The Lord and His Word in the Bible, or Satan and his false words outside scripture?
The church is being tested right now!….Are you being refined or are you being mislead? Can you spot deception and avoid it or are your participating in it? Are you reading and studying the Bible for truth from God or are you following the wicked paths of man?
The deceptions today will pull you AWAY from Jesus Christ if you know Him. If you do not know Jesus Christ as Lord then you will have much difficulty finding the truth. Those who have compromised themselves by a false spirit cannot pray or have difficulty reading the Bible. Christians following this false spirit or desiring its power, have lost all desire for these two mainstays of the faith. If this is the case then you need to repent and turn back to the Jesus of the Bible.
Truth found in the Word of God has to be paramount today. Accept nothing else.
Please show patience and mercy to those caught up in these deceptions. Pray for them. Some truly want to serve the Lord and walk with Him. But the evil one knows who to go after. Those who want the truth will eventually listen to it. It may be a process for them. Others are not sheep and need salvation first. Some who come out of deception seem to recover quite quickly. Others suffer for years learning Biblical truth. The Lord works in His ways to draw His sheep back to Him. Not one will be lost.
*****************
Discovering the New Age Movement / New World Order, Part One
Submitted by Craig “Lee” Dorsheimer
I first became aware of the New Age Movement / New World Order in the late 1980s well before I became a Christian through an acquaintance who was witnessing to me at the time and who allowed me to borrow a book titled The Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow written by Constance Cumbey, a Detroit area attorney. I ended up buying a copy of the book.
A few years later, I recall being in night school and seeing on a TV in our break room President George H. W. Bush in his 1991 State of the Union address stressing a “New World Order” and chills went down my spine.
…What is at stake is more than one small country; it is a big idea: a new world order, where diverse nations are drawn together in common cause to achieve the universal aspirations of mankind — peace and security, freedom, and the rule of law. Such is a world worthy of our struggle and worthy of our children’s future…
…The world can, therefore, seize this opportunity to fulfill the long-held promise of a new world order, where brutality will go unrewarded and aggression will meet collective resistance. Yes, the United States bears a major share of leadership in this effort…[1] [emphasis mine]
And, again on March 6, 1991, at the close of the Gulf War:
…Now, we can see a new world coming into view. A world in which there is the very real prospect of a new world order. In the words of Winston Churchill, a world order in which “the principles of justice and fair play protect the weak against the strong. . . .” A world where the United Nations, freed from cold war stalemate, is poised to fulfill the historic vision of its founders.
…Even the new world order cannot guarantee an era of perpetual peace. But enduring peace must be our mission. Our success in the Gulf will shape not only the new world order we seek but our mission here at home.
In the war just ended, there were clear-cut objectives — timetables — and, above all, an overriding imperative to achieve results… [1] [Emphasis mine]
It would be years after this that I would accept Jesus Christ as my savior. During my B.C. [before Christ] days I began to see New Age / New World Order connections in quite a few different areas. One in particular was music – a HUGE idol in my life. There was Eastern mysticism in most of the different genres of music I listened to whether it was the lyrics, liner notes, artwork, music or a combination of these. And, of course, most music stores have an entire section devoted to “New Age” music. This genre is generally for meditational purposes since it’s usually quiet and relaxing yet repetitive – perfect for use as a vehicle for emptying one’s mind.
A basic tenet of the New Age Movement is a syncretism of religions with the belief that there are ‘many paths to God.’[2] However, the main focus is to realize that God is in all – this is called panentheism – so, we just need to realize, then actualize, our own divinity.[3] Panentheism is a further step from pantheism which means ‘God is all.’[3] Religious tolerance is promoted and accepted with the exception of Orthodox Biblical Christianity and other monotheistic religions since these are viewed as divisive.[4]
Some New Agers redefine Christian terminology into New Age meanings. A perfect example is found in the Theosophical writings of Alice A. Bailey – who claims her writings were channeled through her by a ‘Tibetan master’ named Djwan Khul – in the use of ‘atonement’ which is hyphenated to the more Eastern ‘at-one-ment.’ The redefined meaning is to become ‘at one’ or to ‘achieve unity’ with God.[5]
It was at a particularly low point in my life when I accepted Christ; and, the thought of the New Age Movement was far from my mind. During my subsequent Christian walk, which was fraught with waywardness amid faithfulness, I would occasionally think about the New Age Movement / New World Order; but, the stresses and distractions of daily life in the U.S. would overshadow them. However, around April of 2007 I was introduced to some strange teachings that I recognized as being New Age in origin.
Here is Constance Cumbey, who was “The first major evangelical critic of the New Age Movement” according to her own words in this clip, filmed at the 2006 Radio Liberty Conference in Aptos, California:[6]
I entreat you to set aside one hour of your time to listen to what she has to say on the subject of the New Age Movement / New World Order. Cumbey wrote The Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow in 1983 and its follow up A Planned Deception: The Staging of a New Age “Messiah” in 1985 in which she exposes the NAM/NWO having thoroughly researched this unfolding of end time’s prophecy. She continues to research news reports and other info in her ongoing search of the NAM/NWO on her blog.[7]
Throughout this article and the upcoming second part I will provide quotes from this video/audio message in which Cumbey recounts her journey into the knowledge of the New Age Movement beginning in 1981. In addition, I will bold some key New Age Movement (NAM) / New World Order (NWO) terms as I’ve already done above. This does not mean to imply that every time one sees these words that they are necessarily referring to the NAM/NWO.
While the NAM and NWO are intrinsically intertwined, for the sake of simplicity it may be easiest to see the NAM as the spiritual/religious side compared to the NWO which is its political aspect. But, make no mistake, the intention is to establish a one world religion/one world government. This, in fact, makes perfect sense in light of Biblical prophecy:
7He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. 8All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast – all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.
13And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. 14Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 16He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, 17so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. [Revelation 13:7-8, 13-17 Emphasis mine]
This makes it clear that the ‘beast’ will have authority over the entire earth and all inhabitants including the monetary system. The only way for this to occur is to have total governmental control as in a one world government. In addition, if the ‘beast’ is going to conquer all the saints – true Christians – then either: 1) all religions of the world will be in total opposition to Biblical Christianity; or, most likely, 2) there will be a one world religion which will be at odds with Biblical Christianity.
It seems quite obvious that this prophecy will not be fulfilled in a ‘one fell swoop’ kind of way but rather a process over time. It is highly implausible that the Antichrist would just appear on the scene without some sort of plan toward this end. Keep in mind, this is not “man” doing this – this is the power of dark forces bringing forth biblical prophecies toward their fulfillment. And, of course, God is allowing it.
18Dear children, this is the last hour, and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19They went out from us but they did not really belong to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us. [1 John 2:18-19 NIV]
In the above what is John referring to with his words “their going?” I believe it obviously refers to those who’ve walked away from the faith altogether; however, I also believe it refers to those who have moved away from the strict Word of God to subtle errors which in turn leads to larger errors. Remember Jesus’ and Paul’s words regarding ‘a little yeast/leaven’ and how these can “leaven the whole.” [Matthew 16:6, 11-12; Galatians 5:7-10; 1 Corinthians 5:6-7] Whether these folks are doing it knowingly or unwittingly only the Lord knows for sure.
Constance Cumbey’s Introduction to the New Age
In a Methodist book store across from her law office Cumbey found books with a common theme proclaiming the need for a “‘New World Order…’ for ‘transformation,’ to ‘see ourselves as part of an interconnected whole.’ Cumbey: “I started thinking I was looking at some very serious religious apostasy combined with some political elements…”[6]
These books were from those identified as Methodist, Baptist, Mennonite and Catholic authors; however, “…The books all sounded more like each other rather than the respective teachings of their respective denominations.”[6]
From The Aquarian Conspiracy by Marilyn Ferguson, Cumbey quotes, “Doctrine is losing authority and knowing is superseding belief.” [Emphasis mine] This quote itself was taken from The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ by Levi H. Dowling according to Cumbey. Dowling’s book spoke of a Jesus “‘who was not always ‘the Christ’ that …Jesus had earned the degree ‘Christ’ by a life of strenuous service and equipping Himself to find the ‘Christ Consciousness…’[6]
“‘…it is time for more revelation and Jesus is the flesh-made messenger to bring that light to man; but, in the ages yet to come man will attain to greater lights… and finally at last a mighty master soul will arise to light the way to the throne of perfect man.’ I slammed that book shut… I knew I just looked at something about and promoting and preparing folks for the Antichrist.”[6]
The name ‘Lucifer’ comes from the Latin ‘lucis’ which means ‘light’ and ‘ferre’ ‘to bring;’ so, ‘Lucifer’ literally means ‘light bringer’ or ‘bringer of light.’[8]
At a dinner with Phyllis Warren, a biofeedback instructor at Detroit’s Unity Temple who claimed she could heal Cumbey’s husband who had lost both legs just above the knees, Warren proceeds to tell Constance about the “New Age Movement” also known as “The Holistic Movement,” “The Networking Movement,” “The New Consciousness Movement,” and “Age of Aquarius.”[6]
Cumbey comments, “So help me, I did not know that they had a slogan ‘When the pupil is ready the master will appear.’”[6] Interestingly, I found this quote on a site on neopaganism/paganism in response to the following questions on that site, “How do I find pagans/Witches/covens/teachers in my area? How do I evaluate them:”
Some of your best contacts may come from your local new age, pagan or occult bookstores. Check their bulletin boards for notices, or ask the staff.
Don’t be in a hurry to find a teacher. “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear” is a popular saying in most pagan and Craft communities.[9] [Emphasis mine]
Cumbey quotes Warren as saying that those in the movement “‘communicate with code words and signals.’” Cumbey began to say some of the code words which Warren agreed with, “Spaceship Earth, Global Village, interdependence… …I had noticed this strong thread of mysticism, both Eastern and Western, running through it.” Warren further states that Marilyn Ferguson’s book understates the magnitude of the movement.[6]
Cumbey tells Warren that she had been reading the Bible and was “convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that this may very well be what was described in the Bible as the last political/social movement that will bring the Antichrist on the scene.” Warren, still thinking that Cumbey wanted to “come on board,” proceeds, “Oh yes, that’s VERY perceptive of you… I’ve been convinced of that for many years myself.”[6]
Cumbey opens her Bible to Daniel 11:38, “‘He shall honor in his estate a god of forces, a god whom his fathers knew not.’ And, I turned to a page in The Aquarian Gospel: ‘and one may enter fully into the god of forces.’” To which Phyllis Warren says, “You saw it! You saw it! That’s such an important point! Most students of esotericism fail to grasp it immediately. …we believe that Jesus and the Christ are two separate entities, that ‘Christ’ is an office not a man.”[6]
Another meaning for ‘Lucifer’ is ‘force god’ or ‘god of forces’ according to esotericists such as Freemasons, Theosophists, Pantheists, etc.[10] (Star Wars anyone?) So, what does that say about Word of Faith adherents who believe God used the ‘force of faith’ in speaking things into existence assuming Christians can tap into this same creative ‘force?’
Cumbey then quotes 1 John 2:22, “‘Who is the liar but he who denies Jesus is the Christ …is antichrist he that denies the Father and the Son.’ And, suddenly she [Warren] had a mystic, crystal revelation – she told me too much. And, she started trying frantically to take it back.”[6]
Phyllis Warren, after figuring out that Cumbey believed the Bible to be the inerrant, infallible Word of God with no ‘hidden meanings’ or ambiguities blurted out, “‘That’s not right, that’s not right! …That book is simply too misleading…The Antichrist is NOT the negative thing the Bible’s made him out to be!’”[6]
Read Part Two of this series here.
[1] < http://www.c-span.org/executive/stateoftheunion.asp>
[2] < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Age>
[3] Strohmer, Charles. “Beliefs Behind the ‘Seens.’” Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs; John Ankerberg & John Weldon; Harvest House Publishers; Eugene, Oregon; 1996; ppX-XI
[4] Strohmer, Charles. “Beliefs Behind the ‘Seens.’” Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs; John Ankerberg & John Weldon; Harvest House Publishers; Eugene, Oregon; 1996; p XIII
[5] Bailey, Alice A. “Introduction to Initiation.” From Bethlehem to Calvary. Lucis Trust; copyright 1937 by Alice A. Bailey, renewed 1957 by Foster Bailey; 4th paperback edition, 1989; Fort Orange Press, Inc., Albany, New York; p 18
[6] <http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8937919448007045479>
[7] < http://cumbey.blogspot.com/>
[8] < http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/lucifer>
[10] < http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/masonry.html
This is a related article you might enjoy reading:
https://kimolsen.wordpress.com/2007/08/09/the-age-of-aquarius/
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