Month: January 2024

Subtle Seduction of the Occult

~ Observant Servant

Joe Gutierrez tells five stories from his 42 years as a steelworker in the book, The Heat: Steelworkers’ Lives and Legends. In one story, called ‘Snow Danced in August,’ he describes a scene of silvery dust flakes that frequently floated to the floor in an area of the mill where steel strips rolled over pads in a tall cooling tower. For years, workers and visitors alike flocked to the sight, which was especially picturesque at night.

“Then they discovered the dust was asbestos. ‘Everybody breathed it,’ wrote Gutierrez. He now suffers from the slow, choking grip of asbestosis, as do many plant workers.

“‘Who am I? I’m everybody. Can’t walk too far now. I get tired real fast and it hurts when I breathe, sometimes. And to think we used to fight over that job.’

How many things in our culture resemble the silver flakes in that steel mill? Enchanting but deadly.

The practice of the occult is one of the things in our culture that resemble the silver flakes in that steel mill. For many, there is a constant temptation to dabble in it. Reading horoscopes is thought to be a harmless, innocent activity. A survey once estimated that more than 50 million Americans read their horoscopes every day to see what they should do or what they should expect that day. Horoscopes are readily available. They can be found online easily. A daily horoscope is found in nearly every newspaper across the country.

The occult comes in many different forms: fortune-telling, tarot cards, palmistry, numerology, astrology, seances, rune stones, the I ching, ouija boards, and tea leaves. You can easily find places of business dedicated to these things. Shows featuring mediums are on television now. Witchcraft, satanism, and spiritualism are practiced openly.

The English term occult comes from the Latin verb occultus, which refers to hidden or concealed things. As we use the word today, it refers to dealings with the spirit realm. The Scripture forbids any participation in the occult. Paul, our apostle, warns the Body of Christ about practicing idolatry, worshiping the creation and false gods, and having “fellowship with devils” (1 Cor. 10:19,20). The stern warnings to Israel in the Mosaic Law teach us what God thinks about astrology and the occult, and that is enough for us to know that we need to avoid these things.

“Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves…Lest ye corrupt yourselves…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…”

📖 Deut. 4:15,16,19

“There shall not be found among you any one…that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord…”

📖 Deut. 18:10-12

What many consider an innocent activity is an abomination in the eyes of God. Consulting mediums, tarot cards, horoscopes, palmists, etc., belittles God. Doing so is to say, “I believe that God is either unable or unwilling to tell me all that is good for me to know.” In essence, it demonstrates the belief that God lacks the love or goodness to guide me, so I will take matters into my own hands.

For our own good, the people of God should shun the evil snare of all practices of the occult. All that we need to know about the future or the supernatural realm comes through the Word of God. By faith, we take our stand on the sufficiency of the revelation of God’s Word. And we trust the One who is with us each step of our journey through life, guiding, caring, and helping us all the way.

Symptoms of Demonic Operation in a Person

~ Observant Servant ~ 1 Comment

One major item of debate in Christianity is whether or not a born-again Christian can have demons. Fact of the matter is, the Bible does not specifically say that a Christian cannot be infected with demons. However there are several instances in Scripture showing that a person can be infected with them. I have personally been prayed for and received healing through deliverance and it has changed my life. I am so grateful to God for this. Learning about this has helped change my perspective of the world around me. This understanding has helped me to forgive others (and myself). Here is a breakdown of some of the symptoms that a person (even Christians) can be dealing with demons spiritually.

haunted

“They came to the [a]other side of the sea, to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him, and the man lived in the [b]tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with chains. For he had often been bound with shackles [for the feet] and with chains, and he tore apart the chains and broke the shackles into pieces, and no one was strong enough to subdue and tame him. Night and day he was constantly screaming and shrieking among the tombs and on the mountains, and cutting himself with [sharp] stones.

Mark 5:1-5 AMP

Incapacity for normal living –
Mark 5:1-5

Just as the actions of Legion made the man unsuitable for normal social interactions with friends and family, an unusual desire for solitude, accompanied by deep loneliness, will often set in.The person will often become very passive with no desire to change.

Extreme behavior-
Mark 5:4

“For he had often been bound with shackles [for the feet] and with chains, and he tore apart the chains and broke the shackles into pieces, and no one was strong enough to subdue and tame him.”

Violence will often be evident in the victims life. An explosive temper and extreme, uncontrollable anger are dangerous behaviors that control the individual and the people who love him or her.

Personality changes-
Mark 5:9 & 12

“He was asking him, “What is your name?” And he replied, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” … “And the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the pigs so that we may go into them!”

Multiple personalities exist in some of the most serious cases of demonic control. This man had a ‘legion’ of spirits within his life. All cases of multiple personality are demonic. Changes in personality, extreme or mild, is evidence of demonic activity.

Restlessness and Insomnia
Mark 5:5

” Night and day he was constantly screaming and shrieking among the tombs and on the mountains, and cutting himself with [sharp] stones.”

In verse 5, we see this man crying in the tombs “night and day”. He could not sleep. Insomnia can be a sign of a physical problem or a sign of a spiritual problem. God has gifted His children with sleep.

It is vain for you to rise up early, to take rest late, to eat the bread of [anxious] toil–for He gives [blessings] to His beloved in sleep.” (Psalm 127:2)

So when you cannot sleep night after night and there is no medical reason for this disturbance, the devil may be tormenting you. Don’t forget, you have the right to rest in Jesus!

A terrible inner anguish
Mark 5:5

This man was deeply tormented in mind and heart. Various levels of anguish are evident in those who are afflicted by demons. Grief and anguish are normal emotions for us all. Yet persistent, unresolved anguish that will not leave after normal therapies of counseling, encouragement and prayer could well be demonic.

Self inflicted injury and suicide
Mark 5:5

Here we see the demonic man cutting himself. If you read Mark 9:14-29, you will see the story of a man whose son was both deaf and mute because of a demon: “wherever it [the evil spirit] seizes him, it throws him down… Often he [the demon] has thrown him [the boy] into fire and and into the water to destroy him” (vs 18, 22) Jesus cast out the demon: “the spirit cried out, convulsed him [the boy] greatly, and came out of him.

If you or someone you know are struggling with any of these symptoms, I invite you to email mike@hardcorechristianity.com for a counseling appointment. Appointments are always free for born-again believers. They can be done via phone, zoom, or in-person. Please also visit HardCoreChristianity.com for more information, teachings and videos. This Ministry has helped me and many others immensely in my walk with Christ.

God’s Gift of Hate

~ Observant Servant

When I became a Christian, my circle of secular friends was completely uprooted and replaced with Christian friends.

For me, that was to be expected.

When I started going through and talking about deliverance, my circle of Christian friends shrunk considerably and some of the very same Christian friends suddenly didn’t feel comfortable around me anymore. They didn’t want to talk to me. Conversations with many of these believers suddenly became awkward and there was a noticeable level of avoidance.

I didn’t expect that.

One thing I will say, this is worth the cost. It is well worth the cost to become a disciple of Jesus. And it is absolutely worth the cost to be on the front lines of spiritual warfare.

I was looking at some old notes that I took when I was first born again. I didn’t have a church at the time so all of my learning came from just reading the bible and watching hours and hours of sermons on a daily basis. (I was unemployed so I could do this easily.) I realized from the notes I took that Jesus was trying to show me about deliverance although I didn’t really understand it at the time. And when I did finally get involved with a church, I was warned against watching this particular minister so I stopped because I assumed that they knew best. But I realize now that back then the Holy Spirit was using this minister to show me that I still needed deliverance. The enemy had used Christians to keep me from fighting!

This revelation has fanned a flame inside me.
I realized that I hate the enemy so much for what he tricked me into, for what happened to me at the hands of others before I was saved, and for the way he used Christians to make me question everything after I was born again. I hate that my deliverance was delayed. I hate him with a passion. I hate what I see him doing to other Christians. I hate what I see him doing in to the church and how everywhere I look, churches are compromising to please the masses. I hate what I see him doing to the lost. I hate the way I see him using people to hurt one another. I mean, I have seen it before obviously but I feel like I am seeing it with new eyes and with greater understanding. I am so angry at him. I hate him so much.

This is a righteous hatred. A glorious gift to have in your battle against the enemy. A Godly hate.

“These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him, A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” -Proverbs 6:16-19

It is important to hate the enemy. Hate produces a fight in you. It motivates you. It empowers you. It is a God-given tool against the enemy. If you don’t hate what the enemy is doing to you and has done to you, you are weak. You are a child of King of kings. An heir. A knight in the Lord’s army. A warrior. Pray to the Lord to give you the gift of hate.