(REPOSTING FROM LAST YEAR)
I’ve been hearing in the spirit that we are to seek, and be intense in our seeking, the peace of the Lord. It coincides with other recent visions and words and impressions I’m sensing lately, and while we’ve always known we are to seek His peace and be RULED BY HIS PEACE, the time may never have been more needful, than this season now.
What the enemy meant for evil, the Lord restores for His good.
When I was in 7th grade, (nearly 1 1/2 years after the vision of “fire”) there was a young man I liked and he seemed not to notice me. A classmate told me about a book in our school library that I might be interested in.
It was a book of witchcraft.
I took this book out and followed the directions. A photograph, a lock of hair, some netting, conceal it in a mattress, a few words spoken over it, and now, to just wait. Soon, I was to find out that this one liked me back, but his intentions were not pure.
In 1974, my gym teacher introduced me to the Ouija Board. I had taken part in seances, and I held them. I saw manifestations. Drugs followed.
Witchcraft was not uncommon in the schools in 1973, nor is it today. In fact, it is on the rise.
When I turned 18, I was still holding seances, still using the Ouija Board and met my first “real witch”. “M” is what I’ll call her.
We became friends and she would teach me things. Some things she would share dispelled any myths I held about witches. Like they had big, crooked noses, and spoke in mysterious tones of voice. In fact, most witches were soft-spoken and had an element of peace about them.
One day, she looked at me and said “Watch this” as she stared at a woman walking past us. The woman stumbled right in front of us. I asked her how she did that.
“M” smiled. I can’t recall her exact words today, but I remember her saying something to the effect that if we wanted this kind of power over people, we needed to give an exchange of power because demons feed on human activity from the soul. She, herself, was visited on many nights by an incubus, and was intimate with him while her husband slept.
Demons need human fleshly or soulish activity in order to operate. Without this, they lie in wait.
Witches are vessels who stir things up in order to allow demonic activity and power to flow through them. Their main goal is power and their vehicle is sending curses on God’s people so that they would be weakened and stripped of power. They stir up the emotions, so that the door is opened to the enemy. Their workings or “craft” precedes attack.
“M” eventually had me convinced, however, that, none of it was evil, because she was a “white witch”, a good witch, interested in healing the body. (See article on Pharmakeia below)
(What I learned later, but not from “M”, was that many witches consider Christians to be the reason many people are sick.)
Once I became a Christian, not only did I see the Truth, but the demons I once played with, now manifested themselves in ways I had never seen before. Frightful ways.
At times, I heard them audibly whisper in my ear. Most times, however, it was a confused language I didnt understand. Demons often hovered over my bed and pinned me to it. A few times, I felt strangled.
I was so frightened and begged God to tell me what I ought to do. Who do I tell this to? Certainly I would be committed; locked up for good. They’d throw the keys away and not blink any eyes.
The Lord said “Pray in the Spirit unceasingly and meditate on My Word”
I did not understand then, what I have come to understand now, about the greatness of this wisdom.
I obeyed and was flooded with the peace of God that passes all understanding. And then I just knew how to pray with revelation, and wisdom and power.
I sometimes look back to see the hand of the Lord in Redemption of that period of my life.
Is it any wonder why the Lord tells us not to worry?
Is it any wonder why the Lord tells us to enter into His rest?
Why we are to cease from striving?
Why we need to stop the busyness?
And cease from works mode (when the Spirit is not empowering?)
Has anyone ever wondered why Paul would admonish GOD’S CHURCH to keep from witchcraft?
It is because in busyiness, or stress, or worry, or anxiety; any time there is an activity of the soul, a stirring up, it is an assignment of witchcraft and pre-ceeds an attack. Our solution is to walk in the Spirit, and command His peace.
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions (Gal 5:19,20)
Firstly, this passage describes witchcraft as an act of the sinful nature, an act that we are warned to put off.
Next- this is a warning to the “SPIRIT FILLED CHURCH” – because Paul is exhorting them to walk in the Spirit. It is not a letter to the world. He would not warn if they didn’t have the ability to. Operating in witchcraft is not for witches only.
We are to pray in the Spirit, walk in the Spirit, live in the Spirit, and we will see the fruit of the Spirit.
We must learn what it means to “wait upon the Lord” if we are to avoid operating in witchcraft or being a target of it it in these last days.
Gal 5:22-26 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
| PHARMAKEIA
I looked up the word “Witchcraft” in the Strong’s Confordance. G5331 pharmakeia far-mak-i’-ah From G5332; medication (“pharmacy”), that is, (by extension) magic (literal or figurative): – sorcery, witchcraft. The same Greek word for witchcraft is where we get our word “Pharmacy”. No! I am not suggesting medications are evil. Medication is no more evil, than the desire to see the body healed. We believe God WANTS to heal and He does. However, we are to be aware or be-ware. Most illnesses are brought on by stress. Stress happens. But we need to know how to wait upon the Lord, seek His peace first, give our symptoms to God, and then having done all, stand. The Lord will let us know our next step. As believers, we need to recognize when a barrage of symptoms come flooding our way, the enemy is about to send to us another, who will be more than happy to help us out of our plight. Medication when used to alter our mood CAN BE pharmakeia. Some comfort foods CAN BE pharmakeia. Test all spirits to see whether they are of God. Do not be deceived by advertising media, good sales pitches, and fine-sounding arguments. Just wait on God. |
| The God Of Peace Crushes Satan
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Ro 16:17-20 |
| There is a rise of witchcraft use in the church that the True Believer of God needs to recognize.
One thing to know is that witchcraft is not a spirit. The operation of witchcraft is an operation in partnership Witchcraft needs a vessel. In the body of Christ, all one needs to do to operate in witchcraft is to be wounded and want control. The world says we need to be in control, we should take control, we have control over our lives. Witchcraft is becoming acceptable to those in the world and in the churches, because they are able to call it something else. Very few, if any, would be involved in witchcraft, if it was called that. It is the enemy operating through a (usually unsuspecting (usually wounded) individual. When a human vessel becomes a willing partaker with the enemy against another, whether through accusation, curses or manipulation in prayer, or to cause division, and cast doubt on another in the body, it becomes withcraft. And almost always, it is done in a “Passive aggressive, secretive, manipulative” way. “Craft” means “an art, trade or occupation requiring great skill.” “Bewitch” is a verb that means to enchant, charm, fascinate. It is used to get the focus off of God and onto something or someone else. Witchraft is the skill of manipulating the soul, or the mind, the will, the emotions. There is only one way to tell the difference between what is of the soul, (Flesh) and what is of the spirit, and that is the word of God. (Heb 4:12) Though the word of God warns us of troubles, we are to seek shelter in His peace, and enter into His rest. “Watch out that no one deceives you. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains” (Mark 13:4-5, 7-8) |
TESTIMONY
| “M” eventually gave her life to Jesus Christ and was instrumental in praying for her son and his wife, “T”, who came to know the Lord. In the same year that I came to know the Lord, I met “T” and we became friends but NOT through “M”. I learned only later that “M” was her mother-in-law.
“T” was unable to bear children, but she and I stood together and fasted and prayed like Hannah did “Give me children lest I die” In 1987, the Lord opened T’s womb and she gave birth to a beautiful little girl. Their curse was reversed. |
| God of my peace
You are my release No other is safe No other will do Hide me in Peace Til judgment has ceased And I will find rest In You When troubles abound Around every side I remember that I’m The reason You died In You I am found In You I will hide God of my Peace Come fill me I will wait at Your feet Till Peace is found in me |
