Spirits - A Christian View

The Nature of Ghosts–Just follow the Evidence

2012-01-30T06:00:00.012-06:00

Introduction
In this blog I have attempted to give a Bible based and Christian explanation for paranormal phenomenon, specifically the essential nature of spirits and ghosts. Many people are seeking information about ghosts and spirits by technologically documenting the paranormal , or by direct contact with spirits through mediums and psychics. Yet there is an obvious factor which is being neglected as people generate theories about ghosts and spirits. That factor is the environment in which you detect spirits or ghosts.

NASA has a motto which it uses when trying to determine whether life exists or has existed on other planets: “Follow the water”. The assumption is that if you can find evidence of liquid water on a planet, the chances of finding evidence of life increases dramatically. In other words, the environment will tell you whether life could exist. A similar motto should be adopted by those in the paranormal field: “ Follow the evidence” because the evidence will tell you a lot about the nature of spirits and ghosts. So what do we conclude from an examination of just two environments of ghosts?

Environment 1. Abandoned places of pain, suffering, and death. This environment would include
cemeteries, abandoned prisons, hospitals, schools, and public centers. Certainly, spirits that reside in such places are far from “just folk who have died”. They exist in desolation and isolation, carrying with them the echoes of the pain they suffered during life. While it is true that they may not even recognize the condition of their environment, this lack of contact with the physical speaks volumes about their contact with the spiritual reality in which they exist. When the environment has a history of violence, then the spirits who are linked to it, live with a constant sense of fear and intimidation, even to the extent that they attempt to hide in the darkest, most remote and isolated part of the environment that they can find. They are not hiding from the living but from the demonic types which also inhabit such realms. It may be said of such spirits that they are already experiencing hell but on earth rather than Sheol.

Environment 2. Habitations of the living. This environment would include homes, and such public places as restaurants, theaters, and museums. These spirits are seeking a safe place to exist. Very often this puts them in a fierce competition with the living for territory. You must understand their motivation. If someone made you homeless then you would have to face the fear of living on the streets. For these spirits, the option is even more terrifying. They go either to a place of greater suffering such as a type 1 environment, or to Sheol in order to wait for the final judgment. As a result these spirits will implement two basic strategies to continue to co-exist with the living:

1. They will attempt to seek acceptance from the living. Perhaps the majority of these types of ghosts will reach out and try to contact the people living in the home or other environment. Their purpose is to seek acceptance and be given permission through inaction to continue to exist in conjunction with the living. This gives them a sense of safety and belonging. So they generate just enough paranormal events to let the living know that they are around but not enough to terrify or cause the living to reject them out of fear. The people in the environment may experience low level events such as hearing knocks, footsteps, or seeing an occasional shadow. If the spirit finds an environment in which his own attachments may be strengthen then he will certainly attempt to stay For example, someone who lived and died as an addict will stay in a home in which the people are addicts.

2. They will attempt to dominate the living in order to drive them out of the environment. In this case, the competition for dominance can become intense with equally intense paranormal phenomenon the rule rather than the exception. Such “hauntings” are often considered demonic in nature because the purpose of the spirit is to drive out the living in order to gain exclusive possession of the environment. As a result, very strong events can occur such as physical attacks, objects thrown at people, an increase in physical sickness and psychological disturbances, and an ever increasing sense of oppression accompanied by assaults both auditory and visual. The level of harassment can become so intense that the people involved may actually leave, having come to the conclusion that it is easier to leave than continue to stay and be molested.

So if we indeed follow the evidence we can not help to come to the conclusion that a ghost is the most unfortunate of all creations. Unfortunately, this ill condition was caused by a passionate love of the world un-tempered by attention to spirituality, especially salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. To downplay or diminish the seriousness of their plight is to play the devils advocate, every ghost is a warning that while living, time is limited and decisions about ones eternal destiny must be made without delay. It is also amazing to me that those who do the research and gather the evidence often ignore the message in their own findings. No person is exempt from their final destination in the spirit world, and even ghosts will eventually end up where they belong regardless of their love and attachment to things of the world.

Got a problem with the paranormal or have a question you would like one of our authors to discuss? Fill out a Confidential Help Request Form and we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you would like to discuss this topic go to the Discussion Forum by clicking on the "Discussion Forum" link on the right side to this blog. If you have not made a commitment to Jesus and you would like to do so now, then click HERE to go to a page that will show you how to become a follower of Jesus Christ.

The Impact of Spirit Sensitivity on the Church

2012-01-16T06:00:00.040-06:00

Introduction
Before you read this post you should read the post on hyposensitives to give you a better understanding of this post. Just click this link to get to the reference post: Hyposensitives.

^{Image 1}

Now that you have read the post discussing hyposensitives you might also want to read some of the posts concerning hypersensitives as well. The basic idea is that sensitivity to the spirit universe is distributed on a normal bell shaped curve. The hypersensitive represents one end of the curve (shaded yellow in image 1) and consists of people who are extremely sensitive to the spirit world. The other end of the curve (shaded blue) consists of people who have very little if any sensitivity to the spirit world. So the hypersensitive has frequent and often intense paranormal experiences while the hyposensitive may not be able to sense the condition of his own spirit and certainly not that of a spirit outside of himself. Between these two extremes are the folk with a range of sensitivity which we may call average sensitivity. That is, they may have an occasional spiritual experience but such events are rare though often personally significant.

One final but extremely important fact to remember is that salvation is not dependent on sensitivity to the spirit world. Salvation is found only in faith in Jesus Christ and nothing else. That means that everyone, no matter where they reside on the bell shaped curve, can be saved just on the basis of faith in Christ. Whether one is hyposensitive or hypersensitive does not matter for the purposes of salvation, but it does matter as to how you express that salvation and your membership in the Body of Christ.

Birds of a Feather
There is an old saying: “Birds of a feather flock together”, and that is certainly true when it comes to the type of church to which people are attracted and finally join as members.

So, hypersensitive folk will tend to attend churches which have a lot of other hypersensitive folk. The church itself becomes hypersensitive and I would like to call such churches Spirit plus (S+) churches. You can identify a S+ church because of several characteristics. First, the S+ church focuses on relationship not only with Jesus but also with the Holy Spirit. Secondly, the S+ church supports doctrines which promote supernatural experiences such as the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, the use of the spiritual gifts in the church, and receiving the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Finally, the S+ church worships with a passion; the purpose of which is to experience the living Presence of Jesus and to taste of the glory of heaven. S+ churches reside on the right hand side of our bell shaped curve and are often referred to as Pentecostal, Charismatic, or Spirit Filled fellowships.

Now, hyposensitive people do the same thing, that is they feel most comfortable around other hyposensitive people so they create hyposensitive churches. I would like to call these kinds of churches Spirit negative (S-) The S- church also has certain characteristics typical of the type. First, the church focuses on intellectualism and therefore holds the Word in much greater esteem than the Spirit. As a result, S- churches focus on Bible knowledge and theologies derived from a common historical belief system. Second, individual spiritual growth is fostered by programs (Sunday School, small Bible study groups,etc.) instead of relationship with Jesus or the Holy Spirit. S- churches tend to place emphasis on ritual and church dogma instead of supernatural experience, and may pride themselves on their doctrinal differences from other Christians. Thirdly, worship does not have a central place of importance but S- churches tend to be passionate about preaching instead of worship. Finally, almost universally, though there are exceptions, S- churches reject the Baptism of the Holy Spirit as an experience separate from salvation, teach that the spiritual gifts are no longer for today’s church, and will discipline any member who believes otherwise. S- churches reside on the left side of our bell shaped curve and are often referred to as denominational churches though the specific denomination may vary greatly.

The Danger in the Extremes
In both S+ and S- churches a balance between the Word and the Spirit must be maintained if the church is to stay healthy. If there is a separation between the Word and Spirit then the church becomes troubled and unhealthy. R.T. Kendall wrote a book describing this separation and described it as a “divorce” between the Word and the Spirit. ( Brother Kendall’s book is listed in the suggested reading list found in the right hand column of this blog.)

Extreme S+ churches disregard the Word as the standard for doctrine and practices, and as a result fall into some form of thinly disguised mysticism . The out of balance S+ church is characterized by a wealth of paranormal experiences all of which are automatically considered to be caused by the Holy Spirit. Immense spiritual value in these kinds of extreme S+ churches is placed on personal experiences and strong emotional reactions to the spirit, presumably the Holy Spirit. What is lacking is a foundation of Scriptural support for the experiences. As a result, any kind of behavior is acceptable regardless of what the Word says ( or does not say) about it, and, as a result, other spirits even demons begin to gain control in the church. Finally, out of balance S+ churches tend to be addicted to strong spiritual phenomenon and actually think that if there is no profound spiritual experience during a service, something is “wrong” in the church, with the Pastor, or with other leadership. This attitude can produce conflict and strife in the church. Extreme S+ churches characteristically have poor attendance or no attendance for Bible Study groups and preaching services accompanied with an insatiable hunger for manifestations of spiritual power or anointing.

The extreme S- church rejects the Holy Spirit through church dogma and teachings which essentially ignore or incorrectly interpret entire sections of the Bible. What is so ironical about this rejection is that S- churches tend to pride themselves about their Bible knowledge. By rejecting the Holy Spirit these S- churches tend to be legalistic and judgmental which results in seclusion and social isolationism and very little if any successful evangelism. By in large, S- churches tend to be hostile to any real supernatural phenomenon in the church and may develop committees tasked to quench any move of the Spirit in their churches. Again, very ironically, S- churches tend to confuse the experience of salvation with that of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, and often teach that every Christian gets the Baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation. Of course what this does is discourage their members from asking for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit because they think that they already have it. Since their members actually have not received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, the spiritual gifts mentioned in 1 Cor 12 do not operate in the church. As a result, S- churches tend to teach that the spiritual gifts are no longer available to the church today simply because the Church has the Bible. In other words, they teach that because the church has the Word of God, it no longer needs the Spirit of God to give gifts to the Body! The extreme S- church can also become the playground for demonic activity disguised as self-righteousness, a judgmental attitude, and being easily offended.

Conflicting Powers
The great difference between S+ and S- churches is due to the degree of sensitivity to the spirit world experienced by their members. Yet there is two great powers at play in both types of churches which tend to equalize them in terms of this sensitivity.

The first of these is the natural human tendency toward spiritual laziness and the need for spiritual control. It is much less work, and much less stressful to follow rules, rituals, and dogma than develop a growing relationship with Jesus ( and therefore God) through the Holy Spirit. It is simpler to focus on programs which teach selected Biblical doctrine rather than interaction with the Holy Spirit. As a result, S+ churches are constantly being drawn into the same practices and spiritual viewpoints as S- churches. Too often then, a church that starts out as a dynamic S+ church slowly transforms into a S- church.

The second of these is the very real power of the Holy Spirit to activate spiritual sensitivity through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. This power is called the anointing and it will take a hyposensitive and change him into a hypersensitive. As a result, S- churches have been transformed into S+ churches, or if the leadership of the church refuses to obey the Holy Spirit, then those who have experienced this power form their own S+ churches and fellowships. This is exactly what happened during the Charismatic revival which took place worldwide several years ago.

Where Do You Belong?
Some hypersensitives are very uncomfortable with their own spiritual abilities and join S- churches because they feel insulated from the demands of their sensitivities. Others soon grow weary of being in what they begin to think is a “dead” church and begin to seek a way to explore their sensitivities and experience the spirit world. If they are young, they tend to be drawn into some occult group or religion and may end up trapped and in bondage. Still others will stay safe by submitting their hypersensitivity to the Holy Spirit by being Baptized in the Holy Spirit and begin to work in the gifts of the Spirit in a S+ church.

While most hyposensitives remain happy in a S- church, sometimes they are drawn by a need to experience Christ and the only way they can do that is through the Holy Spirit. Seeking more of Jesus is a sure way of becoming hypersensitive through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit because that is the way prescribed by the Bible. To grow in the experience of Christ is a difficult path to follow because it involves rejecting false doctrines once held dear, and risking rejection by some S- church members because of a lack of conformity to S- church dogma. It is my experience that this voyage of spiritual growth is well worth the effort and what is lost is compensated for by finding a deeper relationship with Jesus.

Got a problem with the paranormal or have a question you would like one of our authors to discuss? Fill out a Confidential Help Request Form and we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you would like to discuss this topic go to the Discussion Forum by clicking on the "Discussion Forum" link on the right side of this blog. If you have not made a commitment to Jesus and you would like to do so now, then click HERE to go to a page that will show you how to become a follower of Jesus Christ.
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The Problem of Pareidolia (Matrixing)

2012-01-02T06:00:00.048-06:00

Introduction
Pareidolia (parr-i-DOH-lee-ə) is a very common and very significant problem in paranormal research and especially when using photographic evidence to support the idea that a spirit was captured by the camera. Unfortunately, pareidolia is not limited to visual phenomenon but also has a significant impact in auditory evidence and may play just as an important role in the misidentification of sounds in EVP recordings which supposedly represents vocal contact with a “ghost”. Given that it has such a big impact on evidence and that it is so common, pareidolia should be understood and compensated for in any serious study of the paranormal.

So What Is Pareidolia
The mind can take perceptions, especially shapes or forms which are vague, diffused, and nebulous (just like the typical “ghost” photo) and make recognizable objects (faces, bodies, etc.) from these inexact forms. Image 1 is an example of pareidolia in action. At first glance it looks like a man riding a horse through a snow covered forest. If you look closely, pareidolia will kick in and you will suddenly see several faces of different sizes, colors, and positions.

^{Image 1}
Now once your mind has taken these clusters of colors and shapes and made a face out of them, each time you look at the image you will automatically see the faces instead of the objects which compose their structure. Pareidolia produces persistent structure out of clusters of perceptions, and that is a good thing because without it we would live in a universe of unrelated perceptions. Image 2 is a 3D version of image 1. You will note that even adding a 3rd dimension to the image does not prevent pareidolia and actually enhances the effect. (Note: you will need a pair of 3D glasses to see the effect – blue and red glasses will do).

^{Image 02-3D}

The two images above were actually drawn to demonstrate how pareidolia works. In most cases, photographs taken during an investigation catch random shapes and forms with diffused textures such as mists. Now, image 3 was randomly generated by my photo editor. It is composed of a marble texture over a black background with no actual faces inserted into the background. When you look at this image closely you will see a number of faces, with one surprisingly detailed face nearly in the center of the image and another face less well defined just below the center image.

^{Image 3}

You may notice that in Image 4, I circled two of the faces created by pareidolia (A and B) and inserted a modified photograph of a face (C). It becomes immediately apparent that the inserted face has a much clearer structure and therefore, does not depend on pareidolia to form a face. Because of this, the inserted face in the 3D version of this image (Image 5) highlights the fact that the inserted face does not depend on pareidolia for its structure
^{Image 4}

Image 5
Since the faces and shapes caused by pareidolia are usually derived from a gross combination of background forms, one manner of testing to see if an image is real or the creation of pareidolia is to enlarge the image and check if it maintains its integrity. Image 6 is an enlargement of the inserted image and image A.
^{Image 6}
The face resulting from pareidolia has lost much of its form and is obviously created by the background while the inserted face maintains its integrity and is still clearly visible as a face. You may also note that other faces appear which were not visible before - a sure sign of pareidolia. So a possible solution to pareidolia is to magnify the form and see how well it keeps its shape. There is a problem with this solution and that problem is caused by the texture which shapes the forms which the mind uses to create an object. Examine Image 7.
^{Image 07}
The larger face in this image almost has the same clarity as a photograph. Reducing its resolution by magnifying it will not resolve the problem of pareidolia. In this case, a random collection of forms produced a object which has more than enough clarity to make it seem real. As a result, it is impossible to determine if it is the result of pareidolia or an actual photograph of a face.

Conclusion
Keep in mind several cautions before you declare a photo to be a picture of a ghost:

If the foreground object seems to be made of the same texture as the background, then you are most likely dealing with pareidolia.
If the photograph contains many forms (faces) which seem to suddenly appear out of the background, then you are dealing with pareidolia. For example you will see several faces and shapes appear in the "mist" animation. Note that video is not exempt from pareidolia.
If the foreground object differs from the background and has a higher resolution than the background, then you may be dealing with a real object.
If the object contains within its own structure similar objects then it is pareidolia. For example, if a face can be made to change shape or if it contains other faces, it is pareidolia.
If the appearance of the object is not supported by other instruments than it is likely pareidolia.

Other examples of pareidolia that were actually captured during investigations are as follows:

Credit Allen Tiller - of Eidolon Paranormal and S.A. Paranormal in South Australia

The object in the red box looks like a figure moving away from the tombstones, but it is actually a different colored part of the bush. (Thanks to Allen Tiller - of Eidolon Paranormal and S.A. Paranormal in South Australia ).

Credit Christian Cryptozoology and Paranormal Study Group

All of the above three images are classic examples of Pareidolia. We must pay due deligence to this natural human ability because it will certainly play a role in "spirit" photography and video.

Remember, if you want to make the skeptics happy and drastically reduce the value of your research, just declare every instance of pareidolia to be a ghost image or EVP. It is better by far, to throw out uncertain images than promote pareidolia as evidence.
I have written an entire post concerning the illusions of ghosts, including more on pareidolia and other ways that the mind can fool us into seeing what is not there. If you click on this link: ILLUSIONS you will go to that post and within that post is a link to several pages of illusion generators and a discussion as to how they effect evidence. Check it out!

Got a problem with the paranormal or have a question you would like one of our authors to discuss? Fill out a Confidential Help Request Form and we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you would like to discuss this topic go to the Discussion Forum by clicking on the "Discussion Forum" link on the right side of this blog. If you have not made a commitment to Jesus and you would like to do so now, then click HERE to go to a page that will show you how to become a follower of Jesus Christ.

The Paranormal Mysteries of Christmas

2011-12-19T06:00:00.015-06:00

Introduction
Christmas, like Easter, marks an event which changed human history. The Bible tells us that there are times when God profoundly impacts the world with a demonstration of His power and authority. In the Old Testament we can see this happening most dramatically in the Book of Exodus, where God freed His people from bondage to Egypt by supernaturally controlling the natural order of the world.

In the New Testament at least three events far surpass the Exodus story in terms of their relevance to all of humanity. The last of these events is the coming of the Holy Spirit and the simultaneous founding of the Church. The second and greatest of these events was the resurrection of Jesus Christ because that event signals the possibility of finding forgiveness for our sins and of having a living relationship with God. The first event was the incarnation, which we celebrate today during Christmas and which is shrouded in at least two great mysteries, In this post I would like to discuss these two mysteries with the hope of adding to our supernatural knowledge of man and God.

The Mysteries of Christmas
For a man to experience heaven as a spirit he must die, but for God to become a man He had to be born. This fact brings us to the first mystery:

how God could become truly man and yet remain truly God?

Now as a side issue, this post is not the place to discuss the Trinity and the fact that the one God is Jesus who is God the Son, His Father who is God the Father and the Holy Spirit who is God the Holy Spirit, so if you have a problem with whether or not Jesus is God, then you may as well stop reading this post.

If you admit that the Trinity boggles your mind but you accept the fact that Jesus is God, then we can get back to how could the Holy, Almighty, and Everlasting God become a man. Well, theologians have debated this mystery for ages without coming up with an adequate explanation (in my opinion) so the idea that God became a man is held as true by faith.
However, I would like to point out that God and man are not incompatible. Scripture tells us that when God created man He created him in His own image:

²⁷So God created man in his own image,in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:27 (ESV)

While theologically neglected, this fundamental compatibility is to me of extreme importance. It answers the question as to how Jesus could be fully God and also fully human in one whole person. To put it in terms of modern computing, the hardware could support both operating systems simultaneously and without conflict. Jesus is God (He had all the attributes of God) and Man (He had all the attributes of a man). The Son of God as to His Divine position and the Son of Man as to human representation.

Now pre-fallen Adam initially had the same compatibility but that ended with the first sin. At that point mankind and God were incompatible and spiritually separated, a sad story told throughout the Old Testament. Only someone not conceived through the lineage of Adam could hope to have this compatibility restored from birth. Someone would have to be born of a women in order to establish his humanity and not born of a man in order to avoid Adamic incompatibility with God!

This brings us to the second mystery:

how can a human woman give birth to a son without first having sex with a man?

A rudimentary knowledge of genetics tells us that it is not possible, normally, for a women to give birth to a male child without the intervention of a male. So to understand this birth we must look at it from a supernatural or paranormal perspective. We begin with this Scripture:

²⁶But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:26 (ESV)

So what is genetically impossible, at least according to our limited knowledge, becomes possible through the application of God’s power over the natural order of things. So the Bible makes sure that we understand that Jesus was conceived through the power of God:

³⁵ And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.
Luke 1:35 (ESV)

So we see that even Mary was puzzled about how she was to give birth as a virgin and when she asked she was told that the Holy Spirit would “overshadow” her body and Jesus would be conceived at that point. The word “overshadow” is used as a means of indicating the presence of God’s power and person (E.G. Matthew 17:5) The Greek word for overshadow is episkiazō and it means “to invest with preternatural influence” (See Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionary). To use the terminology and concepts of this blog, the Human Energy Field of Mary was infused with the supernatural power of God to the extent that fundamental changes took place in her body down to the genetic level. The result was the virgin birth and the eventual birth of the Son of God. He was born of a women but did not inherit the separation from God typical of all children born of Adam’s line.

Conclusion
Now the virgin birth is really cool and supernatural to the extreme, but why was it necessary? Why didn’t Mary and Joseph get married and have Jesus in the natural order of things?

If Jesus had been born in the same manner as you and I, he would have inherited a “sin nature” and having that tendency to sin he would have invariably fallen pray to sin. He would have been disqualified as the savior. His death on the cross would be for his own sin rather than as a substitute for us.

By the way, no one every caught Jesus in a sin, nor were they ever able to convict him of sin, and believe me, they tried to do that repeatedly. His sinless life is the strongest evidence to support his virgin birth. No sin nature means no sinful lifestyle!

I wish all my readers a most blessed and merry Christmas.

Got a problem with the paranormal or have a question you would like one of our authors to discuss? Fill out a Confidential Help Request Form and we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you would like to discuss this topic go to the Discussion Forum by clicking on the "Discussion Forum" link on the right side of this blog. If you have not made a commitment to Jesus and you would like to do so now, then click HERE to go to a page that will show you how to become a follower of Jesus Christ.

Spirit Guides: Con Men from the “Other Side”?

2011-12-05T06:00:00.008-06:00

Introduction
Yesterday I received a Fraud Alert from American Express. It seems someone used an electronic gizmo to capture the numbers on my card. Within moments of receiving the bogus charge, AMX sent me an email. I phoned customer service, the charge was denied, and the next day I received a new card.

This electronic phenomenon is something new. But con men have always been a problem. Usually con men take the role of friendly fellows, eager to help you make millions by investing a few thousand in their mine in Outer Mongolia. You can usually spot a con man by his deep, abiding concern for – you guessed it – you! He doesn’t really know you (although some con men may be old friends), but there is no doubt about his utterly benevolent and totally selfless passion to watch out for your best interests.

That’s one reason I’m a little curious as to why so many people seem convinced that “spirit guides,” as one web site puts it, “are here to help, offer guidance, comfort, and yes—even advice.” The same site later assures us, “this is their sole purpose, to offer the living their help and guidance.”
I don’t know about you, but if some disembodied spirit showed up at my house, I doubt that I’d be quite so eager to take “I’m just here to help,” at face value.

Still, thousands and even millions world-wide welcome spirit guides with the proverbial open arms. And, according to another web site, “all you need is a sincere desire to make such a connection. Keep an open mind, and above all, be patient.” I have no data on just how many Americans claim association with one or more spirit guides. But with the New Age Movement, which has morphed into some 150 neopagan faiths (paths), with the growth of Wicca, and with some 60 supernaturally based TV series, the idea that an ordinary persons can have access to a spirit guide is becoming more and more popular. While ancient literature ascribes the powers of sorcerers to spirit “assistants,” and while spiritists and mediums traditionally have claimed to have a special connection with beings from the “other side,” popular belief in spirit guides has now commoditized the supernatural, offering supernatural guidance to the man on the street.

Before we’re carried away by enthusiasm, however, we might want to ask a few questions. Who or what are these spirits supposed to be? What is the basis for believing in their existence? What basis is there for assuming they are benevolent? And even if some are benevolent, are there other beings out there that may be hostile?

Of course Christians will want to ask what the Bible says about spirit guides, if anything. But one doesn’t need to be a Christian to think carefully before rushing off to make contact with a supernatural being about whom one knows nothing. That’s a little like running out onto the lake after the first freeze just to see if the ice is safe. Most of us would at least hesitate at the water’s edge before taking that first step.

So, who or what are Spirit Guides?
That’s a hard one to answer. Still, people in every ancient and modern civilization testify to the existence of spirits. In the ancient world as in contemporary paganism people believed in a spirit world populated by a variety of entities These were gods and goddesses, spirits of the dead, heroes and harpies, the evil and the good. Spirit Guides may be drawn from any of these categories, although ancients tended to look at them as demons.

Today the general consensus is that the spirit guides are disembodied spirits who were once human beings but have “passed over to the other side” (died). According to one web site these persons “chose to remain in Spirit so they could advance spiritually while helping others still living learn their life lessons.” Since these spirits supposedly live on a “higher vibrational frequency than mortals do,” we can’t see, hear, or sense their presence.

Spirit guides are quite different from the guardian angels we were told about as children and read about in the Bible. Those angels of the Bible are pictured as having an impact on what happens in the “real world,” and have even appeared to human beings. Take a look at Amazon.com under the category of Angels, and you get the impression that angels are still actively helping God’s people in real, concrete ways.

So if most believe we can’t see, hear, or sense the presence of spirit guides, how do we contact them? And how do they contact us? The answer seems to be that we meditate, focus, and mentally send the message, “I want to make contact with my Spirit Guide.” As to how they contact us, the most common answer is that they put thoughts in our heads.

Many folks will tell you sincerely that they not only have one or more spirit guides, but that the spirit guides have helped them. If we believe in a Spirit World that’s parallel to our world, and I do, I’m not prepared to challenge their testimony.
At the same time, I’m not ready to assume the “help” spirit guides offer is as benevolent and disinterested as the web sites claim.

The fact is proponents of spirit guides themselves warn that there are evil entities out there, and even suggest ways to protect yourself when seeking contact. One “prayer” (I guess you can call it that) addressed to the god or goddess of your choice begins, “I ask your protective White Light to surround me” and asks that “only beings of Light shall be allowed to enter my sacred space.” Most who believe in spirits recognize that there are Dark Spirits out there, but reassure folks that if they intend to contact only benevolent spirits the bad ones won’t show up. Personally, I’m not so sure we could tell the difference. The Bible even warns that “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). How can we know if the spirit guide we contact is benevolent or one of Satan’s demons in disguise?

What if a person only has positive experiences with a spirit guide? Doesn’t that prove the spirit is benevolent? Maybe. But what if these spirits really are like con men from the “other side”? After all, someone who wants to suck you into a scheme that is in his best interest is surely going to claim that what he does is in your best interest. And a good con man will provide some real benefits . . . until he springs his trap.

What bothers me is that with a spirit guide, I really don’t know whether the being I’ve contacted is truly benevolent or just pretending to be an “angel of light” until he springs whatever trap he’s set. The fact that a spirit guide may help me now is hardly compelling evidence that it’s truly my interests he’s looking out for.

What does the Bible say?
Most Christians today and throughout the ages also believe in a spirit world. Their picture of that world is shaped by the Bible, which pictures the spirit world as a realm created by God and populated by two types of spirit beings, angels (who are loyal to the Creator) and demons (fallen angels to rebelled with Satan before the creation of the material universe). In Deuteronomy 18 and other passages the Bible warns against attempting to contact beings in the spirit world, partly because believers are invited come to God directly, and partly because the only contacts humans can make on the “order side” are with demons. Biblical demons surely are con men from the other side. They promise help, but all they really want is—you guessed it—you!

Now, I don’t want to discourage any fascination you may have the spirit world. It’s a very real realm, and what happens there does have an impact us and our lives. A couple generations ago when people bought into the notion that “science” had proven that this world is all there is, folks ignored the spiritual and spirituality. Today there’s an increasing realization that there is more to reality than the material universe. People are searching for more meaning to their lives than a sterile pseudo-scientific outlook can provide. So you should be commended for your interest in the spiritual.
The only thing I hope is that you won’t be like the person who dashes out onto the ice before checking to see if it’s really safe.

And that in your search for spiritual reality you won’t overlook what’s given meaning to the lives of billions of individuals for thousands of years – a personal relationship with the God of the Bible through trust in Jesus.

Got a problem with the paranormal or have a question you would like one of our authors to discuss? Fill out a Confidential Help Request Form and we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you would like to discuss this topic go to the Discussion Forum by clicking on the "Discussion Forum" link on the right side of this blog. If you have not made a commitment to Jesus and you would like to do so now, then click HERE to go to a page that will show you how to become a follower of Jesus Christ.

Unseen Warfare and the Hypersensitive Christian

2011-11-21T06:00:00.004-06:00

Introduction
When a hypersensitive person gives their life over to Christ as Lord and Savior and accepts the Holy Spirit, there is an immediate challenge and ensuing process that occurs concerning their hypersensitivity. All hypersensitive ability and use must be submitted to Christ and guided or given by the Holy Spirit only. In order that we may receive the divine energy of grace, we must adhere to certain God-given boundaries. The hypersensitive must remain under the 'wings of God', (Psalm 36, 57, 61, and 91). As such, there are right and wrong uses of free will with fruits that result from either case.

The most dangerous wrong use of free will is arrogance, the using of hypersensitive abilities as one see's fit or as one determines is good and best. This is the 'lawless' use of hypersensitivity and ultimately brings the hypersensitive down. They “fall and are unable to stand”. The proper use of free will for the hypersensitive in utilizing their abilities is to seek out and hope for God's mercy, truth, righteousness, and judgment rather than depending on their own understanding.

The divine energy of grace is available to all, but it is not effective outside the boundaries that the Trinitarian God has set. It is not a matter of utilizing hypersensitive ability and then asking God to agree and bless it after the fact. Whatever the hypersensitive does must be approved within the boundaries God has given, guided by the Holy Spirit and be edifying to their soul.

In order for the hypersensitive to acquire the right use of free will with their abilities, they must participate in a process of purification and deification. This often involves sensitivity to one's 'passions/patterns', entails a severe cost, and sometimes involves spiritual violence, as one “takes the Kingdom by force” in defeating anything that hinders the flow of divine energy and communion. It is truly an unseen warfare that occurs within the hypersensitive in order to reach the degree of watchfulness and perfection God demands for the hypersensitive. It is these areas that this post will begin to explore.

Watchfulness/Nepsis
Watchfulness is the spiritual art of guarding one’s heart, actions and thoughts and is referred to by Jesus in Matthew 26:41. It is a discipline that is essential to the spiritual health and growth of the hypersensitive Christian. It is often referred to as ‘Nepsis’, a Greek word meaning “to be sleepless, to guard, inspect, watch over, examine or keep under surveillance”.

Most hypersensitives have a well-developed intuitive sense, called the nous, which is intertwined with their hypersensitive ability. To be watchful is to direct a continuous attention to the nous, or intuitive functioning of one’s hypersensitive ability. Such spiritual attention or inward activity, as it is developed and deepened, is perceived in the spirit realm as spiritual light, which is repellant to demonic entities and malevolent human spirits. Merely the presence of a hypersensitive Christian who has developed watchfulness of themselves and their spiritual environment inhibits the activities of spiritual entities.

Often, when a hypersensitive Christian of this sort is present, the entities and spirits refuse to participate with psychics and mediums, telling them they do not “like” the hypersensitive Christian or they may ask what business the Christian may have with them. They may even become temporarily silent, seeming to disappear only to return when the hypersensitive Christian is no longer present.

When sufficiently developed, the inner spiritual dimension of watchfulness acts to guard the nous from attacks and assaults of demonic powers so that they do not penetrate the spiritual heart and soul. This is a powerful assist to the hypersensitive in “seeing” how the demonic attempts to deceive.
The mature neptic hypersensitive Christian possesses a clear spiritual sense of direction and purpose concerning their abilities and when and how to utilize them as well as when not to. He/she comprehends clearly that hypersensitive ability has a sacramental character about it and is hidden in Christ. Such abilities are a theophany or appearance of God and are for a specific purpose and need that is determined by God.

The hypersensitive Christian must assess when, where and how they use their abilities carefully since such abilities make them partakers of God’s nature. They are also a way by which the hypersensitive comes into intimate contact with Jesus. A Christian’s hypersensitivity can be like the hands of Jesus reaching out with love and with power, if it is submitted properly and completely to the Holy Spirit.
As the hypersensitive Christian grows in watchfulness, they more and more acquire diakrisis, the power of discernment and discrimination within themselves. There develops a strong spiritual sense within from the Holy Spirit that has prophetic qualities rather than “psychic” ones. The hypersensitive begins to take more careful note of what is happening within them and learns to guard the heart. He/she shuts the door to temptation and provocation from the enemy. Thus begins the hidden warfare against the passions.

Unseen Warfare
An important part of watchfulness is spiritual warfare. When we think of spiritual warfare, things like deliverance and the clearing of house, property and land of troublesome or malevolent spirits come immediately to mind. However, there is a whole other level of spiritual warfare that is unseen, hidden and very personal. Neptic awareness is a part of this unseen warfare.

Neptic work over time frees the hypersensitive radically from arrogance, self-centeredness and evil; all of which affect the use of their abilities. When they begin to come nearer to the Triune God and to union with Him, the hypersensitive Christian meets within themselves as many wills as they have power and wants concerning their hypersensitive ability and its use. The hypersensitive may be given special grace at first, but eventually the person finds themselves embroiled in what seems to be a ceaseless fight against themselves and against everything that panders to their own wills or that incites and supports them. Personal spiritual warfare for the hypersensitive concerns the “inward” spiritual battle, occurring in the mind, in the realm of thoughts. It is the hardest of all battles to overcome.

The battle the hypersensitive fights concerning the spiritually proper use of their abilities has five degrees. Each degree signals a progressive degradation and corruption of the will, removing it from God’s will. The first degree involves a simple thought or suggestion which comes to mind from outside the person’s immediate focus. In other words, the thought was not premeditated.
The second degree occurs when the person is in conjunction or conversation with the thought. Permission is granted for the thought to come within as the person receives and holds the thought in the mind.

With the third degree there is a joining or accepting of the thought as the person is defeated by it. The fourth degree is one of captivity or an involuntary attraction of one’s heart to the thought. The thought constantly settles in the mind and carries the mind away.

The fifth and final degree is referred to as passion and is an inclination or an activity that has nested in the soul after a period of time. The person is visited and revisited by troubling thoughts and eventually innumerable hosts of demons. It becomes the soul’s nature and totally enslaves the person.

For a time this unseen warfare is constant. It seems to be never-ceasing. However, with constant watchfulness, discernment and a strong prayer life, a hypersensitive person can develops a state called “dispassion”. Dispassion or apatheia is not a negative condition of indifference or insensitivity to their paranormal abilities whereby the person no longer feels tempted to use them inappropriately. Instead, it is a positive state of reintegration and spiritual freedom, devoid of drama, in which the person no longer yields to temptation concerning the spiritually inappropriate or ill-timed use of their abilities. Dispassion doesn’t mean a person no longer feels the passions. It means they no longer accept them or “rent space” to them. It also doesn’t mean the person is no longer susceptible to demonic attack. It does mean that when attacked, the person remains unconquered.

Ultimately, dispassion results in a state of spiritual rest. The dispassionate hypersensitive person no longer sees and thinks of their abilities with self-centered desire. There is a profound difference between the “voice” and guidance of the Holy Spirit with the use of hypersensitive abilities and one’s personal preferences and habits of use of hypersensitive ability and/or perception. Dispassion is not being “on fire for the Lord”, “turned on for the Lord” or even “baptized in the Spirit” as all these, to one degree or another, have a dependence on the feeling, emotion, or drama of the passions.

A good “rule of thumb” with the use of hypersensitive abilities is to never rely on yourself or the dependence on your hypersensitive abilities/powers in anything alone. Always have a spiritual father, pastor or intercessory group involved in your spiritual life and the use your of abilities, particularly with involvement with the demonic. Also, the hypersensitive should put there hope in God alone concerning their abilities and direct everything about these toward pleasing God only.

Theosis
The ultimate aim of neptic awareness, discernment and dispassion is theosis, which is the divinization of the entire human person in Christ. It involves becoming like Christ to the point of identity with Him, acquiring the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16), and signifies a sharing in His very Life. As one may surmise, the divine purpose and use of one’s abilities are determined and informed by theosis, with the goal being communion and union with God. This creates a way of life and eventually a mode of being best described by the word “humility”.

If the hypersensitive Christian is to use their abilities in a way that is informed by and pleasing to God, then he/she must be transformed, becoming a temple of the Holy Spirit. They then would be a divine illumined light in the spirit world and a consuming fire to the demonic. Through communion with the grace of God, the transformed hypersensitive person manifests a presence or “sense” of the love of God. Any carnal, fleshy desire attached to the person’s hypersensitive abilities or possible connection to evil has been replaced by an unending focus on God’s love for all human souls.

Conclusion
All hypersensitive Christians have experienced the fact that God allows much in the utilization of their abilities. What this post is bringing forth is that there is a difference between God’s permissive will or allowance and His perfect will. What God allows is not always His will although He always makes provision for these in His perfect plan. In God’s perfect will He desires all to refrain from thought, word and deed that are contrary to His nature. This, of course, includes the use of hypersensitive abilities.

God leaves it up to the hypersensitive Christian to walk forward in His will, or not to do so, if that may be the case. It is up to the person as they develop their neptic awareness, engage in unseen warfare and develop dispassion and theosis, to take up His Word, receive His promises and walk this out concerning his/her hypersensitve abilities.

Got a problem with the paranormal or have a question you would like one of our authors to discuss? Fill out a Confidential Help Request Form and we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you would like to discuss this topic go to the Discussion Forum by clicking on the "Discussion Forum" link on the right side of this blog. If you have not made a commitment to Jesus and you would like to do so now, then click HERE to go to a page that will show you how to become a follower of Jesus Christ.
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The Hyposensitive–No Devil, No Spirits, No Eternal Life, No God.

2011-11-07T05:00:00.012-06:00

Introduction
In my understanding of it, sensitivity to things spiritual is distributed in a typical bell-shaped curve. The majority of people have some sense of spirit presence and will have an occasional paranormal or supernatural experience. These events are frequent enough and strong enough to point them to faith in God and belief in life after death. But on one side of the majority we have those who have frequent and powerful experiences with the paranormal almost on a daily bases. In this blog we have called them “hypersensitives” in order to avoid the connotations of labels like “psychic”. On the other side of the majority, we find folk who have never experienced a paranormal event, or sensed a spirit presence during their entire life history. For the sake of consistency, I will call these people “hyposensitives” because their level of sensitivity to the spirit world is far different from the majority of people and certainly drastically different from hypersensitives. In this post I would like to discuss some of the ramifications of being hyposensitive.
Being hyposensitive is a negative attribute in that it represents a lack of something, in this case spiritual sensitivity. As such it can have a huge impact on a person’s lifestyle and belief system and will play a significant role in the formation of personality.

Negative Faith
As an allegory, we can compare a hyposensitive to someone who can not see the color blue. At first he will be puzzled by references to the beautiful “blue” sky and may have no idea what blue means. Others who can see “blue” may have a very difficult time explaining what the word means except to say that it is a color like red or yellow.
Knowing that blue is a color, he may devise all kinds of equipment and methods to reveal it in the sky. Since he can not see it, all his equipment and experiments will fail to detect blue, and in the end he may come to believe that “blue” does not exist. He has then entered into a negative attitude and faith about “blue” based on his experimental and personal experience. Once that negative faith is established, he will dismiss any direct or indirect evidence that blue is a reality. He has now developed an unhealthy skepticism and a closed mind because to him there is no “blue” and anything which suggests that it is real must be rejected. The difficulty with this negative faith is that just because he can not detect it does not mean that it is not there!
Since he still lives in a world where the majority see a blue sky, he will become defensive and even aggressive about his faith that blue does not exist. He may attack the people who see blue by implying that they are ignorant, mentally ill, or simply have overactive imaginations. If he finds others who are blind to blue, they may ban together to pass laws forbidding the discussion of blue in public places, or forbidding that blue should be taught as part of the color spectrum in schools and universities. Now blue can never be accepted as a reality despite evidence for it in the natural world and anyone who attempts to show its existence will be immediately branded as a fraud, crackpot, or fool.

Intellectualism and Rationalism
It is a common observation that when one of the five physical senses is diminished the other senses become acute in order to compensate. For example, blind people have actually learned to navigate through echo-location as their sense of hearing compensates for their lack of sight.
Something similar happens to the hyposensitive. Since his spiritual senses are vastly diminished the physical senses become intensified, and as a result, the hyposensitive becomes preoccupied with the physical and material universe while the spiritual universe becomes mythological and irrelevant. Since scientific method provides a way to test physical observations in a totally rational manner, it is no wonder that many hyposensitives flock to the various branches of science. Now, science does extend knowledge but that knowledge is and always will be limited by the scientific method. As knowledge is extended so is technology and as technology improves so does the ability to measure the previously un-measurable and as a result science expands its territory. Unfortunately, scientific method, intellectualism, and rationalism because of the very principles upon which they stand will all hit a wall when it comes to the spiritual universe. The result is that the hyposensitive will not find scientific evidence for God, the devil, eternal life, and the human spirit and will conclude that there is no God, devil, eternal life, or human spirit. So is there no hope for the hyposensitive to find something as vital as salvation because science will deny him the knowledge he needs about the spiritual universe?

Salvation for Hyposensitives
In Christianity, salvation comes by faith rather than sensitivity to the spiritual universe. The facts of salvation are the same for everyone:

Jesus was a real human being not a ghost.
Jesus was a documented historical figure.
Jesus did die on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins.
Jesus was resurrected as evidence that his sacrifice was accepted as valid and all that is necessary for salvation.

These facts have nothing to do with the spirit world and all that is necessary for a hyposensitive (or hypersensitive) to do is to trust the facts and:

₉ …., if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. ¹¹ For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”

Romans 10:9-11 (ESV)
For the hyposensitive this means stepping out of the box of his intellectualism and skepticism and believing Christ about eternal life and God. Essentially, the hyposensitive must put enough trust in Christ to believe that the sky is in fact blue regardless of his inability to see it.
I have written a two part post which you can read to learn more about this topic. Just click on the following link to get there: Two sides of the Coin Part 1

Got a problem with the paranormal or have a question you would like one of our authors to discuss? Fill out a Confidential Help Request Form and we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you would like to discuss this topic go to the Discussion Forum by clicking on the "Discussion Forum" link on the right side of this blog. If you have not made a commitment to Jesus and you would like to do so now, then click HERE to go to a page that will show you how to become a follower of Jesus Christ.
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Wizards in the Bible

2011-10-24T06:00:00.020-05:00

Introduction

In this blog, I have called people who have an above average amount of sensitivity to the spirit world by the term “hypersensitives”. It is my opinion that such hypersensitivity is genetically transmitted and that in essence, people are “born that way”. Therefore, spiritually, hypersensitivity is a gift given by God and not in itself sinful or evil. However, what the hypersensitive does with his gift can certainly qualify as sin and doom him to spend eternity in a hell world. This is the challenge of being hypersensitive because you will end up either serving Satan and his demons, or the Holy Spirit as an instrument of God! Nowhere is this clearer than in the conflicts between the wizards in the Bible with the men of God. In this post I would like to look at two examples of this conflict from the Old Testament and two from the New Testament.

The Wizards

History shows us that many of the ancient courts had resident wizards because most rulers wanted to have supernatural guidance. Now there is no doubt that the powers of these wizards actually consisted of a combination of stage magic, (a primitive form of physics, chemistry and pharmacology) and actual paranormal abilities activated in conjunction with worship of demonic spirits. With these abilities taken together, they could undoubtedly produce an impressive performance to substantiate their claims of having personal contact with the various “gods” of their culture. Please note that in the Bible these professional religious hypersensitives were called many things including fortune-tellers, magicians, wizards, wise men, sorcerers, false prophets, witches, mediums, necromancers, and diviners.

Taken as a group, the primary problem with these hypersensitives is that they did not represent God but had affiliated with demons and the spirits of the dead. God declared their activities as being sinful and worthless because they gave the people evil advice from an evil source. Isaiah explained it in this way:

¹⁹Some people say, “Ask the mediums and fortune-tellers, who whisper and mutter, what to do.” But I tell you that people should ask their God for help. Why should people who are still alive ask something from the dead? ²⁰You should follow the teachings and the agreement with the LORD. The mediums and fortune-tellers do not speak the word of the LORD, so their words are worth nothing.. Isaiah 8:19-20

So in the end, these hypersensitives opposed the plans and purposes of God whether purposefully or out of ignorance. They came under judgment and their occult activity (specifically seeking supernatural guidance from other spirits but God) was made punishable by death. (Lev 20:27).

Old Testament Examples

1. The Wizards of Egypt vs. Moses
The Pharaoh of Egypt had a court full of wizards. Magicians who were able to duplicate the first three plagues which God used to demonstrate His power over nature and to declare His glory to all the world. In one sense, these magicians were actually trying to debunk the miracles performed by Moses by offering other explanations such as magic instead of Godly power. In doing this they helped Pharaoh reject the command of God to allow Israel to worship Him as a free people. They opposed God and as a result, the Egyptian people suffered as Pharaoh hardened his heart and rejected God’s command to “let my people go”.

All this magical arrogance ended at the fourth plague in which God created living creatures (Gnats) from inorganic material (dust). The court magicians recognized that this was way beyond what their magic could do, and they finally admitted to Pharaoh that “This is the finger of God” (Ex 8:19). The problem they faced as to the origins of life is also a problem for our modern day wizards who seem to have less wisdom then the magicians of Egypt.

2. Manasseh King of Judah vs. God
Hezekiah was a righteous king with an intense and obedient relationship with God. Manasseh was Hezekiah’s son and not only rejected Hezekiah’s example but also rejected God. Hezekiah’s remarkable relationship with God tells me that he was a hypersensitive and more than likely genetically transmitted that hypersensitivity to Manasseh. Unlike his father, Manasseh seemed to use his hypersensitivity in occult ways because Scripture says:

⁶And he burned his sons as an offering in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and used fortune-telling and omens and sorcery, and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger.

2 Chronicles 33:6 (ESV)

To me, Manasseh was a perfect example of a hypersensitive who used his abilities to worship the darkness instead of the light, demons instead of God, and self-glory instead of humility. Manasseh’s story illustrates a very important principle relevant to all hypersensitive folk: If you mess with the Devil, he is going to mess with you!

God took his protection off of Manasseh and as a result, Manasseh was made captive to the king of Assyria who put a hook in his nose, bound him in shackles, and deported him to Babylon. In the midst of his suffering Manasseh finally turned to God for help and was restored. His hypersensitivity was used in the way God intended and Scriptures says that Manasseh “knew that the Lord is God”. ( 2 Chronicles 33:13)

New Testament Examples

1. Elymas vs. Paul
Paul had reached Paphos where he ran into a hypersensitive named Bar-Jesus (Elymas in the Greek). Elymas was Jewish and was called a false prophet, sorcerer, and a magician, so he must have specialized in both magic and prophecies. He must have been good at his trade because he seems to have had influence on the governor of Paphos who is described as a smart man. The governor wanted to hear what Paul had to say, but Elymas opposed Paul and the Gospel. What happened next is a classic paranormal encounter between the Power of the Holy Spirit and that of the devil:

⁹ But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him ¹⁰ and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? ¹¹And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand.

Acts 13:9-11 (ESV)

Now we must avoid a superficial interpretation of this story because it contains a profound lesson for all of us. This certainly is not a case of good magic against bad magic or white magic against black magic. Using two of the spiritual gifts which he later called the “Gift of Knowledge” and the “Gift of Discernment", Paul looked into the heart of Elymas and then revealed it to him.(See 1 Cor 12) In other words, Elymas became physically blind because he was already spiritually blind. The outer world of Elymas became dark because his inner world was filled with darkness due to his rejection of God and Christ.

The purpose of Paul’s command of blindness was not to punish Elymas but to give him the opportunity to find Christ. How do we know this? We know this because Paul had a similar experience. It was Saul the persecutor of the church who was blinded on the road to Damascus, but it was Paul the Apostle of Jesus Christ that regained his vision. Unfortunately for Elymas, he kept his heart hard and continued in his spiritual blindness and, sadly for this Jewish wizard, that was the condition of his spirit after death.

It must be understood that when a hypersensitive rejects the challenge to become a servant of the Holy Spirit, then he will become a servant of the Devil and will oppose God by attempting to stop the spread of salvation through the Gospel. It should also be understood that because the power of God is so much greater than the power of the Devil, the servant of the Devil will pay the price for his rebellion against God. At some point the bill must be paid in full (unless Christ pays it for him as He did for Paul). We see how God stopped Elymas, although it was only “for a time”, with a judgment which highlights Elymas blindness to righteousness and to God. The governor believed in Christ because he had seen the true supernatural power of God in action.

2. The Possessed Servant Girl vs. Paul
This is another classic example of the conflict and confrontation between the Holy Spirit and a hypersensitive in bondage to a demonic spirit. Scripture gives a good description of this encounter as follows:
¹⁶ As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. ¹⁷ She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” ¹⁸And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.

Acts 16:16-18 (ESV)

This poor hypersensitive woman was not only possessed by a spirit but also by men who thought that they “owned” her. The spirit within her was able to recognize the anointing of the Holy Spirit on Paul and loudly proclaimed it in public. Since she was able to bring her owners a lot of money for her psychic services, there was some creditability in the information she gave out during her readings – that is she must have been paranormally accurate in her past psychic readings and that gave people a reason to believe her when she declared Paul to be a servant of God.

Paul’s problem with this scene was twofold. First, the Holy Spirit did not need the support of a demon spirit to do His works. A demon spirit announcing the anointing did not serve well as a reference. Secondly, the Holy Spirit knew of the terrible captivity of this woman and her need for deliverance. So, Paul set this woman free in an excellent example of Christian deliverance ministry. If you want to learn more about this kind of ministry I have written several posts you can read. Click on this link to start with: Exorcism or Deliverance.

Got a problem with the paranormal or have a question you would like one of our authors to discuss? Fill out a Confidential Help Request Form and we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you would like to discuss this topic go to the Discussion Forum by clicking on the "Discussion Forum" link on the right side of this blog. If you have not made a commitment to Jesus and you would like to do so now, then click HERE to go to a page that will show you how to become a follower of Jesus Christ.
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So Sorry–Server error

2011-10-18T15:07:00.001-05:00

I noticed recently that a number of our readers attempted to send us confidential help requests but I have not received them. I tested the system and found we had a problem with our server and I am working with the people hosting our site to get it fixed. Would have done it long ago if I had any idea that the server was rejecting the help request forms. Working on it now but I do not know how long it will take for the server people to fix the problem. So if you tried to submit a help request and it did not take, please come back to the blog and I will let you know when the system is repaired. Just look at the right hand column under the “Help Request Log” section for an update. I am really sorry about this but I didn’t know that the server was malfunctioning until today.

When the spirit leaves the body–Stages

2011-10-10T06:00:00.008-05:00

Introduction
An analysis of some of the keywords used by people to find this blog indicates that there is some curiosity about what exactly happens when the spirit leaves the body. As I said in a recent post on death and dying, this experience is unique to each individual and what is experienced is determined by the individual’s physical, mental, and spiritual state at the time that the spirit leaves.

Photo credit from Free Christian Teaching
However, based on some personal experience with “out-of-body” phenomenon and by observations of people that I ministered to as they passed on, I think it is possible to stage the process by which the spirit becomes independent of the body. So in this post I am going to discuss three general stages which may occur as the person makes the transition into the spirit world.

Stage 1 – Pre-Separation
The physical deterioration of the body is of primary impact in this stage. Because of the failure of the body, the person may have a lot of physiologically based experiences which have nothing to do with the spirit separating from the body. For example, if the brain is starved for either blood or oxygen, then the person may experience disorientation as to space and time, mental confusion, and hallucinations in all of the senses. He may see flashes of light, hear voices, feel as if he was being touched or somehow being moved, and carry on conversations with people from his past, all simply because the brain is becoming dysfunctional. He may also enter into a coma or a state of unconsciousness. If this is the case then when he regains awareness it may be as a spirit, which can be confusing to say the least. Much of the post death reports of those who have clinically but only temporarily died are due to stage 1 experiences. The good news is this kind of suffering will soon give way to stage 2.

Stage 2 – Partial Separation
In this stage, separation of the spirit from the body begins. As the spirit separates, the focus of consciousness shifts from the body to the spirit. The spiritual senses begin to operate and the physical suffering of the body begins to fade away. Until stage 3 is reached, consciousness oscillates between the physical and the spiritual. Slowly, awareness of the spirit world begins to dominate and this world of ours diminishes. The person becomes aware of eternity and, if a Christian, begins to feel the powerful and irresistible pull of the love of God drawing him heavenward. Yet, he may return to the world for a short while before entering stage 3. It is one of the greatest blessings to be with a Christian during this stage because after catching a glimpse of heaven, he may temporarily return just to try to tell us of the joy and inexpressible glory that he has experienced.

Stage 3 – Full Separation
At stage 3 the body is no longer capable of sustaining life and the spirit enters into the spirit world. Where the spirit goes depends on the decisions he made during life, including and most importantly his commitment to Christ.

Now Christ did raise stage 3 people back to life but only because He was able to instantaneously heal their bodies making them capable of life, and had the authority to command the separated spirit to return to its now healed body.

It is at stage 3 that ghosts are created. If some power or force is controlling the spirit, he will oscillate between the spirit world and ours and become what we call a ghost. To read more about this process, just click on this link “How a spirit becomes a ghost.”

Exceptions
There are certainly exceptions to the three stage process which I discussed in this post. For example, people who have massive heart attacks, die a violent death, or have unexpected and accidental deaths may bypass the first two stages and end up a spirit immediately. For Christians, these kinds of transitions into the spirit world do not pose a problem because the Holy Spirit is able to restore them to health and guide them to heaven without delay. For others, these kinds of experiences can cause disorientation, confusion, and vulnerability to demonic forces which would desire to control and use them for evil purposes. So if you do not have your passport to heaven, you may want to give some serious thought toward establishing a personal relationship with Christ. You never know what tomorrow will bring!

Got a problem with the paranormal or have a question you would like one of our authors to discuss? Fill out a Confidential Help Request Form and we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you would like to discuss this topic go to the Discussion Forum by clicking on the "Discussion Forum" link on the right side of this blog. If you have not made a commitment to Jesus and you would like to do so now, then click HERE to go to a page that will show you how to become a follower of Jesus Christ.

Changes in the Blog

2011-10-03T06:00:00.008-05:00

I would like to thank all my readers who have repeatedly returned to this blog each week to read a new post. I want you to know that I will continue to post to this blog but at the somewhat reduced frequency of every other week instead of every week. I am going to do this for two reasons:
First, I have pretty well covered this topic from a Christian viewpoint. An analysis of the Statcounter hits tells me that people from all over the world ( 128 different nations) are asking the same questions. My answers are here but they are spread out in over 80 of my posts. To find those answers you need to search the blog by using the search box found in the upper right hand column. Just enter a topic or word and all the posts relative to them will be displayed for you to read. This is much better than me trying to cover the topic again in a new post. Seek and you shall find!

Secondly, during the course of writing this blog, I have friended a lot of ghost hunting and paranormal research groups. I'm going to undertake some research as to their activities, equipment , and evidence. This research will be designed to help establish a scale of paranormal phenomenon by which hauntings and other paranormal events can be rated. This scale will be similar to the scale used to rate tornados and hurricanes. Of course this research will be dependent on the responses of the paranormal groups and will take some time to complete.

In the mean time, my fellow authors will post to the blog for you to read, and after I rest up a bit, I will also post new and fresh materials with both scientific and spiritual content. In the meantime, read away to your heart’s desire. There is a lot of information and concepts presented here, and you may have to read and re-read to get it all. Please do so till you find the answers you seek, and if you do not find the answers then send me a message in the Discussion Form and I will reply directly to you or use the topic to publish a post. As always, if you need help because you are having negative paranormal experiences just fill out a Help Form and we will get back to you as soon as we can do so.

Heaven–Where lovers meet.

2011-09-26T06:00:00.010-05:00

Introduction
In several of my earlier posts I have discussed at length the geography of the spirit world, with a focus on the various dimensions of hell or Sheol. The reason for this is that most of the kinds of phenomenon that we see in ghost hunting and the occult originates from spirits in Sheol. Remember, however, that just because they are hell bound does not mean that they are malicious, dangerous, or tormenting. In fact, some of them can appear to be just like “regular people” who are departed. Yet, because they do not meet the criteria necessary to get to heaven, they are hell bound or trapped between this world and the universe of spirit as a ghost.

I have repeatedly stated in many posts in this blog, that those in heaven do not communicate with us or return to this world for any reason. The only exception to this principle is for angels who are God’s messengers, and even they rarely appear to us and they certainly do not attend séances or haunt buildings.

This idea is problematic for a lot of people and has even caused them to reject Christianity. Several world religions practice ancestor worship as a means of maintaining contact with loved ones who have died. Spiritualism is founded on the idea of communication with loved ones in the spirit world. Both these ideas are based on a profound misunderstanding or an equally profound lack of knowledge about the nature of God and of His heaven.

If you want to know about the universe of spirit, then you must understand heaven as well as hell. In this post I am going to discuss aspects of heaven which will help us to understand heaven and in doing so answer some basic questions about our loved ones who have gone to heaven before us.

Biblical Heaven
In the Bible, heaven is a complex topic with easily over 50 Scriptural references. To make matters even more complicated, the Bible mentions three heavens. The first is the sky, the second is the universe, and the third heaven is the spirit world. In this post we will deal with the third heaven which is the abode of God.

While heaven has been described symbolically and is considered to be the center of God’s kingdom (i.e the Father’s heavenly kingdom) most people have a false concept of what heaven is really like. One of my early experiences which the Holy Spirit gave to me on my path toward salvation was an out of body experience in which I actually saw (from a great distance) one of the dimensions of heaven. You can read about it by checking out this post.
Up until that time, I had the idea that heaven was sort of like an extremely fancy vacation resort – a place of leisure and fun It was not until I had a direct perception that I got a totally different perspective of God’s heaven.

Heaven is all about God.
The very nature of the spirit world we call heaven is shaped by the essential character and attributes of God. So to understand heaven, we must look at God. Heaven was formed by His creative action, so that means heaven reflects at least the following two characteristics of God:

God is Holy
It is hard if not impossible for us to conceive of the holiness of God. There is no evil, tolerance for evil, or inclination to do evil in His nature. Unlike the yin/yang symbol there is no spot of darkness in His light.

Because God is holy, He does not tolerate any kind of evil in heaven (Note: the only exception to that is found in the book of Job, but that was a special case and also Old Testament). No human spirit will qualify to enter heaven unless that spirit has been forgiven and transformed through a process called sanctification in which the holiness of God is first imparted through Christ and then is matured under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. So because God is holy, heaven is a holy place and holiness is a necessity for living with God in heaven. Good works and especially religious good works do not meet that standard, only a saving relationship with Christ will do.

Since heaven is an absolutely holy place, the consequences of sin or ungodliness do not exist in heaven. This means that heaven is full of joy, glory, and peace which is a far cry from the condition of our world. Heaven does not suffer from our tears and weeping due to the tragic conditions of our world, and those in heaven are separated from our personal sorrows – if this were not so then heaven would be just a copy of our world and not the most holy abode of God.

I am not saying that those in heaven are unaware of our plight or that they no longer care about those they left behind. They trust God to take care us and know that He will move to help us as He so wills. In other words, instead of trying to play God to us by interfering with our lives, they submit to the will of God about us and trust Him for the best outcome. Neither do they interfere with the work of the Holy Spirit on the earth, but intercede for us from heaven itself. Although they are aware of our need because they are linked to us by love, they do not communicate with us, but they do communicate with God about us and they want us to communicate our needs to God rather than to them.

God is Love
Just as it is difficult to understand God’s Holiness it is equally difficult to understand His Love for His children. Once we are born again, God has a deep and passionate desire for us to be with Him in heaven where we can directly experience His eternal love. This love is so intense that it acts as a force to draw us to Him in heaven. As a result, a born again Christian can not be lost in the spirit world or really resist for any significant time, God’s profound love.

Mind you, this love is a mutual love. Because God makes His love for us so clear and available to us, we are able to love Him through praise and worship. He is Love and heaven is all about His love for us and our love for Him. No matter what a spirit world appears to be, no matter how filled with light, or how beautiful or peaceful it appears, if it does not have God’s presence and love, then it is some level of Sheol and not heaven at all.

If you have kin who have gone on before you to heaven, they will still remember you and may be praying for you, but the preoccupation, the focal point of their delight, the glory of their eternal life is God’s love interacting with their love for Him. When you get to heaven, they will greet you with love and delight, but the very first thing they will do will take you before the throne and praise God for you.

We are important to those in heaven, but we will never be more important than God. It is also for this reason that those in heaven do not return to us in séances or hauntings or through occult rituals. They will not leave the loving embrace of God nor will they reject His eternal fellowship no matter how concerned they are about us or how needy we are for them.

Conclusion
You do not have to wait until you die to experience the loving presence of God in praise and worship. In fact you can catch a glimpse of heaven by attending a worship service in a Spirit filled church where the people truly worship and not just sing songs or want to be entertained. So many people are seeking ghosts, and paranormal experience produced by those out of hell, yet, they do not seem to realize they can experience heaven as well. So I would challenge any ghost hunter or person in the occult to attend a Christian church which has the anointing of God flowing in its services and then experience the love of God and get a taste of heaven.

Got a problem with the paranormal or have a question you would like one of our authors to discuss? Fill out a Confidential Help Request Form and we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you would like to discuss this topic go to the Discussion Forum by clicking on the "Discussion Forum" link on the right side of this blog. If you have not made a commitment to Jesus and you would like to do so now, then click HERE to go to a page that will show you how to become a follower of Jesus Christ.

I am dying – Part 4, I have some questions.

2011-09-19T06:00:00.011-05:00

This is the final post of a series of four posts. Please read posts 1-3 before you read this post because these three posts contain the steps you need to take to overcome death.
Introduction
Photo Credit Oscar Burriel

In this post I am going to try to answer some abstract questions about death which may have crossed your mind as you anticipate your own demise. I will develop answers to these questions from my personal knowledge of the paranormal obtained through so called “out of body” experiences, from my years of being a pastor who has ministered to dying people, and of course, from the Word of God.

Does it hurt to die?
Death is a process by which the spirit/mind separates from the body. When the spirit disconnects from the body all sensory input including pain stops. So, upon death the spirit feels no pain, and since we all feel some level of pain while the body is alive, this total release from any pain is a wondrous experience which brings a great deal of joy to the spirit.
As it approaches death, the body may experience the “death throes” which can be severe and which appear, to an outside observer, to be extremely painful. The good news is that the spirit is totally unaware of what is happening to the body and so does not feel any suffering at all.
I have had a lot of pain in my body over my life time, one event which I found to be most amazing and awesome during an “out of body” experience was the lack of pain. I actually believe that it was the first time in my life, as far as I can remember, that I felt no pain.

Will “I” cease to exist?
For the sake of this discussion, let us define the “self” as all your memory, mind, intelligence, emotion, personality, and knowledge. The self is generated through the interaction of the body, mind, and spirit. As a result, the spirit contains as much of the self as does the body.
When the spirit separates from the body, it includes all of yourself. That which makes up who you are remains intact, with one important difference. While you are alive, the self is limited by the restraints of biology. Your brain, for example, forgets both memory and knowledge. Part of your personality is hidden from your access through the un-conscious. While alive you are unable to function beyond the structure, chemistry, and pathology of your brain.
Now, your spirit (being a form of energy) has no such limitations, so you are able to function in unimaginable ways. For example, you will have total access to all your memories, from the time you were born to the time of your death. You will have the entire knowledge and experience of your lifetime at your disposal. This results in a drastic expansion of self-awareness and an increase in the scope of who you are as a spiritual being.
By the way, people who have had temporary or clinical death experiences have said that their “life passed before their eyes” and this is actually the expansion of self awareness that I just mentioned.

Will I be in darkness because I no longer have senses?
When you are alive your five senses dominate your consciousness. You also have other senses which you can access only occasionally and very sporadically. These are the so called “psychic” senses but actually make up the sensory apparatus of the human spirit which includes a spiritual form of your physical senses (i.e. sight, hearing, etc.). Your physical senses are extremely limited. That is to say, we only hear through a certain range of sound, and we only see a limited range of the electromagnetic spectrum.
The spiritual senses not only surpass the range limitations of the physical senses, but they become nearly cosmic in nature. That is, the spirit is not only fully aware of the physical universe but it is also aware of the spirit world in its many dimensions. (So we can not see ghosts but they can see us!)
Now, a living Christian who is Spirit filled can sense the Presence of God even if he can not see, hear, smell, or touch God. This is because the Holy Spirit will use our spiritual senses to allow us to experience Him. Still, our physical senses so strongly dominate that our perception of God’s Presence is fragile at best. However, when the physical senses are gone, we can experience the spiritual senses with astounding intensity and detail. We can experience God directly with no limitations. This is exactly what Paul meant when he said:

¹² For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

1 Corinthians 13:12 (ESV)

What this means is that we can experience all the majesty, glory, and power of God directly and without either interruption or restriction. Also, this increase in sensory ability results in an increase in knowledge and wisdom as Paul indicated in the above Scripture. While living, we can not even imagine how directly involved with God we can become!

What about time? What is this eternal life that Jesus promised us repeatedly?
There seems to be two types of time. Cosmic time which is part of the fabric of the universe and which is probably going to last for eternity, and personal time by which we live our lives second to second. Personal time is built into our brains and it gives us the sense of a beginning and an end. Our perception of personal time dominates and we really do not experience cosmic time which is both beyond our experience and intellectual ability to grasp. After death our biological clock stops and the spirit becomes aware of cosmic time. With this awareness comes the knowledge that it has eternal existence right along with the universe. So it is perfectly true that every human spirit will exist forever.
Eternal existence is radically different than the eternal life promised believers by Jesus. A spirit can exist eternally in hell and experience torment without end. That is not eternal life. Jesus defined eternal life when he said in His great priestly prayer:

³And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

John 17:3 (ESV)
A human spirit will exist eternally but will have eternal life only if it has a relationship with God and Christ. It is from the Divine that the human spirit draws forth life, indeed, draws life from the life of God. The word “know” is ginōskō and means to completely experience or to absolutely and intimately know. Therefore eternal life is only found in the spirit’s interaction with God. It is by that interaction and dependency that the human spirit transcends simple existence.

Conclusion
There are a lot of wonderful changes that happen when we step out of this body and become a spirit. There is little to fear for believers in Jesus Christ because the eternal life you have been granted by your faith results in a wonderful experience. The Bible says that the sting of death is sin. Truly when you belong to Jesus death has no sting.

Got a problem with the paranormal or have a question you would like one of our authors to discuss? Fill out a Confidential Help Request Form and we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you would like to discuss this topic go to the Discussion Forum by clicking on the "Discussion Forum" link on the right side of this blog. If you have not made a commitment to Jesus and you would like to do so now, then click HERE to go to a page that will show you how to become a follower of Jesus Christ.
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I am dying - Part 3, The Adventure Begins

2011-09-12T06:00:00.043-05:00

I dedicate this post to my beloved wife, Roxie who is fighting her third battle with ovarian cancer. Of all the people I know, she has taught me what it means to face death and overcome it with determination, courage, and faith. No matter the outcome, she knows the Lord and so she knows where she is going. She draws strength from the Lord and so defeats fear. She loves the Lord and so is able to love her family, and her church despite her physical battle. She trusts the Lord and so is able to find peace in turmoil. May we all walk in the victory that she walks in one day at a time.

If you have not read Parts 1 and 2 of this post then you missed the first and second steps you need to take to deal with death. Please read Part 1 and 2 before reading this post.

Introduction:

In the last two posts on this topic, I spoke about dying and death in general terms, and generated two basic steps which you must take to find victory. In this post I will talk about the final step you need to take to overcome death. In the next post, I want to give some answers to the kinds of questions you may have asked yourself and to which you desire answers. These answers are for Christians, if you have not claimed Christ as your partner in death and life, then I have little to say to you that would encourage you or help you prepare for the spirit world in which you will exist. So, if you have not taken step one in Part 1 of this series of posts, do so now by clicking the following link: Claiming my Expert

Did Jesus teach that there is an afterlife?
Absolutely, in fact the afterlife was one of His primary teachings. Through out all four Gospels He said repeatedly that those who follow Him will have eternal life. He sometimes packed a teaching with this promise. For example, in John 6: 26-58, where He was teaching about being the bread from heaven, He stated no less than eight times that those who believe in him will not die, will have eternal life, and will be raised (physically) from the dead.

One of the most powerful Scriptures, and a personal favorite of mine, concerning this promise of an afterlife is found just before He proved the truth of His word by raising Lazarus from the dead:

²⁵Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, ²⁶ and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”²⁷She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

John 11:25-27 (ESV)
Note that in this Scripture portion, Jesus clearly acknowledged that physical death will take place, but also promised that the person shall still live. In other words, physical death is not spiritual death and therefore is not the end of life but the beginning of a new adventure in living as a spirit. This promise covers those who will experience death and those who have already died, The key to this promise is that obtaining eternal life is only true for those who believe in Him. In the next post I will discuss the difference between eternal life and eternal existence.

If you are a believer, it is extremely important that you draw close to Him by remembering His promises and by praising Him in worship so that you can say “ Yes, Lord, I believe you – that when I die I shall still live as you promised”. There are three things you can do to draw close to the Lord until the time comes for you to transition into heaven:

Word – Read the Bible concerning the promises of eternal life and resurrection. Meditate on these passages as a means of building your faith.
Worship – Worship Him each day by praising Him and giving thanks for the eternal life that you have as a believer. It is through worship that you will prepare yourself to enter into His presence in the afterlife.
Pray – Ask Him to help you overcome the issues which you need to deal with as you die. Remember that He wants you to ask, seek, and knock. All that this means is that you are to lay your issues down before the cross and allow Him to take up the burden for you. (Matt 7:7ff) Remember that the Holy Spirit will help you to do these three things even when you are physically handicapped by your condition.

Step Three – Daily praise God and meditate on the Words of Jesus to absorb His promises of eternal life. Since the process of dying can produce both doubt and fear, it is imperative that you read the Word of God concerning death and the afterlife. Each time that you are terrified about what is going to happen to you, you must overcome that fear by absorbing the promises of Christ that indeed as a believer even though you shall die you will still live. Before you read the Word, take time to have your own private worship service. Give Him praise for being the God of love and for loving you personally. Through prayer, release your issues into His hands and surrender to His peace. Draw close to Him for as long as you can. By entering into His presence with faith in His word you are preparing yourself for your move from earth to heaven!

Conclusion
In this post I gave you step 3 to overcome death and dying. By harnessing the power of the Word, praise and prayer you are making dying and death a spiritual adventure with an amazing and astonishing end. In my next post I am going to talk about some of the details of death and dying by answering a series of rhetorical questions. Come back for part 4 soon.

Got a problem with the paranormal or have a question you would like one of our authors to discuss? Fill out a Confidential Help Request Form and we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you would like to discuss this topic go to the Discussion Forum by clicking on the "Discussion Forum" link on the right side of this blog. If you have not made a commitment to Jesus and you would like to do so now, then click HERE to go to a page that will show you how to become a follower of Jesus Christ.

I am dying – Part 2, I am Afraid!

2011-09-05T06:00:00.010-05:00

If you have not read Part 1 of this post then you missed the first step you need to take to deal with death. Please read Part 1 which is just below this post.
Introduction:
Death is a sorrow which is common to all men, but that does not make it easier for you to deal with it. Along with the realization that death may soon be upon you comes all kinds of emotional and spiritual issues. While you can try to ignore or deny these issues, they remain waiting to be resolved so that you can die in peace and with courage. In this post I am going to talk about just one issue in the hope of shedding some light on its impact. Why? Because the easier the transition through death to the afterlife, the better off you will be once you get there.

I am afraid
Of all the emotional reactions which result when you understand that you are dying, fear is without a doubt the most frequent. I have known people, although they were strong Christians, when confronted by their death experienced real fear about what was about to happen to them. Fear occurs for several reasons:

Fear From Negative Past Experiences. - The repeated death and loss of loved ones in the past, even in early childhood, can build a deep fear of death and dying which can reach phobic proportions. In fact this condition is called thanatophobia and can range from being mild to very severe. If this reaction includes a obsessive/compulsive component, then it may be expressed through a morbid preoccupation and fascination with death and dying. Such fear in Christians can lead to a crisis of faith, a crisis which can only be resolved when fear of death is replaced with faith in eternal life.
Fear of the Unknown. – Regardless of what you believe about death and the afterlife, you have never experienced it and so you do not know what will happen to you while you are at the end of your life. In many ways each individual’s death experience is unique to that individual because no two people die in exactly the same way. So, an atheist does not know what he will experience as he dies, and neither does a religious person. This uncertainty can produce fear! However, a Christian does have Biblical examples and guidance to help him overcome this fear wherein an atheist has to face possible extinction, a prospect which will increase fear as it approaches.
Fear of Judgment. - Perhaps a better title for this is fear of consequences. If you believe in an afterlife, you must also recognize that what you do in this life will certainly have consequences later on. What this means is that both good actions and evil actions live on along with us. If you believe in a Holy God then certainly you understand that your unholy (sin) behavior will separate you from Him in the afterlife. What that means is that you will suffer the consequences of being without God which is the same thing as being without love, joy, mercy, goodness, compassion, and the power which maintains life. The fear of judgment is the same thing as the fear of suffering, because without God in your afterlife you will have no other option but to suffer and suffer intensely. Interestingly enough, we all experience the grace and mercy of God while alive. Even someone who totally denies the existence of God, benefits from His blessings. This blessing comes because of God’s grace but is limited by the duration of God’s patience with the hard heartedness of man. At death a change takes place and those who reject God during life, are separated from these mercies and blessings. What remains is called hell and rightly so. It is a fact that the faith of a atheist which causes him to believe there is no God, afterlife, or consequences past death, does not make it so in reality. Anyone who denies God and dies with a sin stained soul should fear death for it is truly stepping into a greater suffering than ever experienced during life. As one of His greatest mercies, God has provided a way out of this dilemma and if you took step 1 found in part 1 of this post you need not worry about hell.
Fear of loss – In one sense, dying is all about loss. As you progress towards the day of your death, your body becomes more and more dysfunctional. You lose your ability to live a normal, everyday life. It becomes difficult to carry on the simplest task such as feeding or taking care of yourself. If that is not enough, you begin to lose friends, and the realization that you will be separated from your loved ones can hit you like a blow. This fear of loss soon produces anger, which is followed by depression until you reach resignation that soon you will be alone.

Step 2 – Facing Your Issues
You must resolve these kinds of issues before you die. Hiding from them, ignoring them, or suppressing them is not the answer. If you do not face these kinds of issues and resolve them, they can carry attachments to this world and significantly impact your transition to the next. You must take courage, and replace your fears with the hope offered by Jesus Christ, Then you will realize that the issues of dying offer possibilities for spiritual growth.

Conclusion:
In the last two posts on this topic, I have been discussing problems about dying and death. In the next post I will discuss the answers to these problems as offered by the Lord. There is great hope and a dazzling future for us that even death can not dim. Come back to read what Jesus, our expert, says to us to give us this wonderful light in the face of the darkness of death.

Got a problem with the paranormal or have a question you would like one of our authors to discuss? Fill out a Confidential Help Request Form and we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you would like to discuss this topic go to the Discussion Forum by clicking on the "Discussion Forum" link on the right side of this blog. If you have not made a commitment to Jesus and you would like to do so now, then click HERE to go to a page that will show you how to become a follower of Jesus Christ.
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I am dying - Part 1, What Comes Next?

2011-08-29T06:00:00.051-05:00

I dedicate these posts to all those who have been told that their death is imminent, to those who are facing death even now in the present and who will experience it in the all too near future. God knows your heart and has heard the cry of your voice weeping at the approach of the enemy we call death. God has made a promise through Christ and has an answer to death!

Introduction

Until Christ returns to us, physical death is a certainty. The Bible reassures us that “¹ For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: ² a time to be born, and a time to die….” Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 (ESV) and so the process of dying and what happens afterward touches every person no matter their age, race, nationality, culture, or gender.

"What happens when I die and do I somehow live past physical death?" There are as many answers to this question as there are religions and even the atheist is forced to give an answer. So who do we believe? What is the criteria we should use to discern the truth about death and the afterlife, and based on what is true, how do we prepare to die well and face death with courage and faith?

Who to believe – the criteria for truth!

If I want to build a home, I do not go to a car mechanic. Rather, I find someone in construction who has built a home from laying the foundation to putting on the finishing touches to the roof. This simple principle can help us identify the person who we need to trust to tell us about death and the afterlife. We need to listen to and learn from someone who has died (and not just for a few minutes but in fact was buried by others who witnessed the death) and having died returned to life again (not as a ghost or vague specter but as a living person as witnessed by others). Unless this simple criteria is accomplished, we can not discern between someone weaving a fantasy about death and the afterlife from one who knows the truth because it was experienced first hand. The credentials of our expert are very clear then: he must be a real person who has genuinely died and then returned from the dead as a living person, all of which has been witnessed and documented by other people.

We must be very clear here about what we mean by death and resurrection. There are stories about those who were clinically dead for several minutes and then seemed to return to life. There are stories of those who were thought to be dead but were only in a coma. There are stories of those who took drugs which made them appear as if dead but were just in a suspended state of consciousness. None of these were truly and irrevocably dead. That is, their bodies did not become completely dysfunctional so as to demand a miracle of healing to return to life. What they experienced during the short time of their “death” was both distorted by the body’s initial reaction to the strain of dying, and limited by the fact that they were not totally dead.

If we apply this criteria to the leaders of the world’s religions we come to a rather dramatic conclusion: only one of them qualifies as our expert! Buddha entered into nirvana and died but did not return. Mohammad was supposedly carried away into heaven so he did not die, but most importantly he did not return. There is only one world religious leader who qualifies, Jesus Christ who in fact did physically die and then 3 days later returned from the dead in a new resurrection body, This was witnessed by many of his followers in a 40 day period, and was well documented by those who knew him and who gave testimony of both his death and His return to life.

In His own words, Jesus said of his experience: ¹⁸ I am the Living One. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Revelation 1:18 (ESV) . Now if we look very carefully at this Scripture we see that Jesus was making 4 basic declarations about his experience with death:

He identifies Himself as the “Living One” which is a title for the God of the living and the God of Life.
He states that he was truly dead. Not for a few minutes but for days and that he was not just unconscious or in a coma but that his body had lost the capacity for life.
He states that after his death, a resurrection took place and He returned to life “forevermore” which means that He can not die again. This alone separates Him from all those who were raised from the dead in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament, including those who were restored to life by His own hand. They came back from the dead only to experience death once more.
Finally, He said that he holds the keys of Death and Hades. So Jesus Christ is the authority, the expert, the master builder of our understanding of our death and resurrection. No one else holds the proper credentials!

If your death is near and if you are trying to find out what will happen to you, then it is absolutely necessary for you to claim the expert, to claim Jesus Christ as the one you can believe and place your faith in His word. I do not care what religion you have practiced all your life (if any), but since the time of your death is at hand, you do not have time to waste. Listen to the Lord of Life who died, was buried and yet rose from the dead to live forevermore. He is the one who has the answers you seek and the reassurance you need when you are facing the issue of the afterlife. Remember, you have the choice to die alone or to die while in the protection and comfort of the arms of the Lord Jesus. In the next several posts on this topic we will look at what He said about death and life.

Overcoming Death - Step 1
It is apparent that Jesus knows what He is talking about when it comes to death and life. For you to bring His wisdom and power into your own struggle, you must accept Him and get to know Him in whatever time remains to you. To get into a personal relationship with Him you must confess that you have violated God's will and desires for your life, and accept His work on the cross so you can be forgiven. Death can be overcome as simply as that - just make Jesus your partner in life and in death.

Conclusion
Because this is a serious topic that can bring peace and confidence to a lot of folk who are suffering, I am going to bring to these posts all I have experienced, know and believe about death and the afterlife. Be patient and come back to read the next post.

Got a problem with the paranormal or have a question you would like one of our authors to discuss? Fill out a Confidential Help Request Form and we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you would like to discuss this topic go to the Discussion Forum by clicking on the "Discussion Forum" link on the right side of this blog. If you have not made a commitment to Jesus and you would like to do so now, then click HERE to go to a page that will show you how to become a follower of Jesus Christ.
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Fear of the Paranormal

2011-08-22T06:00:00.041-05:00

Introduction:
I think it is safe to say that if you have a supernatural experience you will feel fear and anxiety. This is certainly true if your experience is demonic because demonic and tormenting spirits use fear as a weapon to control their victims.The purposeful production of fear by a spirit during a supernatural encounter is one way we can generally tell the difference between what is Godly or demonic, for as Scripture says in 2 Timothy 1:7(KJV) "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind"
However, fear of the paranormal can have another even more devastating result, it can keep you from experiencing God supernaturally and that is exactly what Satan wants.

Fear God?
The Bible is very clear in stating that we should “fear” God (e.g. 1 Peter 2:17). However, the word fear as used in the Bible really means that we are to hold a reverent respect and an attitude of honor towards God. It does not mean that we are to be terrorized by the Presence of God but to be in awe of and revere Him.

Now having said that, you may be sure that if you really experience the Power of the Holy Spirit in action you will feel fear. In fact you may be in terror at the magnitude of sheer power released by the Holy Spirit. Here are just two examples of this fear reaction in Scripture:

²⁵ And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. ²⁶ But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. ²⁷ But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

Matthew 14:25-27 (ESV)

⁵ He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” ⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.”

Matthew 17:5-7 (ESV)

It is interesting that in the first Scripture, the disciples identified the figure walking on the water as a ghost. They knew it was not possible for a man to walk on water so they erroneously concluded that it was a ghost, and one that had a bad intent towards them at that. This is a normal fear reaction to the paranormal, so in paranormal investigations and in deliverance ministry this fear should be accepted as a warning sign that something is very wrong. Demons and spirits of the lost, tormenting spirits and generally all those out of Sheol will produce fear and that fear should be seriously considered as a sign of danger. When the hair on the back of your neck stands up, your feet should be moving you out of contact . If you are a member of a deliverance team, that fear should be a warning that you should proceed with caution and that you may have a real battle on your hands.

Fear Not
God does not want us to fear Him in the sense that we cringe away from His Presence. In this first Scripture, Jesus understood their fear and reassured them that He was not a ghost or a demon and that they were to meet Him face to face and not allow fear to overcome them.

In the second Scripture, the disciples had a total paranormal experience which was visual (bright cloud), auditory (voice), and physical ( became so weak that they fell down on their faces). With the awesome Presence of God added to this mix they most certainly experienced sheer terror. Once again this is an initial and natural response to the paranormal. This type of fear and terror was understood by Christ, so he got them back up on their feet and told them not to fear.

Conclusion
In both Scriptures, the natural fear produced by a supernatural experience with God was controllable by the people having the experience, that is, in both cases Jesus told them to take control and not allow fear to dominate. Supernatural experiences with God may initially produce fear but that is not the purpose of the experience. It is up to the person who is having the experience to deal with fear and not allow it to interrupt the purpose of the experience. Yet, Christians who have had no real supernatural encounters with God, are not able to control their normal human reactions. In fact, I have seen those who were actually experiencing the Godly paranormal react to God as if He was a ghost – and run away in fear

Christians who never overcome their fear of the power of the Holy Spirit will do whatever is necessary to avoid having such an experience. They will ridicule a church which allows people to have such experiences, and they will go so far as to blasphemy the Holy Spirit by calling His Power and Presence the “work of the Devil”. Ultimately, what is truly sad about these Christians is that God’s purpose for the experience was never fulfilled because they ran away instead of following the advice of Christ: “⁵⁰… ‘Do not fear; only believe, …..’ Luke 8:50 (ESV)

Got a problem with the paranormal or have a question you would like one of our authors to discuss? Fill out a Confidential Help Request Form and we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you would like to discuss this topic go to the Discussion Forum by clicking on the "Discussion Forum" link on the right side of this blog. If you have not made a commitment to Jesus and you would like to do so now, then click HERE to go to a page that will show you how to become a follower of Jesus Christ.

The Hypersensitive Christian - A Spiritual Combat Medic in the Field Part 2

2011-08-15T06:00:00.010-05:00

Dustoff …“That Others May Live”

Introduction
In my last post I suggested that when a hypersensitive Christian is asked for direct “hands on” assistance with disturbing paranormal activity, that this is akin to a spiritual combat medic in-country, operating “in the field”. As such, your special operations mission, purpose, goals and directives will be vastly different from ghost hunters, other paranormal teams and New Age/Occult practitioners.

A spiritual combat medic in the field will be dealing with the spiritually injured and dead in an environment that is to some degree filled with spiritual darkness of one kind or another. When “inserted”, the person’s gift of hypersensitivity to the paranormal, in combination with the guidance and protection of the Holy Spirit, will bring Light and illumination into this spiritual darkness in an environment that is potentially hostile and non-permissive to the Light of Christ.

While most traditional rescue missions involve evasion, this mission may also entail enemy search and destroy activity. However, the main objective for the spiritual combat medic in the field is to first provide the spiritual emergency “treatment” needed to stabilize the injured and, if need be, evacuate them from further spiritual harm by the enemy, whether that be from a human spirit or the demonic. The mission is about saving spiritual life and expanding the Kingdom. It may also involve dealing with spiritual, psychological and perhaps even physical trauma.

Field Encounters with Spiritual Injury and Illness of the Heart
There are always reasons for the occurrence of disturbing paranormal phenomenon, most of which are obvious to those that know how to diagnose them. There are also however more subtle reasons for such activity that are centered within the person or persons asking for help. Many of the posts on this blog have addressed most of the obvious reasons. In this post I wish to explore the less obvious but no less important reasons.

The first one has to do with ignorance, or more accurately, initial contentment or acceptance of darkness in the person’s life. By ignorance, I do not mean a lack of the right kind of information or knowledge as this is easily obtainable. What I am talking about here is experiential ignorance of God. The person does not ‘know’ God, has not communed with the Triune God, and has little or no experience of the actual presence of God. In other words, there is no living relationship with the Triune God. When a person gets even a glimpse of God’s presence, then they quickly become aware of the darkness living within themselves and their environment.

So, the first thing the spiritual combat medic must do in the field is establish the presence of God where they are in the field so that the person can experience this unmistakably. This actually starts before the spiritual medevac team is even inserted. Before taking any direct action the spiritual combat medic team must pray as intercessors for the person(s) and the situation. This is done so that grace may precede them and prepare the ground. It must be “softened up” before insertion. This means the hypersensitive must already be in communion with the Triune God and familiar with the ways of Spirit. In other words, God’s presence precedes any action in the field as well as accompanying the spiritual combat medic into the field.

The second injury or illness of the heart to be aware of in the field is forgetfulness. Ideally, the spiritual heart remains attached to God, lives in God, functions in God and is joyous with the presence of God while the mind is absorbed in activity. However, the spiritual combat medic may find in the field that the experience of disturbing paranormal phenomena has so affected and traumatized the person that their spiritual heart does not remember God and has forgotten how to be in a prayerful state. The door to their spiritual heart has become closed or blocked to the grace of the Holy Spirit. This disrupts an ongoing relationship with the Spirit from continuing or prevents one from being established. There is no uninterrupted memory of God and living relationship with the Spirit that can engage the suffering being experienced due to the disturbing activity. The person has become spiritually ungrounded, which increases the likelihood that they will experience increasing levels of torment, oppression, confusion and fear.

The spiritual combat medic in the field must take charge of the situation and minister to the spiritually, and often, psychologically traumatized individual or family. Suffering must be acknowledged, torment and oppression diminished, and confusion and fear removed. The spiritual combat medic must spiritually stabilize the person or family and remove the chaos in the field. This is done primarily by establishing or re-establishing the presence of the Triune God, removing or diminishing the influence of the enemy and connecting or reconnecting with the Holy Spirit.

The third illness or injury to the spiritual heart when faced with disturbing paranormal phenomena is spiritual blindness and contamination. This occurs when the spiritual heart becomes traumatized or is spiritually dead to begin with. When spiritual trauma and spiritual death are present, the spiritual heart can become hardened. Denial, rationalization, minimization and projective identification are rampant.
When the spiritual heart suffers from hardness it becomes incapable of distinguishing between good and evil. This is an issue involving a lack of spiritual discernment. Along with this is the inability to recognize the presence of God in the midst of the paranormal disturbance. The person is essentially spiritually blind. There no longer is any useful recognition that all reality is permeated by God; even the darkness of disturbing paranormal activity. Spiritual blindness opens the way to contamination of the heart as it becomes accustomed to the establishment of a demonic or negative spiritual stronghold, both within the person and in the environment.

This injury/illness is very difficult for the spiritual combat medic to address in the field. The grace and mercy of the Holy Spirit must take the lead here through active prayer and a powerful movement of the Spirit. Resistance is usually high, requiring emergency spiritual surgery of the heart to occur in the field. The medic must rely totally on the Spirit and follow His lead.

Conclusion
In this post I have endeavored to give at least an overview of how a hypersensitive Christian may act as a spiritual combat medic in the field. If there is enough interest in this topic I will, in the future, develop a mission-craft and field-craft handbook for the spiritual combat medic in the field.

Got a problem with the paranormal or have a question you would like one of our authors to discuss? Fill out a Confidential Help Request Form and we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you would like to discuss this topic go to the Discussion Forum by clicking on the "Discussion Forum" link on the right side to this blog. If you have not made a commitment to Jesus and you would like to do so now, then click HERE to go to a page that will show you how to become a follower of Jesus Christ.

The Hypersensitive Christian–As a Spiritual Combat Field Medic - Part 1

2011-08-08T06:00:00.003-05:00

Dust-off “That Others May Live”

Introduction
The Christian Church as a whole has been likened to a type of hospital. That is to say, a spiritual hospital, where the spiritually ill come and are treated and healed. But, what if the spiritually ill cannot get to a hospital or don't know where it is. Also, what if they are not even aware that they are “sick unto death”? In this case we must go to them, and often into potentially dangerous spiritual, and sometimes physical, situations “in the field”. If we do not go they will continue to spiritually suffer and perhaps die or remain spiritually dead. This is, in fact, the “bare bones” purpose of all mission work and indeed, we are being given a “mission” by the Spirit to complete.

Being a Spiritual Combat Medic in the Field
I recall an experience when I was “in the field” on a Lakota Indian reservation. My “mission” was to go with a fellow missionary to a remote area where a woman was dying of cancer and pray over her. She had two children, both very young, and was staying with relatives in a run down trailer. Her husband was consistently intoxicated and his behavior in this state was unpredictable, especially toward Christian 'wasichus', a Lakota word roughly translated as a white/Caucasian person.

This was much like the mission of a medevac medic, which I had been in the service. We were to be “inserted” into hostile territory to render aid to the wounded, the dying and sometimes, the dead. Care always included caring for the dead as well as the living. My partner was also an ex-medic. I do not believe this was a coincidence. We knew our mission and how to complete it.

The plan was that one would initially stay in the truck if hostels were in the immediate area as a lookout and perimeter guard while the other went directly into the situation to administer aid. He would also provide a deterrent and delaying action if needed. One horn honk meant to withdraw to the truck immediately. Two honks meant to run like h_ _ _ and be picked up at another predetermined location.

As we entered the “zone” we did several reconnaissance runs before stopping. There was a group of intoxicated men in the woods near to the trailer. The decision was made not to abort the mission so I got out of the truck and gained entrance into the trailer from a relative of the dying woman. The men appeared to not notice and stayed where they were.

Once inside I was directed to a bedroom and while the relative remained with me I began administering spiritual aid. As I anointed and prayed over her I was later told that a dark/black cloud left her body. I was only aware of a room filled with the Spirit and Angelic presences. After praying over her I left, re-entered the truck, and we left, returning to base, which was off-reservation. The mission was complete as I had brought spiritual life, healing, protection and aid to the person.

This is one of many experiences, some of which required moving into and out of areas and situations of great darkness. These missions were undertaken in order to bring the light and illumination of Christ and to administer spiritual aid and comfort, often in the midst of disturbing paranormal activity, to those who were not able to go to a spiritual hospital. It was done in order that others may live spiritually in His light and love.

The Hypersensitive Christian as Field Medic
If called by the Lord, the hypersensitive, Spirit-filled Christian is well suited for this kind of 'work'. A sensitivity to paranormal phenomena and a discernment of the spiritual illnesses of the heart, along with a personal experience of these and deliverance from them, is often what separates out the hypersensitive from others.

Often, in the field, the hypersensitive has to address those that were formerly content with the darkness and may have even embraced it, but who are now in some form of spiritual distress. Any time that disturbing paranormal activity is prevalent, there is a degree of darkness present. Often when the spiritual wound or illness of the persons heart is identified, treated and/or healed, the paranormal disturbance abates. This allows for a sealing of the person and/or their property to be done, which then clears the area and expands the Kingdom of Christ.

Conclusion
In the next post I will describe two areas the hypersensitive Christian must be adapt in for relief and resolution to be administered to those in need in the field. The first area involves common spiritual illnesses of the heart such as ignorance, forgetfulness and blindness/contamination. The second area involves the way those experiencing distress in the field are separated out (spiritually medevac'd), sealed and protected as the enemy is being removed.

Got a problem with the paranormal or have a question you would like one of our authors to discuss? Fill out a Confidential Help Request Form and we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you would like to discuss this topic go to the Discussion Forum by clicking on the "Discussion Forum" link on the right side of this blog. If you have not made a commitment to Jesus and you would like to do so now, then click HERE to go to a page that will show you how to become a follower of Jesus Christ.

Removing a Tormenting Spirit–Part 2

2011-08-01T06:00:00.034-05:00

Introduction
In part 1 of this post I wrote about some of the actions which you should not take if you are being attacked by a spirit. Certainly removing such a spirit is difficult and can be a real spiritual battle. Do not forget that the attachment it has to this world is what is keeping it from hell and so it will fight with everything thing it has to stay put, though in the end it really has no choice. So the battle is on! The question is; how can you win it?

Your Spiritual Fitness
Non-Christian A tormenting spirit is not going to respect your authority when you demand that it leave just because you are paying the mortgage! It takes authority and power combined to cast out a demon from your lives or even just from your home. Simply put, you need to be in relationship with someone much stronger than you or the tormenting spirit in order to be free. Jesus put it this way

²²but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. Luke 11:22 (ESV)

What this verse says is that Jesus who is the stronger one will attack the tormenting spirit and overcome it. He will then cast him away from you and give to you what the tormenting spirit wanted to take from you, be it your life or your home. A spiritual bully can have his way only if you are spiritually unfit and without the authority or power of God on your side. Before you try to attack the bully you better make sure that you have the strong man on your side. You can do this simply by accepting the work of Christ on the cross to get forgiveness for your sins, to receive a new spirit with in you, and to have Jesus defend you from the attacks of the tormenting spirit. Get spiritually fit and strong through Christ! No demon can stand against Him!

Christians – Do you believe that Jesus is within you and that He can defeat any spirit who would torment you? If not then you have lost the battle already because of a lack of faith. No spirit (not even the Devil) can stand against the power of the Holy Spirit. He will overcome and defeat any tormenting spirit if you ask and believe that He will do it. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit will empower you to not only command the tormenting spirit to leave, but will enforce your command with the anointing, that is, the spiritual power of God. Against a fully armed and equipped Christian, no spirit stands a chance! If you believe this you need no one to cast it out of your home or your life, do it yourself in the Name of Jesus and with the blessing of the Holy Spirit. No matter how spooky the tormenting spirit acts, just remember that you have the undefeatable power of God on your side – so act like it – not in fear but with courage!

Your Physical Environment:
Very often a tormenting spirit is attached to something in the house. This object acts as a focal point for the spirit, and when activated by energy it will cause paranormal manifestations. Unfortunately, this can be any type of object at all. Think about when the spirit manifestations began and then determine whether some object was introduce to your home at the beginning of that time line. It may well be that getting rid of that object will get rid of the ability of the spirit to manifest. A hypersensitive on a deliverance team ministry should be able to detect such an object(s) so you can get rid of it.

If you are Christian you can also take proactive actions to change your environment. For example, get a CD of worship music and play it while worshiping the Lord in your home. You can get anointed prayer cloths or other objects to place in your home to help change the energy patterns. Note that this is not a superstitious use of these objects because they are specifically blessed with the power of the Holy Spirit for the purpose of blocking demonic activity. In fact, people have reported that our prayer cloth ministry is effective for this purpose. You can request a prayer cloth from us just by filling out a Help Request Form.

Your Support Group
I get constantly irritated by the paranormal television programs which spread the propaganda that the church will not help you or support you if you are fighting a tormenting spirit. Spirit filled churches and denominations do not reject the power of the Holy Spirit because they encourage their members to become Baptized in the Holy Spirit. Many of these same churches have deliverance ministry teams which will be glad to help you and which are extremely effective in their ministry. Often these teams will include a hypersensitive Christian who can minister under the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit, and who has both knowledge and wisdom as to how best deal with your particlar tormenting spirit.

However, you can not expect them to do the work that you need to do for yourself. A deliverance ministry can not continually come to your rescue so it is vital that you grow spiritually, ultimately belong to the Body of Christ as an active member, and begin to work in the Holy Spirit as a powerful and mature Christian.

Conclusion:
Here are a few more posts that you might be interested in reading if you are dealing with a tormenting spirit:
A Possible Purpose for a Negative Paranormal Experience
Occupy Until I Come.
Spiritual Power - The Anointing of the Holy Spirit

Got a problem with the paranormal or have a question you would like one of our authors to discuss? Fill out a Confidential Help Request Form and we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you would like to discuss this topic go to the Discussion Forum by clicking on the "Discussion Forum" link on the right side of this blog. If you have not made a commitment to Jesus and you would like to do so now, then click HERE to go to a page that will show you how to become a follower of Jesus Christ.

Removing a Tormenting Spirit–Part 1

2011-07-25T06:00:00.026-05:00

Introduction
www.aaronsiddal.com
People who enjoy bullying others while they are alive will continue to bully others in the afterlife. People who take pleasure in tormenting and abusing others while they are alive, will do the same after they die. This should not be too much of a surprise because the human personality is not that much changed by death. In short, people who are nasty when they are alive make for nasty spirits. This characteristic of being nasty is certainly true of demonic types whatever their origin.
The problem arises when you move into a house with one of them, or worse yet, when they move into your house with you. What do you do with a spirit who takes pleasure in tormenting, abusing, and becoming aggressive against the members of your family including your children?

The Forms of Spirit Aggression
In some of my earlier posts, I mentioned how paranormal phenomenon can have a negative impact on the living, so I am just going to summarize these effects here, Ghosts can demonstrate aggression and express hostility in at least three basic ways:

Physically- A spirit can mess with the Human Energy Field to drain the person of energy, which in turn can lead to physical illness and unexplained tiredness, fatigue, and stress. They can also directly attack physically by inflicting scratches, bruises, and different forms of skin irritation. Long term exposure to this kind of abuse can have major physical ramifications and can lead to major illness as the immune system is weakened by the constant stresses inflicted by the spirit. It is interesting to note here that much of the ministry of Jesus was simply casting out these kinds of hostile and evil spirits who were causing physical manifestations of psychological illness in their victims.

Mentally – The main psychological weapons used by hostile spirits are fear and anxiety. After witnessing many kinds of “impossible” paranormal phenomena the person begins to fear what the entity will do next (especially if the attacks have been on the children of the household), and at a very deep level, he begins to fear for his sanity. In addition to fear, a spirit can project feelings of depression and despair, causing the actual onset of clinical depression. Nightmares and night terrors can be experienced due to the overall increase in anxiety and fear of the ghost.This in turn can lead to sleep deprivation which makes the entire situation worse. The mental health of an entire family can be negatively impacted by the open aggression of this kind of abusive spirit.

Spiritually – These kinds of spirits are hell bound and so emanate a negative and chaotic spiritual energy. This is a other worldly form of energy which can take a well known and comfortable room and change it into a bizarre and creepy place. The spiritual atmosphere becomes thick with the presence of this kind of tormenting spirit and often people will become “spooked” when it is experienced with any intensity and quickly identify it as evil.

What not to do
Do not become superstitious - As strange as this may seem coming from a Pastor, I do not recommend scattering religious objects and images around your house in an attempt to scare away the ghost. This is a superstitious use of these objects and you may very well find that your haunting spirit is far less superstitious then you. The bottom line is that religious objects, such as a cross, have no inherent power in them, and if it did not mean anything to you before the haunting, it will have no effect during it. There is an exception to this rule because objects can be blessed and anointed to specifically repel negative spirits and I will address this in my next post.

Do not attempt to communicate with the spirit – Do not get out your handy dandy digital recorder and hold a modern day séance. You already know what the spirit wants – it wants to torment you and your family for its own personal reasons, and finding out what those reasons may be will not change anything. What attempting to get an EVP may do is encourage other spirits to join the party and you have just multiplied your problem considerably. Ghosts and spirits do not respond to psychological persuasion or therapy, so there is no good reason to encourage a conversation! Please note, that with only one exception, Christ never carried out a conversation with the spirits that were causing problems. It was enough to know that they were causing problems and needed to be removed!

Do not get involved with occult based paranormal groups or with spiritist mediums – A medium is a person who is hypersensitive to the spirit world and who has a Human Energy Field (HEF – please read other posts to find out what this is) which can empower occult manifestations. Bringing a medium into the situation may actually empower the tormenting spirit and make your situation much worse. While a genuine medium may provide you with information and guidance, often that guidance is biased by their occult or spiritualist belief system and as a result they will offer you erroneous advice such as “welcome the spirit into your home, it just wants to be accepted and loved”. Typically, a medium will tell you all about the tormenting spirit but will have no power or authority to stop it.
By the way, this same basic argument applies to ghost hunting groups who want to satisfy their curiosity and maybe gather evidence but who can make your situation much worse if they do not get rid of the spirit. I do not recommend any ghost hunting team to work a case that involves a tormenting spirit because of the possible long term negative effect unless they are a deliverance ministry. Such teams may get a lot of EVP recordings, videos, temperature and EMF measures, but at the cost of the client’s long term well being.

Conclusion:
So far I have only written about what you should not do to get rid of a tormenting spirit. In my next post (part 2) I will discuss concrete steps that can be taken to eliminate the pesky spirit and to stop the torment from continuing. Check back to read part 2 soon.

Got a problem with the paranormal or have a question you would like one of our authors to discuss? Fill out a Confidential Help Request Form and we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you would like to discuss this topic go to the Discussion Forum by clicking on the "Discussion Forum" link on the right side of this blog. If you have not made a commitment to Jesus and you would like to do so now, then click HERE to go to a page that will show you how to become a follower of Jesus Christ.

The Confusion Factor in Paranormal Research, Deliverance Ministry, and Ghost Hunting.

2011-07-18T06:00:00.002-05:00

Introduction
If a scientist wants to study the effect of antibiotics on bacteria, he simply cultures the bacteria and then exposes it to different antibiotics. His primary responsibility, in order to keep good scientific method, is to make sure all other possible variables which could impact the bacteria (such as temperature and light) are held constant for all the samples. It does not matter at all how the scientist is feeling or whether he is having a good day or just had a fight with his boss, nor does it matter if he is depressed or joyful. Unfortunately this is not true in parapsychological research or even ghost hunting.

Human Batteries
Spirit activities are underpowered because spirits no longer have bodies to generate energy, what I have called the Human Energy Field. Now all paranormal events take place within a specific context and there is a spiritual structure (environment) to that context. So what determines whether paranormal phenomena manifests is a living observer entering into the context of the environment and giving it HEF power to activate. In other words, if you enter into a room where there has been murder and mayhem (context) the spiritual structure (environment) is such as to manifest fear, rage, anger, and hatred once empowered by the HEF of the observer. What this means my ghost hunting friends is that you are the human batteries which power the very phenomena which you are seeking. You are providing your own evidence!

Now one complication to this is that those who are hypersensitive (new readers please read other posts to understand what that means) can more easily empower the spiritual environment and tend to witness more than those who are less sensitive to the spirit world. This is why some members of a paranormal research team, ghost hunting team or deliverance team tend to experience more than other team members. In other words, they are more suited to be batteries than others.

Being a human battery has its disadvantages because you can become drained by the environment whether you are willing to release your energy or not. Such a drained state can lead to a feeling of illness, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, a really negative feeling of evil, as well as such reactions as fear and panic especially if you do not understand what is happening to you. Mind you, I am not saying that a spirit is draining you, rather it is the environment which you have activated which is draining you, just like a battery is drained when it is being used.

Confounding the Evidence
Now if being the human battery for the paranormal is not enough, the HEF contains information such as emotions and beliefs which modify the environment in which the paranormal phenomena is taking place. What that means is that like will activate like. So, if you are on a deliverance ministry and are afraid of the spirits, then you will activate fear and worse from the environment. If you are a researcher who is depressed you will activate similar emotional responses of depression or despair. If you are a happy ghost hunter, you will find Casper the friendly ghost!

The problem with all this scientifically is that the observer determines what he observes! Evidence is confounded by the observer. If a ghost hunter expects to find ghosts, he will certainly find them. If a researcher expects to find haunted objects, then that is exactly what he will find. If a member of a deliverance team expects to find demons, then demons are what will show up.

Now throw hypersensitivity into all of this and you have an even more complex mess. Hypersensitives can read the information embedded in HEF fields. As a result of getting that information, they can power manifestations of it to the observers. In other words they can modify the environment so that it manifests the information in a tangible way. So, if you are going to a medium to talk to aunt Millie, the medium (assuming he is really hypersensitive) can read all the information you have about aunt Millie, develop a personality fragment based on that information, and low and behold the “spirit ‘ of aunt Millie shows up and tells you things that only you knew. A ghost hunter with even rudimentary telekinetic ability will most certainly witness objects being moved by the “spirits”! Someone with basic empathy will be able to read the emotions of the “spirits” and experience their joys and sorrows.

Conclusion
We are faced with a scientific conundrum when it comes to evidence produced in parapsychological and paranormal research. We influence the evidence even if we are not trying to do so consciously. It would be the same bad news for our scientist if he could influence which anti-biotic worked best by his mood or belief system.

Is there a solution to this confusion? Well, we have opened a discussion forum for this blog, so go ahead and register for it and then discuss what you think might be a solution! I would be happy to get your opinion!

Got a problem with the paranormal or have a question you would like one of our authors to discuss? Fill out a Confidential Help Request Form and we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you would like to discuss this topic go to the Discussion Forum by clicking on the "Discussion Forum" link on the right side of this blog. If you have not made a commitment to Jesus and you would like to do so now, then click HERE to go to a page that will show you how to become a follower of Jesus Christ.

The Role of Hypnosis in Parapsychological Abilities

2011-07-11T06:00:00.004-05:00

Introduction
I have had surprisingly consistent enquires from readers about the role of hypnosis in the paranormal field. A lot of Christians wonder if they should allow themselves to be hypnotized because the common Christian position is that hypnosis automatically diminishes the will and therefore opens the mind to demonic oppression.

I have written about hypnosis in several posts ( you can find them by typing “hypnosis” in the search box on the right side of the blog, and all the reference posts will be displayed), but to make sure that my position is understood I would like to repeat it here. No Christian should allow themselves to be hypnotized except for therapeutic purposes and then only by a qualified mental health professional or hypnotherapist who is also Christian.

To non-Christians my advice is the same, avoid stage hypnosis, party hypnosis, and folk playing around with hypnosis. From both a psychological and spiritual viewpoint, hypnosis can be dangerous in the hands of the untrained and unqualified hypnotist.

Hypnosis and parapsychology.
I am a hypersensitive which essentially means that even in childhood I was aware of the spirit world and of the Human Energy Field (HEF) - (once again check other posts for more information about both the definition and characteristics of a hypersensitive and the HEF). As a result, I took a very early interest in the psychology of hypnosis, so that by the time I was in High School I could easily hypnotize just about anyone. All through college and graduate school, I conducted experiments with hypnosis as it related to psychic abilities and my personal hypersensitivity. I would like to discuss some of my observations in this post.

Please note however, that most of the subjects who demonstrated psychic abilities while under hypnosis were able to enter into deep hypnotic states (called a state of somnolence), were conditioned by post-hypnotic suggestion to establish trance states easily and quickly, and were hypersensitive as well. Please also note that my concern here is with parapsychology and not paranormal activities. Keep in mind that parapsychology focuses on the “above normal” abilities of individuals rather than paranormal phenomenon found in ghost hunting and the traditional “haunting”.

Two Major Observations

Trance induction through the HEF

I found that I could induce hypnotic states in subjects by encoding the suggestions on my HEF and then projecting those suggestions to the subject. Since most of the subjects were hypersensitive, they could “read” the suggestions and would respond by entering into some degree of hypnosis. What this meant was that I could induce hypnosis without the need for a long process of verbal suggestion.

To test whether the subjects were being hypnotized by my body language or just by their expectation to be hypnotized, I would attempt to induce hypnosis at a distance and at unexpected times. I would then ask the subjects about what they experienced at the correct time. To my surprise, a few actually entered into a hypnotic state when I was “projecting” suggestions to do so to them through my HEF even if they were at their homes or across town from my location.

Several factors played an important role in this process. First, remote hypnotic induction was extremely difficult to do with strangers . Secondly, remote hypnotic induction was much easier when I had a friendship or some other kind of trusting relationship with the subject. Thirdly, remote induction could be pre-conditioned by regular hypnosis and post hypnotic suggestion.

Hypnotic induction of hypersensitivity.

Even a superficial degree of hypnosis seems to increase hypersensitivity. Self hypnosis enables the hypersensitive to reduce the amount of everyday emotional and mental “noise” which conflicts with psychic perception. Even a very light relaxation procedure is beneficial in this manner.

A deeper degree of hypnosis enables such phenomena as personality fragmentation, hallucinations, strong delusional states both mental and emotional, and even physical responses to psychic stimulation. At this point, the hypersensitive may become a “trance medium” and in doing so open himself to demonic spirit control.

It must be remembered that a subject in hypnosis is highly suggestible and is eager to meet the demands of the hypnotist. As a result, the subject will create secondary personalities to give the psychic information form and context. Whether or not there is an actual spirit involved is a moot point to the subject. What is experienced at a psychic level is made real by the desire to satisfy the hypnotist. As a result, the use of hypnosis can actually be a stumbling block to parapsychological research.

Conclusions
When administered by a trained therapist, hypnotherapy can be effective to reduce chronic pain, diminish anxiety, and to deal with both the psychological and physical components of addiction. Hypnosis is fairly harmless and has fewer side effects than many of the medications prescribed for these conditions. In addition, the method itself is limited by the fact that relatively few people can reach truly profound trance states, post hypnotic suggestions are not permanent but extinguish over time, and the will of the subject is not automatically suppressed or replaced by the will of the hypnotist.

People who are naturally sensitive to the spirit world or the human energy field (HEF) should be aware that hypnosis can be dangerous for them. Even a mild hypnotic induction can produce an overwhelming increase in hypersensitivity. This in turn can trigger such reactions as intense anxiety, panic, and fear. Such a traumatic awakening of hypersensitivity can result in spirit oppression accompanied by serious psychological problems; even psychosis. If a hypersensitive needs to be hypnotized, then the hypnotist should be aware of the potential problems which could occur and structure his suggestions and commands accordingly.

Finally, those of us who ministered to the public while under the anointing of the Holy Spirit should avoid using any method which can induce hypnosis. We want our people to experience the true power of the Holy Spirit and not a counterfeit anointing produced by suggestion or hypnotic manipulation.(1 John 2:27) Each minister should have some knowledge about hypnosis and understand how it is induced. I personally go out of my way to ensure that hypnosis is not included in my ministry and I do so by staying under the power of the Holy Spirit exclusively.

Got a problem with the paranormal or have a question you would like one of our authors to discuss? Fill out a Confidential Help Request Form and we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you would like to discuss this topic go to the Discussion Forum by clicking on the "Discussion Forum" link on the right side of this blog. If you have not made a commitment to Jesus and you would like to do so now, then click HERE to go to a page that will show you how to become a follower of Jesus Christ.

The Help Request Log

2011-07-04T00:36:00.002-05:00

Have a Happy 4th of July to all our American friends. We are going to take a break from posting on this blog for one week. On July 11th, Pastor Jerry will post a discussion concerning the impact of hypnosis in the parapsychological and paranormal for both Christians and hypersensitives. There are a lot of posts in the blog that contain information which you may find of use. If you have a topic in mind then just enter it in the search box on the right side of the blog, and all the posts relating to your topic of interest will be shown. Enjoy reading them and come back for the newest post on July 11th after 6:00 AM central time.

Using the Help Request Log

In the mean time you may notice a new addition to the blog. In the right side column of the blog you will notice a category called "Help Request Log". If you have submitted a help request to us, you can track the status of your request by checking the log. Sometimes we need better information or the e-mail address you gave us is incorrect, so check the log for updates on your help request. Be aware that we may request a new help form with additional information - so come back and check the log often.
PJ

Got a problem with the paranormal or have a question you would like one of our authors to discuss? Fill out a Confidential Help Request Form and we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you would like to discuss this topic go to the Discussion Forum by clicking on the "Discussion Forum" link on the right side of this blog. If you have not made a commitment to Jesus and you would like to do so now, then click HERE to go to a page that will show you how to become a follower of Jesus Christ.

A Possible Purpose for Negative Paranormal Experience

2011-06-27T06:00:00.007-05:00

From Spiritual Emergency to Spiritual Emergence

Introduction

Negative and disturbing experiences of the paranormal are often associated with a distinct sense of evil, which triggers oppression, torment and dread. Truly dark experiences of the paranormal can have adverse effects on people, leaving them feeling anxious, depressed, isolated, terrified, stressed, helpless and somehow invaded or violated.

Assistance for people with dark, troubling experiences of the paranormal very often either focuses on the activity itself, on decreasing or eliminating the activity, or in decreasing the apparent psychological and emotional discomfort of those experiencing the activity. However, sometimes the effect of negative paranormal activity can throw the person or persons into trauma or challenge their worldview of spiritual reality to such an extent that their ability to function is disturbed. When this occurs these experiences are to be considered spiritual emergencies, going well beyond the ability of ghost hunters and paranormal research organizations etc... ability to address.

As discussed in an earlier post on this blog, difficulties with and from negative paranormal experiences are often just as prevalent with Christians as they are with non-Christians. The Christian may be very devout and “religious” but has no direct experience with the power of the Holy Spirit. There is either little or no “living” relationship and conscious, abiding union with the Triune God or the person has purposefully stepped out of that abiding union and relationship. The results are often the same: trauma, oppression, torment and dread.

In this post I am going to explore how trauma and spiritual emergency triggered by negative paranormal experiences can lead to redemption, restoration and spiritual emergence. Although intense in experience, a spiritual emergency of this type can be a means of discovering one's true identity in Christ.

Spiritual Emergency as a Deep Movement of the Holy Spirit

Negative paranormal experiences, especially those associated with a sense and presence of menacing and evil, can be oppressive and tormenting to say the least. To say that this experience is somehow associated with a deep movement of the Holy Spirit in one's life challenges our understanding of grace and mercy in a Christian's life. This is especially true if the Christian is hypersensitive to the spirit realm. Yet, for some, this type of spiritual emergency signals the beginning of a process of profound “Holy Spirit surgery” that is commencing. Spiritually, something is seriously wrong and emergency surgery must be undertaken to correct it. Otherwise, the person/”patient” will be lost. Yes, it has become that serious and God's unconditional lovingkindness must be applied through radical measures.

Spiritual emergency is a process that either leads to spiritual defeat or victory. The terror and/or dread of continuing negative paranormal experiences eventually leads to a feeling of powerlessness. In time this creates a disconnect from life , love and others, including God. Desperation sets in as the person tries to make sense of the experience and what it means to them but cannot completely do so. A dark night of the soul ensues as the soul begins to fragment and become paralyzed. Often, the person's spiritual illiteracy becomes apparent. They need to be spiritually rescued, redeemed and restored.

Emergence From Spiritual Emergency and Baptism of the Holy Spirit

A person experiencing spiritual emergency triggered by negative and traumatic paranormal experiences is in need of Baptism of the Holy Spirit and spiritual direction in order to emerge from the crisis. A powerful “dose of the Holy Ghost” brings spiritual awakening, renewal, and integration of soul into spirit and heart. The person discovers who they are in Christ and begins to walk this out with purpose and awareness in their life as their life goes through a radical readjustment from what it was. It is here that seeking and accepting spiritual direction is important.

Spiritual direction of a person is concerned with a life of prayer and seeking after the leading of the Holy Spirit. It is focused on developing and maintaining a relationship with God. There must be a sensitivity to the movement of God in the person's life, especially in the area of how the Spirit moves with regard to trauma and negative paranormal experience.

Spiritual Direction and Emergence From Spiritual Emergency

Spiritual direction is always a triadic relationship between director, directee and God. Ultimately, it is about transformation, which is a process of undergoing a radical change of mind and heart, dying to the old self and assenting to a new self which reflects the image and likeness of God.

It provides a supportive atmosphere that allows the person to move into that place of recognizing their spiritual poverty and meekness through which they can be present with God. It involves both spiritual protection and support as well as guidance. Ultimately, it is the invitation and expression of God's grace that facilitates the spiritual emergence of an encounter with God. As these occur, the person is healed of trauma, has proper discernment of spirits and walks in the power and authority of Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

Negative paranormal experiences, although disturbing and traumatic, can function with a definite purpose, which is often not apparent. They may not just be a form of spiritual attack, torment and oppression. They may also be used in the service of the Holy Spirit to precipitate a spiritual emergency leading to profound spiritual change and renewal or emergence.

Baptism of the Holy Spirit along with sound spiritual direction can transform the negative experience into a redemptive process which, instead of loosing ground to spiritual negative entities resulting in spiritual defeat, results in spiritual victory and reclaiming ground for the Kingdom of God.

Who Restrains the Devil?

2011-06-20T06:00:00.009-05:00

Introduction
Dear readers, if you have been following the posts in this blog, you should have a sense that I have been writing about a great war which is taking place between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of the Devil. The prize is the soul of a man. God, through Jesus Christ, wants to save souls and adopt them into His family as His sons and daughters. The Devil wants to prevent salvation by capturing the souls of men and placing them into bondage while his demons and followers want to make them into victims of torment, abuse, and death.
Man’s fallen nature gives the Devil a clear advantage in this warfare. In the Gospel of John, God’s Kingdom is symbolized by light while the Kingdom of Satan is symbolize by darkness. John made a clear statement about the fallen nature of man when he said: ⁴In Him (Jesus) was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:4-5(NKJV) and again : ¹⁹ And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. John 3:19 (ESV). So John tells us that the fallen nature of man not only can not comprehend the Kingdom of God but actively rejects it because of evil desires, passions, and behaviors.
It would seem that because of our ignorance of the light and our active rejection of Christ and preference for sin, our world should be a hot bed of demonic paranormal activity – way beyond what we actually experience. The Devil gains control of a people through individual evil actions, the evil actions of governments, and the evil actions of works based religion or a combination of all of the above. The question is: why is our world not totally dark supernaturally, a hell world overrun by the evil of Satan both in a natural and supernatural form? Why is it that it could be said of Noah’s world;⁵ The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Genesis 6:5 (ESV) but the same thing is not said of our generation? Why doesn’t every shadow contain a demon spirit? Why isn’t every human heart full of hate and every human hand an instrument of torture? What is preventing our world from being a paranormal and natural nightmare?

Opposition to Evil Dominance
The answer to these questions is found in the powerful action of the Holy Spirit in our world and in the hearts of men. Even in the Old Testament, men were reassured that: ¹⁹ …. When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. ( Isaiah 59:19(NKJV) ). What this means is that when the Devil attempts to magnify evil in our world, the Holy Spirit opposes any attempt of the Devil to force a victory over mankind. The more power released by the Devil in an attempt to change the world into a hell like state, the more corrective and protective power is released by the Holy Spirit to prevent the Devil from having a victory. In one sense. the power of the Holy Spirit acts as a sort of spiritual barrier holding back and limiting the full power of Satan and of sin.

Paul gives us more understanding of this protective role of the Holy Spirit. Please note that to help clarify this Scripture I have added to it. All my additions are in brackets:

⁶ And you know what is restraining him [the anti-Christ] now so that he may be revealed in his time. ⁷For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he [the Holy Spirit] who now restrains it will do so until he [the Holy Spirit] is out of the way.⁸ And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.

2 Thessalonians 2:6-8 (ESV)

In this verse Paul was talking about the anti-Christ who is the ultimate example of human evil. With the help of paranormal powers given to him by Satan, the anti-Christ will use individual sin, government, and religion to cause people to reject God and focus all worship on himself. What Paul is saying in this Scripture is that the coming of the anti-Christ is being restrained by the Holy Spirit until the Holy Spirit leaves this world. This takes place at the rapture and afterward, very literally, all hell breaks lose in the world. As a matter of fact, in the seven years that follow the withdrawal of the Holy Spirit so much damage will be done to the earth and to the people who remain behind that we would not recognize it as the same planet. What is presently stopping this orgy of evil is the Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit. He is the restrainer of evil during this age.

Application to the Paranormal

Ghosts hunters, paranormal researchers, those in the occult and even Christian Deliverance ministries should realize that when they get involved with spirits they are entering a place where the protective power of the Holy Spirit is the weakest. As a result, individuals who are hunting spirits, and individuals who are communicating with the dead are in clear danger of being captivated by demonic power, of being denied knowledge of salvation, of being deceived as to the true nature of God, of adopting a false spirituality or religion, and of becoming promoters of the Kingdom of Darkness. Unfortunately, even ghost hunters who are motivated to “help people who are dealing with the paranormal” may find themselves in desperate need of help themselves.

Christian deliverance ministries must always be sure that they remain compliant to the will and purposes of the Holy Spirit. If they are doing so, then they carry the protection of the Holy Spirit with them, even into the darkest and most demonic places. In other words, if they are truly doing the work of Christ, they have the supernatural protection of the Holy Spirit at all times and in all spiritual realms. In addition, Christian deliverance ministries also have the authority of the Holy Spirit as a covering. This means that the same power which is presently restraining the anti-Christ will be with them to restrain any evil done against them by spirits, witches, Satanists, and the like, Remember, also, that the protection afforded by the Holy Spirit is especially given to those who are called to face demons and deliver humans from their grasp. This special protection is absolutely necessary to avoid the temptation to become emotionally or intellectually involved with spirits, to avoid taking credit for deliverance power, and to remain humble and Scripturally balanced in face of the task at hand.

Conclusion

From the Scriptural observations which I have made in this post, a number of conclusions can be made as follows:

If you are not a Christian you do not have the protection of the Holy Spirit. Entering into the Kingdom of Darkness by dealing with lost spirits and demons is very dangerous for you. Sooner or later you will pay the price of contact with the kinds of evil inherent in these lost spirits or rebellious demons. The ghost hunter who is a hobbyist should be warned and should beware involvement with spirits.
If you are a Christian you do have the protection of the Holy Spirit who is within you and abides with you. However, if you are involved with ghost hunting because you are seeking spiritual knowledge from spirits, proof of an afterlife, or are using occult methods in your pursuit of spirits, you are sinning and as a result you are limiting the protection that the Holy Spirit will give to you until you repent of these kinds of paranormal activities. You too should beware!
If you are a Christian who is called into deliverance ministry, then you can be assured that the Holy Spirit will protect you from any kind of evil influence brought against you. You must proceed with caution and always stay in the will of the Holy Spirit so as not to be tempted away into darkness by the very spirits you are trying to cast out. You must walk in the confidence of His protection, in His authority, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, but do so with the passionate understanding that you need Him to keep you safe and spiritually healthy.
If you entered Satan’s territory and got bruised with an extremely unpleasant and frightening experience, there is hope that some good can come from such negative experiences! In his next post, Jeff will discuss how good can possibly come from these kinds of frightening paranormal experiences. So come back next week and read more.

Deliverance–Honoring God

2011-06-13T06:00:00.005-05:00

Introduction
Through the Power of the Holy Spirit, a born again Spirit filled Christian has the authority and power to send any spirit, including demons, into the Hell world to which they belong. There is a tendency to use this power and authority without mercy or compassion for the spirit involved, but especially for a demon who may have caused a human to have years of suffering and torment. But is this the attitude which is appropriate for a Christian using the power and authority in the Name of Jesus? Does this attitude honor God?

Our Example

Take a look at these Scripture portions and pay attention the statements in bold:
¹ They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes.² And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. ³ He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, ⁴for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. ⁵ Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. ⁶ And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. ⁷ And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” ⁸For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” ⁹ And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” ¹⁰ And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. ¹¹ Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, ¹² and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” ¹³ So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered the pigs, and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and were drowned in the sea.

Mark 5:1-13 (ESV)

Here is the similar Scripture portion from Matthew in the NCV:
²⁸When Jesus arrived at the other side of the lake in the area of the Gadarene ^£ people, two men who had demons in them met him. These men lived in the burial caves and were so dangerous that people could not use the road by those caves. ²⁹They shouted, “What do you want with us, Son of God? Did you come here to torture us before the right time?”³⁰Near that place there was a large herd of pigs feeding. ³¹The demons begged Jesus, “If you make us leave these men, please send us into that herd of pigs.”³²Jesus said to them, “Go!” So the demons left the men and went into the pigs. Then the whole herd rushed down the hill into the lake and were drowned.

The Question/Facts
The perplexing question in these Scripture portions was why did Jesus allow the demons to enter into the pigs rather than send them directly to the hell world to which they belong?
So, with that question in mind we can gather some facts from the stories:
The demons made the lives of the men a torment for many years. Mark looks at just one of the men, and says that people in the surrounding villages attempted to chain him up. Certainly, under the control of these demons the man was more like a tormented animal than a human being. He (they) suffered under this cruel and horrifying bondage for years, the demons stealing their very lives and any chance for happiness or normalcy. This is a perfect illustration of the total disregard and hatred that demons have for humanity. Such cruel treatment deserved the strongest possible punishment – had it been me, I would have been tempted to send them to the darkest and deepest hell world possible, but that is not how Jesus reacted.

It was evident in both Scripture portions that Jesus was in total control which was also recognized by the demons. They needed His permission before they could do anything. He in turn had the authority and power to do with them anything He wanted to do. The number of demons involved was irrelevant to His authority. He commanded one to come out of the man and that is exactly what it had to do. Initially He commanded just one of them and the rest begged Him not to send them to hell but allow them to enter into the pigs. Ultimately Jesus would not allow them to continue their torment of any human being for He came to save and free humanity from the Devil. Why, then, did He send them into the swine. Pigs were considered to be ritually unclean animals by the Jews, but was that the real reason He sent them there?

Honoring God
While a number of people have offered answers to the question of why Jesus gave permission for the demons to enter the pigs instead of sending them into Sheol, I believe that the 29^th verse from Matthew ( or Mark 5:7) contains the answer:
²⁹They shouted, “What do you want with us, Son of God? Did you come here to torture us before the right time?”
Mark has the better translation of this verse when it says “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” because it clearly states that the character of God, the actions of God, the purposes of God, the very nature of God is totally different than the character, actions, purposes, and nature of the Devil and his demons. It is demons who torture, torment, bring disease, pain, and suffering – not God. These demons then went on and said “ Did you come here to torture us…” and by making this accusation they implied that God is a sadistic, cruel, hateful, vengeful, and unjust God who will bring pain and suffering to them for no reason.
So the very nature and character of God is brought into question by these demons. Certainly the disciples of Jesus who heard these accusations were watching Jesus to see what He would do with these demons. By casting them into hell He could have confirmed the accusation that God tortures. So by sending the demons into the pigs, He honored His Father and showed us first that God is the final judge and that until the time of the final judgment we can afford to be merciful to those who deserve no mercy both human and spirit.

Application in Deliverance
It is not necessary to cast every spirit into hell. Since it is the purpose of deliverance to stop any spirit influence or control of a person by a spirit, it is enough to cast them out and to forbid them from entering any other person. If you are dealing with a demon (Type D or Type HDS) then judgment has already been made and their destiny is certain but it is in God’s time not yours. Honor God, but don’t try to be God to these spirits.

Got a problem with the paranormal or have a question you would like one of our authors to discuss? Fill out a Confidential Help Request Form and we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you would like to discuss this topic go to the Discussion Forum by clicking on the "Discussion Forum" link on the right side to this blog. If you have not made a commitment to Jesus and you would like to do so now, then click HERE to go to a page that will show you how to become a follower of Jesus Christ.

Symbolic Language and Paranormal Phenomena

2011-06-06T06:00:00.004-05:00

Introduction

As interest in paranormal phenomena continues to grow and the paranormal subculture focuses on interfacing and interacting with this domain, a pattern is beginning to emerge. Quite often, with paranormal phenomena, there is an active agency, whether human spirit, demonic or both in conjunction, which appear to have motivations profoundly different from those attempting to interface or interact with it. Often, the phenomena of interest, is actively evasive, self-obscuring, trickster-like, capricious, defiant and yet strangely goal-oriented in some fashion. Paranormal phenomena often avoid a positioning of itself in space/time when actively being looked for or it resists attempts at verification; seemingly intending to remain baffling. If it so wishes, the phenomena can easily defy human intention and motivation. It operates independently, often with an element of randomness and indeterminacy. The exception to this occurs when a person who is in unity with Christ and walks in His power and authority interacts with paranormal phenomena.

An earlier post in this blog spoke of the paradoxes one encounters with the paranormal. The first is the presupposition that spirits have some kind of superior spiritual knowledge of divine origin. And yet, if one were to "test the spirits", one would quickly discern that although they know the name of Jesus, they are ignorant or become mute about who Christ is, His finished work on the cross, and the meaning and experience of salvation. The second paradox is the presupposition that spirits speak truth but this all becomes muddled and unclear when one begins to explore who they love, whom they serve and what informs them. Often what one receives is a "many paths to God" suggestion and no clear position that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Because all paranormal phenomena whose source is of a human spirit have, as its origin and abode, the "outer darkness", it will ultimately be a lie or a deception or both.

These patterns of behavior suggest a lack of comprehension about the basic nature of this phenomenon. The basic property and intent of paranormal phenomena seems to be to maintain some level of interest and engagement with it through intermittent reinforcement; the most powerful form of reinforcement of behavior known. It draws attention to itself and then maintains attention through these types of response. It might be said that paranormal phenomena act in a meta fashion in its interface with the natural/normal environment in order to contextualize the environment, and the people within it, according to its own goals and purposes.

With this in mind, I would like to explore the possibility that paranormal phenomena signal the occurrence of a non-temporal liminal or transitional space that forms an environment that is best understood from a meta-symbolic perspective and context and best approached through the use of symbolic language and metaphor. In this way we may begin to comprehend the intention, goals and purpose of this phenomenon.

Symbol and the Paranormal

To begin, we must first understand what a symbol is. A symbol will always point beyond itself to something else. It will also participate in that to which it points. What this means is that a symbol has a presence in ordinary, physical reality but also has a presence in the spiritual/paranormal reality to which it points. As such, a symbol will open up levels of reality and information about this reality which otherwise would be closed. They are the only way to truly access the depth and complexity of the spiritual and the paranormal. Also, symbol has the potential of unlocking dimensions and elements of our spiritual existence which correspond to the dimensions and elements of spiritual reality. Symbols have the power to connect to the spiritual/paranormal realm like a key in a keyhole. They act as the intermediary between what is considered internal and external and are "organs" of contact, which tap into a transpsychic reality. Because of this, symbolic language can be used to connect the physical realm with the paranormal, and provide information and meaning about this realm. Symbolic language operates at a much deeper level than mere facts, often as a meta-language. Although the symbolic language is a programming language rather than one with clear linguistic meaning, it still provides information about paranormal phenomena.

Information commonly is understood to consist of the symbols themselves, media for storing and transmitting the symbols and an interpretational infrastructure that both establishes the meaning of the symbols and can generate and decode the symbols. These then lead to taking action based on the symbols.

Knowledge, facts, and the data of information are represented in symbolic form or representations, of which words are the most common form, but by no means the only form. What is being suggested here is that paranormal activity and phenomenon in itself, at any given time or location, is a symbolic representation created in order to produce a specific type of container through which an anomalous relationship can be contextualized according to the purposes and goals of an unseen/discarnate intelligence. The container is a non-temporal or liminal relational space, which forms around and between the media, whether that be a living person, various detection instruments or the location/environment itself, marking it off as a type of paranormal/supernatural temenos.

Liminality and Paranormal Phenomenon

Liminality is used here to describe a transitional state, phase or "space" in which the subject is structurally and usually physically invisible and ambiguous. It is a realm of novel configurations and relations where anomalous entities/spirits are potentially polluting, defiling and dangerous to anything and anyone who come in contact with it and them unless properly prepared. Liminal entities are neither "here nor there" but instead are "betwixt and between"; that is, they exist in the domain of Sheol.

They are, in essence a community of nothing because they are nothing structurally. The relationship of these manifestations in liminal space to normal physical and social structure in terms of a spatial matrix is one of marginality, existing on the edge, and of inferiority and anti-structure. They are against any God-given structure, hierarchy or authority and create transitional spaces and containers that promote confusion, deceit or darkness. It may also be that in the created experience of liminality there is no recognition of a difference between the living and the dead.

Paranormal activity is a sign or signal that a liminal zone has manifested. One can expect the experience of "traveling in circles" without moving forward in any recognizable way if one uses non-symbolic, ordinary methods and understanding of engagement and meaning that are not geared to this domain.

Symbolic Metaphor as a Way of Interpreting Paranormal Phenomenon

Metaphor can be a way of structuring paranormal experiences and concepts in such a way that unknown domains of reality are revealed and acquire meaning. Metaphor uses a system of implication to organize and display relations in another field of implications, thus creating perceptions that may be missed otherwise. It can make explicit what was implicit, structuring abstract experience in such a way that meaning and depth are revealed.

Paranormal phenomena can be understood as metaphors in motion occurring in and with the creation of liminal/transitional space. If paranormal activity were to be interpreted, as whole, metaphorically and symbolically in a similar fashion to interpreting the form, structure and meaning of dreams, then the phenomenon would be better understood. The goal and intent of such activity would be easier to reveal. Thus, resolution and dissolution of the phenomenon along with its effects on people and property would be greatly enhanced.

Conclusion

Because paranormal phenomena occur in conjunction with the creation of liminal space, symbolic language and metaphor are the best way to meaningfully interpret, understand and address such phenomena. The Holy, Christ-centered use of symbolic representations carry with them the power and the authority of the Triune God and the understanding needed to resolve and dissolve the intent, purpose and effect this phenomena has on people and property. In a later post I will go into more depth and detail about how this is acquired and applied. I will also address the topic of spiritual emergency that often results from negative paranormal experience and the spiritual direction needed to bring relief.

Spiritual Power–The Anointing of the Holy Spirit

2011-05-30T06:00:00.006-05:00

Introduction:

As I read through the help request forms that have been sent to the ministry team of this blog, I am amazed at the number of Christians who are victimized by spirits and the occult. The basic truth is that every Christian is a dynamo of spiritual power, but they sure don’t act like it. Why not?

When I said that every Christian is a dynamo of spiritual power, I did not mean that they in themselves have power. Rather, all the power they have comes from the Holy Spirit and only according to His will and purposes. But if you think about it for a minute, you will realize that the Holy Spirit is the very Spirit of God, and there is nothing too hard or impossible for Him. Since Christians partake of this Power then the impossible does not exist for them as long as they are within the will of God. Although the Devil promises his followers supernatural power, he is deathly afraid that Christians will begin to live and work in the power of the Holy Spirit, so the devil will do anything to prevent Christians from the realization of their power through the Spirit of God. The Devil truly wants Christians to have “⁵ …the appearance of godliness, but denying its power….”. 2 Timothy 3:5 (ESV) So how does it happen that a Christian can become a victim to a spirit or demon? Here are a few suggestions:

Wrong Teaching:
There seems to be a tendency among mainstream Protestant theologians to ignore the role of the Holy Spirit in the Church and in the lives of individual Christians. I think it is fair to say that we believe what we are taught to believe. If the Holy Spirit is restricted to the church stained glass windows, and Christians are never taught about the person of the Holy Spirit, then you can not expect them to draw power from Him to defeat the demonic influences and attacks in their lives. Even those who attend Charismatic or Pentecostal churches may not have an adequate understanding of the Holy Spirit, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, the Spiritual Gifts, and the Fruit of the Spirit. Among non-Spirit filled churches the situation is far worse. I was actually shocked at the number of Christians who have asked for help and did not understand the difference between Baptism in water and the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Any theological position which rejects the authority and role of the Holy Spirit by, for example, diminishing the importance and necessity of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, should be rejected by believers. Instead, these erroneous theologies are used as excuses for Christians remaining weak and powerless supernaturally even though they seem strong religiously.

Rejection of the Christian Paranormal:
I believe that the majority of Christians do not believe that when they attend church they are supposed to have a paranormal experience with God through the Holy Spirit! In fact, I will go further to say that many would run in fear if they ever experienced the Presence of God. I know this because I have seen them run out the door of our Church as soon as the Holy Spirit made His presence known. Just sensing His Presence was too much for them and they ran away from Him in fear. Some of this reaction is due to the incorrect teaching which associates the Presence of the Holy Spirit with the work of the Devil, but a lot of this reaction is due to the simple fact that they confuse the Presence of the Spirit with a ghost. After all, one of His titles is the “Holy Ghost”. In their minds, it is much safer to reject the supernatural experience of the Holy Spirit than come face to face with God.

Lack of understanding about the Anointing:
When the Power of the Holy Spirit flows through a Christian for the purposes of ministry, the Christian is said to be “Anointed” and the flow of Power is called “The Anointing”. The Anointing has a profound effect on the body, mind, and spirit of everyone who receives it. In the table below I have listed a few of the effects which I have personally witnessed and experienced:

Body	Mind	Spirit
Shaking. Falling to ground. Inability to move. Somatic Feelings. Weakness. Laughter. Trembling. Sweating. Physical Healing. Secretion of: 1 Oil like substance. 2 Flakes of crystals. (So called gold dust).	Visions . Sense of Presence. Auditory. Trance States. Stress Reduction. Sense of Peace. Sense of Awe. Sense of Holiness. Knowledge. Hope. Sense of being forgiven. Drastically increased love. Increase faith. Mental Healing.	Communication spirit to Spirit. Separation from body/mind or Increased integration body/mind. Flow of power from God to spirit. Strengthening of spirit. More awareness of spiritual universe including other spirits.

It is apparent that a Christian who has never experienced the anointing would not understand what was happening to him, would be totally terrified by these kinds of experiences, and would avoid them at all costs. On the other hand, a Christian who understands the power of the anointing will also know that the power of the Holy Spirit can and does have a tremendous impact on mind, body, and spirit. Since it is God who is causing these experiences, they occur for His purposes and never do damage to the Christian. With this understanding, a Christian can welcome the supernatural into his life and see these experiences as both good and proper.

Got a problem with the paranormal or have a question you would like one of our authors to discuss? Fill out a Confidential Help Request Form and we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you would like to discuss this topic go to the Discussion Forum by clicking on the "Discussion Forum" link on the right side to this blog.

A Few More Christian Answers to Paranormal Questions

2011-05-23T06:00:00.014-05:00

Introduction:
Based on the many searches that people have used to find this blog, I have become aware of some questions that people would like answered. In addition, I have some topics in mind which need to be clarified. In this post I shall attempt to provide some answers to two of these topics.

1. If God created everything then He must have created evil. If God created evil how can it be that we are condemned to Hell because of something that He created?
This question is based on a faulty understanding of evil. Evil is not a created thing or object, it is an action in violation of God’s will. In other words, evil is a verb (something we do) rather than a noun. However, actions can effect objects so that evil can transform an object into something which is fundamentally evil. As a result, angels created holy have become, by their rebellion against God, Demons and other evil spirits. God did not create evil, but angels and humans were given the opportunity to act in an evil manner and must take upon themselves the consequences of those actions. This understanding applies generally to the entire world. For example, God did not create diseases and death, but both came into the world through evil actions. Paul put it in a different way when he said:

¹²Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

Romans 5:12 (ESV)

Therefore to look at the condition of the world, especially the evil perpetuated by mankind, and blame God is foolish. To say, “How can there be a loving God when there is so much death, destruction, and evil in the world” is to deny our responsibility for our own actions and use God as a scapegoat for the consequences of our evil and unloving behavior. To make sure that we fully understand this, the Bible declares that God is good and has no aspect of evil in His character or nature.

¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

James 1:17 (ESV)

Therefore, God does not create evil but every gift that He gives is good, pure, and holy so as to reflect the real nature of God. This is especially true of the 9 Spiritual Gifts which give Christianity it’s paranormal dimension. These gifts are used for the building of the Body of Christ, contain no evil, and are distributed through the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.

2. Can personal objects contain paranormal energy to which a Hypersensitive can respond?
What this question is really asking is whether the Human Energy Field (HEF) can extend itself to objects and will those objects now contain information which was embedded in the HEF. The answer is yes! Objects can contain HEF information and the information in that HEF can be “read” by a Hypersensitive. The typical method for doing this reading consists of a hypersensitive touching the object and experiencing the information it contains through some form of sensory input. In other words, the Hypersensitive can touch or hold an object and read the information that it contains. In terms of the spiritual Gift of Knowledge, the Holy Spirit will often alert a deliverance team member if an object has become associated with demonic activity and contains demonic information. When objects contain HEF information, the hypersensitive will often experience what is called a “residual haunting” and the object will be called “cursed” by Christians
The best way to understand this is to compare it to the ability of a magnet to magnetize a metal object. Rub a magnet over a steel bar and the metal becomes a magnet. Information had been exchanged and now the object behaves like a magnet. In the same manner, strong energy emitted by the HEF can record information in an object. Often the HEF level is so high because the person is experiencing something horribly destructive or painful which produces strong emotions, and those emotions are recorded in an object which is later read by a Hypersensitive. Interestingly enough, the actual event which was recorded may have happened decades before it is read by the Hypersensitive, but the Hypersensitive experiences it as if it just happened.
Now what this means is that objects dedicated to the worship of Demons will take on the information of the Demon, and will draw to itself Demons of a similar nature. The object acts like an anchor for the Demon, giving it a door way by which it can manifest. Often a deliverance team will have to destroy such objects (despite their value) before complete deliverance of a home or person can be achieved. Christians are commanded to avoid contact or interactions with these types of objects, and to immediately destroy them when we inadvertently run into them. Paul said it in this way:

²⁰ No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. ²¹You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.

1 Corinthians 10:20-21 (ESV)

Conclusion
What is true of the negative is also true of the positive. Objects used in the worship of God through Jesus Christ can act as an anchor for angels and for the Holy Spirit. In this case, we call the object “blessed”. Such blessed objects can contain the Power of the Holy Spirit and protect from demonic activity (given faith by the person receiving the object). Our prayer cloth ministry is an example of the this “Blessing” in operation to protect from the activity of Demons.

Got a problem with the paranormal or have a question you would like one of our authors to discuss? Fill out a Confidential Help Request Form and we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you would like to discuss this topic go to the Discussion Forum by clicking on the "Discussion Forum" link on the right side to this blog.

Paranormal Paradoxes

2011-05-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

Introduction
There is an Ironical and perplexing series of paradoxes in the world of psychic mediums, ghost hunters and in the people who devote their time, energy, and money just to document something that may or may not be paranormal or a result of spirit activity. For some their motivation is the pleasure of belonging to a social group that wears their own cool ghost hunting t-shirts and have weird looking Facebook profile pictures along with the hope that perhaps one day they will be TV stars. For others it is the thrill of the hunt, capturing that elusive EVP or seeing that unexplainable shadow sweep past their vision. But the paradoxes deepen for those who are passionately seeking some spiritual experience which confirms and documents an afterlife, gives knowledge about the universe of spirits, or about the God of that mysterious universe. A universe which is both unknown, unexplored, and more than a bit frightening.
What are these paradoxes? Hypersensitives (psychics) and ghost hunters are:

looking for higher knowledge and supreme answers from ignorant spirits,
they are seeking truth in falsehood,
and finally and most importantly, they are seeking communication with the wrong ghost.

Now some of you may say that I don’t know what I am talking about, but if you have read any of the earlier posts on this blog you will know my story. I spent over a decade doing the same things that you are doing today – I know about these paradoxes because I lived in them and did them myself! Still, I would like to explain what I mean by each of these paradoxes and then offer a solution to them.

Higher Knowledge/Supreme Answers:
For some unexplained reason, many people in the paranormal believe that being a “spirit” means that you possess a higher form of spiritual knowledge than living folk. This may be based on the idea that spirits have experienced the spirit world and so know more than a mortal and have the answers to the questions we all want answered about the afterlife. So those who are seeking knowledge of the spirit world tend to accept and somewhat naively believe everything that their “spirit guide” says about spirituality and how one should best live while alive.

Now this is not a new concept! As a matter of fact it has been around a long time. In the New Testament, the word “Demon” is taken from the Greek word “δαίμων” or “daimōn”. This term can mean “God or Divine Powers”. In turn, this word can be used in the sense of “god”, “lesser deity”, and “protective deity" . So it is historically true that many have believed that their spirit contact is of a divine source or is divine in itself. Of course, the spirit guide or contact will not admit that it is not divine or that it does not in fact possess superior knowledge or the answers to the questions of the spiritual universe. After all what better way for a spirit to win friends and influence people but to pretend that it is really godlike! So it is absolutely understandable why religions based on the “godlike” proclamations of a spirit have been established world wide. (check out the post on Type AL spirits for more information about this subject).

During my tour as a psychic medium, I had a number of spirit guides and they began to explain to me how a spirit evolves from a primitive state to a divine state. In fact, I began to write a book about it which I called “spiritual evolution”. If I had continued writing down what they were saying to me, I could have gotten the book published and most likely would have become well known among new age believers. I was well down that path when I had a sudden realization, as fascinating as “spiritual evolution” seemed to be there was absolutely no way that it could be proven to be even close to reality. The only way I could believe their teaching is by assuming they knew more than I did!

Now Scripture has a solution to this problem and it is very simple:
¹ Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

1 John 4:1 (ESV)

So the solution was to test my spirit guides by asking them about how a person gets saved and about the work of Christ on the Cross as it applies to the living. Much to my amazement, while they could tell me about this incredibly intriguing and complex process of spiritual evolution, they were completely ignorant about what salvation means and about the work of Christ to bring about salvation! I threw out the nearly complete book about spiritual evolution because I realized that my spirit guides were ignorant of one of the most important spiritual conditions; salvation. If they did not know about or understand salvation then they had nothing to offer me or anyone else!

Truth:
Spirit guides and the like are prone to using fuzzy terms like “love” to promote out of balance or false teachings about God and spirituality. So a lot of people will tell you that they love “God” but when asked who it is that they love they will tell you about mythological beings, or some form of a higher self. The emphasis is on “love” regardless of the truth about what you love. Yet, you really can not love God unless you also love the truth! Once again we find a simple solution in Scripture:

⁶Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:6 (ESV)

Jesus made this statement as a simple fact. It is non-negotiable, and can not be compromised. Because this statement comes from Christ, it is not subject to interpretation. You either believe it or not, and if you do not believe it then you are calling Him a liar. In other words, if you want to love God then you will love Christ because He is the only way to love God. So if a spirit guide starts teaching you about the “ways” to God, or a way which is not through Christ, then you know that such a teaching is a lie and that the spirit is a liar attempting to deceive you into a false religion by convincing you of a falsehood.

The Wrong Ghost
I am always intrigued and somewhat amused by the dialog of a ghost hunting investigation. It goes something like this:
“Hello, is someone here?” “We are not here to harm you, we just want to know if you exist!” “If you are here can you show us by making a noise?”
And so a spirit just might be able to squeeze out a bump in the night, and the ghost hunters run after it to find other explanations and if they can’t then it could be a real ghost and there might be an afterlife. Maybe!

So the question that I have for my ghost hunting and psychic friends is this; are you willing to meet the Holy Ghost? He is here in this world to communicate with you.

Art by Bill Wallace He is not some uncertain wisp of light or shadow figure, but when you meet Him there will be no doubt in your mind that you have been touched by the Spirit of God. He wants to lead you to Christ, counsel you in your life problems, empower you to perform miracles, shape you into the image of Christ, and take you to heaven when the time comes. He is willing and able to do all these things for you and for your family. Just ask Him!

Have a problem with the paranormal or just want to ask a question? Fill out a Confidential Help Form and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Also if you want to discuss this post or make comments about the paranormal, just click on the "Discussion Forum" link on the right side of this blog.

When Hell Was Changed Forever

2011-05-09T06:00:00.003-05:00

Introduction
The New Testament maintains a distinction between Sheol, the place of the dead and the eternal destiny of those condemned at the Final Judgment which is called Gehenna or the Lake of Eternal Fire.
Nevertheless, many people consider Hell to be the Lake of Eternal Fire and do not understand the actual geography of Hell which includes Sheol (Hades). One reason for this is that the old King James Version uses the English word “Hell” for both Sheol and Gehenna making no distinction between the two. This has led many to believe hell is only Gehenna, and to disregard Sheol or the “abode of the dead”. In response to this confusion, many modern translations keep the distinction by calling Sheol (Hades) “the pit” and Gehenna is called “Hell” (including the new King James version). For more information about the geography of hell, check out this post.

Sheol: Two Dimensions
Now before the resurrection of Christ, Sheol or Hades was divided into two distinct “places”. One place was for those who loved and served God and kept the commandments to the best of their ability. These people are referred to as the “righteous” dead and they existed in the part of Sheol called “Paradise”. So it was in Paradise that one would find Adam, Eve, Moses, King David, the prophets and other righteous dead. The unrighteous dead existed in another dimension of Hell which was described as the “outer darkness” and was a place of weeping and suffering.

The After-Death Experience of Christ.
When Jesus was on the cross, a thief who was being crucified next to him asked Jesus:

⁴² And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”⁴³ And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Luke 23:42-43 (ESV)

Now what is fascinating about this verse is that Jesus said He was going to Paradise which was part of Hades. Jesus said that after His death He was going to descend into Hell. Other Scriptures support this theology:

Matthew 12:40 – comparison between Jonah being swallowed by a huge fish and Christ being 3 days in the earth (Sheol) covered place – grave.
Acts 2:27 – Hades could not hold the crucified Christ
1 Peter 3:19-20 –made a proclamation to the spirits in prison from Noah’s time.
2 Cor 2:14 – “triumphal procession” out of hell?
Eph 4:8-10 – Ascended on high led captives in His train – captives from hell?

The Day Hell was Changed Forever
The Scriptures clearly state that Christ descended into Hades or Sheol. But why?
Some would imply that His time in Hell was in humiliation, that He suffered the fire of Hell so that we would not have to suffer from it. There are two problems with this theology. First, from the Cross Jesus said that “it is finished” (John 19:30). By this He meant the work of sacrifice He endured on the Cross and particularly the payment for our sins as our substitute. As a result, there would be no need for Him to suffer the flames of Hell! Secondly, He said he was going to Paradise which was part of Hades or Sheol. This is not the burning hell of the Final Judgment but the “abode of the dead”. What is meant then, is that Jesus went into the spirit world with a definite purpose.
That purpose is clearly stated in the following Scripture:

⁶ For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

1 Peter 4:6 (ESV)

So Jesus died and His Spirit descended into Paradise to preach the gospel – the message that His death paid the penalty for sin. As a result, all those who believed in Him who were in hell were no longer excluded from heaven. Jesus went to empty hell and carry the righteous dead into heaven with Him. This harrowing of hell was the triumphant procession which is mentioned in 2 Cor 2:13. Can you image the ecstatic joy that the Old Testament people experienced as they finally followed Christ to heaven to stand before the God they loved and served, but never saw during their lifetime. So hell was drastically changed that day, and its very structure was modified so that now the abode of the dead no longer contains those who believe. Even as wonderful as all this was, something even greater happened.

The Keys
Seriously consider the implications of this Scripture:

¹⁸ I am the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

Revelation 1:18 (ESV)

The Key of Hades
Satan was the master of hell. Those in Hades were his captives and his slaves because he had a legal claim on them because of their sin. Like I have said repeatedly in this blog, a spirit goes to the place it belongs without a choice or free will. But now that Jesus took away the key of Hades from Satan by defeating and nullifying the claim of Satan on the soul of a man, those who are forgiven because of the cross need no longer fear that they will be held captive in Sheol or Hades. Christ closes the gates of hell to those who believe in Him, so there is no fear of going there.
The Key of Death
The great fear found in death, and the motivation to prove an afterlife comes because every man dreads the day he will come face to face with God. So we all strive to avoid even thinking about that day we will die. Yet death is no longer to be feared because Christ has the key to death. Since those who believe have a passport to heaven, fear is to be replaced by faith in Christ. Just as Jesus can close the gates of hell, he can open the gates of heaven for believers, and we will be automatically drawn to heaven because the gates are wide open and Jesus beckons us to enter.

Conclusion
Since the righteous in Christ go through the open gates of Heaven, any spirit who remains earthbound is actually destined for Hades or Sheol. We can be assured that ghost hunters, psychic mediums, and those in the occult are not communicating or dealing with the heaven bound. They are in fact in a relationship with those in Sheol waiting for judgment. Christ, by his death and resurrection, forever changed the structure of the spirit universe. He who holds the keys to both death and Hades is the one who judges where we belong and which gates will be opened for us as soon as we take our last breath.

Got a problem with the paranormal or have a question you would like one of our authors to discuss? Fill out a Confidential Help Request Form and we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you would like to discuss this topic go to the Discussion Forum by clicking on the "Discussion Forum" link on the right side to this blog.

Intercession for the dead, Paranormal Activity, and Human Spirit Removal

2011-05-02T06:00:00.002-05:00

Introduction

In several posts in this blog the location and meaning of ‘Sheol’ has been discussed. Please recall that this is another dimension of earthly reality set aside for those human spirits being held until particular or final judgment, and therefore not saved and not Christian. Here the eternally lost reside but because this realm is still connected to earth, these spiritual beings can communicate and “haunt” in the earthly dimension.
Because they are lost in spiritual darkness and cannot be redeemed or restored, such new age or occult activities as sending or encouraging spirits “toward or into the light” will not remove them from their current state and place, which is Hell. And yet, some people either feel a degree of compassion for these spirits or they wish to decrease or stop paranormal activity. Some also would like to diminish the spiritual suffering of the human spirit somehow or improve the spirits lot.
In this post I am going to explore how human spirits come to be in Sheol and become attached to this realm. I am also going to suggest some possibilities of how to address these spirits from a Christian view.
A word of caution is in order before we begin. Some of the orthodox ideas and beliefs I refer to in this post are being used as ways to begin to understand on a deeper level the spiritual reality underlying paranormal activity. I am utilizing these ideas, concepts and beliefs as a type of working paradigm with the hope that it will offer information that is helpful and stimulate research.

Prayer for the Dead
In praying for the dead one intercedes for them just as one would intercede for the living, whether they are Christian or not. For the dead these are typically prayers for mercy and relief of suffering and are focused primarily on the presence and assistance of the Triune God to address the spirit or spirit activity. The prayer(s) is/are not primarily focused on the spirit itself. The key is in the spiritual power of the Holy presence, which brings everything that is needed with it.
It must be understood that such prayers do not bring deliverance of the spirit from Sheol (Hell), but they do bring a benefit and an anointing to the one praying, and can bring a resolution to the paranormal activity occurring as well.
According to St. Basil at the moment of death or shortly thereafter, usually within about three days, there is a sudden “overturning like a storm” whereby an angel will come and forcibly lead out or away the soul of the departed along with any sin that may be bound with it. It is an unavoidable translation into a different realm and reality.

If the person is a true born again Christian that has a living relationship with Christ or is a child, then he/she is “hidden in Christ”. The holy angels peacefully separate the person from their body and escort them without harm past the demonic “powers of the air”.
The real spiritual self, which is hidden while we are alive in the natural world, is revealed at death. A person’s spiritual character or “spirit man/woman” is eternal; in some way it is preserved beyond the person’s death. If truly Christian, this spiritual character is reserved in Heaven, to be physically manifested at Christ’s return. The spiritual man within the true Christian while living is still recognized as belonging to Christ after the person has died. If the person does not belong to Christ then Sheol is “the next stop” after physical death. This is referred to as the “Particular Judgment” and is independent of the universal “Last Judgment”.

Orthodox Christian Concept of Aerial Toll Houses
The Particular Judgment of God brings us into the sphere of Orthodox dogmatic theology. It is here that we find the concept of aerial toll-houses. A word of caution is in order here. All the sensual, earthly images presented in the form of toll-houses, while being conceptually true, are only the weakest means of depicting heavenly things. They are, in fact, a type of symbolic representation, which is the language of the spirit realm and of paranormal activity in general. Symbol, metaphor, analogy and parable, along with an understanding of transitional, liminal time and space, are the currency of the spiritual. Thus, they are keys to understanding paranormal phenomena. I will deeply explore these in a future post.
Following the death of an unsaved person, that is a person who does not have a personal relationship with Christ and does not accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they find themselves in a realm ruled by the demonic. The soul of the unsaved encounters the demonic at a point or points called ‘toll-houses’ where unrepented sins are confronted and spiritual payment is demanded. A Christian’s sin is paid for by the Blood of Christ. This is not true of the unsaved. If “payment” is not made in full then the soul is bound to some degree of Hell/Sheol to await Final Judgment.
The various toll-houses involve specific sin areas where a soul is questioned or accused. These areas include the following:

Sins of the tongue
Lies
Slander
Gluttony
Laziness
Theft
Covetousness
Envy
Pride
Murder
Magic
Lust
Adultery
Unmercifulness

This is not an exhaustive list but one can begin to see that somewhere along the line the unsaved person will be found guilty and unable to spiritually “pay the toll in full”. All are considered defilements and result in “imprisonment or detainment” in Sheol.

Degrees of Sheol and Types of Paranormal Activity
As discussed in previous posts in this blog, there does appear to be levels of detainment and imprisonment along with types of spirit/paranormal activity that accompany them. There also seems to be various degrees of suffering as well for human spirits in Sheol. This would account for the wide variations in paranormal activity and behavior ranging from relative benevolence to requests or cries for help to malevolent or aggressive behavior or activity.
It should be remembered that all human spirits held in Sheol are unregenerate souls, that is, souls not born of God and thus not eligible for pardon. It would seem that the most aggressive, malevolent souls are those who consciously and consistently chose (and still continue) to choose and love “darkness rather than light”, (Jn. 3:18-21). Other categories of suffering may include those that habitually pursued some form(s) of sin or were in a continual state of unrepentant sinning of some kind. These things only the Triune God knows until Final Judgment.

Guidelines and Suggestions for Prayers for the Dead When Addressing the Paranormal
When at a location that has had paranormal activity, it is recommended that prayers for the dead be accompanied by communion, a clearing/blessing of the property and personal prayers of repentance, forgiveness and protection. Because prayers for the dead tend to bring relief from suffering, the spirits may be tempted to return and resume their activity so it is important to spiritually seal property and people with the blood of Christ. Remember, the created, natural/physical realm of time/space/matter is usually not for spirits; it is for us. If there is reoccurring spirit activity it is most likely due to spirits that are spiritually ill, not at rest or choosing to be malevolent or aggressive for some reason.
It is very tempting for a hypersensitive to want to establish some form of relational exchange with a deceased human spirit. Active, intelligent spirit(s) may even attempt to draw in the hypersensitive as they are not impersonal, but remain relational in some capacity. Although it may be helpful to assess the “spiritual fruit” of the apparition/spirit for prayer purposes, any form of ongoing connection or relation with the spirit is strongly discouraged. The hypersensitive is there as a representative of Christ, and a person of the Holy Spirit to ask for the presence, rest, peace and mercy of the Lord to be released, and not to establish any type of soul bond/connection with the spirits.
The central theme of all prayers for the dead is for the Lord to have mercy. The prayers request the Lord to remember the souls of the departed and have mercy on them. The reading of Psalm 51 on behalf of the departed is also helpful.

Conclusion
Prayers for the dead are a form of intercession that can be helpful for the departed human spirit and for a reduction or resolution of paranormal activity. It does not offer a “change of address” for the spirit. They remain in Sheol, but it can reduce suffering if that is God’s will and establishing a boundary, preventing further paranormal phenomena from manifesting.
Got a problem with the paranormal or have a question you would like one of our authors to discuss? Fill out a Confidential Help Request Form and we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you would like to discuss this topic go to the Discussion Forum by clicking on the "Discussion Forum" link on the right side to this blog.

Talk To Us!

2011-04-24T17:21:00.002-05:00

So far, I have been interested in making this blog a storehouse of information about the Christian perspective of the paranormal. However, a number of our readers said that they were disappointed that we did not allow comments on the blog. So we have made some changes to the blog which will allow us to be more interactive with you, and which will allow you to express your ideas or comments and discuss some of the ideas and opinions published here. Here is how to go about getting in contact with us or starting a discussion about a topic:

I need help with a paranormal problem!
If you are in need of help, we would ask you to send us a confidential information form rather than discuss your need on a public forum. You can send us a help request by clicking on the Confidential Help Request link in the right column of the blog. The help request will be answered by someone on the SCV ministry team, and sometimes you will get recommendations from each member of the team. We do ask that you fill out the form completely and give us the best description of the problem that you can! You can also click HERE to get to the help form.

I have questions or would like to talk about my ideas about the Paranormal Universe
If you have a question or would like to discuss some aspect of paranormal research, about the Christian viewpoint of the paranormal, about being a hypersensitive, or would just like to talk about some topic concerning the paranormal then go to the discussion forum. We would ask you to register by giving us some basic information which will be kept confidential. Once you are registered you will go to the main discussion forum and once there, select a general board topic, and post your discussion topic. Anyone can post and talk about their experiences or search for answers. The link on the right side of this blog called “Discussion Forum” will get you to the registration or sign-in page of the forum. Even before we made this forum public, we were hit by spam! So when you register you must answer some simple questions to get through the anti-spam protection. The questions are self-evident (Is the moon round (yes or no)), so registering should not be a problem. You can click HERE to go directly to the forum.

I want to talk to other Christians about the Paranormal
Finally, if you want to talk to a wider group of people you can link up with the Christian Paranormal Discussion Group by clicking HERE. You can also join our discussion group at Global Paranormal by clicking Here

Search the Blog
I noticed that a lot of readers who come to this blog through Google or other searches engines tend to end up on pages that contain only partial information for which they were searching. So I strongly recommend that you use the search box in the upper right corner of the blog to find all the posts which contain information about your topic. We have a lot of information that you will not find if you do not search for it.

Conclusion
With all these options I hope that we will have a good and open discussion of this interesting area of the paranormal as it relates to Christianity and other topics as well. Feel free to share your opinions, research results, personal experiences, and look for answers to your questions.
PJ

The Spirits of Easter

2011-04-18T06:00:00.037-05:00

Introduction

I said in one of my previous posts that Christianity is perhaps the most supernatural and paranormal of the world religions. Not only was it founded in a most supernatural way, but the power of God continues to manifest through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and through the nine Spiritual Gifts which are available even today to any born again Christian. Perhaps this paranormal dimension of the Christian faith is most evident throughout the Biblical accounts of Easter, so in this post I would like to discuss just a few of these paranormal events.

Ministry of Angels

⁴³And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. Luke 22:43 (ESV)

This is one of the first paranormal events that took place in the Easter story. It was mentioned only in Luke but that does not diminish its importance. Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane and had been praying just before his arrest. He was experiencing the personal turmoil and stress of prophetically knowing the torment and pain which lay before Him, while at the same time struggling to submit his human will to the will of God the Father who called him to be a sacrifice for the sins of mankind. Remember that Jesus was a totally psychologically healthy person (perhaps the most sane person who ever existed) and was experiencing the normal and deep seated human desire to avoid suffering, pain, and death. This struggle was so intense that Christ actually sweated blood due to the stresses involved with his submission. Here we see an angel come into the garden and manifest to minister to Jesus. Later on in the New Testament Paul would tell us that angels can also minister to believers. Obviously, this angel ministered some type of healing and spiritual encouragement to Christ as He continued to submit his human will to the will of God.

Angel Armies

³⁶ Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” John 18:36 (ESV)

The servants who were “not from the world” were of course angels. This was not just boasting on the part of Christ. The Old Testament tells us that just one angel servant of God was capable of totally destroying any army in existence, then or now! Had Jesus so commanded, just one angel would have overcome the entire army of Rome and conquered the entire world for Christ. Of course, such a conquest would have been absolutely useless for the purpose of God, for He was after the heart of man not any military power.

Satan’s Tool
³ Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. Luke 22:3 (ESV), John 13:27

There are a couple of interesting points in this Scripture. Here we have Satan taking over a human being in order to betray the Son of God. This was not just possession, but clearly Judas agreed to serve the Devil. Judas was with Christ throughout His 3 year ministry. He saw and experienced the miracles, he heard the teachings of Christ, he saw the glory of God, but the heart of Judas remained closed to God and open to the Devil. Since Judas remained psychically open to Satan (the accuser), Satan was able to bring about a strong delusion or deception in the mind of Judas about Christ. Perhaps Judas did not believe that Jesus was who He said He was and so Judas wanted to force Jesus to move against Rome. Perhaps, it was just simple greed that ruled the heart and mind of Judas.
Once out of the contol of Satan, Judas understood what he had done and with a new clarity of insight he said; “I have sinned...., “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” (Matt 27:3). and then with an immeasurable amount of self-disgust and self-hatred, he killed himself and by doing so made sure that he never could be forgiven or saved!
Christ once said that Judas was a “devil” and it may very well be that Judas is a perfect example of what I call a Human Demonic Spirit (Type HDS). To learn more about this type of spirit please read the three part post concerning the impact of evil on the human spirit.

Darkness Reigns
⁴⁵ Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. Matthew 27:45 (ESV)
⁵³ When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” Luke 22:53 (ESV)

Wow! Talk about physical manifestations! This three hour period of darkness was not attributed to a know physical cause such as an eclipse or the on set of a thunder storm.
It was a pure paranormal event in which the power of evil was made evident during the last 3 hours of the life of Christ. There is no way of knowing how far around the cross this supernatural darkness extended but it was frightening enough and strange enough to stop the enemies of Christ from mocking and verbally abusing Him. It was during these final hours that God literally saw His Son as sin and brought about the judgment of death and separation from God that sin deserves. The world grew dim at the sight of the Son of God paying the price for our internal darkness, a darkness which still exists today and which can be changed only by the light of God.

Celebration Announcements
² And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. ⁴ And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. ⁵ But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” Matthew 28:2-7 (ESV)

The heart of Christianity is the resurrection. The resurrection of Christ tells us that His sacrifice on the cross was accepted by God for the forgiveness of our sins. It also gives us hope that one day we will also receive our resurrection bodies to the glory of Christ.
The resurrection was both announced and proclaimed to the followers of Christ by angelic spirits. They also helped in the physical aspects of the resurrection by, for example, moving the large stone away from the entrance to the tomb. So Easter Sunday is filled with paranormal and supernatural events once again reinforcing my claim that Christianity is one of the most paranormal religions in the world.

Conclusion
May you and your family be blessed this Easter with the startling fact of the resurrection of Christ. May it help you realize that Christ is alive today and He still works supernaturally for the slavation of all who will believe. Blessings
PJ

Occupy Until I Come

2011-04-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

Redeeming the Land

¹⁹For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope ²¹that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

Romans 8:19-21 (ESV)

Introduction
In this post I will be exploring redeeming the land, a specific ministry of reconciliation which includes aspects of spiritual warfare and deliverance. Many times, as a hypersensitive, I will be at a structure, property or on a piece of land and the Holy Spirit will alert me to a curse, spirit activity or degree of defilement that is present there. This does not happen everywhere I go for two reasons. Either there is nothing there, or the Holy Spirit shields me from awareness of it or any influence by it. As I rest in the Spirit, It is my on/off switch for my hypersensitivity in this area. If the switch is turned on this may indicate a need for renewal, restoration or redemption of the land or property in question. It is this process that I wish to speak of.

The Importance of Redeeming Land/Property
According to Lev. 18:25 land, property and homes can become defiled through the sin of its inhabitants. Because of this, the land or property can be put into the bondage of decay, resulting in a curse on the land and its inhabitants. Because the land is under bondage to decay it becomes sick and has no strength or life. It has become defiled. The curse and power of evil, unclean spirits over the land must be broken for it to be renewed and restored. The land needs prayers over it and the casting out or away of the powers that have ruled over the cursed land. It then must be healed and rededicated back to God and His Kingdom.

The Defilement and Cursing of Land
To defile means to be made unclean or polluted. It is the primary “door” that allows bondage, curses and decay to occur. Defilement puts “holes” in the natural hedge of protection that God has provided, allowing a curse to take hold.

A curse is best understood as binding with a spell, hemming in with resistant obstacles, or to render something powerless and make it infertile. Perversions, occult and satanic practices, the shedding of innocent blood and murder are some of the activities that can defile and curse the land. The land, property or home must be redeemed for it to be relinquished from a spiritual hold or claim on it.

God, through the Holy Spirit may give a hypersensitive person a “burden” and an anointing to redeem land, property and homes from these spiritual powers, thus returning it to a Bethel (House of God) environment. A spiritual burden is someone or something that God places upon the heart of the hypersensitive that signals the immediate need for prayer, intercession and the discernment of spirits concerning the person(s), place or thing. Burdens are usually experienced as having a kind of “spiritual weight”, prompted by the Holy Spirit. It is a type of soulish angst, often accompanied by a sense of urgency, and is a gift of the Spirit to the hypersensitive. It is often a call not only to intercession, but also for some type of direct action. In the case of land, property and home, the burden is about redeeming and healing these areas. The hypersensitive intercessor then “stands in the gap” and places or lifts the burden back up to God for discernment, guidance and resolution. The hypersensitive intercessor should never attempt to redeem the land with their own power and authority. In the least, this would be ineffective. At the most, they may be spiritually and perhaps physically attacked.

Redeeming, Possessing and Occupying the Land
To redeem the land and any structures and activity there is to break any curse, power or claim that evil and unclean spirits may have over the area. The cursed land needs prayer over it and a casting out and away of and demonic or troubled spirits that have laid claim to it remain on it or rule over the land. In essence, this is a process of renewal, restoration and redemption whereby the land and anything on it is rededicated to the Triune God.
This is a ministry of reconciliation as much as deliverance. After intercessory prayer and discernment of spirits it is important to hold Holy Communion over the area and in any occupied residence on it as well. This can be done by a minister or by any born again Christian as we are all called to be priests and have been given spiritual power and authority over our land, homes and families. Holy Communion is not only a remembrance of Christ and rededication; it also invites the very presence, power and glory of God through Jesus Christ because of the power of the blood of Christ. The rite of Communion reminds spirits that the land and the structures and activities on it are redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus and that any other spiritual presence or power must relinquish its hold and claims.
After Holy Communion the next action to take of spiritual authority and power is to pour blessed anointing oil first on the land, rededicating it to God, so that it again belongs to God as He heals and cleanses the land. Also oil and prayer should be applied to the boundaries of the land as an acknowledgement of a reestablished spiritual hedge of protection. Next, any residents of the land need to be anointed with oil in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and then all doorways, windows and openings in the entire residence anointed in the same fashion with a simple prayer of dedication and filling of the Holy Spirit each time the sign of the cross is made with oil.
Conclusion
To redeem the land one must possess and occupy the land. The Hebrew word ‘possess’ (yarash) means to occupy by driving out previous tenants and possessing in their place. One starts with discerning the spiritual forces that control and rule over the land and then standing in the spiritual authority that He has given, pulling down the strongholds and ruling forces of darkness over the area while inviting God’s presence and rededicating the land to Him.
Have a problem with the paranormal or just want to ask a question? Fill out a Confidential Help Form and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Outlaw Angels—Part II

2011-04-04T06:00:00.012-05:00

Many people believe the Bible tells us angels are “sexless, celibate” and without gender because of this verse from Matthew:

³⁰ For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.

Matthew 22:30 (ESV)

This verse has created a lot of confusion about angels. I can’t tell you how many angry letters and nasty remarks I get from people who to this day refuse to take the whole counsel of scripture, but instead hinge their entire belief on one line in the Bible. “Angels can’t have sex, or reproduce”…well let’s see about that.

Before I proceed let me ask you a question. Priests take a vow of celibacy as part of their duties to their religion, correct? Now, a priest is a man, no argument there (and no I am not going to go down the path that women have recently been ordained as priests). Do these men undergo some strange castration? Maybe a spiritual effeminacy? Do they ever slip up and think about sex? My goodness, do they even sin and actually have sex? Do they still have all of the right plumbing under those robes? Of course I am being facetious here, but I think I made my point, just because you have an elect position doesn’t mean you become androgynous, doesn’t mean you lose your equipment, doesn’t mean you are incapable of sinning. We are all painfully aware of the Vatican’s shame in the last 50 years of the inappropriate conduct of priests…these ‘rebel priests, outlaw priests’. Did their elect position protect them from sin? No. So let me ask you this, where did sin originate? Man? Or Angel? Angel my friend, not man. Lucifer was the first to sin, uh oh—that would make him a rebel, and outlaw, a lawbreaker.

How many of you have read the Bible, and took note of what God said about remaining chaste before marriage? Okay, many think that is outdated and silly, but if we serve an Almighty, unchanging God, what do you think God would say about it today? “Don’t do it” right? But, yet, we CAN. This is called “free will” my friends. Is it wrong? Yes, according to the Lord it is wrong, but he didn’t stop you from doing it. You rebelled, you disobeyed his command, you lived outside of the His Law.

Are you seeing where I am going with this? Angels have free will, otherwise, Satan would have never been able to sin, rebel, make a choice to defy the Living God. Did God take away Satan’s masculinity for this crime? No. Did God strip away the powers of the angels who rebelled with Satan and fell with him? No. If you were a rebel, what would be the first thing you would do when you found yourself no longer complying with social norms and laws? Uh, Duh! You go break everyone of those norms and laws wouldn’t you? Just to prove a point…to mock the Living God, who created you, spite him, incite him, really, see just how far you could go, just how far you could push the envelope…Outlaw Angels running amuck—enter in Genesis 6.
Genesis 6:1-4
Wickedness in the World
¹ When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, ² the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. ³ Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.”
⁴ The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.

Okay, are you seeing a pattern here? Who came to earth and looked upon the daughters of men? Sons of God right? Who are the Sons of God? Angels…no brainer. Why would the Almighty God inspire Moses to write about some fallen angels that were doing naughty things, and then contradict himself later in the Gospel of Matthew? You cannot pick and choose your verses, you have to take the whole counsel of God. So I will ask another question; Why would Jude, Jesus’ half brother write about what happened to those same angels and the special place of lock-up that they would spend all of eternity in? Just go read Jude! It says the angels would not keep their positions of authority, but abandoned them, and then relates the sexual sin of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Jude
And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. ⁷ In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.

So are you seeing a pattern here? Outlaw angels do bad things, naughty things. They—according to scripture took human wives, and produced Nephilim.
We will cover the Nephilim next time…until then, get right with God, keep yourself from unrighteousness, and study the Scriptures in depth.

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Narrow Road not Narrow Minded

2011-03-28T06:00:00.001-05:00

Introduction
Paranormal experiences are debatable for some, but for those who have had spiritual encounters there is no denying these experiences. There is much speculation as to why some seem more sensitive to the spiritual than others, and while there is no real set answer for this, it can be possibly summarized in one answer: rejection.

The Rejection Factor
In the beginning rejection started when Adam and Eve found themselves in a predicament by following their lust rather than following what was right. I don’t know of anyone who has not been guilty of it. Most people, when they think of lust, think of sexual immorality. However lust comes in many forms. It is an earnest desire not to be in a pure state spiritually.
Adam and Eve were banned from the Garden of Eden; the first murder we would say took place with their two sons Cain and Abel. In this story Cain’s offering is rejected by God and revealing Cain’s real heart led him to murder his brother. I won’t get into the scope of this, but the point is that rejection is something that divides many yet unites others. It divides because we may not like the conditions required, but it unites because someone is agreeing with what we want or hear - sometimes in the negative sometimes in the positive.
This brings me to the point of why some feel Christians are “narrow minded”. While there may be those who hide behind the name Christian, Christians are not narrow minded, but we are called to walk a narrow road. This road is through Jesus, this is why He addresses Himself, as the Way, The Truth, and the Life and no one can come to God but by Him. He is the doorkeeper of God’s estate.
Don’t misunderstand me, God is very generous even to those who do not recognize Him, who are ungrateful or even have found themselves on a different path. They may feel that Christianity is a religion in the traditional sense and they are not into religion, although there are places of gathering that are established in what they believe. Jesus isn’t into religion either, which seems contradictory to those who don’t understand why Christians refrain from certain activities, warn and share the consequences of operating with spiritual things that are associated with what some call “fallen angels”; “dark forces”, “negative energy”; and the like. Religion that Jesus wanted to abolish is the thinking found in the “traditions of mankind” that have nothing to do with His purpose, His love for mankind, and that were keeping people from the reconciliation process with God.
While God created all of mankind, not all of mankind are His children and this is where the “Narrow Road” begins. It is hard for some who have experienced supernatural encounters to embrace the fact that they have the potential of being deceived by these forces. It seems contradictory that such a loving God will allow people to go to a place called hell or even allow people to be deceived, especially when He has all power. People going to hell seems incomprehensible and that, of course, is not our idea of what Love truly is. There are many facets to this Creator that we were meant to connect with, which have not been embraced by quite a lot of people and, unfortunately, even some who hide behind the name Christian.

God is Familiar with Rejection and So are We
There is more to this Universal being that we call God than there are facets on a diamond. You may be a parent , a teacher, and a child of someone. These are all facets of your being but you are not limited to just one of these titles. So it is with God. He is more than just Love, He is Holy, and Just.
I share this to point out it is because of feelings of rejection that many find themselves in certain activities which go against God. Sometimes it is easier to deny the reality of the consequences of what we do than to face the consequences of living a life that goes against what we were created to be. In some cases we just don’t know what we were created to be or become. We were all created to live outside the box but within boundaries.
Scientist continue to explore the Universe which reveals God, yet they deny this knowledge daily. They come up with many things that seem incomprehensible so as not to accept the fact that there are some things that cannot be explained no matter how many terms, definitions, they want to put on them. So it is with the paranormal. The supernatural just is! It was through the Supernatural God that we are even here on this earth, we have the gifts we have, and He even gives us enough leeway to allow ourselves to question what all this life on earth is about.
The “adult” mind has to tell you how rain is created; the “faith child mind” just knows God made it or accepts it for what it is. Oh this is no fairy tale, if we can believe that a rocket can go to the moon before it was achieved, then what is the problem for such child like faith to believe there is a force greater than ourselves?
Hypersensitives find themselves in this situation: they may find themselves feeling out of place like a round peg trying to fit in a square hole. They live in a world knowing there is more to life than what is see,, and society tries to tell us there is always a “logical” explanation behind these experiences. You were never meant to fit in that confined space, but it doesn’t mean you were never meant to fit in. The question is where do you fit in? How does this all tie together?

Knowing Your Creator Gives A Clue to Your Beauty
First you must know that the purpose of the Love of God is to define the boundaries of life that you may live in without finding yourself in death sometimes physically, but mostly eternally. Would you allow your child to play with fire? A good parent would say no and warns the child, does a child always listen? No, not always. This Love of God allows us the right to choose, but we must also be willing to live with those decisions.
You must seek to learn and understand the Sovereignty of God, which proclaims that while He has created all things and allows things to happen at His choosing, He has that legal right about how He chooses to reveal Himself, to whom, and when. Like in our Presidency, there are times the President can override certain laws because of his position and status and his legal right to do so despite the will of the people.
You must learn to understand the Holiness of God, which shows us the importance of not allowing ourselves to “play in polluted waters”. I share it in these terms because in some cases some will understand it through the relationship of marriage and adultery; others will understand it as betrayal of friendship; but I think a majority of us just don’t like the idea of swimming in nasty water or even bathing in it. This is one aspect of holiness, we don’t allow ourselves nor desire to just live or bathe in filth.
You must learn to understand the Purpose of God, His purpose is that humankind will be willing to reconcile with Him by his/her choice, and there are terms to this reconciliation. It is not God’s desire that any person perish or go to “hell”, it is just the way the law is established. As a parent if you have a child who has committed a crime in this country, you would want to do everything in your power to keep them from paying the price, but the law overrides even our desires at times. It does so for the sake of other people and for the person who has committed the crime, but mostly because justice must be served. It’s not enough for a parent to go into the court and say “well he was a good son”! This is the conflicted area that some find themselves when they are wondering how a loving God can allow punishment to happen. In some cases, it is a matter of this very same principle, the love of a parent yet the importance of abiding by the law that has been set.
In a generation where people rarely keep their word anymore, it is very hard for some to understand this! Divorces have run rampant because of hard hearts and broken vows and this has caused people to find themselves questioning whether integrity and honesty are of value and if anyone keep record anymore. Well while mankind may not, God does. Especially since God is not a man that He should lie. It’s not in His character/nature.
You must also understand the God is the Commander in Chief. He is called the Lord of Host and while some are inquiring why we don’t have world peace, this peace is false and it is only an idea in a world where there are those who have no honor or respect for the only God that truly exists. This God has a purpose and in that purpose it is there is hope that we will have a time of peace, but not the way man has conceived it in their minds. It is only through Him and through His Son, Jesus that world peace will come. The most common prayer that I think most people from many nations can relate to is the “Lord’s Prayer” where it states “on earth as it is in Heaven”. You must understand that wars do occur not only with natural man but spiritual beings. This is where the true war has been initiated and mankind unfortunately may find themselves as casualties of war, not because of God’s desire but because it is part of being in a world that is not perfect.
Conclusion
So you see how rejection can play a part in why some will not have the opportunity to go to Heaven or are rejected for certain practices by God, but the good news is the part of Acceptance. You have the opportunity to be accepted by God. Jesus is the invitation, you can accept to join Him at the greatest feast, but like in weddings we are all called to dress for the occasion. He is even willing to provide you with clothes, they are tailored to fit. (Matt 22:1-14) (Rom 13:14)
There is also the greatest invitation you can be a part of and that is the “adoption”. You have a say in this one as well. Do you want to be a child of God? Despite what others may have said, we all need to be adopted by God or maybe you have been but decided to stray like the prodigal son because of that thing called “rejection”, or you just thought there was something better out there in the spirit world. Remember that you can run back and reconcile to Him.

¹⁴For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. ¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Romans 8:14-17 (ESV)

Don’t let your psychic gifts rob you of something more valuable and that is a relationship with God. Don’t let your past psychic experiences determine your future; don’t let your present circumstances decide that you are not ready. Jesus said (paraphrased), come as you are. He will take care of the rest just follow the Truth and He won’t lie to you.

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Bell that Demon

2011-03-21T07:00:00.000-05:00

Introduction

There’s an old fairy story of a family of mice who were harassed by a cat. Finally one of them suggested that they tie a bell around the cat’s neck. Wherever the cat went the bell would ring and the mice would be warned.

Sometimes I think it would be nice if we could bell demons. Those of us fascinated by the paranormal recognize that whatever some entities may be, there are evil spirits out there. And none of us wants to run into one of them.

But how can we tell an evil spirit? I’ve read lots of tales of apparitions that simply reek of evil. Some of them enter houses and persecute the people who live there. A pastor friend of mine in Seattle recently was called to a neighbor’s home to exorcise a spirit whose aura frightened everyone in that family, to the extent that they were afraid to come home. My friend felt the evil there too, and in the name of Jesus cleansed the house. Since then there’s been no more evil presence.

Now, that kind of demon doesn’t need to be belled. It conveys a sense of evil wherever it goes, and even people who aren’t particularly sensitive to the spirit world can’t mistake it.

No, the demons I’d like to bell are the sneaky ones, who creep into our lives all unaware. The demons I’d like to bell are the quiet ones, the ones we never suspect are present but all the while are making our lives miserable.

That’s where I find the Bible so helpful. The Bible takes evil spirits very seriously, and describes a struggle “against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenlies” (Ephesians 6:12). What fascinates me is that the Bible also reveals some of the sneaky ways that demons operate. Like . . .

Ever been turning the radio dial in your car and come onto some religious program? Our first reaction is to keep turning’ Now, you and I believe in God. So why don’t we wait, at least a moment or two, to find out what the preacher is saying? It could be one of those sneaky demons, quietly urging us to spin that dial. You see, the Bible says that demons are really intent on blinding us to truth about God,

Or suppose you have a bad day at the office, and on the way home you think, “I’m so stupid. I don’t know why I try. I’ll never learn.” We pass those times off as natural. But if you find yourself thinking that kind of thought often, the chances are it really is demons. God created human beings in his image, and you have so much potential. Satan’s demons want to convince you you’re a nothing and a nobody. God wants you to know you are special, and he loves you.

Maybe you’re sitting at your computer and up pops a sexy picture inviting you to check out an “adult” site. You don’t want to go there, but at the same time you’re curious. Chances are if there’s a demon around he’s going to rev up your libido and increase the temptation.

Or the kids are acting up and your spouse just sits there. You find yourself getting upset. Have you got to do everything yourself! If you find that upset turning into a growing anger, that’s the kind of sneaky pushes demons give us.

So I wish we could bell demons. Oh, not so much for the little pushes. We can handle those. But sometimes the demons get a tighter grip on us. That’s when we need to worry.

We find ourselves resenting talk about God, and keeping away from church.

We get so down on ourselves that we think of suicide, or begin to hate ourselves.

We find ourselves turning to pornography daily, and realize we’re addicted.

We get angry a lot, so angry that we’re afraid we’ll actually hit our spouse or one of our kids.

That’s when belling demons would be nice. Because, you see, while we dismiss resenting God, disliking ourselves, addictions and fits of anger as “natural,” these are just the kinds of things that demons promote in our lives.

Maybe we can’t put bells on demons. But if our lives get out of control, maybe that out-of-control feeling is God’s way of ringing a warning bell for us!.

Personally, I really glad that Jesus has power to kick demons out of our lives. And to help us keep them out

Got a problem with the paranormal or have a question you would like one of our authors to discuss? Fill out a Confidential Help Request Form and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Spiritual Warfare–Deliverance of Children

2011-03-14T07:00:00.004-05:00

Introduction
I do not think it is an exaggeration to say that in the vast majority of cases, when deliverance of a child is attempted it does more damage than good. In fact, when these children become adults they will tell you of emotional scars which have lasted most of their lives. There is nothing as tragic as hearing a parent tell his child that he has a demon, because what the child hears is that he is a demon.
I have spoken to adults who hate the church, who hate the pastor and the people who attempted to deliver them from childhood “demons”, and in the end hate a God who would allow such child abuse under the disguise of deliverance. In truth, and despite the good intentions of the people involved, what they did was abuse a child instead of deliver him from demons. In fact, what they did to the child was evil instead of delivering the child from evil.
Children Tormented
Now having said all this, the sad fact is that the New Testament shows us that, at least in two cases, children can be tormented by spirits, demonic or not! Here are the two cases of possession and torment of children:

And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

Matthew 15:21-28 (ESV)

And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him, said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him.” And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.” And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”
Matthew 17:14-20 (ESV)

In the first example the girl was actually possessed by the demonic spirit and used in a cruel bondage. In the second case, the demonic spirit produced seizure like behavior which would have certainly endangered the boy’s well being. In the first case it was clear that a demon spirit was the cause of the problem, in the second case it imitated a psychical problem so it was not thought to be a demon until Christ cast it out.
In the same way, some manifestations of the tormenting spirit are clear even in a child. These would include, hearing voices or sounds, bad dreams, seeing shadow people, feeling touches, hair pulling, being caught in a cold spot, and the movement of objects such as toys or favorite personal items. In other cases the influence of the spirit would be hidden and more nebulous like mental confusion, anxiety attacks, depression, repeated physical illness, and personality disturbances such as rage or out of control anger.
Children who are hypersensitive to the spirit world are more at risk for this kind of torment. In addition, because the spirit can tap into their energy, the spirit can intensify its influence at the child’s expense. In this case nightmares become night terrors, voices interrupt sleep or thought, touches become scratches, pulled hair becomes painful, and all the emotional or mental conditions of the child can become exaggerated to an intolerable degree resulting in behavioral disorders. Hypersensitive or not, a child can end up living a life of fear about what is going to happen next, and certainly will develop a “victim” mentality.
What to Do?
Taken from “In my mind”
Children are not adults and should not be “delivered” like an adult. First of all, you must document that the child is being influenced by a spirit and not bad or even abusive parenting. Do not jump to conclusions about the spiritual state of the child without examining his family relationships, comprehension of emotions, and level of general intellectual development.
If physical paranormal claims are being made by the child, then every attempt to document them should be made so as to separate actual phenomenon from imagination and play fantasy. If the “demon” in his nightmares looks similar to a spirit from a TV program you might try a different approach like controlling what he watches.
If you have determined that in fact there is a spirit influence disturbing the child then you can deliver the child in two ways:

In the above Scriptures, Jesus just laid hands on the child and rebuked the spirit. If the influence of the spirit is dangerous and the child needs immediate attention or is having his well being threatened, then the same approach can be taken if it is done in a way which does not scare the child or emotionally wound him. This means no more than one person and the child’s parents should be involved! There should be no screaming, shouting, melodrama, weeping, cursing the spirit, physically man-handling the child, verbal attacks, or overly loud praying. In fact, deliverance in children can be done with gentle prayers, soft spoken commands, protective covering, kindness, understanding and empathy for the child. This kind of deliverance session can be extremely effective since deliverance takes place because of the authority and power of Christ and not because of the actions of those involved.
A second way to bring about deliverance is to use a “play therapy” approach. In this approach the person who is conducting the deliverance session uses role playing and modeling to help the child identify the demon spirit and then reject it in the Name of Jesus. This takes some time and some skill, but is effective without endangering the child.

Conclusion
Children should always be treated with great care and sensitivity. Ultimately the best defense is an offense which means in this case, the children should be guided into Salvation, Water Baptism, and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit as soon as possible. These three blessings will go a long way toward protecting children from the spiritual warfare which awaits them as adults. Prevention is always the best option in the case of hypersensitive kids.

Got a problem with the paranormal or have a question you would like one of our authors to discuss? Fill out a Confidential Help Request Form and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

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The Problem of Pareidolia (Matrixing)

The Paranormal Mysteries of Christmas

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The Hyposensitive–No Devil, No Spirits, No Eternal Life, No God.

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The Hypersensitive Christian - A Spiritual Combat Medic in the Field Part 2

The Hypersensitive Christian–As a Spiritual Combat Field Medic - Part 1

Removing a Tormenting Spirit–Part 2

Removing a Tormenting Spirit–Part 1

The Confusion Factor in Paranormal Research, Deliverance Ministry, and Ghost Hunting.

The Role of Hypnosis in Parapsychological Abilities

The Help Request Log

A Possible Purpose for Negative Paranormal Experience

Who Restrains the Devil?

Deliverance–Honoring God

Symbolic Language and Paranormal Phenomena

Spiritual Power–The Anointing of the Holy Spirit

A Few More Christian Answers to Paranormal Questions

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The Spirits of Easter

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To Learn more visit www.christianparanormalanswers.com, and purchase a copy of Know Thine Enemy: A Guide to Intelligent Deception

Narrow Road not Narrow Minded

Bell that Demon

Spiritual Warfare–Deliverance of Children

¹²Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—