• Dear Father,

    Sometimes I wonder about the ordeal with Potiphar’s wife, where Joseph experienced a quick transition from being trusted by his master to becoming the offender, with evidence that seemed impossible to deny, even though the accusation was false. The Scripture says, “She said unto her husband, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in to mock me: as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment with me, and fled out.”

    How would he defend himself to a man against his own wife? How strange would it feel to say, “I am the servant, but you can trust me, not your wife”? And so, Joseph was thrown into prison. Innocent, yet factually guilty. I wonder how many have found themselves in such situations, where there seems to be more evidence to prove their guilt than there is to prove their innocence.

    Sometimes, it may not be something as grave as an accusation of sexual assault or prison sentence, but something else with just as much tension: a wrong judgment or perception of us, false accusations, with evidence in our defense that does not stand a chance of being presented. To be considered innocent a person must prove himself not guilty. And so, we strive with intention to correct the perceptions of loved ones: “There is more to this than you realize,” yet without sufficient evidence.

    But Joseph walked right into prison. Perhaps he knew that some perceptions are not ours to correct, but Yours. And some accusations are not nullified by immediate evidence that contradicts them, but evidence that is solidified through process and time.

    Translations:
    Slide 1: English
    Slide 2: French
    Slide 3: Bengali
    Slide 4: Hindi
    Slide 5: Urdu
    Slide 6: Portuguese

    #LettertoGod
    #Josephsstory
    #guilt
    #perception
    #evidence
    Dear Father, Sometimes I wonder about the ordeal with Potiphar’s wife, where Joseph experienced a quick transition from being trusted by his master to becoming the offender, with evidence that seemed impossible to deny, even though the accusation was false. The Scripture says, “She said unto her husband, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in to mock me: as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment with me, and fled out.” How would he defend himself to a man against his own wife? How strange would it feel to say, “I am the servant, but you can trust me, not your wife”? And so, Joseph was thrown into prison. Innocent, yet factually guilty. I wonder how many have found themselves in such situations, where there seems to be more evidence to prove their guilt than there is to prove their innocence. Sometimes, it may not be something as grave as an accusation of sexual assault or prison sentence, but something else with just as much tension: a wrong judgment or perception of us, false accusations, with evidence in our defense that does not stand a chance of being presented. To be considered innocent a person must prove himself not guilty. And so, we strive with intention to correct the perceptions of loved ones: “There is more to this than you realize,” yet without sufficient evidence. But Joseph walked right into prison. Perhaps he knew that some perceptions are not ours to correct, but Yours. And some accusations are not nullified by immediate evidence that contradicts them, but evidence that is solidified through process and time. Translations: Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindi Slide 5: Urdu Slide 6: Portuguese #LettertoGod #Josephsstory #guilt #perception #evidence
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  • Dear Father,

    Sometimes I wonder about the ordeal with Potiphar’s wife, where Joseph experienced a quick transition from being trusted by his master to becoming the offender, with evidence that seemed impossible to deny, even though the accusation was false. The Scripture says, “She said unto her husband, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in to mock me: as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment with me, and fled out.”

    How would he defend himself to a man against his own wife? How strange would it feel to say, “I am the servant, but you can trust me, not your wife”? And so, Joseph was thrown into prison. Innocent, yet factually guilty. I wonder how many have found themselves in such situations, where there seems to be more evidence to prove their guilt than there is to prove their innocence.

    Sometimes, it may not be something as grave as an accusation of sexual assault or prison sentence, but something else with just as much tension: a wrong judgment or perception of us, false accusations, with evidence in our defense that does not stand a chance of being presented. To be considered innocent a person must prove himself not guilty. And so, we strive with intention to correct the perceptions of loved ones: “There is more to this than you realize,” yet without sufficient evidence.

    But Joseph walked right into prison. Perhaps he knew that some perceptions are not ours to correct, but Yours. And some accusations are not nullified by immediate evidence that contradicts them, but evidence that is solidified through process and time.

    Translations:
    Slide 1: English
    Slide 2: French
    Slide 3: Bengali
    Slide 4: Hindi
    Slide 5: Urdu
    Slide 6: Portuguese

    #LettertoGod
    #Josephsstory
    #guilt
    #perception
    #evidence
    Dear Father, Sometimes I wonder about the ordeal with Potiphar’s wife, where Joseph experienced a quick transition from being trusted by his master to becoming the offender, with evidence that seemed impossible to deny, even though the accusation was false. The Scripture says, “She said unto her husband, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in to mock me: as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment with me, and fled out.” How would he defend himself to a man against his own wife? How strange would it feel to say, “I am the servant, but you can trust me, not your wife”? And so, Joseph was thrown into prison. Innocent, yet factually guilty. I wonder how many have found themselves in such situations, where there seems to be more evidence to prove their guilt than there is to prove their innocence. Sometimes, it may not be something as grave as an accusation of sexual assault or prison sentence, but something else with just as much tension: a wrong judgment or perception of us, false accusations, with evidence in our defense that does not stand a chance of being presented. To be considered innocent a person must prove himself not guilty. And so, we strive with intention to correct the perceptions of loved ones: “There is more to this than you realize,” yet without sufficient evidence. But Joseph walked right into prison. Perhaps he knew that some perceptions are not ours to correct, but Yours. And some accusations are not nullified by immediate evidence that contradicts them, but evidence that is solidified through process and time. Translations: Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindi Slide 5: Urdu Slide 6: Portuguese #LettertoGod #Josephsstory #guilt #perception #evidence
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  • DOMINION DAILY DEVOTION ~ DAY 225
    DATE: 13TH AUGUST 2026
    TOPIC: KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS
    ANCHOR SCRIPTURE:
    Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV)
    "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith..."
    Devotional message:

    As agents of change and deliverers of our generation, opposition will not be the only challenge we encounter. Along the journey, we will also meet people who will discourage us, question our credibility, doubt our abilities, or convince us that the assignment before us is impossible.When this happens, we must learn to keep our eyes on Jesus.

    Peter began to sink when he shifted his attention from Jesus to the strength of the wind and the waves. His perception of the situation became greater than their perception of God, and fear eventually overcame their faith.

    Child of God, what you continually gaze upon will influence what you believe. If you constantly listen to the negative voices of people, opposition, past failures, and the magnitude of the assignment, you may eventually lose courage. But when your eyes remain fixed on Jesus, your faith is strengthened because you remember that the One who called you is greater than whatever stands before you.

    The fact that someone else failed does not mean that you will fail. The fact that someone could not accomplish something does not mean that God cannot accomplish it through you. Their limitations are not God's limitations.

    Paul confidently declared, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). Our confidence is therefore not in our ability but in the One who works through us.

    Never allow the opinions of men to become louder than the Word of God in your heart. Never allow opposition to make you abandon an assignment God has entrusted to you. Keep looking unto Jesus, because He is both the Author and Finisher of your faith.

    And remember this: you alone may fail, but you and Jesus cannot fail when you remain surrendered to His will and dependent upon His strength. What God begins, He is able to bring to completion (Philippians 1:6).

    Therefore, arise and continue. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Keep His Word in your heart. Keep walking in obedience. The size of the opposition does not determine the outcome; the God who stands with you does.

    PRAYER

    Heavenly Father,Help me to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus regardless of opposition, discouragement, or the opinions of men.Let Your Word be louder in my heart than every negative voice. May I never abandon what You have begun in me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

    Daily Bible Reading:
    Matt 14:22–33,Num 13:25–33,Phil 1:3–6,4:10–13

    Author : Alfred Wabuko Manyasi
    Contact :
    Email : DominionvoicesminisrtyAnderson Mwila.com
    Facebook : Alfred Wabuko Manyasi
    Dominion Daily Devotion, 2026
    © Dominion Voices Ministry
    🕊️ DOMINION DAILY DEVOTION ~ DAY 225 DATE: 13TH AUGUST 2026 TOPIC: KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS ANCHOR SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV) "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith..." Devotional message: As agents of change and deliverers of our generation, opposition will not be the only challenge we encounter. Along the journey, we will also meet people who will discourage us, question our credibility, doubt our abilities, or convince us that the assignment before us is impossible.When this happens, we must learn to keep our eyes on Jesus. Peter began to sink when he shifted his attention from Jesus to the strength of the wind and the waves. His perception of the situation became greater than their perception of God, and fear eventually overcame their faith. Child of God, what you continually gaze upon will influence what you believe. If you constantly listen to the negative voices of people, opposition, past failures, and the magnitude of the assignment, you may eventually lose courage. But when your eyes remain fixed on Jesus, your faith is strengthened because you remember that the One who called you is greater than whatever stands before you. The fact that someone else failed does not mean that you will fail. The fact that someone could not accomplish something does not mean that God cannot accomplish it through you. Their limitations are not God's limitations. Paul confidently declared, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). Our confidence is therefore not in our ability but in the One who works through us. Never allow the opinions of men to become louder than the Word of God in your heart. Never allow opposition to make you abandon an assignment God has entrusted to you. Keep looking unto Jesus, because He is both the Author and Finisher of your faith. And remember this: you alone may fail, but you and Jesus cannot fail when you remain surrendered to His will and dependent upon His strength. What God begins, He is able to bring to completion (Philippians 1:6). Therefore, arise and continue. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Keep His Word in your heart. Keep walking in obedience. The size of the opposition does not determine the outcome; the God who stands with you does. PRAYER Heavenly Father,Help me to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus regardless of opposition, discouragement, or the opinions of men.Let Your Word be louder in my heart than every negative voice. May I never abandon what You have begun in me. In Jesus' name, Amen. Daily Bible Reading: Matt 14:22–33,Num 13:25–33,Phil 1:3–6,4:10–13 Author : Alfred Wabuko Manyasi Contact : Email : Dominionvoicesminisrty[gmail].com Facebook : Alfred Wabuko Manyasi 🌐 Dominion Daily Devotion, 2026 © Dominion Voices Ministry
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  • A HIDDEN LIFE WITH CHRIST

    Colossians 3:3-4

    "For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."

    Paul reminds believers that their union with Christ has changed their identity. Their old life is dead, and their true life is now bound to Christ. This life will find its full realization when Christ appears in his glory.

    What is hidden with Christ is not lost: it is secure in God. The world may not understand what God is doing in you, and your progress may even seem invisible, but your true life does not depend on human perception. It is kept safe in Christ.

    Your future is also bound to Christ. You do not need to build your worth on recognition, success, or applause. Christ is your life today, and Christ will be your glory tomorrow.

    Today, let go of seeking your identity in what you possess or in what others think of you. Cling to Christ, nurture your communion with Him, and live for what has eternal value.

    Lord Jesus, be truly my life. Help me to die to the ambitions that draw me away from You and to live each day in the security of my identity in Christ, with my eyes fixed on the glory to come.

    #LifeInChrist🏼
    #SpiritAndLife
    A HIDDEN LIFE WITH CHRIST 📖 Colossians 3:3-4 "For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." Paul reminds believers that their union with Christ has changed their identity. Their old life is dead, and their true life is now bound to Christ. This life will find its full realization when Christ appears in his glory. What is hidden with Christ is not lost: it is secure in God. The world may not understand what God is doing in you, and your progress may even seem invisible, but your true life does not depend on human perception. It is kept safe in Christ. Your future is also bound to Christ. You do not need to build your worth on recognition, success, or applause. Christ is your life today, and Christ will be your glory tomorrow. Today, let go of seeking your identity in what you possess or in what others think of you. Cling to Christ, nurture your communion with Him, and live for what has eternal value. Lord Jesus, be truly my life. Help me to die to the ambitions that draw me away from You and to live each day in the security of my identity in Christ, with my eyes fixed on the glory to come. #LifeInChrist🙏🏼 #SpiritAndLife🔥
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  • 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲.

    Sometimes, people’s perception of us is shaped by the light they happen to view us through—their experiences, assumptions, expectations, emotions, or standpoint.

    The same person can look different under different lights.
    Yet beneath those changing shades, the person remains the person.

    So, before you form an opinion about someone based on what you see, pause and ask:
    “Am I seeing the person—or merely the light through which I encountered them?”

    People are deeper than first impressions.
    Character is more than appearance.
    And a moment is rarely enough to tell an entire story.

    Don't judge a book by its cover. Read the pages.

    #Authenticity #Leadership #Perspective #PersonalGrowth #Character
    𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲. Sometimes, people’s perception of us is shaped by the light they happen to view us through—their experiences, assumptions, expectations, emotions, or standpoint. The same person can look different under different lights. Yet beneath those changing shades, the person remains the person. So, before you form an opinion about someone based on what you see, pause and ask: “Am I seeing the person—or merely the light through which I encountered them?” People are deeper than first impressions. Character is more than appearance. And a moment is rarely enough to tell an entire story. Don't judge a book by its cover. Read the pages. #Authenticity #Leadership #Perspective #PersonalGrowth #Character
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  • There comes a season when the Lord grows quiet, and everything hidden in the heart begins to speak.

    The dreams slow.
    The clarity fades.
    Prayer feels dry.
    Scripture feels ordinary.

    And beneath all the spiritual language rises one painful question:

    “Lord… where are You?”

    The silence is revealing.
    Not because Christ has moved.

    Because it exposes how much we have measured His nearness by our feelings instead of His promises.

    Many of us say we trust God.

    Until He removes the reassurance.

    We say His presence is enough.

    Until He withholds the experiences we quietly depended upon.

    We say we seek Him.

    Only to discover we were often seeking certainty.

    God does not always answer with another revelation.

    Sometimes He answers by refusing to feed our dependence on spiritual sensations.

    That silence feels severe because it cuts where nothing else can.

    It exposes every place where we have confused encounters with intimacy, revelation with relationship, and feelings with faith.

    The road to Emmaus reveals something astonishing.

    The risen Christ walked beside two grieving disciples while they believed He was absent.
    He listened.
    He taught.
    He unfolded the Scriptures.
    He remained faithful.
    They were wrong about His absence.
    He was never absent.

    Their inability to recognize Him did not change His nearness.

    Neither does ours.

    That is the danger of measuring God by perception.

    If we cannot feel Him, we assume He has left.

    If we cannot explain Him, we assume He has stopped working.

    If He becomes quiet, we accuse Him of becoming distant.

    But Christ is not governed by our awareness of Him.

    He is governed by His own faithfulness.

    Hebrews does not say, “I will never leave you as long as you can feel Me.”

    He says,

    “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

    His promise stands even when our emotions collapse beneath it.

    Job could not perceive God.
    Yet God had never ceased governing Job’s life.

    The disciples could not recognize Jesus.
    Yet Jesus had never stopped walking beside them.

    The cross settles this forever.

    If Christ did not abandon us when we were His enemies, why would He abandon us now that we are His children?

    The silence is not calling us to trust ourselves more.

    It is calling us to trust Christ more.

    Not our ability to hear.
    Not our ability to discern.
    Not our ability to remain.

    Him.

    Because our confidence has never been that we hold tightly to Jesus.

    Our confidence is that Jesus holds tightly to us.

    Even when our prayers feel weak.
    Even when our understanding fails.
    Even when heaven seems quiet.
    Even when we cannot trace His hand.

    We cling to Him because He first laid hold of us.

    The deepest miracle is not that we refuse to leave Christ.

    It is that Christ has never left us.

    And perhaps that is what the silence has been trying to teach all along.

    The greatest evidence of God’s love was never an encounter.

    It was a cross.

    The greatest assurance of His presence was never a feeling.

    It was an empty tomb.

    And the greatest reason to keep walking has never been because we can always hear His voice…

    But because the Shepherd who laid down His life for His sheep has promised that He will never stop walking with them.

    If you read this to the end give me a
    follow to get notified on post.
    There comes a season when the Lord grows quiet, and everything hidden in the heart begins to speak. The dreams slow. The clarity fades. Prayer feels dry. Scripture feels ordinary. And beneath all the spiritual language rises one painful question: “Lord… where are You?” The silence is revealing. Not because Christ has moved. Because it exposes how much we have measured His nearness by our feelings instead of His promises. Many of us say we trust God. Until He removes the reassurance. We say His presence is enough. Until He withholds the experiences we quietly depended upon. We say we seek Him. Only to discover we were often seeking certainty. God does not always answer with another revelation. Sometimes He answers by refusing to feed our dependence on spiritual sensations. That silence feels severe because it cuts where nothing else can. It exposes every place where we have confused encounters with intimacy, revelation with relationship, and feelings with faith. The road to Emmaus reveals something astonishing. The risen Christ walked beside two grieving disciples while they believed He was absent. He listened. He taught. He unfolded the Scriptures. He remained faithful. They were wrong about His absence. He was never absent. Their inability to recognize Him did not change His nearness. Neither does ours. That is the danger of measuring God by perception. If we cannot feel Him, we assume He has left. If we cannot explain Him, we assume He has stopped working. If He becomes quiet, we accuse Him of becoming distant. But Christ is not governed by our awareness of Him. He is governed by His own faithfulness. Hebrews does not say, “I will never leave you as long as you can feel Me.” He says, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” His promise stands even when our emotions collapse beneath it. Job could not perceive God. Yet God had never ceased governing Job’s life. The disciples could not recognize Jesus. Yet Jesus had never stopped walking beside them. The cross settles this forever. If Christ did not abandon us when we were His enemies, why would He abandon us now that we are His children? The silence is not calling us to trust ourselves more. It is calling us to trust Christ more. Not our ability to hear. Not our ability to discern. Not our ability to remain. Him. Because our confidence has never been that we hold tightly to Jesus. Our confidence is that Jesus holds tightly to us. Even when our prayers feel weak. Even when our understanding fails. Even when heaven seems quiet. Even when we cannot trace His hand. We cling to Him because He first laid hold of us. The deepest miracle is not that we refuse to leave Christ. It is that Christ has never left us. And perhaps that is what the silence has been trying to teach all along. The greatest evidence of God’s love was never an encounter. It was a cross. The greatest assurance of His presence was never a feeling. It was an empty tomb. And the greatest reason to keep walking has never been because we can always hear His voice… But because the Shepherd who laid down His life for His sheep has promised that He will never stop walking with them. If you read this to the end give me a follow to get notified on post.
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  • The Spirit of Delusion

    The spirit of delusion is a deceptive influence that causes a person to sincerely believe something false. It distorts spiritual perception until lies feel like truth, rebellion feels like obedience, and personal desires are mistaken for the voice of God.

    “God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.” — 2 Thessalonians 2:11

    Delusion often enters when a person repeatedly rejects truth because truth challenges what they want. Eventually, they no longer merely disagree with correction—they become convinced that correction is persecution.

    Signs of spiritual delusion

    * Refusing biblical correction while claiming divine revelation
    * Constantly changing the interpretation of Scripture to justify personal desires
    * Believing everyone who disagrees is jealous, demonic, or against you
    * Calling manipulation “discernment” and rebellion “freedom”
    * Following feelings, dreams, signs, or prophecies without testing them
    * Becoming unteachable and unable to admit wrongdoing
    * Possessing confidence without biblical confirmation or godly fruit

    How delusion develops

    Desire becomes agreement. Agreement becomes deception. Deception becomes a stronghold. The stronghold eventually becomes an alternate reality.

    Delusion does not usually begin with a dramatic lie. It begins when someone chooses what is comfortable over what is true.

    The biblical safeguard

    “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God.” — 1 John 4:1

    Every revelation must be tested through:

    1. Scripture — Does it agree with God’s written Word?
    2. Character — Does it produce humility, holiness, love, and accountability?
    3. Confirmation — Is it confirmed beyond personal feelings and ambition?
    4. Counsel — Can it withstand examination by mature, trustworthy believers?

    Prophetic warning

    When a person loves their preferred narrative more than truth, deception gains permission to preach to them.

    The opposite of delusion is not intelligence—it is humility. A humble person remains teachable, welcomes righteous correction, and asks God to reveal what they cannot see.

    Prayer

    “Father, expose every lie I have accepted as truth. Purify my discernment, remove pride, and deliver me from self-deception. Give me a genuine love for truth, even when it corrects me. Let my desires never speak louder than Your Word. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
    The Spirit of Delusion The spirit of delusion is a deceptive influence that causes a person to sincerely believe something false. It distorts spiritual perception until lies feel like truth, rebellion feels like obedience, and personal desires are mistaken for the voice of God. “God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.” — 2 Thessalonians 2:11 Delusion often enters when a person repeatedly rejects truth because truth challenges what they want. Eventually, they no longer merely disagree with correction—they become convinced that correction is persecution. Signs of spiritual delusion * Refusing biblical correction while claiming divine revelation * Constantly changing the interpretation of Scripture to justify personal desires * Believing everyone who disagrees is jealous, demonic, or against you * Calling manipulation “discernment” and rebellion “freedom” * Following feelings, dreams, signs, or prophecies without testing them * Becoming unteachable and unable to admit wrongdoing * Possessing confidence without biblical confirmation or godly fruit How delusion develops Desire becomes agreement. Agreement becomes deception. Deception becomes a stronghold. The stronghold eventually becomes an alternate reality. Delusion does not usually begin with a dramatic lie. It begins when someone chooses what is comfortable over what is true. The biblical safeguard “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God.” — 1 John 4:1 Every revelation must be tested through: 1. Scripture — Does it agree with God’s written Word? 2. Character — Does it produce humility, holiness, love, and accountability? 3. Confirmation — Is it confirmed beyond personal feelings and ambition? 4. Counsel — Can it withstand examination by mature, trustworthy believers? Prophetic warning When a person loves their preferred narrative more than truth, deception gains permission to preach to them. The opposite of delusion is not intelligence—it is humility. A humble person remains teachable, welcomes righteous correction, and asks God to reveal what they cannot see. Prayer “Father, expose every lie I have accepted as truth. Purify my discernment, remove pride, and deliver me from self-deception. Give me a genuine love for truth, even when it corrects me. Let my desires never speak louder than Your Word. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
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  • EVIDENCE OF OCCULT OPPRESSION AND SUBJECTION. Part 1 of 3
    We must distinguish between general oppression and occult oppression and subjection. The symptoms may be similar in many respects, but in several important aspects they are not. The marks of occult involvement are easily distinguished to one experienced in this particular area of deliverance.

    As a result of failing to distinguish between occult oppression and general demonic oppression issuing from other causes, many who have had prayer for deliverance have not been permanently set free. As we will show, those who have been involved in occultism have opened a "door" of access to oppressing spirits which they themselves must close by positive action and faith on their part. Moreover, liberation from occult oppression or subjection requires proper understanding of its peculiar nature and cause, the specific method of deliverance required, and the spiritual responsibilities of the one who has received deliverance from occult oppression.

    General oppression, whether mental, physical, or spiritual, may result from any one of several causes. For example, it may result from some traumatic experience, sin, weakness, emotional crisis, resentment, hate, pride, fear, or illness. Occult oppression and subjection, however, always result from an individual's involvement in some form of fortunetelling, magic practice, spiritism, or false religious cult, either as practitioner, or, as is most often the case, as subject, follower, or participant.

    Moreover, experience has shown that it is possible for a person to be "passively" subjected or oppressed, even though he has never actively participated in the occult. The Biblical basis for this fact is Exodus 20:3-6: God's "curse" falls upon "the children unto the third and fourth generation" of those who violate His commandment by calling upon other gods (demonic spirits and powers), which they do through involvement in the occult, for the purpose of breaking through the bounds which God has set for man.

    The magnitude of the sin of occult involvement, which is an abomination to God (Deuteronomy 18:12), is confirmed by its deep power of enslavement, not only upon the participants themselves, but even upon their descendants. The reality of such passive oppression and subjection has been shown in the preceding study.

    Both from Scripture and from experience it is evident that evil spirits who oppress human victims are of various kinds, and work in a variety of ways. There are blind spirits, deaf spirits, epileptic spirits, deceiving spirits, and lying spirits; spirits of pride, intellectualism, lust, infirmity, insanity, homosexuality, suicide, fear, apathy, anger, discord, strife, hate, resentment, depression, stubbornness, misunderstanding, gossip, obscenity, and many others. Oppression may be subjective, such as insanity, lust, or loss of health through disease and affliction; or objective, in which case the victim may be plagued by demonic apparitions and voices, or troubled by discord and strife through vexation by evil spirits.

    These malevolent spirits are definite personalities, not mere habits, diseases, psychological conditions, or states of mind. Just as human beings vary in personality, power, ability, appetites, intelligence, and purpose, so do the demonic spirits. Their primary intention, as disembodied spirits, is to oppress or possess a person appealing to their particular nature or appetites, in order to hide, as it were, behind these traits, habits, weaknesses, and mental or physical conditions, and thereby escape detection.

    An individual given to sexual looseness and excess, for instance, opens the door to demonic control in this particular area of his life by a spirit of lust with this characteristic appetite. The same would be true concerning a person who has a violent temper which he does not bring under control, or those who are given to pride, jealousy, hate, depression, gluttony, drug addiction, or any other weakness of character, mind or body. Demonic spirits seek to oppress those whose make-up, character, temperament, appetites, and moral, mental, or physical weaknesses are most harmonious to themselves. They bury themselves in the very structure of the person and actually identify with the personality of the victim insofar as possible.

    This is why it is difficult for the novice to discern, or the medical doctor, psychologist, and psychiatrist to admit, the reality and activity of demonic spirits in such victims. The latter reduce such diseases as epilepsy, cancer, blindness and deafness, as well as abnormal personality and behavior problems, to functional or organic disorders. Hence, the presence and activity of demonic spirits in their victims are often described by other terms such as: complexes, habits, drives, hallucinations, delusions, delirium tremens, insanity, epilepsy, melancholia, masochism, homosexuality, schizophrenia, mania, depression, psychoneurosis, psychosis, compulsions, drug addiction, disease, and so on. Not that the terms are entirely inaccurate, but in many cases they are inadequate. They do not go deep enough in identifying the conditions and phenomena connected with the work of the powers of darkness in the lives of the oppressed.

    Likewise, the parapsychologist describes the various manifestations of demonic powers by such terms as clairvoyance, telepathy, extrasensory perception, eidetic imagery, hypnotic suggestion, precognition, telesthesia, psychic phenomena, and so forth. He holds that such paranormal abilities and powers are merely manifestations and projections of the human subconscious or psyche, or that they can be explained in some other natural and rational manner as a rule.

    Thus, the presence and activity of such personal entities as demonic spirits are not easily perceptible to the analytical investigators of the paranormal, for the precise reason that Satan does not publicly announce his presence and work in an individual by handing out "calling cards"!

    However, growing numbers of psychologists, psychiatrists, and physicians are beginning to see and admit that they can no longer dismiss demonic oppression as mere religious delusion or pagan superstition. They are finding it to be a dreadful reality, and that there are definite limits beyond which medicine and psychiatry cannot penetrate to bring the necessary liberation to the suffering individual.

    In one instance, the church which a certain person pastored was contacted by a Christian psychologist asking for prayer for the deliverance of one of his patients. He recognized that the woman was bound and oppressed by Satan and that he was unable to help her with mere technical knowledge and skills. After the church prayed in faith for her liberation in the Name of Jesus, the psychologist reported that she had been set free. He was then able to counsel effectively with her, which he had been unable to do previously.

    Dr. William S. Reed, a well-known American surgeon, was reported to have said that he, as a surgeon, was convinced that many psychological and physical illnesses are the result of demonic attacks upon the individual; that on the basis of Mark 16:17, he himself used exorcism (casting out of evil spirits) when guided to do so; and that modern medicine and psychiatry should seriously consider the ministry of exorcism.

    Often the connections between occult involvement and the oppression which results are so subtle that people are completely unaware of the insidious relationship until it is pointed out. For instance, who would have connected the chronic physical illness of Mrs. L. with her visit to a fortune teller? Mr. R. did not believe that his playing with the ouija board had any adverse spiritual effects upon him until it was manifested in his inability to exercise faith to receive the Holy Spirit. For many years Mrs. T. was unaware that her persistent marital problems and apathy toward life began the day after her participation in a seance. And who would have seen the cause of the chronic phobias and doubts of another person who had been healed as an infant by an occult or magic healer?

    Mr. B. regularly visited fortune tellers, but did not realize until it was shown him that this accounted for an uncontrollable spirit of lust, from which he could not escape, and also explained his pride, indifference, immaturity, and hate. A brutal, demon possessed child, subject to periods of violent rage, was the result of the parents' participation in the occult, but this was unknown until counseling revealed the cause. Mrs. C. suffered from severe depression and thoughts of self destruction, little realizing that her participation in seances was the cause.

    Miss W. had been committed to a mental institution at one time, spent much money visiting doctors, psychologists, and psychiatrists, and had sought help and counseling from many sources concerning her psychotic condition, all to no avail. Little did she realize that it resulted from her past fortunetelling practices and other occult connections. Likewise, Mrs. G. was unaware that her visits to the fortune tellers were responsible for the "voices" she heard and demonic apparitions she saw, until this was shown her in counseling. Who would have seen a connection between the morbid depression and extreme negativism of Mr. V. and his visits to meetings of Spiritualists and other religious cults such as Theosophy and Rosicrucians, even though he only went out of curiosity?

    Homosexuality and fear of crowds were the result of another individual's involvement in the practice of table-tipping and consulting the ouija board as a child. The rapid mental and physical deterioration of another victim of occult oppression was traced to submission to hypnotism and treatment by "Concept Therapy." Mrs. D. found through counseling that her depression and lack of desire for spiritual things followed her visit to a fortune teller. Although he had prepared for the ministry, Mr. T. later fell back into the world, was divorced, and lost interest in Christianity. He was then surprised to learn that his troubles stemmed from his practice of self-hypnosis, astrology, and other occult interests.

    The removal of warts by magic charming and involvement in other magic practices has resulted in alcoholism, oppression by sex spirits, and other forms of demonic oppression in some cases. The parents' participation in occult practices resulted in a young man and a young woman being oppressed by demonic apparitions and vexed with other problems. Palm reading was the cause of one woman's serious domestic problems, and another's oppression in which she heard voices and saw a ghostly apparition.

    Water dowsing explained the resistance of one man to the Scriptural teaching concerning the Holy Spirit. It was also the cause of another's vexation with a serious problem over which he could not achieve victory, and resulted in insanity to still another who practiced this ancient heathen method of divining. Playing with the ouija board and visits to fortunetellers led Mrs. F. to attempt suicide. The consequence of having a burn "blown" away by magic charming was severe depression for Mrs. R. The relation between the mental illness of Mrs. A. and her practice of table-tipping as a child seemed remote until she experienced immediate liberation upon confessing this occult sin and receiving prayer for deliverance.

    Another, who could have no assurance of salvation, due to oppression by a deceiving spirit, was delivered when she was shown the connection between her mental suffering and a healing she had received from a psychometric healer who diagnosed her illness by touch. Chronic asthma was the consequence of involvement in magical practices, from which a sufferer was set free upon learning of the cause. Liberation from severe mental, physical, and spiritual oppression came to another who fell victim to the insidious powers of darkness after visits to Spiritualists' meetings, while another was set free from psychic subjection which resulted from occult practices, when shown the source and nature of her extrasensory powers.

    The examples from this certain pastor’s files could be multiplied, for there are few families in which at least one member has not had contact with occult spirits in one form or another, with its resultant oppression or subjection. Although few people are aware of the various forms in which occult oppression and subjection express themselves, there is no doubt that occult involvement always results in bondage. This conclusion is based on a pastor’s experiences in deliverance. First he had established the connection between the occult involvement and the bondage, then the oppressed individual confessed his occult sins and commanded Satan to depart. The result is always the same: the person is delivered. In instances where the individual was also psychically subjected (having extrasensory powers, seeing apparitions, hearing spirit voices, and so on), these experiences have immediately ceased, thereby proving their occult source.

    A distinction should be made between "subjection" and "oppression" resulting from occult involvement. Subjection means that malevolent spirits have brought the victim under the domination and control of the powers of darkness. The victim has been made subject to, or enslaved by, such things as sexual lust, violent temper, drugs, uncontrollable thoughts, resistance to divine things, compulsive behavior, lying, hate, religious delusions, self-pity, or forms of occultism. A person thus subjected often becomes psychic himself, and is so enslaved by occultism that he lacks the will, and sometimes even the desire, to be set free.

    Oppression resulting from occult involvement means that the victim has been afflicted with some form of mental, physical, emotional, or psychic ailment or distress such as depression, fear, mental illness, disease, pain, apathy, marital discord, compulsive thoughts of suicide, apparitions, and so forth.

    The characteristics listed in the rest of this study are evidences of occult subjection and oppression. Some of these symptoms may result from other causes, but the existence of any of these manifestations usually indicates the presence and activity of demonic spirits, as well as the need for deliverance.

    Occult subjection and oppression may be classified for clarification into five categories: Mental and Emotional; Psychic; Spiritual; Physical; Material, Domestic, and Social.

    A. Mental and Emotional Disturbances and Abnormalities.
    Contrary to common wisdom, many psychoneuroses, psychoses, and other mental and emotional abnormalities result, not from functional or organic causes, but from occult involvement. Some of the following symptoms could be classified as "psychic" disturbances or abnormalities in character; however, we will purposely be limiting our later discussion of "psychic" subjection and oppression to the strict parapsychological sense of the term, namely, to extrasensory functioning, such as clairvoyance, telepathy, and precognition, and to such psychic phenomena as apparitions or poltergeist activity. Note further that "mental and emotional" does not necessarily imply "inward," but many of the following mental and emotional disturbances and abnormalities will also affect the outward behavior of the oppressed individual.

    1. Psychoses indicative of occult oppression or subjection.
    Symptoms in this category include serious, prolonged depression or melancholia; resignation to failure or misfortune; habitual gloominess, morbidity and negativism, boredom and indifference (ennui), as well as apathy in general.

    Persons thus afflicted are often more interested in their own inward thoughts than in what goes on around them, and may respond in an abnormal, dull manner to others and to reality. They manifest extreme introversion; that is, they live within themselves and take no interest in their surroundings. At times they shun others, withdrawing and spending long periods of time alone, sometimes in a darkened room with the shades drawn, in a morose state of mind. Excessive weeping may also accompany this condition, as well as self-accusation of sins, frequently with thoughts of self-destruction. Such individuals often lack normal emotional response and contact with reality. They live in a private world where little affects them except their own fantasies and dreams.

    In some oppressed persons, this state of depression alternates with a directly opposite mood of extreme joy, happiness, exhilaration, and optimistic outlook. This mental disorder, known as manic-depressive psychosis, is characterized by extreme, sudden changes in mood, fluctuating up and down, often without warning.

    Delusions, so-called hallucinations, and psychic oppression are frequently present in victims of occult involvement who have become psychotic. There may be compulsive thoughts of violence and aggression, and destructive emotions of hate, rage, resentment, jealousy, suspicion, envy, malice, and other antisocial abnormalities. Great excitement and perturbation over trivial matters, and other indications of mania are often seen, as well as unpredictable impulses, moods, actions, and other psychopathic indications of insanity.

    There is often found in such persons a continual "flight of ideas." The individual goes off on one tangent or another, often without completing a thought, and there is a general incoherence of thoughts and ideas. Generally, they are irresponsible, unpredictable, and undependable. Unreasonable attitudes or demands are characteristic of demonic activity in such persons.

    As a result of occult involvement, some individuals are in subjection to extreme and uncontrollable passions and appetites. Vile language, sexual allusions or displays are common, together with inexplicable character or personality changes toward moral degeneracy. There may be found such sexual aberrations as homosexuality, masochism, self-abuse, promiscuity, sadism, abnormal sexuality, uncontrollable lustful thoughts and images, and suggestive behavior and dress.

    The presence and activity of demonic powers is also indicated by enslavement to evil habits such as drug addiction, gluttony (compulsive eating), addiction to alcohol or tobacco, compulsive gambling, and many other forms of excess and intemperance.

    2. Psychoneuroses indicative of occult oppression and subjection.
    A neurotic person exhibits symptoms such as persistent, chronic fear or dread. Generally, there is a morbid anxiety that something dreadful is about to happen, or that one has not done something he ought to have done, or has done something that he should not have done, and so on. There are often feelings of apprehension, consternation, panic and hysteria, or evidence of strong nervous tension. The individual often works and lives at a frenzied pace, frequently suffering insomnia and extreme restlessness. Other abnormalities seen in neurotics include difficulty in making decisions, inability to adjust normally to certain situations, and the need of constant guidance and reassurance by others because of personal feelings of inadequacy and immaturity, or the fear of failure. Extreme hypersensitivity, irritability, and impatience are common. The individual is often ill-humored, argumentative, defiant, negative, always "on the defensive," and highly critical of others in an effort to justify his own deep feelings of inadequacy.

    The most pathetic and difficult forms of neurotic oppression to deal with are the deep-rooted feelings of self-pity and the abnormal desire for attention found in some individuals. They dread being alone for any length of time and have need of constant companionship and conversation. They often feel mistreated, misunderstood, misrepresented, and disliked by others. Frequently, they develop some psychosomatic ailment or disease as a result of the subconscious desire for attention, in order to find escape through sickness from the problems and perplexities of life. Such persons, called "hypochondriacs," seek to control and manipulate others by the shrewd use of their illness. Their households and families are forced to adjust to their abnormal life and whims, sacrificing everything for their personal comfort. Edited. Shared.
    To be Continued.

    God willing, more will be posted soon. All glory to Jesus alone.
    ❤️EVIDENCE OF OCCULT OPPRESSION AND SUBJECTION. Part 1 of 3 We must distinguish between general oppression and occult oppression and subjection. The symptoms may be similar in many respects, but in several important aspects they are not. The marks of occult involvement are easily distinguished to one experienced in this particular area of deliverance. As a result of failing to distinguish between occult oppression and general demonic oppression issuing from other causes, many who have had prayer for deliverance have not been permanently set free. As we will show, those who have been involved in occultism have opened a "door" of access to oppressing spirits which they themselves must close by positive action and faith on their part. Moreover, liberation from occult oppression or subjection requires proper understanding of its peculiar nature and cause, the specific method of deliverance required, and the spiritual responsibilities of the one who has received deliverance from occult oppression. General oppression, whether mental, physical, or spiritual, may result from any one of several causes. For example, it may result from some traumatic experience, sin, weakness, emotional crisis, resentment, hate, pride, fear, or illness. Occult oppression and subjection, however, always result from an individual's involvement in some form of fortunetelling, magic practice, spiritism, or false religious cult, either as practitioner, or, as is most often the case, as subject, follower, or participant. Moreover, experience has shown that it is possible for a person to be "passively" subjected or oppressed, even though he has never actively participated in the occult. The Biblical basis for this fact is Exodus 20:3-6: God's "curse" falls upon "the children unto the third and fourth generation" of those who violate His commandment by calling upon other gods (demonic spirits and powers), which they do through involvement in the occult, for the purpose of breaking through the bounds which God has set for man. The magnitude of the sin of occult involvement, which is an abomination to God (Deuteronomy 18:12), is confirmed by its deep power of enslavement, not only upon the participants themselves, but even upon their descendants. The reality of such passive oppression and subjection has been shown in the preceding study. Both from Scripture and from experience it is evident that evil spirits who oppress human victims are of various kinds, and work in a variety of ways. There are blind spirits, deaf spirits, epileptic spirits, deceiving spirits, and lying spirits; spirits of pride, intellectualism, lust, infirmity, insanity, homosexuality, suicide, fear, apathy, anger, discord, strife, hate, resentment, depression, stubbornness, misunderstanding, gossip, obscenity, and many others. Oppression may be subjective, such as insanity, lust, or loss of health through disease and affliction; or objective, in which case the victim may be plagued by demonic apparitions and voices, or troubled by discord and strife through vexation by evil spirits. These malevolent spirits are definite personalities, not mere habits, diseases, psychological conditions, or states of mind. Just as human beings vary in personality, power, ability, appetites, intelligence, and purpose, so do the demonic spirits. Their primary intention, as disembodied spirits, is to oppress or possess a person appealing to their particular nature or appetites, in order to hide, as it were, behind these traits, habits, weaknesses, and mental or physical conditions, and thereby escape detection. An individual given to sexual looseness and excess, for instance, opens the door to demonic control in this particular area of his life by a spirit of lust with this characteristic appetite. The same would be true concerning a person who has a violent temper which he does not bring under control, or those who are given to pride, jealousy, hate, depression, gluttony, drug addiction, or any other weakness of character, mind or body. Demonic spirits seek to oppress those whose make-up, character, temperament, appetites, and moral, mental, or physical weaknesses are most harmonious to themselves. They bury themselves in the very structure of the person and actually identify with the personality of the victim insofar as possible. This is why it is difficult for the novice to discern, or the medical doctor, psychologist, and psychiatrist to admit, the reality and activity of demonic spirits in such victims. The latter reduce such diseases as epilepsy, cancer, blindness and deafness, as well as abnormal personality and behavior problems, to functional or organic disorders. Hence, the presence and activity of demonic spirits in their victims are often described by other terms such as: complexes, habits, drives, hallucinations, delusions, delirium tremens, insanity, epilepsy, melancholia, masochism, homosexuality, schizophrenia, mania, depression, psychoneurosis, psychosis, compulsions, drug addiction, disease, and so on. Not that the terms are entirely inaccurate, but in many cases they are inadequate. They do not go deep enough in identifying the conditions and phenomena connected with the work of the powers of darkness in the lives of the oppressed. Likewise, the parapsychologist describes the various manifestations of demonic powers by such terms as clairvoyance, telepathy, extrasensory perception, eidetic imagery, hypnotic suggestion, precognition, telesthesia, psychic phenomena, and so forth. He holds that such paranormal abilities and powers are merely manifestations and projections of the human subconscious or psyche, or that they can be explained in some other natural and rational manner as a rule. Thus, the presence and activity of such personal entities as demonic spirits are not easily perceptible to the analytical investigators of the paranormal, for the precise reason that Satan does not publicly announce his presence and work in an individual by handing out "calling cards"! However, growing numbers of psychologists, psychiatrists, and physicians are beginning to see and admit that they can no longer dismiss demonic oppression as mere religious delusion or pagan superstition. They are finding it to be a dreadful reality, and that there are definite limits beyond which medicine and psychiatry cannot penetrate to bring the necessary liberation to the suffering individual. In one instance, the church which a certain person pastored was contacted by a Christian psychologist asking for prayer for the deliverance of one of his patients. He recognized that the woman was bound and oppressed by Satan and that he was unable to help her with mere technical knowledge and skills. After the church prayed in faith for her liberation in the Name of Jesus, the psychologist reported that she had been set free. He was then able to counsel effectively with her, which he had been unable to do previously. Dr. William S. Reed, a well-known American surgeon, was reported to have said that he, as a surgeon, was convinced that many psychological and physical illnesses are the result of demonic attacks upon the individual; that on the basis of Mark 16:17, he himself used exorcism (casting out of evil spirits) when guided to do so; and that modern medicine and psychiatry should seriously consider the ministry of exorcism. Often the connections between occult involvement and the oppression which results are so subtle that people are completely unaware of the insidious relationship until it is pointed out. For instance, who would have connected the chronic physical illness of Mrs. L. with her visit to a fortune teller? Mr. R. did not believe that his playing with the ouija board had any adverse spiritual effects upon him until it was manifested in his inability to exercise faith to receive the Holy Spirit. For many years Mrs. T. was unaware that her persistent marital problems and apathy toward life began the day after her participation in a seance. And who would have seen the cause of the chronic phobias and doubts of another person who had been healed as an infant by an occult or magic healer? Mr. B. regularly visited fortune tellers, but did not realize until it was shown him that this accounted for an uncontrollable spirit of lust, from which he could not escape, and also explained his pride, indifference, immaturity, and hate. A brutal, demon possessed child, subject to periods of violent rage, was the result of the parents' participation in the occult, but this was unknown until counseling revealed the cause. Mrs. C. suffered from severe depression and thoughts of self destruction, little realizing that her participation in seances was the cause. Miss W. had been committed to a mental institution at one time, spent much money visiting doctors, psychologists, and psychiatrists, and had sought help and counseling from many sources concerning her psychotic condition, all to no avail. Little did she realize that it resulted from her past fortunetelling practices and other occult connections. Likewise, Mrs. G. was unaware that her visits to the fortune tellers were responsible for the "voices" she heard and demonic apparitions she saw, until this was shown her in counseling. Who would have seen a connection between the morbid depression and extreme negativism of Mr. V. and his visits to meetings of Spiritualists and other religious cults such as Theosophy and Rosicrucians, even though he only went out of curiosity? Homosexuality and fear of crowds were the result of another individual's involvement in the practice of table-tipping and consulting the ouija board as a child. The rapid mental and physical deterioration of another victim of occult oppression was traced to submission to hypnotism and treatment by "Concept Therapy." Mrs. D. found through counseling that her depression and lack of desire for spiritual things followed her visit to a fortune teller. Although he had prepared for the ministry, Mr. T. later fell back into the world, was divorced, and lost interest in Christianity. He was then surprised to learn that his troubles stemmed from his practice of self-hypnosis, astrology, and other occult interests. The removal of warts by magic charming and involvement in other magic practices has resulted in alcoholism, oppression by sex spirits, and other forms of demonic oppression in some cases. The parents' participation in occult practices resulted in a young man and a young woman being oppressed by demonic apparitions and vexed with other problems. Palm reading was the cause of one woman's serious domestic problems, and another's oppression in which she heard voices and saw a ghostly apparition. Water dowsing explained the resistance of one man to the Scriptural teaching concerning the Holy Spirit. It was also the cause of another's vexation with a serious problem over which he could not achieve victory, and resulted in insanity to still another who practiced this ancient heathen method of divining. Playing with the ouija board and visits to fortunetellers led Mrs. F. to attempt suicide. The consequence of having a burn "blown" away by magic charming was severe depression for Mrs. R. The relation between the mental illness of Mrs. A. and her practice of table-tipping as a child seemed remote until she experienced immediate liberation upon confessing this occult sin and receiving prayer for deliverance. Another, who could have no assurance of salvation, due to oppression by a deceiving spirit, was delivered when she was shown the connection between her mental suffering and a healing she had received from a psychometric healer who diagnosed her illness by touch. Chronic asthma was the consequence of involvement in magical practices, from which a sufferer was set free upon learning of the cause. Liberation from severe mental, physical, and spiritual oppression came to another who fell victim to the insidious powers of darkness after visits to Spiritualists' meetings, while another was set free from psychic subjection which resulted from occult practices, when shown the source and nature of her extrasensory powers. The examples from this certain pastor’s files could be multiplied, for there are few families in which at least one member has not had contact with occult spirits in one form or another, with its resultant oppression or subjection. Although few people are aware of the various forms in which occult oppression and subjection express themselves, there is no doubt that occult involvement always results in bondage. This conclusion is based on a pastor’s experiences in deliverance. First he had established the connection between the occult involvement and the bondage, then the oppressed individual confessed his occult sins and commanded Satan to depart. The result is always the same: the person is delivered. In instances where the individual was also psychically subjected (having extrasensory powers, seeing apparitions, hearing spirit voices, and so on), these experiences have immediately ceased, thereby proving their occult source. A distinction should be made between "subjection" and "oppression" resulting from occult involvement. Subjection means that malevolent spirits have brought the victim under the domination and control of the powers of darkness. The victim has been made subject to, or enslaved by, such things as sexual lust, violent temper, drugs, uncontrollable thoughts, resistance to divine things, compulsive behavior, lying, hate, religious delusions, self-pity, or forms of occultism. A person thus subjected often becomes psychic himself, and is so enslaved by occultism that he lacks the will, and sometimes even the desire, to be set free. Oppression resulting from occult involvement means that the victim has been afflicted with some form of mental, physical, emotional, or psychic ailment or distress such as depression, fear, mental illness, disease, pain, apathy, marital discord, compulsive thoughts of suicide, apparitions, and so forth. The characteristics listed in the rest of this study are evidences of occult subjection and oppression. Some of these symptoms may result from other causes, but the existence of any of these manifestations usually indicates the presence and activity of demonic spirits, as well as the need for deliverance. Occult subjection and oppression may be classified for clarification into five categories: Mental and Emotional; Psychic; Spiritual; Physical; Material, Domestic, and Social. A. Mental and Emotional Disturbances and Abnormalities. Contrary to common wisdom, many psychoneuroses, psychoses, and other mental and emotional abnormalities result, not from functional or organic causes, but from occult involvement. Some of the following symptoms could be classified as "psychic" disturbances or abnormalities in character; however, we will purposely be limiting our later discussion of "psychic" subjection and oppression to the strict parapsychological sense of the term, namely, to extrasensory functioning, such as clairvoyance, telepathy, and precognition, and to such psychic phenomena as apparitions or poltergeist activity. Note further that "mental and emotional" does not necessarily imply "inward," but many of the following mental and emotional disturbances and abnormalities will also affect the outward behavior of the oppressed individual. 1. Psychoses indicative of occult oppression or subjection. Symptoms in this category include serious, prolonged depression or melancholia; resignation to failure or misfortune; habitual gloominess, morbidity and negativism, boredom and indifference (ennui), as well as apathy in general. Persons thus afflicted are often more interested in their own inward thoughts than in what goes on around them, and may respond in an abnormal, dull manner to others and to reality. They manifest extreme introversion; that is, they live within themselves and take no interest in their surroundings. At times they shun others, withdrawing and spending long periods of time alone, sometimes in a darkened room with the shades drawn, in a morose state of mind. Excessive weeping may also accompany this condition, as well as self-accusation of sins, frequently with thoughts of self-destruction. Such individuals often lack normal emotional response and contact with reality. They live in a private world where little affects them except their own fantasies and dreams. In some oppressed persons, this state of depression alternates with a directly opposite mood of extreme joy, happiness, exhilaration, and optimistic outlook. This mental disorder, known as manic-depressive psychosis, is characterized by extreme, sudden changes in mood, fluctuating up and down, often without warning. Delusions, so-called hallucinations, and psychic oppression are frequently present in victims of occult involvement who have become psychotic. There may be compulsive thoughts of violence and aggression, and destructive emotions of hate, rage, resentment, jealousy, suspicion, envy, malice, and other antisocial abnormalities. Great excitement and perturbation over trivial matters, and other indications of mania are often seen, as well as unpredictable impulses, moods, actions, and other psychopathic indications of insanity. There is often found in such persons a continual "flight of ideas." The individual goes off on one tangent or another, often without completing a thought, and there is a general incoherence of thoughts and ideas. Generally, they are irresponsible, unpredictable, and undependable. Unreasonable attitudes or demands are characteristic of demonic activity in such persons. As a result of occult involvement, some individuals are in subjection to extreme and uncontrollable passions and appetites. Vile language, sexual allusions or displays are common, together with inexplicable character or personality changes toward moral degeneracy. There may be found such sexual aberrations as homosexuality, masochism, self-abuse, promiscuity, sadism, abnormal sexuality, uncontrollable lustful thoughts and images, and suggestive behavior and dress. The presence and activity of demonic powers is also indicated by enslavement to evil habits such as drug addiction, gluttony (compulsive eating), addiction to alcohol or tobacco, compulsive gambling, and many other forms of excess and intemperance. 2. Psychoneuroses indicative of occult oppression and subjection. A neurotic person exhibits symptoms such as persistent, chronic fear or dread. Generally, there is a morbid anxiety that something dreadful is about to happen, or that one has not done something he ought to have done, or has done something that he should not have done, and so on. There are often feelings of apprehension, consternation, panic and hysteria, or evidence of strong nervous tension. The individual often works and lives at a frenzied pace, frequently suffering insomnia and extreme restlessness. Other abnormalities seen in neurotics include difficulty in making decisions, inability to adjust normally to certain situations, and the need of constant guidance and reassurance by others because of personal feelings of inadequacy and immaturity, or the fear of failure. Extreme hypersensitivity, irritability, and impatience are common. The individual is often ill-humored, argumentative, defiant, negative, always "on the defensive," and highly critical of others in an effort to justify his own deep feelings of inadequacy. The most pathetic and difficult forms of neurotic oppression to deal with are the deep-rooted feelings of self-pity and the abnormal desire for attention found in some individuals. They dread being alone for any length of time and have need of constant companionship and conversation. They often feel mistreated, misunderstood, misrepresented, and disliked by others. Frequently, they develop some psychosomatic ailment or disease as a result of the subconscious desire for attention, in order to find escape through sickness from the problems and perplexities of life. Such persons, called "hypochondriacs," seek to control and manipulate others by the shrewd use of their illness. Their households and families are forced to adjust to their abnormal life and whims, sacrificing everything for their personal comfort. Edited. Shared. To be Continued. ❤️ God willing, more will be posted soon. All glory to Jesus alone.
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  • THE CAUSES FOR OPPRESSION.
    Without exception, those who become involved in any form of occultism eventually suffer satanic oppression in some manner. This simple statement of fact can be readily validated both by Scripture and by experience.

    1. Occult involvement is disobedience to God's Word and is an abomination to Him. All forms of fortunetelling, spiritism, magic practices, and involvement in false religious cults, are absolutely forbidden by Scripture. Practicing or participating in them are condemned by God. In Deuteronomy 18:9-12, God warns: ... thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one ... that useth divination [fortuneteller], or an observer of times [soothsayer], or an enchanter [magician], or a witch [sorceress], or a charmer [hypnotist], or a consulter with familiar spirits [medium possessed with a spirit or "guide"], or a wizard [clairvoyant or psychic], or a necromancer [medium who consults the dead]. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD!

    This passage sets forth the methods by which the heathen sought to unveil hidden knowledge, ascertain future events, uncover secret wisdom, and exercise supernatural powers. In contrast to the methods employed by the heathen nations for discovering the will of their gods and uncovering the hidden secrets of the spiritual realm, God declares in verses 15-22 that Israel would learn the things that she needed to know concerning the future and His will for her, not by discovery through the methods of divination and occult practices, but by revelation. The means of revelation, which would come unsought and at the sovereign discretion of the Lord, was to be through the word of His prophets (note verses 14-15).

    Thus, Scripture forbids us to seek information or guidance from these unauthorized and unscriptural sources. The believer who needs wisdom and guidance is admonished to ask of God (James 1:5), for the secret things belong unto Him (Deuteronomy 29:29).

    The modern-day fortune teller, medium, astrologer, clairvoyant, hypnotist, magician, ventriloquist, water dowser, occult and magic healer, sorcerer, conjurer, psychic, and such like, all had their ancient heathen counterpart in the necromancer, consulter of the spirits, wizard, charmer, magician, soothsayer, diviner, enchanter, sorcerer, sorceress, and so on.

    Man has always been intrigued with the idea of uncovering hidden knowledge which belongs only to God. This was the cause of man's fall, Genesis 3! He desires to learn his fate, know the course of the future, or obtain supernatural guidance, favors, and powers from the realm of the spirits.

    Satan has always accommodated such seekers with substitutes for truth, and counterfeits for genuine revelation. Thus he deceives the gullible, who believe that such information or help comes from God or the spirits of the departed (who actually are impersonated by demonic spirits).

    These practices are all condemned by God without reservation. Carefully examine, for example, the following passages: Deuteronomy 18:9-14; Exodus 7:11-12; II Timothy 3:8; Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 19:26,31; 20:6,27; I Chronicles 10:13-14; II Kings 21:5-6; Isaiah 2:6; 8:19; Jeremiah 27:9-10; Zechariah 10:2; Malachi 3:5; Acts 8:9-24; 16:16-19; 19:19; Galatians 5:16-21; Revelation 21:8; 22:15.

    Scripture clearly condemns all forms of occultism as sorcery and declares that " ... they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21), nor enter into God's presence (Revelation 22:14-15), but " ... shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone" (Revelation 21:8). God not only forbade participation in all forms of occultism as spiritually defiling (Leviticus 19:31), but made such disobedience punishable by death (Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 20:27), and sufficient grounds for rejection of that soul by God (Leviticus 20:6), for those who defiled themselves by consulting evil spirits were an abomination unto the Lord (Deuteronomy 18:9-12).

    2. Occult involvement breaks the First Commandment and invokes God's curse. Thou shalt have no other gods before me ... for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third b and fourth generation ....-Exodus 20:3,5

    The truth is, there are only two sources of hidden information, supernatural help, power, guidance, or healing: God or Satan. This fact is inescapable, whether people know it or not! One who visits a fortune teller is obviously not seeking help from God through Jesus Christ. If he were, he would pray directly to God, or seek help through a Christian friend or minister. The fortune teller certainly does not call upon God for the desired information, but divines by means of occult methods and demonic power, as is seen in the case of the girl in Acts 16 who had a "spirit of divination."

    The powers of darkness control all forms of fortunetelling, including astrology, card reading, divining by tea leaves, the Ouija board, palmistry, the crystal ball, psychometry, divining rod, pendulum, or planchette, as well as through the exercise of such occult powers as ESP, telepathy, and so on.

    This is also true of all forms of magic and magical rites (whether black or white magic). These include magic charming or conjuring, magic cures for humans or animals, casting spells, mental suggestion or remote influence (suggestions given to the subconscious mind of one person by another), blood pacts, enchantments, amulets, and magic or medical hypnosis.

    The powers of darkness likewise influence and control the various forms and practices of spiritism: seances, communication with the dead (which are really demons impersonating the dead), and spiritualist meetings. Also included are psychic and spiritist phenomena such as automatic or spirit writing, table-lifting, levitation, floating trumpets, disembodied voices, telekinesis, apports, materializations, apparitions of the dead, and astral projections, as well as the mediumistic trance and every other occult practice.

    Two sources or doors are open to the one who seeks guidance, hidden information, spiritual or supernatural aid, or miraculous healing. One may, through prayer in Jesus' Name, seek such help from God. But one may also enter from this world into the spiritual dimension through the door of occultism. Behind this door stands Satan and the powers of darkness who work through the media of fortune telling, magic, spiritism, and the false religious cults.

    The Scriptures forbid man to seek contact with these sources, or to receive their help, for it is tantamount to calling upon another god! Satan, as a matter of fact, is called the "god of this world" (II Corinthians 4:4). If man does not call upon God for his needs, through the Name of Jesus Christ, but resorts to the occult, then obviously there is only one other source of supernatural power which can answer him. Consider the following:

    . Did the fortune tellers pray in Jesus' Name for the hidden knowledge which they gave to you?

    . When you inquired of the Ouija board, did you ask God, through Christ, for the information? Have you ever asked the Ouija board what is the "source" of its information? Some did ask and were startled when it replied, "the god of Hell," "Hell," "Satan," or "the devil"!

    . When you allowed yourself to be hypnotized, to whom did you surrender your will-to God or to some unknown power operating through the person to whom you submitted? Did you know that demons have admitted that the source of power behind the hypnotist is Satan?

    . By what power are persons healed when it is accomplished through Christian Science, Spiritualism, Concept Therapy, magic charming or ritual, or other occult means, instead of through prayer in Jesus' Name as the Scriptures require?

    . What power causes tables to lift off the floor, objects to appear out of nowhere, furniture to move or float about the room, apparitions to appear, and voices to speak, alleging to be from the dead?

    . What strange power causes the pencil to move in automatic or spirit writing, or the twig to bend in the hands of a water dowser? Is it of God? If so, then why is it not done in the Name of Christ? What then is its source?

    . From what source do some persons have powers of extrasensory perception, telepathy, clairvoyance, and other psychic abilities?

    . Why do some persons, after a visit to a fortune teller or involvement in some form of occultism, suddenly discover that they are psychic?

    . How do some people know about an event before it occurs, hear strange spirit voices, see apparitions, read the thoughts of others, and so on? Do you know that such people invariably have had occult contacts, or that some form of occultism can be found in their family history? The source of their psychic powers and experiences is demonic, and results from opening the door to the powers of darkness through such occult involvement.

    When a person calls upon these forbidden sources, Satan often accommodates him with hidden knowledge or help. But as a result of this open door, the enemy will move in and oppress him physically, mentally, psychically, or spiritually.

    The powers of darkness always exact a heavy price for their services. For example, psychic disturbances often result after one receives information concerning his future. The healing of a burn by magic charming often results in more serious physical oppression later.

    One couple's participation in a séance opened the door to divisive spirits that ruined their marriage. A man who attended Spiritualist meetings suffered severe melancholia and depression for many years. The same result followed the practice of table-tipping in another case. Commitment to a mental institution was Satan's reward for another who sought help from a fortune teller, unaware that the real source was Satan. And, involvement in astrology, along with healing through a Christian Science practitioner, resulted in chronic illness in another victim of Satan's deception. This individual also suffered spiritual and mental anguish.

    Many other examples could be cited, some of which we will note later, clearly proving the insidious nature of occultism in all its forms. The "cloven hoof" will invariably be manifested sooner or later in the life of any individual who opens himself to the powers of darkness.

    All forms of fortunetelling, magical practice, spiritism, and unscriptural cultism are an abomination to God. The seriousness of this offense can be seen in the case of King Saul who fell under God's curse, was rejected as ruler of Israel, and put to death by Divine decree because he attended a séance and sought help from a spiritualist medium!

    So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit [a medium], to inquire of it; and inquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse. - 1 Chronicles 10:13-14.

    This séance, held in disobedience to God's will, is recorded in I Samuel 28. Spiritualists often attempt to justify their practice of alleged communication with the dead by appealing to this passage in I Samuel as proof from Scripture that a king sought information from the realm of departed spirits through a medium. However, either they are unaware of, or they conveniently ignore, the passage just cited in I Chronicles 10:13-14, which condemned Saul's sin of seeking help by occult means from the discarnate spirit realm instead of enquiring from the Lord. Moreover, 1 Samuel 28:15-16 indicates that Samuel also disapproved of Saul's sin of disobedience in his seeking to communicate with the dead through a medium.

    God's prohibitions against occultism are still in effect today. We have found in our experience dealing with many people concerning occult oppression that those who disobey God's commandments against this sin invariably fall under His curse. Eventually they will suffer some form of psychic, mental, physical, or spiritual oppression or enslavement, from which liberation will be needed.

    Moreover, it is an established fact that those who have participated or had contacts in the occult have not only suffered oppression themselves, but often their children and descendants have fallen under the curse, for God declares, " ... I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation" (Exodus 20:5). Many times clairvoyance and other psychic powers appear as a result of occult involvement which took place two or three generations earlier.

    For example, Edgar Cayce, whose grandfather was a water dowser, wrote of the psychic and clairvoyant experiences which he had as a youth, giving evidence of his early occult subjection. Strong mediums often develop as a result of what might be termed "psychic heredity." Personality and character defects, as a consequence of occult sins by the parents or grandparents, often appear two or three generations later in the form of morbid depression, violent temper, irresponsibility, immorality, chronic fear, hysteria, agnosticism and atheism, hate, persistent illness, unpredictable behavior, and many other abnormalities.

    Thus, occult oppression or subjection is the result of disobedience to God's Word, particularly the violation of the First Commandment. The seriousness of this sin cannot be overemphasized. Anyone guilty of occult involvement in any form, personally or through their ancestry, regardless of when it occurred, should not delay to deal with this sin in the manner shown in our further studies to get deliverance from it. Edited. Shared.

    God willing, more will be posted soon. All glory to Jesus alone.
    ❤️THE CAUSES FOR OPPRESSION. Without exception, those who become involved in any form of occultism eventually suffer satanic oppression in some manner. This simple statement of fact can be readily validated both by Scripture and by experience. 1. Occult involvement is disobedience to God's Word and is an abomination to Him. All forms of fortunetelling, spiritism, magic practices, and involvement in false religious cults, are absolutely forbidden by Scripture. Practicing or participating in them are condemned by God. In Deuteronomy 18:9-12, God warns: ... thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one ... that useth divination [fortuneteller], or an observer of times [soothsayer], or an enchanter [magician], or a witch [sorceress], or a charmer [hypnotist], or a consulter with familiar spirits [medium possessed with a spirit or "guide"], or a wizard [clairvoyant or psychic], or a necromancer [medium who consults the dead]. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD! This passage sets forth the methods by which the heathen sought to unveil hidden knowledge, ascertain future events, uncover secret wisdom, and exercise supernatural powers. In contrast to the methods employed by the heathen nations for discovering the will of their gods and uncovering the hidden secrets of the spiritual realm, God declares in verses 15-22 that Israel would learn the things that she needed to know concerning the future and His will for her, not by discovery through the methods of divination and occult practices, but by revelation. The means of revelation, which would come unsought and at the sovereign discretion of the Lord, was to be through the word of His prophets (note verses 14-15). Thus, Scripture forbids us to seek information or guidance from these unauthorized and unscriptural sources. The believer who needs wisdom and guidance is admonished to ask of God (James 1:5), for the secret things belong unto Him (Deuteronomy 29:29). The modern-day fortune teller, medium, astrologer, clairvoyant, hypnotist, magician, ventriloquist, water dowser, occult and magic healer, sorcerer, conjurer, psychic, and such like, all had their ancient heathen counterpart in the necromancer, consulter of the spirits, wizard, charmer, magician, soothsayer, diviner, enchanter, sorcerer, sorceress, and so on. Man has always been intrigued with the idea of uncovering hidden knowledge which belongs only to God. This was the cause of man's fall, Genesis 3! He desires to learn his fate, know the course of the future, or obtain supernatural guidance, favors, and powers from the realm of the spirits. Satan has always accommodated such seekers with substitutes for truth, and counterfeits for genuine revelation. Thus he deceives the gullible, who believe that such information or help comes from God or the spirits of the departed (who actually are impersonated by demonic spirits). These practices are all condemned by God without reservation. Carefully examine, for example, the following passages: Deuteronomy 18:9-14; Exodus 7:11-12; II Timothy 3:8; Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 19:26,31; 20:6,27; I Chronicles 10:13-14; II Kings 21:5-6; Isaiah 2:6; 8:19; Jeremiah 27:9-10; Zechariah 10:2; Malachi 3:5; Acts 8:9-24; 16:16-19; 19:19; Galatians 5:16-21; Revelation 21:8; 22:15. Scripture clearly condemns all forms of occultism as sorcery and declares that " ... they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21), nor enter into God's presence (Revelation 22:14-15), but " ... shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone" (Revelation 21:8). God not only forbade participation in all forms of occultism as spiritually defiling (Leviticus 19:31), but made such disobedience punishable by death (Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 20:27), and sufficient grounds for rejection of that soul by God (Leviticus 20:6), for those who defiled themselves by consulting evil spirits were an abomination unto the Lord (Deuteronomy 18:9-12). 2. Occult involvement breaks the First Commandment and invokes God's curse. Thou shalt have no other gods before me ... for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third b and fourth generation ....-Exodus 20:3,5 The truth is, there are only two sources of hidden information, supernatural help, power, guidance, or healing: God or Satan. This fact is inescapable, whether people know it or not! One who visits a fortune teller is obviously not seeking help from God through Jesus Christ. If he were, he would pray directly to God, or seek help through a Christian friend or minister. The fortune teller certainly does not call upon God for the desired information, but divines by means of occult methods and demonic power, as is seen in the case of the girl in Acts 16 who had a "spirit of divination." The powers of darkness control all forms of fortunetelling, including astrology, card reading, divining by tea leaves, the Ouija board, palmistry, the crystal ball, psychometry, divining rod, pendulum, or planchette, as well as through the exercise of such occult powers as ESP, telepathy, and so on. This is also true of all forms of magic and magical rites (whether black or white magic). These include magic charming or conjuring, magic cures for humans or animals, casting spells, mental suggestion or remote influence (suggestions given to the subconscious mind of one person by another), blood pacts, enchantments, amulets, and magic or medical hypnosis. The powers of darkness likewise influence and control the various forms and practices of spiritism: seances, communication with the dead (which are really demons impersonating the dead), and spiritualist meetings. Also included are psychic and spiritist phenomena such as automatic or spirit writing, table-lifting, levitation, floating trumpets, disembodied voices, telekinesis, apports, materializations, apparitions of the dead, and astral projections, as well as the mediumistic trance and every other occult practice. Two sources or doors are open to the one who seeks guidance, hidden information, spiritual or supernatural aid, or miraculous healing. One may, through prayer in Jesus' Name, seek such help from God. But one may also enter from this world into the spiritual dimension through the door of occultism. Behind this door stands Satan and the powers of darkness who work through the media of fortune telling, magic, spiritism, and the false religious cults. The Scriptures forbid man to seek contact with these sources, or to receive their help, for it is tantamount to calling upon another god! Satan, as a matter of fact, is called the "god of this world" (II Corinthians 4:4). If man does not call upon God for his needs, through the Name of Jesus Christ, but resorts to the occult, then obviously there is only one other source of supernatural power which can answer him. Consider the following: . Did the fortune tellers pray in Jesus' Name for the hidden knowledge which they gave to you? . When you inquired of the Ouija board, did you ask God, through Christ, for the information? Have you ever asked the Ouija board what is the "source" of its information? Some did ask and were startled when it replied, "the god of Hell," "Hell," "Satan," or "the devil"! . When you allowed yourself to be hypnotized, to whom did you surrender your will-to God or to some unknown power operating through the person to whom you submitted? Did you know that demons have admitted that the source of power behind the hypnotist is Satan? . By what power are persons healed when it is accomplished through Christian Science, Spiritualism, Concept Therapy, magic charming or ritual, or other occult means, instead of through prayer in Jesus' Name as the Scriptures require? . What power causes tables to lift off the floor, objects to appear out of nowhere, furniture to move or float about the room, apparitions to appear, and voices to speak, alleging to be from the dead? . What strange power causes the pencil to move in automatic or spirit writing, or the twig to bend in the hands of a water dowser? Is it of God? If so, then why is it not done in the Name of Christ? What then is its source? . From what source do some persons have powers of extrasensory perception, telepathy, clairvoyance, and other psychic abilities? . Why do some persons, after a visit to a fortune teller or involvement in some form of occultism, suddenly discover that they are psychic? . How do some people know about an event before it occurs, hear strange spirit voices, see apparitions, read the thoughts of others, and so on? Do you know that such people invariably have had occult contacts, or that some form of occultism can be found in their family history? The source of their psychic powers and experiences is demonic, and results from opening the door to the powers of darkness through such occult involvement. When a person calls upon these forbidden sources, Satan often accommodates him with hidden knowledge or help. But as a result of this open door, the enemy will move in and oppress him physically, mentally, psychically, or spiritually. The powers of darkness always exact a heavy price for their services. For example, psychic disturbances often result after one receives information concerning his future. The healing of a burn by magic charming often results in more serious physical oppression later. One couple's participation in a séance opened the door to divisive spirits that ruined their marriage. A man who attended Spiritualist meetings suffered severe melancholia and depression for many years. The same result followed the practice of table-tipping in another case. Commitment to a mental institution was Satan's reward for another who sought help from a fortune teller, unaware that the real source was Satan. And, involvement in astrology, along with healing through a Christian Science practitioner, resulted in chronic illness in another victim of Satan's deception. This individual also suffered spiritual and mental anguish. Many other examples could be cited, some of which we will note later, clearly proving the insidious nature of occultism in all its forms. The "cloven hoof" will invariably be manifested sooner or later in the life of any individual who opens himself to the powers of darkness. All forms of fortunetelling, magical practice, spiritism, and unscriptural cultism are an abomination to God. The seriousness of this offense can be seen in the case of King Saul who fell under God's curse, was rejected as ruler of Israel, and put to death by Divine decree because he attended a séance and sought help from a spiritualist medium! So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit [a medium], to inquire of it; and inquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse. - 1 Chronicles 10:13-14. This séance, held in disobedience to God's will, is recorded in I Samuel 28. Spiritualists often attempt to justify their practice of alleged communication with the dead by appealing to this passage in I Samuel as proof from Scripture that a king sought information from the realm of departed spirits through a medium. However, either they are unaware of, or they conveniently ignore, the passage just cited in I Chronicles 10:13-14, which condemned Saul's sin of seeking help by occult means from the discarnate spirit realm instead of enquiring from the Lord. Moreover, 1 Samuel 28:15-16 indicates that Samuel also disapproved of Saul's sin of disobedience in his seeking to communicate with the dead through a medium. God's prohibitions against occultism are still in effect today. We have found in our experience dealing with many people concerning occult oppression that those who disobey God's commandments against this sin invariably fall under His curse. Eventually they will suffer some form of psychic, mental, physical, or spiritual oppression or enslavement, from which liberation will be needed. Moreover, it is an established fact that those who have participated or had contacts in the occult have not only suffered oppression themselves, but often their children and descendants have fallen under the curse, for God declares, " ... I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation" (Exodus 20:5). Many times clairvoyance and other psychic powers appear as a result of occult involvement which took place two or three generations earlier. For example, Edgar Cayce, whose grandfather was a water dowser, wrote of the psychic and clairvoyant experiences which he had as a youth, giving evidence of his early occult subjection. Strong mediums often develop as a result of what might be termed "psychic heredity." Personality and character defects, as a consequence of occult sins by the parents or grandparents, often appear two or three generations later in the form of morbid depression, violent temper, irresponsibility, immorality, chronic fear, hysteria, agnosticism and atheism, hate, persistent illness, unpredictable behavior, and many other abnormalities. Thus, occult oppression or subjection is the result of disobedience to God's Word, particularly the violation of the First Commandment. The seriousness of this sin cannot be overemphasized. Anyone guilty of occult involvement in any form, personally or through their ancestry, regardless of when it occurred, should not delay to deal with this sin in the manner shown in our further studies to get deliverance from it. Edited. Shared. ❤️ God willing, more will be posted soon. All glory to Jesus alone.
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  • DAILY LEADERSHIP BOOST (DLB)

    SATURDAY, 4 JULY 2026

    WHAT’S YOUR VISION IN LIFE

    “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” – Proverbs 29:18 KJV

    Today the Spirit is asking a piercing question: _What’s Your Vision in Life_.

    Vision is not ambition dressed up. Vision is God’s picture for your life drawn on the canvas of your spirit. It is what He sees when He looks at you, and what He wants you to see as you walk. Without vision, people drift. Leaders wander. Families fracture. Ministries become events without direction. Proverbs 29:18 says people cast off restraint and perish when there is no vision. But when vision is clear, restraint comes, discipline comes, and joy comes.

    The problem is not that God has no plan. The problem is that many have never sat long enough to receive the plan. Habakkuk 2:2 says write the vision and make it plain. God will speak, but you must make room to hear. Vision is birthed in stillness, sharpened by Scripture, and confirmed by counsel. It is not a feeling that comes and goes. It is a burden that stays until obedience delivers it.

    Your vision is not about size. It is about alignment. A small vision obeyed will open bigger doors than a big vision hoarded. Moses had a burning bush. Nehemiah had broken walls. David had a sling and a promise. None of them started with platforms. They started with perception. They saw what God saw, and they moved with what was in their hand.

    Vision answers three questions for a leader. Where am I going? Why am I going there? Who is coming with me? When those answers are clear, stress reduces because your decisions have a filter. Every opportunity is weighed by one question: does this serve the vision God gave me? If it does not, it is a distraction, no matter how good it looks.

    The seventh month is a month of perfection and open doors. But doors without direction become detours. Joy without aim becomes noise. God is opening doors, but He is also asking you to define the destination. What is the picture He has planted in you for your family, your work, your ministry, Prayer Force Network, your community? Do not bury it because it looks too simple. Do not trade it because the waiting is long. Write it. Pray it. Protect it. Run with it.

    God gives vision to those who will carry it with faith and finish it with obedience. Your vision is not just about you. It is about the people who will find life when you walk in purpose. The world is waiting for the version of you that agrees with heaven.

    Prayer For Today
    Father, open the eyes of my heart to see Your vision for my life. Remove every fog of distraction and every noise of comparison. Write Your plan on the tablet of my heart and make it plain. Give me the discipline to write it down, the faith to believe it, and the obedience to run with it. Let my life reflect the picture You drew before I was born. I will not perish for lack of vision. I will live and declare the works of the Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

    Today's Declaration
    I have vision. I see what God sees. My life has direction, purpose, and divine clarity. I write the vision and I run with it. Distractions have no power over me. I keep the law of God and joy fills my path. I am not drifting. I am led. I am not guessing. I am guided.

    Bible Reading Plan
    Proverbs 29:18, Habakkuk 2:2-3, Genesis 13:14-15, Jeremiah 1:11-12, Acts 26:19, Luke 4:17-19, Ephesians 1:17-18

    Today’s Action
    Take fifteen minutes with a pen and paper right now. Ask God, “What is the vision You have for my life this season?” Write whatever He drops in your spirit. Make it plain. One sentence for your family, one for your work, one for your calling. Then read it aloud. Vision grows when it is spoken. Post it where you will see it daily. A written vision becomes a walked vision. Do not wait for perfect clarity. Move with the light you have. God will add more as you go.

    t.me/dailyleadershipboost 🏽https://https://
    DAILY LEADERSHIP BOOST (DLB) SATURDAY, 4 JULY 2026 WHAT’S YOUR VISION IN LIFE “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” – Proverbs 29:18 KJV Today the Spirit is asking a piercing question: _What’s Your Vision in Life_. Vision is not ambition dressed up. Vision is God’s picture for your life drawn on the canvas of your spirit. It is what He sees when He looks at you, and what He wants you to see as you walk. Without vision, people drift. Leaders wander. Families fracture. Ministries become events without direction. Proverbs 29:18 says people cast off restraint and perish when there is no vision. But when vision is clear, restraint comes, discipline comes, and joy comes. The problem is not that God has no plan. The problem is that many have never sat long enough to receive the plan. Habakkuk 2:2 says write the vision and make it plain. God will speak, but you must make room to hear. Vision is birthed in stillness, sharpened by Scripture, and confirmed by counsel. It is not a feeling that comes and goes. It is a burden that stays until obedience delivers it. Your vision is not about size. It is about alignment. A small vision obeyed will open bigger doors than a big vision hoarded. Moses had a burning bush. Nehemiah had broken walls. David had a sling and a promise. None of them started with platforms. They started with perception. They saw what God saw, and they moved with what was in their hand. Vision answers three questions for a leader. Where am I going? Why am I going there? Who is coming with me? When those answers are clear, stress reduces because your decisions have a filter. Every opportunity is weighed by one question: does this serve the vision God gave me? If it does not, it is a distraction, no matter how good it looks. The seventh month is a month of perfection and open doors. But doors without direction become detours. Joy without aim becomes noise. God is opening doors, but He is also asking you to define the destination. What is the picture He has planted in you for your family, your work, your ministry, Prayer Force Network, your community? Do not bury it because it looks too simple. Do not trade it because the waiting is long. Write it. Pray it. Protect it. Run with it. God gives vision to those who will carry it with faith and finish it with obedience. Your vision is not just about you. It is about the people who will find life when you walk in purpose. The world is waiting for the version of you that agrees with heaven. Prayer For Today Father, open the eyes of my heart to see Your vision for my life. Remove every fog of distraction and every noise of comparison. Write Your plan on the tablet of my heart and make it plain. Give me the discipline to write it down, the faith to believe it, and the obedience to run with it. Let my life reflect the picture You drew before I was born. I will not perish for lack of vision. I will live and declare the works of the Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Today's Declaration I have vision. I see what God sees. My life has direction, purpose, and divine clarity. I write the vision and I run with it. Distractions have no power over me. I keep the law of God and joy fills my path. I am not drifting. I am led. I am not guessing. I am guided. Bible Reading Plan Proverbs 29:18, Habakkuk 2:2-3, Genesis 13:14-15, Jeremiah 1:11-12, Acts 26:19, Luke 4:17-19, Ephesians 1:17-18 Today’s Action Take fifteen minutes with a pen and paper right now. Ask God, “What is the vision You have for my life this season?” Write whatever He drops in your spirit. Make it plain. One sentence for your family, one for your work, one for your calling. Then read it aloud. Vision grows when it is spoken. Post it where you will see it daily. A written vision becomes a walked vision. Do not wait for perfect clarity. Move with the light you have. God will add more as you go. t.me/dailyleadershipboost 🙏🏽https://https://
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