Spiritual oppression

I was just wondering if any of the people on the forum have been dealing with spiritual attacks and oppression by the enemy recently. I have met several people in recent months that have had multiple attacks and some of them have been physical illness and depression.It seems likely that the adversary will increase his pressure on believers in these last days. So I thought I would see what the experience of others has been.
Shalom

One of the techniques that I see being employed by the adversary is a subtle creeping in of occult or new age philoshophy into churches. I spent a number of years studying the new age movement, the occult, and sorcery. It is very seductive, and enchanting, and has been winding its way through churches for years. One of the things I see becoming quite common is using the bible for divination. This is sometimes called 'bible dipping'. This is no different than any other form of divination, except that the bible is used. People reason that since the bible is being used it is therefore O.K. I don't find it to be a clever reason, but many are fooled by it. People will sit down in front of their bible with some question or predicament and open the bible to some random passage, and just let their eye's fall haphazardly onto the page, and shazam! there's their answer. I have heard countless testimonies from people all claiming solutions to their problems using this technique. More recently, a friend of mine was having a rough time dealing with his girlfriend of three years, breaking up with him. He found solice and comfort in returning to church. I have never attended this church as it is over an hour and a half drive away. He has told me that the congregation is into speaking in tongues and prophecying. They prophecy over him regularly, telling him about all the things he's going to be doing, and places he's going to be traveling to. My impression is that these prophecies are more about him and pumping up his ego, than about God, or God's plan, or the church etc. About a month after his girlfriend left him, she called and wanted to come back. She had been on a bender and was pretty tore up. They decided that they wanted to get married, and then I didn't hear from them for a few weeks. Then today at about 6am he shows up at my door and tells me he went to Tahoe and got married. His new bride is still drinking, but 'that's gonna stop or she's out!'. He also mentioned that we're going to have to go riding on our bikes and that he's got a bell for his bike from his church and he'll be getting me one for my bike as well. He explained that the bell has been blessed and that the Holy Spirit will protect me as I ride my bike. I informed him that I would not be needing a bell for my bike, but thanks anyways. These bells are just like the power objects use by sorcerers, but if someone says that it's the Holy Spirit, then it must be good, right? Wrong. The Holy Spirit doesn't look for bikes which have bells on them to protect, and those without them are on their own. These examples may not seem like 'attacks', but they are subtle reminders of the enemies method of operation. Shalom.

It sounds like this guy who trust in bells or thinks that God only cares about bicycles with bells obviously doesn’t know his Bible very will, or at all. God is only concerned about your obedience to Him and His word. He will protect those who are His but the heathen are on there own.

Jim,
You are so correct, there are many New Age movements that are creeping into the church, and if you don't accept them, then you are the one that is in the wrong, according to that church. That is how cults are born. It's the Pastors way or the Highway to Hell.

I went through an experience, where the church was getting close to being a cult, if God hadn't intervened and closed the doors before that happened.
I was involved in a church that at one time had seven members and I was the youngest at 32. The Pastor announced that he was resigning his position to accept a position within another church in the district. After the service, the congregation (the other 6) approached me and asked me for guidance. I told them to pray for the week and see where God leads them. Thankfully, the district sent a couple of supply Pastors to fill the pulpit. During that time, I was appointed the assistant Pastor, to take care of the flock. (The supply Pastors drove at least 2 hours, just to give a sermon, so my responsibilities were to take care of the flock during the week.) We started to really grow, and was given a husband/wife ministry team to Pastor the church. Within two years, the church had grown to almost 60 members. It was a thriving church, and then something happened.
The messages changed from being God centered, to some Sundays where we wouldn't even crack open the Bible. They were chasing away all the members that had been in the church for over 50 years. Their speech changed from "see what God is doing," to "see what I am doing." and "This is God's house" to "this is my church". Everything switched from being God centered to being ego centered. They even went as far to try to get my license taken away and removed from the Pastorship. It went to the congregation and it was unanimously passed not to remove me, but their support was waining. So, they started chasing everyone away, and in November, we had the Pastoral family, myself, and one other member. Because the flock had shrunk, they decided to close the doors. In their letter to the district, the purpose to close the doors was due to "lack of regard to Pastoral authority." In other words, because we wouldn't do what the Pastors wanted, we were in revolt to their authority. Basically, if they said it or taught it, it was never to be questioned. God intervened and removed enough people to close the doors. Two churches in the community blossomed with the people that left the church. During all this, I stayed, even though I was treated shabbily until the end.
God is faithful and just. He will take care of those who love Him, and remove those who don't. As Christians we must know the truth so that we can separate the false teachings from the truthful teachings. It becomes increasingly difficult, especially with the media promoting false teachings and vilifying truthful teachings. Or, promoting all false teachings as an image that all churches teach this hateful false teachings. (Confused with that statement, so am I, so I will try to clarify). The media will report that all churches believe the same hate that Rev Wright preaches, so that all Christians get a bad name. And will villify Billy Graham as narrow minded because he teaches that the only way to salvation is through Jesus Christ. (Look at how Oprah's New Age teaching is being reported positively and Charles Stanley is reported negatively.)
"Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people." (Matthew 24:4-11 NIV)

In deed, It will get a lot worse toward the end. Bad is taking the place of Good in this world because it is being ruled by Satan. Pretty soon this world will be unsuitable for Christians to live, and the Bible will be the most despised Book in the World, why, because this evil world hates holiness and hates anything or anybody that tells them they are doing wrong. that is why they give gifts to each other when they see the two witnesses laying dead in the streets for three days. I see more and more evil coming. It is like a organism that just keeps growing and growing like a spreading cancer. The world is malignant with sin and only doctor Jesus has the cure.

also it seems like also JW are cults to i mean they have there own bible but even greek scholars call it a twisted text of the scriptures.



like they call jesus a god in john 1;1 there version reads and the word was a god not the word was God.



I think we need to watch out with sects also who cliam to be christian.


mormons JW they are two big cults