Monthly Archives: June 2009

Angels And Demons: A Fraud?

The move is out!  Yes, I went to see it…..and left the theater smiling….the movie was very good!  But, wait a minute…. I have a question!  Where are the angels and demons in that movie?  You will find them addressed and exposed in ANGELS AND DEMONS; HOLLYWOOD KNOWS THE DIFFERENCE.!

I chose not see the movie or read the book, The Da Vinci Code.  Author of the book, Ron Brown had a hit, and I was devastated because I felt it was an ‘evil’ indictment of the truth contained in the Bible.  I prayed that the Lord would  protect those who did read the book or see the movie, would not be influenced.

One of my young adult grandsons went to see the Da Vinci Code , and his report back to me was, “What a bunch of junk!  Ugh!!”  I invited the same grandson to see the movie ANGELS AND DEMONS, the movie based on the book by Ron Brown, with me.  I prayed about going, and had my own personal agenda for wanting to see the movie.

I thought it was a really good mystery, and was not ‘put off’ by the theme around the Catholic Church  (since much of it was filmed in Rome, I assume the Catholic Church was OK with it??)  I liked the movie…..my grandson thought it was just one level above OK.  That was actually an endorsement on his part as young people now days see so many exciting movies, and so many awesome special effects….it takes a lot to get them specifically excited about any one film.

SO OK, HERE IS MY QUESTION…..WHERE ARE THE ANGELS AND DEMONS IN THE MOVIE?  Anyone who does not believe in the devil and demons is not reading the Bible.  It is pretty clear in Scripture who they are, what they do, and that they are real.  Should we focus on that…..ABSOLUTELY NOT.  But for believing Christians to be unaware of their place in this world leads to great deception.  We should absolutely focus and be conscious of our relationship with Jesus, our Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit so that we can address, in faith, and wisdom any evil situation that comes our way.

Not once in the movie do I recall the mention of the devil or demons.  Angels were mentioned, because they were shown on the fronts of Churches, etc. in stone images.  Was the devil in the movie……oh, yes…..there was real ugly evil being portrayed, and the battle was  tough to say the least…..but never communicated verbally what they were fighting.  Not at all like the excellent job Mel Gibson did in his movie THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST–where the devil and his demons were obvious.

This morning I heard Pat Robertson answer an email to the 700 Club, where a young lady stated that she read in her Bible about demons and yet she heard very little of it in the church…..were demons real.  Pat said yes, and gave incidents he had experienced in India….but also warned her not to focus on those things but rather on the Lord!   Good response!

We go through seasons in Church where we focus on healing, or angels, or prayer, or deliverance (the casting out of demons) one at a time.  A few years ago there was a lot of talk in the church about deliverance.  It got so out of hand in some places they were casting demons out of everything from chewing gum to house slippers.  That is one reason the Pastors back away from deliverance teaching.  Actually wouldn’t it be good if we taught and were aware of all the Bible all the time….not in just seasons of interest.

Like the young lady who sent in the email to the 700 Club, I asked the same question years ago.  Only, I asked the Holy Spirit for the Truth.  He led me to people and meetings where I could learn and know the Truth of His Word.  That opened the door to helping many people to be delivered of sins, problems, obsessive behavior and illness, and so on–primarily Christians. 

Knowing the need for knowledge I wrote a book of our experiences–ANGELS AND DEMONS; HOLLYWOOD KNOWS THE DIFFERENCE!  It is not a hand-book on deliverance, just information to identify the battle, and examples both bad and good that we have dealt with.  (There are many good books on deliverance in the book stores)

Why the sub-title HOLLYWOOD KNOWS THE DIFFERENCE, because the devil has no problem revealing and inspiring writers of horror films, supernatural phenomena, and stories of demons.  The devil knows that it will de-sensitize young people to the truth.  The devil knows church people will not go see the films, or create films on the truth of spiritual warfare.  Demonic inspired films make the church look inept, powerless and weak.  They do focus on evil and glorify their destructive wickedness–all adding to the deception in the world.

So, I encourage you to buy my book and get an interesting first hand look at God’s Truth and the devil’s deception.    It is available as an e-book at the top of this page and in published book form by going to www.angelsdemonsbook.com 

So is the movie, ANGELS AND DEMONS a fraud?  Well, just a play on words…..yes, to me because I expected dialog and interchange between angels and demons.  A fraud to others…. no….. if they just came to see a good movie.    

Pressing in and pressing on….

A Miracle Behind The Scenes Of A Seminar….

Many of you know that I recently went to San Diego to visit family and give a seminar on the SUPERNATURAL RULES OF ENGAGEMENT.   And I experienced a strange miracle in the process.  I think ‘bitter-sweet’ discribes something that is both good and bad at the same time and this was it. 

 I am sharing this because it is a great (yet, for me very uncomfortable) present day example of II Corinthians 12;7.  “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.”

I have met many who think if they ignore the devil, he will leave them alone….so I want to be clear.  I definitely do not expect demonic interference nor do I dwell on the possible ‘fears’ of our life on this earth.  However, I spend my life seeking the heart of God, and building my faith in the supernatural presence of the Holy Spirit in my life, and thanking Jesus for the authority and power He has delegated to us. (Matt 28; Mark 16; Luke 10:19)  Not only to teach the Kingdom of God on earth with our King Jesus but to fight the enemy when he attacks.   Am I ‘super-saint’ …..happy horse feathers, no…..just like Paul saved from being one of worst of all sinners, and excited about the things of God and His work in all our lives.

If people ignore the demonic realm (God love them) I just don’t know what Bible they are reading as it is all there……especially John 10:10.

I had forgotten the amount of work and effort it takes to put on a seminar.  Without a team–and I am blessed with a great one–it could never happen.  The hosting Church was gracious and the accommodations super-duper, as the Pastor made sure all our needs were met–I am so impressed with the heart of that leader.

This is no different than a meeting, or special occasion, you may have or be planning.  It is a group effort and truly enjoyed as such.  My personal prayer partner, (we all need at least one) was invaluable, and a very special friend came from Los Angeles and covered every detail for me, so I could focus on the teaching.  Don’t we all need a ‘keeper’ at times–special friends and I am so blessed with many.

We gathered in a group ahead of time and prayed.  Just as we parted to take our ‘posts’ an excruciating pain hit my head, neck and shoulders.  I never, I mean, never have headaches.  I immediately fought the attack and asked others for help.  The day was a ‘roller-coaster’ of physical discomfort and pain.  When Paul writes in the scripture quoted above, ‘ thorn in the flesh to buffet me’   I could personally relate.  ‘Buffet’ means to hit with clenched fist, metaphorically to assault.

The MIRACLE in all of this, was, that I was able to teach for six hours, despite my physical condition.  The Holy Spirit is always with us….never leaves or forsakes us….and it was clear to me, He was working through me to express the revelation of His work and will, and I was just the vehicle. 

That scripture says, ” lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of revelation”  reveals the threat to the enemy and his evil work.  In other areas  of the Bible all the disciples encourage us to seek  boldness to speak the Word of God, etc. so it sure isn’t God worried about our ego being inflated…..but just the opposite…..the devil and his demons want to discourage, halt and bring discord, and confusion to our lives. 

We finished the day, giving Glory to God, and thanking Him for the breakthroughs that were experienced by many.  More on their stories later.  For me, the attack lasted almost three weeks.  Each day I got better.  Judy and other faithful friends prayed for me often.  I sought the Lord, like Paul, that it would depart from me.  We questioned how this could of happened?  With my focus on my presentation and direction of the Lord, did I forget to cover myself with the  Blood of Jesus ?  And I think I might have forgotten to do that–Something we should always do–for protection–especially when praying for others.  How could that happen?  The demonic world are experts in distraction.

Was it a physical attack because of a new ‘hair spray’ I used that morning? Maybe! Possibly an allergic reaction? That was a possibility.

We are so funny….it seems easier to ‘see’ the physical, logical answers, rather than deal with the supernatural realm.  I am pretty good at this, but I still search for answers.  In the process of being healing I had several revelations that will serve me well in helping others.  I think it says, “God’s grace is sufficient….”   Many I have found, think that means God is saying,  ‘just grin and bear it’.  We get so wrapped up in our self-righteousness we think suffering is to our credit.  Hardly!

I didn’t take this laying down…..(excuse the pun) even though I spend a great deal of time in bed for the past two weeks….I continued to ‘stand’ my ground on my belief in the power, willingness and love of God in Jesus to heal…..Acts 10:38 for all doubting Thomas-es.

One of the definitions of Grace is the the Empowering presence of God.  We want and expect healing to be immediate and that is a good thing…..a very good thing.   However, sometimes it is a process and the Empowering presence of God  will sustain us and lead us to victory. 

My total release from this attack sent by Satan came this week when I attended a two-day training class by the Bethel SOZO Healing Team.  First the Holy Spirit told me four or five times (sometimes I am a little dense) to attend.  Second, during the first session the leaders ask if anyone had been on a mission trip and felt they had come home with ‘something’.

Since I don’t consider myself a ‘missionary’ I didn’t stand.  Until the Holy Spirit said very clearly, “STAND UP”!  Boy, I sure can be dense at times.  As I stood and they prayed I was ‘jolted’ from head to toe, top to bottom for several seconds and it was gone!  A strong confirmation from the Lord that it was a “messenager who had brought a thorn in the flesh” to buffet and discourage me from the truth of God’s Word and even more to give up sharing that truth when ever possible.

Did I get discouraged and feel hopeless?  You bet I did….and this certainly isn’t the first time.  I have wanted to give up (whatever that means), go a different way (whatever that means) and not trust God.  Those thoughts come from the enemy and are easily captured in our mind because pain is a great conditioner.

Many will say to me, “Well, God will never give me more than I can bear.”  That is a mis-understanding of  I Corinthians 10:13, in my opinion.  In truth, God will not, but in reality the devil will.  He comes to ‘kill, rob and destroy’ (John 10:10) and he will if he can.  Miracles and healings are now more abundand than any time in history, since Jesus.  And, the good news is that if, the devil, his demons manage to take our life Jesus is standing at the door to receive us into His Heavenly Kingdom.  It is a win-win situation for those of us who love and follow our Jesus!  And, how foolish it would be not to fight the good fight of faith until our last breath!   That’s my plan I pray it is yours also!

Pressing in and pressing on….

Supernatural Rules Of Engagement…..

There are rules in the supernatural that affect our lives daily, minute by minute.  Hosea tells us we perish for lack of knowledge…..that is lack of knowledge of God’s ways.

 Jesus said in the parable of the sower, “If you receive the Word and do not understand it, the devil will steal it.”  That’s pretty powerful!  The important bottom line is to know and understand who God is, what is His plan and purpose.   Who are we in Christ….how does that compute in today’s ‘perfect storm’?

More than any time in history people are seeking spiritual answers, and this is a great time to build the Kingdom on God on earth, with Jesus as King, here on earth.  Love is the basis of His message, and we can all communicate that to those around us.

However, the more we know and ‘understand’ the more capable we will be….the more we can overcome in our own lives.   We must believe God is….and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him!  Let’s be diligent!  Let’s be passionate!  Jesus is  awesome, let us let Him shine in our lives!

Pressing in and pressing on…..